For the average person who does not work in the mortgage industry, the mortgage jungle is very overwhelming. Mortgages are complicated! This article is a small collections of tips and advice of what an average person should know when looking for a mortgage. We kept it simply, but informative.
Reverse Mortgage Funding
As we grow older, living expenses seem to increase drastically, it is for this reason a great number of elders choose to seek a reverse mortgage to provide help with these expenses. This option typically works well for those who have fully paid for their home, and have no mortgage upon it. Simply speaking, when you take advantage of a reverse mortgage you will receive a monthly stipend from the equity that your home carries. This is especially useful to the elderly, sometimes securing a reverse mortgage aides them with living expenses, that alone could help in allowing them to remain within their own home. It is wise to request to a mortgage broker that the cost of closing should be paid out of the money received from the reverse mortgage loan. Essentially meaning, no expenses directly out of pocket.
Mortgage Options – Interest Only
Interest only mortgages are specifically designed to substantially decrease your payment amount over the first years of the mortgage term. The way this program works is that for these first few years you are only making payments towards the interest of the mortgage. This keeps the mortgage payments lower than other mortgage options because you are not required to pay on the principal of the loan. Eventually the time will come that you will be required to pay both the interest and the principal. It is wise to fully investigate this mortgage option prior to choosing it. Very carefully make some calculations and determine rather or not you will be able to afford the payments once both interest and principal are required.
The Right Mortgage Broker for you.
With the vast presence of the internet, obtaining the proper mortgage broker has never been easier. Additionally the internet allows you to locate mortgage brokers from all over your area. You are not limited to using a local broker or company in any way. The mortgage brokers you can find on the internet are in great competition with each other. What does this mean for you? It is simple because they are so competitive, you will win with excellent program and competitive rates. To choose the proper mortgage broker for you, you first must be comfortable in choosing them. Choose a mortgage broker that gives you confidence in their guidance. Take your time in finding the perfect mortgage broker for you; make sure their goals and your goals match, thoroughly research all your options before making a choice.
Obtaining a Mortgage Loan the Fast way.
Obtaining a mortgage loan through the internet is easier than ever before. The benefit of an online mortgage broker is that generally, they have a wider spectrum of lenders and various programs that a typical mortgage broker might have. More often than not, they have the ability to process request more quickly, as well. Online mortgage brokers can even aid you if there is urgency because of a fast approaching closing date or you are in need of speedy refinancing. All of this is thanks to the technology of automated credit checks, verification of income and online loan applications. You can find mortgage brokers through various measures such as using a popular search engine like Google, simply type in mortgage broker and you will be amazed with the results. A better option is to search for reviews about the mortgage broker or seek the advice and referrals from your friends and family. The best mortgage broker will possess the seal of the Better Business Bureau.
Adjustable Rate Mortgage and What you should know about it.
If you opt for an adjustable rate mortgage ensure that you are fully aware of these facts , this will help you be ready when the time comes for your fixed rate mortgage ceases.
1. You should know when the first rate adjustment will occur and how much the adjustment will be. Knowing the specific date will prepare you for the event.
2. You should know that the adjustable mortgage rate fluctuates with the changes of interest rates. Find out what index your rate is associated with, so you can investigate the interest rates on your own.
3. Know all of your options when it comes to refinancing. If a adjustable rate mortgage proves to be unbeneficial for you, you have the option of refinancing with a fixed rate mortgage. To get a good interest rate on a fixed mortgage you should watch the rates closely and if you choose to refinance, do so when the rates are comfortable to you.
Obtaining Flexible Interest Only Mortgages
For those that practice self-discipline, a flexible interest only may be practical. This option provides a payment arrangement that is flexible in regards to the payments that you make. This does not mean they are flexible on the timely manner in which you pay them, this simply means when your payment date arrives you are required to make a minimum payment of at least an amount towards the interest on the loan. However, with this flexible option you can opt to pay an additional amount towards the principle of your mortgage. Generally, your flexible interest only coupon book will include an area that determines the amount needed to be applied towards the principle if you should choose to do so. This is where that self-discipline comes in handy, it is wise to apply as much as possible towards the principle, bringing the amount down and coming that much closer to paying off your mortgage.
Posts Tagged ‘Mortgage Payments’
Capital and Repayment Mortgages
January 4th, 2010What Is Capital and Repayment Mortgage?
“Repayment mortgage (also called a capital-and interest loan)
Your monthly payments gradually pay off the amount you owe as well as paying the interest charged on the loan. Provided you make all the agreed payments, the loan will be fully paid off by the end of the mortgage term. “
- Consumer Information, FSA, June 2006
Repayment mortgage and capital mortgage (or capital loan) are the exact same thing, made more confusing by the fact that this type of mortgage is known by more than one name. But don’t let that confuse you! Capital and repayment mortgage is, in fact, the same thing.
How Do I Know Capital, or Repayment, Mortgage Is Right For Me?
Repayment/Capital mortgage is great for those who want to get their entire mortgage, capital and interest, paid off by the end of their mortgage term. Once the term is up on this type of mortgage, you’re done and fully paid off. Many mortgage policies focus on the interest that you owe. Capital and repayment mortgages are popular because they allow homeowners to pay off everything that they owe.
The bank or company that you work with to determine your mortgage policy and payments can give you all sorts of options. Make sure to ask what the interest rate and payment structure on a Capital or repayment mortgage would be. The numbers will help you decide what’s right for you. After all, the right mortgage is the one that you can afford.
Do Capital and Repayment Mortgages Cost More Than Other Types of Mortgages?
“You usually pay off mostly interest in the early years and then gradually more of the capital debt. It may seem as if this is costing more but that’s because unlike the other types of mortgages you’re paying off the capital and not just the interest. “
- Repayment Mortgages, Mortgage Sorter web site, June 2006
While capital and repayment mortgages do not necessarily cost more than other types of mortgages, you may feel that you are paying out for a longer period of time with a capital and repayment mortgage. This is not true, however. Capital and repayment mortgages just allow you to pay off your entire mortgage in one complete payment cycle. And once you’re done, you’re done. That’s the beauty of a capital and repayment mortgage, one of the most popular types of mortgages used by homeowners.
I Still Don’t Know What Kind of Mortgage I Need. What Should I Do?
If you know that you want to finance or re-finance your home or property, it’s an easy decision to take out a mortgage policy. The only problem is, what kind of mortgage will suit your needs best? With so many options out there, and so much information about different types of mortgages available, it can make your head swim. When you’ve never had a mortgage before and don’t know that much about mortgages in general, how do you decide what’s best for you?
The only way to know what type of mortgage will fit your needs is to run the numbers. Have your bank, financial advisor, or the company that you’re re-financing with gives you examples of payment plans for many types of mortgages, and be sure to get your questions answered about each policy. You will think up many different questions, some of which can only be answered by those you’re working with to establish your mortgage. You’ll know what’s right for you when you see the plan in black and white, because you’re the only one who truly understands what your financial situation is.
A Bamboozling Dilemma: Fixed Rate or Adjustable Rate Mortgage?
December 31st, 2009A lot of people who plan to buy a house often wonder what kind of mortgage is right for them: an adjustable rate mortgage or a fixed rate mortgage. To be able to determine the suitability of a mortgage type, potential buyers should familiarize themselves with the advantages and disadvantages. This way, they enable themselves to come up with informed decisions.
Depending on the term of the mortgage and a borrower’s financial needs, both the adjustable rate mortgage and the fixed rate mortgage are appealing to various types of homebuyers. But it is essential that homebuyers become aware of the difference between the two kinds of mortgages.
An adjustable rate mortgage, or an ARM for short, is commonly known as a variable rate mortgage. This mortgage features an interest rate linked to an economic index. Interest rates and mortgage payments are occasionally adjusted in keeping with the changes in the said index. The primary interest rate for an adjustable rate mortgage is lower compared to the rate of a fixed rate mortgage, which features an interest rate that remains unchanged for the entire life of the loan. In contrast to the fixed rate mortgage, the adjustable rate mortgage offer borrowers the choice to make an early repayment of the initial principal borrowed without a penalty charge.
A principal reason why you should consider an adjustable rate mortgage is that you may end up with a lower monthly mortgage payment. Because you’re taking a risk with unpredictable interest rates, you are rewarded with an initial rate that’s lower compared to an adjustable rate mortgage. You can consider an adjustable rate mortgage a good option if: you plan to stay in your home for only a few years; you anticipate an increase in your future income; or, the existing interest rate for a fixed rate mortgage is too high.
One disadvantage of the adjustable rate mortgage is that there is a risk that the rates will rise on you, which means that your monthly mortgage payment will increase significantly. It is possible that the payment can get too high that you may have to default on your loan.
On the other hand, a fixed rate mortgage features an interest rate that is fixed for the entire life of the loan, even if the mortgage lender’s interest rate rises and falls in the future. Because the payments are predetermined, homeowners can budget the amount they need to set aside for their monthly mortgage payment. They can also afford to plan their finances for the long-term.
The drawback is that this type of mortgage comes with higher interest rates. Also, with a fixed rate mortgage, lenders often set up a prepayment penalty that dissuades borrowers from paying off their mortgage early or refinancing their mortgage loan with a lower interest rate. This type of mortgage also puts borrowers at a disadvantage when interest rates fall. However, borrowers can shift to a mortgage program that enables them to benefit from lower interest rates. One way to do this is to qualify and pay for mortgage refinancing.
Compared to an adjustable rate mortgage, the fixed rate mortgage is a more attractive choice for borrowers who opt for a long-term plan. The fixed rate mortgage also offers more security for buyers and is best suited for homeowners who wish to keep their houses for a longer period of time.
Flexible Mortgages are Made for Today’s Modern Lifestyle
December 30th, 2009Flexible mortgages are among some of the new mortgage packages that have been created to cater for the modern mortgage market. The modern mortgage market has become more liberal and creative, and therefore this has led to an increase in the choice and diversity of mortgage packages being offered to borrowers. Most major lenders include some kind of flexible mortgage in their product range. The majority of flexible mortgages are sold through the traditional routes and they are increasing their hold in the mortgage market, due to consumer demand.
Essentially a flexible mortgage is a secured loan that can be paid back in varying amounts, and the interest is calculated on the fluctuations of the outstanding balance. Flexible mortgages are particularly suited to todayâs lifestyle, for example: âjobs for lifeâ are virtually unknown, you might want a career break to raise a family or you might expect some major life changes in the near future.
A flexible mortgage can offer:
Overpayments
You can pay off your mortgage quicker by making regular overpayments or by paying in a lump sum on an ad hoc basis, without incurring any redemption penalties. A flexible mortgage recalculates your outstanding mortgage balance on either a daily or monthly basis, and your interest payments are quickly adjusted for the overpayments that have been made.
Underpayments
You can reduce your regular mortgage payments or even have a complete payment holiday without being in default. There will be conditions attached to this option, for example: you might have to build up a reserve of overpayments before being allowed to underpay. However, a consequence of underpayment means an increase in your outstanding mortgage balance.
Further loans
You can withdraw lump sums from your mortgage account to be used for any purpose, without the formality of applying for a new loan. There are usually conditions attached to this feature, for example: you might have to build up a reserve of overpayments against which you can borrow, and there will probably be a ceiling on the overall amount you can borrow through your original mortgage.
Not all flexible mortgages offer those features, so you will have to shop around.
The ability to pay off your mortgage early is a necessary feature of all flexible mortgages, and the main point of distinction for a flexible mortgage is the extent to which you are allowed to withdraw funds from your mortgage account. The least flexible mortgage combines overpayment facilities with only the option to take occasional payment holidays.
In a recent survey of flexible mortgages carried out for the Council of Mortgage Lenders, nearly half of the surveyed borrowers had not made use of the flexible options that their mortgage gave them. The borrowers that had made use of the flexible options mainly used the overpayment option to allow them clear their mortgage early by either regular overpayments and/or an occasional lump sum payment.
A more structured approach to the flexible mortgage is offered by the current account mortgage (CAM) and the offset mortgage. With a CAM, there is just one account as it combines your mortgage account and current account. The offset mortgage uses separate accounts for the mortgage, current, and savings account. The interest earnt by the current and savings accounts is offset against the outstanding mortgage capital and the interest is reduced accordingly. It is important to make sure the mortgage rate is competitive because some lenders charge a higher rate than average and thus the benefit is lost.
Flexible mortgages have been around since the 1990âs and they have grown in popularity since then. The future looks good for flexible mortgages, with even more options for borrowers to choose from as time progresses.
The Reverse Mortgage is Meeting the Needs of Seniors in a Big Way
December 24th, 2009In most cases the senior is looking places to find money to off set the major loses they have felt from the banking and investment crisis. The one place that is still a safe haven in many areas is the home, even with declining values. The main reason is that most seniors purchased their homes when values were mush lower before the great appreciation era. If a seniors still has a mortgage on their home and many do have a current mortgage on their home and have to make payments every month. If a senior has a first mortgage lets say just for $100,000 at a 6% rate they are putting out over $600. 00 per month or $7,200 per year. This amount if they did not have to make the payment would be added to their income that they would be able to use to live. In many cases seniors over the years when the economy was booming many took at 30 year loans and or adjustable rate mortgage and are now faced with higher payments and they are trying to stay afloat. If a senior is faced with this problem they should really consider a Reverse Mortgage for many reasons not to mention relief from payments. In many cases not only would they be free from mortgage payments, but they would receive additional funds to use as they see fit. Under the Reverse Mortgage program they senior controls how and what they spend the money on once they have closed. Some things never change when doing a Reverse Mortgage and that is they still must pay the taxes and insurance on their home. If a senior is use to having an escrow of taxes and insurance they maybe able to set aside the monies with the company and have them pay it yearly for them. One thing that all seniors should be looking at is the availability to access the money that they need from their home that they paid for over the course of their lives. In the years that you will need it the most and not have to worry about paying it back in their lifetime. Many seniors are now thinking that if they take out a Reverse Mortgage and the bank or Mortgage Company goes out of business they will be out of luck. This is not true it is protected by the FHA mortgage insurance, that if they do go out of business then Federal Government takes over and pays them the money. The Reverse Mortgage is the safest mortgage in the entire mortgage industry. Unlike a typical mortgage where a lender has many options to force your paying of the loan, the Reverse Mortgage has the full protection of the US Government that guarantees that the senior will never have to leave their home for as long as they live. This of course is providing they pay their taxes and Insurance and continue to live in the home as their primary residence. Now in 2009 a new program is emerging within the Reverse Mortgage and this a great option for many seniors who have one reason or another sold their home or have to move to a newer location. The Reverse Mortgage purchase program is now available to seniors over the age of 62. The program is design to allow seniors to purchase a home without any mortgage payments for life. Now just to make it very clear this does not mean that a senior can purchase with no money down. This is not the same mortgage that got this country in to the financial situation that we are in where people would by a home with zero down or less in some cases. A senior who is looking to purchase a home will have to have money to purchase a home; it is all based on the age of the person and the appraised value of the home. Let’s say that a person age 62 wants to purchase a home that is appraised at $200,000, they would need approximately 40% down payment on the home. They would in most cases be able to finance all or part of the closing cost within the Reverse Mortgage. But let’s look at it in another way! Remember the older you are the less you will need down!If that same person wanted to purchase a home using a conventional mortgage, they would need at least 20% down and would have to qualify with at least a 720 credit score and have the income to qualify for the mortgage payment. So let’s look at the difference! Conventional Reverse Mortgage $200,000 Purchase price ………………………$200,000$40,000 down payment ………………………. $80,000$160,000 mortgage ……………………………. $120,000 $858. 00 per month payment……………………Zero per monthNow this is what it looks like on paper for a conventional mortgage verses the Reverse Mortgage the big difference is that a senior for a Reverse Mortgage purchase they will not have to qualify for the loan they already are if they are 62 or older. Also under the conventional mortgage if a senior fails to make a payment on their mortgage they will be foreclosed on just like anyone else. For the senior who has a mortgage currently and is worried if they are going to be able to make payments on the mortgage Think Reverse Mortgage! No Income or Credit qualifying; if think this isn’t a big deal call your mortgage banker and see what it takes to get a mortgage today. Also this is very important issue your conventional mortgage is not guaranteed that you will stay in your home for the rest of your life! Here is what you have to do to get a Reverse Mortgage for your home! Speak to a Reverse Mortgage Specialist who can educate you on all aspects of the program. You will be required to have a FHA Approved counseling session and receive your certificate to hand to the mortgage company. A Fully executed loan application must be signed and submitted. The FHA appraisal must be completed for value and condition of property. The title search must be completed and cleared of any and all liens and judgmentsAll insurances must be changed all endorsements Closing is scheduled once all final conditions have been cleared. Closing takes place either in the home or at a title office. The client must wait three business days for the cancelation period which includes Saturdays. Money is disbursed and all existing liens are paid off and any additional funds available are sent to the person who closed on the loan. So if you are thinking of how you are going to make it through these hard times, waiting to see if the market will ever turn around you are loosing money in your home. Remember this as the stock market, and real estate even stay where it is now you may never see the return of that money.
Millions Rely On Fictional Mortgage Benefit
December 12th, 2009Around 3. 85 million home owners believe that a non existent state benefit will enable them to keep up with mortgage repayments in the event of losing their income.
Almost one in ten home owners wrongly believe that the government will pay their mortgage if they are unable to do so for reasons such as redundancy or illness, according to new research.
However, the government will not help anyone with mortgage payments for the first nine months of unemployment and after that, unemployment assistance is only offered to a select group of people who have mortgages of less than £100,000.
A further seven per cent of those surveyed by Lincoln Financial Group were not sure whether government assistance is available, and were seemingly unaware that the last Conservative government scrapped state aid in 1995.
Ian Noble, head of strategic partnerships at Lincoln Financial Group, said that the figures were a warning that million of Britons are enjoying a false sense of financial security, believing that the government will provide financial assistance if and when required.
“That is not the case unfortunately. The government is not going to pay for your mortgage if you lose your job, and assuming that it will place people in real danger is a large risk as it suggests they have no other mortgage protection plan in place,” said Mr. Noble.
Indicative of this perhaps is the news that mortgage repossessions are still continuing to rise dramatically, with repossession orders in England and Wales in the first three months of 2006 witnessing a 57 per cent rise.
© Adfero Ltd
7 Reasons to Use a Mortgage Broker
December 10th, 2009For many people, mortgage payments are their single largest expense. Yet, when financing a home, most Canadians don’t comparison shop to ensure they’re getting the best mortgage rate and terms available. This mistake can cost homeowners tens of thousands of dollars over the course of their mortgage.
Here are seven ways mortgage brokers can help:Access to competitive rates
Brokers deal with multiple competing lenders and can often access exclusive rates. Based on the number of mortgages brokers complete each year, they also have the power to negotiate rate discounts from lenders, which can be passed on to their clients. A free service
Mortgage brokers’ services are typically available at no cost to consumers. Brokers are paid by the lender selected by their clients. Knowledgeable advice
Brokers offer consultative service, advice and solutions that are customized to each client’s needs. And unlike banks, brokers work for you. Speed and convenience
Brokers will work around a client’s schedule to make the transaction as easy and convenient as possible. Pre-qualification
Whether you’re shopping for a new home or refinancing your existing mortgage, a broker can help you obtain a pre-approved mortgage, often with up to a 120-day interest rate guarantee. Preserved credit rating
When you shop for a mortgage, there is an accumulation of lender inquiries on your credit bureau report, possibly affecting your credit rating and, ultimately, the rate and terms of your mortgage. This isn’t the case with a mortgage broker, who only does one inquiry yet can still get many competing lenders to quote on your business. Peace of Mind
The Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Brokers has a stringent Code of Ethics that members are required to adhere to in order to retain membership.
