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November 15, 2010

Option Arm Mortgage Loans: How do they work?

Typically, option arm mortgage loans give the consumer four payment options each month – a 30year fixed payment, a 15 year fixed payment, an interest only payment and a deferred interest or minimum payment.mortgage

The 30 year, 15 year and interest only payments are based on the fully indexed rate. The fully indexed rate is calculated by adding the margin to the index. The index would most likely be the Libor, MTA, COSI, COFI, or CODI.

Heres an example:

Lets say you have a margin of 3.15 and an index of 3.32. This would give you a fully indexed rate of 6.47% (3.15 + 3.32 = 6.47). This is the rate that is used to compute the 30 year, 15 year, and interest only payments.

Depending on the lender and loan program you select, the deferred interest or minimum payment could either stay fixed between 1% and 2% for 5 years or the PAYMENT could start at around 1% and go up or down a maximum of 7.5% annually for 5 years.

The minimum 1% to 2% payment is an interest only payment and is based on a 30 or 40 year amortization.

The reason an option arm loan is called a deferred interest or negative amortization loan is because the difference between the minimum 1% payment and the interest only payment is added to the loan amount each month if the consumer chooses to make the minimum payment. So the loan balance increases over time instead of decreasing.

Once the loan hits the 5 year mark or if the deferred interest reaches 110% or 115% of the original loan amount, the loan will recast. Which means it will convert to an interest only or principal and interest loan at the fully indexed rate.

The fully indexed rate is calculated monthly and therefore could change from month to month.

Here are a few benefits of the option arm mortgage loan:

* The minimum payment is 100% interest; therefore, 100% of the payment is tax deductible

* The deferred interest is mortgage interest so it may be tax deductible

* If the client makes bi-weekly payments, the amount of deferred interest will decrease by approximately 30% or be completely eliminated.

* The minimum payment increases the clients cash flow

* This loan gives the client several payment options

* It also allows clients to use their mortgage as a financial tool to build wealth.

In closing, here are four important points to keep in mind when selecting an option arm loan program:

1) Get a 30 year amortization (not 40 years). The 30 year amortization will keep the 1% payment option available longer.

2) Choose an index which is less volatile. Like the MTA instead of the Libor.

3) Select an option arm program that has a 115% recast instead of a 110% recast to increase the chances of the payment options being available for the full 5 years.

4) Select an option arm with a low lifetime interest rate cap

For more information on this and other mortgage related topics, please visit:

http:Mortgage-Training.Mortgage-Leads-Generator.com

Please feel free to reprint this article as long as the resource box is left intact and all links are hyperlinked.

July 5, 2010

Home Mortgage Loans For People With Bad Credit – Pro’s

Home Mortgage Loans For People With Bad Credit – Pro’s And Con’s Of Interest-Only Loans

Buying a home with poor credit is just as easy as buying a home with perfect credit. Years ago, many people with a low credit rating believed homeownership was unattainable. Fortunately,mortgage there are various loan programs designed to help people with low income, bad credit, and no down payment purchase a house. Included among these programs are interest-only loans.

What are Interest-Only Mortgage Loans?

Interest-only mortgage loans became popular in the early 2000’s. The concept of interest-only loans is very unique. Ordinarily, monthly mortgage payments consist of a portion of the payment being applied to the principal balance, and a portion applied to the interest. In order to payoff a mortgage in 15 or 30 years, a specific amount of money must be paid each month.

On the other hand, if you obtain an interest-only mortgage loan, you pay only the interest for the first few years. Interest-only periods vary. Homeowners may opt for a three, five, seven, or ten year interest-only loan. After the interest-only period ends, the homeowner must begin making payments toward the principal and interest.

Why is an Interest-Only Loan Beneficial?

If you live in a booming housing market, an interest-only loan may be your only option for buying a home. Many are attracted to these loans because the initial mortgage payments are low. For example, a 200,000 conventional loan has a monthly payment of about 1200. With an interest-only loan, the mortgage would be about 800 a month. Hence, if you are buying in an overpriced market, affordable living is within reach.

Pitfall of an Interest-Only Loan

Once the interest-only period ends, you still owe the original loan amount. When homeowners begin making payments towards the interest and principal balance, mortgage payments may increase 40%. Most homeowners are unable to afford a mortgage increase. If you plan on living in your home for several years, an interest-only loan may not be a good option. On the other hand, if you earn a sizeable income and can afford a higher mortgage, you may benefit from this type of loan.

Another option involves selling your home before the interest-only period ends. If home values in your area have increased significantly, you may capitalize from the equity. However, if the housing market takes a nosedive and home values decline, you may be unable to sell your home.