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In the past, homebuyers more or less had limited mortgage loan options. These days, there are more options than you can shake a stick at, but heres a primer on the basics.

Mortgage Loans

With the real estate market explosion over the last 10 years, a call has gone out for unique mortgage loan programs. Bankers have been more than happy to answer the call. For many borrowers, traditional mortgage loans still fit the bill. Heres an introduction.

1. Conforming Loans The loans comply with requirements set down by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two government sponsored entities that buy and sell loans from mortgage lenders. These entities put strict caps on the loans they will buy, with single-family homes having a mortgage cap in the range of $360,000. With the booming real estate market, many areas such as San Diego do not come close to fitting into the conforming loan market since homes average in the $600,000 range.

2. Non-Conforming Loans Known as Jumbo Loans, these mortgages are written for loans that exceed the $360,000 cap mentioned previously. They tend to have slightly higher interest rates, but are readily available.

3. Bad Credit Loans In the mortgage industry, mortgage brokers often refer to a borrowers paper. This paper refers to people with less than stellar credit. B paper refers to relatively small problems, while D paper refers to bigger issues such as bankruptcy filings. The worse your paper, the more you can expect to pay in interest, points and down payment amounts. You need to carefully determine whether paying these extra penalties makes financial sense.

Interest Rates

With each of the above loans, youll have an option of going with a fixed interest rate or an adjustable rate. Fixed interest rates simply set a definitive interest rate that will be charged over the length of the loan. Adjustable rates typically start at a figure lower than fixed rates, but can be moved up to reflect changes in the cost of borrowing money. In many ways, you are betting whether interest rates will increase in the future.

For a great majority of people, basic mortgage loan options still suffice when it comes to borrowing money. Dont fret if you have problems qualifying for these loans. There are many other options on the market these days.

Loan Analyzis: Home Equity Loans Versus Revolving Home Lines of Credit

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Homeowners looking to tap into the equity in their homes are faced with choosing between a home equity loan and a home equity line of credit (HELOC). This can be a difficult decision, as each type of second mortgage loan has distinct benefits, and both are tax-deductible, but if you understand the basic differences in their structure, you can make an intelligent decision for you, your family and your financial future.

According to Bankrate, a revolving line of credit is an agreement to lend a specific amount to a borrower and to allow that amount to be borrowed again once it has been repaid. With a HELOC, you can borrow money against your equity up to a certain pre-determined amount. There is no set repayment schedule and in many cases, you are only responsible for paying the interest on what you borrow for the first several years. A HELOC has an adjustable interest rate, which is typically tied to the prime rate. Home equity lines of credit are best suited for homeowners who want the flexibility to borrow various amounts of money at staggered intervals. Because they are structured much like credit cards, home equity lines of credit are not the most prudent choice for homeowners who would be tempted to spend carelessly.

Home equity loans are lump sum loans with fixed interest rates and fixed payment schedules. With each monthly payment, you are paying down both the principal and the interest. A home equity loan makes the most sense for those who need access to cash in a lump sum and are using the money for long-term purposes, such as a home remodel or debt consolidation. They are also a smart choice for homeowners wary of variable interest rates.

Whichever type of loan you chose, you need to keep in mind that your home is the collateral. In a recent column on MSN Money, Andrew Analore, editor of Inside B&C Lending, an Inside Mortgage Finance publication, states, People sometimes dont understand that their house is on the line if, for some reason, they are unable to pay for their new computer or big-screen television. It is always a smart idea to evaluate if what you are borrowing for is worth tapping into your most valuable asset.

Fixed rate mortgages are the most common type of mortgage loan for home buyers. With predictable payments, long term homeowners can plan their budgets and guard against rising interest rates. But a fixed rate mortgage is not for everyone with its higher interest rates and a reduction in your buying power.

Fixed Rate Mortgage Features

A fixed rate mortgage features set rates, long term low monthly payments, and low risk. Interest rates are determined during your loan application process. Rates are set by the market. You can also lower your interest rate by paying points up front. This option only makes sense if you stay in your home for several years.

Long term low monthly payments are another benefit of this type of home loan. Over time, inflation will raise the price of everything except your mortgage payment. As your salary increases, your mortgage costs will also take a smaller percent of your income.

The low risk of fixed interest rates also appeals to borrowers. You dont have to worry about rising interest rates or a balloon payment. You can also repay your loan early, saving money on interest payments.

Mortgage Terms

Traditionally, fixed rate mortgages were 30 or 15 year terms. Now lenders offer a couple of additional options. 30 year loans are still the most popular with their low monthly payments. A 30 year loan also enables you to qualify for more than shorter loans.

15, 20, and 40 year mortgages are also options. 15 and 20 year loans qualify for lower interest rates, but you will have higher monthly payments between 10% and 15% compared to a 30 year mortgage. Shorter loans also save you interest costs, appealing to those who want their loan paid off before retirement or their children go to college. 40 year mortgages are less common, but offer low monthly payments with higher interest costs.

Biweekly mortgage, as the name implies, requires half your mortgage payment every other week. At the end of the year, you have made an extra mortgage payment. You can have your mortgage repaid in 18 to 19 years. Most lenders also allow you to roll over to a 30 year term with no penalties.

Fixed Rate Drawbacks

Even with their benefits, fixed rate mortgages arent for everyone. Alternative mortgages enable you to borrow more than with a fixed rate mortgage. If you move in less than 7 years, you will also probably pay more in interest payments than if you went with an adjustable rate mortgage. Most homeowners move within the fist 7 years of living in a house. You are also locked into an interest rate that could drop in the future.

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When applying for student loans, its so important for prospective college students to calculate their finances as best they can to receive the appropriate funding. From tuition and books to room and board, living expenses and food, students should make sure to secure the funds they actually will need to get them through each semester at college.

By applying for the correct amount, students wont find themselves in a bind or get themselves into a credit card nightmare.

Way too many college students these days get into big trouble with credit cards. Its unfortunate that students too inexperienced to know better receive enticing credit card offers in the mail. Usually when a credit card offer looms over a student, its like dangling a carrot in front of a rabbit. The student grabs the credit card offer without thinking ahead. Credit cards oftentimes appear to be a quick fix or a type of free money, and they then become the remedy students think they need.

Student Loans versus Credit Cards

If anything, its the opposite. Like student loans, credit card debt must be paid back. Theres a huge difference though. Student loans usually are taken out with fixed interest rates, depending on the type of loan and a students credit rating, amount of loan, repayment terms, etc.

However, theres usually a catch when students receive those amazing credit card offers. The catch is sky-high finance charges, some as high as 22 percent! However, oftentimes students dont think about the finance charges when they accept the credit card offers. Its kind of like, Ill think about that later.

Some students who havent taken out enough student loans to cover their college expenses resort to credit cards to pay for necessities, books and even rent! Theyll use their credit cards to take out cash advances, which usually have even higher finance charges than by simply charging.

Never-ending Cycle of Debt

There are students who accept more than one credit card offer. After hitting the limit on one credit card, its easy to accept another and then another, and so on. With the high interest rates and finance charges attached to these credit card offers, students easily can rake up more than they bargain for. When students pay off credit cards by only paying minimum monthly payments, they are making their financial situation worse. Finance charges accrue month after month. It could take almost a lifetime to pay off the credit card bills.