Posts tagged with Mortgage Rates

Mortgage Crisis Giving more Woes to the Economy

  • Posted on January 3, 2011 at 11:26 am

The economic scenario seems to be getting worse as the financial sector continuously reporting huge losses from exposure to the mortgage market. Even the residential sector, the commercial real estate sector, and sectors like credit cards, auto loans are moving to a negative territory and are quite at risk.

However, default mortgage rates this year have already shaken the financial sector. And now it is expected that millions of adjustable rate mortgages will reset, giving higher interest rates (according to the new loan agreement), which is just impossible for the homeowners to pay. But the homeowners, who are having 600 billion of subprime adjustable rate mortgage loans that is the ARM, are about to reset at higher amounts during the next eight months. Its not all the mortgages that are in trouble but homeowners who default or fall behind on the payments are a problem.

Now the situation is such that this mortgage crisis is forcing people to get out of their homes, besides hampering the economy as a whole. It is expected that the housing slump may get worse by more empty homes in the market, causing prices to plunge by up to 40% in real estate spots, such as California, Florida, and Nevada.

According to a recent report by the Goldman Sachs, the estimated industry wide losses from declines in the market value of subprime mortgage related collateralized debt obligation, to be almost 150 billion. Moreover, the third quarter write-off settled down at 18 billion from the financial firms but some firms indicated that the write-off in the fourth quarter would come to 22 billion. However, the losses could even hit 300 billion, as estimated by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

This worse situation of the housing sector is resulting into bigger problems, that is the unemployment and the higher consumer losses. It is estimated that almost 100,000 financial services jobs related to the credit and lending have already been lost, from local bank loan officers to traders dealing in mortgage backed securities. And moreover, this kind of countless job losses would curtail consumer spending that makes up two-thirds of the economy. However, thousands of workers of the housing industry could loss their job and it is expected that this would affect the car dealers, retailers and other dependent on the consumer paychecks badly.

Other indication shows that borrowers who took out loans in the first six months of this year are already falling behind on their payments as compared to the borrowers who took out loans last year. And this is making it harder for would be buyers to get new mortgages. This is infact, is a frightening indication for the homebuilders with projects going begging on the market, and also for the homeowners desperate to unload property to avoid default on their loans.

Besides these sectors, there is one more vital sector that is foreclosure. The number of homes in foreclosure is expected to move high after more than doubling during the third quarter as compared to year earlier, to 446,726 homes nationwide. This is one foreclosure filing for every 196 households in the nation, a 34% jump from three months earlier.

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How Lender’s Set Mortgage Rates

  • Posted on October 25, 2010 at 11:26 am

Ever wonder how lender’s come up with the rates they do? You can stop wondering, cause I’m going to tell you how. We all answer to a higher mortgage rate power, namely the secondary market. The secondary market is where Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and other mortgage lenders ply their trade. These government founded agencies purchase the loans that lenders make, then either hold them in their portfolios, or bundle them with other loans into mortgage-backed securities. Those securities are then sold to mutual funds, Wall Street firms, and other financial investors who trade them the same way they trade other securities and bonds.

As a result investors, rather than mortgage brokers and bankers, are in control of the rates. When economic news suggests the economy is heating up, investors demand higher yields from the lenders. This happens because they don’t want to buy low yield bonds now, in case the Fed raises rates to cool the economy, which would mean they will make higher yield bonds later. The only way that lenders can get their loans sold in this situation is to raise the yields they offer investors. In turn, this drives the rates higher for consumers.

The same thing happens in reverse when it looks like the economy is cooling. Investors start clamoring for bonds, because they figure the Fed will have to cut interest rates in the future in order to get the economy going moving along again. If the investors wait, they’ll end up with lower yielding bonds. Since investor demands are so strong, lenders who control loan supply can offer lower yields. The result is a lower rate for consumers.

To get the best rates out there, consumers really need to pay attention to financial news. Consulting with a mortgage lender or broker can also be very helpful. In most cases, the mortgage broker will be very knowledgeable and up to date on the economy.

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Effects of Low Mortgage Rate

  • Posted on August 30, 2010 at 11:26 am

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.

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Compare Mortgage Rates For Refinancing – How To Compare Lenders

  • Posted on July 26, 2010 at 11:26 am

Compare Mortgage Rates For Refinancing – How To Compare Lenders

The decision to refinance your mortgage will likely save you thousands of dollars. Because of falling interest rates, those who purchased their homes at a higher rate have the opportunity to take advantage of a lower monthly payment. Furthermore, refinancing makes it possible to convert an adjustable rate mortgage to a fixed rate. There are many lenders that offer attractive refi packages. With this said, it is important to obtain quotes from multiple lenders.

Benefits of Comparing Mortgage Refi Lenders

Comparing lender offers is not mandatory. In fact, some homeowners skip this step. Nonetheless, comparing and contrasting different loan offers make it possible to obtain the best deal. Lenders offer varying rates and terms. Some mortgage lenders are only concerned about the bottom line. Hence, they may not offer the best rate.

Homebuyers who compare lender offers can easily detect potentially fraudulent companies. For example, if three lenders remit a quote with a refi rate of about 5%, and one lender offers a refi loan at 7%, the oddball lender may be attempting to take advantage of you. This occurs commonly among those with a poor credit history.

Tips for Comparing Refi Lenders

Many homeowners choose to refinance using their current mortgage lender. There are advantages and disadvantages to this option. If you maintained a good payment history, your existing lender will want to keep you as a client. This gives you the power to negotiate. Refinancing involves closing fees. If using your existing lender, it may be possible to have some fees waived, which will reduce closing costs.

On the other hand, if you did not establish a good relationship with your current lender, it may be wise to seek another lender. You may contact banks or credit unions and inquire about their refinancing loans.

Its suggested that homeowners obtain quotes from at least four different refi lenders. Of course, requesting quotes and completing applications for different lenders takes time. However, the internet makes comparing refi offers quick and easy. Simply complete an online quote request with a mortgage broker. Upon reviewing your information, the broker will filter through refi loans and locate the best lenders for you.

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Compare Mortgage Rates

  • Posted on July 19, 2010 at 11:26 am

Mortgage has become one of the most important elements in modern day living and a key concept that might help one out in fetching the intended amount of money one needs to fulfill his or her dream. However, the very term mortgage has been derived from the French word meaning dead page. Nonetheless, a mortgage is a device used to create a lien on real estate by contract. It very efficiently used in creation of a lien on a contract basis.

The mortgage as a lien is usually created on real state – a house, for instance. It is more often used deliberately as a method by which individuals or businesses can buy residential or commercial property without paying the full value upfront. The borrower, (the person concerned for taking the real estate by paying a part of the total money on a contract basis) is often called the mortgager. The mortgager then uses a mortgage to pledge real property to the lender, who is more often called the mortgagee. It is usually put forward in the shape of a security against the debt (also called hypothecation) for the rest of the value of the property.

Therefore, it is quite evident that a mortgage is of prime importance to the mortgager, and perhaps more to the mortgagee. There are a number of banks and financial companies who provide a whole range of mortgages at different rates. It is also quite obvious that the individual will calculate and look after his own benefit as he would compare the different mortgage rates that are available on the market. This comparison becomes an important activity, as the individual in question is always concerned about his monetary benefit.

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Capital Markets driving the cost of Mortgages

  • Posted on June 28, 2010 at 11:26 am

The capital that makes up your mortgage loan can come from a number of sources including other people’s deposits and savings, stored up in the bank and other investors, all of which make up the Capital Markets. Of course, there isn’t enough cash in the general consumers accounts to make up the capital needed for the mortgage markets so the majority comes from investors looking to buy debt instruments, which in this case are bonds.

The buyers of these bonds are looking for a good return on their investments, which is of course completely opposite to people looking for a low rate mortgage. In effect, you’re borrowing money from an investor at a given rate (for you an interest rate and for the investor a rate of return). Of course, the investor is only willing to invest a certain amount of capital in such low yield bonds.

Now, the rates on a mortgage fluctuate from month to month and this rate is determined by how well ‘mortgage bonds’ are selling. A rise in sales will see a drop in yield and a drop in sales will see a rise in yield, thus attracting investors back into the market. The result of the average mortgage holder will be the opposite though. When investors leave the bond market, they will see a rise in mortgage interest rates.

Of course, the mortgage market is driven by a number of external factors, such as supply and demand but the greatest factors is that of inflation. Where inflation is low, the return for the investor is high, but when inflation increases, it devalues the investment and at the same time the mortgage. Suddenly a 120,000 mortgage can seem far less of a burden.

Inflation is kept under control by raising or lowering interest rates. When inflation is rampant, interest rates are raised, resulting in a rise in mortgage repayments.

Recent sub-prime mortgage lending issues in the US have had a knock on effect throughout the world. Billions of US pounds have been lost, simply because many of the associated bonds were bundled up and sold on to banks throughout the world. These mortgages were in effect over-subscribed in the states, with many people only able to afford a house with one of them. Unfortunately, the mortgages were being defaulted on and, having been sold on to UK, Hong Kong, German, French banks, they could not be easily recouped. The collapse in this market left many banks in serious problems. Losses could not be recouped and the bond market dried up as investors fled. New mortgages became difficult to find and their rates were much higher than previous. Interest rates have now been dropped so as to stimulate the market. Lenders have maintained bond rates at a higher level, giving them greater yield and the result will be a higher return for what is now percieved a greater risk.

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Adjustable Rate Mortgages Talking About Interest Rate Caps

  • Posted on May 3, 2010 at 11:26 am

Many people have jumped on adjustable rate mortgages to take advantage of the historically low interest rates we have seen over the last few years. Rates are now rising, which means you need to understand caps.

Adjustable Rate Mortgages Talking About Interest Rate Caps

An adjustable rate mortgage is just what it sounds like. The interest rate can be adjusted to match certain interest rate standards. The advantage of such a loan is it can seriously lower monthly mortgage payments if interest rates are low. Over the last few years, of course, rates have been incredibly low. Rates are now rising and you need to understand what that means for your adjustable rate mortgage.

Since the interest rate on your loan is adjustable, you should be getting a little nervous about rising interest rates. That being said, most loans have graduated step increases and caps that keep things from getting nightmarish too quickly. Here is a closer look.

A good adjustable rate mortgage protects you from massive rate increases through something known as rate caps. There are two types of rate caps. Each has benefits and negatives.

A lifetime rate cap is just what it says. This cap sets the maximum interest rate the lender can charge you for the loan. You must always demand a lifetime cap on any mortgage you take out. Assume you take out an adjustable rate mortgage with an interest rate of four percent. As part of the agreement, the loan has a lifetime cap of eight percent. If interest rates shoot up to 10 percent, your loan will cap out at nine percent. While this is a high interest rate, it is a lot better than paying 10 percent.

Periodic rate caps also protect you, but in a different way. A periodic rate cap defined the maximum percentage your interest rate can increase over a period of time. The shorter the time period, the better the cap. If your loan document allows the lender to adjust the rate every six months, the cap may be as low as one percent. This means the lender can only increase the interest rate by a maximum of one percent, regardless of what the market is charging for new loans.

Adjustable rate mortgages are great when interest rates are low. When rates start creeping up, however, you need to take a close look at your caps.

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