Mortgages

• How do I know which mortgage option is the best fit for me?
  

  Knowing what option is best for you, depends upon what you want to accomplish.

  If you are purchasing a new home, a fixed rate option offers you a principal and interest payment that won’t change, while an adjustable rate offers a lower starting rate but will fluctuate with the market.

  If you are refinancing, here are some things to keep in mind:

  • Are you looking to lower your monthly payment or reduce your mortgage term?
  • How many years do you have left on your existing mortgage?
  • How much interest will you save over the life of the loan by refinancing? 
  • Are you looking to roll in closing costs or pay them out of pocket?

  If you need assistance selecting the best product to fit your needs please contact our Mortgage Department at 1-800-645-4728 and we would be happy to assist you.

• How much are closing costs?
  

  Closing costs vary based on the type of loan transaction, such as a mortgage refinance versus the purchase of a new home. Once you have applied, a mortgage processor will be able to give you a rough estimate of your expected closing costs.

  In general closing costs typically range from around $3,500 – $4,000 dollars. This figure would include the appraisal fee, credit report fee, attorney’s fees, title insurance, and flood determination fee.

  In addition to the closing costs, most mortgage loans require an escrow account for property taxes, flood insurance, homeowners insurance, and Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) if applicable. The amount needed to fund this escrow account varies based on the annual cost of these bills.

  A purchase has other costs that are added to the above, such as state transfer taxes.

• How long is the mortgage process?
  

  The mortgage process typically takes 45 days from date of application to closing.

• How do I start the mortgage process?
  

  Starting the process is easier today than ever before. You can apply online or you can apply at one of our branches by sitting with a Branch Specialist. The application process can take from 30 minutes up to an hour to complete.

  Whether you are looking to purchase your first home or refinance an existing home, we look forward to helping you through the process, every step of the way.

• What are mortgage trigger leads?
  

  Trigger leads occur when the credit bureaus (Experian^®, Equifax^®, TransUnion^®) identify that a consumer has recently applied for a mortgage and then sell that information to other companies that subscribe to their marketing lists. This practice is called a trigger lead.

  You can limit the number of marketing offers you receive by enrolling at:

  • OptOutPrescreen.com  (official consumer credit bureau opt-out-site)
  • National Do Not Call Registry at https://www.donotcall.gov/ 1-888-382-1222 (TTY: 1-866-290-4236)