After mortgage rates stayed surprisingly low in 2014, who knows how they will shake out in this new year?

Whatever happens, borrowers who want to refinance or buy a home have the best chance to get the lowest rate by knowing more, not less, about the mortgage game.

These 10 tips can help you navigate the mortgage process in 2015.

PAY LESS MORTGAGE INSURANCE

Many homebuyers don’t have enough cash on hand to make a 20 percent down payment, which means that they generally are required to pay for mortgage insurance as part of their monthly mortgage payment. This insurance protects lenders when a borrower defaults on the loan.

Until late 2014, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac required down payments of at least 10 percent. The requirement pushed many homebuyers into Federal Housing Administration-insured loans, which have a minimum down payment of 3.5 percent. The problem is that FHA premiums are costlier than private mortgage insurance.

But in 2015, qualified borrowers will be able to get Fannie- and Freddie-backed mortgages with down payments as little as 3 percent. Mortgage insurance premiums vary according to credit score and size of down payment, but private mortgage insurance premiums generally are more affordable than FHA premiums.

GET A THOROUGH PREAPPROVAL

Not only do sellers often prefer buyers who come preapproved by a lender, making their offers more attractive, but a preapproved mortgage also can help you avoid any hiccups down the line.

With a real preapproval, a mortgage broker or bank loan officer will pull your credit report and submit supporting documentation to their automated underwriting system. This allows the bank to give you more accurate terms based on your actual credit score, debt obligations and income, instead of relying on your estimates. It also puts you ahead of the process when you finally go into contract and could help you close faster.

MAINTAIN YOUR CREDIT PROFILE

In the months leading to your home purchase, avoid changing your credit obligations, especially between a preapproval and the closing of your mortgage. The reason? It could hurt your credit score in a way that would raise the rate and fees related to your loan or, at worst, keep you from qualifying altogether.

GET ORGANIZED

Gather and keep every piece of financial paper in the two months leading up to buying a house. That means pay stubs, bank statements for savings, checking and investment accounts, W-2s, tax returns for the previous two years, canceled rent checks and any mortgage or property tax statements for other property you own.

DON’T MOVE MONEY AROUND

In the months leading up to your home purchase, keep your hands off your finances. That includes moving money from a savings account into a certificate of deposit, or CD. It also means no cashing in investments from stocks, retirement accounts or CDs. Otherwise, you will create a huge headache for yourself as you try to show the bank the paper trail of where that money came from. In a similar vein, avoid paying off debts with savings because that could cause your lender to worry about how you will pay for closing costs.

PREPARE TO WRITE LETTERS

Lenders these days scrutinize every corner of your financial life, and if something looks funny, even just a little bit, they will want to know why. That means you will have to write letters explaining the oddity.

GET YOUR GIFT EARLY

If a family member is gifting some or all of your down payment, make sure it’s deposited in your bank account more than two months before you apply for a mortgage. That way, the bank won’t need to source the large deposit.

SELF-EMPLOYED? PLAN AHEAD EVEN MORE

Self-employed borrowers have a higher hurdle to overcome after stricter mortgage requirements went into effect in 2014. The rules require documentation of income that includes two years’ worth of tax returns, a typically unreliable record of a self-employed person’s take-home pay.

To get around it, self-employed borrowers should plan to take fewer deductions the years before buying a house to boost their overall income. If they can’t, they may consider a co-signer on the loan whose income is documented by W-2 statements. Otherwise, they may need to search out an unconventional loan that can qualify them based on bank statements alone.

KNOW YOUR REFI MAGIC NUMBER

If you’re thinking about refinancing your home loan, figure out what mortgage rate you need. It’s not an easy number to calculate because you need to look at a host of factors regarding your loan, including what you want to get out of the refinance.

GET CREATIVE WITH A REVERSE MORTGAGE

Older homebuyers, especially those with fixed incomes, may want to consider a reverse mortgage to buy a home instead of draining retirement funds. A reverse mortgage lender contributes up to 52 percent of the sales price of a new home, while the senior, who must be at least 62 years old, comes up with the rest. The house is titled in the borrower’s name, but the lender retains a security interest in it. There are no monthly payments, and when the home is sold or no longer the borrower’s primary residence, the reverse mortgage must be repaid. Any remaining equity belongs to the borrower, heirs or estate.

Need Help? Axis Capital Group Business Funding will assist you. Axis Capital Group Business Funding is a credit source offering small companies loan options to business-people who operate existing enterprises. Owing to the various limitations that prevent company owners from acquiring the loans they need from conventional banks and credit unions, a big number of business proprietors prospecting for liquid capital to support their bustling enterprises have no clue that they do have alternative choices.

Singapore, Japan and Seoul, South Korea are some of the biggest markets of credit card because of their outstanding financial capabilities. Surprisingly, cities of developing nations are also competing for the most used credit cards. According to reviews, Jakarta, Indonesia and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia are included to the top ten places in South East Asia to have an ample amount of purchases using credit cards.

With the trend continuously growing, Axis Capital Business Funding, a company which provides credit loans to small business owners across the globe has released their top reasons why credit card is slowly replacing cash:

1. Helps in Budgeting

For simple homemakers or frugal individuals who keep track of their expenses, credit card can help organize their finances. You can monitor your purchases and financial transactions and also ask for monthly balance through the receipts.

1. Helps in Credit History

Credit scores and reports are vital when you would have to loan one day. Your credit history which shows if you have spent and surpassed your credit limit and the frequency of using your credit card can help boost your credit score. It can also build a solid credit history which can tell lenders that you can be trusted.

1. Helps in Saving Money

When you pay your debts on time, it can boost your credit score. When you have a good credit score, you can have a discount in mortgages, lower interest rate, car purchases etcetera

1. Helps in Availing Rewards

When you are using your credit card often, it can gain you rewards and freebies. There can be points or other promotions that your credit card provider may be teaming up with, perhaps a free round-trip ticket or free items when you purchase. Just make sure you don’t give your confidential information for the redemption of your rewards. It can also be a scam used to lure you in.

1. Helps you Purchase Fast

Credit cards are now accepted everywhere compared to cash that you have to exchange with local currency if you are traveling abroad. Moreover, if you are fond of purchasing online, having a credit card can also keep your transaction hassle free.