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Test your mortgage IQ! Wherever you are in the home-buying process, Navy Federal Credit Union has your back.

If You Get 10/10 On This Mortgage Quiz, You’re Probably Ready To Buy A Home

"A [mortgage is an agreement](https://makingcents.navyfederal.org/knowledge-center/home-buying.html?cmpid=aff%7Cbzfd%7Cinfluence%7Cmtg%7Cmg%7Cmc%7C05%2F15%2F2018%7C%7C%7C) between a lender and a borrower that allows the borrower to finance the purchase of a home," explains Randy Hopper, senior vice president of mortgage lending at Navy Federal. A mortgage allows homebuyers to pay a percentage of a home’s value upfront (this is called a down payment), while a bank or mortgage lender covers the rest. The homebuyer then pays back the loan, plus interest, until they own the property outright.

Mortgages are a type of loan.

PITI refers to the main components of a monthly mortgage payment: principal (the amount a homeowner has borrowed from a lender), interest (the cost of borrowing that money), taxes (property taxes), and insurance (homeowners insurance, private mortgage insurance, or some combination of the two).

PITI stands for "principal, interest, taxes, and insurance."

"The biggest myth we see people struggle with is the belief that a 20% down payment is required," Hopper says. "Not all mortgages require that large of a down payment.” There are lots of different types of mortgages, and what a particular homebuyer qualifies for depends on their income, savings, credit history, and financial goals. For instance, active-duty military, veterans, and surviving spouses may want to consider a VA loan if they are looking for a zero-down option.

You don't always need to have a 20% down payment to purchase a home.

You need to have a 20% down payment to purchase a home.

There are a couple of things to keep in mind when budgeting for a home: 1) purchase price (in general, the more expensive a home is, the more you can expect to put down upfront), 2) desired interest rate (a higher down payment could generate a lower interest rate), and 3) desired monthly payment (the more money you pay toward the purchase price, the less money you’ll have to borrow, which can make your monthly payments smaller). Determine what is important for you and your family and then save accordingly.

When saving for a home, you should consider all three: purchase price, desired monthly payment, and desired interest.

What's most important when saving for a home?

“With a fixed rate, the interest charged to borrow the money remains the same for the life of the loan,” says Hopper. “This means that your monthly payment should be relatively consistent (slight changes may occur as a result of changes in tax or insurance rates)." An adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), however, is a loan with an interest rate that changes. It typically offers a lower interest rate in the beginning, and then, after that initial term has passed, the rate goes up.

Fixed rate and adjustable rate are the two main types of mortgages.

The two main types of mortgages are \_\_\_\_.

While they sound similar, pre-qualification and pre-approval are actually quite different. For pre-qualification, lenders “analyze your income, debts, and assets and provide you with a ballpark estimate of what you can afford." Pre-approval, Hopper explains, “is a much more in-depth process and requires you to complete an application and provide documentation allowing the lender to perform an extensive review of your finances, including a credit report.” Plus, “a pre-approval letter will make a stronger impression on sellers, letting them know that you will be approved for a loan.”

Pre-qualification and pre-approval are **not** the same thing.

Pre-qualification and pre-approval are the same thing.

Also known as "points" or "discount points," mortgage points are fees a buyer pays directly to the lender at closing in return for lowering the interest rate on the loan for a specific time period. According to Hopper, "Buying down the rate of your loan can both help you save on your monthly payment and lower the overall cost of your home loan. The key is understanding a few factors: 1) how long it will take to break even on the cost of buying the points and 2) how long you plan on owning the home."

Mortgage points are fees paid to a lender to lower the interest rate.

When it comes to buying a home, there’s [more to budget for](https://www.navyfederal.org/products-services/loans/mortgage/mortgage-calculators.php?cmpid=aff%7Cbzfd%7Cinfluence%7Cmtg%7Cmg%7Ccalc%7C05%2F15%2F2018%7C%7C%7C) than just a down payment and monthly mortgage payments. Hopper says that, in addition to closing costs (typically 2–5% of the home’s price), homebuyers should budget for “the cost of the required documents, which include the property appraisal, home inspection, mortgage application fee, and loan-origination fees.”

Closing costs, home inspections, and loan-origination fees are all examples of additional costs that need to be budgeted for.

What are closing costs, home inspections, and loan-origination fees all examples of?

It's a guarantee from a lender that you’ll get a certain interest rate on a loan even if rates rise before you close on a house.

Rate lock is an interest-rate guarantee from a lender.

According to Hopper, "Everyone wants to focus on the mortgage interest rate, and that is important. But even more important is working with a lender you can trust." A mortgage can be a long-term relationship, and you want to make sure it’s a positive one.

Interest rate, down payment options, and trust are all important when considering a [mortgage lender](https://www.navyfederal.org/products-services/loans/mortgage/mortgage.php?cmpid=aff%7Cbzfd%7Cinfluence%7Cmtg%7Cmg%7Cprd%7C05%2F15%2F2018%7C%7C%7C).

What's important when choosing a mortgage lender?

Are you new to this whole home-buying thing? Based on your answers, it seems you've got a lot to learn — fortunately, Navy Federal can help! Set aside some time to read the [MakingCents guide to Buying a Home](https://makingcents.navyfederal.org/knowledge-center/home-buying/the-homebuying-process/process-overview.html) to get up to speed on mortgages, monthly payments, and more.

You Probably Need to Do a Little More Work Before Buying a Home

It seems like you're starting to get a handle on this whole mortgage thing. You've still got a little bit to learn — and Navy Federal can help! Set aside some time to read the [MakingCents guide to Buying a Home](https://makingcents.navyfederal.org/knowledge-center/home-buying/the-homebuying-process/process-overview.html) to get fully up to speed.

You're Probably Starting to Get Serious About Buying a Home

Have you bought a house recently? It seems like you know a lot about the process. No matter where you are in the home-buying process, Navy Federal can help! Set aside some time to read the [MakingCents guide to Buying a Home](https://makingcents.navyfederal.org/knowledge-center/home-buying/the-homebuying-process/process-overview.html) to go deep on mortgages, monthly payments, and more.

You're Probably Ready to Buy a Home

All facts provided by Navy Federal. All images courtesy of Getty.

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If You Get 10/10 On This Mortgage Quiz, You’re Probably Ready To Buy A Home

Ready to buy a home? With great rates and mortgage options, Navy Federal Credit Union can help!

If You Get 10/10 On This Mortgage Quiz, You’re Probably Ready To Buy A Home

Ready to buy a home? With great rates and mortgage options, Navy Federal Credit Union can help!

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