Tag: Fixed Rate Mortgage
Which Refinance Mortgage Loan Deals Are Easy To Process?
by admin on Aug.30, 2010, under Loans and Mortgages
So you want a finger in that refinance mortgage loan. After all, its fast becoming the talk of the town. The problem is, youre daunted by the process that comes with it. Now youre wondering, what are the easiest deals to come by so far?
You might want to consider the following types of refinance mortgage loan. They are by far the simplest and easiest to process.
Fixed Rate Refinance Mortgage Loan
As opposed to the specialty type of refinance mortgage loans (like adjustable rate mortgage), this type of loan is much easier to come by. To qualify for an adjustable rate mortgage, you will have to meet up with generally higher standards. You will have to have a higher income, better credit reports, and a more valuable home equity.
A fixed rate mortgage loan may be just what you need. With this type of refinance loan, you deal with a fixed interest rate for the whole credit term, as opposed to an adjustable mortgage interest rate wherein you are subject to the inconsistencies of the mortgage market. If the economy is not in good shape, then youll have to prepare yourself for burgeoning interest rates. So basically, you get peace of mind and stability with your fixed rate mortgage loan as bonus.
Closed Refinance Mortgage Loan
Another type of refinance mortgage loan that is easy to qualify for is the closed refinance mortgage loan. Now what is this? Its the type of loan wherein you are not allowed to make prepayments or to pay off your loan in advance. You may want to do prepayments if you suddenly find yourself with a lot of extra cash and with the desire to pay out your loan to avoid interest fees. With a closed mortgage loan, your lender will only allow you to do this for a fee.
Its much easier to close this kind of deal, though, as opposed to an open refinance mortgage. The latter allows you to pay out without fees, but its not easy to qualify for them. You will have to have a more inviting income, credit report, and home equity.
Long Term Refinance Mortgage Loan
Another refinance mortgage loan that is easier to qualify for is the long-term refinance mortgage loan. Now what would make for a long-term loan? Its the type of loan that lasts for 6 years or more. It usually lasts for up to 10 years, though there are those that reach until 25 years.
Short-term mortgages are more advantageous in that they offer lower rates. But then again, they are not easy to come by. Yet again, you will have to have better income, better credit reports, and better home equity.
But the qualification process may be the least of your worries. Getting a deal closed and getting just the right deal are two different things. You may have gotten your refinance mortgage without much sweat, only to encounter serious problems when you are already in it. Do not go for a deal only for its expediency. Be very scrutinizing.
Types of Mortgage Refinance Loans
by admin on Aug.12, 2010, under Loans and Mortgages
Technically, you can take out any kind of loan and use your loan proceeds to pay off your mortgage. Viewed this way, any type of loan can be a mortgage refinance loan. However, some have restrictions (i.e. some loans do not offer a big enough credit for paying off a mortgage) so they dont make good refinance loans.
This article is about the loans you can use for refinancing your mortgage. Since these are loans that banks have specifically designed for paying off mortgages, they are also known as the common types of mortgage refinance loans that are available in the market.
According to Variability of Interest Rate
Fixed-rate mortgage refinance loan: This type of home refinance loan is one where the interest rate is locked-in to a fixed amount for the whole duration of the loan. Simply put, the home refinance loan will be kept at a constant interest rate for the whole life of the balance.
Variable-rate mortgage refinance loan: This type of home refinance loan is one where the interest rate varies with a certain, predetermined index. The interest rate, in this case can be equivalent to the index or greater than the index by a fixed margin. In this type of mortgage refinance loan, there is usually an introductory rate period where the interest rate is fixed for a few years (3 and 5 years are common) at a very low rate. After this introductory period has passed, the rate becomes a true variable rate subject to the whims of the market. However, theres usually a cap or interest rate ceiling to protect the consumers from excessive index rate increases.
According to Payment Terms
Interest-only mortgage refinance loan: This type of mortgage refinance is one where you will be asked to pay only the interest for a certain period of time. After the set interest-only payment period has passed, you will have to start making payments towards the principal.
Balloon-type mortgage refinance loan: This type of refinance loan is one with an initially low, fixed interest rate (the actual period varies from lender to lender but this period doesnt usually exceed 10 years). After the period for the low interest has passed, however, full payment is required on loan balance.
Fully-amortizing mortgage refinance loan: This type of refinancing loan is one where monthly payments are a combination of interest charges and payments towards the balance. This type of loan is ideal for people who wish to add to their equity as well as reduce the balance with every payment.
Home equity mortgage refinance loan: This type of loan is one where you actually apply for a loan using the equity you have stored in your home as your security for the loan. In this case, you give up your equity for money which you can get as outright cash or as a revolving credit line. Such a loan usually has a very good interest rate. However, this type of loan is ideal for mortgage refinancing ONLY if you have enough equity in your home to pay off your original mortgage lender. This can happen if your home has appreciated considerably. If you dont have enough equity to pay off your original lender, you will only be taking on a second mortgage, not a refinancing loan.
The 3 Types Of Mortgage Loans
by admin on Jul.30, 2010, under Loans and Mortgages
Currently on the market, there are many varieties of mortgage loans available. Sometimes it can be difficult to tell which mortgage loan is suitable and applicable to you.
I will discuss the 3 main types of mortgage loans on the market. Most banks and lenders offer mortgage loans that belong to one of these categories.
1. Fixed Mortgage Loan
Fixed mortgage loans are the most popular and common among the three types of mortgage loan.
You take out a mortgage loan with a lender and you pay a certain repayment amount for a fixed period of time. Most people usually choose 30 year fixed mortgage loans as the monthly repayment amounts are low and the interest rates usually evens out in a 30 year period.
One disadvantage of 30 year fixed mortgage loan is you have to repay more for your mortgage loan in total compared to someone who takes up a 15 or 5 year loan.
There are also shorter time periods such as 5 year, 10 or 15 years fixed mortgage loans. It allows people who want to pay off their house in a shorter period of time. Of course, you have to make sure you have the financial capability to repay higher monthly repayments.
There is also another sub-category of mortgage loan called adjustable rate mortgage loan or ARM. Usually, you will start off with a lower interest rate compared to a 30 year fixed mortgage loan. So you ended up paying less each month for your mortgage repayment.
However take note that ARM is highly fluctuating depending on interest rates. In other words, you pay less for monthly repayment when interest is low and pay more when interest rates is high.
2. Convertible Loans
Convertible loans are becoming more popular as it allows people to keep their mortgage loan options open allowing for more flexibility.
If you find interest rates are too high, you can convert to a fixed rate mortgage loan. If interest rates are low, you can also convert to ARM based mortgage loans.
There are too many varieties of convertible loans under this category. However I list one type of convertible loans I dealt with.
Balloon Loan
A balloon loan is a fixed rate convertible loan. Usually, you start off by repaying small monthly repayments for a period of years, usually 5 or 7 years. At the end of that period, you will need to repay the loan in one lump sum.
So whats the advantage of a balloon loan? It is mostly used by investors or property dealers who are looking to sell the house in a short period of time. They can take advantage of low interest rates without locking their money on a house. Since they will have a large sum of money when they sell the house, it will not be a problem to return the lump sum.
3. Special mortgage loans
These are mortgage loans that are only being offered to a group of people. For example the FHA mortgage loans are only available for first time home buyers or people with bad credit.
Another one is the veteran affairs mortgage loan. They are only offered to widows of the US armed forces.
The best way to know whether you qualify or is suitable for a mortgage loan is to speak to a professional mortgage consultant before you decide to take up any mortgage offer
Tear Your Mortgage a New One by Refinancing Your Home
by admin on Jul.28, 2010, under Loans and Mortgages
Tear Your Mortgage a New One by Refinancing Your Home Loan
Do you have a mortgage with high interest rates, sizable monthly payments, and little cash to take care of bills and credit card debt? If so, you may consider the option of refinancing your home.
Refinancing involves ending your current loan agreement with your lender and getting an entirely new mortgage. One benefit of taking this step is that you have the ability to get a much better interest rate on your home loan, lower your monthly payments, and even borrow extra money in order to take care of debts or home improvements.
Lowering your interest rate can make a huge difference in how long it takes for you pay down your mortgage because with each payment you make, more of your money is going to the principal balance of the loan rather than to the interest. Paying thousands of dollars in interest can make a homeowner feel like they are spinning their wheels; getting no closer to actually owning their home outright.
Be sure to do research before jumping into the world of refinancing. You need to speak to an advisor who can tell you about current interest rates and forecasted trends. You will also need to decide once again if a variable rate or fixed rate mortgage would be more appropriate to your situation. Fixed rate mortgages can give you peace of mind, in that you know every month what the payments will be. With variable rates, you are vulnerable to the financial tides, which can be very anxiety inducing. On the other hand, variable rate loans can often mean lower payments than fixed rate ones provide. You have to decide how much of a risk you want to take in order to save as much money as possible.
Lower monthly payments can be achieved if you alter the length of time you have to pay back the mortgage. This aspect is something that you have to weigh carefully. If you want smaller payments, then you will need to extend the length of the loan, meaning that you will have this debt over your head for a lot longer. However, if lower monthly payments will make your life easier, it may well be worth dragging out the loan.
Alternatively, you can also shorten the loan period when you refinance your home. If interest rates are favorable at the time, you may not even increase your monthly payments, but will save a great deal of money that would otherwise be applied to interest over the course of your loan.
Not only can refinancing make your mortgage conditions more favorable in the long run, but it also enables you to borrow over and above the amount needed to repay your current mortgage. This money can be used to pay off debts, home repairs, or any number of emergencies that can happen in life. This money is simply added to the amount you owe.
There are a couple of disadvantages to refinancing your home loan to be aware of. One is the fact that your original lender may charge you a penalty for paying off your mortgage early. Also, because you are starting a new mortgage from scratch, you will have to pay fees to the new lending company. Each lender is different in terms of what you will be charged for the privelege of borrowing money, so it is wise to shop around. Because there are so many costs involved, most people simply include the lender’s fees and closing costs into the amount of their new mortgage. This is a great choice for homeowners who are strapped for cash at the time.
Refinancing your home loan can have many advantages to it, and can improve your quality of life by reducing the amount of money you pour out each month on interest and monthly payments. You can also get your hands on extra money to take care of immediate financial concerns, which can be a great stress reliever and save you money in the long run. Just remember to take all lender’s fees, penalties, and interest rates into consideration before jumping into anything.
Refinancing Your Mortgage Or A Home Equity Loan – Which
by admin on Jul.04, 2010, under Loans and Mortgages
Refinancing Your Mortgage Or A Home Equity Loan – Which Is Better?
When it comes time to get the money you need to renovate your home, you have some choices to make concerning the financing of it. Both ways, either refinancing your first mortgage, or a home equity loan, will give you access to your equity. After that, though, a number of differences will clearly stand out. Here is what you need to know about these differences so you can intelligently choose the best one for your needs.
Features Of Refinancing Your First Mortgage
By getting a cash out mortgage, you can replace your first mortgage and obtain your equity. This means that you will have to pay the fees again that you paid when you bought the house in the first place. However, if you wait until the interest rates are down, you can get a better deal than you had before. The amount that you can gain could easily offset the costs of refinancing and save you thousands of dollars over the life of the new mortgage.
The interest rate for a first mortgage is always lower than what you would get for a second mortgage – which makes this the ideal choice. You also will have only one payment each month, which you could even make lower than what you have now by extending the time length on the mortgage. If you already have more than one mortgage, then this is also a good way to consolidate them and get your equity at the same time, as well as reduce your monthly payment.
If you currently have an adjustable rate mortgage that is about to run out of the fixed rate portion, then this should be the way you would want to go. Not only will it give you level payments with a fixed interest rate, assuming you get a fixed rate mortgage, but also your equity for the upcoming renovation project you have in mind. This means you could take care of more than one problem at once.
Features Of A Home Equity Loan
A home equity loan is considered a second mortgage. This means it will give you an additional payment each month. If you can afford the extra payment, this may be the way you want to go. It will also have a higher rate of interest than a first mortgage, and usually has a time frame of up to 15 years for repayment.
You can take out your equity but need to leave enough in there that is equal to 20% of the value of the house. This is true with any kind of mortgage, since you may need to pay private mortgage insurance if you go over this amount.
A home equity loan is mostly fixed rate, but some may also be adjustable. Your loan payments are fully amortizing, and money used for fixing up your home is often tax deductible. This type of loan is seeing some new variations come out recently, so you will want to see what is out there before you choose.
The Choice Is Yours
Obviously, only one of these choices will best meet your needs. After you choose a course to take, you will then want to get a few quotes – whether you choose to refinance, or get a home equity loan. You will need to look them over carefully and consider all aspects in order to find the one that is best for you.
Refinancing Your Home Mortgage Loan – Refinance Your Adjustable Rate
by admin on Jul.02, 2010, under Loans and Mortgages
Refinancing Your Home Mortgage Loan – Refinance Your Adjustable Rate Mortgage
Refinancing an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) is a common practice for borrowers. However, it may not always be the best option. Depending on how high interest rates climb, there are cases when you could end up spending more on converting your mortgage than you would save with a locked in interest rate.
Adding Up Costs
Before you jump on a refinancing offer, consider the upfront costs. To refinance a $100,000 loan, you can expect loan fees to range from $1000 to $3000. That is not including points for lower rates.
In order to recoup these origination costs, you need to be planning to spend several years in your home. Also, if you only have a couple of years left on your mortgage, you may be better off with your original mortgage.
Benefits Of Refinancing
Locking in a low rate is the most common benefit to refinancing an ARM. By converting to a fixed rate mortgage, you are guaranteed a low interest without worrying about yearly interest rate fluxes.
You can also build up your equity sooner by converting to a biweekly mortgage or short term loan. With larger monthly payments, you can potentially save thousands on interest payments.
When Not To Refinance
With an ARM there is always some risk involved, but there are cases when keeping your ARM makes financial sense. For instance, unless interest rates will rise more than a couple of percentage points over the course of your loan, you will probably pay more in loan fees than you will save. You should also keep your ARM if current rates are only 1% or lower than your ARMs rate.
You may also want to keep your ARM if you are planning to move soon. With homeowners moving within seven years of buying a home, it doesnt make sense to refinance when you wont recoup the costs.
Picking A Lender
Just like with any mortgage, you want to be sure that you have researched several lenders before choosing one. Request quotes on both rates and fees. You will need to add up total costs to find the best financing package. You can also use the internet to find online mortgage lenders. Many times these lenders will offer lower interest rates or low closing costs to remain competitive.
Refinancing Mortgage Loan
by admin on Jun.29, 2010, under Loans and Mortgages
On most of the occasions whenever the mortgage rates fall people run for refinancing mortgage loan. Refinancing mortgage loan can reduce your rate of interest and can help to extend the duration of repayment. It also helps to reduce your periodic payment compulsions in many ways, reduce the risk and helps to liquidate the equity that has mounted up in the real estate property during the period of the ownership. To get a refinance done on your mortgage, your home must have enough value so that you can justify your new loan.
In the real sense, refinancing mortgage loan can lower down your monthly payments due on the mortgage loan either by refinancing it into a lower interest rate mortgage or by increasing the duration of the mortgage loan, so that you can do the repayment over a long period of time. The cash saved in this can be used to pay the principle amount of the mortgage loan by reducing the payments further. In another way, refinancing can be used to convert available equity of your house into liquid cash, which can be used for other purposes or expenses like child’s higher studies or repair and restructuring of house.
Refinancing mortgage loan reduces the risk related with your existing loan. If you refinance your mortgage loan from adjustable rate mortgage to fixed rate mortgage then you can avoid the risk of fluctuating interest rates, and can ensure yourself a steady interest rate over the period of the mortgage.
Consider following tips if you are planning to take a refinancing mortgage loan:
- You should take quotes from at least four to five lenders so that you can compare the quotes and go for the best refinance deal.
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- It is very vital to know what are the closing fees, lender fees, and other third party fees. Since increased costs can sabotage the benefits received low interest rate payments
- Before taking any decision on refinancing mortgage loan you should study the market properly and search for the best refinance deals you can get around. While comparing, make sure that you compare the Annual Percentage Rate (APR), which is the annual rate inclusive of additional cost on the mortgage.
- Negotiate the interest rate with your lender. Even if you go to a new lender, you can negotiate the interest rate. While negotiating the interest rate always keep other refinance related fees in mind. Make sure that your lender does not charge you any extra amount of fees against lowering your interest rates.
- You should understand the fees that are negotiable or can be avoided for saving money on your mortgage. There are lender related fees, which may be negotiable and government related fees that are generally not negotiable. If you are successful to negotiate a lower fee, just make sure that it doesn’t increase the interest rate.
- Before riding on the refinance bandwagon, make sure that you plan o stay for a substantially long period in the refinanced property. This will help you avail the maximum benefit of low interest rate refinancing mortgage loan.
Refinance Your Fha Home Mortgage Loan – Refinancing With The
by admin on Jun.29, 2010, under Loans and Mortgages
Refinance Your Fha Home Mortgage Loan – Refinancing With The Streamline Process
You can now refinance your FHA loan with their streamlined process. With reduced paperwork, your lender can process your mortgage much quicker. There are some unique requirements to refinance your FHA loan, but you continued to be backed by the FHA through this process.
Basic Requirements
In addition to having a good credit record to refinance your home, the FHA also requires you to already be FHA insured and be current on your mortgage. Refinancing also has to lower the borrowers monthly payment, and no equity can be withdrawn.
Refinancing Packages
Financing companies offer a couple of different refinancing packages for FHA mortgages. A common package offers no up front payment to refinance. Often these types of mortgages are touted as no cost, but you pay higher interest rates for this option.
Another type of refinancing package allows closing costs to be included as part of the mortgage amount. This option is only available if there is enough equity in the property, which is determined by a FHA appraiser.
You can also choose a traditional refinancing package where you pay loan fees and points up front. This option will give you the best rates.
Mortgage Terms
In addition to low interest rates, you can save money and build up your equity faster by choosing a short term loan rate. By converting from a 30 to 15 year mortgage, you qualify for a lower rate and reduce you overall interest payments by at least half.
If you have an adjustable rate mortgage, you can also save on interest rates in the long term by locking into a fixed rate mortgage. However, if you think interest rates will fall in the future, stick with an ARM.
FHA Lenders
Only HUD approved lenders can refinance FHA loans. Fortunately, most lending companies are HUD approved. You should also compare rates and fees of these lenders to be sure that you find the lowest rates and fees.
To save time, use an online mortgage broker to request quotes. Within a matter minutes you can have a list of lenders with their rates to compare. From this list you can request more information from lenders or apply online for speedy processing. Online lenders will also offer discounts since they have less overhead costs than traditional financing companies.
Refinance Home Loan And Adjustable Rate Mortgage: What’s In It
by admin on Jun.23, 2010, under Loans and Mortgages
Refinance Home Loan And Adjustable Rate Mortgage: What’s In It For You?
Your refinance home loan is a new loan using once again the subject property as collateral. But what if you have seen the possibility of relocating to another state because a child is going to college soon? What are your options?
Opting for an Adjustable Rate Mortgage
With the likely prospect of relocating in a few years, the option for an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) for your refinance home loan is a smart one. For the last three or four years of your stay in your house, you will be paying low interest rates on your new loan before rates take an upward swing.
Commonly, people shy away from an ARM for their refinance home loan because of an unpredictable market. But heres the advantages youll get from an ARM:
1. Low interest rates for the first few years.
2. Time to plan for the future.
3. More cash flow because of lower monthly payments.
4. When rates fall, you dont need to refinance companies will ensure you get the low rates.
However, before you go for an ARM, you only have to answer one very important question: Can you afford to continue paying the loan in case the rates soar? If the answer is yes, then, by all means, go for it.
What You Need To Know
The interest rate for your refinance home loan on ARM changes over time. The first interest rate is set below the market standard comparable to a fixed rate loan. Unlike the fixed rate mortgage, the ARM rates rises and beyond three years or seven years depending on your loan contract, the rates exceed those of the fixed rate mortgage.
This is the reason why this is attractive for those who are planning to stay in the house for a few years. By the time the interest of your refinance home loan rises ,you can sell your home after working it out with your lender and checking your mortgage pay-off.
In selling your home, calculate your estimated expenses. Deduct the mortgage payoff from the fair market value of your home and subtract the charges to sell from the remaining balance to arrive at an estimate of proceeds due to you at the closing.
Here is the list of expenses to be incurred when youre going to sell your home:
1. Commission of the real estate agency.
2. Advertising costs if youre selling on your own.
3. Attorneys fees for the closing if youre selling on your own.
4. Excise tax for the transaction.
5. Homeowner Association fees and property taxes and other fees.
6. Inspections and surveys.
When all is said and done, the amount paid to you at the closing should enable you to pay for a new home. If not, then you have to pursue a new loan. This is why you should get pre-approved for another loan before you sell your house. A ready house on the block makes it easier for you to calculate the amount of the new refinance home loan you will need.
Refi Home Mortgage Loans Different Types Of Mortgage Refinance
by admin on Jun.21, 2010, under Loans and Mortgages
Refi Home Mortgage Loans Different Types Of Mortgage Refinance Loans
With todays lenders, you have more refinancing options than ever before. So whether you are looking to reduce your rates or lower your monthly payments, you can find financing that is right for you.
Lenders also let you compare loan quotes online without hurting your credit score. So with real numbers, you can determine which is the best lender and loan for you. You take the guesswork out of the refinancing process, knowing how much you can save.
Stability Of A Fixed Rate Mortgage
Refinancing for a fixed rate mortgage can lower your rates and give you peace of mind. By setting your mortgage rate today, you know exactly how much your interest will cost and how long your loan will last.
Fixed rate mortgages also allow you to buy down the rate, saving you thousands if you keep the mortgage for several years. You can also extend the loan period to reduce monthly payment amounts.
Betting On Lower Rates With An Adjustable Rate Mortgage
Refinancing with an adjustable rate mortgage will qualify you for some especially low rates a year or more. With these introductory offers, you can save hundreds a month.
There is the chance that rates will increase, along with your monthly payments. Depending on your caps, you may also see your mortgage lengthen due to high rates. But if you arent planning to keep your loan or house for too long, you may find the savings worth the risk.
Cashing Out Your Equity With A Refi
Cashing out part of your equity during a refi saves you money on application fees and higher rates with a separate home equity loan. When you pull out your equity, you can still select fixed or adjustable rates. You also have the options of extending or shortening your loan terms.
Creative Terms For Unique Situations
Interest only loans and similar creative loan terms work for those in unique situations. For instance, if you are planning to move in a year, refinancing with an interest only loan can cut your mortgage payments by hundreds of dollars. And by selling before the loan payments jump, you dont have to worry about high payments.