Tips for Purchasing a Mortgage Online

Access to the internet has made big changes to the way we buy homes. The ability to locate information online means you can learn about the home buying process, about applying for mortgages, about improving your credit rating, and many other aspects of home financing. These days, technology and the real estate world have advanced to the point where you can now apply for, and be approved for, a mortgage wholly online. No need to visit lenders, or even make phone calls – you can complete the entire transaction over the internet, if you wish.

That said, there are some important aspects of the process you should keep in mind when purchasing a mortgage online. There are similarities between the traditional and the online purchase methods that are important to remember, and there are some differences that mean you should take particular care when buying a mortgage online. Here are some tips and things to watch out for, to ensure your online mortgage purchase is a success.

Tip #1: Learn about the Mortgage Process

If you’re a first time home buyer, it’s very important to learn about the mortgage purchase process before you start looking at online mortgages. Even though the process of buying a mortgage isn’t exactly the same as the traditional method, there are enough similarities that you’ll benefit from reading all you can about the subject.

For example, you’ll need to obtain a copy of your credit report and check for errors and obsolete information—and repair bad credit if necessary—for an online mortgage purchase, just the same way as your would if you obtained your mortgage via the traditional method. Online mortgages go through an application and approval phase during which your credit and other financial information is checked, and you’ll have to go through closing at the end of the home buying process too.

Tip #2: Learn about the Online Mortgage Process

There are a few crucial differences between the online and traditional methods of obtaining a mortgage, so it’s worthwhile learning where those differences lie. Here’s a quick run-down of the steps to obtaining an online mortgage.

1. Check your credit report and repair if necessary
2. Evaluate your finances – income, debts, down payment.
3. Locate online mortgage lenders you’re interested in.
4. Provide the necessary preliminary information to get quotes.
5. Compare quotes, including interest rates, terms, fees, and other aspects.
6. Once you get a firm quote, have it confirmed in writing. Make sure you obtain a Good Faith Estimate and Annual Percentage Rate from the lender you choose.

Tip #3: Safeguard your Personal Information

When you make any online purchase, or give out any personal information over the internet, it’s vitally important that you make sure you’re not giving information to unscrupulous parties. Try to deal only with companies that you’ve actually heard of, rather than the ones that make promises about rock-bottom interest rates and no fees.

When entering information online, make sure you’re on a secure web page. If the page is secure, the address bar will begin with the line “https://www.” If there’s no letter “s” in the address, the page isn’t secure. It’s definitely best to avoid non-secure pages when giving out personal information. In addition, check the site for security certification. If the site has the certification its pages will include text such as “verified by eTrust.” The text is usually found at the bottom of each page.

Tip #4: Watch out for Predatory Lenders

Predatory lenders are even more of a problem online than off, and unwary mortgage hunters can easily be scammed out of thousands of dollars or more. Avoid lenders who offer the lowest interest rates around, or who promise you mortgage terms that seem too good to be true – they almost always are. Again, it’s definitely safer to stick with companies you know of. 

Check out online lenders by verifying their status with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, or look for the words “FDIC Member” on the company web site. If you decide to go with a broker, make sure they’re licensed with your state’s regulatory agency.

Tip #5: Compare Quotes Wisely

When comparing quotes, complete this task in two stages. First, compare the interest rate. The interest rate is the single biggest factor that determines how big your monthly mortgage repayments will be, because it’s the interest rate that is the variable component of the mortgage. One advantage of online lenders is that with fewer overheads, they can typically offer lower interest rates than their traditional competitors.

After comparing interest rates, look at the fine print and compare pre-payment penalties, closing costs, and other aspects of the loan. Compare the Annual Percentage Rate, too. The APR is a combination of the interest rate and the lender or broker fee. If there’s a difference of more than 1% between the interest rate and the APR, your lender is likely padding their fees a bit more than they need to.

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