home mortgage loans

bchebegebe asked:


I am 21 and I recently started looking into some real estate listings just for the heck of it. I came across a couple of houses that are at or below $25,000, I went to take a look at them and they are in very nice condition as well as being in good neighborhoods, mostly because we are in a serious real estate slump here in Michigan. I feel like it is the right time to buy something especially so I can take advantage of the first time home buyer credit. What would be an ideal situation for me would be to purchase the home with a very low down payment and I do not know much about loans, but with a 10 year fixed APR mortgage, the loan would be extremely affordable. The plan would be that I could pay it off in ten years and either still live in it or sell/rent the property. My question is does this sound at all reasonable for me to be doing and are there even lending companies out there willing to work with low down payment mortgages that are that short of a term?

HARLEY

Alan Lim asked:




 

There are different types of home mortgage loan, however most of them fall under two categories: fixed rate and adjustable rate. To go either fixed or adjustable rate home mortgage is just a matter of how you personally want it to be. However, to make a wise decision, you must try to have a good grasp of the difference between these two types of loans. We will discuss the advantages as well as disadvantages of fixed rate and adjustable rate type of loans.

 

Fixed Rate Loans: Advantages

 

Remember that fixed rate loans have interest rates that remain the same even with major changes in the economic situation. And even if the interest rates increase, your mortgage will not change. Fixed-rate home mortgage loan is ideal for a borrower who needs to know how much his loan payments will be every year. This makes him assured that he know how much his financial obligations are in the long run and allows him to be ready for payments. The fixed rate type of loan is the best choice for someone who hates taking financial risks. Likewise, with fixed rate loans, this allows you to remain in you property for a long period of time.

 

Fixed Rate Loans: Disadvantages

 

One disadvantage of fixed rate loan is that if the interest rate significantly decreases during the period of the mortgage loan, then the borrower will be on a serious disadvantage financially. One way for the borrower to counter such negative effect is to go through mortgage refinance and get a much lower interest rate. It may actually become a financial burden especially if the person is experiencing serious debt problems or if the value of the house has markedly decreased. The total cost of fixed rate loan is likely to be higher than that of an adjustable rate loan in the event of a decrease in interest rates.

 

Adjustable Rate Loans: Advantages

 

Adjustable rate home loan on the other hand is ideal of those who are not afraid to take risks. Adjustable rate loans fluctuate with whatever situation the economy is at the moment. And if rates drop, this is to the advantage of the borrower, as significant amount of savings can be earned. Risk takers who are contemplating on getting a home mortgage loan decide on getting adjustable rate type especially if they believe that the current interest rate is going down. Likewise, adjustable rate loans are great for those who do not intend to stay long in their property.

 

Adjustable Rate Loans: Disadvantages

 

A disadvantage of adjustable-rate home mortgage loan is the ever present danger of the interest rate of going up without any increase in the borrower’s income or other financial source to counter its negative effects. Therefore, it is ideal that a rate cap is place when going for adjustable type of loan in order to you to make sure you are still able to conveniently maintain your loan.

  



IVAN

Andrew Bicknell asked:


For many people there comes a time when it makes sense to refinance their home mortgage. There can be any number of reasons to do this but for most people the primary goal is to lower their interest rate and their monthly payment. Everybody’s situation is different so the reasons for doing a refinance can vary from person to person.

When you do a home mortgage loan refinance you are basically taking out a new loan and using it to pay off an existing loan. You of course do not want to refinance if your new loan will cost your more in interest and monthly payments so it pays to research any new loan carefully.

As you delve further into the realm of refinancing a home you will undoubtedly run into terms that you may not be familiar with. These may include the following:

Term Length – This is the amount of time you have to pay back the loan. The majority of loans go for either 15 or 30 years. The longer the term the more interest you will pay during that term.

Fixed Rate Mortgage Loan – This is a mortgage in which the rate is set at closing and does not change for the life of the loan.

Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) – This is a mortgage with an adjustable rate. That means the rate can move up or down depending on what the prime rate or treasury index it is tied to is doing. This type of loan usually starts out at a low rate that makes it a great deal, but consumers need to be careful if and when the interest rate goes up, increasing the monthly payment.

Annual Percentage Rate (APR) – This number represents all the costs associated with a mortgage shown as an interest rate. It can vary among different lenders because they all calculate it a little differently. If you are comparing rate use the Good Faith Estimate that all lenders are required to provide.

Good Faith Estimate (GFE) – This is a document that all mortgage lenders are required by law to provide to all applicants. It will give a full account of all the estimated costs for a loan from a particular lender. You should have this in hand no longer then 3 days after filling out a loan application.

Loan to Value Ratio (LTV) – This ratio is a percentage that shows what percent you are borrowing against the appraised value of your home. Keeping this ratio below 80% is what most lenders are looking for. If your LTV is higher then 80% you will probably be required to purchase mortgage insurance in order to refinance.

Points (Discount & Origination) – There are two types of points that you can pay. Discount points are paid up front at the closing and are used to bring down the interest rate. Normally one point will equal one percent of what your total loan amount is. Origination points, or fees, are paid for the services rendered by the loan representative.

Refinancing a home mortgage loan can be a good way of freeing up money for other uses but it pays to pay close attention through out the process because you don’t want some hidden cost or fee to make your new loan cost more than the original mortgage.



WILFORD

Andrew Bicknell asked:


For many people there comes a time when it makes sense to refinance their home mortgage. There can be any number of reasons to do this but for most people the primary goal is to lower their interest rate and their monthly payment. Everybody’s situation is different so the reasons for doing a refinance can vary from person to person.

When you do a home mortgage loan refinance you are basically taking out a new loan and using it to pay off an existing loan. You of course do not want to refinance if your new loan will cost your more in interest and monthly payments so it pays to research any new loan carefully.

As you delve further into the realm of refinancing a home you will undoubtedly run into terms that you may not be familiar with. These may include the following:

Term Length - This is the amount of time you have to pay back the loan. The majority of loans go for either 15 or 30 years. The longer the term the more interest you will pay during that term.

Fixed Rate Mortgage Loan - This is a mortgage in which the rate is set at closing and does not change for the life of the loan.

Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) - This is a mortgage with an adjustable rate. That means the rate can move up or down depending on what the prime rate or treasury index it is tied to is doing. This type of loan usually starts out at a low rate that makes it a great deal, but consumers need to be careful if and when the interest rate goes up, increasing the monthly payment.

Annual Percentage Rate (APR) - This number represents all the costs associated with a mortgage shown as an interest rate. It can vary among different lenders because they all calculate it a little differently. If you are comparing rate use the Good Faith Estimate that all lenders are required to provide.

Good Faith Estimate (GFE) - This is a document that all mortgage lenders are required by law to provide to all applicants. It will give a full account of all the estimated costs for a loan from a particular lender. You should have this in hand no longer then 3 days after filling out a loan application.

Loan to Value Ratio (LTV) - This ratio is a percentage that shows what percent you are borrowing against the appraised value of your home. Keeping this ratio below 80% is what most lenders are looking for. If your LTV is higher then 80% you will probably be required to purchase mortgage insurance in order to refinance.

Points (Discount & Origination) - There are two types of points that you can pay. Discount points are paid up front at the closing and are used to bring down the interest rate. Normally one point will equal one percent of what your total loan amount is. Origination points, or fees, are paid for the services rendered by the loan representative.

Refinancing a home mortgage loan can be a good way of freeing up money for other uses but it pays to pay close attention through out the process because you don’t want some hidden cost or fee to make your new loan cost more than the original mortgage.



ROYAL

Alan Lim asked:


 

A home mortgage loan is usually the largest financial transaction that most individuals will accomplish during their lifetime.  Yet, it is often true that the details are not seen as part of the larger picture, but only as a matter of how much the monthly payment will be and how large the down payment must be to get the house that is desired. An understanding of exactly what a home mortgage loan is and how it works is helpful in making the up front decisions that will have such an enormous impact on the financial health during the next few years or even for a lifetime.

 

Definitions

 

The borrower should understand terms that will describe the type of loan, the fees that apply and the cost of the money use when obtaining a home mortgage loan.  A good start for understanding definitions is to review the length of the loan, or its term; the rate of interest; and the type of loan such as adjustable rate mortgage or fixed rate mortgage.  In addition, a basic understanding of the type of fees and costs that can be included in the cost of the loan is helpful.  These can be referred to as closing costs.

 

Terms

 

The term that you choose when applying for a home mortgage loan is the length of time that you must make payments before the principal on the loan is paid off. The most common terms are 30 years–360 months–and 15 years, although loans of 12 years, 20 years, 25 years, 40 years and even 50 years are somewhat available. It is important to remember that even if you choose a 30 year term so that your monthly payment will be less, you can add extra payments to the principal each month and save yourself thousands of dollars over the term of the loan.

 

Rates

 

Interest rates are the largest single component of any home mortgage loan–in most cases, even greater than the principal of the loan.  The interest rate you will be charged depends on many factors such as the credit score, the size of the loan, the type of mortgage such as fixed rate or adjustable rate, and the term of the mortgage loan. Sometimes loan brokers will charge different rates even when all other factors are equal. This is due to the costs incurred that apply only to the lender or brokers’ fees

 

Closing costs

 

A final important feature of a home mortgage loan is that of the closing costs. The closing costs can be made up of various costs, including, but not limited to, points, loan origination fees, document preparation fees, title search, title insurance, and appraisal fees.  Review these various closing costs to make sure you understand them and question any that seem excessive or frivolous.  Closing costs that are rolled into the loan balance can result in huge increases in the cost of the loan itself. If at all possible, cover such expenses with cash, rather than having interest charges accruing to them over the term of the loan.  

 



SAMMIE

Alan Lim asked:




 

Two Main Categories

 

There are many different home mortgage loans available but most fall into two main categories.  To go with an adjustable or a fixed rate home mortgage loan is a matter of personal taste and goals.  To make this decision one must fully understand the fundamental differences between the two types of loans. What may be a great choice for one individual may be a very wrong choice for another. There are advantages and disadvantages to both types of mortgage loans.

 

Advantages of Fixed Rate Loans

 

The fixed rate home mortgage loan is good for the person who needs to be able to know exactly what their loan payments are going to be from year to year. The person who finds his stomach tying up in knots over the prime interest rate is a prime candidate for this type of loan. The fixed rate loan is the choice for the person who does not like risk. This loan has an interest rate that does not change with the fluctuations in the economy. Even if the interest rates go up, this loan will not change. If you are planning on being in your home for a long time, then this is the best way to go.

 

Disadvantages of Fixed Rate Loans

 

If the interest rates drop significantly over the life of the fixed rate home mortgage loan than the person with this type of loan will be at a grave financial disadvantage.  The way to combat this negative effect is to refinance the loan at a lower rate. Though at the moment this is usually not a problem it may prove troublesome if the person has experienced significant debt problems or if the value of the property has decreased significantly. The total cost of this loan can be significantly higher than an adjustable rate loan if the interest rates have dropped.

 

Advantages of Adjustable Rate Loans

 

The adjustable rate home mortgage loan is a good option for those that don’t mind a little risk.  This loan will fluctuate with the economy and if the interest rates drop there can be a great deal of savings realized by using this form of loan. When interest rates drop this is a great loan to be in, therefore making it a wise choice for the person that has reason to believe that the interest rates will be heading down.  his is also a wise choice of loans for the person who doesn’t intend to be staying in the loan for a long time. 

 

Disadvantages of Adjustable Rate Loans

 

An adjustable rate home mortgage loan can be hazardous if the interest rates skyrocket without income increasing to match. It is important to have a rate cap on this type of loan to prevent fluctuations in the economy from eroding your ability to maintain the loan. The stress of worrying about whether next month’s payment will be more than you have been paying previously is more discomfort than most homeowners want to deal with on a long term basis.

  



JARVIS

Alan Lim asked:


If you are getting yourself a home mortgage loan, you will most likely encounter a phase where you are torn between choosing a fixed rate or an adjustable type of mortgage. No one can really say that one loan is better than the other. The choice you make is dependent on a number of factors which may include your interest rate outlook, your budget, the number of years you intend to stay in your home, and how much risk you can tolerate. Let us look through these two types of mortgage loans so you can determine which among the two is best for you.

A fixed rate home mortgage loan (FRM), as its name itself suggest, involves loans whose interest rates remain the same all throughout the lifetime of the mortgage. They generally cost more to compensate for the lesser risk and the greater comfort involved. If the current interest rates are low, an FRM will prove to be a good choice as you will be assured of locking in at a low interest all throughout your loan term.

On the other hand, an adjustable rate home mortgage loan (ARM) is that whose rate fluctuates as the interest rates in the market rise and fall. ARMs are given initially cheaper than FRMs since they involve greater risk. They are a great option if the current interest rates are high and you foresee them to lower in the coming years. If you know that you will stay in your home for a relatively short period, you can get a good deal with an ARM.

The downside of getting an adjustable home mortgage loan is that you can run a real risk of having to pay more if interest rates rise sharply. This means that you will need to pay more in monthly payments. The rate of your ARM loan varies depending on your loan agreement terms. Some rates change as frequently as three months, while others change once a year or every three years. ARMs generally come with a rate cap, which limits the amount by which the lender can raise their rate. The cap is usually set to 2% meaning that the rate increase should only be a maximum of two percent for a given adjustment period.

Because of its stability and lesser risk, FRMs are understandably more popular. Even if they come more expensive, getting a fixed rate home mortgage loan will enable you to easily manage your monthly budget so you can have better control of your finances. It is also less risky since you always have the option to refinance in case interest rates drop uncontrollably. Conversely, although ARMs can be risky and confusing, there are good deals provided by many lenders which are actually better than FRMs.

The type of home mortgage loan you should choose depends on various factors. It all boils down to how open you are with taking risks. To help you figure out which one is best, you can try to imagine your worst and best case scenarios. You can calculate and compare your options and determine which one can give you the best deal possible.



TY

Dominique Halet asked:


One of the most expensive financial expenses that most people will ever make is surely a home mortgage loan. For first time potential home buyers one of the hardest tasks is in all probability to decide which loan is the best for their financial resources. Between the two conventional choices: fixed vs. variable interest rate home mortgage loans – there is an huge percentage of consumers that are unable to figure out the differences between the two.

It is essential to gather as much information as possible referring to the financial choices that you are faced with. For that reason, in order to choose between fixed and variable interest rate home mortgage loan and before enquiring for loan pre-approval, you have to read every document about these two options.

Fixed interest rate home mortgage loan enables the consumer to lock into a certain interest rate till the end of the loan, or until the loan is to be refinanced. This interest rate will always stay unchanged and won’t be at the mercy of the fluctuations of the financial market. If interest rates rise, then your monthly payments will not change. On the other hand, if rates drop, your loan won’t be concerned and your monthly payments will stay as high as they used to be at the start of the loan.

Variable interest rate home mortgage loans are regularly reviewed according to the interest rates that are available on the current market. These rates highly subject to the activity that is being conducted within the economic sector. Simply explained; when the rate in the economy goes down a lower interest rate is charged on the home mortgage. But this works both ways; when the rate in the economy goes up, a higher interest rate is charged on the home mortgage; which involves a higher monthly payment for the borrower.

Whether you end up choosing a fixed or variable interest rate home mortgage loan, it is important to establish your choice on your personal preference for hazard associated with financial affairs and the general conditions of the market on which your home mortgage loan depends.

When selecting an adjustable interest rate home mortgage loan, there are risks associated with the decision. If there is an rise in the interest rate, you could be exposed to making a higher monthly payment. Although lenders make efforts to maintain the payments around the same number per month, these sharp increases leave them no choice but to rise the sum of the monthly payment.

Many borrowers and homeowners feel that a fixed interest rate provides them with the opportunity to add a fixed number to their monthly budget with no surprise when time has come to do the home mortgage monthly payment. If you are encountering financial problems, then a fixed interest rate home mortgage loan will make the difference of whether you are able to afford the mortgage that is bound to the purchase of your dream home.



LOREN

Alan Lim asked:


The first step

There are two basic kinds of home mortgage loan ; an adjustable rate mortgage, which is also known as ARM, and a fixed rate mortgage. When you decide upon a fixed rate home mortgage loan, the principal and interest payments will remain the same for the life of the loan. When you utilize an adjustable rate mortgage, the interest rates can change anytime. How often and when it will change will depend upon the kind of ARM you have, as well as the length of loan. Finding out which type of loan will serve you best will be the first step to take to find mortgage rates you can afford.

The second step

The next thing you should be looking for when you are looking for home financing is to find a lender that will offer you the best deal. It is easier than ever to comparison shop for a home mortgage loan when you use the internet as a tool. You can find many lenders in your area that want your business, and can offer you some terrific rates. Look past the rates and see what kinds of fees they charge for the different services you will need in order to complete the loan process as well. Don’t be afraid to ask questions; there are so many lenders competing for your business that most companies will be more than happy to answer any questions you have no matter how silly they may seem to you.

The third step

After you have done your homework and compared prices of different lenders, make a list of the top two or three lenders that are offering you the best deal. If one of the lenders on your list has pre-approved you for a loan, that lender should be at the top. It is always smart to try to get pre-approved when you are searching for a home mortgage loan as it makes the whole process go smoother. What can be more traumatic than finding your dream house and making an offer and not getting approved for a home mortgage loan?

The fourth step

Before you put your signature on any loan papers, be sure the company you are dealing with has a good reputation in the home mortgage loan community. You can check with the Better Business Bureau as well as do a bit of research on the company from which you are thinking of borrowing money. Once again the internet can help you. You can find reviews from previous customers to find out how they liked working with a certain lender. Making sure the company you wish to do business with has a sterling reputation can save you heartache and stress in the end.



CARY

Pat asked:


trying to figure out whens the best time to refinace or get a fixed home equity loan.

STAN