Homebuyers have several loan options. Hence, purchasing a new home has never been easier. Individuals who cannot afford a down payment or closing costs may take advantage of loan programs that offer assistance. Furthermore, those hoping to obtain a low rate mortgage may consider a loan with an adjustable rate. Because of the initial low cost of adjustable rate mortgages, monthly mortgage payments are also lower. However, low rate mortgages are short term. To avoid an interest rate hike, homeowners should refinance before rates begin to increase.Advantages of Adjustable Rate MortgagesThere are several advantages to accepting an adjustable mortgage. For starters, a low rate mortgage allows buyers to purchase pricier homes, while maintaining an affordable monthly payment. Moreover, because of record low rates, homebuyers who obtain an adjustable rate mortgage can enjoy falling rates without refinancing their mortgage. Thus, they avoid closing costs and other fees.Adjustable rate mortgages are also ideal for individuals who plan on moving in a few years. Some people enjoy the stability of living in one place for many years. In this case, refinancing for a fixed rate is a wise choice. However, if you prefer the flexibility of moving every three to five years, you will save money with an adjustable rate.Pitfalls of Adjustable Rate MortgagesWhile adjustable rates offer many attractive features, one major drawback is that low rates are temporary. If interest rates continue to fall, you will not be subjected to the dangers of these loans. However, if rates begin to climb, so will your mortgage payment. Homebuyers who cannot afford an increased mortgage are at risk of losing their home. Thus, if your goal is to remain in your current home for many years, refinancing for a fixed rate will offer predictable mortgage payments.How Soon Can You Refinance a Mortgage?Fortunately, home mortgage loans can be refinanced whenever you like. Some lenders suggest allowing the loan to mature at least 12 months. However, if you detect a change in market trends, refinancing shortly after purchasing your home is a smart maneuver. Those contemplating refinancing must be prepared to pay additional closing fees. Moreover, contact your current lender and inquire of prepayment penalties.About the AuthorCarrie Reeder offers advice about Mortgage Refinance Loans Online. View our Recommended Lowest Rate Mtg Refinance Lenders Online.
Refinancing an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) is a common practice for borrowers. However, it may not always be the best option. Depending on how high interest rates climb, there are cases when you could end up spending more on converting your mortgage than you would save with a locked in interest rate.Adding Up CostsBefore you jump on a refinancing offer, consider the upfront costs. To refinance a $100,000 loan, you can expect loan fees to range from $1000 to $3000. That is not including points for lower rates.In order to recoup these origination costs, you need to be planning to spend several years in your home. Also, if you only have a couple of years left on your mortgage, you may be better off with your original mortgage.Benefits Of RefinancingLocking in a low rate is the most common benefit to refinancing an ARM. By converting to a fixed rate mortgage, you are guaranteed a low interest without worrying about yearly interest rate fluxes.You can also build up your equity sooner by converting to a biweekly mortgage or short term loan. With larger monthly payments, you can potentially save thousands on interest payments.When Not To RefinanceWith an ARM there is always some risk involved, but there are cases when keeping your ARM makes financial sense. For instance, unless interest rates will rise more than a couple of percentage points over the course of your loan, you will probably pay more in loan fees than you will save. You should also keep your ARM if current rates are only 1% or lower than your ARM’s rate.You may also want to keep your ARM if you are planning to move soon. With homeowners moving within seven years of buying a home, it doesn’t make sense to refinance when you won’t recoup the costs.Picking A LenderJust like with any mortgage, you want to be sure that you have researched several lenders before choosing one. Request quotes on both rates and fees. You will need to add up total costs to find the best financing package. You can also use the internet to find online mortgage lenders. Many times these lenders will offer lower interest rates or low closing costs to remain competitive.About the AuthorSee my recommended Home Mortgage Refinance Lenders for the lowest rates online. Carrie Reeder is the owner of ABC Loan Guide, which offers help finding low rate home mortgage loans.Published At: http://www.isnare.com/Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=22958&ca=Finances
Mortgage lenders have set up shop online, but they aren’t all reputable mortgage brokers. To find a good mortgage lender you need to compare rates and research to find reputable companies.Mortgage Broker ServicesA mortgage broker works with several lenders to find the best financing for the purchase of a home. No matter if you have perfect credit or bad credit, typically a mortgage broker can find you a lower mortgage rate than if you went with your neighborhood bank.It is important to remember that brokers are paid by adding on a fee or point to the loan, so you should do comparison shopping even with a mortgage broker.One Stop ShoppingOnline mortgage brokers have reduced time spent comparing mortgage lenders by consolidating information about several lenders into one site. Through such mortgage sites, you only enter your information once to receive interest rates from several different mortgage lenders.Compare Rates And FeesWhile online mortgage brokers make getting quotes easy, it is important to still take the time to compare rates. Your mortgage rate will be based on current interest rates, the property’s location, your credit score, and employment history. If you receive a rate quote without providing this detailed information, then you are just getting a general estimate.General estimates for mortgage rates are still a useful tool to narrow your choices to at least three lenders. You can then apply for a true mortgage estimate with the most promising companies. With these true mortgage quotes, look at both the rates and fees to determine the actual cost of the loan.Research Reputable CompaniesInterest rates aren’t the only factor to consider when comparing mortgage lenders. You should also be comfortable with the lender’s reputation. Unfortunately, there is not a list of reputable mortgage lenders, but common sense can protect you from a bad mortgage lender.First, do research on your top choices for mortgage lenders. Check out the lender’s website to find their physical location, list of terms, and available customer support. Secondly, beware of too good to be true claims, such as statements that this is the only company that will finance your mortgage loan. And finally, do not sign any blank forms from a lender. You don’t know what they add later.About the AuthorTo view our list of recommended mortgage lenders online, visit this page: http://www.abcloanguide.com/mortgageloans.shtml. Carrie Reeder is the owner of http://www.abcloanguide.com/ an informational website online about various types of loans.Published At: http://www.isnare.com/Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=9967&ca=Finances
One of the most important parts of choosing a bad credit mortgage company to work with is avoiding predatory lenders. Predatory lenders run smooth operations, and specialize in taking advantage of those who are inexperienced or think that they have few or no other loan options. However, thoughtful and informed mortgage company shopping will go a long way towards avoiding predatory lenders and the hook, line and sinker methods they employ.Watch The Hook - If a bad credit lender is trying to hook you – making first contact and aggressively selling their services – be suspicious. When avoiding predatory lenders, you’ll have to be alert, as some use more subtle types of hooks than the blatant hard sell. They may sprinkle their conversation with such phrases as ‘bad credit, no problem,’ and make it all seem very easy. A predatory lender may try to rush you, perhaps pushing you towards a deal, saying it may not be available much longer. They are interested in making their fees, and you keeping the house is not important to unscrupulous bad credit lenders. In fact, it’s better for them if you don’t.Beware of The Line - Knowledge is the best way of avoiding predatory lenders when seeking a bad credit lender. Predatory lenders count on their victims not having a lot of knowledge about the lending process, legal or financial. If you do a little research prior to seeking a lender, you have less of a chance of being fooled by some of the lines predatory lenders use. You won’t be lured into a loan that is too high under the premise that you’ll be able to refinance after a year or so for a lower rate. A legitimate new home loan bad credit lender will advise you against an arrangement that consumes more than 30% of your monthly income. You’ll know to read every word of the contract to make sure that it matches exactly what you were told. With research, you’ll know what common lending rates and fees are and be able to compare with clarity, rather than be taken a smooth line.Avoid The Sinker - Often, predatory lenders prey upon those that they consider to be in a financially precarious position. They prey on people who feel as though they don’t have a lot of choices when it comes to lenders. Unprincipled new home loan bad credit lenders take advantage of these situations by offering arrangements that court loan repayment failure. These include balloon payments, a large sum due at the end of the mortgage, prepayment penalties, which punish the borrower for paying off the loan early, generally through sale or refinancing, and mandatory arbitration clauses, which do not permit you to bring a complaint against the lender to court.When it comes time to shop for a bad credit lender, do your research first. There are numerous resources available to help you in avoiding predatory lenders. And, remember, no matter how bad your credit may be, you always have a choice. Making the choice to wait is always better than accepting a predatory loan arrangement.About the AuthorView our recommended lenders for Bad Credit Mortgage Loans.
A mortgage is usually the biggest purchase that an individual makes, and because of that, many people tend to get nervous during the process. But wouldn’t it make things easier if you felt that you had a “handle” on the process—or at least the terminology? After all, in order to get the best deal on your mortgage loan, you will need to understand certain things such as points, interest rates and closing costs.If you feel like you could stand to brush up on your mortgage loan terminology, why not read the following common terms and their definitions?PointsA point is amount that a borrower will pay in order to reduce the interest rate on their mortgage. One point is generally equal to 1% of the loan amount. For example, if you were taking out a 100,000 mortgage, and wanted lower interest rates, you might have to pay anywhere from 1-3 points (or $1,000-3,000 dollars) to get that rate. It’s important to note that some lenders will advertise very low interest rates, and only when you read the fine print will you learn that you will have to pay points in order to get them.Interest RatesWhen a lender makes a loan, they make money by charging interest on that loan. With a mortgage loan, all of that interest is front-loaded, which means that for the first few years, every payment that you will make will go mostly toward the interest.When applying for a mortgage, you will have the option of “locking-in,” or “floating” your interest rate. If you choose to lock-in your rate, then you will be assured—for about 60 days—that when you close it will be at that rate. However, if it appears that interest rates will go lower, you can choose to float the interest rate, which means that you can watch the rates carefully, and then lock it in whenever it reaches an amount that you are comfortable with.Closing CostsWhen you go to close on your home at the title company, both the buyer and seller will have to pay a pre-determined amount of closing costs. These are determined by the type of loan you get, and the area where you live. Your lender is required by law to inform you of any closing costs beforehand, so be sure to ask for your truth in lending estimate.As you can see, mortgage terms aren’t that mysterious! Do some research or read some more articles on this site to become familiar with the lending terms that you need to know.There are also many mortgage companies online that can help you find direct mortgage lenders and home loan brokers that will best suit your needs. This is a quick way to find a good mortgage loan and compare rates and offers from multiple lenders. When lenders compete for your business, it works to your advantage.About the AuthorTo see a list of recommended mortgage loan companies online, visit this page: http://www.abcloanguide.com/mortgageloans.shtml - Carrie Reeder is the owner of ABC Loan Guide, an informational website with articles and more about various types of loans.
