For those who are interested in this, one of the first questions that come to mind is “what are the income requirements and other details that the FHA requires from those who apply?” Here is the answer. The FHA does not impose a minimum regarding the gross income of those who apply for the loan. However, one must show that one has at least had steady income before, preferably within three straight years.

This will give them confidence that you will be able to pay all your monthly bills regularly and punctually. What exactly counts as income for the FHA? Unemployment compensation, child support, VA benefits, seasonal pay, retirement pension payments, alimony, military pay, Social Security income, and rent payments are all valid sources of income counted by the Federal Housing Authority. There are also others such as part-time pay, bonus pay, and overtime pay, just if the borrower all regularly gains these things.

There is another big requirement that those who want to get into the FHA program will need to consider. This other major requirement is the DTIR or the debt to income ratio.

One must always remember that the Federal Housing Administration only allows the borrower to spend 29% of their gross monthly income for the payment of the housing fees as well as a combined overall amount of 41% of the other housing costs such as mortgages. In a traditional loan, banks and lender will just give the borrower up to 28% and 36% respective values. There is definitely no question that FHA loan mortgage is a better deal for the value of the borrower’s money.

It is not all. Even if you exceed the percentages listed above only for a while ‘there, it is still possible. The deposit that is asked of the borrower is much lower than traditional mortgage. Payment of loans to top-down traditional is the only consideration that you will think. Traditionally, the borrower must also show the lender that he or she has enough money in his bank account to prove that he or she can pay the mortgage and make monthly payments. With an FHA mortgage loan, you will not need this. Moreover, the advance is only 3% to 5% of the total.

1.  Interest rate.  The interest rate is the percentage of your loan that is added on every month.  The percentage will vary according to the economy and will make a difference in your payments.

2.  Fixed Rate.  A fixed rate will be an interest rate that stays at the same percentage throughout the entire period of your loan.

3.  Variable Rate.  A variable rate will change according to the economy and the charts that are stating what the rates should be for interest.  A variable rate usually changes every year and adjusts according to a specific given range of percentages.

4.  Principal.  The principal is what you will be paying on your actual house.  Whatever you pay on your principal is what you will see in the end as your investment.

5.  Escrow.  This is similar to a savings account of your loan.  Whatever you put in escrow will accumulate without paying directly into the loan.  At the end of the term you can use it to finish paying off the loan or to invest in another loan.

6.  Title.  A title will be what you get to your home after it is officially yours, stating that the property belongs to you.

7.  Deed.  A deed will most often be used as a title for a commercial area.  Instead of giving ownership it shows that the property is leased to the one who is using it as a business.

8.  Home Equity.  This is a loan or line of credit that you can get for your home.  It will finance up to eight percent of your other loan and get paid back later.  This helps if you want to consolidate loans or invest more into the property.

9.  Appraisal.  After an inspection of the home is made, an appraisal will be made.  This will be an estimated value of what the home is worth.

10.  Equity.  This will be the actual amount of the property that you own.  Most likely, it is what is being paid off of your principal amount.

Once you know some of these basic terms, you will be able to expand on your knowledge and find the exact loan that will fit your needs.  These basic definitions will help you in making the right decision for the type of loan that you want.

If you want to create a win-win situation for you and the car dealership you purchase your car from, there are five steps to take before you sit down at the negotiation table: get your credit report, surf before buying, go local, speak the language and be prepared to negotiate.

1.) Get Your Credit Report
You can’t pick up a personal finance article, magazine or book that does not refer to the importance of knowing what is on your credit report. Despite the fact that modern media has been beating us over the head with this advice for the past couple of decades, most people do not know their credit score or check their credit report on a regular basis. You can get a copy of your report by directly contacting the three credit bureaus: Equifax, TransUnion and Experian (formerly TRW).

Not knowing your credit score and the details of your credit report before applying for a car loan is a monumental mistake. You want to have any blemishes on your report resolved before you apply for a car loan, because the results of your lender’s credit inquiry directly impact your interest rate.

Your credit report includes: basic information about you – name, address, social security number, etc.; your late payments, any outstanding debts you have, the amount of credit available to you; any public records on you such as judgments and bankruptcies; and inquiries into your credit from potential employers or lenders.

And just because you have caught up late payments, cleared outstanding debts or cleared up any judgments does not mean these blemishes are automatically removed from your credit report. Sometimes, you need to follow up with the creditors to make sure they report your reconciliation of debt to all three credit bureaus.

In addition, identity theft and/or fraud can result in false, unfavorable records on your credit report. In January 2006, the Federal Trade Commission reported that more than 686,000 people reported identity theft and fraud complaints in 2005. Stolen identity and fraud can result in major credit report issues.

2.) Surf Before Buying
You’ll be far less tempted to impulse buy, driving away from the car dealership with a car you can’t afford if you have established boundaries in your mind before you begin.
You can save big money on your car loan if you have a budget and type of car in mind before you go shopping. One easy way to accomplish this is to go online and check out different car dealership websites.

You can compare and contrast vehicle makes, models, styles, features and pricing.

3.) Go Local
There are many national auto websites, but did you know that many local car dealerships are now online as well? The advantage of working with a local car dealership can outweigh working with the manufacturer or a national website when you want the best in quality customer service, a relationship for the lifetime of your car and the best deal on your auto loan.

The advantages of getting a loan through a local dealership is similar to the reason every town in America has a locally-owned restaurant that has regulars: local businesses have a sincere investment in the community. That interest often leads to better customer service, a more customized approach to selling, and the ability to get you a better loan than you will receive from a lender who doesn’t know – or care – who you are.

Lastly, the local dealership may have more than one location, increasing your options for finding the car you need but offering the same uniform auto financing options. For example, Conklin Cars Salina, a car dealer in Kansas, is also a Hutchinson car dealer and a Newton car dealer. So, if a customer goes to one dealership and does not find what they need, they can visit another location and expect the same quality customer service.

4.) Speak the Language
There’s nothing more frustrating than going through the entire car-buying process, thinking you have a good deal, and learning down the road that you were taken advantage of – simply because you had no idea what your sales rep was talking about.

From dealer holdback to Rule of 78s, make sure you have an understanding of some of the basic industry terms that could be thrown at you during your transaction. With this knowledge, you won’t misunderstand the details or find yourself being signing a contract or paperwork that you don’t understand.

5.) Be Prepared to Negotiate
If you’ve followed the four previous steps in this article, you will be armed with the necessary tools to negotiate the best rate possible for your car loan. There’s nothing wrong with shopping around and checking with other lenders to see what kind of rate they can offer you, but you must remember that numerous inquiries into your credit report may go against you.

And, when you go through the dealer for your auto loan, the sales rep wants a long-term relationship with you. This motivates them to work harder to get the best rate possible for you. In contrast, an online or off-site lender’s interests begin and end with the loan – but the car dealer wants you to: come back and have your car serviced, return when you want to purchase your next car, and tell your friends about them, further strengthening the dealership’s reputation in the community and increasing business.

Before you sit down to get your next auto loan, take the time to do a little homework so that you can feel confident about securing the best deal for your auto loan. Investing a little time and effort before making the deal can go a long way in creating a win-win situation for you and the car dealership.