August 2010 Archives
Effects of Low Mortgage Rate
Recently we have witnessed a boom in the mortgage industry. With increasing real estate values and a very low inflation, interest rates have touched an all time low. Since inflation is running extremely low at present, economists feel that mortgage rates will remain low in the near future also. As an obvious consequence homeowners are giving serious thoughts to the effects of low mortgage rate.
Usually, mortgage lenders offer a variety of combinations of interest rates and points. For example, 6.0% and 2 points, 6.5% and 1 point or 7.0% and no points. Points are a one-time upfront payment that the borrower makes to the lender at the time of closing the mortgage. It is a fee like the interest and not a part of the down payment. A drop in mortgage interest rates reduces the cost of borrowing and should logically result in an increase in prices in a market where most people borrow money to purchase a home (for instance, in the United States), so that average payments remain constant.
One of the direct effects of low mortgage rate is that the homeowners opt for greater savings through refinancing. Hence the cost to savings ratio is exceeded. Refinancing can be a boon in several situations since some of the main reasons to refinance are: – Lower interest rate – Consolidate 2nd mortgage loan – Lower loan term – Lower monthly payments – Payoff other personal loans and – Take cash out from equity
One of the most intriguing effects of low mortgage rate is the dilemma faced by the borrowers about whether to reduce their payments or the length of the loan term itself. Lower rates allow you to reduce your mortgage from say 25 years remaining to 15 years remaining with the same monthly payment. The next thing you would like to do is refinance again so that you will be able to reduce it to 10 years.
Another common rationale for refinancing and taking the equity out of your house as an effect of low mortgage rate is to be able to pay off credit card debt. You can also opt for a debt consolidation loan. By reducing your payment you will be able to pay off higher rate debt like credit cards. But try to eliminate interest payments wherever possible. The average credit card will have an interest rate of 18% to 25%. You can actually get rid of those high rate credit cards by taking advantage of the low mortgage rates. Also by lowering your debt you will be actually saving for the future.
It is also vital to understand that in most cases the loans are adjustable rate mortgages. The adjustment period may vary significantly depending on the loan program you are considering. You might not realize the effects of low mortgage rate unless you consider the stability and vulnerability of the interest rate that you are required to pay throughout the repayment tenure. Hence it is important to bear in mind that not only the current effects of low mortgage rate, but also effects of any future rise in interest rates should be considered when opting for a variable rate mortgage.
Dont Let Bad Credit Stop You
When I worked as a loan officer, it wasnt unusual for me to come across people who thought they were out of luck because they had bad credit.
This is really not the case, although it is fair to say that you would not be able to walk down to your local bank, have a seat in the branch managers office and walk out with a mortgage.
However, there are alternatives, and you do have choices.
If you contact a broker, tell them your situation, be completely honest and up front with them, otherwise you are just wasting their time as well as your own, and believe me, whatever your situation may be, they have heard worse. Nine times out of ten they will be able to help you.
Conventional banks are not the only ones that lend money. Brokers have access too literally hundreds of banks with a wide variety of programs for people in unique situations from foreclosure buy outs, to 100% financing with poor credit scores.
I speak from experience, because when I was a loan officer I did mortgages for people in unique situations.
Foreclosure buy outs, bankruptcy, late payments on prior mortgages, the list goes on.
I would sit down with my customer, take down as much information as possible, than present their information to many different lenders for them to review. Most times I would find one with a program to help my customer.
Keep in mind, with unique situations, there is risk involved on the part of the bank, so you cant expect to get the best rate in the world. But if it is reasonable, and can put you into the situation you want to be in, than it is well worth it.
So if you think your credit, or a bad situation is preventing you from getting a loan, think again, there is probably a program out there for you, you have nothing too loose.
Do You Qualify For A Mortgage?
A mortgage is a financial agreement between a lender and an individual that is hoping to purchase a home. The lender will pay for the home and the home buyer will need to pay the lender back, over the course of several years including interest. Not everyone does qualify to have a home loan like this but many do. This has become the standard way of purchasing a home in the United States. While it may not be the most affordable, as it is always more affordable to pay off the home in one payment, it is an easy process and one that can allow more people to own the home of their dreams.
What makes you qualify for a mortgage has a lot to do with the type of life you are leading financially. The lender of this home loan will want to make sure that you can actually pay for it. They will want to insure that the home will be able to be paid for today and into the future. To do this, they will look at several aspects of the potential home buyer.
The first thing that they will look at is the work history of the individual or individuals looking to purchase the home. They are looking to find out if they have employment and if they have had it over the course of their adult life. If they have steady employment, this is ideal as it shows that an individual is less of a risk of not being employed. Of course having a job shows that you have the money coming in so to pay off the home mortgage .
Next, the lender will look at the amount of money coming into the potential home buyer as opposed to what his bills are. Here, they are looking to make sure that there is enough income coming in to pay off the monthly payments that a home loan has. The debt to income ratio that they are looking for is vitally important because if there is not enough coming in, they are likely to default on the loan.
The credit score of the home owners is also very important. If you are a new homeowner, one that has never had a home before, you should insure that your credit score is high. This tells the lender of the mortgage just how responsible you are with your debts. Someone that has no credit or poor credit is more of a risk to the lender then the other guy that has good credit. If you have owned a home before, the lender of the home loan will want to look at how well you paid down your past home loans. The better that you do this, the better your qualifications for obtaining this type of loan are.
In the end, each lender will have a different set of rules as to what is okay and what is not. The good news is that you can get no obligation loan quotes easily, right on the web to allow you to see if you do qualify as well as how much of a loan you qualify for. A mortgage is a serious commitment that only the people that can afford it should take on.
Different Ways To Repay Your Mortgage
When you are searching for a mortgage, no matter if it is a first, second, or refinance, you have different options on repaying it which some people don’t realize. So, before you just take whatever is on the paperwork, you should consider the following options:
Capital and Interest Payments
This is the most common way to repay your mortgage, since you make your payments each month on the capital, or principle, of the loan. In the U.S., this is called amortization and in the U.K., this is called a repayment mortgage. These types of loans are set anywhere from 10 to 50 years, depending on the lender and where you live. The payments that you give to the mortgage company each month take a percentage and place it toward the interest and the rest goes toward the capital of the loan. Earlier in the loan, most of the payment goes toward the interest and toward the end most of the payment goes to the capital.
Interest only repayment.
While this type of mortgage is not widely used in the United States, it is in the UK. Basically, in this type of mortgage, the capital isn’t repaid through the term of the loan, instead, you make regular ‘payments’ to an investment account or plan that helps you to build up a large lump sum that will in turn repay the mortgage completely at the end of the loan. This is usually referred to as an investment-backed mortgage or as any of these types of mortgages: Personal Equity Plan Mortgage, Individual Savings Account Mortgage, or a pension mortgage. So, when you hear any of these terms, you will know what the mortgage broker is talking about. These types of mortgages offer some great tax advantages, so just ask your mortgage broker about them.
No interest or capital payments.
If you are an older person, this might be the way for you to go. Some mortgage companies offer a mortgage that is usually referred to as a reverse mortgage, lifetime mortgage or an equity release mortgage, it just depends on where you live and where the mortgage company is located. Basically this type of mortgage is just compounded each year, with the interest rolled up into the capital. The only problem is that the debt increases each year that the mortgage is open. One of the reasons that these loans are meant for older people is that they are not usually repaid until the borrowers pass away.
There are also several other, less common, ways of repaying your mortgage you will just need to check with your lender to see what types of payment plans and options they offer before you sign your mortgage paperwork. You might be able to get a better payment plan by going with a less conventional way of repayment.
Danger of Deferred Interest Mortgages: Understanding the Risks of Negative
Danger of Deferred Interest Mortgages: Understanding the Risks of Negative Amortization Home Loans
Negative amortization or “neg am” occurs when the minimum payment on a mortgage covers less than the monthly interest charged, causing the balance of the loan to increase instead of decrease. Interest only loans generally dont increase the balance due on a home although they dont diminish the amount due. However, deferred interest loans will increase your loan amount. This can happen with negative amortizations loans like a payment option ARM, where payment choices can be calculated based on COFI – The 11th District Cost of Funds Index which demonstrates the average interest rate paid by certain banks in Arizona, California and Nevada or on MTA – The 12 month Treasury Average, giving you a variety of choices in payments. While these loans can be a good deal when short-term interest rates are low, they are not necessarily the right choice when short term loans have a higher interest rate, like now. For most, now is not the right time to refinance a fixed-rate loan for a deferred interest mortgage.
If you are looking to eventually cash out home equity, you should look for a purchase loan that involves paying some of the principal. Not only is it possible you may not build equity in your home with neg am loans, but you also may have a loss of equity through an increased mortgage balance. If you suddenly need to sell your home, you may not be able to get a purchase price high enough to cover your loan. You will also have more difficulty getting a second mortgage behind negative ARM loans.
Henry Savage, president of PMC Mortgage notes that on a deferred mortgage, The mortgage balance can increase as much as $350 per month for every $100,000 that’s borrowed. The neg am on a $500,000 loan for example, can be as much as $1,750 per month. He continues by noting, There are not many circumstances where I would recommend an Option ARM. However, there are a few instances where deferred interest or negative amortization loans may make sense.
Neg am loans are good for investment properties when you may be paying a double mortgage. They are also good for self-employed with cash flow issues. If you plan on normally paying some of the principal, but dont know what your cash flow will be like from month to month, it may be helpful to have the option of a minimum payment.
Do you homework before deciding on a deferred interest mortgage. Although your payments will be lower, there are inherent risks involved and you may be better off with a fixed-rate mortgage.
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