Posted by admin on August 30, 2010 under Mortgage Loans | 
The first time that many of us will think about life assurance is when buying our first home. Many mortgage lenders insist that life cover is taken out when offering a mortgage, to ensure the loan will be repaid if the borrower dies. Even if this is not the case, it is prudent to do so if you have a partner or family who will suffer from losing your income to help make monthly mortgage repayments should you die.
Sainsburys Bank this year warned that there are up to 4.2 million people that do not have life assurance with their mortgage. This equates to an estimated 217 billion worth of mortgages not protected by life cover.
There are different types of life cover. Cost depends on many things such as amount covered, term, age, smoker or non-smoker and general health. Monthly premiums can vary in price dependent on provider, so shopping around is a good idea. However, when comparing prices you should consider the fact that the amount could actually increase after youve completed the application details.
Term life assurance is the most common type of life assurance used in conjunction with a mortgage. Term assurance pays out a lump sum should the life assured die within a certain amount of time. If this does not happen, the policy pays nothing.
Decreasing term life assurance is typically the cheapest form of cover. The amount assured decreases in line with outstanding mortgage repayment liabilities. This suits a capital and interest mortgage where the outstanding capital is repaid by the end of the mortgage term.
With level term life assurance the amount that is paid out on death remains the same. This is suitable for an interest only mortgage where the amount of outstanding capital owed does not decrease over the period of the mortgage.
Critical illness cover is a common additional benefit that can be added to a life assurance policy. The sum assured is payable on the conclusive diagnosis of a critical illness, such as:
Cancer
Heart attack
Multiple sclerosis
Stroke.
It is wise to check what exactly is covered if taking out this option, as this can vary greatly between different providers.
Posted by admin on August 23, 2010 under Mortgage Loans |
Subprime lenders offer financing for people with low credit scores who dont qualify for a conventional loan. Subprime financing can be offered through traditional mortgage lenders like banks, credit unions, or mortgage lenders. There are also specialized lenders who only deal with subprime mortgages.
Predatory lenders charge high fees, write loans in vague terms, and structure payments so they can foreclose on property. Predatory lenders take advantage of people who do not know their rights in the lending process.
Signs Of A Good Subprime Lender
Good subprime lenders only charge slightly higher rates than conventional lenders. They will also fully disclose their rates and terms so you can make an informed choice. Good lenders follow all the same practices as a conventional lender charging reasonable fees, answering all your questions, and making reasonable terms on prepayment.
Signs Of A Predatory Lender
Avoid lenders who charge high closing costs, excessive late fees, or large prepayment penalties. Such lenders are more interested in making large amounts of money than offering a service. Also watch out for lenders who try to lend more than your homes value, forged documents, or refuse to disclose rates and terms.
Strategies To Find The Right Lender
Comparison shopping is the best way to find the right lender. Not only will you find the lowest rates, but you can be comfortable with your mortgage lender.
Make sure you look at all the closing costs associated with the loan. Legitimate lenders charge a number of fees, including origination, application, attorney, and other fees. Through comparison shopping, you will quickly become familiar with them. However, if you see a list of unfamiliar items, make sure the lender isnt trying to take advantage of you. You should only pay fees for actual services given.
Keep checking your paperwork, even after you close the loan. Be on the look out for terms that werent disclosed prior to signing loan documents. According to federal law, you have three days after the loans closing to walk away. The lender may keep part of your application fee, but you get the rest of your cash back.
Posted by admin on August 16, 2010 under Mortgage Loans |
A second mortgage is a loan that is secured by the equity in your home. When you obtain a second mortgage loan the lender will place a lien on your house. This lien will be recorded in 2nd position after your primary or 1st mortgage lender’s lien, hence the term second mortgage. A second mortgage is also sometimes referred to as a home equity loan. There is no difference between a home equity loan and a second mortgage. These are just two different terms for the same subject. A second mortgage can either be a fixed-rate loan or an adjustable-rate credit line. Interest rates and loan program terms will vary from lender to lender so it is important to shop around and compare before committing to any one offer.
A second mortgages are ideal when you just want to tap into your equity, plan to move soon, or are unsure about the amount you want to borrow. Another plus of a second mortgage loan is that the interest you pay back on the loan may be tax deductible. Consult your tax advisor regarding your personal situation but in most cases the interest is 100% fully deductible as long as the combined loan to value of your 1st and 2nd mortgage do not exceed the value of your home.
Loan proceeds from a second mortgage loan can be used for just about anything. Many consumers take out 2nd mortgage loans to consolidate debt, do home improvements or pay for their kids college education. Whatever you decide to do with your loan proceeds it is important to remember that if you default on your payment you can lose your home so you will want to make sure that you are taking the loan out for a worthwhile purpose.
A second mortgages aren’t for everyone. You should weigh the cost of PMI and payments when choosing your financing options. Borrowing more than 80% of your home’s value will subject you to private mortgage insurance. Your monthly payments should also be a factor in your decision. By taking out equity when refinancing your home, you will have a lower payment than if you had both a mortgage and 2nd mortgage payment. Also, if you refinance in the future, you will have to pay off your 2nd mortgage.
Posted by admin on August 9, 2010 under Mortgage Loans |
Home Mortgage Loans For People With Poor Credit – Low Credit Score Lenders
Home mortgage loans for people with poor credit are available at reasonable rates if you find the right lender. With some time spent online researching for low credit score lenders, you can base your financing decision on loan estimate numbers. Even with bad credit, you can find flexible terms, so you can find the right home loan for your budget.
The Role Of Low Credit Score Lenders
Low credit score lenders, also called subprime lenders, offer financing to those with scores of less than 650 at slightly higher than conventional loan rates. On average rates are 1% to 3% higher than A rated loans, but expect to pay more if you have just discharged a bankruptcy or foreclosure.
Subprime loans arent restricted like conventional loans, so you have many more options with your terms. You can secure 100% financing, interest only loans, or a traditional fixed rate 30 year mortgage.
Unfortunately, there are companies that would take advantage of your financing situation by charging high rates and fees. You can protect yourself from these dishonest companies by comparing loan offers from several different companies.
Getting A Good Loan Estimate
The best way to find a lender is to base your decision on their loan estimates. Online lenders can get you mortgage quotes in just minutes, without having to access your credit report. Not only will you get information on rates, but also on closing costs and miscellaneous fees.
To get the most accurate numbers, request quotes on the loan amount and down payment you ideally want. Just remember that if you decide on different loan terms, you will need to ask for new loan quotes.
Timing Your Mortgage Financing
To give yourself enough time to find the best subprime lender, start searching for financing before you look for a house. By lining up your mortgage ahead of time, youll have a better idea of your borrowing potential. You will also be able to close the deal sooner on your new home.
Most online lenders can process your loan application in a few days, with funds available in two weeks. Your escrow company will handle the final disbursement of funds.
Posted by admin on August 2, 2010 under Mortgage Loans |
Home Mortgage Loans After Bankruptcy – Financing A Home After Bankruptcy
Financing a home after a bankruptcy doesnt have to be an ordeal. When you find the right lender, you can secure reasonable rates on your mortgage loan. You can improve your loan application with time and some cash leverage. Depending on your financial situation, it is possible to get conventional rates with a bankruptcy on your credit file.
Lenders Who Deal With Past Bankruptcies
With a recent bankruptcy, you can turn to sub prime lenders to obtain financing for your home. As soon as your bankruptcy has been finalized by the court, you can apply for a home loan. Your rates, however, will be about 12% higher than conventional rates unless you have significant cash assets.
After two years, conventional lenders will consider your loan application. Even though your bankruptcy will remain on your file for several years, lenders will be more interested in your current payment history and debt-to-income ratio.
Tips To Improve Your Loan Application
While you cant erase your bankruptcy, you can improve your loan application to qualify for better rates. Down payments of 20% to 50% are the easiest way to become eligible for lower rates. Having cash reserves for two months or more will also help.
When it comes to terms, selecting an adjustable rate mortgage will help you qualify for more and at temporarily lower rates. Selecting a shorter loan period also lowers your rates. Furthermore you have the option of buying down your rate with points. But you may be better served by increasing your down payment and refinancing in a couple of years when your credit improves.
Research Lenders Before You Buy
Take some time to research loan estimates before you select a lender. It is the easiest way to save thousands on your future home loan. Make sure that you use the same numbers and terms when you request loan quotes from different financing companies. That way you will have precise numbers to base your decision on.
Once you have picked a lender, the hardest part of the process is over. In ten minutes or less, you can complete your loan application online. Your loan contract will be delivered in a couple of days for your final review with funds soon to follow.
Posted by admin on July 26, 2010 under Mortgage Loans |
Home Mortgage Lenders – How To Find A Good Mortgage Lender Online
A good online mortgage lender can make the home mortgage shopping experience bearable if not pleasant. With competitive rates and good customer service, a home mortgage lender can help you buy your home within a reasonable timeframe. To find such a lender, start by researching recommended lenders. Ask questions about loan rates, terms, and payment process. Once you find a perfect match, start the application process to lock in rates.
Start With Recommended Sites
While you can easily find lenders through a search engine, a better choice is to look at different recommended lending sites. Mortgage broker sites offer convenience, providing you with multiple mortgage loan quotes in almost no time. Individual lender sites also provide loan quotes, along with financing information.
Take advantage of loan estimates since they dont hurt your credit report as long as you dont give them permission to access your report. By requesting personalized quotes, you get a realistic picture of your loan costs. You can also find the most competitive offer.
Check Out The Details Before You Sign
Rates are important, but so are fees and terms. Analyze the closing costs and any additional fees that might be associated with the home loan. You should also ask about additional loan features, such as refinancing options or interest reductions for automatic payment.
Selecting terms will not only affect your interest rates, but also your monthly payment. While most lenders will quote a 15 or 30 year term, more options are available to you if you ask.
Evaluate The Service
Requesting loan quotes is also a test run of the lenders customer service. Did the company respond in a timely manner? Did they answer your questions? Was the information clear and complete? If you answer yes to these questions, then you can reasonable trust that future questions will also be answered.
Finally, give yourself enough time to find the best lender. In a few hours you can have dozens of mortgage offers waiting for your review. Spend a few minutes looking over each to find the one that meets your home buying needs.
Posted by admin on July 19, 2010 under Mortgage Loans |
Owning a home is the American Dream. Of course, this requires you to first get a mortgage unless you have won the lottery or have a very wealthy uncle!
Getting a Mortgage for Your Dream Home
Once your mind has been made up that you want to buy a house and you will need a mortgage for that house, the next thing is to follow the steps of obtaining a mortgage. Obviously, the first step is to calculate the amount you will need from the mortgage. Figure out how much the desired house will cost and how much you are willing to put down on the house. These must be done first.
Next is to know which type of mortgage you want to go with. You can choose to go with either fixed or variable rate mortgages. Each of these mortgage types has its own advantages and disadvantages and you should look into the details of each type to pick out the one that will suit your needs best.
Once you know how much you will need and what sort of mortgage you are looking for, shop around. Set aside plenty of time for this. Shop around with as many banks and other lenders as possible. Try to get the best interest rate possible. Also, keep in mind your monthly income. Figure out how much in payments you will be able to handle. If you can handle higher payments every month, look for a shorter mortgage length. This will save you a lot of money in interest. Go for the shortest length possible no matter what based on what payments you can afford.
When you have everything sorted out and know what your payment plan will be, what the length of the loan will be, what the interest rate is, and what sort of loan youre getting, then you will want to figure out the equity division. Based on how much youve put down on the house, that figure is the amount in equity you own versus the total value of the house. For now, the bank owns the rest of the equity. Over time, as the value of the home rises and you pay off the loan, your stake in the equity will rise, allowing you more options with that equity.
Getting a mortgage must be a careful, determined, and well thought out process. It takes time and patience, but youll thank yourself when youve gotten the right mortgage.
Posted by admin on July 12, 2010 under Mortgage Loans |
Nothing is ever certain in the world of finances, and theres no way of predicting how the market will change in the future. However, if you want to be able to plan your budget precisely, then a fixed rate mortgage might be the right option. The repayments will be fixed for a set period of time usually between the first one and five years of your mortgage, so you can be sure that any rises in the interest rate will not affect you. The term the rate remains fixed can be as long as ten years.
Fixed rate the pros
For those on a tight budget, it can be useful to know exactly what will need to be set aside each month for mortgage repayments. Also, it can be a good move to fix your rate when the economy looks like its about to change and interest rates rise. If, from studying the market, you anticipate that rates are set to rise in the near future, then taking a fixed rate now could mean you will save money over the next few years. Even if the Base Rate set by the Bank of England rises, you will be protected, at least for the term that your payments are fixed.
Fixed rate the cons
If the market changes and interest rates fall, you could lose out on a reduction in rates. Fixed rate mortgages are often set at slightly higher rates than the cheapest deals. Be aware of redemption penalties and clauses that tie you to your mortgage these can last much longer than the fixed rate period and you may find it prohibitively expensive if you want to change lenders or pay off your mortgage.
Thousands of people spend a lot of time studying the economy, and even the financial experts who predict market conditions often get it wrong. Its impossible to foresee how interest rates will change although you may be able to apply common sense to a certain degree, there is no guarantee that a fixed rate mortgage will beat the SVR five years down the line. Ultimately, you have to make the best decision you can based on the situation as it stands.
You should also check to see if the fixed rate mortgage is portable this means that if you want to sell up and move house during the tie-in period, you can transfer the mortgage to your new property without incurring any penalties.
Posted by admin on July 5, 2010 under Mortgage Loans |
Having a bad credit history is not ideal, especially if you’re applying for a loan. If you’re shopping for a mortgage, though, your chances of getting your loan approved are much better, and many mortgage brokers products designed for consumers with bad credit.
Why would loan providers disregard bad credit history when funding mortgages? Aren’t loan providers afraid that the customer won’t be able to pay off the loan? Even when clients have a good credit history it’s impossible to predict if they’ll make good on their loan, and borrowers with bad credit history have a record of falling behind on their payments.
Many astute mortgage loan providers agree to lend to people with bad credit, not out of charity but based on the FICO credit scores.
Borrowers with scores of 720 and above have loan providers chasing after them to take out mortgages, and borrowers who have credit scores ranging from 600 to 700 can also get good mortgage deals. Borrowers earning credit scores of 500 and below are considered to have bad credit. Most bad credit mortgages are used to purchase or build homes. If the buyer is a first-time homeowner, they may be eligible for a special first-time buyer mortgage.
For the protection of the lender, someone taking a bad credit mortgage cannot borrow as much as with other mortgages. This lowers the risk for lenders the borrower defaults on the loan. The borrower will have to make a deposit of greater size, too. Required deposits for regular mortgages are about 25%, but the deposit for bad credit mortgage may be much higher to cover the risk of lending.
Some unscrupulous loan providers claim that bad credit mortgages are rarely approved and that borrowers wouldnt have been able to mortgage their house without the special assistance of their company’s bad credit program, charging high interest rates and fees. Many borrowers with bad credit believe them and pay far more than they should for broker services so shop around for a mortgage lender who won’t take advantage of your bad credit history.
Posted by admin on June 28, 2010 under Mortgage Loans |
If you are looking to purchase a home or refinance the one you are currently living in, but believe this may not be a possibility for you because you have bad credit, think again.
Just because you have bad credit does not mean you will not be able to receive a mortgage. In fact there are many lenders out there across the United States that are know as wholesale lenders that specialize in lending money to people with bad credit.
The names of these wholesale lenders may not ring familiar to you because they are not the typical lending institutions you see on the street corners of your town, otherwise know as banks.
The first thing you will need to do is locate a few of these wholesale lenders and shop around for a deal you believe to be fair. If you do not have success finding these lenders on your own, you may want to consider using a broker and have them shop around for you.
A broker is not a lender. What they do is assess your situation, than shop around for a lender that deals with bad credit mortgages.
Brokers have access to hundreds of lenders across the country and they can usually find one that has a program that may fit your needs.
Using a broker may not be such a bad idea, they are usually very experienced in their field and will not only find a bad credit mortgage lender for you, they will also council and educate you along the way.
Keep in mind, just because your credit may be less than perfect, does not mean that you are at the mercy of the mortgage companies, you are not.
Mortgage companies are very competitive, especially among the wholesale lenders, so be sure to shop around. Dont limit yourself to contacting only one broker, say no more than four. Allow for each to assess your situation, than base your consideration of which one you will use on the rate and program that they offer you. Good luck.
