Financial Utopia – Help with credit cards, debt savings and loans.

Fannie Mae And Freddie Mac Mortgage Loans – Conforming Loans Provide Low Interest Rates

Conforming loans provide low interest rates since they are almost guaranteed to be purchased by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, which allows more funds to be available for borrowers. However, these corporations have terms, such as maximum loan, that limit how much you can borrow. If you dont meet their terms, you will need to apply for a non-conventional loan with slightly higher interest rates.

Loan Purchasers

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are stockholder owned companies that purchase mortgages, package them into securities, and then resells them to investors. This allows banks and other financing companies to lend to more customers since their capital is not tied up in long-term loans.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have strict requirements for purchasing loans. Basically, they want to reduce their risk level so they put a cap on loan amounts, credit score, income level, and down payment.

Conforming Loan Amounts

Each year Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac create new guidelines for loan amounts. In 2005, a mortgage limit for a single-family dwelling is $359,650. Limits for multiple family dwelling are significantly higher, roughly an additional $100,000 per family. Maximum loan amounts are also 50% higher in Alaska, Guam, Hawaii, and the Virgin Islands since property prices are higher.

Second mortgages also have their limit. In 2005 the limit was $179,825, but the total mortgaged amount of both loans could not exceed $359,650. As with first mortgages, second mortgages can also be 50% higher in designated areas.

Non-Conforming Loans

There are other loan options if you dont qualify for a conforming loan. If you need to borrow more than the maximum conforming loan amount, then you will want to apply for a jumbo loan. Because these types of loans are handled on a smaller scale, their rates are slightly higher than a conforming loan.

If you have poor credit or little down payment, you can use a subprime lender who specialized in lending to B/C type loans. You can expect to pay higher rates with these lenders, but many offer favorable terms. To find the best deal and to avoid scams, you must research your lender. Compare rates and terms until you find a favorable financing package.

Debt Consolidation Mortgage Loans – How To Secure A Loan To Payoff Debts

Trade in your high interest credit card debt with a debt consolidation loan secured by your mortgage. With your homes equity as security, you qualify for some of the lowest rates. And you can select terms that best fit your budget needs. So you can either extend terms for a lower payment or shorten the length to get out of debt sooner.

Take Stock Of Your Debt And Equity

Before you start a cash-out refi, total up your short term debt and compare it to your equity. Remember too that your equity is based on your homes assessed value, not what you paid for it. List out interest rates on your cards and current mortgage in order to determine potential savings with a refi.

With the numbers in front of you, find out what type of debt consolidation loan would be best for your situation. With an especially low rate mortgage, getting a second mortgage is a good choice. The same is true if you plan to move soon. Otherwise, look into refinance your entire mortgage to lock in even lower rates.

Start Shopping Mortgage Loans

Mortgage lenders package loans with a variety of terms and rates. You can opt for a low interest adjustable rate mortgage, or choose the security of fixed rates. You may also select terms that will affect your monthly payments and interest charges.

Once you have an idea of the loan you want, start shopping for a lender with a low APR. APR includes both interest rates and closing costs, which are often the hidden costs of loans. Second mortgages and lines of credit often have lower closing costs than traditional refi loans.

It is important to compare several lenders before settling on one. Using the internet will put you in contact with lenders from across the nation. With so many more choices, you are sure to find a great deal by comparing loan quotes.

Completing The Loan Process

For a fast turnaround, complete the loan application online. Within days, your final paperwork will be mailed to you for your signature. Funds are soon dispersed and you can pay off your accounts.

Debt Consolidation Loan For A Home Owner – 3 Things To Consider

If you want to consolidate your debt–and you own your own home–you’re in luck! If you’re willing to use your house as collateral, you have a lot of low-cost options for debt consolidation. Here are three loans to consider:

Second mortgage

A second mortgage is, essentially, another mortgage on a home that already carries a mortgage loan. The second mortgage takes a backseat to the first one, so it’s a bit riskier for lenders. Because of this additional risk, second mortgages usually carry shorter terms and higher interest rates. However, you can use the money you borrow from a second mortgage to consolidate your debt into one payment. And even though the interest rate is typically higher than your first mortgage, it’s usually still lower than the average credit card or personal loan rate.

Home Equity Loan

A home equity loan borrows a lump sum of money from the equity in your house–the value of your home minus the amount you currently owe on it. For example, if your house is valued at $250,000, and you currently owe $200,000 on your mortgage, you have $50,000 in equity that you can borrow. That means you can get a lump sum totaling $50,000, which you can then use to pay off other debts. In general, home equity loan rates tend to be low, and in many cases they are tax deductible.

Home Equity Line-of-Credit

A Home Equity Line Of Credit–also known as HELOC–is a type of revolving loan. Like a Home Equity Loan, you are borrowing from the equity in your home. However, unlike a Home Equity Loan, you don’t get a lump sum of cash. Instead, as a line of credit, you can draw on it any time for any amount (up to your limited maximum). HELOCs, in general, tend to have lower interest rates than Home Equity Loans.

Although borrowing a second mortgage or using the equity in your home can be a simple and low-cost way to consolidate your debt, it’s important to remember that, in all these cases, your home is the collateral for the loan. So before you borrow against your home, be certain you will be able to make your monthly payments.

Your home is your biggest asset. It does not just provide you shelter; it also comes to your aid when you are in financial distress. The equity of your home, built over the years, can be used to obtain loans by acting as the collateral. You can find two types of home equity debt, namely in the form of home equity loans and also in the form of home equity lines of credit otherwise known as HELOCs. Both of them are described as second mortgages, because just like the primary mortgage, the equity loan is also secured by your property. But unlike the first mortgage, the equity debt is repaid over a shorter span of time. The first mortgage is usually repaid over a span of 30 years, whereas the equity loan is usually paid within fifteen years. However, there are exceptions and the repayment period may be as short as 5 years and as long as 30 years.

The growing popularity of home equity loan generally coincides with the recent surge in property value and relatively lower rate of interest. Thus more and more homeowners are turning to home equity loans for managing their personal debts. Other advantages of the home equity loan also include lower interest rate and tax deductions, making this mode of debt even more popular.

So far as the equity rate of interest is concerned, it is slightly higher than the first mortgage, but considerably lower than credit card loans or other consumer loan interests. Because your property is used as the collateral in equity loans, lenders consider them as secure as the first mortgage.

The tax deduction feature may be the biggest reason behind the huge popularity of home equity loans. Mortgage debt comes with attractive tax savings compared to lets say consumer loans, thus it is highly cost effective to consolidate your other debts with this loan and enjoy lower interest rate plus tax deduction benefits at the same time.

With these benefits, namely considerably low rates for equity debt and tax deduction on the interest payments, it is no wonder that a number of homeowners are utilizing the equity of their homes to meet further expenses and debts. True, it is a mortgage on your precious home, but if you are able to pay back the entire amount within a short span of time and you have stable income, home equity loan is a good option for much needed credit.

1st And 2nd Mortgage Refinance Loan – Consolidate 1st And 2nd Mortgages Into One Low Payment

Refinancing both your first and second mortgages will result in one low monthly payment that could save you thousands in interest charges. By combining both mortgages, you qualify for lower rates than if you refinance separately. You can see a significant savings with your second mortgage refinance, which is often several points higher than your first mortgage rates. You will also save on application fees and other closing costs.

Strategies To Lower Your Mortgage Payment

You have a couple of options to lower your mortgage payment when refinancing. The first choice is to find a low rate mortgage. So even if you choose the same length for your loan, you will still see a savings in your monthly mortgage bill. Adjustable rate and interest only loans will give you the lowest payments, at least at the beginning of your home loan. But a fixed rate loan can also give you reasonable rates with security that they wont rise in the future.

The other option is to extend your loan term, especially in the case of your second mortgage which usually is for five to ten years. By consolidating your loans to a thirty year loan, you lengthen your payment schedule for principal, so you have a smaller payment. However, your interest rate and charges will be higher than with a shorter term.

Getting The Best Loan

Once you determine the type of loan and terms you want, do your shopping for a good lender to save even more money. Lenders will vary in how much they charge for closing costs and interest rates. The APR will tell you how loans compare overall, both in terms of rates and closing costs.

But if you are planning to move or refinance again in the future, then be wary of paying high closing costs. Even if they secure you a lower rate, you will only see a savings if you keep the mortgage for several years.

Dont base your lender decision based on posted loan rates. Ask for a personalized loan quote based on your general information. With more accurate numbers, you can make an informed choice as to who has the best financing for you.