What You Need To Know Before Refinancing Your Mortgage

Today it is becoming more and more popular to refinance your original mortgage. But, is this right for you? How do you know whether youre taking advantage of a great deal or letting yourself in for financial problems? Read on for tips to help you make an educated decision.

First, understand that refinancing your mortgage means you take out a new loan on the amount of money you owe on the existing mortgage based on new terms and pay off the old loan with the proceeds from the new loan.

Depending on the terms you obtain for your refinanced mortgage you may be able to obtain a lower interest rate than your original loan. This can be advantageous in a number of ways. First, it means you may be able to lower your monthly mortgage payments, which can be handy if you need to lower your monthly debt obligations. If you wish to keep your monthly mortgage payments the same, you could also pay off your home sooner with a lower interest rate. Over the course of your loan this could translate to major savings.

In addition, with a lower interest rate you may also be eligible to receive cash back. This money can be used to make repairs on your home or consolidate higher interest credit cards.

Before you refinance your mortgage you should understand there will typically be closings costs involved in the process. Depending on the lender you go with you may be either required to pay for the costs up front or include them in your loan and pay them off in your new payments. Costs that may be included in these fees are an application fee, cost of a new survey and title search in addition to fees for an inspection and appraisal. In addition, if you have less than 20% equity in your home you may also be required to pay private mortgage insurance just as you would if this was your first mortgage.

Given these costs, at least in the beginning, you may actually end up paying more for your refinanced loan than you paid for your old mortgage. This is why it is important to do a comparison between the two loans and make sure you will really be coming out ahead with a refinanced loan. When you do the comparison make sure you figure in how long you think youll remain in the home because this can have a tremendous impact on your overall savings. This is important to help you determine where you will break even and begin to actually save money on your mortgage with the new refinanced mortgage loan. If you do not think you are going to be in your home for the length of time it will take to break even, it may not be worth it to refinance your mortgage.

Finally, dont forget to check the terms of your first mortgage and make sure you wont be penalized for paying off your loan early. In some cases, this can amount to as much as 1,500; which can seriously impact your break even point.

Types of Mortgages Available

Types of Loans

What types of loans are available to me? There are many different types of mortgage offered to consumers. Some of the most popular mortgage broker are the FHA Home Loan (Federal Housing Administration) and the VA Loan . Because the FHA mortgage and VA mortgage are guaranteed by the government, borrowers are able to make a smaller down payment, and take advantage of more relaxed credit and asset requirements than traditional conventional loans.. Details about the major types of loans, including FHA mortgage and VA mortgages, follow.

Conventional loans generally are considered loans with loan amounts at or under the maximum loan amount available for purchase by Freddie Mac or Mannie Mae.

Fannie Mae is the common name of the Federal National Mortgage Association. Fannie Mae is a congressional chartered, shareholder-owned company that buys mortgages from lenders and resells them as securities on the secondary home mortgage market. Before approving you, Fannie Mae looks at a number of factors including credit ratings, debt ratio, and employment history.

Freddie Mac Freddie Mac is the common name for the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation. The 2006 maximum loan amount for both Fannie Mae Mortgage and Freddie Mac company is 417,000. Freddie Mac does not issue mortgages directly, rather, they buy mortgages from lenders and resell them as securities on the secondary mortgage market. Before approving you, Freddie Mac looks at a number of different factors including credit ratings, debt ratio, and employment history.

Government guaranteed loans. FHA, VA loans.
An FHA mortgage (Federal Housing Administration) has some advantages over conventional mortgage. Since FHA Mortgage are insured by the government, they generally have more lenient qualification and requirements, lower down-payment requirements, and they may be assumable. The maximum mortgage amount for an FHA mortgage varies depending on the city where you live. As your mortgage broker on what these maximum amounts are for your specific city. FHA loans are very popular with first time buyers. They also make great sense if you are buying a multi family property to live in and want to get maximum financing. Mortgage insurance on an FHA loan is the same no matter what loan to value your loan is, something that is not the case with a conventional loan. High LTV’s pay a far greater insurance payment.

A VA (Veterans Affairs) mortgage carries many of the same advantages as an FHA home mortgage. However, to qualify for this mortgage, you must be a qualifying veteran, the unmarried widow of a veteran, or an active-duty serviceman. Talk with your mortgage broker on maximum loan limits, required down payments (if any) and what your funding fee will be. VA loans do not have a mortgage insurance payment, instead borrowers pay a one time fee for their “insurance” What percent of the loan amount varies, currently it will not exceed 4%. These are different than origination or discount points.

Non-Conforming Jumbo mortgage are loans where the loan amount is greater than the conforming loan limit. 359,650 currently for a single family. So if you need to borrow 500,000 to purchase your new home, it will be a jumbo loan. Jumbo loans typically have interest rates slightly higher than conforming loans, about 12 percent higher. If you will be borrowing this much money you should ask your broker if you could split up your loan into a 1st. and a 2nd. mortgage to avoid needing a jumbo loan and avoid the increase interest cost.

A mortgage broker can help you find the best rate and product to fit your situation. Ask them about what are your options.

Types of Mortgages

A mortgage is a loan that must be taken out by all homebuyers. The mortgage is provided by a bank or other lending institution and gives the homebuyer the money needed to purchase the home. The mortgage then needs to be paid back by the borrower in monthly payments with interest on the loan. The term of a mortgage is generally anywhere between fifteen to thirty years.

When taking out a mortgage, the homebuyer first needs to decide what type of mortgage is right for them, as there are many. This is the biggest decision to make when getting a mortgage and the answer will be different for everybody considering that everyone has different financial needs and goals. The options for mortgages are: interest only loans, adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs), pay option ARM loans, balloons, fixed rate loans, extendable balloons, conventional loans, and FHA loans. These are just a few types of mortgages that are available.

A fixed rate mortgage provides for the most security. A fixed rate mortgage is a mortgage that will have the same interest rate for the entire life of the loan. This is often a good choice for a lot of people as they will always know what their interest rate and payments will be. Fixed rate mortgages may not be the best option however if the homebuyer knows that they will only be living in the home for a few years.

An ARM loan has a variable interest rate. They will often have a smaller up front payment and smaller monthly payments, due to a lower interest rate. The interest rate for these types of loans are decided on using an interest index and a predetermined margin. ARMs can be the best choice for homebuyers if the homebuyer knows that they will not be living in the home for more than three or four years. Because there is no way to predict what the interest rates will be, these types of loans do not provide as much security as a fixed rate mortgage.

Interest only mortgages only cover the costs of the interest on the loan. This is the option most used by real estate investors who will not be living in the home. These loans provide for a lot of flexibility as the monthly payments only cover the interest due.

A Pay Option ARM has a variable rate and allows the homeowner four options for payment every month. These options are interest only, minimum payment, 30-year fully amortizing payment, or 15-year fully amortizing payment. These loans will be best suited to those who are self-employed as they can adjust their payments depending on how much income they earned that month. Pay Option ARMs can quickly collect negative amortization, making the amount of the loan increase rather than decrease and so, these types of mortgages need to be very carefully considered before an agreement is entered into.

FHA loans are suitable for first-time homebuyers or those who have no or bad credit. These mortgages tend to have very good interest rates as the federal government insures the loan for the lenders.

Understanding the different types of mortgages and the homeowners individual needs is critical when deciding on what type of mortgage is the right one for any given situation.

The Role of Mortgage Broker

A mortgage broker is a well-trained professional representing those who seek home mortgages and provides them an ideal solution. He is thorough with the entire mortgage processes. Hence, he will give the clients the best mortgage solution. A mortgage broker is considered as financial matchmaker between the borrower and the lender. Mortgage brokers are very knowledgeable professionals, as they have contacts with many lenders. They find the best interest rate for the borrowers to suit their needs by taking quotes from various lenders and picking the right one for their clients. Federal laws, state laws and licensing boards, regulate all most all the mortgage brokers. The mortgage brokers charge a nominal fee for the services he renders to the customers. Even though the borrower spends money on a mortgage broker, he still saves a lot of money due to the advice got from the mortgage broker. Mortgage brokers have access to lot of mortgage services and products at wholesale prices and they in turn market these services and products to their customers.

Need for using a commercial mortgage broker:

By engaging a mortgage broker, the customer gets his value for money spent on him. They provide the customers with excellent financing options according to their needs and objectives.

Locating a mortgage lender is not an easy task. By engaging a mortgage broker, this process is simplified as he has contacts with many lenders offering various financial options to the home loan seekers. With the help of a mortgage broker, the customer has all chances of getting loan options for an unbelievable amount.

When working along with a mortgage broker, the borrowers loan application has the possibility of being submitted to various lenders, this in turn increases the chances of the loan getting funded and also gives the mortgage broker the power to bargain in getting the best deal.

Since each and every kind of property has its own advantages and disadvantages, hiring a mortgage broker who is specialized in that particular loan type, will definitely be an advantage to the borrower. Also it saves a lot of time to the borrower in locating the right kind of the lender offering the best deal.

Advantages of hiring a mortgage broker:

The mortgage brokers have extensive knowledge about the mortgage market. They can find the borrower the best financial solution from the available options. They have access to more number of lenders and sometimes might even help the borrower to get mortgage from a mainstream bank itself. Since, mortgage involves lot of paperwork; it is taken care by the mortgage brokers. They reduce the time spent on searching for options by the borrower. They also can negotiate well with the lender and get the best possible interest rate to the borrower.

Disadvantages of hiring mortgage brokers:

Some kind of unscrupulous brokers might be there who show bias towards the lenders and make the borrower pay higher fees and commissions instead of providing an appropriate product or service to him. Some brokers may be void of training and knowledge about the mortgage industry but may make the customers believe that they are good knowledgeable people. Not all the brokers may have good contacts with the lenders. Some mortgage brokers might also charge heavy fees to their customers.

Subprime Mortgages And A Past Bankruptcy

Even with a Chapter 7 bankruptcy in your credit report you can still qualify for a sub-prime mortgage. Once approved, you can then use your mortgage to improve your credit history, qualifying you for lower interest rates in the future.

The Effects of a Bankruptcy

A bankruptcy will affect your credit score based on how long ago it was. So a bankruptcy discharged less than a year ago will qualify you for a D loan. These types of loans usually require 30% down and a high interest rate.

By waiting a year after a bankruptcy, you can qualify for a B or C loan with their lower rates and down payment requirements. If you wait two years, you can qualify for a FHA home loan. In four years, you can qualify for a conventional loan.

Besides your bankruptcy record, financing companies will want to see a steady payment history. This includes your credit and rent payments. Cash reserves for six to twelve months will also offset your credit risk.

Search For Lenders

Not all sub-prime lenders evaluate borrowers the same way. So you may qualify for a B loan with one lender and a C lender with another. To find who will offer you the best financing, you will need to request quotes from several lenders.

You can request quotes over the phone or online. Online sites will provide a fairly accurate quote based on the generic information you provide. You can also use free mortgage broker sites which provide home loan quotes from several different financing companies.

Before You Apply

Before you apply for your mortgage, make sure that all accounts involved in your bankruptcy have been closed. You can request a copy of your credit report from the reporting agencies to check your information. You may also consider including a letter in your report explaining the circumstances of your bankruptcy. Some lenders will look more favorably on your account if illness or job loss affected your finances.

After Your Mortgage

Once you have purchased your home, plan on rebuilding your credit history by making regular payments. Within two years you may qualify for a conventional mortgage with low rates.

Secured Loans Second Mortgages

During the past five years lenders have seen a boom in the demand for second mortgages as borrowers look to capitalise on the equity in their home. The low cost of borrowing coupled with the spiralling value of homes in the UK has led to a substantial strengthening of the equity position of many a homeowner. The equity position of some homeowners is in fact so strong that they now find themselves in the fortunate position of having more equity in their home than they have debts secured against their home on first mortgages and other loans.

Buoyed by the healthy state of positive property equity confidence is running high when it comes to homeowners committing to further borrowing. Many are taking the opportunity to secure second and even third charge loans against the equity in their property in order to release cash funds. Even the more conservative borrowers are now beginning to see the light, despite experts predicting of an imminent slowdown in the housing market.

If you’re thinking about releasing equity in your home through a second mortgage, here are some things you’ll need to consider before you take the plunge: -

Interest rates on second mortgages

The interest rates charged on second mortgages are often higher than those that are levied on first mortgages. This is because lenders see second mortgages as a higher risk than first mortgages and so compensate for this risk through fixing higher interest rates on second mortgages.

The increased risk factor on a second mortgage is down to the fact that these types of mortgages are a second charge on the property. That is to say that in the event of you defaulting on repayment to the point that your home is repossessed, the first mortgage lender legally gets first bite of the cherry when it comes to recovery of the loan. For second loans secured against the property, the lender has to wait its turn, running the risk that it may recover only part of the loan advanced or in some cases none of the loan advanced.

Lending criteria

Different lenders have different lending criteria for second charge mortgages. Whilst all lenders are likely to assess applicants for a second mortgage on the value of their home, their ability to repay the loan and their current income to debt ratio, not all lenders will give the same weight to these factors in the final analysis. This is why you may be rejected by one lender but accepted by another on an almost identical second mortgage offer.

Can you afford the repayments?

For a lender to be convinced that you are able to meet the repayments on a second mortgage, you’ll need to be sure how you’re going to repay the loan. You should never take on a second mortgage without first planning how you will pay the money back.

Different types of second charge mortgages

There are several different types of second charge mortgages to choose from. Be sure to get information on all your options and select the type of second mortgage that is most suitable for your circumstances. It is advisable to never borrow more than the current equity value in your home.

Second Mortgages Can Cap Housing Costs

In these times of rising interest rates, second mortgages or first mortgage refinancing might be just the thing to keep your housing costs from going through the roof. In a recent article in Parade magazine, How To Save on Your Mortgage, Lynn Brenner considered the question,

Will Your Mortgage Rate Go Up?
If you have a fixed-rate mortgage, you have nothing to worry about. But millions of home owners are sitting on a financial time bomb: Their monthly payments are preset to skyrocket sometime in the next 18 months. These owners have hybrid adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs), which start with a fixed rate for three to 10 years but later are adjusted annually.

Lets say you bought a house in 2003 with a 200,000 three-year hybrid ARM. For the first three years, your rate was about 3.8% and your monthly payment was 930. But this year, your rate could be reset to 7.3%, says Greg McBride, senior analyst at Bankrate.com, a personal finance site. That means your monthly payment could jump to 1,334.

Brenner goes on to recommend that, If you have an adjustable rate mortgage thats due to adjust this year or in 2007, consider refinancing. Taking out a new loan with different terms and paying off the old one can save you money. Refinancing does not make sense for everyone, however. If you intend to move in a year or two, for example, you may not save enough to recoup the costs of refinancingusually about 1.5% to 2% of the loan.

If you plan to stay in your house 10 years or longer, a fixed-rate mortgage is worth the extra cost to avoid rate increases. A hybrid ARM is a little less expensive, but you are vulnerable to future rate hikes, so look for one whose fixed rate lasts as long as you expect to stay in the house.

Benefits of Fixed-Rate Second Mortgages
Fixed-rate second mortgages can be less expensive than refinancing first mortgages. They usually have lower annual percentage rates (APR) than other forms of borrowing and they can save on taxes because the interest on mortgages is deductible. Second mortgages are also easier to get than unsecured loans or lines of credit.

Like a first mortgage, a second mortgage payment consists of principal and interest. Unlike a first mortgage, nothing is put into escrow to cover expenses such as homeowner insurance, property taxes and Private Mortgage Insurance.

Applying for a second mortgage is often faster than refinancing a first mortgage and requires a lot les paperwork. Its safe and secure to apply online from the convenience of your own home.

Mortgages as Products
Mortgages are products, just like automobiles or new living room furniturejust a whole lot more expensive. A home is often the largest financial transaction people ever undertake. Before signing the loan papers, get information from several lenders. Compare all the important information such as interest rates, discount points, closing costs, legal fees, title and insurance, etc.

If you have bad credit, you will be charged a higher interest rate, but according to The Equal Credit Opportunity Act, you cannot be denied a loan on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status or age.

To get current rates on mortgage refinancing, visit www.easysecondmortgages.com. For a competitive second mortgage quote, check out www.easymortgagerefinancing.com.

Rights of a mortgagor All that you need to

Rights of a mortgagor All that you need to know about mortgages!

Rights of a Mortgagor!

The transfer of Property Act confers certain rights to a mortgagor. The mortgagor has these rights after payment of the mortgage money to the mortgagee.

A mortgagee should deliver the mortgage deed and all documents relating to the mortgaged property which are in his possession to the mortgagor. In case the mortgagee is in possession of the mortgaged property, he is liable to deliver possession to the mortgagor.

The mortgagee is also liable to re-transfer the mortgaged property to the mortgagor or to any other third person as he may direct. He may also have to execute and have registered an acknowledgement in writing that his rights in the property have been extinguished. This right is called right to redeem. In case of any violation, the mortgagor may file a suit to enforce it. This is called a suit for redemption.

Generally, a person interested in a share only of a mortgaged property cannot ask redeem that share only, on payment of a proportionate part of the amount remaining due

on the mortgage. A mortgagor is entitled to redemption only on the fulfilment of conditions agreed with the mortgagee. The mortgagor may require that, instead of re-transferring the property to himself, the mortgagee assigns the mortgage debt and transfers the mortgaged property to a third person as the mortgagor may direct. The mortgagee is bound to assign and transfer accordingly.

A mortgagor who has executed two or more mortgages in favour of the same mortgagee should, when the principal money of any two or more of the mortgages has become due, be entitled to redeem any one mortgage separately.

Where the mortgaged property in possession of the mortgagee has, during the continuance of the mortgage, received any accession, the mortgagor, upon redemption, is entitled to such accession.

Where a mortgaged property in possession of a mortgagee has been improved during the continuance of the mortgage, the mortgagor is entitled to the improvement. The mortgagor is not liable to pay the cost of the improvement. In case where any such improvement was effected at the cost of the mortgagee and was necessary to preserve the property from destruction or deterioration, or was necessary for its security, the mortgagor is liable to pay the cost.

These rights may be enforced by the mortgagor or by any encumbrancer. In case there are multiple encumbrances for the same property, the requisition of a prior encumbrancer will prevail over that of a subsequent encumbrancer.

A mortgagor is entitled to inspect and make copies or abstracts of documents of title relating to the mortgaged property which are in the custody or power of the mortgagee.

The mortgagor will have to bear the costs. In case the mortgaged property is on a lease and the mortgagee obtains a renewal of the lease, the mortgagor, upon redemption, will have the benefit of the new lease.

Reverse Mortgages – Get The Money You Need – Part

Reverse Mortgages – Get The Money You Need – Part 1 Of 4

Reverse Mortgages are loans that allow you to borrow back the equity in your home. Just as you once paid the bank, the bank now pays you. Isn’t that a nice change?

If you are 62 years of age or older, they are a way to borrow against the equity in your home (the value of your home minus any mortgage debt you now have) to provide you with tax-free income. Seniors struggling because of falling retirement account balances and increases in the cost of medical care are looking for new sources of cash to maintain their standard of living.

The amount you can borrow depends on your age, the value of your home and interest rates.

Fortunately, you continue to own and live in the home for the life of the loan. There are no loan payments until you sell the house, die or move out for a period of a year or longer.

You can get the money as a line of credit, a monthly payment, a lump sum, or a combination of all of these. A monthly payment is a guaranteed of income for as long as you live in your residence, whereas; a lump sum could be used as you wish, such as to purchase an annuity that could provide you with a life long income. With a line of credit, you don’t have to pay interest on money you haven’t withdrawn and your money will earn interest while it’s waiting to be used by you.

A Reverse Mortgage might be worth considering if:

-You plan to stay in your home.
-You want to enhance your lifestyle and enjoy your golden years.
-You want funds for major expenses such as medical bills, or for major home repairs.
-You need additional income to live on and your only significant asset is your home.
-You want the peace-of-mind that comes from knowing your financial needs are taken care of.
-You own your home free and clear, or you have a small first mortgage.
-You don’t plan to leave your home to your heirs.

What are some of the potential advantages of Reverse Mortgages?

-It can help you maintain your financial independence or improve your quality of life.
-You can stay in your home and keep title to the property.
-The money you receive is tax-free and is not usually considered income.
-You make no payments until the loan ends or the house is sold.
-Your income is not a consideration in obtaining the loan since there are no payments until the loan ends.
-You cannot owe more than the value of the home at the end of the loan.

If you’re a senior, I hope you can see the benefits of taking advantage of this income source, if you need it.

This is a four part series, one each week right here, same location. In Part 2 next week, we’ll explore much more, including the drawbacks of a reverse mortgage and what types are available.

Reverse Mortgage Information – Who Qualifies For Reverse Mortgages

Reverse mortgages can be a great solution for seniors who wish to remain in their home but are having difficulty making their monthly payments and meeting other financial obligations. If you are over age 62 and own your own home, the bank will actually pay you money so you can stay in your home, rather than the other way around. It is important to collect as much reverse mortgage information as possible before deciding whether to take out the loan.

Anyone is eligible for a reverse mortgage loan, even if they have no income. Your home must be a single family residence in a one to four unit dwelling, a condominium or some type of manufactured home. Cooperatives and most mobile homes are not eligible. The home must be at least one year old and you have to first meet with an authorized counselor.

You can obtain the loan as a lump sum payment, a fixed monthly amount or as a line of credit that you use whenever you need it. The money can be used for just about any purpose. This can include paying property taxes or medical bills, home repairs and improvements, paying off credit cards or just daily living expenses. The amount of money you receive depends upon your age, the amount of equity in the home, its appraised value and current interest rates. The reverse mortgage loan does not have to be repaid until you sell the home, permanently move out, or pass away. Your loan could also become due if you allow the property to deteriorate, you fail to pay property taxes or hazard insurance, or if the last surviving borrower does not occupy the home for 12 months in a row due to illness.

There are some fees involved with a reverse mortgage loan, similar to those you would incur with a regular mortgage. These include origination fees which cover the lenders operating expenses and are currently capped at the greater of 2,000 or 2% of the maximum FHA loan limit. In addition you will be required to take out mortgage insurance and pay an appraisal fee which ranges between 300 – 400. Other closing costs include fees for a credit report (usually under 20), flood certification, closing and title search, document preparation, recording, courier, pest inspection and a land survey. In addition, a monthly service set-aside fee of 30-35 per month will be charged.

When you meet with your counselor, you should be able to obtain all the reverse mortgage information you require before you make your final decision. It will be nice to have the option of staying in your own home if that is what you desire.