Archive for the ‘Mortgage’ Category
There has been a lot of interest in mortgage refinancing ever since the housing crisis hit and people are facing foreclosures. Homeowners realize that it’s a way to lessen their monthly obligations while still remaining in their homes. Of course, any time you have avid borrowers, there are going to be scams and dishonest lenders who are looking to make money off of someone else’s misfortunes. It is a good idea to refinance, especially when mortgage rates are so low, but there are a few pitfalls you need to look out for when doing so whether you’re doing a Madison finance or one in Los Angeles, CA.
1.Watch out for prepayment penalties. Although most people think of these as being something they would have to pay if they repaid their loan in a shorter time than the original agreement stipulated, they can be applied to refinance loans, too. Find out in advance if you are going to be subject to any prepayment penalties, and if there are, choose another lender. These penalties can be large.
2.In order to refinance your home, you’re going to need to have a new appraisal done. When the lender learns the results of this appraisal, it may bring about a reassessment of your house. If the value of your home has decreased, you may get a property tax break; however, if the value has increased since the previous assessment was done, you may be faced with a substantial increase in property taxes. In that case, will your refinance really do you any good?
3.Although adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) often have lower interest rates which make them attractive to those wishing to refinance, you need to find out if the lower rate is only a gimmick to get your business. Some of these ARMs entice customers with low interest for a short period of time, and then interest rates go back to higher than they were originally.
4.A refinance will cost you both fees and closing costs, just like your original mortgage did. Take a close look at the amount you will end up paying. It may cost you more to refinance than the decrease in interest rate is worth.
5.When lenders talk up the positive points about any given type of loan, there are usually hidden negatives that they aren’t going to discuss with you. Don’t let yourself get trapped in a situation like this. Spend time researching anything a lender tells you that seems too good to be true.
6.One type of refinancing that has become increasingly popular for older Americans is a reverse mortgage. This is one of the most expensive types of loans you can get, and there are a lot of hidden dangers that aren’t spelled out in the contract you sign. For example, when you make a monthly mortgage payment, taxes, insurance, and other things are taken from it before money is put into paying the principle of your loan. With a reverse mortgage, even though your contract says you’ll receive $x per month, it will actually be this amount minus the payments for taxes, insurance, and anything else you were paying.
7.Some banks advertise programs for refinancing loans for homeowners who are struggling to keep up with mortgage payments, but when you get into the process, you’ll find it’s not that easy. For some reason, huge lenders are unorganized and tell the government they’re doing one thing when they actually doing something else. One of the pitfalls here is that during the many months it will take to get a refinance approved or declined, homeowners pay lower payments just as if the new financing had been approved. Therefore, if it’s finally declined, the homeowner is left owing the balance of all the mortgage payments that were paid at the new rate which can add up to thousands of dollars.
When you’re making your decision, there are several things to keep in mind. If your current interest rate is significantly higher than today’s lowest rates, you may be able to roll your loan costs into the loan and still get a lower rate than you have today, thereby reducing your interest payments and saving money immediately.
Second, if you are planning to stay in your home for at least three to five years, it may make sense to pay “points” (a point equals 1% of the loan amount) and closing costs to get the lowest available rate. And third, you can avoid laying out cash and still get a low rate by adding the points and closing costs to your new mortgage. Does that mean shouldering a lot of extra debt? Not necessarily. If you’ve had your current mortgage for at least three years, you’ve probably reduced your balance by several thousand dollars. So you may be able to tack your closing costs onto your new loan and still end up with a mortgage that’s smaller than your original one — plus, of course, a lower rate and lower monthly payment.
By refinancing to a fixed rate mortgage, you will not only reduce your payment, you will also likely lock in an attractive rate for as long as you own your home. In fact, while one year ARMs currently offer tempting introductory rates averaging 5.59%, most experts recommend avoiding them, because you could easily find yourself facing sharply higher payments in the near future, even if interest rates don’t rise. Why? Well, after the introductory rate expires, ARMs are typically pegged to the one year Treasury rate (recently 5.25%) plus 2.75 percentage points, with increases of as much as two points a year. Assuming interest rates don’t change, you would pay 7.59% in the second year (the full two point increase) and 8% in the third year.
There are certain cases, however, where an ARM makes sense. If you are fairly certain you’ll be moving within five years, you can save some money — and avoid rising payments — with a five year ARM, recently averaging 6.62%. Such loans offer a fixed rate for five years and adjust annually thereafter.
If you are having trouble paying your current mortgage, or you think that you are not receiving the best deal you possibly can, then perhaps it is time to think about a remortgage. However, many people are unsure about the relative benefits and problems of a remortgage. Here are some useful tips to help you decide if remortgaging is right for you:
What is a remortgage?
A remortgage is when you replace your existing mortgage loan with a new one from either the same lender or a new lending company. This is usually done to reduce monthly payments or to release home equity. Remortgaging is usually carried out through a remortgage broker.
Remortgaging for lower payments
One of the most common reasons to remortgage is to get lower monthly payments than you do now. If you are struggling right now to pay off your monthly payments, then you need to look for a better deal. If you can find one, then ask your current mortgage lender if they can match this, as they would prefer to keep you as a customer at a lower rate than lose you altogether. If they cannot match the rate, then you should look at remortgaging at the better rate.
Remortgaging to release equity
Another reason why people remortgage is to get hold of some extra money by releasing the equity they have built up in their property. This means that you borrow more than your current mortgage debt to release the money you have already paid into the property. This is especially useful if your property has gone up in price or if you have paid off a large percentage of your mortgage. It is like getting out a loan, but the rates are low as they are part of the remortgage.
Benefits
Of course, the main advantage of getting a remortgage is that you can reduce your monthly payments. This might help you be more financially stable and secure, as you don?t have to struggle to meet the payments. Remortgaging can also free up money through releasing equity, which could help you to make home improvements or to clear other debts.
Pitfalls
One thing that you should look at before remortgaging is whether or not it is really right for you. There are a number of costs involved, such as legal fees and penalties for changing mortgages. These fees can add up and might be more than you can afford. Also, if you borrow more money or you get lower monthly payments, it most likely means you will be paying the money back for a longer period of time. Although it may seem helpful now, you will probably end up paying more long-term, and if you are still paying the money back when you retired you might be left unable to make the payments.
Remortgaging can help you if you are struggling with payments or you need to free up some money. However, you should think carefully about whether or not remortgaging will be beneficial to you in the long-term.
If you own your home and need a loan for whatever reason you have probably considered a second mortgage or a home equity loan to help you pay your bills, buy a new car, or pay for some other investment. However, you probably don’t know whether a second mortgage is better or worse than a home equity loan for your particular situation. However, don’t despair because there are some tips that will help you decide whether a second mortgage or home equity loan is for you.
Second Mortgage Tip #1 One Time Expenses
A second mortgage is the preferred option if you have a one time big expense you need to cover. Examples of this include remodeling your kitchen, paying for a wedding, or buying a new car. In these instances a second mortgage will probably work best for you; however this will depend on the equity in your home and your credit score.
Second Mortgage Tip #2 Recurring Expenses
If you are going to have recurring expenses then you might not want a second mortgage because a home equity loan will work out better for you. The second mortgage is best for large amounts of money at once while recurring expenses like tuition are better paid for with a home equity line of credit.
Second Mortgage Tip #3 Repayment
You will also need to consider your ability to repay and which option will suit you best. A second mortgage can be financed similarly to your first mortgage, while the home equity loan can be paid back more like a credit card. Consider your financial position and ability to make monthly payments before applying for either a second mortgage or a home equity loan.
If you still don’t know whether a second mortgage or home equity line of credit is for you, then talk with your lender and see what is recommended for your equity, credit, and ability to repay the loan.
It doesn’t have to be hard to find the best mortgage deal. By following some simple yet effective steps you can be saving money for years to come.
It you currently have a mortgage deal and it is about to come to the end then you can be assured that the next greatest and latest offer will cost you more money. We used to be able to get favorable rates of borrowing in the past but these are all but over – well for the foreseeable future.
Most lenders have a portfolio of offers and deals to tempt the borrower with. Some lenders will allow you to secure a certain deal – or interest rate – from their current range of mortgage offers for up to three in advance of when your current mortgage deal ends. There should be no charge to move to the new deal. This is ideal as you could walk away from the deal if mortgage interest rates drop lower in these three months.
Don’t forget the fact that you don’t have to stay with your current lender and as it’s an open market to go where ever you like, you can shop around and decide yourself who to take out your next mortgage with. Sure, your current lender will most likely offer an incentive to take out another deal with them but play them at their own game and shop around. Use the internet to browse at your leisure and under no pressure for the best mortgage deals.
You will need to be aware of charges that could be incurred if you switch lenders. Some lenders do charge a mortgage exit fee. And of course, before you sign up with a new lender, check their policies too such as paying off the loan early or switching lenders. Overall do the maths and work out if it is cheaper to settle any fees and get a much better deal. You may still find it is cheaper to pay the fees and switch – in the long run.
Remember, if you can pay off a little more now – it will save you a lot of cash later on. Ask at your lender about the best and most beneficial way of setting your mortgage. If you have surplus cash then by overpaying now means that when you are more strapped for cash you can relax the payments a little and the net effect is that you don’t owe any more than the original loan.