Showing posts with label Mortgage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mortgage. Show all posts

Monday, April 16, 2012

Selecting A Mortgage Plan

The luxurious homes have become the basic need of the modern era. Mortgaging a house is an attractive option for buyers from all walks of life to own a luxurious house. Selecting a mortgage plan remains a critical aspect in owning a house because the mortgage rates vary from plan to plan.


Since the houses are an important need, they are an attractive option for the investors to invest. House mortgages are in fact a kind of loan for the houses but it works in a different manner.

In mortgage, you get a house and you are required to pay a monthly installment of your mortgage as per your mortgage plans. These mortgages also play as a guarantee for getting any additional loans from companies.

The advent of technology has also affected the mortgage field. Now you do not have to run from office to office searching for a suitable mortgage plan. Instead all the necessary data is now just a click away. By using different websites that host a collection of mortgage plans, one can simply select the plan that suits him. All the data is sorted and sifted in an orderly manner and you are truly just a click away from your dream house.


Like all other commodities, the rates of mortgages also vary from company to company. The mortgage plans include a down payment followed by the monthly installments plan. Obviously the mortgages involve a particular rate of interest and furthermore, the interest rates may increase due to defaults and late payments.

However now one does not have to worry about the varying mortgages plan as the entire details of such deals are available online and one can easily access his choice plan.

Mortgages for houses have numerous benefits. They are ideal for the people with small income but they are equally popular amongst the rich people. Due to the varying interest rates, the investors also like to invest in the housing industry as it promises easy and befitting returns for their money. Since the houses remain one of the basic needs, there is no getting away and the business of mortgaging houses continues to flourish. Also the competing companies have played a major part in reducing the rates of mortgages for houses.

View the original article here

Monday, October 31, 2011

Benefits and Risks of Online Mortgage Application

If 1 is thinking to apply for a mortgage, then he/she should go to complete an online form due to the fact online mortgage applications are easily available, simply completed, as well as certainly safe. Applicants can fill a form online and can save time as well as energy instead of waiting for a bank to send habitual forms, filling them out, mailing them back, and then waiting to hear from a loan representative. Applicants want to offer their effort and their future home to God Before doing this.

If 1 is a home buyer, then he/she will additionally would like to make sure the internet site is secure as online mortgage applications want them to enter personal information. There will be concerns about identity stealing as well as other kinds of fraud which are legal. There is always a symbol on the Web page that contains the form that indicates that it is a secure page. This safety symbol can either be a little locked padlock or perhaps a gold key in the lower left-hand or perhaps reduce right-hand corner of the computer screen (that depends on Internet browser which you is using). This safety symbol identifies that whatever the information is transmitted by mortgage application is secure.

However, consumers should ensure that the lending business is legal just as with other electronic business transactions. One must contact the Better Business Bureau for information about unresolved complaints for particular companies. Also get referrals about companies which provide internet form by talking with friends, family members, as well as contacts. Purchasing a home is definitely not simple; it is a very big pledge. Home buyers should be comfortable with every pro in the entire process.

Almost all lenders have online mortgage applications that are easily reachable through their websites. If we compare this process with the process which was before pre-internet days, then it is easy as well as extremely fast compared to the pre-Internet days of setting up appointments with lenders as well as filling out piles of forms.

The Internet form just asks for related information, like name, requested loan amount, and the state that the home is found. Online form, applicants answer the questions right there. Such part of process just needs five minutes.

There are many companies which offer Internet forms, then assess the information and present an approval decision inside minutes. As soon as approval statement is received, applicants have to fill many more detailed forms. Then a representative of the business will contact them to claim the online mortgage application further.


View the original article here

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Best Companies For Mortgage

Home loan mortgage companies are expert at leading home buyers through the complex maze of real estate legalities, liens, and liabilities-all the method to property ownership. To bring together lenders and borrowers, a stockbroker in a home loan mortgage company is paid, same as a talent scout, regularly evaluating credit situation of a buyer and matching him to the right lender. Brokers tender application of home buyer to more than one lender.

After the process of choosing the lender is done, the broker stays through the process till the financing deal ends. It is a good plan for a buyer of potential property to see just what terms are provided and store around for the best sensible way as brokers are working for the best deal for the lender. It is additionally possible that an interested party may would like to work with over one brokerage group. Although there can be multiple options from that a broker can choose. He is not needed to discover the best contract for the buyer unless or until he is acting additionally as a purchasing agent.

Such type of brokerage groups are neither banks nor credit unions. For the funding program originated by employers of bank, officers in a bank market and process applications for housing.

The options offered by companies of home loan mortgage will sound same but the selection of rates is reduced.

Here we present the difference. Any kind of company which is home loan mortgage is local to online, which finds the buyer a lender that is anywhere in the country. A lender that is outside of the buyer s community, will process the mortgage more leisurely than those that know the particular real estate area best. Simultaneously, it is also true that the lenders that are far from you can accept a wider range of dangers associated to credit. One will find the specialized sales in many brokerage agencies. Whenever negotiating with any mortgage brokerage firm, it pays to question issues such as processing time and repayment terms.

Many of the time, it is not obvious whether or not a buyer is dealing with a broker or perhaps a real lender. The purchaser may have to inquire; it is definitely not usually stated as well as in the information collected, the buyer will get a hint that is being paid a large amount of fees. Purchaser will be paying off a home loan to the mortgage business employee for their services, when he pays “points” during the finance closing or in combination with the interest rate. That is precisely why it is essential to store around for different kinds of home loan mortgage companies.

Fees are normally estimations that can be discussed. But at the same time, 1 must be familiar with terms such as title abstract of title, examination fees, property survey, document, as well as recording fees that will help the buyer to discuss options on an even playing field with the brokerage representative.




View the original article here

Monday, October 17, 2011

Pay mortgage if house is destroyed?

If a natural disaster leaves your home in ruins, your first impulse probably isn't to give your lender a call. Here's why it needs to be a priority.


The federal government has declared more than 50 official natural disaster areas so far in 2011. Last year, the total of large-scale floods, tornadoes, hurricanes and the like climbed to 81. Few states are immune to natural disasters, and each event affects thousands of homeowners who must cope with the physical and emotional damage, as well as the prospect of perhaps not being able to manage their mortgage payments.

Still, a disaster does not guarantee mortgage relief, according to Laura Vinton, counseling manager at Hope Enterprise, a nonprofit community development financial institution in Gulfport, Miss., a town devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. "Any consideration is determined case by case, and it's a two-way process," she says.


After a disaster, banking regulators and government mortgage agencies typically issue proclamations directing lenders and loan servicers to make certain accommodations for borrowers. But those proclamations are only guidelines.

A May 25 Financial Institution Letter issued by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., for instance, declares: "Extending repayment terms, restructuring existing loans, or easing terms for new loans, if done in a manner consistent with sound banking practices, can contribute to the health of the community and serve the long-term interests of the lending institution."

Lenders must stay within regulators' parameters and agencies' loan-servicing guidelines, says Bob Davis, executive vice president of the American Bankers Association in Washington, D.C., though they still have latitude to consider borrowers' individual situations. For some, that might mean a longer period of forbearance or more flexible payment plan.

The Federal Housing Administration traditionally imposes a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures of FHA-insured loans in a disaster area. This freeze, triggered by an official declaration by the current president at the time of the disaster, gives the homeowner "a little more time" to work with the lender and insurance carrier to assess the damage and understand the situation, says Karol Mason of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.

Those who still need help after the 90 days are over can try to negotiate additional relief.

"If the customer still needs assistance and hasn't been making the payments for the 90 days, that workout continues on an individual basis," Mason explains.

After the devastating tornadoes in the South this year, Freddie Mac released a press release strongly encouraging servicers to help affected borrowers with Freddie Mac-owned loans by:

  • Suspending foreclosure and eviction proceedings for up to 12 months.
  • Waiving assessments of penalties or late fees against borrowers with disaster-damaged homes.
  • Not reporting forbearance or delinquencies caused by the disaster to the nation's credit bureaus.

Lenders typically will waive late fees and defer payments after a disaster, but those accommodations may not last beyond a few months. When the time is up, missed payments become due, either in a lump sum or according to a payment plan.

Any homeowner who suffers a financial setback, such as a job loss, as a direct result of a disaster, also may be offered temporary mortgage relief, even if his or her home was spared. Documentation will likely be required to prove the hardship.

Borrowers should contact their lenders as soon as possible after a disaster, Mason suggests. "It's that customer call that triggers all the actions that take place on our side," she explains.

View the original article here

Sunday, September 25, 2011

2nd Mortgage and Homeowners

A person who has taken loan against his property and is unable to pay the loan back that is the primary loan or first mortgage loan don’t be hopeless so you have an option of 2nd mortgage loan against the same property. 2nd mortgage loan is called secondary loan because if the loan goes into default, the first mortgage gets paid off first before the second mortgage. 2nd mortgage option is for worst case. This option can be used in case of bankruptcy or loan default then in that case a person can choose this option in order to get rid of the lenders and tensions.


The science behind 2nd mortgage is very simple. The person who pays you primary loan or first loan against this property on which you are taking secondary loan will get his money back from sale of your property and 2nd mortgager gets whatever would be left over due to this reason it is advised to take relief of lenders by using this option if all other options are closed to pay back first mortgager his money.

These loans have proper payback terms and conditions. The time limit to return the money to 2nd mortgager depends on the structure of agreement varies from on year to as many as 20 years. If a homeowner defaults again on his loan and is unable to return money to second mortgager then second loan holder becomes the owner of the property legally.

If we talk about requirements and pre requisites of 2nd mortgage there are many requirements which a person must fulfill .Firstly bank or other finical institutions which are going to pay you loan demands security against loan and the homeowner’s unencumbered interest in their real property. If after all the bank or finical policies the equity of house is significant we move to 2nd pre requisite.

The second requirement which most of the banks demands is that ratio of debt should be low as comparison with income.

Suppose a person has no source of income then or his income rate is much less than debt rate then it will be difficult for him to get loan against 2nd mortgage from any bank as it is a part of all well known finical institutions.

If the borrower achieves the second goal he only has to meet the last requirement that is proper source of income for the next 12 months because if a borrower has proper source of income and earning money on regular basis then he can be trusted by lender.


Some people say that there is no as such advantage of secondary mortgage. There are many advantages and disadvantages of second mortgage that’s why it is called last option.

There are many advantages of 2nd mortgage loans. The rates of 2nd mortgage rates are much less as comparison with the first one. It can allow owner to use the large money of cash for any purpose and plan a better future for him and his family and can get rid of the lenders.

There are also a large number of disadvantages like a person can loose his valuable property if he fails to repay his loan and secondly a person is bound on long term agreement and any can’t afford any misfortune so a person should keep all the things on mind before applying for 2nd mortgage loans.

View the original article here

Friday, September 23, 2011

A Guide to Mortgage Refinancing Loans

Mortgage refinancing loans are available for individuals who want to replace their existing expensive mortgage loans with new affordable loans. The new loans will carry lower interest rates, lower monthly payments and reasonable loan repayment terms.


With the mortgage refinancing loan, individuals can get better loan repayment term. Individuals can change the terms of their existing loan from 30 years to 125 years or anything that comes between 30 and 15 years.

When refinancing the pre-existing mortgage loan, borrowers can choose to cash out equity that they are carrying in their homes. They can use the equity for home improvements or repairs, and for many other expenses. For individuals that are seeking refinancing their existing loans, banks and many mortgage companies are offering a variety of options.

In past few years, more and more people directed towards mortgage refinancing loans due to lower interest rates which the were able to get on these loans. Due to great rush, refinancing industry boosted and changed, due to heavy traffic of potential borrowers a great competition among lenders have started. Due to stringent competition, interest rates have seen changes. However, still refinancing option is the ideal approach that any financially troubled borrower can have. The basic purpose of refinancing existing mortgage loan is to cut down on higher interest rates that you are having on your current mortgage loan.

Mortgage refinancing loans offer great benefits like lower interest rates that cut down the higher monthly payments. Many people use mortgage refinancing to make use of the equity in their homes. This can be use for a variety of purposes such as to pay down other expensive debts, auto repairs etc. Home equity is without any shadow of doubt a precious asset and consumers can make most of with cash out their mortgage refinancing loans.

Individuals cashing out the equity will be able to use the cash wherever is important and they will be having tax deductible interest on their mortgage refinancing loan. Many individuals use this cash out to pay down their credit cards in order to get rid of higher interest rates. Many credit card issuers raise the interest rates if the consumer makes late payments or skip it. In such a typical situation, cashing out home equity is an ideal option.

Basically, individuals will be having the same closing costs as they are having on the firs mortgage loan which they used to buy the property. There are some fees that individual are required to pay off for mortgage loan refinancing. These fees include origination fees, appraisal fees, attorney fees and other fees that are associated with it. Even though there are new set of closing costs, mortgage refinancing loan is still a money saving option. It is an ideal option for those who are seeking to cut down on their debts and want to get control over their out of shaped finances.

View the original article here

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Commercial Mortgage Loan Rates

Today we are living in the age of economic crisis and people belonging to any kind of profession have very less opportunities to save money. Even there are very few ways through which business men can save money and for those people who wished to start there new business but this financial crisis is pushing them back.

There is a best opportunity for such people to start their new business or upgrade existing one because now a days commercial mortgage rates are all time low now, providing golden opportunity to businessmen to apply these loans.


This is the time to make it or break it for all business class especially new business owners.This is the right time for such businessmen to find loan at lowest rate of interest against commercial property.

Finding a commercial mortgage loan with least interest is not an easy job. A person can never fulfill such an objective for this purpose a person requires help of the experienced people. It is very important that a person who is guiding you must be trustworthy because most of the brokers and property dealers now days are fraud.

It is better to take the help while finding best commercial loans because a broker will fulfill all the requirements of the loan and secondly you don’t have to pay him because commercial mortgage loans at good mortgage rates pays the broker’s fee.

So it is a better option to hire a mortgage broker to find a loan at best commercial mortgage rate for you where as those people who search best mortgage rate available wastes their precious time and energy and luckily they are succeeded. Most of them get frustrated and deceived easily due to lack of experience.

So instead of wasting your time and money it is better option to hire a broker to search a loan at best commercial mortgage rate.

Now days it is not a difficult task to hire a broker to do your job .You can search them online. There are many websites which are providing brokers information. There are also many brokers agencies ads published in the newspaper but it is your task to find a best man to search a loan at best commercial rate. They use their knowledge tactics and sources to find best deal for their clients.


To get a loan against commercial mortgage is a very lengthy process and have many pre requisites and steps. One has to submit an application for the loan with best rates wisely. If the application is turned down due to any purpose by Loan Company you have to start it all again and it is a time taking task to find a commercial mortgage rate loans.

Where brokers know their job they know how to fulfill all requirements of commercial mortgage loan. They know how to handle this application submission phase as they have done this thing many times before this.

Sometimes brokers submit an application to various lenders and if more than one lender is offering you loans at various commercial rates then it is your duty to discuss it with broker and financial advisors and select the best option which has least risk.

View the original article here

Friday, September 16, 2011

Finding a Cheap Mortgage Loan

Now days it is not difficult job to find a loan for purchasing a house or any other property but there are only few banks that are offering loan for such purposes at low rate like cheap mortgage loans although there are few banks and other organizations offering this kind of loans but a person can find them with a little effort. So when a person who wants to purchase a new house for his family or for business purpose he should find a  cheap mortgage loan if he don’t have enough money to purchase house due to cheap interest rate and long term loan repayment.


If a person is interested to borrow a cheap mortgage loan for such a person the option of long term fixed rate loan option is open. This is a better option if a person is earning money on regular basis and is a permanent employ of any organization due long term loan repayment.

There are different kinds of long term loans and it depends on you how much time you require to repay the loan on monthly installments basis. If a person requires more time to pay loan lets suppose 25 years or 30 years he have to pay more interest as comparison with the person who is repaying loan on less time so one must look at its source of income before making any decision because a wrong decision can be costly for you.

There is another option open for those people who find long term loan payment risky is to get a cheap mortgage loans with help of any advisor. In order to get a cheap mortgage loan one requires a help of broker because it would be very difficult for a person to find a cheap mortgage loan for him alone without any help of broker.

It is better to hire a broker in order to get a cheap mortgage loan from any reliable institution at a very fine rate. So a person should hire the best broker to find a loan for him at a cheap rate.


One can also find cheap mortgage loan through internet as internet is the biggest source of information and there are many organizations which are offering loans online. So a person who is finding a cheap mortgage loan has to do one thing to visit the bank’s website and apply for the loan after reading all terms and conditions.

Now a days Government of powerful countries like America are also providing low rates loans to deserving people. So a person should find some people who are eligible for these loans and most of the loan even don’t requires any down payment so this is  also a very good option open for borrowers.

If a person is unable to find any loan at low rate so he can discuss it with finical experts and they will definitely direct him about possibilities of finding a cheap mortgage loan so that he can buy any property or use it for business development.

View the original article here

Monday, August 15, 2011

Mortgage Assistance Relief Services (MARS)

The FTC released their final Mortgage Assistance Relief Services (MARS) ruling in December of 2010. Recently there has been much discussion about it and how it affects real estate investors. It appears that it really only affects you if you work with homeowners facing the prospect of foreclosure or you attempt to work on their behalf for a short sale, loan modification, forbearance, or any other strategy aimed at mortgage relief.

From what I can tell, the only affect seems to be that you need to include additional disclosures both in your marketing to general audiences, and more specific disclosures to the actual homeowner with whom you assist. You also can not collect upfront fees or require payment for services that have not been completed.

My advice is that you should talk with your attorney to see exactly how this ruling will affect the way you do business in your state if you are involved with any of these strategies. The actual FTC ruling can be found at:
http://www.ftc.gov/os/fedreg/2010/december/R911003mars.pdf

It seems that every time the government issues a new law or ruling there is much brouhaha in the industry with some “experts” claiming the end of investing as we know it. I see it as simple disclosures that the homeowner should understand anyway as just good business practice. So get the facts from your attorney and comply with the ruling  – that’s all.

Anyone have additional info on MARS they would like to share?

View the original article here

Friday, August 12, 2011

Mortgage Rates Holding Steady at Lows for the Year

Mortgage rates remained little changed for the fourth straight week, according to Freddie Mac’s weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS).

The average rate on 15-year fixed mortgages held steady at 3.69 percent, while the 30-year fixed rate mortgage ticked up ever so slightly, to 4.51 percent from 4.50 percent. The 5-year adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) rate hit a new record low, dropping a smidge to 3.22 percent from 3.25. The previous record for 5-year ARM rates was set in November of 2010, at 3.25 percent.

“Interest rates on 30-year fixed mortgages hovered around 4.5 percent for the fourth consecutive week following mixed reports on the strength of the economy,” said Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist of Freddie Mac.

“There were some signs of improvement in the housing market,” Nothaft added.  “However, much of the improvement reflected the seasonal increase in homebuying over the spring-summer period.”



View the original article here

Sunday, August 7, 2011

New Self-build Off-plan Mortgages in Turkey

NEW Self-Build Off-Plan Mortgages in Turkey
Relatively low construction costs in Turkey make it possible to own a top bracket luxury home for a fraction of the acquisition cost elsewhere.

For example, a palatial 250 m2 floor plan will have a construction cost of £65 - 100,000. Land costs vary widely, but for a desirable location the total land and build cost would typically range £110-185,000.

Provided the design and location are right, these type of villas can generate a gross rental yield of 14-18% for the April to October season, and more near an all year golf resort development. In order to achieve these rental yields,  plot design and location are the key.

For those with a penchant for the ultimate in both Interior and exterior finishing quality, the range of choice is unsurpassed. Superb artisan craftsmanship in wood and stone work is abundant to compliment exceptional design skills in the best tradition of the Sultans - imported Italian, French, or Istanbul chic.  Turkey has long been a sought after treasury of rare marbles, ceramics, and metals for foreign markets, and the available choice would not disappoint a creative Italian designer's most extravagant ambitions.

For anyone satisfied with nothing less than an exceptional life-style standard, Turkey is one of the best kept secrets, and one of the most desirable locations anywhere in the world. Those in the know, include  many from the ranks of the rich and famous, enjoying discreet privacy in select locations all along the Turkish Riviera. And why not? This coast line has been the idyllic home of innumerable civilisations since the dawn of time for very good reason, as anyone who has ever visited will attest to.

The rugged and lush green mountainous terrain, and endless small turquoise coves, make this coast line perhaps the best hide-away anywhere - which shouldn't come as surprise considering the history of piracy since ancient times. Never-the-less, the casual observer is inevitably surprised by the number of £2-10 million estates snuggled  discretely out of sight and sound, so well concealed as they are.

Understanding the attractions of this segment, the Turkish Mortgage Centre are very pleased to introduce the first off-plan self-build mortgage in Turkey. The product enables a lifestyle investor to use 20 year mortgage finance for the land purchase and construction of the ultimate dream home, over a one or two year build cycle. “Turkish mortgage legislation is very specific, so we are very pleased to have succeeded with the bundling of services and development of this product, enabling lifestyle investors to finance a £1-2 million home for a build cost of a couple hundred thousand pounds   - the sale value of a semi-detached house in the UK -  an obviously enticing investment proposition.” 

View the original article here

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Personal Finance V - Understand Home Mortgages

Buy a home is one important decision that many people have to make sometime in their life. If you decide to buy a home now, there are many things you have to know and many papers have to be signed before the home you brought can be registered to your name.

When home, house or real estate is used to secure a loan, the borrower signs a contract called a mortgage. It is a contract refers to the borrower as the mortgagor, and the lender is called the mortgagee. The gradual repayment over many years of a mortgage, usually 15, 20, 30 years including the accrued of interest, is called amortization and equity of a property can be estimated by finding a fair market value price and subtracting the outstanding mortgage debt.

In this article, we will discuss types of mortgages.

Understand First and Second Mortgages a) If a property may have more than one mortgage on it, then the mortgages will be ranked as first, second,...according to the order they were recorded at the registry office.
b) If the first mortgage on a property is paid off by the home borrower, the second mortgage automatically becomes the first mortgage.
c) If the home buyer defaults on the mortgage payments and the property will be foreclosed and resell, after first mortgage has been paid, the claims of the second mortgage would be settled.
d) Usually, home buyer requires to provide a down payment of at least 25% of the property's value.

Conventional Mortgage a) A conventional mortgage is a type of mortgage offered by all banks, trusts and credit unions requiring the home buyer to have a down payment of at least 25% of the property value.
b) Privately arranged conventional mortgage, the down payment can be whatever the parties involved agreed upon.

Insured Mortgages a) If the mortgage is approved, financial institution may require home buyer to have addition life insurance equal to the amount of mortgage to protect the owner as well as financial institutions in case of home buyer sudden death before paying off the mortgage.
b) If the down payment is less than 25% of the property value, financial institution may require any amount less than the requirement of 25% to be insured.

Mortgage Brokers Mortgage brokers specialize in making contact between those who have funds to invest in mortgages and those who need a mortgage. The rates for arranging a mortgage usually is 0.5% or higher of total amount borrowed is payable by the borrower at the time of closing.

Ratios to calculate home buyer qualificationThe mortgage lender will calculate 2 ratios
a) Gross debt service
It is the percentage of the buyer's annual gross income (usually not exceed 32%) needed to cover the mortgage payments, plus municipal taxes.
b) Total debt service
It is the percentage of annual income needed to cover mortgage payments, taxes, heating, and consumer debts, usually not exceed 38%.


View the original article here

Friday, July 22, 2011

Mortgages and Negative Equity

Not so long ago the rules of buying a property were clearly defined. Mortgage banks set some pretty strong criteria which had to be strictly adhered to and there were no room for negotiation. Equity of a minimum of thirty percent was required on a property, and if you didn't have the thirty percent, you saved harder till you did. In the case of young couples who were buying their first home, it was fairly common practice for the bride's parents to pay a fairly large chunk of the deposit, with the groom's parents adding a little, and the young couple making up the balance. Sound idyllic? It was. For the simple reason, that then, which means up to fifteen years ago, property prices were realistic and an average family could afford to pay out the relatively small sums of money required to make the equity required to purchase a property.

However, as the property boom began to take of in the mid nineteen nineties, and property prices began to rise, it became increasingly difficult for buyers to raise the money required for equity. So what did the banks do? So anxious were they to sell mortgages and earn interest that they began to relax their restrictions on equity minimums. Fuelled by the seemingly never ending property boom, every year they demanded a little less equity, Not only that, the banks, so hungry were they to lend money and earn interest, were less than stringent in doing physical valuations on the properties that they were lending against. It seemed that no matter the state of the property, it would always rise in value. This was true, at least on paper, till the sub-prime mortgage crisis fell upon the World in the summer of 2007.

When the bubble burst, home owners were forced to wake up to the reality that their property values had dropped by ten per cent almost overnight and the predictions were that they could fall to as far as twenty five percent within the next few years. For veteran home owners, who had bought properties twenty or even ten years ago, and invested reasonable equities and seen their property rise to double in value, whilst it was upsetting it was by no means a disaster. Also for people who purchased a property five years ago or after, and had placed little or no equity into the property the situation is not easy, but is liveable with, at least in the short term. The people who appear to be hardest hit or those who bought properties in the early 2000s. Those who placed equity of between five to fifteen percent of the value of the property when they bought it.

Today their property is worth ten percent less, which means that they have lost whatever appreciation on the property value they earned, and are starting to dig into their equity. With property values continuing to fall the equation is that they will have lost all their equity and will actually owe more on their mortgage than the property is worth.

That is a classic case of negative equity and how innocent people who wanted to own their own properties and invested reasonable sums of their own probably hard earned money to do see the danger of having their equity wiped out. The best advice you can give to these people is to hang in, not to panic and in time their property value will return, and their equity will be saved. In may take time, but it will happen.

View the original article here

Friday, June 10, 2011

NY Times Buy vs. Rent Calculator

The New York Times has one of the slickest looking buy or rent calculators (one of the hottest Devil’s Advocate subjects on Bargaineering is rent vs. buy) I’ve seen in quite some time. It can be as complicated (using advanced settings) or as simple (fill out five fields – monthly rent, home price, down payment, mortgage rate, and property taxes) as you want and it gives you an answer in an easy to see graph.

I decided it would be fun to put in our information from when we bought our home six years ago. We paid $295,000, put 20% down, and faced monthly rent somewhere in the neighborhood of $1,500 for a 2-bedroom apartment. We know our mortgage interest rate was 5.25% and property taxes at around 1% (due to a homestead tax cap, our actual rate is 3% but the effective rate is only around 1%).

For the most part, we assume rent increases with historical inflation (~4%) and if we have a home price change of 0% (which is close to reality, our home is worth no more and really no less than it did six years ago), the calculator says we would break even at 12 years. We’re halfway there. A change of just 1% in appreciation, which is lower than the historical appreciation of homes (but more than the actual appreciation over the last six years) reduces that breakeven point by 3 years. 2% appreciation (annually each year) means we would’ve broken even in six years.

Back when I did the rent vs. buy analysis, I assumed home prices would increase with inflation. 4% appreciation with 4% inflation meant I’d break even after 3 years, a near no-brainer given my situation. Even at 3% appreciation, 3% inflation, breakeven was after 5 years.

The fun part about the calculator is the graph. It responds instantly to all the fields and tickers you play with. The wealth of information at the bottom (which you reveal when you click on a year in the graph) is also pretty handy too, especially if you like to play with numbers.


View the original article here

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Beware the Pitfalls When Looking For Cheap Mortgages

Mortgages can be expensive and exhausting financial commitments. It is understandable if you find a great deal to want to take it straight away, but when is what looks like a cheap mortgage really a good offer? There are often hidden charges and restrictive terms and conditions hiding behind a low interest rate, so look out for the following before you sign on the dotted line.

Watch out for cheap mortgage traps
When taking out a mortgage, you put down a deposit on the amount you are borrowing. The loan-to-value (LTV) percentage is key here. The LTV is basically the amount of money you borrow against the property value, expressed as a percentage of the property value. So, a high LTV mortgage means that mortgage lenders need more insurance against the borrower defaulting on payments. This insurance takes the form of Higher Lending Charges (HLCs), which is the first thing to look out for when searching for a cheap mortgage. The higher the LTV, the more likely you are to be subjected HLCs and the more the HLC will be. HLCs are calculated as a percentage of the portion of the loan above 75% of the property value, which can add up to thousands. It is important to consider whether or not you will have to pay HLCs when comparing mortgage products.

The next potential hidden charge that could blight your cheap mortgage deal is the Early Repayment Charge (ERC). ERCs are imposed by a mortgage lender if you decide to repay your mortgage early, to cover the interest they will lose, or if you decide to switch to another mortgage product or another lender. ERCs are calculated as a percentage of your original loan, a percentage of the outstanding balance, a percentage of the sum repaid, or a set number of months' interest, so it is important to know which method is used to work out how much you would have to pay. If you think that you will want to repay your mortgage early, or switch mortgages, you should work out if the ERCs would prevent you from saving any money.

The final payment you can fall prey to is Mortgage Payment Protection Insurance (MPPI). It is always advisable to take out MPPI, as with a policy like this your mortgage payments are covered for a specified period of time if you become ill, injured or unemployed. A common mistake many people make, however, is to rely too heavily on their MPPI, or not know the circumstances under which their MPPI does not apply. For example, most MPPI policies do not cover payments of more that £1,500 per month and many do not allow you to claim cover before 60 days have passed since you took out the policy. Periods of unemployment that could have been predicted, such as those due to pre-existing medical conditions, are also not often catered for. So, when searching for a cheap mortgage, it makes sense to search for cheap but effective MPPI as well, and always read the small print.

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Friday, May 20, 2011

Internet Plays A Big Role In Mortgage Loans

The manner in which the home/property is being bought and sold across the nation is going through a revolution moreover the internet is playing a bigger role in it. Allowing you to buy home and compare rates from the comfort of your home without you having to move out of your house. As comparing mortgage rates on the internet is the most recent way, the bond between the borrower and the mortgage lender has altered a lot, and in this case, the transformation is certainly for the better.

In earlier times, mortgage choices were inadequate and clients were not familiar with all the plans that were available, therefore a lot approving to conditions that were less than favorable when compared to other available loans from different lenders. At the same time as, the mortgage criminals, also recognized as predatory lenders, have established a place for themselves on the internet, the comprehensive information on various mortgage products from several lenders and strict government ruling has restricted their capability to attract new borrowers significantly. Though steps have been taken by government to restrict their activities borrowers should do research and comparison-shopping to get best possible deal.

The benefits of online mortgage research and comparison-shopping are noticeable; you can contrast various plans and then get the one that best suits your present economic condition. You can ask for loan quotes simultaneously, from a number of diverse lenders and subsequently prefer the loan plan that offers you the interest rate you are ready to pay for. In view of the fact that you can carry out your investigation in the wee small hours or on public holiday as well as weekends at what time mortgage lenders are generally having a break, the simplicity with which you can obtain the details you need significantly reduces the entire time taken for a property deal to go through.

For sure, there is a negative aspect to the online mortgage trade. Similar to several other type of online site, there are the criminals who are on the lookout for to cash in on individuals who are searching for loans. A few are phishing for restricted information that could be sold to the maximum bidder at the same time as others will try to find your social security number as element of an identity theft plan. In a few instances there is the possibility that a not so famous lender might manage to lure along with use swap trick and will try to obtain your signature on the contract for a plan you would not in fact like.

Hunting for mortgages on the internet is an excellent means of informing yourself and getting replies to several queries. Watch out on details you provide and be extremely careful to whom you are ready to provide it. Make use of the internet as a means for study and for contrast shopping; in addition, if you are by any means unconvinced on the loan plans you are taking into consideration, get in touch with a neighboring mortgage broker to put in plain words your alternatives to you physically. In addition, you can obtain a mortgage quote from a reliable site like www.ratesupermarket.ca as well.

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Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Poor Credit Mortgage Loans

One of the biggest fears to individuals facing bankruptcy is that they will never again be able to obtain a mortgage loan. For those that are facing that decision, they will be relieved to discover that within one day of their bankruptcy being discharged, they will be able to obtain Poor Credit Mortgage Loans.

On the flip side of this good news, individuals with bad credit will need to understand exactly what's expected of them and that what will be available to them does not compare to what a borrower with perfect credit will be able to get. Still, the option does exist, you can get poor credit home loans.

One disadvantage to those with poor credit trying to take out Poor Credit Mortgage Loans is the fact that the lender will charge higher interest rates and charge more points than if your credit was higher. The reason for this is that lending money to borrowers with less than perfect credit carries a high risk and the company lending the money needs compensation for taking on this risk.

Finding a broker or a lender to do a bad credit home loan might take a little extra work on the part of the borrower, but it's also a good step to take to start rebuilding your credit again.

While you may think that the odds are stacked against you if your credit has taken a significant hit, the truth is there are advantages out there to help you.

You can consider a Bad Credit FHA Mortgage which is specifically designed for people with less than perfect credit. The interest rates with FHA loans are typically less expensive than what you'd find in the sub-prime market.  The Bad Credit FHA Mortgage is easier to qualify for even if your credit scores are lower than normal.  Also you will have a lower down payment of only 3.5% of the mortgage amount.  Also you can get the down payment from other sources such as family members.

You can also go online and find help from experts in the Poor Credit Mortgage Loans industry, they are willing and able to help you find the best rate for your loan, and you will be on the road to repairing your credit and securing your future.

Don't let bankruptcy instill the fear that you will never again be able to obtain a loan of any kind. The truth is, there are many people facing this kind of decision and while it is not easy, obtaining Poor Credit Mortgage Loans is a good way to start repairing your credit.

With a little research, you will be able to find the loan that fits your needs and allows you to once more be a homeowner. There is no longer a stigma attached to bankruptcy, there are experts in the mortgage industry standing by to help you get back on track with Poor Credit Mortgage Loans.

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Saturday, May 14, 2011

Is Adjustable Mortgage Rate Right For You

With rates on fixed-rate mortgages climbing, a new focus is forming on adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs).  A new survey of 112 lenders by mortgage giant Freddie Mac, found that ARMs accounted for just three percent of new home loans in early 2009, but are projected to be the preferred choice for nearly one out of 10 borrowers in 2011.

With rate spreads widening between ARMs and 30-year fixed rate mortgages (approximately 1.625 percent or more), there are consumers who could benefit from an ARM which features protective rate caps should rates rise significantly.

Mistakenly labeled subprime for the last few years, ARMs are making a comeback as an attractive option for home financing.  While it’s not for everyone, it can be a viable alternative for several types of consumers who may have or are considering a traditional fixed-rate loan.  Here are a few situations where consumers could benefit from an adjustable rate mortgage:



  • Planning to Move – You plan on moving before you reach the adjustable rate portion of your loan. If it takes longer than expected to sell your home, you understand that you will face an adjustable rate and are financially prepared for it.
  • Financially Confident – You consider yourself fiscally responsible and plan to use the savings of the ARM’s lower rate during the fixed-rate period to accomplish other goals.  Your financial plan has breathing room, should the adjustable rate increase your monthly payment.
  • First-Time Home Buyer – Whether you’re single or a newlywed, you want a home of your own, but are not likely to stay in your “starter” home for more than 5-7 years.
  • Can’t Put Handprints in the Cement – You have a career that causes you to frequently relocate, whether it is sales, the Armed Forces, athletics, etc. 
  • Retirement-Bound – You are approaching the end of your working days and plan to relocate, refinance or simply pay off the remainder of your mortgage at that time.
  • Facing an Empty Nest – You would like to downsize now that your children are off to college or living on their own.  An ARM can help save extra money for a down payment on a home that reflects the new family dynamic.
  • Rising Income – You expect to make more money within the next few years.  For example, if you are completing a medical residency program, you could benefit now from a lower payment, but once you’re a doctor, the substantially higher income will help you handle a fluctuation in payment.


Generally, ARMs help homeowners take advantage of several years of low mortgage payments.  It’s important to talk to your mortgage banker about your short- and long-term financial goals to determine if an ARM will help you achieve them.  At minimum, it’s worth taking the time to review the terms offered by an ARM and fixed-rate mortgage and compare them to your lifestyle.

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Friday, May 13, 2011

How Could A Government Shutdown Affect Average Mortgage Consumer

With an impending government shutdown looming, many banks and mortgage lenders fear they may not be able to close home loans that are currently in their pipeline.

These banks and lenders rely heavily on the insurance provided from the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to help fund these loans. If there is a shut down, the FHA will not be processing any existing or insuring any new mortgages. FHA loans account for approximately 30% of all mortgages written in today’s mortgage market.


Many banks and lenders will have to fund and hold onto the loans until the government re-opens, and unfortunately, many are not willing to take that risk.

According to the Wall Street Journal, U.S. Housing Secretary Shaun Donovan states he was “very concerned that a significant number of lenders would not choose to close on those loans.” In addition, many are concerned about the ripple effect this may have on an already compromised mortgage and real estate industry.

How could the shutdown affect the average mortgage consumer? Or those planning to buy a home in the near future? A shutdown could mean a long delay in closing on your mortgage – putting you in a long line waiting for loan approval when the government does re-open. Moreover, you could run the risk of your mortgage rate lock expiring during the shutdown. At that point, you would likely have to pay either a rate extension fee or lose your lock and potentially be stuck with a higher rate than you had planned.

Fortunately for you, Quicken Loans is staying open with full operations during the government shutdown.


“Everything is business as usual, even if the government does shut down,” says Bob Walters, Chief Economist of Quicken Loans. “We will continue to take applications and close loans on all product types – including FHA and VA Loans.”


You can rest assured we will remain ready and available to close your loan quickly and with the same high-quality service that you’ve grown accustomed to with Quicken Loans.Don’t let this government shutdown affect closing your mortgage. We remain committed to helping our clients close their loans quickly and easily, without delay.

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Friday, April 22, 2011

What Are Typical Mortgage Down Payments?

When buying a house for the first time the home buyers make a token amount of money as a mortgage down payments or down payments gifts.

Down payment gifts are heavily regulated. Since many first time home buyers are lacking funds, this makes down payment assistance programs useful. Without programs such as this, many first time home buyers would find it impossible to make that first purchase.

Lenders like to see the buyer have a state in the purchase. So in this brief article I want to help you understand how they work. Try to put yourself in the shoes of the lender. When using down payment assistance or down payment gifts the lender assumes 100% of the risk.

That is why the only proper way for this type of help to work is it has to be a gift. Now you may be wondering, how can I get a gift like this? If this type of mortgage down payment assistance was not regulated, there could become a lot of loan sharks out there.

All FHA loans allow for down payments assistance for the first time home buyers. The gift for down payment can come from anywhere it can be from any relative or friends or even from a charity. However the gift you would be using as down payment has to be documented to prove that this is a gift not a loan. This is just an assurance to the lenders that even you have a small amount of interest in the property. That interest of course is equal to the gift which was used as the down payment.

Now, what if you don’t get any help from your family members or friends for the down payment assistance, we can use a charity. However, it is not exactly the same as if you had gotten a gift from a family member.

There are charities out there that will use the seller’s proceeds as the down payment assistance for you. So then, if we do not have a family member that can help and if we have a problem finding the charity, we can ask the seller to offer the down payment assistance.

Now you must be wondering how does it work? The seller makes a donation to the charity and then the charity makes the down payment for you. Now you may wonder, how can this actually be? Do you mean that the seller is going to make my down payment? No, that is not actually what takes place. The seller makes a charitable donation and the charity makes a gift to the lender equal to the amount of your down payment.

I do not know any other way to explain this other than it is what I call a legal way to launder money! As the buyer of a home, you know you need to make a down payment, so this type of mortgage down payment assistance program is available to you.

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