home mortgage loans

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

Alan Lim asked:


Sometimes a viable solution can get you so confused, especially when you get to know the factors that may affect it. It’s the same case with your home mortgage loan. Normally, the basic question is this: should you go for it or not?

Here are some tips for you. Hopefully this will help you in making a good decision on getting your loan:

1. Ask for all related information first before you strike a deal. It’s only when you learn to ask the right questions to your lender that you will know if it’s the right thing to do or not. Make sure that you’ve gathered all relevant information regarding your loan. These can include the interest charges, the principal amount, any associated costs and the loan term, among others. Moreover, you need these details to determine if you’re dealing with the right provider or he’s a potential scammer who’s only after your money. It’s not unusual to find lenders that will encourage you to sign up for a home mortgage loan by lowering down your interest rate, which, unfortunately, can increase dramatically after six months. This type of interest rate is called a honeymoon interest rate. If you aren’t prepared with the sudden increase, you may find it very difficult to pay up your loan.

2. Know how much you need the money. The thought of needing money can sometimes be enough to compel you to settle for home mortgage loan. However, you have to remember that this is still a debt that you need to pay for a particular period of time. You have to evaluate how much you need the money right now. Perhaps you can look for a way to increase your income so you no longer have to go for a loan.

3. Determine your options. If you can just learn to shop around for different options for your home mortgage loan, you will discover that there are many of them. All of them carry their own pros and cons. Those that can offer lower interest charges may have longer loan terms, while those with shorter payment terms may possess very high interest rate. What you can do is to check where you will likely be able to save more money, which you can utilize to pay other immediate expenses that you may incur.

4. Identify the possible hidden fees related to your home mortgage loan. The last thing you want to happen is to be surprised by charges that you don’t even know exist. Hence, before you go for this kind of mortgage, determine what the possible hidden fees are and if these are the ones that you’re willing to pay.

In the end, learn to be open with other options of how to get funds to buy a home or improve a property. You can always go for refinancing, or if you have already acquired equity in your home, you may apply for a home equity loan.



JAME

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

hanuman asked:


On June 4th I signed the paperwork for my home refinancing for the amount of $415000 at 6% fixed interest rate for 15 years.My credit rating is excellent, home appraisal and my income are excellent.I paid $2000 (title,appraisal,doc.fee..)for closing costs with 0% points..Is my rate deal good? IAre the closing costs reasonable? Is there any database on mortgage loan transactions to analyze and compare?

EFREN

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:


A home mortgage loan is one of the most common and popular ways through which people buy property. Most properties in the Unites States are bought with the help of a loan and the industry is in itself worth billions of dollars. However, there are several steps before one can actually be approved for a home mortgage loan. But let’s start from understanding the concept it self.

Home mortgage loan

The concept of a home mortgage loan itself is generally quite simple. The property in question remains as the mortgage or the collateral, for the loan being issued. This is usually issued by a financial institute to the person who is buying the property. The original amount of loan remains the principal sum with an annual interest rate imposed on this sum. Should the new property owner be unable to pay the loan, the lending institute seizes the property which then will be foreclosed. Home mortgage loan are usually paid in instalments every month.

Key elements

If you are planning to buy a home or any property through a home mortgage loan, it is advised you work on your credit score long before you actually plan to make the big move. Your credit history is like a research paper on your personal finances and to any lender it speaks volumes about how well you manage your finances and how good you are at clearing your dues. It is usually very difficult to get approved for a home mortgage loan if you have a bad and sometimes even average, credit score. Also consider the fact that things could be somewhat easier if you are able to make a down payment on your property. Larger the payment, better it is.

Financial realization

Before you even begin to apply for a home mortgage loan, you must do some work on your own to get an idea of what your chances are in being approved that loan. Naturally, the first and most important element of the process is realizing your personal or household’s finances. Calculate how much money you are left with every month after you deduct all the fundamental expenses. This is important because it gives you an understanding of how much money you are left with at the end of month which in turn determines how much mortgage you can pay monthly. Don’t forget to anticipate the interest rates.

Documentation to secure a home mortgage loan

When you think you’re ready to go for it, make a check list of documents you will need for your home mortgage loan application process. If you are employed, you will need your W-2 form and pay stubs and if you are self employed then you would generally need to show your tax statements of about two years. Private business owners need to show a balance sheet depicting the revenue and loss you have incurred. Retirees need to have either a two- month long bank statement or the 1099 form. The social security award letter along with copies of all documents related to your pension checks is required too. Then of course there are other basic documents you will need pertaining to your bank and credit card accounts, existing loans and also on the present landlord and investments if applicable. These are the basic documentation required to be eligible for most home mortgage loan.



PIERRE

Alan Lim asked:


When you apply for a home mortgage loan, you will realize that there are a number of requirements that you have to accomplish, before you can finally be approved and obtained additional funding. One of these is your FICO score.

What Is FICO Score?

FICO stands for Fair ISAAC and Company. This is a professional credit bureau that is being looked up to by numerous lenders. The data they can provide will help them evaluate if you’re capable of paying your debts as well as how much you will be entitled for, if ever you get approved by your lending company. Simply put, it provides your credit rating.

How Can It Affect Your Home Mortgage Loan?

The logic for this is very simple. Lenders will never be able to extend very huge loans to people who have poor FICO score. They won’t be able to enjoy too better loan terms. Normally, if you have bad credit rating, the interest rate for your home mortgage loan will be considerably high. Moreover, the payment term will be shorter than those extended to people with better credit score. If you’re applying a loan to reputable lending companies, you will likely be denied of your applications if you don’t have excellent FICO score.

What Are the Advantages of Having a FICO Score?

Besides having a home loan with low interest rate, you can also have the chance to negotiate your interest charges. This way, you can still bring down your monthly repayments and save more money out of your home loan. FICO score will also speed up the process of approving your loan. You don’t have to wait for weeks before you can obtain the money that you definitely need.

What Is an Ideal FICO Score?

A FICO score that ranges from 600 to 640 is considered to be the most ideal, and there’s a guaranteed chance of availing home mortgage loan. What’s more, you can even request your lending company to automatically give you 100 percent financing. This means that you don’t have to make any down payment or pay any fees before you can enjoy the home mortgage loan. If it’s going to be between 500 and 600, you may still be able to obtain a home loan, but you may have to pay a down payment as well as other costs. You can also expect your interest rate to be slightly higher and the length of your repayments much shorter. Sadly, if it’s going to be below 500, you better try your luck next time as it’s almost impossible to obtain a loan with this kind of rating.

Is There No Way to Obtain a Loan with Bad FICO Score?

To put it bluntly, you will decrease your ability to obtain a workable loan if have bad FICO score. As a matter of fact, there’s bigger chance of getting denied than getting approved. It doesn’t mean, however, that you don’t have any option left. There are still a number of companies that may use other factors, besides FICO score, in determining whether you deserve to be given a loan or not.



VALENTIN

Jean’s Mommy! asked:


I’m trying to do research on home loans and purchasing a home. we have good credit up in the high 700s. First time buyers…some questions to get started…
1. What loans are best?
2. which ones to watch out for?
3. are there things real estate agents or mortgage companies try to charge you for that they shouldn’t?
4. can you get a home loan for more than the home is worth and use the extra money for other expenses? like furniture and other things for the home.
5. Tips and tricks to make sure we’re not getting taken for fools?
6. what do we need to qualify for a good interest rate?
7. how much could we get?
Any other info you can give would be awesome! thank you very much!

TIMOTHY

Christen Scott asked:


Home Mortgage Loan Calculator proves to be a very useful tool to you, if you are planning to buy a new home or unable to deposit the monthly payments of your existing loan and therefore you want to refinance your existing mortgage. It helps you to calculate your monthly payments and amortization schedule etc. You can easily access loan calculator on internet, millions of websites are available on internet providing free access to loan calculator.

Let’s discuss in detail what all benefits you can make out of Home Mortgage Loan Calculator-

Loan calculator let’s you calculate the monthly payment you will need to deposit to the loan lending company in order to repay the loan. Before applying for mortgage loan to buy a home, you need to calculate your monthly payments and then think that will you be able to afford or not? Not only your monthly payments you can also find your amortization schedule with the help of mortgage loan calculator. Sometimes, you need to check the scenario of the loan that in what conditions you will be able to afford the mortgage loan.

You might not afford heavy monthly payments but you can go with loan for long duration with reduced amount of monthly payments. This you can check by entering different number of months as these home mortgage loans are lent for 30 years means you can borrow loan for as long as 360 months. All you need to enter to find the monthly payment is the total amount you are going to borrow with length and interest rate. You will also need to enter the starting date of the loan and calculator will take just few seconds to tell you the results.

You can also make the most of Home Mortgage Loan Calculator when you decide to refinance your existing mortgage loan. But, you have to be clever to make this decision. First of all you need to calculate the payments of your refinanced loan and then compare it with the monthly payment of your existing mortgage loan. If refinanced loan payment is less than your existing one then you can move further towards refinancing your home mortgage loan. All this translates into that Home Mortgage Loan Calculator has made understanding and borrowing loans very easy these days.



HARRIS