Nine months of waiting are almost up and you are eagerly awaiting the arrival of your first born. You have spent the last few months preparing the house, buying baby gear, putting together the crib, thinking of names, and running out of the house at all hours to buy that food item that your lovely partner was craving. Every murmur you hear from her makes your stomach knot up with anxiety about what is to come. “Is it time to go to the hospital, honey," you say over and over, hoping that this time you will actually leave.
Years ago you would be pacing outside the hospital room until the birth is over, in some countries you still would be. In the U.S. today you can have front row viewing of your baby being born. You are going to experience the emotions your partner is going through first hand. This is your initiation into fatherhood. Every birth is different so forget everything you have been told when you walk into the hospital. I have friends whose baby was ready to meet the world as soon as she walked into the hospital and others that were in labor for more hours than you would care to know.
The main job for you in the hospital room is to be supportive and loving. Try to keep calm, it is much easier for Mom when you are not pacing the hospital room. Most hospital rooms have televisions to help pass the time but you may want to bring a book for when your partner is resting or simple close your eyes and try to get some rest too.
When the time comes for the baby to arrive things will happen really fast. You will be surrounded by nurses, the doctor, and anyone else your partner wishes in the room depending on hospital rules. Listen to your partner, she will tell you what she needs. Enjoy the moment, it will pass quickly. It is the most amazing experience that anyone can go through. I was there when both my niece and nephew were born and words cannot express how incredible it is to see a baby being born.
Once your baby is born and you hold him or her in your arms for the first time you will be speechless. Enjoy that first moment you have together as long as you can before family and friends come in for their first look and first cuddle.
Congratulations! You are officially a Dad.
Understanding the types of choices you will have to make will make it a lot easier to get the best type of mortgage for your circumstances.
One of the first choices a borrower will have is whether he wants an ARM or a FRM. As the initials would tell you, an FRM is a mortgage with a fixed rate and an ARM is a home loan with an adjusting rate.
Once you have chosen one, for example the FRM, you have lot of additional choices within that type of loan.
If you decide upon an ARM, which kind of ARM is for you? There are lots of kinds of ARMs in the mortgage market.
The next choice you may have to decide (although these are becoming much less accepted and available in today's tight credit market) is whether you want to opt for an interest only loan, one that allows you to put off paying the principal of your loan.
How about if you want to pay points to lower your interest rate, and how many? This is usually a situation that can be determined by how long you plan to live in the home.
The next decision is what kind of a down payment you want to put down. Most people are limited by finances, but for those with ample funds, they have to decide whether investing part or using it all for a deposit is the best choice.
Another choice you may be given is a prepayment clause. You should definitely decide upon this if you feel you want to get out of the loan before the end of its term.
And a final decision is whether and when you want to lock in a rate. Don't forget that this can be a two way street. If you lock in a rate and then rates come down, you may be stuck with an increased rate. You may, for a fee, though, have an option to cancel the rate agreement if the rates are lower at the time of closing. If you are convinced that rates will go up, or you are simply more comfortable not having the risk of an escalating rate, a locked in rate is the best choice.
Before you start to shop for a home loan, look into all of these options and have a good idea of which will work the best for your mortgage. Understanding what your lender is offering you will make a major difference in the loan you finally end up with.
Both Sarah Gaskin & Marksteed are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Sarah Gaskin has sinced written about articles on various topics from Babies. Sarah Gaskin is founder and owner of www.HealthyBump.com, an online resource for well being, before, during, and after your pregnancy. Sarah originally from the UK, was a Nanny and obtained her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Southern Ca. Sarah Gaskin's top article generates over 720 views. to your Favourites.
Marksteed has sinced written about articles on various topics from Finances, Home Management and Finances. Thanks for reading this article on or visit:. Marksteed's top article generates over 3600 views. to your Favourites.