Tag Archives: home loan

Shopping In A Tightening Mortgage Market

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In recent months the media has been rife with stories of a meltdown in the mortgage sector. And while reporters are often prone to hyperbole, there’s no denying that the home financing industry is suffering. Mortgage investment funds have faltered, home prices have declined, residential foreclosures are on the rise, and about one hundred nationally operating lenders have closed their doors.

But many homeowners struggle to understand what the current mortgage climate means for them. What caused the current situation? How will the downturn affect them? And what can they do to avoid any negative repercussions when purchasing or refinancing a home?

Domino Effect

Recent events within the mortgage industry have fostered a domino effect which has toppled many precariously balanced facets. During the most recent housing boom many borrowers felt emboldened or were encouraged to obtain adjustable rate mortgages on homes which were realistically outside their comfort zone. Some went so far as to adopt Option ARMs and pay a minimum payment which didn’t even cover monthly interest. Unfortunately, as interest rates rose and teaser rates expired, many of these borrowers found themselves in over their heads.

This resulted in growing mortgage delinquencies and foreclosures, fewer first time buyers, and falling home prices as demand dried up. As demand lessened the situation became worse, and the lenders who had originally funded the failing loans were required to take on obligations which homeowners could no longer manage. By 2007 those obligations had reached a breaking point for some lenders, and they began to close their doors.

New Requirements

As often occurs, government regulators and officials reactively weighed in and began examining some of the fast and loose lending tactics which had caused the mess. Lenders have consequently enacted stricter loan requirements and funding obligations to negate the need for government legislation. And while that strategy has reduced future abuses and irresponsibilities, it has done little to assist borrowers who are struggling to keep their homes. It has also curbed the flow of first time buyers even further, which in turn has crimped demand still more.

As a result of these stricter requirements, homeowners and buyers today can expect lenders to be more demanding. The sun is setting on fuzzy income requirements and no-down home loans. And credit score requirements are becoming increasingly strict. Whether you’re looking to refinance or purchase a home, make sure you have some money for closing costs and a down payment, present solid documentation of your income, and take the necessary steps to clean up any credit report discrepancies before you begin the mortgage process. And above all, if you’re buying a home don’t extend beyond your means: it’s better to keep a smaller, less glamorous home than to loose a larger, chic home.

Finding the Right Deal

Over the past few years many lenders and banks have been aggressively marketing to consumers. That’s because it benefits them to work directly with you. But the best way to find the right mortgage today is via a mortgage broker or aggregation service. Working with only one lender can leave you vulnerable to their corporate motives, and unless you’re knowledgeable about the mortgage industry you might end up with a bad deal. And seeking out two or more lenders directly can be stressful and time wasting. A mortgage broker can help you find multiple local and national lenders who can offer the best mortgage deals, regardless of whether you’re purchasing a new home or refinancing an existing one.

But when using a mortgage broker it’s important you don’t jump at any old company. Many brokers have an online presence: but a website alone doesn’t guarantee a bona fide company. Before filling in an online loan application you should look for some important content and links. Is the company a member of the Better Business Bureau and legitimate mortgage organizations like the MBA? Do they offer sensible advice free of charge? Does their website look professional and is it secure? Do they have their finger on the pulse of the mortgage industry? Do they readily provide customer testimonials? Are they available to talk to you over the phone? Only the best brokers can fulfill all of these requirements, and they are the ones who are worthy of your business.

If you’re falling behind on your mortgage payments and even a broker can’t help you, just remember you still have options. Lenders and investors don’t want to be burdened with foreclosed-on properties in today’s market. So call your mortgage company and ask about restructuring your loan. It’s better for your lender if they get a reduced payment over more years than if your home is foreclosed and sits dormant for months.

Conclusion

The mortgage market is changing at a rapid pace, and prospective borrowers are finding it harder to find an affordable and competitive deal because of the lack of restraint of recent years. But with careful preparation and the right broker you can successfully navigate today’s hurdles and find a mortgage which suites your needs for years to come.

How Much Mortgage Debt Is There In USA?

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Given all the worries about credit in this country, and subprime mortgages, I was curious as to what the entire amount of home mortgage debt is. There are about 110 million households in the country, with 70% of them owned residences. Let’s say there are 75 million owned homes. Not all have mortgages, but if 70 million do, and the average mortgage amount on such homes is $200,000, that comes out to a scary $14 TRILLION of mortgage debt in the USA. If just 2% default, the amount of bad home loans is $280 billion. It could obviously be much higher.
Does anyone know what total mortgage debt is per household and in total? This is a real problem that could damage the economy.

Mortgage Brokers For Home Loan Refinance

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Online brokers negotiate financing deals with several lenders. This may mean that you can find a better deal through their site than by working with the lender. Not all mortgage brokers guarantee the lowest refinancing rates, so you should also compare brokers.

Understanding Mortgage Brokers

Mortgage brokers specialize in finding financing. They work with many lenders to offer you several financing choices. They partner with traditional banks as well as thrift institutions, credit unions, and mortgage companies. They can even connect you with subprime lenders if you have poor credit.

Not all brokers call themselves mortgage brokers. But any site that offers bids from more than one lending company is a broker. Make sure you know if you are dealing with a broker, since this will affect your closing costs.

Brokers collect a fee for each loan they refer to a lender. Sometimes you will pay this fee as part of the closing costs, other times it will come out of the mortgage companys fees. Even with the additional expense of a fee, brokers can usually find you better deals than if you shop alone.

Working With Broker Sites

Online broker sites enable you to make quick comparisons from basic financial information that you provide. Usually, you will need a general idea of your credit score, loan amount, and down payment. The quote you receive gives you a rough idea of rates and closing costs.

Take the time to check with a couple of broker sites to find the best deal. Each broker works with different lenders and negotiates unique deals. Spending a few extra minutes analyzing quotes can save you thousands in interest costs.

Taking The Next Step

Once you have narrowed your choices down for refinancing, request a detailed quote from the lender. This will require the financing company to look at your credit score. You dont want to request too many detailed quotes, since your credit score is temporarily lowered every time a lender makes a credit inquiry.

The detailed quotes will list rate along with terms, such as required points. Even with this accurate quote, it can change hourly based on market indexes and bank rates. If you find a good deal, it is best to act on it quickly to lock in rates.

Mortgage Calculator: Quicky Rate and Home Loan Estimator

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If you are thinking about selling, buying or possibly refinancing your home, youve probably been doing a little research into mortgage rates. It is important to not only find a home in your price range, but also to obtain a loan that matches your budget. Mortgage rates vary in different parts of the country, even within a single state. The mortgage game can be a frustrating, stressful and exhausting experience. But there is something out there to help make the process of researching rates and payments a little easier for you, and its free!

Have you ever heard of a mortgage calculator? Its a handy, little, online device to give you some assistance in the plight to figuring out what your mortgage payments will be. The mortgage calculator bases its estimations on percentage rates, the loan amount you are receiving, and the area where you live or hope to live. Theyre simple to use and can give you a pretty accurate idea of what to expect in terms of what you will be paying out each month.

There are several websites that offer the free mortgage calculator service. One excellent online resource is Mortgage101.com. Their website has an electronic mortgage calculator that not only gives you an estimation of your monthly payment based on rates and loan amounts, but offers a total of six different ways to make this determination. Based on how you would like to pay your loan, you can calculate what the payment will be based on points, percentage rates and length of the loan. You can alter any of those numbers to get different estimations and ultimately, a really good idea of what to expect in terms of financing options. By utilizing the Monthly Payment calculator, you can enter information about your property such as value, taxes and insurance requirements to receive an even more accurate estimation of what your payment might be.

Take advantage of mortgage calculators. They are a free and easy way to get a good idea of what you can expect to pay for your new home or business property. Getting this information in advance might be one way to cut down on the stress of trying to figure out the best way to finance, and give you a little peace of mind knowing, up front, what you can or cannot afford to pay.

Mortgage Calculator And Interest Rates

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One of the best ways to use a mortgage calculator is to help you to compare the interest rates of various loans. Applying for and getting a home loan is a lot of work. It is not something that is easy to do unless you do not care how much you will be paying for your home. Since this is one of the largest investments you will ever make, you will want to insure that you get the best loan for your home as well as for your pocketbook. You can easily do this, though, when you take the time to use this type of tool.

The interest rate of a home loan is the most costly part of it. This is the percentage that you will pay to borrow the money to buy the home. Nothing is more important to compare when looking for a home loan than this number. What makes it confusing and even enticing is the fact that many lenders out there who are all offering slightly different interest rates. How do you know which one is offering the lowest rate? If you like one company and would like to work with them, but someone else is offering a lower rate, what will it cost you? These are just what you can learn from using a mortgage calculator .

This tool allows you to compare what is out there. You will simply need to punch in some numbers such as the interest rate of the potential loan, the terms of the loan and any fees that may be included as well as the amount of your down payment and out comes a lot of information that is vitally important to your decision. You will learn how much this particular home loan will cost you. The mortgage calculator will tell you how much you will pay monthly in your payments. It will also tell you how much you will pay in total cost.

Now, if there are other interest rate charges out there that you are considering, you can use the tool to see just what the difference will be. Simply go back to the blank mortgage calculator and input the necessary information for the new potential home loan. You will get all of the same numbers, this time with the new totals for the new rates. Because there is no charge for using this tool and there is no obligation for using it, it is easy to keep using it to keep seeing the various options that you have.

This tool is easy to use too. You can use it to provide you with all of the things that you need to make a good decision about the home loan you are taking in. Compare several different home loan lenders to see what they can offer you and to see just what the difference in dollars and cents is. Taking just a few minutes to carefully consider these options, by using a mortgage calculator can help you to benefit many times over in your home loan.

Mortgage Companies – Different Breeds Of Mortgage Lenders

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If applying for a new home loan, there are numerous mortgage lending options. New homebuyers may not know where to start. Different mortgage lenders fit different circumstances. In fact, choosing the wrong lender may result in paying more interest. With this said, it is important for homebuyers to educate themselves on the different types of mortgage lenders, and select the lender that is perfect for them.

Traditional Mortgage Lenders: Banks, Credit Unions, etc.

While waiting in the lobby of a bank or credit union, perhaps you have observed signs advertising low mortgage rates. Some homebuyers choose to finance their homes through mortgage companies. However, it is possible to obtain a mortgage loan from your local bank.

Using a local banker may be advantageous. Each mortgage lending institution establishes its own lending guidelines. Moreover, these lenders can pick and choose the type of loans they want to service.

There are various types of home loans. These are intended to help individuals with good credit, poor credit, no credit, recent bankruptcy, etc. Unfortunately, not all lenders offer a range of home loans. Thus, persons with bad credit may have trouble getting approved.

Likewise, banks and credit unions may choose not to service bad credit loans. Therefore, those with a credit score below 680 may not qualify for a traditional loan. If this is the case, these applicants may have to seek alternative financing.

Mortgage Loan Brokers

Because mortgage comparisons are important, many homebuyers bypass local banks. Accepting the first mortgage offer received is not a wise act. Lenders offer different interest rates. The only way to get the lowest mortgage rate possible is to obtain quotes from many lenders.

Mortgage brokers are very useful. Although brokers do not finance home loans themselves, working with a mortgage broker gives homebuyers the opportunity to receive multiple offers from different lenders. Additionally, brokers have access to many types of loans. Thus, persons with a low credit rating can also obtain quotes from different lenders offering bad credit mortgages.

Mortgage brokers are also successful with locating suitable home loans for people with unique conditions. This may include self-employment, no money for closing, real estate investors, etc.

Mortgage Companies – Prime Lenders Versus Sub Prime Lenders

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For the best rates and fees, look to a prime lender to give you top financing due to your excellent credit score. For those with poor credit, turn to a sub prime lender for reasonable rates on mortgage loans. You will also find more flexibility with a sub prime in drawing up terms and conditions in your loan contract.

When Prime Lenders Are Best

If you have an excellent credit score and a solid financial base, look to a prime lender to get you the market rates and fees. With near perfect payment history and cash assets, you can bank on getting superb rates.

To get even lower rates, do some comparison shopping online. Working with a mortgage broker can save you time in your search. You can also negotiate further rate reductions by paying points at closing.

But if you are looking at a down payment of 20% or less, you will need to carry private mortgage insurance. Annual premiums cost around a thousand or more. Once your assessed equity value equals 20%, you can then drop the insurance.

Special Cases For Sub Prime Lenders

Sub prime lenders handle financing for special cases, whether that is bad credit or unique terms. For accepting mortgage applications with higher risk levels, sub prime companies charge slightly higher rates.

Of course there are shady lenders who charge excessively high rates and fees. But you can avoid these companies by researching several lenders to find a good deal on a home loan.

Sub prime lenders dont require private mortgage insurance or a stellar credit past. Nearly everyone can qualify for financing; its just a matter of what rates and fees you are willing to pay.

Where To Find Your Lender

Nearly all lenders handle quotes and applications online. If you are unsure about which type of lender to turn to, take a look at your credit report. If you are still undecided, ask for loan estimates from both types of lenders.

Even within each type of lender, there is a lot of variation in loan costs based on the terms you select. So consider all your loan options when comparing rates and fees.

Mortgage Factors – Loan to Value

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When applying for a home loan, there are a number of factors you have to take into account. Loan to value is one of the key issues that will determine whether you get that loan.

Mortgage Factors: Loan to Value

When considering an application for a mortgage, lenders look at a number of factors. Regardless of the type of loan, they always look at loan to value ratios. The loan to value ration is simply a calculation that tells the lender and you the value of the property in question versus the amount of the loan. The ratio is determined by dividing the appraised value of the home by the amount sought for the home loan. For instance, assume a home is appraised at $200,000. If you apply for a $160,000 home loan, the loan to value is 80 percent.

In evaluating any loan of any type, lenders try to evaluate the risk factor. By risk, they are trying to ascertain the chance you will default on the loan and leave them holding the property. The loan to value ration is one of the factors used to determine risk. Simply put, the larger the loan to value ratio, the more risk the lender has of getting stuck with the property. The higher the risk level, the more picky the lender is going to be about other factors in the application process such as income, credit and so on.

The magic number with loan to value rations is 80 percent. If you can come up with sufficient cash to put down 20 percent on a property, the lender will consider the loan to be less risky. Put in practical terms, the lender knows you arent about to walk away from your large cash down payment if you can help it. Thus, there is less risk in granting the loan.

If you are applying for a mortgage with a high loan to value ratio, you need to make sure you have excellent credit and a strong history of employment. An application with 90 or 100 percent loan to value is going to make a lender risk sensitive, so you can expect it to be much harder to get the loan.

In the current home financing market, the loan to value ratio is not as critical as it used to be. There are now a bevy of lenders that specialize in particular types of loans, particularly high loan to value ratio mortgages. If you are looking at a high loan to value ratio, a mortgage broker is your best option to finding the best deal.

Mortgage After Bankruptcy – Helpful steps

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If you want to increase your chances of qualifying for a mortgage after bankruptcy, here are some steps you can take:

First, if you plan to apply for a mortgage after bankruptcy, you will want to have any inaccurate or obsolete negative information on your credit reports corrected or removed. This can help increase your credit score.

Also, you will want to establish some new accounts, and pay them in a timely manner over time. If you’ve paid the accounts on time for about 18-24 months since your bankruptcy, this should help rebuild your credit – which can be a plus when applying for a mortgage after bankruptcy.

Next, you will want to work with an experienced mortgage broker. Why? Because buying a home is probably going to be one of the biggest investments you’ll make. You will want to have an experienced professional guiding you through the lending process – especially when it comes to applying for a mortgage after bankruptcy.

A mortgage broker typically has access to dozens of lenders and will probably have a good idea of which ones will (and will not) approve you for a mortgage after bankruptcy. In addition, they will be able to tell you what to expect in terms of the financing process.

So how do you find a mortgage broker? One way is to to ask friends or real estate agents for a referral. Once you have a few names, set up an appointment to interview each mortgage broker.

Among other questions, you will want to know if they have successfully been able to get other individuals a mortgage after bankruptcy. You also want to make sure they are licensed.

Another question you will want to ask is what type mortgage loan (A, B, C, or D) the mortgage broker thinks you can qualify for. Why? The lower the grade of the loan, the higher the interest rate. This is an important consideration when applying for a mortgage after bankruptcy.

In addition, there are other important questions you will want to ask a potential mortgage brokers – ones that could help you save money and/or increase your chances of qualifying for a mortgage after bankruptcy. While there isn’t enough room to cover them here, I go into detail on them in After Bankruptcy Credit Solutions.

Also make a point to bring your financial information with you when you meet with a mortgage broker. For example, you should have your income and expenses available as this will help the broker determine the loan amount you may be able to qualify for when it comes to a mortgage after bankruptcy.

Generally speaking, most lenders will allow you to get a home loan with a payment of up to 28% of your gross income. So if you make $4,000 per month, that would be $1,120. But keep in mind that this just an example. Again, a good mortgage broker can explain the criteria that each lender has.

If you have copies of your credit reports from each of the major credit reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax, and Trans Union) this will help also. Your credit report will play a major role when it comes to qualifying for mortgage after bankruptcy.

On that note, if you want to increase your chances of qualifying for a mortgage after bankruptcy, make sure that any inaccurate or obsolete negative information is removed from your credit report. This is important for two reasons: (1) It can mean the difference between qualifying or not qualifying for a mortgage after bankruptcy, and (2) if you end up qualifying for mortgage after bankruptcy, any inaccurate or obsolete negative information on your credit report could cost you up to $1,000s or even $10,000s in additional interest.

How do remove any inaccurate or negative information from your credit report, so you can improve your chances of qualifying for a mortgage after bankruptcy? There are specific steps you need to take. While I cover them in After Bankruptcy Credit Solutions, there is not enough room to go into detail here. Just remember that ideally you want rebuild your credit history before applying for a mortgage after bankruptcy.

By the way if you think that removing inaccurate or negative information from your credit reports takes a long time, I have good news. There is a way to have it removed in as little as 72 hours – the service is typically not available directly to consumers. In After Bankruptcy Credit Solutions I show you how to find this type service if you are trying to qualify for a mortgage after bankruptcy.

In this article we touched on two important steps you can take if you plan on applying for a mortgage after bankruptcy: Correcting or removing any inaccurate or obsolete negative information from your credit reports, and finding a mortgage broker to guide you through the lending process.

Mortgage Borrowing Tip – Length of a Loan

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When borrowing money for a mortgage, homebuyers are primarily concerned with simply qualifying. Still, paying attention to the length of the loan is a borrowing tip that can save you a ton of money.

Home Loans

In the mortgage industry, the length of your loan used to be the only major issue you had to deal with. How times have changed! In the current market, the variety of loans that exist are simply stunning. Of course, the massive increase in loan options has inevitably led to massive confusion.

Borrowing Tip

Regardless of the type of loan you go with, you should always try to keep your loan term as short as possible. The shorter the loan period, the less you will pay in interest. Here an example using 15 and 30 year loans.

Assume our first homebuyer gets a $100,000 loan at 8 percent interest. He length of the loan is 30 years with a monthly payment of $733.76. For this mortgage, our homebuyer is going to pay $164,155.25 in interest over the life of the loan.

Now, take the same scenario, but reduce the term of the loan to 15 years. Our homebuyer is going to see the monthly payment bumped to $955.65 per month. Over the length of the loan, our homebuyer is going to pay $90,000 less in interest payments over the life of the loan. On top of this, the house will be paid off in half the time.

When borrowing money for a home purchase, you have to carefully budget your finances. If you can afford increased monthly payments, however, a shorter loan length is going to save you a lot of money over time.