Archive for the 'Mortgage' Category
Saturday 8 August 2009 @ 7:19 am
Craig Elliott asked:
What Are Mortgage Backed Securities?
Mortgage backed securities are securities that are backed by the principle and interest payments on a group of mortgage loans. Lenders group together mortgages and the money that is repaid by the borrowers’ pays investors in the mortgage backed securities.
Why Do Mortgage Lenders Issue Mortgage Backed Securities?
There are a variety of reasons that lending institutions issue mortgage backed securities rather than holding the mortgage themselves. Most lenders have a limited amount of liquid assets. By selling mortgages they are able to free up money in the short term to make additional loans.
Another reason that mortgage lenders sell off their loans as mortgage backed securities is to minimize their risk. Although every effort is made to establish the creditworthiness of an individual before a loan is made, circumstances can change. If a borrower defaults on his mortgage, the lender will have unplanned for expenses just in dealing with repossession and selling of the property. Adding in the lost principal and interest, and a small, local lender could find themselves in a financial mess very quickly.
When a lender sells a mortgage as a mortgage backed security, they receive their money up front, both the loaned amount and a percentage of the loan as their fee. The investors in a mortgage backed security then receive income each month, as the borrower pays back the principal plus interest on his loan.
Types of Mortgage Backed Securities
There are a variety of mortgage backed securities. The majority of mortgage backed securities are issued by the Government National Mortgage Association, otherwise known as Ginnie Mae, the Federal National Mortgage Association, or Fannie Mae, and the Federal Loan Mortgage Company, or Freddie Mac. These are all groups sponsored by the federal government. While Ginnie Mae is backed by the full faith and credit of the government, and guarantees its investors that they will receive their payments, both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have the authority to borrow from the Treasury, which makes them relatively safe investments as well.
In addition to the government agencies, brokerage firms and banks often offer mortgage backed securities. These are known as private-label securities.
Are Mortgage Backed Securities Risky?
Mortgage backed securities are not generally considered a risky investment. To obtain a mortgage, the borrower must go through a qualification process that assures the bank or lending institution that the loan will be paid back. The group who sets up the mortgage backed security will then group mortgages together in order to sell. By pooling the mortgages together, the risk to the investor is minimized. One borrower, who defaults on a loan, or, conversely, pays the loan off early, depriving the group of years of interest payments, will have less of an effect when he is a member of a large group. The same borrow, particularly one who defaults on a mortgage, can cause a real financial shock to a small lending institution.
Do Mortgage Backed Securities Make a Good Investment?
All investment decisions are extremely personal, and will depend on your personal needs. Decisions on investments are best made with help from a financial advisor. For someone who would like a monthly income, a mortgage backed security can make a good choice. A mortgage backed security, particularly one sold by Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, or Ginnie Mae, can be excellent investment vehicles. In general, the greater the amount of loans held in a mortgage backed security, the safer the investment, because the risk is spread over more people.
Before investing in a mortgage backed security, you should find out your expected rate of return. While this can vary, it is nice to know what investors have been receiving. Remember, it is not only loan defaults that can affect your income from a mortgage backed security, but also prepayments and principal only payments. The income from the security is figured on full payment of both principal and interest over the life of the mortgage, typically 15 or 30 years. Any action taken by anyone holding a mortgage in the security can affect your income. It is important to be clear about this with the person you purchase the security from.
Mortgage backed securities are an excellent development for borrowers, lenders, and investors. No matter what group you are in, it is important to understand exactly how they work and what you can expect. By doing that, you are better able to make a wise financial decision.
What Are Mortgage Backed Securities?
Mortgage backed securities are securities that are backed by the principle and interest payments on a group of mortgage loans. Lenders group together mortgages and the money that is repaid by the borrowers’ pays investors in the mortgage backed securities.
Why Do Mortgage Lenders Issue Mortgage Backed Securities?
There are a variety of reasons that lending institutions issue mortgage backed securities rather than holding the mortgage themselves. Most lenders have a limited amount of liquid assets. By selling mortgages they are able to free up money in the short term to make additional loans.
Another reason that mortgage lenders sell off their loans as mortgage backed securities is to minimize their risk. Although every effort is made to establish the creditworthiness of an individual before a loan is made, circumstances can change. If a borrower defaults on his mortgage, the lender will have unplanned for expenses just in dealing with repossession and selling of the property. Adding in the lost principal and interest, and a small, local lender could find themselves in a financial mess very quickly.
When a lender sells a mortgage as a mortgage backed security, they receive their money up front, both the loaned amount and a percentage of the loan as their fee. The investors in a mortgage backed security then receive income each month, as the borrower pays back the principal plus interest on his loan.
Types of Mortgage Backed Securities
There are a variety of mortgage backed securities. The majority of mortgage backed securities are issued by the Government National Mortgage Association, otherwise known as Ginnie Mae, the Federal National Mortgage Association, or Fannie Mae, and the Federal Loan Mortgage Company, or Freddie Mac. These are all groups sponsored by the federal government. While Ginnie Mae is backed by the full faith and credit of the government, and guarantees its investors that they will receive their payments, both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have the authority to borrow from the Treasury, which makes them relatively safe investments as well.
In addition to the government agencies, brokerage firms and banks often offer mortgage backed securities. These are known as private-label securities.
Are Mortgage Backed Securities Risky?
Mortgage backed securities are not generally considered a risky investment. To obtain a mortgage, the borrower must go through a qualification process that assures the bank or lending institution that the loan will be paid back. The group who sets up the mortgage backed security will then group mortgages together in order to sell. By pooling the mortgages together, the risk to the investor is minimized. One borrower, who defaults on a loan, or, conversely, pays the loan off early, depriving the group of years of interest payments, will have less of an effect when he is a member of a large group. The same borrow, particularly one who defaults on a mortgage, can cause a real financial shock to a small lending institution.
Do Mortgage Backed Securities Make a Good Investment?
All investment decisions are extremely personal, and will depend on your personal needs. Decisions on investments are best made with help from a financial advisor. For someone who would like a monthly income, a mortgage backed security can make a good choice. A mortgage backed security, particularly one sold by Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, or Ginnie Mae, can be excellent investment vehicles. In general, the greater the amount of loans held in a mortgage backed security, the safer the investment, because the risk is spread over more people.
Before investing in a mortgage backed security, you should find out your expected rate of return. While this can vary, it is nice to know what investors have been receiving. Remember, it is not only loan defaults that can affect your income from a mortgage backed security, but also prepayments and principal only payments. The income from the security is figured on full payment of both principal and interest over the life of the mortgage, typically 15 or 30 years. Any action taken by anyone holding a mortgage in the security can affect your income. It is important to be clear about this with the person you purchase the security from.
Mortgage backed securities are an excellent development for borrowers, lenders, and investors. No matter what group you are in, it is important to understand exactly how they work and what you can expect. By doing that, you are better able to make a wise financial decision.
Saturday 8 August 2009 @ 7:11 am
Pam Junot asked:
TrainingPro, the national leader in mortgage education and preferred online education partner of the Colorado Association of Mortgage Brokers, is now an approved mortgage education provider in Colorado. One of the first online mortgage education providers in the state, TrainingPro offers the required 40 hours of approved curriculum in online and live class format. TrainingPro is approved by the Colorado Division of Private Occupational Schools (DPOS) and PSI, the content approving body.
According to Senate Bill 07-203, all mortgage brokers in Colorado must be licensed with the Division of Real Estate before January 1, 2009. One component of this licensure is the successful completion of a 40-hour mortgage training requirement conducted by a state-approved mortgage education provider. All mortgage brokers who currently maintain a Colorado mortgage broker’s license must complete this licensing education and pass a state exam by January 1, 2009.
According to Part 9, Section 12-61-902 of the Colorado Mortgage Broker Licensing Act, a mortgage broker is defined as: “an individual who negotiates, originates, or offers or attempts to negotiate or originate for a borrower, and for a commission or other thing of value, a residential mortgage loan to be consummated and funded by a mortgage lender.”
TrainingPro’s 40-hour mortgage education course, “Mortgage Basics: Increasing Knowledge, Creating Opportunities,” is a comprehensive pre-licensing training program that addresses the fundamental laws, concepts and practices involved in the mortgage industry. The course includes 19.5 hours of federal and state mortgage laws, 16 hours of mortgage basics and 4.5 hours of business and trade practices.
“TrainingPro is excited to begin offering its proven mortgage training curriculum to the mortgage professionals in Colorado,” said Christopher Nickerson, CEO of TrainingPro. “We are proud to provide two training options for this new mortgage training requirement – online and live – to cater to different learning styles. We fully support the state’s initiative to enrich and elevate the mortgage industry through education and will be available to help and guide Colorado mortgage brokers through the process.”
TrainingPro is the preferred online education partner for the Colorado Association of Mortgage Brokers (CAMB). Together, TrainingPro and CAMB are working to provide the highest quality solution for mortgage training in the state. CAMB members are invited to receive a discount off of the 40-hour online course by visiting www.TrainingPro.com/camb.
Colorado is the 32nd state to approve TrainingPro as a mortgage education provider. TrainingPro is also approved in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Mortgage education courses can be purchased through the TrainingPro web site at www.TrainingPro.com or by calling an account representative at 1-877-878-3600.
About TrainingPro
TrainingPro is the national leader in mortgage education. Its mission is to elevate and enrich the mortgage industry through its innovative compliance solutions and comprehensive educational programs. With extensive experience, a proven training platform, and superior client service as its foundation, TrainingPro is the educational partner for small and large mortgage corporations as well as state industry associations and the National Association of Mortgage Brokers. TrainingPro was listed on the 2006 Inc. 500 list, conducted by Inc. Magazine, as one of the fastest growing companies in the nation. For more information about TrainingPro, please visit www.TrainingPro.com.
TrainingPro, the national leader in mortgage education and preferred online education partner of the Colorado Association of Mortgage Brokers, is now an approved mortgage education provider in Colorado. One of the first online mortgage education providers in the state, TrainingPro offers the required 40 hours of approved curriculum in online and live class format. TrainingPro is approved by the Colorado Division of Private Occupational Schools (DPOS) and PSI, the content approving body.
According to Senate Bill 07-203, all mortgage brokers in Colorado must be licensed with the Division of Real Estate before January 1, 2009. One component of this licensure is the successful completion of a 40-hour mortgage training requirement conducted by a state-approved mortgage education provider. All mortgage brokers who currently maintain a Colorado mortgage broker’s license must complete this licensing education and pass a state exam by January 1, 2009.
According to Part 9, Section 12-61-902 of the Colorado Mortgage Broker Licensing Act, a mortgage broker is defined as: “an individual who negotiates, originates, or offers or attempts to negotiate or originate for a borrower, and for a commission or other thing of value, a residential mortgage loan to be consummated and funded by a mortgage lender.”
TrainingPro’s 40-hour mortgage education course, “Mortgage Basics: Increasing Knowledge, Creating Opportunities,” is a comprehensive pre-licensing training program that addresses the fundamental laws, concepts and practices involved in the mortgage industry. The course includes 19.5 hours of federal and state mortgage laws, 16 hours of mortgage basics and 4.5 hours of business and trade practices.
“TrainingPro is excited to begin offering its proven mortgage training curriculum to the mortgage professionals in Colorado,” said Christopher Nickerson, CEO of TrainingPro. “We are proud to provide two training options for this new mortgage training requirement – online and live – to cater to different learning styles. We fully support the state’s initiative to enrich and elevate the mortgage industry through education and will be available to help and guide Colorado mortgage brokers through the process.”
TrainingPro is the preferred online education partner for the Colorado Association of Mortgage Brokers (CAMB). Together, TrainingPro and CAMB are working to provide the highest quality solution for mortgage training in the state. CAMB members are invited to receive a discount off of the 40-hour online course by visiting www.TrainingPro.com/camb.
Colorado is the 32nd state to approve TrainingPro as a mortgage education provider. TrainingPro is also approved in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Mortgage education courses can be purchased through the TrainingPro web site at www.TrainingPro.com or by calling an account representative at 1-877-878-3600.
About TrainingPro
TrainingPro is the national leader in mortgage education. Its mission is to elevate and enrich the mortgage industry through its innovative compliance solutions and comprehensive educational programs. With extensive experience, a proven training platform, and superior client service as its foundation, TrainingPro is the educational partner for small and large mortgage corporations as well as state industry associations and the National Association of Mortgage Brokers. TrainingPro was listed on the 2006 Inc. 500 list, conducted by Inc. Magazine, as one of the fastest growing companies in the nation. For more information about TrainingPro, please visit www.TrainingPro.com.
Friday 7 August 2009 @ 10:26 pm
Boris Tomson asked:
Mortgage Related articles : http://finance-info.synthasite.com
Internet mortgage leads are indispensable for mortgage lending companies and brokers. The mortgage leads are lifelines to their business. That’s why they always look for qualified and cost-effective Internet mortgage leads. Borrowers often search for mortgage lending companies on the web. Initially they get in touch with the lead generation companies with their loan requests. They submit their requests to the mortgage lead generation companies by filling out an online application form. The lead generation companies send the applications, after screening them carefully, to the mortgage brokers and lending companies. Here the screening is necessary to ascertain the reliability of the loan application. The mortgage applications then become leads. Mortgage brokers and lending companies in turn contact the borrower via e-mail or telephone.http://finance-info.synthasite.com
Lead generation companies use advanced technology to find suitable Internet mortgage leads. Here the quality of Internet mortgage leads depends on how sophisticated the lead generation process is. Mortgage-generating companies always aim to offer suitable and profitable mortgage leads to lending companies. Internet mortgage leads are of two types – exclusive and non-exclusive. With more and more mortgage borrowers going online to search for mortgage lending companies, the popularity of Internet mortgage leads will definitely go up. Mortgage borrowers have found the Internet useful to study and compare different mortgage lending companies. That’s why mortgage brokers and lending institutions are ready to grab the best mortgage leads to stay ahead of their rivals.http://finance-info.synthasite.com
Thanks to the Internet, mortgage seekers can now request quotes from mortgage lending companies while sitting at home. The mortgage lead generation companies introduce the mortgage seekers with the mortgage brokers and lending firms. So, Internet mortgage leads have made the process instant and effective for both the mortgage borrower and lenders. From the mortgage lenders’ perspective, quality Internet mortgage leads add to their business.
Mortgage Leads provides detailed information on Mortgage Leads, Mortgage Lead Generation, Internet Mortgage Leads, Commercial Mortgage Leads and more. Mortgage Leads is affiliated with Mortgage Marketing Leads.http://finance-info.synthasite.com
Mortgage Related articles : http://finance-info.synthasite.com
Internet mortgage leads are indispensable for mortgage lending companies and brokers. The mortgage leads are lifelines to their business. That’s why they always look for qualified and cost-effective Internet mortgage leads. Borrowers often search for mortgage lending companies on the web. Initially they get in touch with the lead generation companies with their loan requests. They submit their requests to the mortgage lead generation companies by filling out an online application form. The lead generation companies send the applications, after screening them carefully, to the mortgage brokers and lending companies. Here the screening is necessary to ascertain the reliability of the loan application. The mortgage applications then become leads. Mortgage brokers and lending companies in turn contact the borrower via e-mail or telephone.http://finance-info.synthasite.com
Lead generation companies use advanced technology to find suitable Internet mortgage leads. Here the quality of Internet mortgage leads depends on how sophisticated the lead generation process is. Mortgage-generating companies always aim to offer suitable and profitable mortgage leads to lending companies. Internet mortgage leads are of two types – exclusive and non-exclusive. With more and more mortgage borrowers going online to search for mortgage lending companies, the popularity of Internet mortgage leads will definitely go up. Mortgage borrowers have found the Internet useful to study and compare different mortgage lending companies. That’s why mortgage brokers and lending institutions are ready to grab the best mortgage leads to stay ahead of their rivals.http://finance-info.synthasite.com
Thanks to the Internet, mortgage seekers can now request quotes from mortgage lending companies while sitting at home. The mortgage lead generation companies introduce the mortgage seekers with the mortgage brokers and lending firms. So, Internet mortgage leads have made the process instant and effective for both the mortgage borrower and lenders. From the mortgage lenders’ perspective, quality Internet mortgage leads add to their business.
Mortgage Leads provides detailed information on Mortgage Leads, Mortgage Lead Generation, Internet Mortgage Leads, Commercial Mortgage Leads and more. Mortgage Leads is affiliated with Mortgage Marketing Leads.http://finance-info.synthasite.com
Friday 7 August 2009 @ 6:45 pm
Brian Jenkins asked:
Choosing a Mortgage Company
You will potentially be dealing with your mortgage company for the next thirty years, therefore; it is important to choose your mortgage company wisely. The best way to choose a mortgage company is to ask those around you for their experiences. Talk to friends or relatives who have recently purchased a home and ask if they were happy with the service from their mortgage company. By doing this you can begin to build a list of companies that you want to approach.
Real estate agents can also be a good source for mortgage company recommendations. Because they see people working through the financing process daily, they develop a feel for which companies are easy to deal with, and which are not as easy. Although word of mouth is an excellent way to develop a list of potential mortgage companies, it should not be your only method used. Everyone has a different financial situation, and what works for one person may not be the best choice for someone else.
Using the list of mortgage brokers that you have compiled, you can make appointments to go in and personally speak with each one. This will give you a feel for the personality and demeanor of each company. Also, if you have trouble getting your calls returned, or setting up appointments as a prospective customer, it is unlikely that your situation would improve if you had your mortgage through the company.
What to Expect from the Mortgage Company
A mortgage company is a service industry. It is important to remember this. Many people find the mortgage approval and home buying process so intimidating that they forget that they should shop for a mortgage company that they are happy with. A mortgage company should be happy to quote you specific interest rates, and let you know when you should lock in these rates. They should also tell you what the specific costs are in acquiring a loan. This means a good faith estimate on closing costs, discount and origination fees that must be paid and any other costs that may be involved when purchasing a home.
The mortgage company should be upfront about all of the technical details of the loan. They should let you know if there is any penalty for pre-payment, the amount of money required for a down payment, and what documents you will need to provide for loan approval. The mortgage company should also let you know what guidelines you must meet to qualify for a loan with them. This will include credit history, your income, employment history, your assets and liabilities and any other specifications they require.
Many states offer specialized home buying programs. The well established home mortgage company should be familiar with the various programs in your state, and provide you with information about these. If you believe that you may qualify for one of these programs, the mortgage company should help you complete any necessary paperwork and determine if you qualify.
The mortgage company should be willing to tell you how long it will take to process the loan, and if they guarantee it will be processed by a certain date. They should also provide you with any information that may slow down the loan processing process, and their method for dealing with problems.
After the Loan Closes
Once you close on your mortgage, you may never see or think of your mortgage company again. You make your monthly payment, and sometime, years down the road, you receive the title to your home. While this happens occasionally, it is not as common as you may think. You may move, and decide to sell your home. Interest rates may drop, making the decision to refinance attractive, or, you may have trouble making your monthly payment due to job loss or medical problems.
Before selling your home, you must know how much you owe on it. Your mortgage broker should be able to determine the balance of the loan and provide you with this information easily. If you decide to refinance, consider staying with the same mortgage company. Often, the mortgage company will negotiate lower closing fees or no closing costs if you refinance through the same company that currently holds your mortgage.
Finally, if catastrophe strikes and you are unable to make your mortgage payment, it is imperative that you get your mortgage company involved early in the process. They can provide you with resources for help in making or delaying payments, and let you know if foreclosure is imminent. As tempting as it is to bury your head in the sand at this time, remaining proactive can help you hand on to your home, or allow you to sell your home before foreclosure proceeding begin.
Choosing a Mortgage Company
You will potentially be dealing with your mortgage company for the next thirty years, therefore; it is important to choose your mortgage company wisely. The best way to choose a mortgage company is to ask those around you for their experiences. Talk to friends or relatives who have recently purchased a home and ask if they were happy with the service from their mortgage company. By doing this you can begin to build a list of companies that you want to approach.
Real estate agents can also be a good source for mortgage company recommendations. Because they see people working through the financing process daily, they develop a feel for which companies are easy to deal with, and which are not as easy. Although word of mouth is an excellent way to develop a list of potential mortgage companies, it should not be your only method used. Everyone has a different financial situation, and what works for one person may not be the best choice for someone else.
Using the list of mortgage brokers that you have compiled, you can make appointments to go in and personally speak with each one. This will give you a feel for the personality and demeanor of each company. Also, if you have trouble getting your calls returned, or setting up appointments as a prospective customer, it is unlikely that your situation would improve if you had your mortgage through the company.
What to Expect from the Mortgage Company
A mortgage company is a service industry. It is important to remember this. Many people find the mortgage approval and home buying process so intimidating that they forget that they should shop for a mortgage company that they are happy with. A mortgage company should be happy to quote you specific interest rates, and let you know when you should lock in these rates. They should also tell you what the specific costs are in acquiring a loan. This means a good faith estimate on closing costs, discount and origination fees that must be paid and any other costs that may be involved when purchasing a home.
The mortgage company should be upfront about all of the technical details of the loan. They should let you know if there is any penalty for pre-payment, the amount of money required for a down payment, and what documents you will need to provide for loan approval. The mortgage company should also let you know what guidelines you must meet to qualify for a loan with them. This will include credit history, your income, employment history, your assets and liabilities and any other specifications they require.
Many states offer specialized home buying programs. The well established home mortgage company should be familiar with the various programs in your state, and provide you with information about these. If you believe that you may qualify for one of these programs, the mortgage company should help you complete any necessary paperwork and determine if you qualify.
The mortgage company should be willing to tell you how long it will take to process the loan, and if they guarantee it will be processed by a certain date. They should also provide you with any information that may slow down the loan processing process, and their method for dealing with problems.
After the Loan Closes
Once you close on your mortgage, you may never see or think of your mortgage company again. You make your monthly payment, and sometime, years down the road, you receive the title to your home. While this happens occasionally, it is not as common as you may think. You may move, and decide to sell your home. Interest rates may drop, making the decision to refinance attractive, or, you may have trouble making your monthly payment due to job loss or medical problems.
Before selling your home, you must know how much you owe on it. Your mortgage broker should be able to determine the balance of the loan and provide you with this information easily. If you decide to refinance, consider staying with the same mortgage company. Often, the mortgage company will negotiate lower closing fees or no closing costs if you refinance through the same company that currently holds your mortgage.
Finally, if catastrophe strikes and you are unable to make your mortgage payment, it is imperative that you get your mortgage company involved early in the process. They can provide you with resources for help in making or delaying payments, and let you know if foreclosure is imminent. As tempting as it is to bury your head in the sand at this time, remaining proactive can help you hand on to your home, or allow you to sell your home before foreclosure proceeding begin.
Friday 7 August 2009 @ 4:37 pm
Brian Jenkins asked:
Buying a home is one of the most important decisions that most people will make in their lives. It’s likely to be the most expensive asset that most people will ever purchase. With the average home costing the equivalent of several years’ salary, it’s very rare that anyone can save enough money to pay for their residence with savings. The only option that most people have when they’re ready to buy a house is to borrow money in order to pay for it. A loan that is taken out in order to buy a home is known as a residential mortgage. If you’re planning to buy a home, it’s important to understand what a mortgage is and how it works.
A mortgage is a secured loan.
There are two basic kinds of loans – unsecured and secured. An unsecured loan is money that is lent without any sort of collateral, simply on the good credit of the borrower and their promise to repay it. If the borrower defaults on the loan (fails to make the required payments), the only way for the lender to get its money back is to sue the borrower in court. A secured loan is one where the borrower guarantees payment by putting up collateral. If the borrower fails to make the payments as promised, the bank or lending company has the right to take possession of the collateral and sell it to recover their money.
A mortgage is a secured loan in which the house serves as collateral. When you take out a mortgage on a home, you sign a mortgage note that essentially gives the bank partial ownership of the house. Until you make the final payment on your mortgage, the bank or lending company has the right to foreclose on your home if you fail to make the scheduled payments on your loan. That means that they can take possession of your house and sell it to recover any money that’s still owed to them on the loan.
The mortgage rate is the interest that you pay on your loan.
When you borrow money, the bank charges interest on the money lent to you. The interest is expressed as a percentage of the amount that you borrow multiplied by the length of time you take to pay it back. The length of time that it takes you to pay back the loan is called the term of the loan. Most lenders offer mortgages for terms of twenty years, thirty years or forty years. Some lenders offer mortgages for as short a term as ten years, and the most common term for a mortgage is thirty years.
There are many different kinds of residential mortgages. The best known are fixed rate mortgages (FRM) and adjustable rate mortgages (ARM). They are exactly what the names say. If you take out a fixed rate mortgage, your interest rate is guaranteed to stay the same for the life of the loan. If your mortgage rate at signing is 6.25%, it will remain 6.25% until the entire mortgage is paid off. An adjustable rate mortgage is one where the mortgage rate can change based on an index of some sort. If that index goes up, your interest rate goes up. If it drops, the interest rate drops.
There are advantages and disadvantages to both kinds of mortgages. Because a fixed rate mortgage offers a guarantee against interest rate increases, the interest rate usually starts out higher than the mortgage rate for an ARM for the same amount and term. An ARM will spell out specific conditions under which the interest rate can be changed. Generally, the rate is reconsidered every three, six or twelve months. Some ARMs have low initial rates that are guaranteed for a specific period of time – generally two to five years. After the initial period, the interest rate is subject to adjustment according to a specified schedule.
Mortgages carry other costs and fees in addition to the interest charged.
In addition to the interest, most loans also have other costs and fees associated with them. Those costs are often payable at closing, though they are frequently financed and added to the amount of money borrowed for the mortgage. Other costs must be paid before the loan is closed. The costs may include loan origination fees, a loan broker’s fee, the cost of private mortgage insurance and legal fees. Paying those costs up front can reduce the interest rate as well as the total cost of the loan.
Buying points can reduce the interest rate and the cost of your mortgage.
There are a number of ways that you can reduce the total cost of a mortgage. One of the most common is called “buying points”. When you buy or pay for points on your mortgage, you are paying part of the interest up front. One point will cost you 1% of the face value of the loan. If you’re taking out a mortgage for $100,000, you’ll pay $1,000 a point. For each point that you pay on your mortgage, the lender will reduce the interest rate by a certain amount. The exact amount varies from lender to lender. You can find mortgage points calculators online to help you decide whether or not paying points is a good idea in your situation.
Buying a home is one of the most important decisions that most people will make in their lives. It’s likely to be the most expensive asset that most people will ever purchase. With the average home costing the equivalent of several years’ salary, it’s very rare that anyone can save enough money to pay for their residence with savings. The only option that most people have when they’re ready to buy a house is to borrow money in order to pay for it. A loan that is taken out in order to buy a home is known as a residential mortgage. If you’re planning to buy a home, it’s important to understand what a mortgage is and how it works.
A mortgage is a secured loan.
There are two basic kinds of loans – unsecured and secured. An unsecured loan is money that is lent without any sort of collateral, simply on the good credit of the borrower and their promise to repay it. If the borrower defaults on the loan (fails to make the required payments), the only way for the lender to get its money back is to sue the borrower in court. A secured loan is one where the borrower guarantees payment by putting up collateral. If the borrower fails to make the payments as promised, the bank or lending company has the right to take possession of the collateral and sell it to recover their money.
A mortgage is a secured loan in which the house serves as collateral. When you take out a mortgage on a home, you sign a mortgage note that essentially gives the bank partial ownership of the house. Until you make the final payment on your mortgage, the bank or lending company has the right to foreclose on your home if you fail to make the scheduled payments on your loan. That means that they can take possession of your house and sell it to recover any money that’s still owed to them on the loan.
The mortgage rate is the interest that you pay on your loan.
When you borrow money, the bank charges interest on the money lent to you. The interest is expressed as a percentage of the amount that you borrow multiplied by the length of time you take to pay it back. The length of time that it takes you to pay back the loan is called the term of the loan. Most lenders offer mortgages for terms of twenty years, thirty years or forty years. Some lenders offer mortgages for as short a term as ten years, and the most common term for a mortgage is thirty years.
There are many different kinds of residential mortgages. The best known are fixed rate mortgages (FRM) and adjustable rate mortgages (ARM). They are exactly what the names say. If you take out a fixed rate mortgage, your interest rate is guaranteed to stay the same for the life of the loan. If your mortgage rate at signing is 6.25%, it will remain 6.25% until the entire mortgage is paid off. An adjustable rate mortgage is one where the mortgage rate can change based on an index of some sort. If that index goes up, your interest rate goes up. If it drops, the interest rate drops.
There are advantages and disadvantages to both kinds of mortgages. Because a fixed rate mortgage offers a guarantee against interest rate increases, the interest rate usually starts out higher than the mortgage rate for an ARM for the same amount and term. An ARM will spell out specific conditions under which the interest rate can be changed. Generally, the rate is reconsidered every three, six or twelve months. Some ARMs have low initial rates that are guaranteed for a specific period of time – generally two to five years. After the initial period, the interest rate is subject to adjustment according to a specified schedule.
Mortgages carry other costs and fees in addition to the interest charged.
In addition to the interest, most loans also have other costs and fees associated with them. Those costs are often payable at closing, though they are frequently financed and added to the amount of money borrowed for the mortgage. Other costs must be paid before the loan is closed. The costs may include loan origination fees, a loan broker’s fee, the cost of private mortgage insurance and legal fees. Paying those costs up front can reduce the interest rate as well as the total cost of the loan.
Buying points can reduce the interest rate and the cost of your mortgage.
There are a number of ways that you can reduce the total cost of a mortgage. One of the most common is called “buying points”. When you buy or pay for points on your mortgage, you are paying part of the interest up front. One point will cost you 1% of the face value of the loan. If you’re taking out a mortgage for $100,000, you’ll pay $1,000 a point. For each point that you pay on your mortgage, the lender will reduce the interest rate by a certain amount. The exact amount varies from lender to lender. You can find mortgage points calculators online to help you decide whether or not paying points is a good idea in your situation.
Friday 7 August 2009 @ 4:01 pm
Nandini asked:
These are tough times if you need a loan but don’t have sufficient or unencumbered property to offer as a collateral to the Bank or other financial institution. Cash is King and if you need more liquidity fast but your first mortgage lender will not advance any more or cannot act quickly, you might be in unforeseen trouble. A Second mortgage might be the best possible option at this difficult time.
Like many other countries of the world, the mortgage market in Australia has tightened considerably and extensions or increases to existing facilities that might have been offered 12 months ago are simply not available today. Many people in Australia, especially those in small business have been able to overcome short-term financial hazards or “cash crisis” and improve their position through a short-term second mortgage.
Second Mortgage
You may or may not have heard about second mortgages. In simple terms, a second mortgage is made against the same property, which is offered as a collateral in the first mortgage but usually to a different lender. Hence, it is considered subordinate to the first mortgage and ranks behind the first mortgage in terms of security.
The interest rate of second mortgage is higher than the first mortgage. This is because, in case of default, the first mortgage is paid out first then the second mortgage is satisfied from the remaining equity.
Usability of Second Mortgage
In a nutshell, a second mortgage is most beneficial when the borrower needs finance for a specific purpose for a short period of time and they can see how the second mortgage finance can be repaid in the short term. It is a good source of finance for opportunistic investments, or to satisfy an urgent unexpected expense. It is often used as a short-term cure for a business cash crunch or even to take advantage of a business opportunity that presents itself where the business operator can see that he or she can make money, IF they have some money NOW!
Other reasons for a short-term second mortgage might include the need of improvement of existing homes prior to sale, or bridging finance for the purchase of a new property prior to the sale of an existing property.
Overview of mortgage market in Australia
The Australian mortgage market witnessed a tremendous boom during 2003 and 2004. However, earlier this year the market observed a sharp decline in its rate of growth with 12% growth being recorded in contrast to 22 % in 2004.
An analysis conducted by InfoChoice and The Sheet estimates that the Australian mortgage market presently stands at $922 billion. It has been observed that this estimate is around three times greater than the report of Reserve of Australia. It is noteworthy that this study is also 12% bigger than the all-banks estimate in the mortgage industry of Australian Prudential Regulation Authority.
As a rule all big banks play a major role in the market, but usually only provide loans against first mortgage security and do not operate in the second mortgage space. Finance and mortgage brokers originate an increasing share of this Australian mortgage market and these brokers can usually source either first or second mortgages from a wide range of lenders.
Rise of Second Mortgage in Australia
As traditional lenders become more reluctant to lend to existing customers due to tighter credit requirement and liquidity limitations continue in the banking system, more and more borrowers with a need for a short term remedy are turning to a second mortgage lenders to solve their temporary or short term liquidity problem to take advantage of opportunities or to solve their short terms problems.
To be eligible for a second mortgage, you must have surplus equity in your current property. This means that you must owe less with your current mortgage than the value of the property. The second mortgage lender will need to be comfortable that there is a good commercial reason for the loan and that there is an “exit strategy” for the loan. This means that the second mortgage lender can see how the loan is coming to be repaid through some event or process that will satisfy the advance and the charges for the loan.
These are tough times if you need a loan but don’t have sufficient or unencumbered property to offer as a collateral to the Bank or other financial institution. Cash is King and if you need more liquidity fast but your first mortgage lender will not advance any more or cannot act quickly, you might be in unforeseen trouble. A Second mortgage might be the best possible option at this difficult time.
Like many other countries of the world, the mortgage market in Australia has tightened considerably and extensions or increases to existing facilities that might have been offered 12 months ago are simply not available today. Many people in Australia, especially those in small business have been able to overcome short-term financial hazards or “cash crisis” and improve their position through a short-term second mortgage.
Second Mortgage
You may or may not have heard about second mortgages. In simple terms, a second mortgage is made against the same property, which is offered as a collateral in the first mortgage but usually to a different lender. Hence, it is considered subordinate to the first mortgage and ranks behind the first mortgage in terms of security.
The interest rate of second mortgage is higher than the first mortgage. This is because, in case of default, the first mortgage is paid out first then the second mortgage is satisfied from the remaining equity.
Usability of Second Mortgage
In a nutshell, a second mortgage is most beneficial when the borrower needs finance for a specific purpose for a short period of time and they can see how the second mortgage finance can be repaid in the short term. It is a good source of finance for opportunistic investments, or to satisfy an urgent unexpected expense. It is often used as a short-term cure for a business cash crunch or even to take advantage of a business opportunity that presents itself where the business operator can see that he or she can make money, IF they have some money NOW!
Other reasons for a short-term second mortgage might include the need of improvement of existing homes prior to sale, or bridging finance for the purchase of a new property prior to the sale of an existing property.
Overview of mortgage market in Australia
The Australian mortgage market witnessed a tremendous boom during 2003 and 2004. However, earlier this year the market observed a sharp decline in its rate of growth with 12% growth being recorded in contrast to 22 % in 2004.
An analysis conducted by InfoChoice and The Sheet estimates that the Australian mortgage market presently stands at $922 billion. It has been observed that this estimate is around three times greater than the report of Reserve of Australia. It is noteworthy that this study is also 12% bigger than the all-banks estimate in the mortgage industry of Australian Prudential Regulation Authority.
As a rule all big banks play a major role in the market, but usually only provide loans against first mortgage security and do not operate in the second mortgage space. Finance and mortgage brokers originate an increasing share of this Australian mortgage market and these brokers can usually source either first or second mortgages from a wide range of lenders.
Rise of Second Mortgage in Australia
As traditional lenders become more reluctant to lend to existing customers due to tighter credit requirement and liquidity limitations continue in the banking system, more and more borrowers with a need for a short term remedy are turning to a second mortgage lenders to solve their temporary or short term liquidity problem to take advantage of opportunities or to solve their short terms problems.
To be eligible for a second mortgage, you must have surplus equity in your current property. This means that you must owe less with your current mortgage than the value of the property. The second mortgage lender will need to be comfortable that there is a good commercial reason for the loan and that there is an “exit strategy” for the loan. This means that the second mortgage lender can see how the loan is coming to be repaid through some event or process that will satisfy the advance and the charges for the loan.
Friday 7 August 2009 @ 3:53 pm
MLS Reverse Mortgage asked:
Foreclosure filings were reported on 2.3 million U.S. properties in 2008, an increase of 81 percent from 2007 and up 225 percent from 2006, according to the RealtyTrac U.S. Foreclosure Market Report released January 15, 2009. The soaring number of forclosures have sent ripples through the housing and banking industry with the affects being felt by millions.
According to RealtyTrac, California, Florida, Arizona posted the highest 2008 foreclosure totals. A total of 523,624 California properties received a foreclosure filing in 2008, the nation’s highest state total. Foreclosure activity in the state increased nearly 110 percent from 2007 and nearly 498 percent from 2006. With 385,309 properties receiving a foreclosure filing in 2008, Florida documented the second highest state total. Florida foreclosure activity increased 133 percent from 2007 and nearly 412 percent from 2006. Arizona’s 2008 total of 116,911 properties receiving a foreclosure filing was third highest among the states. Foreclosure activity in Arizona increased 203 percent from 2007 and 655 percent from 2006. Other states with Top 10 totals for 2008 were Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Texas, Georgia, Nevada and New Jersey.
With mounting job losses and a weakening economy, forclosures and mortgage delinquencies are expected to continue to rise. The nation’s unemployment rate shot up at the end of the year, reaching 7.2 percent in December — its highest level since early 1993, according to a Labor Department report release January 9, 2009. That puts U.S. job losses at 2.6 million for 2008.
However, with all this doom and gloom in the housing market, there is a glimmer of hope for senior homeowners 62 years of age and older. That hope comes in the form of a HUD Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) or Reverse Mortgage. Those who have obtained a reverse mortgage need not be concerned with the increasing forclosure rates and whether or not they can make their mortgage payments. With a HECM reverse mortgage, there are no monthly payments required.
Borrowers remain in their homes for life and never have to worry about making a mortgage payment again. All they need to do is keep the property in good repair, pay their property taxes and keep their homeowners insurance current and paid.
For seniors who currently do not have a reverse mortgage, now may be the time to explore the option. It does not matter if a senior is currently late on their mortgage. They may still qualify for a reverse mortgage. To qualify all borrowers on title must be 62 years or older, occupy the property as their primary residence and not currently be in a bankruptcy. That’s it!
MLS Reverse Mortgage has helped save several seniors who were months away from losing their homes.
So, in these tough economic times, there is still hope for seniors looking for mortgage payment relief or cash out to enjoy life’s pleasures.
Learn more online: http://www.mlsreversemortgage.com
Foreclosure filings were reported on 2.3 million U.S. properties in 2008, an increase of 81 percent from 2007 and up 225 percent from 2006, according to the RealtyTrac U.S. Foreclosure Market Report released January 15, 2009. The soaring number of forclosures have sent ripples through the housing and banking industry with the affects being felt by millions.
According to RealtyTrac, California, Florida, Arizona posted the highest 2008 foreclosure totals. A total of 523,624 California properties received a foreclosure filing in 2008, the nation’s highest state total. Foreclosure activity in the state increased nearly 110 percent from 2007 and nearly 498 percent from 2006. With 385,309 properties receiving a foreclosure filing in 2008, Florida documented the second highest state total. Florida foreclosure activity increased 133 percent from 2007 and nearly 412 percent from 2006. Arizona’s 2008 total of 116,911 properties receiving a foreclosure filing was third highest among the states. Foreclosure activity in Arizona increased 203 percent from 2007 and 655 percent from 2006. Other states with Top 10 totals for 2008 were Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Texas, Georgia, Nevada and New Jersey.
With mounting job losses and a weakening economy, forclosures and mortgage delinquencies are expected to continue to rise. The nation’s unemployment rate shot up at the end of the year, reaching 7.2 percent in December — its highest level since early 1993, according to a Labor Department report release January 9, 2009. That puts U.S. job losses at 2.6 million for 2008.
However, with all this doom and gloom in the housing market, there is a glimmer of hope for senior homeowners 62 years of age and older. That hope comes in the form of a HUD Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) or Reverse Mortgage. Those who have obtained a reverse mortgage need not be concerned with the increasing forclosure rates and whether or not they can make their mortgage payments. With a HECM reverse mortgage, there are no monthly payments required.
Borrowers remain in their homes for life and never have to worry about making a mortgage payment again. All they need to do is keep the property in good repair, pay their property taxes and keep their homeowners insurance current and paid.
For seniors who currently do not have a reverse mortgage, now may be the time to explore the option. It does not matter if a senior is currently late on their mortgage. They may still qualify for a reverse mortgage. To qualify all borrowers on title must be 62 years or older, occupy the property as their primary residence and not currently be in a bankruptcy. That’s it!
MLS Reverse Mortgage has helped save several seniors who were months away from losing their homes.
So, in these tough economic times, there is still hope for seniors looking for mortgage payment relief or cash out to enjoy life’s pleasures.
Learn more online: http://www.mlsreversemortgage.com
Friday 7 August 2009 @ 3:24 pm
MLS Reverse Mortgage asked:
Seniors today often live with a great deal of financial uncertainty. The retirement they imagined may not be consistent with the reality they face.
Incomes are flat or declining, living and medical expenses are higher than ever and few income boosting alternatives exist. Even those who have heard about Reverse Mortgages may be unsure about how they work or what questions to ask. As they search for information, they often turn to their financial institution for guidance and information. By becoming familiar with the product, you can be an even more valuable resource to your clients providing them with income supplementing alternatives to drawing down assets.
What is a Reverse Mortgage?
A Reverse Mortgage is a special type of loan that allows a homeowner to convert a portion of the equity in their home into cash they can access. The funds are not taxable to the homeowner and typically don’t interfere with eligibility for Social Security or Medicare benefits. (However, in the federal Supplemental Security Income program, beneficiaries must keep their liquid resources under certain limits.) The customer retains title to the home as well as right to any appreciation in home value when the loan terminates after it is paid off. The loan remains in force until the last titleholder dies, permanently leaves the home or sells the property; the borrower can’t be forced to sell or move by the lender. The loan may be repaid at any time. But unlike a traditional home equity loan or second mortgage, no monthly payments are required. Instead of putting further pressure on an already stretched budget, a Reverse Mortgage can free a senior homeowner of monthly debt obligations.
Most Reverse Mortgages today are Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) and are FHA-insured and guaranteed. Because HECMs are subject to FHA lending limits, proprietary products have also been developed to help homeowners with properties in excess of the FHA lending limits.
Who qualifies for a Reverse Mortgage?
All titleholders must be 62 or older and own a home with some equity. There are no income or credit qualifications. Existing mortgages or liens must be paid off, but are often paid with proceeds from the Reverse. The homeowner must also remain current on insurance and property taxes, but these can also be paid with proceeds from the Reverse.
How can a borrower use the money?
The funds can be used for any purpose from making ends meet to living retirement dreams. The top reasons for funds used given typically by borrowers are:
Paying off debts, primarily mortgage and credit cards
Home repairs and remodeling
Living expenses
Travel
Health care or long-term care
Easing the financial burden on children
Education
Hobbies
Escalating property taxes
The amount available depends on the borrower’s age, the value of the home, interest rates and local FHA lending limits. Older borrowers can receive a higher percentage of their equity than younger borrowers. Funds can be received in a lump sum, a monthly payment or a line of credit.
What are the costs?
As with most any loan product, there are origination fees and closing costs, but they can be paid from the proceeds of the Reverse Mortgage. HECM loans also have a charge for the FHA’s Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP). There are usually no out-of-pocket costs to the borrower.
What consumer protections are in place?
Reverse Mortgages are non-recourse consumer loans – the loan payoff can never exceed the value of the home. To get a Reverse Mortgage, the customer must attend a mandatory counseling session and review their financial situation with a trained, professional Reverse Mortgage counselor. Many of the counselors are certified by the AARP. The counselor ensures that they understand the transaction, the costs and their other alternatives.
If you have questions regarding Reverse Mortgages or how they may provide life-changing benefits to your clients, contact MLS Reverse Mortgage at 1-888-888-4834 or www.mlsreversemortgage.com.
Fixed Rate Reverse Mortgage
MLS Reverse Mortgage
Seniors today often live with a great deal of financial uncertainty. The retirement they imagined may not be consistent with the reality they face.
Incomes are flat or declining, living and medical expenses are higher than ever and few income boosting alternatives exist. Even those who have heard about Reverse Mortgages may be unsure about how they work or what questions to ask. As they search for information, they often turn to their financial institution for guidance and information. By becoming familiar with the product, you can be an even more valuable resource to your clients providing them with income supplementing alternatives to drawing down assets.
What is a Reverse Mortgage?
A Reverse Mortgage is a special type of loan that allows a homeowner to convert a portion of the equity in their home into cash they can access. The funds are not taxable to the homeowner and typically don’t interfere with eligibility for Social Security or Medicare benefits. (However, in the federal Supplemental Security Income program, beneficiaries must keep their liquid resources under certain limits.) The customer retains title to the home as well as right to any appreciation in home value when the loan terminates after it is paid off. The loan remains in force until the last titleholder dies, permanently leaves the home or sells the property; the borrower can’t be forced to sell or move by the lender. The loan may be repaid at any time. But unlike a traditional home equity loan or second mortgage, no monthly payments are required. Instead of putting further pressure on an already stretched budget, a Reverse Mortgage can free a senior homeowner of monthly debt obligations.
Most Reverse Mortgages today are Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) and are FHA-insured and guaranteed. Because HECMs are subject to FHA lending limits, proprietary products have also been developed to help homeowners with properties in excess of the FHA lending limits.
Who qualifies for a Reverse Mortgage?
All titleholders must be 62 or older and own a home with some equity. There are no income or credit qualifications. Existing mortgages or liens must be paid off, but are often paid with proceeds from the Reverse. The homeowner must also remain current on insurance and property taxes, but these can also be paid with proceeds from the Reverse.
How can a borrower use the money?
The funds can be used for any purpose from making ends meet to living retirement dreams. The top reasons for funds used given typically by borrowers are:
Paying off debts, primarily mortgage and credit cards
Home repairs and remodeling
Living expenses
Travel
Health care or long-term care
Easing the financial burden on children
Education
Hobbies
Escalating property taxes
The amount available depends on the borrower’s age, the value of the home, interest rates and local FHA lending limits. Older borrowers can receive a higher percentage of their equity than younger borrowers. Funds can be received in a lump sum, a monthly payment or a line of credit.
What are the costs?
As with most any loan product, there are origination fees and closing costs, but they can be paid from the proceeds of the Reverse Mortgage. HECM loans also have a charge for the FHA’s Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP). There are usually no out-of-pocket costs to the borrower.
What consumer protections are in place?
Reverse Mortgages are non-recourse consumer loans – the loan payoff can never exceed the value of the home. To get a Reverse Mortgage, the customer must attend a mandatory counseling session and review their financial situation with a trained, professional Reverse Mortgage counselor. Many of the counselors are certified by the AARP. The counselor ensures that they understand the transaction, the costs and their other alternatives.
If you have questions regarding Reverse Mortgages or how they may provide life-changing benefits to your clients, contact MLS Reverse Mortgage at 1-888-888-4834 or www.mlsreversemortgage.com.
Fixed Rate Reverse Mortgage
MLS Reverse Mortgage
Friday 7 August 2009 @ 2:53 pm
justin narin asked:
is a reverse mortgage?
A reverse mortgage is a loan product that allows homeowners 62 years of age and older to use their equity to generate tax-free income, without having to sell the home or take on a new mortgage payment. In fact the reverse mortgage is exactly what the title states, the reverse of a standard mortgage.
How is a reverse mortgage different from a standard mortgage?
With a standard mortgage, the borrower (or homeowner) makes monthly payments to the lender (or bank or mortgage company), in order to pay back the loan that the lender originally lent to for the purchase or refinance of the house. This payment includes interest that the lender charges the borrower for the loan. In a reverse mortgage, the situation is reversed; the lender makes monthly payments to the borrower. However, in both a standard and reverse mortgage, the lender secures their loan amount by using the house as collateral.
Do I make monthly payments on a reverse mortgage?
No monthly payments are due on the loan and the loan is repaid when the moves or sells the home, passes away, or ownership otherwise changes hands
What factors determine the amount of the reverse mortgage?
There are a few factors that determine how much money a borrower will receive from a reverse mortgage, such as the value of the home, borrower’s (and co-borrower’s) age, current interest rates and any lending limits that may be standard for your geographic area. As a rule of thumb, the older the borrower and the more valuable the home, the larger the available loan amount.
What can we use a reverse mortgage for?
The proceeds from the reverse mortgage can be used for anything, completely at the discretion of the borrower, though most borrowers use the funds for home repairs or modifications, health care expenses, to settle other debts, or for their long-planned vacation! Reverse mortgages are available for nearly all property types with the exception of co-ops, though co-op owners in some metropolitan areas, specifically New York, should have local options.
Can I receive a lump sum payment from a reverse mortgage?
Homeowners can choose how they want to receive their payments, either as a lump sum, monthly payments or as a line of credit. The line of credit is the most popular option, with nearly 60% of reverse mortgage borrowers choosing to the option to draw income or a lump sum off the line at the time of their choosing.
What happens if I decide to sell my house?
If the home is sold and the proceeds of the sale exceed the mortgage amount, the balance belongs to the borrower or their heirs.
What happens to my existing mortgage?
For reverse mortgage borrowers with an existing mortgage, that mortgage will need to be paid off completely, so that the new reverse mortgage will be the only lien on the house. If the proceeds from the reverse mortgage are not ample to pay off the existing mortgage, the borrower will need to access savings or other sources to pay off the rest of existing mortgage amount. In this scenario, the borrower won’t have access to any additional funds from the reverse mortgage; however, they will no longer have a mortgage payment!
Can I get expert advice before I get a reverse mortgage?
One very important facet of the reverse mortgage process is the consumer counseling that is required for borrowers contemplating a reverse mortgage. Your lender can help you find counseling agencies and most programs are approved and monitored by HUD and/ or A A R P. The counseling is required to make sure that the terms and risks of the program are clear to you. Counselors are obligated by law to review with you all of the implications of the new mortgage, and what your potential options are.
For more articles on Reverse Mortgage, visit: http://www.bills.com/reversemortgage
is a reverse mortgage?
A reverse mortgage is a loan product that allows homeowners 62 years of age and older to use their equity to generate tax-free income, without having to sell the home or take on a new mortgage payment. In fact the reverse mortgage is exactly what the title states, the reverse of a standard mortgage.
How is a reverse mortgage different from a standard mortgage?
With a standard mortgage, the borrower (or homeowner) makes monthly payments to the lender (or bank or mortgage company), in order to pay back the loan that the lender originally lent to for the purchase or refinance of the house. This payment includes interest that the lender charges the borrower for the loan. In a reverse mortgage, the situation is reversed; the lender makes monthly payments to the borrower. However, in both a standard and reverse mortgage, the lender secures their loan amount by using the house as collateral.
Do I make monthly payments on a reverse mortgage?
No monthly payments are due on the loan and the loan is repaid when the moves or sells the home, passes away, or ownership otherwise changes hands
What factors determine the amount of the reverse mortgage?
There are a few factors that determine how much money a borrower will receive from a reverse mortgage, such as the value of the home, borrower’s (and co-borrower’s) age, current interest rates and any lending limits that may be standard for your geographic area. As a rule of thumb, the older the borrower and the more valuable the home, the larger the available loan amount.
What can we use a reverse mortgage for?
The proceeds from the reverse mortgage can be used for anything, completely at the discretion of the borrower, though most borrowers use the funds for home repairs or modifications, health care expenses, to settle other debts, or for their long-planned vacation! Reverse mortgages are available for nearly all property types with the exception of co-ops, though co-op owners in some metropolitan areas, specifically New York, should have local options.
Can I receive a lump sum payment from a reverse mortgage?
Homeowners can choose how they want to receive their payments, either as a lump sum, monthly payments or as a line of credit. The line of credit is the most popular option, with nearly 60% of reverse mortgage borrowers choosing to the option to draw income or a lump sum off the line at the time of their choosing.
What happens if I decide to sell my house?
If the home is sold and the proceeds of the sale exceed the mortgage amount, the balance belongs to the borrower or their heirs.
What happens to my existing mortgage?
For reverse mortgage borrowers with an existing mortgage, that mortgage will need to be paid off completely, so that the new reverse mortgage will be the only lien on the house. If the proceeds from the reverse mortgage are not ample to pay off the existing mortgage, the borrower will need to access savings or other sources to pay off the rest of existing mortgage amount. In this scenario, the borrower won’t have access to any additional funds from the reverse mortgage; however, they will no longer have a mortgage payment!
Can I get expert advice before I get a reverse mortgage?
One very important facet of the reverse mortgage process is the consumer counseling that is required for borrowers contemplating a reverse mortgage. Your lender can help you find counseling agencies and most programs are approved and monitored by HUD and/ or A A R P. The counseling is required to make sure that the terms and risks of the program are clear to you. Counselors are obligated by law to review with you all of the implications of the new mortgage, and what your potential options are.
For more articles on Reverse Mortgage, visit: http://www.bills.com/reversemortgage
Friday 7 August 2009 @ 2:47 pm
J Tillotson asked:
100% Mortgage – This is when you borrow the full property value from a mortgage broker. This type of mortgage requires no deposit or down payment, and is therefore popular with first-time buyers. However, because of the credit crunch, 100% mortgages are hard to come by.
Adverse (or bad) Credit Mortgages – These are, as the name suggests, available to people with a low, or nonexistent, credit score. These are increasingly hard to come by, and usually have a very high interest rate attached. It’s better to rent and work on improving your credit score before applying for a mortgage. They are also known as sub-prime mortgages.
Base Rate Tracker – Interest rates on all mortgages fluctuate, but a Tracker mortgage will vary depending on the base rate set by the Bank of England. For example; if the deal you find offers base rate plus 0.75% for life, you will always pay exactly 0.75% over the base rate, whatever it is. The advantage of this is that if the base rate goes down, so do your repayments, and quicker than with a standard variable mortgage (covered below).
Capped Rate Mortgage – Another rare deal, the capped mortgage guarantees that you will not pay more than a pre-determined amount of interest on your repayments over a set period of time, no matter how much they go up. The admin fees on this type of mortgage are usually higher than on more standard deals, but there is the advantage of knowing, at least for a few years, that your payments won’t rise above a certain level.
Current Account Mortgages – Relatively new on the mortgage market, this type of mortgage, often called a combined mortgage, works like a bank account. You get a fully functioning bank account with direct debit facilities, chequebook and statements, and your earnings are paid into this account. The amount of the mortgage is also paid into this account, and it works like a big overdraft – you can borrow money from it to pay for holidays etc, but this theoretically gets repaid as your wages are paid in. the temptation is to borrow a little too much when faced with such a large amount of cash, so this is only really good for those who can manage their money well!
Divorced Mortgages – Some lenders recognise that a couple in the midst of divorce, or a newly divorced homeowner, may need special assistance. Therefore, certain mortgages come with a fixed interest rate for up to 5 years, with an interest free period for the first few months. For the new divorcees buying a home, alimony payments can be calculated into the income when determining a mortgage limit. These mortgages are often 100% deals, and are only offered to divorcees.
Endowment Mortgage – These mortgages are linked to the Stock Market. Often called an ‘interest-only’ mortgage, your monthly repayments only cover the interest due; the idea being that your investments will do well enough to pay off the whole capital at the end of the term. Of course, if your investments fail to make you money, you could be faced with a huge debt at the end of the term.
Fixed Rate Mortgage – Like all mortgages, this has good and bad points. You get a fixed monthly payment amount for a set term – usually between 1 and 5 years – and during this time you are guaranteed to pay that amount no matter what happens to interest rates. It’s good because you know exactly what you’ll be paying for that term but at the end, you might be in for a nasty shock if rates have risen substantially. In addition, if rates drop below the rate you’re paying during your fixed term, you’ll be paying more than you would on a different type of mortgage.
Flexible Mortgage – This type of mortgage deal has massive benefits as it allows you to vary your mortgage payment amounts, under- or over-pay as needed, and even miss payments altogether if you need cash for a holiday or Christmas. Potentially you could save thousands in interest if you pay off this type of mortgage early, as there are no repayment penalties as with other deals. But again, you need to be responsible with this as the interest will keep mounting up during a payment holiday.
Guarantor Mortgages – A guarantor is a person who acts as a kind of financial backup for a borrower. In the case of mortgages, the guarantor would be responsible for repayments should the borrower default. It’s a huge responsibility which involves a lot of trust on both sides, but for a first-time buyer it can be a good solution to a first mortgage. A guarantor needs to prove that they could afford your repayments as well as their own commitments in the event of a default. Most lenders will look favourably on an applicant with a guarantor, so it’s worth securing one even if you don’t foresee any problems.
This concludes part one of the mortgages guide. Part two will cover more mortgages such as offset mortgages and the classic repayment mortgage.
100% Mortgage – This is when you borrow the full property value from a mortgage broker. This type of mortgage requires no deposit or down payment, and is therefore popular with first-time buyers. However, because of the credit crunch, 100% mortgages are hard to come by.
Adverse (or bad) Credit Mortgages – These are, as the name suggests, available to people with a low, or nonexistent, credit score. These are increasingly hard to come by, and usually have a very high interest rate attached. It’s better to rent and work on improving your credit score before applying for a mortgage. They are also known as sub-prime mortgages.
Base Rate Tracker – Interest rates on all mortgages fluctuate, but a Tracker mortgage will vary depending on the base rate set by the Bank of England. For example; if the deal you find offers base rate plus 0.75% for life, you will always pay exactly 0.75% over the base rate, whatever it is. The advantage of this is that if the base rate goes down, so do your repayments, and quicker than with a standard variable mortgage (covered below).
Capped Rate Mortgage – Another rare deal, the capped mortgage guarantees that you will not pay more than a pre-determined amount of interest on your repayments over a set period of time, no matter how much they go up. The admin fees on this type of mortgage are usually higher than on more standard deals, but there is the advantage of knowing, at least for a few years, that your payments won’t rise above a certain level.
Current Account Mortgages – Relatively new on the mortgage market, this type of mortgage, often called a combined mortgage, works like a bank account. You get a fully functioning bank account with direct debit facilities, chequebook and statements, and your earnings are paid into this account. The amount of the mortgage is also paid into this account, and it works like a big overdraft – you can borrow money from it to pay for holidays etc, but this theoretically gets repaid as your wages are paid in. the temptation is to borrow a little too much when faced with such a large amount of cash, so this is only really good for those who can manage their money well!
Divorced Mortgages – Some lenders recognise that a couple in the midst of divorce, or a newly divorced homeowner, may need special assistance. Therefore, certain mortgages come with a fixed interest rate for up to 5 years, with an interest free period for the first few months. For the new divorcees buying a home, alimony payments can be calculated into the income when determining a mortgage limit. These mortgages are often 100% deals, and are only offered to divorcees.
Endowment Mortgage – These mortgages are linked to the Stock Market. Often called an ‘interest-only’ mortgage, your monthly repayments only cover the interest due; the idea being that your investments will do well enough to pay off the whole capital at the end of the term. Of course, if your investments fail to make you money, you could be faced with a huge debt at the end of the term.
Fixed Rate Mortgage – Like all mortgages, this has good and bad points. You get a fixed monthly payment amount for a set term – usually between 1 and 5 years – and during this time you are guaranteed to pay that amount no matter what happens to interest rates. It’s good because you know exactly what you’ll be paying for that term but at the end, you might be in for a nasty shock if rates have risen substantially. In addition, if rates drop below the rate you’re paying during your fixed term, you’ll be paying more than you would on a different type of mortgage.
Flexible Mortgage – This type of mortgage deal has massive benefits as it allows you to vary your mortgage payment amounts, under- or over-pay as needed, and even miss payments altogether if you need cash for a holiday or Christmas. Potentially you could save thousands in interest if you pay off this type of mortgage early, as there are no repayment penalties as with other deals. But again, you need to be responsible with this as the interest will keep mounting up during a payment holiday.
Guarantor Mortgages – A guarantor is a person who acts as a kind of financial backup for a borrower. In the case of mortgages, the guarantor would be responsible for repayments should the borrower default. It’s a huge responsibility which involves a lot of trust on both sides, but for a first-time buyer it can be a good solution to a first mortgage. A guarantor needs to prove that they could afford your repayments as well as their own commitments in the event of a default. Most lenders will look favourably on an applicant with a guarantor, so it’s worth securing one even if you don’t foresee any problems.
This concludes part one of the mortgages guide. Part two will cover more mortgages such as offset mortgages and the classic repayment mortgage.
Friday 7 August 2009 @ 1:46 pm
The House Team Of Mortgage Intellingence asked:
Next to critiquing the decorating taste of your home’s previous owner, playing the “adjustable mortgage game” may rank as one of the most popular (and least pleasant) pastimes of Canadian homebuyers.
Here’s how it works.
As you’re exploring your mortgage options, you review the long and steady slide of mortgage rates in Canada over the last decade and make the decision to go with an adjustable mortgage when you buy, at renewal or when refinancing. You’re now a player. Then you watch for clues about mortgage rate movement, trying to guess the perfect moment to lock in your mortgage. The objective of the game is to try to guess the bottom… and you won’t know it’s the bottom until it’s too late. In today’s low rate environment, we should acknowledge that most of the players are already winners; but it can still be a stress-inducing game.
One way to remove all of the guesswork is to consider a capped-rate adjustable mortgage, although there are only a few options available in the marketplace.
There is a unique adjustable mortgage that is not based on the Canadian Prime Rate (the usual benchmark) – but on what is known as the Banker’s Acceptance rate: a benchmark that is used for professional money managers. In effect, the BA rate, as its known, is the rate lenders charge one another.
Not surprisingly, it’s typically much lower than prime. In fact, the effective rate of this adjustable mortgage has been consistently lower than competitive variable or adjustable rate products based on Prime. A capped version is now available.
An adjustable rate mortgage with a cap offers unlimited downside rate movement, but also provides a guarantee that the rate will never rise more than a certain percentage higher than the starting base rate – no matter what happens to the lending rates.
The rate cap takes the guesswork out of the adjustable mortgage game. If rates continue to drop, your Mortgage rate also drops accordingly. But if rates begin to rise, you know that your own mortgage rate has a fixed ceiling. Imagine, no more worrying about when to lock in your mortgage, and no more second-guessing your decisions when rates go back down again. Of course, this kind of flexibility comes at a small premium over a regular adjustable-rate mortgage.
In the past several years, more and more Canadians have passed on the security of traditional fixed-rate mortgages for the savings potential of an adjustable rate. And in an environment of dropping rates, the adjustable rate choice has proven its value to homebuyers. With today’s rates among the lowest in memory, many homeowners continue to worry about whether or not they should lock in or not. After all, we don’t want to lose the flexibility of having our rate adjustable downward… but we’d also like to have it fixed upward.
If we had a crystal ball, we could make perfect decisions about our mortgage options, and we’d know how to secure the best rate. But a mortgage that passes on declining rates and has a rate cap on the upside can be the next best thing to seeing into the future. And the result is an adjustable mortgage game that the homebuyer is heavily favoured to win.
Next to critiquing the decorating taste of your home’s previous owner, playing the “adjustable mortgage game” may rank as one of the most popular (and least pleasant) pastimes of Canadian homebuyers.
Here’s how it works.
As you’re exploring your mortgage options, you review the long and steady slide of mortgage rates in Canada over the last decade and make the decision to go with an adjustable mortgage when you buy, at renewal or when refinancing. You’re now a player. Then you watch for clues about mortgage rate movement, trying to guess the perfect moment to lock in your mortgage. The objective of the game is to try to guess the bottom… and you won’t know it’s the bottom until it’s too late. In today’s low rate environment, we should acknowledge that most of the players are already winners; but it can still be a stress-inducing game.
One way to remove all of the guesswork is to consider a capped-rate adjustable mortgage, although there are only a few options available in the marketplace.
There is a unique adjustable mortgage that is not based on the Canadian Prime Rate (the usual benchmark) – but on what is known as the Banker’s Acceptance rate: a benchmark that is used for professional money managers. In effect, the BA rate, as its known, is the rate lenders charge one another.
Not surprisingly, it’s typically much lower than prime. In fact, the effective rate of this adjustable mortgage has been consistently lower than competitive variable or adjustable rate products based on Prime. A capped version is now available.
An adjustable rate mortgage with a cap offers unlimited downside rate movement, but also provides a guarantee that the rate will never rise more than a certain percentage higher than the starting base rate – no matter what happens to the lending rates.
The rate cap takes the guesswork out of the adjustable mortgage game. If rates continue to drop, your Mortgage rate also drops accordingly. But if rates begin to rise, you know that your own mortgage rate has a fixed ceiling. Imagine, no more worrying about when to lock in your mortgage, and no more second-guessing your decisions when rates go back down again. Of course, this kind of flexibility comes at a small premium over a regular adjustable-rate mortgage.
In the past several years, more and more Canadians have passed on the security of traditional fixed-rate mortgages for the savings potential of an adjustable rate. And in an environment of dropping rates, the adjustable rate choice has proven its value to homebuyers. With today’s rates among the lowest in memory, many homeowners continue to worry about whether or not they should lock in or not. After all, we don’t want to lose the flexibility of having our rate adjustable downward… but we’d also like to have it fixed upward.
If we had a crystal ball, we could make perfect decisions about our mortgage options, and we’d know how to secure the best rate. But a mortgage that passes on declining rates and has a rate cap on the upside can be the next best thing to seeing into the future. And the result is an adjustable mortgage game that the homebuyer is heavily favoured to win.
