Showing posts with label home mortgage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label home mortgage. Show all posts

Bad Credit Refinance Loans - Finding a Good Lender

Tuesday, November 11, 2008 | Labels: , | |

Finding a good lender to help you with refinancing your home loan can be tricky if you have bad credit. There are plenty of predatory lenders out there who would like to take advantage of you with excessively high interest rates and fees. The key to finding a good lender is to know what are reasonable terms and to compare lending companies.
Look At Your Credit Record
Credit records are not perfect accounts. Before you apply to refinance your loan, you should check to see that all your information is correct. If you believe there is a false record, resolve it with the credit reporting company.
You also want to know what your credit score is. The lower the score the higher rate you will have to pay, but at least you will have an idea of what to expect from a lender. Paying three to five additional points is common for people with bad credit history.
Compare Lenders
Lenders offer different rates for the same type of loan, so shop around. The easiest way to compare quotes is to use an online website. By entering your information online, companies compete for your loan, offering you better rates. The internet also allows you to compare mortgage lenders outside your local area, possibly finding a better deal.
Once you receive offers, compare the rates and fees. Often the fees are where lenders make their money. Adding up the interest and fees, and comparing that figure will give you the true cost of the loan.
Look For A Good Deal
Mortgage lenders increase their profits by pushing loans with high interest rates and points. Some lenders will push these types of loans even if they aren’t best for you, so beware of fast-talking dealers. Be sure to read the terms and look for hidden fees before you sign the paperwork.
Online mortgage companies eliminate some of this risk by requiring mortgage lenders to state their terms online. Online quotes are also more competitive since lenders know you are probably shopping around to refinance your loan. Once you have an offer, print out the terms for your records.
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Advantages and Disadvantages Of A Reverse Mortgage

Tuesday, November 4, 2008 | Labels: , | |

Betty and John, are in their mid-seventies and are currently weighing the advantages and disadvantages of a reverse mortgage as a way of freeing up some cash.
The couple purchased their home 45 years ago for about $14,000 since then home values have skyrocketed and recent single family homes in their neighborhood have been selling for a minimum of $160,000.
Like Betty and John, if you’re considering a reverse mortgage it’s important to do some research prior to making a decision. You not only need to understand the basic principles of this kind of mortgage but you also need to look at all the advantages and disadvantages of a reverse mortgage.
Essentially a reverse mortgage is a loan that permits homeowners 62 years of age and older to borrow against the equity in their homes without having to sell it. Further, you don’t have to give up the title or take on a new monthly mortgage payment.
A reverse mortgage loan is tax-free and needs only to be repaid when the borrower (or in the case of Betty and John, when the surviving spouse) dies or sells the home. At which time, the reverse mortgage loan must be repaid in full, including all interest and other charges.
When examining the advantages and disadvantages of a reverse mortgage it’s also important to consider both the process and the related costs of obtaining a reverse mortgage.
Unlike a conventional mortgage, with a reverse mortgage, the homeowner (the potential borrower) must meet with a reverse mortgage counselor. References for counselors can be obtained from banks offering reverse mortgages or the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The purpose of these meetings which may take place in person or on the telephone is for the homeowner to learn about reverse mortgages and discuss alternative options. It also helps you decide which kind of reverse mortgage may be best.
As well as exploring the advantages and disadvantages of a reverse mortgage, it’s wise that the potential borrower, also compare costs between various lenders and request a Total Annual Loan Cost estimate for each.
Further to discussing the advantages and disadvantages of a reverse mortgage with a counselor, you also need to understand that there are certain costs involved in the reverse mortgage process. Costs may include application fees, closing costs, insurance, appraisal fees, credit report fees, and quite possibly a monthly service fee.
Remember too that since a reverse mortgage allows you to continue living in your home, you’re still responsible for property taxes, insurance and repairs. If these payments are not maintained, the loan could become due in full.
A reverse mortgage may also affect eligibility for federal or state assistance as well as Medicaid. That said, any reverse mortgage money that is received is tax-free and does not affect Social Security or Medicare benefits.
The condition of your home is also a large part of the approval process. It must be structurally sound and in good repair. If it’s determined that home repairs need to be done, the costs can also be financed through the reverse mortgage loan.
The total amount a homeowner can borrow all depends on the kind of reverse mortgage selected, how much equity is in the home, the loan's interest rate and most importantly, the age of the borrower. Typically the older a person is, the more they can expect to receive.
A borrower can receive reverse mortgage payments in one of the following ways: in a lump-sum payment; fixed monthly payments; a line of credit or a combination of any of the above. Most homeowners go for the line of credit option which allows them to draw on the loan whenever money is required.
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Reasons to Get a Refinance Home Loan

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Refinance Your Home Now and Lower Your Interest Rate.
What is a refinance home loan? A refinance home loan or a home loan refinance is a new loan obtained through your lender or a new lender to pay off existing loan. However, you may opt to apply for a lower interest rate and or cash out on your homes equity.When should I refinance my home? It is a known fact that interest rates are lower than they have been in years. This is due to our fast paced and ever changing economy and market. Now would be the perfect opportunity to refinance your home to obtain a lower interest rate. Even a .25 difference can save you thousands of dollars a year in mortgage payments. Why should I refinance my home?There are several reasons home owners decides to refinance. The four most common reasons include:To obtain a lower interest rateHome owner generally are aware of interest rate down fall. They take advantage of this opportunity by applying to a refinance loan to lower their existing interest rates and save money on mortgage expenses. The money that a borrower saves on mortgage expenses can be invested in other financial investments.To receive a refinance cash outSome home owners who have enough equity accumulated in their homes refinance to cash out their equity and get a lower interest rateTo make home improvementsSooner than later you will find that maintaining your home is hard work (not to mention quite expensive). In most cases, home owners will pursue a refinance, rather than a personal loan, in order to save on interest rates. A personal loan may have higher interest rates and are normally, not as large as a home improvement loan. To change loan programsA majority of home owner refinance because they are not satisfied with their current loan program. They may be under a 5 year arm, but somewhere down the line they decided they would prefer a 30 year fixed loan. Whatever the reason may be, a refinance home loan will solve the problem.What are the benefits of refinancing my home?There are several benefits included with refinancing your home, including:Your credit may be in better standings then before you purchased your home, now you can refinance and obtain a more suitable loan, with lower interest rates and terms.Or, you can obtain a home equity line of credit and have cash available when you need it.With refinance cash out, your lender can consolidate your bills and pay off all of your debt. You will not have to deal with the hassle by yourself.What are the different refinance loan options?As with a traditional loan, refinance home loans offer some of the same loan programs, such as:10/15/30 year fixedZero DownInterest OnlyAnd so onWhere can I refinance my loan?You can apply for a refinance home loan through your current lender. Or you may search for a new lender more suitable to your financial needs. This search can be done by internet search, flipping through the yellow pages, or consulting with your real estate agent.
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First Time Home Buyer Loans Made Easy

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 | Labels: , , | |

When it comes to first time home buyer loans, a little research can save you thousands of dollars over the life of your mortgage. A wise consumer selects a mortgage lender prior to shopping for a home. You see, first time home buyer loans can end up costing you a lot more than you bargained for if you shop for your home first.
What often happens is you fall in love with a beautiful home that is on the outside range of what you can afford. And because you have invested interest in this particular piece of real estate you’re more inclined to go into a loan situation you can ill afford.
To make sure you can realistically afford your mortgage payments, it’s best to understand all the potential costs upfront before you fall in love with that dream home that is really outside your financial comfort zone.
It will take some research and comparison shopping in order to find both the best lender and the best in first time home buyer loans.
The loan package best suited to your needs will offer you terms you can handle now and in future. It’s important when looking for first time home buyer loans you take into account your future plans. For instance, are you planning on starting a family? If so, it’s important to consider the potential reduction in your family finances if you or you spouse decides to take some time off to raise the children).
Further, if you have poor credit, you’ll be required to pay a higher rate of interest than those who have a good credit rating.
When it comes to first time home buyer loans, the amount of your down payment will also be taken into account when your interest rate is calculated. Think of it this way, the larger the down payment, the better the interest rate. So, before locking yourself into one of the first time home buyer loans currently on the marketplace, you’ll want to consider the advantages of contributing a decent down payment. This will keep both your interest rate and your payments much more reasonable.
Among the options for first time home buyer loans are variable rate and fixed rate mortgages. The first fluctuates over the course of your mortgage and the later keeps payments the same.
Another factor to consider is your debt to income ratio. In other words, the amount of money you bring in opposed to the amount that goes out. When determining your debt to income ratio you must take things like car payments, student loans and credit card balances into account.
There are programs available to assist first time home buyers in obtaining a loan. Talk to your lender and do some research of your own to discover the best option for you.
Remember, when shopping for first time home buyer loans no question is stupid. It’s very important that you understand the ins and outs of any mortgage loan prior to signing on the dotted line.
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Things To Consider When Shopping For First Time Home Buyer Loans

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When shopping for first time home buyer loans it’s wise to compare lenders and loans to get the best mortgage loan for your needs. Among the first questions you should ask yourself is how big of a mortgage can you afford?
The answer should come from your gut instinct and only after you have spoken with a qualified lender. Ultimately you’re the only one who can determine what you can realistically afford. You need to do your homework about firs time home buyer loans and find out the maximum mortgage you qualify for and then give some thought as to whether it falls within your personal comfort zone.
A potential lender will run some numbers for you and come up with a magic number based on the financial information you supply and your personal credit history. Although it may be in the ball park of what you can afford, it may prove to be too much of a financial hardship in the years ahead.
First off, if you currently rent don’t use your monthly rental fees as a comparison. First time home buyer loans are very different – it’s like comparing apples and oranges.
Use your monthly rental costs as a guideline only. On one hand it would make sense to compare the two but you also have to consider other factors such as the need to pay extra for property taxes. In a rental situation such taxes were incorporated in your rent. Property taxes can vary between a few hundred to a few thousand dollars per year depending on where you reside.
Furthermore, did your rent include utilities? If so, you also need to factor in the cost of gas and hydro in addition to the cost of any firs time home buyer loans. And what about having enough money you can put aside as an emergency fund for home repairs and general maintenance? Remember you no longer have a landlord you can call upon when something needs fixing.
Then there’s mortgage insurance to consider whenever you’re shopping for firs time home buyer loans. This is especially important if you have a high-ratio mortgage.
Another good rule of thumb when shopping for firs time home buyer loans is that if your current rent falls within your comfort level, aim for a slightly lower monthly mortgage payment.
Exploring your total monthly debt load as well as your total monthly housing costs is one of the best ways to figure out what is a realistic mortgage payment.
Your next task is to find a lender who specializes in firs time home buyer loans and who will offer you the best deal. Again research and comparison is needed. It will take you some time to investigate both lenders and loan packages. But it’s time well spent. The time you took to investigate the best in firs time home buyer loans could literally save you thousands of dollars over the course of your mortgage.
The bottom line when searching for first time home buyer loans is to invest in doing your homework. Research all your options before you start looking for that dream home.
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What is a Reverse Mortgage?

Sunday, October 19, 2008 | Labels: | |

Simply stated, a reverse mortgage is a loan that enables homeowners (age 62 and older) to convert part of the equity in their home into a tax-free income without having to sell the home, give up the title, or take on a new monthly mortgage payment. More and more homeowners are using this to supplement their retirement income, pay for health care, modify their home, or just get some cash for emergencies. Since this is a new product, some people have misconceptions of what a reverse mortgage is. The bank doesn’t give you money and take your house. Let’s look at some of the most common questions.


Are reverse mortgages for desperate people? No. It is an excellent financial planning tool used from people of all walks of life.
How do I qualify? You must be 62 or if both parties are on the mortgage, then you both must be at least 62. And, you must have equity in your home.
What if I still owe on my home? You may still qualify even if you have a balance on your first mortgage. The proceeds must be used to pay off the mortgage, first.
How much can I get? This depends on several factors such as, the age of your home, the value, your age at the time of closing, and interest rates.
Is it just monthly payments? No. You can get a lump sum, line of credit, monthly payments or a combination of monthly income and a line of credit.
But, won’t I have to pay taxes on these monthly payments to the government? No. The funds are tax-free. Its your money, not additional income.
Should I seek a lawyer or receive some counseling before I get a reverse mortgage. Yes. You must be counseled before receiving a reverse mortgage. You don’t have to talk to a lawyer or accountant, but it would be advised.
Who owns the title to my house? You still own the title.
What happens when I die? Once your home is passed on to your heirs, the mortgage becomes due. Your heirs may pay the mortgage and keep the home or sell the home and pay off the home. They may keep any excess sales proceeds.
What if I owe more than the house is worth? You can’t. Your repayment amount will never exceed the value of the home at the time the loan comes due. Also, there are no prepayment penalties.
What if I move? If you move, then the mortgage becomes due and must be repaid.

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Apply For Home Mortgage Loan Online With Bad Credit - Things To Consider

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So, you’ve found the perfect home. You’ve already decided where to place each piece of your furniture inside the home, and in your mind, all of your family photographs are hanging alongside the stairwell. But wait—do you know that even if you believe that your credit report is spotless, it could negatively affect your chances of getting that home mortgage approval?
The credit bureaus handle hundreds of thousands of credit reports, and it’s only logical that they will make mistakes. In fact, studies show us that there are some types of errors on at least 50 percent of all credit reports.


Could an error be lurking on your report?
Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to ensure that your credit report reflects exactly what it should.
Step One: Avoid a Bad Credit Report by Requesting a Copy of It
Under the law, you are entitled to a copy of your credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies. You should simply submit a request in writing or visit their web sites and request a copy.
Step Two: Check the Personal Information
Maybe your name is Jane Smith, but the agencies have you listed as Jayne Smith. If you don’t think that it matters, you’d better think again. If the agencies have a miss-spelling in your name, the wrong address, reversed digits on your social security number, or even wrong employer information, it could mean bad news for your report. If the person who they have you confused with makes a late payment, then it will appear on your report. What’s worse, if they file for bankruptcy or default on a car loan, it will take some time to sort out the erroneous information once it’s found its way onto your report. Avoid all of this, and report any bad information now.
Step Three: The Credit Information
It may be too late, and you may find that there are loans or other items on your report that you’ve never taken out. In addition, you may find that late payments are on your credit report when you’re sure that you made them on time. If you find such erroneous information, then you’ll need to send the credit reporting agencies a letter explaining the error, along with any proof or documents that you have that will back up your claim. They are required to investigate your complaint and report back to you with their findings.It’s important to do all of this before you apply for a home mortgage. It will not only reduce the amount of time that it takes to get an approval, but it could positively affect the interest rate that you end up with.

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