February 7, 2011
Zero Down Mortgage Loans – Understanding No Money Down Loans
In many housing markets across the country, the increase in home prices does not match the average household income. Hence, many people are unable to save money for a down payment. Ideally, mortgage companies prefer applicants to have a down payment of at least 5%, in addition to paying closing costs. Unfortunately, this is an unrealistic expectation. Thus, many homebuyers are taking advantage of zero down mortgage loans.
How Do Zero Down Loans Works?
Fortunately, many mortgage companies recognize how difficult it is to save for a down payment. Thus, some lenders have created special loan programs that make it possible to buy a home with little out-of-pocket expense. Ordinarily, if you had a down payment for a home, you would obtain better rates. However, because of low mortgage rates, you do not need a down payment to secure a good rate.
There are many options for a zero down home loan. For starters, some mortgage lenders offer an 8020 loan. This involves offering a mortgage for 80% of the asking price, and a 20% home equity loan for the remaining balance. This option is very useful; moreover, homebuyers avoid paying private mortgage insurance.
Additionally, homebuyers may obtain a mortgage loan for 103% of the asking price. This is beneficial because it allows new homebuyers to afford down payment and a portion of the closing fees.
How to Find a No Money Down Mortgage Loan?
If you are hoping to buy a home with zero down, contact a mortgage broker. There are various loan programs that offer zero down loan options. However, you must be willing to look for them. If using a mortgage broker, the company can help you find a lender.
Brokers have access to loans offered by private lenders, government programs, sub prime lenders, etc. Meeting the qualification for a zero down mortgage will vary according to lenders. Some lenders require good credit, no bankruptcies, etc. Meanwhile, other lenders are eager to offer no money down loans to people with less than perfect credit. Working with a mortgage broker can make your dreams of homeownership a reality.
January 31, 2011
You may have heard of the term jumbo mortgage loan and wondered what it means. Well, in this short article I will take you through the meaning and why it is important for you to understand it.
In basic terms, if a mortgage loan exceeds a certain amount, it is considered a jumbo mortgage loan. Currently (as of 2006), a jumbo mortgage loan is a loan more than 417,000. The limit typically changes each year. In 2005, the amount was 357,650.
The great part about a jumbo mortgage loan is the approval process is the same for conventional loans for most lenders. Unfortunately, the interest rate for a jumbo mortgage loan is typically 14% higher than a conventional loan but this does vary and the difference seems to be less year after year.
Since brokers are typically compensated based on the amount of the loan and a jumbo mortgage loan is a larger amount than a conventional, you should feel comfortable negotiating the loan rate with your broker or lender. I am amazed that people will negotiate a 100 tire purchase but will fail to ask the broker compensation on a 1,000,000 loan. A good mortgage broker is happy to discuss fees and in most cases appreciates it. This way there are no surprises or concerns after escrow closes.
Anytime you start the loan process whether refinancing or purchasing a home, I recommend the following steps:
1) Review current mortgage rates on the internet and get a feel for the current market. Interest rates change frequently so this step just gives you an idea. When looking over rates make sure you are reviewing jumbo mortgage loan rates as there is a rate difference.
2) Assess your loan needs and the amount you think you need
3) Ask family or friends for a reference of a mortgage broker
4) If you cannot find a referral, you should proceed cautiously and develop a list of questions for your prospective mortgage broker.
5) Questions you should ask include: how long have you been doing mortgage loans, are you full-time mortgage broker, how do you price your jumbo mortgage loans, and what education do you have. Asking these questions will give you a good first impression of the mortgage broker.
6) Determine if you need to pre-qualify for a loan
7) Complete the loan application thoroughly and accurately
If you work with an experienced mortgage broker, the process will be very painless as the mortgage broker will anticipate problems and deal with them proactively.
If you follow the steps in this article, you are well on your way to getting a great jumbo mortgage loan and will build a long-term trusting relationship with a mortgage broker.
January 24, 2011
The home loan is secured by a mortgage. Your home loan is one of your biggest financial decisions you will ever make. Remember that home loan is a larger purchase than a home, so you must get every knowledge and information about the loan. Choosing the right home loan is as important as choosing the right home. Your home loan is one of the largest investments and most important financial transactions you will ever make. Acquiring a home loan is a serious move and could be a long-term undertaking for the majority of people.
The renter is a company that offers live in services for elderly people. They have to know the renter is good for the money. Also, the renter is more likely to treat the property like an owner.
However, the total cost that you pay back is quite different. Occasionally you pay back is the in the basis, of your loan company. Who wouldn’t want to borrow money if the money you have to pay back is actually worth less than they money you borrowed.
Home loan insurance, Your home loan is probably the biggest financial commitment you have. Remember that home loan is a larger purchase than a home, so you must get every knowledge and information about the loan. Your home loan is the amount of money you borrow. Many people tend to wait until their home loan is paid off before they start thinking about investing. The big benefit of refinancing a home loan is that you can save a lot of money on interest over the original loan payment schedule. A home loan is not the only debt that most salaried homeowners have.
January 17, 2011
Subprime Mortgage Loans – 3 Questions To Ask Your Subprime Mortgage Broker
Subprime mortgage brokers offer a variety of mortgage loan packages from different lending companies. They can find financing for almost anyone, regardless of their credit score. Even though brokers offer a valuable service, you still need to ask questions to be sure you are getting the best deal.
1. What Is Your Fee?
Before you begin working with a subprime mortgage broker, ask how they are getting paid. Sometimes they charge you an upfront fee, other times they are paid by the mortgage company.
Upfront fees dont guarantee you the best deal, but they do reduce the brokers reliance on mortgage companies fees. Instead of looking at who offers them the best payoff, they are looking at your interest.
Fees paid by the mortgage company can still mean you find a good deal. Most brokers are able to negotiate lower rates for you, so you still come out ahead. Using this type of broker also allows you to work with a couple of brokers, making sure you find the best deal.
2. What Are The Loans Fees?
Even when brokers present you with rate quotes, take the time to look at fees and points. The APR should include both the rates and fees. It is required to be disclosed before signing a contract so you can make a real comparison. Sometimes the lowest rate loan has the highest closing fees and isnt the best deal.
The rates presented to you are somewhat flexible. You can reduce them by paying more points or increasing your down payment. Points only make sense if you plan on keep the loan for a number of years.
3. Are There Early Payment Fees Or Other Clauses?
Also check for early payment or other fees. Subprime mortgages are often refinanced when your credit score improves. Check to see if you can pay a point to waive the early payment fee if you plan to refinance.
Some subprime lenders will automatically refinance your loan for better rates after two years. This can save you thousands on later refinancing costs. Just like any loan offer, check the rates with other packages.
January 10, 2011
Regardless of bad credit, you can get approved for a mortgage loan. Credit ratings vary person-to-person. A high credit rating will make you a good candidate for a prime mortgage. On the other hand, if your score falls below a traditional lender’s minimum requirement, you must choose a subprime mortgage loan.
How Credit Rating Affects Loan Approval
Mortgage lenders are more eager to approve a loan application if your credit rating is high. Individuals with high credit scores are less likely to jeopardize their rating. Thus, late mortgage payments and foreclosures are low among this group.
Those with a low credit rating may pay more for their mortgage. This includes higher finance fees, which increases mortgage payments. Each lender has different criteria for determining high credit and low credit ratings.
Traditional lenders are very strict when it comes to mortgage loans. Some lenders establish high credit score minimums, which disqualifies many homebuyers. When selecting a mortgage loan, it is essential to choose a lender that specializes in loans for your credit category.
What Does a Bad Credit Rating Mean?
Lenders use different wording to term bad credit ratings. Some simply refer to these applicants as having a low or negative rating, whereas others assign alphabet letters. In this case, those who qualify for prime rates have A-credit and B-credit. Meanwhile, individuals with a lower score have C-credit or D-credit.
Individuals with C-credit or D-credit will pay a higher interest rate for their mortgage. This is because those in this category have more credit problems. Homebuyers with C-credit have up to six 30-day late payments, three 60-day late payments, open collection accounts, and bankruptcy or foreclosure within the last twelve months.
Sadly, some homebuyers have credit situations that place them in a different category. The lowest credit category is D-credit. This groups includes homebuyers with charge-offs, judgments, open collection accounts, and bankruptcy or foreclosure within the last 6 months.
Getting Approved for a Mortgage Loan with Low Credit Rating
Although many lenders offer subprime loans to those with C or D credit, it may be favorable to defer buying a home until credit improves. This opens the door for better rates, and lower mortgage payments. If deciding to buy a home with bad credit, shop around and compare mortgage quotes. By doing so, you can review many financing options before choosing a lender.
January 3, 2011
Sub-Prime Mortgage Loans Qualifying For A Mortgage With A Foreclosure Or Bankruptcy
Qualifying for a sub-prime mortgage loan with a foreclosure or bankruptcy in your credit past is just a matter of finding the right lender. As long as you have a regular source of income, you can qualify for a mortgage. The real issue is about qualifying for low rates. But there are ways to improve your mortgage application.
Ways To Help Your Mortgage Application
A foreclosure or bankruptcy primarily affects your credit for the first two years after a discharge. While they will remain on your record for seven to ten years, they will cease to have a significant impact on your ability to qualify for now rates. Instead lenders look at your most recent payment habits and debt ratio.
Besides waiting for your credit score to improve, you can make your mortgage qualifications look more favorable by increasing your down payment. By building equity into the property, lenders reduce your risk score and rates. Remember too that you can access this equity at any time with a home equity loan or line of credit.
Other ways to improve your qualifications are to pay off debt, liquidate investments so you have cash reserves, and close unused credit accounts.
Your Lender Makes A Difference
While you can improve your home loan application, one important way to reduce your loan costs is to find a competitive lender. With rates varying a point or more between sub-prime lenders, time spent researching loan quotes will save you money.
Nearly every lender deals with some kind of sub-prime loans, so include traditional lenders in your search. To use your time most efficiently, ask for loan quotes on the particular loan amount and terms you want. With these relevant numbers, you can determine which company has the lowest costing loan for your particular situation.
Sub-prime loan rates are usually 1-2% higher for every fifty points below 650. Its important though to also look at closing costs when comparing sub-prime financing. Often a good looking rate can be a more expensive loan because of high upfront fees. Protect yourself by carefully reading the details of each loan quote you receive.
December 27, 2010
Did you know if you borrow 100,000 for a mortgage loan, you may pay back as much as 300,000? Yes, its true, and you may pay more than that depending on the interest rate and the number of years it takes you to repay the loan. The amount is even higher if the terms of your loan require mortgage insurance.
There is a solution if you are able to pay something extra each month even if it is a small amount. Lets say you borrowed 100,000 and for your first payment, you paid the regular monthly payment of principal and interest in the amount of 825.00. As a reasonable example early in the term of the loan, 800 may be applied to interest and 25.00 is applied as principal. Your outstanding balance is now reduced to 99,975.00 and the interest for the next payment is calculated on that amount. If you had paid an extra 50.00 with the payment, the 50.00 would have paid two more scheduled principal payments and you would have saved two interest payments. Using the above figures as an example you would have saved approximately 1,600.00. Thats right – 1,600 in interest that you would never have to pay. In addition the interest amount due next month would be calculated on a lower balance.
The terms of the mortgage require a monthly payment of the full amount due for the monthly principal and interest payment. Most mortgage documents allow additional principal payments (also known as curtailments) without penalty; however, you should verify this with the lender or review the loan documents. If there are no penalties, you can save several thousand pounds over the term of the loan plus you dont have to spend thirty years paying off your loan. As we saw with the example above, a payment of an extra 50.00 resulted in savings in the interest. (The actual amount will vary depending on the loan amount and interest rate.)
The earlier you start paying additional sums during the life of the loan, the better. In the early years, the largest portion of your payment is applied as interest with a small amount going to the principal balance. Those small amounts will be easier to pay as additional principal payments and you will see substantial savings in the interest payments that you will never have to pay. As the balance is reduced the scheduled interest payments will be lower as the interest payment is calculated on the outstanding principal balance.
The principal balance will slowly start decreasing and before you know it, you will see a substantial reduction. It would be a good idea to ask your Lender to send you an amortization schedule so you can track your savings. This schedule shows the breakdown of the amount due for principal and the amount due for interest each month.
By reducing your principal balance faster than scheduled you will be able to request cancellation of your mortgage insurance, (MI or PMI) if your loan has insurance. Lenders require this insurance on loans with a loan to value ratio (LTV) of 80% or more. As your principal balance declines, the LTV will decline quickly as well. The Lender should be contacted for more information on canceling mortgage insurance as early cancellation could save you a substantial sum. This is in addition to the interest savings.
So remember, if you want to save money on your mortgage loan, check your loan documents for any restrictions, request an amortization schedule, and ask about the requirements for cancellation of mortgage insurance.
Enjoy Your Savings
December 20, 2010
Refinancing your home can be a huge decision, especially if you have been invested in that home for a long time. Unfortunately there are times when it becomes necessary to refinance your home and it is during those times that you want to make sure that you are getting the best deal possible. Todays homeowners who are looking to refinance have a tool that many didnt have ten years ago, the internet.
Applying for a refinance mortgage online can offer some great benefits. The one thing that the internet has provided for instance is anonymity. You can ask questions for as long as you want without committing to telling a mortgage broker or a lender your name. Everyone knows that often when you give up your personal information to a potential lender they are likely to continue contacting you until you are frustrated. Being able to do your initial research online eliminates this
.
Another plus to being able to seek out refinancing online is that you can do it from the comfort of your own home. One can survey interest rates, compare companies and seek out the best deal all the while being comfortable in their own home. This allows the homeowner to take time with their research and thus hopefully finding an even better deal.
It is the opinion of many experts in the area of refinancing online that the fact that this can be done also offers the homeowner the chance to control more of the process. Too often one of the main complaints the homeowner has on the other end of the process is that they didnt have all of their questions answered. Being able to conduct your own research online will allow the homeowner to be in total control of the process of researching and if they have a question they can find the answer instead of trusting that a mortgage broker will do it for them.
Finally, homeowners can do all of their paperwork online. This is a very convenient point on the list of reasons why being able to refinance online is a great new tool. Many people today just dont have time to stop and go to the bank or lender and sit for hours on end until the process is through. Being able to apply online affords homeowners the opportunity to do the paperwork from home, send it in and then waiting until the final part of the process to actually visit the lender in person. In some cases everything can be done over the internet so that the homeowner doesnt have to visit a lender at all. This, in fact, is becoming more of the norm for those who turn to the internet for refinancing.
So if you are looking to refinance your home, consider taking on the process online, it may save you time and money.
December 13, 2010
Refinance Home Mortgage Loans With Poor Credit – Reduce Monthly Bills With A Refi Loan
Reducing consumer debts will ease anxiety and open the door for better rates on a home loan or mortgage. Unfortunately, becoming debt-free is a long process, and it may take several years to achieve this goal. If you own a home, refinancing your existing mortgage even with poor credit may present extra cash to payoff high interest credit cards.
What Does it Mean to Refinance a Home Mortgage?
Refinancing a home loan is an everyday practice. There are several reasons to contemplate a refinancing. For starters, if you attain a cash-out refinancing, the mortgage company will hand over a lump sum of money at closing. Prior to this, homeowners apply for a new home loan, which replaces the old. In addition to creating a new mortgage, homeowners also borrow money from their home’s equity. For example, refinancing an existing 125,000 mortgage, and borrowing 25,000 of the home’s equity will produce a new mortgage of 150,000.
Advantages of Refinancing an Existing Mortgage
If your intent is to become debt-free in the shortest amount of time, refinancing your home is a great alternative. High interest credit cards are difficult to eliminate. Unless you are able to make large payments, it may take ten to twenty years to payoff a 2,000 credit card balance. Moreover, a new mortgage is great for acquiring funds to make home improvements, build a savings account, or plan for retirement. Homeowners with poor credit may increase their credit rating upon reducing or eliminating consumer debts.
When is the Best Time to Refinance?
For many homeowners, now is a good time to refinance their current mortgage. Individuals who obtained home mortgages before rates began to decline are likely paying two or three percentage points above the current average. Refinancing for a lower rate may decrease your mortgage payment. Moreover, refinancing may eliminate private mortgage insurance.
With low mortgage rates, refinancing for a fixed rate or interest-only option may be favorable. Before refinancing, count the costs. Remember, refinancing will entail paying closing costs. If the monthly savings are insignificant, or you plan on moving in less than five years, you will not benefit from a refi loan.
December 6, 2010
Refinance your home mortgage online to get the best rates. With increased competition, lending companies offer better rates online than in their offices. You can also get near instant loan quotes to make refi shopping easy. In a few minutes you can save yourself thousands of pounds, all from the comfort of your home.
Why Online Refinancing Is Better
Refinancing online gives you access to thousands of lenders from across the nation. With so many financing companies seeking out your business, companies have lowered their rates and fees. In some cases there are even additional rate drops for applying online.
Online mortgage brokers also make refi shopping a snap. By giving quotes from multiple companies, you save time. You can also sometimes get a better deal by working with a broker.
How To Get The Best Rates
To get the best rates on your refinancing, select optimal terms. A 15 year mortgage is almost a point less than a 30 year loan. Adjustable rate mortgages also have lower initial rates.
But by far, the greatest savings come from comparing loan estimates. Ask each lender for a quote on the refinance amount and terms you want. Keep the information the same when you request loan quotes from each lender so you have comparable numbers.
Remember too that if you decide you want different terms, you will need to ask for new quotes. One lender may have the best rates for a fixed rate 100,000 mortgage, but a different company has the best rates for an adjustable 50,000 mortgage.
Two Weeks To Refinance
From start to finish, it takes about two weeks to refinance your mortgage online. Submitting your information over a secure server means you can get your loan contract in a day or two. Once your final paperwork has been notarized and received by your lender, the funds transfer is completed.
Paperwork is kept to a minimum with an online application. You can also get a notary to meet you at home, work, or any place. With a cash out, your funds are wired to your account for convenience. All the while, you can rest easy knowing you got the best deal on your refi.