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Originally published in 1892. This volume from the Cornell University Library’s print collections was scanned on an APT BookScan and converted to JPG 2000 format by Kirtas Technologies. All titles scanned cover to cover and pages may include marks notations and other marginalia present in the original volume…. More >>
Some facts about the western mortgage business: its history and its outlook
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“The Truth About Mortgages is a great resource. It provides the advice that so many Canadians have declared they want and need to help them manage their borrowing.” — From the Foreword by John Wright, Senior Vice-President, Ipsos-Reid Whether you are a first-time home buyer or in the market for a new house or condo, negotiating a mortgage is one of the biggest challenges you face. In The Truth About Mortgages, two of Canada’s leading experts on mortgages and… More >>
The Truth About Mortgages: How to Make the Most of Your Borrowing Power
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Forget what you think you know about the mortgage meltdown, or at least, suspend your thoughts for a while. I invite you to consider a different perspective on how we got here and what you can do about it. Everyone has an opinion on how all of this turmoil came about. Everyone has an opinion on what should be done – now. Most of those opinions are based on what we are told. Unfortunately, most of what we have heard is wrong. The nightly news, pontificating politicia… More >>
The Mortgage Meltdown: The Mindsets That Got Us Here and What You Can Do About It
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Confused or overwhelmed by the “mortgage maze”? Industry pro Dale Vermillion explains the simple truth. Learn about wise mortgage financing, and how to avoid common traps that cost you thousands of dollars! Chapters include:
• The Top 10 Mortgage Mistakes • Simple Truth about Interest Rates and APR’s • Mortgage Industry Dilemma • The Simple Truth About Debt • Qualifying for Mortgage Financing • Establishing Financial Goals • Mo… More >>
Navigating the Mortgage Maze: The Simple Truth About Financing Your Home
An alternative form of mortgage that has been seeing a growing popularity in recent years, the interest only mortgage loan allows a borrower to pay only the interest on the money that they borrow for a specified period of time. Once that time period has expired, the full loan amount is due; this allows many borrowers to save up money for the mortgage payment during the initial payment period without having to struggle to meet a large payment amount every month. These loans can be very useful for those who are on an infrequent or irregular pay schedule, especially when they will be seeing a larger influx of money at a later date from investments or large surges in income. These loans are not for everyone, but provided that you are fully informed about how the loans work you may find that they are exactly what you have been looking for.
Interest only mortgage loans can be very useful when you are trying to purchase a house or other property but will not be able to afford full mortgage payments at this time. Since you are only paying the interest on the principal amount that you borrow instead of making payments for both the interest and the principal, the amount of each payment is going to be significantly lower. When the total amount finally becomes due, you will have to pay only the principal because you have been taking care of the interest as it was accrued. With most interest only mortgage loans, this will give you between five and seven years to save up the money that you need or to make investments that will pay off the principal amount once it becomes due.
This is not to say that paying off your interest only mortgage loan is your only option when the final loan amount becomes due, of course; most lenders will offer you the option to refinance the remainder of your loan for an additional term, in some cases changing both the term and the interest rate on the refinanced loan so that you can get a better deal when repaying the original mortgage amount. Some borrowers will take advantage of this in order to refinance the principal into a more standard mortgage type, using the time that they were paying only the interest on their original loan to save up enough money to be able to better meet the full payments that go with a traditional mortgage.
A number of lenders will allow you to make payments on the principal when it comes due instead of having to pay the entire amount at once, though it is important that this is negotiated beforehand so that you do not expect to be able to make payments when they are not offered. This is not without its drawbacks, of course, since the interest rate that is charged on these payments will generally be higher than what was being charged when you were only paying the interest. Even if the interest rate does not change, you will still have a significantly higher amount to pay each month since you are paying against principal as well as having to keep up with the interest that is being applied to your balance each month.
Many people who are in the process of advancing in their careers find interest only mortgage loans very appealing, since it lets them save money now while they’re still working their way up the corporate ladder. By the time that the principal amount becomes due or they have to refinance, there is a good chance that these same individuals will be making significantly more money than they were when the loan was first taken out. This can be especially useful if the loan features a fixed interest rate, since that will allow these borrowers to keep the same rate even as they receive cost-of-living increases on top of any raises or other advances that they might receive as they advance their careers. This is a great option since the interest stays at a fixed amount allowing you to pay that first.
Not everyone will see the same benefit from interest only mortgage loans, of course. For those who have steady but moderate incomes, the savings from an interest only mortgage loan may not be enough to cover the full amount of the principal when it becomes due. These individuals may be better served by a more standard mortgage loan, or will need to plan in advance to refinance the loan once the interest only period expires. Should one of these individuals still be interested in an interest only mortgage, their mortgage lender may be willing to work with them to develop a refinancing plan so that they will already have an idea of exactly how they should refinance their loan when that time arrives.
Brian Jenkins is a freelance writer who writes about economic issues and financial products pertaining to the mortgage industry such an adjustable rate mortgage or the lowest mortgage rate.
Mortgage bonds are among the largest types of bonds that are offered by financial institutions in the market today. Because of this, any changes in the economic market has a direct effect on the value of mortgage bonds which then influences the various mortgage rates that are applied on a mortgage taken out by a borrower. In fact, any activity that has a connection with mortgage bonds offered by various financial institutions would have an effect on the amount of interest rates that the US Government permits financial institutions to apply on mortgages or loans approved.
More for Less
Financial analysts have determined that the demand for mortgage bonds in the United States have had a converse effect on the amount of the interest rate charged by financial institutions and creditors to borrowers who are looking to take out a loan or a mortgage. By this, it only means that as the demand for mortgage bonds increases, the amount of interest rate charged by these financial institutions to those people who are taking out a mortgage or a loan. This is because a higher demand of mortgage bonds is able to provide these financial institutions the funds and capital it needs in order to compensate them in the event that the borrower defaults on the repayment schedule for one reason or another. As such, financial institutions are then more confident to lower the interest rates applied to their various loan and mortgage programs. In turn, more people who are seeking for financial assistance are able to avail of a mortgage program that would provide them the needed funds while being still viewing the repayment schedule to be within their budget.
On the other hand, when the demand of mortgage bonds diminishes, the reverse happens. Since there is a potential for the financial institution might incur losses in the event that a borrower would default in the repayment schedule, the interest rate imposed by these financial institutions increases.
The Role of the Investor
The ability of the mortgage bond to influence the amount of interest charged by a financial institution can be traced to the investor. Investors are constantly in the search of potential investments that promises low capitals with high returns at a short period of time. When the mortgage bonds offered by a particular financial institution is able to provide these needs, investors would be more than happy to put their money into the mortgage bonds offered by the financial institutions, causing an increase in the demand for mortgage bonds of that particular financial institution. On the other hand, if the mortgage bonds that is offered by a financial institution does not provide the high returns an investor is hoping to get, not only would this cause the investor to pull out the capital he or she initially invested in the mortgage bonds. This sudden pull out would cause more potential investors to become apprehensive in investing their money into these mortgage funds.
This being the case, financial institutions would, from time to time, modify the mortgage bonds it offers to potential investors to make them attractive enough to encourage investors to invest in these mortgage bonds instead of investing their money elsewhere. One way they do this is to increase the interest rates that would be applied on the capital placed in for the acquisition of the mortgage bonds in order to provide the investor a higher return rate.
The Role of Financial Institutions
Financial institutions also play a role in contributing to the manner on how mortgage bonds influence interest rates. This is because it is the decisions made by the financial institutions with regards to the mortgage bonds offered to potential investors that would, in turn, hold the key to whether or not the mortgage bonds would be attractive to potential investors or otherwise. Financial institutions would need to provide a sense of balance to the different needs of investors who are looking into taking out a mortgage bond, while ensuring that they do not incur any losses. This is determined through the interest rates that are imposed by these financial institutions on the mortgage bonds offered to investors.
Reverse mortgages are more popular than ever among those aged 62 and over. In fact, the number of RMs issued doubled between 2003 and 2005 yet many people still either haven’t heard of reverse mortgages or aren’t quite sure about how they work to relieve the financial pressure of the retirement years. If you’re in or entering your retirement years or have aging parents that need financial assistance, you’ll want to know more about this very unique financial product.
What are reverse mortgages?
These mortgages aren’t like traditional home equity loans where homeowners borrow against the equity in their home and pay a balance back each month. Though RMs unlock the equity in their homes, there is no amount to pay back each month. Instead, the amount issued to the homeowner isn’t owed until the home is sold or until the death of the homeowner.
Who qualifies for reverse mortgages?
RMs are available to those aged 62 and older. Some types of government backed mortgages require that applicants have an income below a certain level. However, privately funded RMs don’t often impose income restrictions.
I’m over 62 but my spouse is not. Do we qualify for a reverse mortgage?
In order to qualify for RMs, both applicant and spouse must be 62 or older. The age requirement is applicable to only those on the title of the home. If only one spouse is on the home’s title, then the age of the other spouse is irrelevant.
Can the equity from reverse mortgages be used for any purpose?
Propriety or non-government RMs can be used for any purpose. Whether to travel, pay medical bills, or just to increase monthly cash flow, it’s up to the homeowner to decide what to do with their earned equity. However, the money received from government insured single purpose reverse mortgages is limited to paying for specific items such as home repairs or taxes.
Does getting a reverse mortgage require a credit check?
No. Since RMs are not loans, there is no need for a credit check.
How are the payments from reverse mortgages issued?
Homeowners can choose either to receive a lump sum payment for the amount they qualify for, or to receive monthly payments, referred to as tenure. While a lump sum payment gives you the advantage of having all of the funds at your disposal to use as you wish, with monthly payments the remaining balance can earn interest until it is dispersed. For homeowners that prefer the benefit of both a lump sum payment and monthly payments, there is also modified tenure that combines the two options.
Do I have to pay taxes on money received from reverse mortgages?
No. Unlike home equity loans, the money received from RMs isn’t considered a payment; it’s your own money, not additional taxable income.
With the funds received from a reverse mortgage affect my government benefits?
This depends on how you choose to have the money issued and how you use the money. Since the money is not considered income receiving monthly payments from RMs does not affect government benefits such as SSI or Medicare. However, if you choose to take a lump sum payment, any amount remaining one month after receiving the money can be considered a resource and can affect your benefits.
I own more than one home. Can I get reverse mortgages on all of the homes that I own?
No, a RM can be taken only for your primary residence. The types of primary residences that apply are single family homes and qualified town homes, condominiums, and manufactured homes.
Do I have to own my home outright in order to qualify for a reverse mortgage?
RMs are available even for those that owe money on their homes. However, you’ll need to use the money from the RM to pay off the outstanding debt. So while you may not receive a lump sum payment or extra money each month from the reverse mortgage, you can eliminate your monthly mortgage payment to increase monthly cash flow.
Before taking out a reverse mortgage, be sure to speak with a loan counselor who can help you to better understand how the details of a mortgage of this type apply to your particular situation. RMs are a great option for seniors who have worked hard to build equity in their homes and need extra income after leaving the job or who just want to enjoy their retirement years.
This article addresses some of the key issues regarding second mortgage and taxes. A careful reading of this material could make a big difference in how you think about second mortgage and taxes.
For the average consumer who has managed to acquire credit card debt, automobile loans, and various other small debts, is the second mortgage loan an answer for the consolidation of debt and a tax reduction? Quite often the answer to this question is yes. Second mortgages that have traditionally been used in areas of home improvement, funding college educations or business startups are now being considered as a means to eliminate or consolidate high-interest credit card debt and create a tax deduction at the same time.
For the average consumer, using second mortgage loan money to pay off credit card debt or to consolidate individual personal loans does not eliminate the possibility of a tax reduction; especially if that average consumer does not already own a second home. The only problem here seems to be that we’re replacing credit card debt for second mortgage debt; what do we then do with the credit card we’ve paid off? The smart consumer cuts them up.
How does a second mortgage affect your tax liability at the end of the year? A lot of that will depend on your income levels, your medical expense, and your other interest deductions. Mortgage interest expense is deductible on the Schedule A “Itemized Deductions” form of your individual or personal tax return. The Schedule A, however is not a straight tax reduction tool. Tax reductions, or deductions, carried forward from the Schedule A are a percentage of your AGI, or your adjusted gross income. Your adjusted gross income is based upon your income less certain expenses and deductions from Schedule Cs, Schedule Es etc. etc. Can you now see where this might be a little complicated?
You can see that there’s practical value in learning more about second mortgage, taxes. Can you think of ways to apply what’s been covered so far?
Let’s throw something else into the mix: if you’re an investor, especially in the real estate market, your mortgage interest may not be deductible, period. Mortgage interest on your first home and on your second home is a tax-deductible interest; if however, you happen to be an investor in the real estate market the ability to make it clear distinction between first and second homes versus investment property becomes much harder to prove. Is the home a second home with deductible mortgage interest expense, or is it an investment? Of course, for investors interest expense on a loan for investment purposes is fully tax deductible; no percentages to work with at all.
Now let’s ask another question, if you decide to take out a second mortgage could you better invest your money? What a 401(k), an IRA, or an MSA be a better benefit when it comes tax time versus leading the money in your home as equity? This has been a question long debated by financial analysts, tax attorneys, and fairly tax proficient homeowners. How does the equity better serve the homeowner? As a savings account, which is really what the equity in your home turns out be, or as an investment tool that can be used to increase your retirement savings? There are other factors to be considered here: such as penalties for early withdrawal, risk ratio versus profitability ratios, and which programs reduce tax on a one-to-one ratio? Unless you already have some general knowledge of the tax system, it can be more expensive to determine tax savings than you would actually save.
As you can see there are many, many ways to affect your tax liability, your tax deductions, or affect a tax reduction; the correct answers are highly dependent upon the individual situation and the individual objectives. The only way to accurately determine the better benefit is to sit down with a financial advisor, your tax information, and evaluate your long-term objectives.
Does the average consumer ever take the time to accomplish this? As a general rule the answer is no. Most consumers never take the time to look past next month. Over the course of a stressful and busy work week retirement planning, tax deductions, and income producing benefits never cross the consumer’s mind. For those individuals who truly anticipate and receive benefit from tax planning in relation to their mortgage interest, there are many more individuals who never even contemplate that there might be a savings. Maybe, we should just skip this question.
If you’ve picked some pointers about a second mortgage and taxes that you can put into action, then by all means, do so. You won’t really be able to gain any benefits from your new knowledge if you don’t use it.
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The “Mortgage Professor” answers critical homemortgage questions This value-packed consumer reference by a nationally syndicated mortgage columnist is indispensable for anyone looking to secure a home mortgage. The Pocket Mortgage Guide answers 50 of the most commonly asked mortgage questions, including: How can I find the lowest-cost lender? Should I choose a 15-year loan or a 30-year loan? What is PMI and how can I cancel it? How large a mortgag… More >>
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