Posts Tagged ‘consumer’

Understanding Your Refinancing Options

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

Get this straight. A refinance is still a loan. Although you can pay off the old loan you add more years to pay off the new one, your refinance. The refinance comes with new everything – rates, terms, and loan agreement but you can make the new loan work for you and squeeze out some savings or break even just a few months shy of two years, that is if your loan is a little bit over $900,000.

The reasons most people chose to refinance are to obtain more favorable interest rates, to use the equity they have in their home, to consolidate high interest loans like credit cards, or to simply to lower the amount of their monthly mortgage payments. If your reason for seeking refinancing is lower interest rates, you may not save money with your new loan. This is especially true if you intend to remain in your house over the long term.

The amount of time left to pay on your current mortgage must be carefully considered before refinancing. If you have paid on your mortgage for more than half it’s original term, refinancing could actually cost you money. If you are less than one third of the term into your current loan, than refinancing for a lower interest rate can result in savings over the life of the loan.

Don’t just sign on the dotted line and trust your lender’s integrity. Review every aspect of the terms of the loan including origination fees and closing costs. How much of your monthly payment will go to equity and how much to interest? At what point will you actually break even on the loan? Compare all the terms to the terms of your current mortgage and see if, over the life of the loan, you will actually realize any savings. You may want to seek advice from a real estate attorney or account if you don’t understand the terms and costs of your current loan or the cost of refinancing.

Your FICO score will have an impact on your ability to refinance. If the score is low, you may be unable to find a loan with a low interest rate. If it is high, you should be able to get the lowest possible interest rate. Before removing equity from your home, consider your debt to income ratio. Also consider the current value of your home. You don’t want to owe more on your loan than your home is worth.

The origination fees and closing costs on a refinanced loan can run into thousands of dollars. Is your interest savings going to be enough to cover the financing costs? How long will you have the new loan before the savings cover the costs? If the refinancing includes the fees, you will be paying interest on that amount as well as on the amount that you originally borrowed.

Government programs instituted by the O’Bama administration allow for a waiver of the origination fees and closing costs in certain cases. If you lost your job because of the recession, or because you suffer from a serious medical condition, you may be eligible for a waiver of all or part of your loan fees. Since the waivers are decided on an individual case basis, each person must apply for the waiver before they receive their loan.

The people most likely to benefit from refinancing are those with adjustable rate mortgages and those with balloon payments. People who have a fixed interest loan will see far less benefit unless their interest rate is very high. Shop around for the lowest possible interest rate before deciding where to get your loan. If you have a poor credit rating or FICO score, you will not be likely to find a low fixed rate mortgage. If you are not sure if refinancing is your best option, speak with an accountant or real estate specialist.

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Can You Save Money At A Foreclosure Auction?

Wednesday, October 14th, 2009

by John Dashwood

The recent economic crisis has caused a record number of foreclosures. Houses are up for auction all over the United States. At foreclosure auctions, houses may sell at a fraction of their market value. Bidding at a foreclosure auction may not be the answer for everyone looking for a home. Many auctions require a large cash payment at the time of purchase. You generally can’t get a mortgage prior to an auction because your bid might not win.

People who have excellent credit and enough savings for a down payment can save money by buying a foreclosure. In some cases, the lender may set a minimum bid to cover the loan or other expenses. There may be past due taxes or other liens on the property. Title searches which are required for normal real estate sales may not apply to foreclosures.

If you have no desire to move to another area, the local newspaper is an excellent source for foreclosure auctions. There are also listings of foreclosed properties. It isn’t necessary to go to an auction to save on a foreclosure sale. Government insurers have foreclosed homes for sale. You can visit one of the government websites for a listing.

Keep in mind that many foreclosed properties may need work. The laws that apply in most real estate sales don’t apply to foreclosure auctions. Houses that are sold at auction do not need to be habitable and do not have to meet codes. However, before you can move into the house you will have to bring it up to code. Finding a lender to finance a foreclosure sale may be difficult. Generally you can save money by buying a foreclosure, but you need more money to buy one.

Homeowners of soon-to-be foreclosed homes are frantic to sell the property 30 days before the property is foreclosed. With so little time to dispose the house, their only option is to sell their home at a loss but still walk away with enough to begin a new life somewhere, also a cheaper house. But dealing with these homeowners requires some skill on your part to get a good bargain.

As with any auction, foreclosure auctions require the participants to bid. You’ll need 10% of the purchase price in cash or cash equivalent at the time of the sale. You will also need proof of financing for the balance of the purchase price. If you don’t have proof of financing, your bid will be void. Generally it is easier for people who have enough money for a down payment and very good credit to buy a home in foreclosure. Investors who can obtain commercial loans often bid at these auctions.

In the United States, lenders have the right to evict delinquent homeowners and in most cases the eviction is accomplished before the home is auctioned. The local sheriff’s department will escort the homeowner off the property if he doesn’t leave on request. Tenants can be more of a problem and the law varies between jurisdiction on the eviction of tenants in a foreclosed property. Some disgruntled homeowners may damage the home before they leave.

But overall, buying a foreclosed home at a fraction of its original value is becoming the rage in the real estate market. If you are looking for a home or for an investment, foreclosed properties are the way to go. Start your search by looking up foreclosed properties in the different parts of US where you want to live or start an investment.

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Questions To Answer Before Buying A House

Monday, September 28th, 2009
by John Dashwood

Although owning a home may be a dream come true for most people, make sure you are firmly grounded in reality when you begin your search for your fairy tale castle. It’s important to use your head and consider the practical aspects of home buying before jumping into a real estate contract. Make sure you ask the right questions and get the right answers.

If this is your first time to shop for a home, don’t go into the deal unprepared. Apart from the paperwork, it is important too to take a look into that house up for sale; it’s just right because after all you are going to live in it and live with a mortgage. You look at the house and ask how much it will cost you before you can apply for a mortgage.

Consider the neighborhood. Are the other homes well kept? Look into crime statics for the area. Keep in mind that homes in upscale neighborhoods come with upscale price tags. Make sure the house is in good repair, or that the seller will do necessary repairs before the sale. Make sure you lender will provide a mortgage.

If the home need repairs and the seller is not willing to complete the repairs, you may still be able to buy the home. Try to use repair issues to leverage for a lower price. The mortgage company may require an escrow for major repairs, so if you can’t put up the money you may be unable to get a mortgage. The most important areas of the house to check are the basement and the roof. Look for evidence of leaks or flooding. Mold can be a serious and expensive problem.

Many homes are sold with the kitchen appliances. Look at the appliances. How old are they? Are they energy efficient? Will you have to replace some or all of them in the near future? Look at the countertops and cabinets. Do they need repairs or replacement? Does the house have city water or well water? How old is the well and the well pump? Look under the sink for leaks. Is the house city sewage or septic? How old is the septic system?

The bathroom is another expensive remodeling job. Are the tub/shower, the sink and the toilet in good condition? Is there any evidence of leaks? Any cracks? Are the cabinets in good shape? Do you see any sign of mold or mildew? Mold and mildew can be indicators of more serious problems. Are the floors buckled? That can indicate a plumbing problem.

Always take the time to look in the attic. Check to make sure that the attic is properly insulated. Look for any sign of roof leaks. Even roofs that look okay can have leaks. Attics need to be ventilated. Is there a fan? Windows? Other type of ventilation? Examine the windows and doors for fit and make sure the exterior maintenance is up to par.

If you are seriously considering a house, walk around the neighborhood in the evening when people are home. Is this a neighborhood of young families or retirees? Will you be comfortable living among these neighbors? Try to see the house in the rain. Problems that weren’t apparent before may show up when it rains. If everything checks out and the house is within your budget, now is the time to make your offer.

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How To Make Use Of The Adverse Credit Mortgage

Wednesday, April 1st, 2009
by Chris Channing

There are certain people who don’t qualify for a mortgage simply because they don’t have the credit rating it takes to do so. The adverse credit mortgage was created as an option for such consumers, as a “way out” even despite a less than perfect credit history.

Adverse credit mortgages automatically assume that the applicant is going to have poor credit. This is good news for anyone who has been turned down for a mortgage loan, since it allows even the worst of credit ratings to be approved. Even with the fact that one may be able to apply for the mortgage loan, the terms may not be as acceptable as they’d- as compared to regular mortgage loans.

A mortgage obtained by those with poor credit actually helps pull them out of the “red.” Those who make payments on time and in the correct fashion will see their credit rating be repaired over the course of a few years. This leaves the possibility of a consumer obtaining a better interest rate via remortgaging if they make good on their promise to repay a loan. This should give applicants motivation to better their current financial situation.

The alternative to an adverse credit mortgage loan is to rent a home instead. Even though this can be an alternative, it isn’t always a good decision over obtaining a home to own. First, renting a property means conforming to certain rules you may not put in place, as well as meaning that a poor family environment will have to be experienced. You shouldn’t be afraid of a mortgage loan, but rather adamant in obtaining one.

Going forth and obtaining a large loan is always scary; it may be easier to think of it as an investment you are putting in for a high payout later. Real estate trends show that over a long period of time, the overall value of a piece of property will rise. This is subject to exceptions, of course, but in general buying a house and keeping it for a few decades means that the worth it is sold at is higher than what it was bought at- even if no modifications are made.

Do remember that even bad credit mortgages will demand that the applicant put down a large initial deposit. Before becoming too excited and jumping into the act of obtaining the mortgage loan, consider building up your finances so that you can make a large deposit. A larger deposit results in more trust and less interest rates. As they say, patience can go a long way.

In Conclusion

Having bad credit is becoming common. If you too suffer bad credit, you should start actively looking into adverse credit mortgages to get your own house and start a life working towards a better future. Contact online brokers or those in your community for more information.

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How To Clean Upholstery Without Causing Damage

Tuesday, January 20th, 2009
by Chris Channing

The upholstery one owns usually isn’t the target of a cleaning regimen- but sometimes even furniture gets dirty enough that a real solution must be found to clean it. From your average dust to annoying stains or spills, there are vastly different solutions to take depending on the upholstery type and the type of stain in question.

Before any cleaning is done, the first step is to maintain a logical composure and assess the damage. If the problem is just a little dust or something else somewhat minor, a vacuum can come in very handy. Vacuums will sometimes help spread the dust, so be sure to supplement the plan with some form of wet cleaning solution if it becomes a problem. For vacuum use, a brush attachment usually works best if available.

While a little dust or dirt here and there is easy to clean off, stains from other sources can be another story entirely. Case in point is with pizza sauce or grape juice- two common enemies to anyone’s upholstery. Grape juice itself tends to get deep down into cloth upholstery, and tends to stain the surface of leather. Depending on what the material is, the solution to cleaning the upholstery is entirely different- making need for a professional fairly vital.

Those in the business of cleaning upholstery recommend applying a cleaning solution to a very small part of the upholstery. If a reaction to the cleaning solution doesn’t appear within a few minutes, it is generally considered safe to proceed with a more rigorous cleaning. But do keep in mind that using a small amount is key in preventing further stains or reactions.

In some instances, upholstery may have be meticulously replaced in order to get the problem area clean. Some types of stains, such as paint on leather, are near impossible to get off without causing damage to the leather. This may require a complete replacement or a target “patch” to clear tigns up. In that case, an upholstering cleaning business should be contacted for further information on how to get the problem fixed.

If ever in doubt, consumers should remember that there are upholstery cleaning businesses in most areas, which have trained professionals that know exactly what to do in every scenario. Sometimes it is better to pay for a little help rather than ruin an expensive piece of furniture. This is why damage assessment should always be the first step, as the more care intensive jobs carry higher risks of ruining one’s furniture.

In Conclusion

Upholstery cleaning businesses can be found searching the local phonebook for more information- or even by going online and searching local business results. Upholstery cleaning is mostly a very affordable service, so hesitation is generally unnecessary when prompted with the problem of cleaning one’s tainted upholstery.