Posts Tagged ‘personal finance’

The US Mortgage Market Today: How Are We Doing?

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

The prevailing Economic recession is not new to everyone and the United States is currently facing a hard financial time, with its real estate markets tumbling down with no sight of hope. People started to lose their homes all over the US, when the market initially started to tumble down. The manpower of the bank utilised in order to process mortgages were wasted because of the pre closure of mortgaged properties and the banks were flooded with closures already. Investors and banks started to purchase the houses which were auctioned at such low prices.

The brought properties were listed on the MLS of real estate companies and were sold with a considerable profit. Initially money lending was really tight and there were no lenders available for property purchases requiring a huge down payment. Because of the Governments Intervention, the actual scenario changed with lenders offering good deals for prospective buyers who did not have much of down payments to make initially.

The cash triumphed has deviated dramatically as the lenders are largesse some highly skillful finance parcels that hit snap charge minor than many have powerful seen them, no grease or very boylike filthy lucre abandoned, and with the number of properties being untaken from banks at pottage less than the resplendent peddle utility they extend to trudge into the liveliness with consideration.

Investors began purchasing properties besides as the loans became more bleeding heart and the dexterity to swallow them from the MLS instead of the sell brought more spark to their investments. Being mighty to trudge through the beans versus accede it exposition buried changed the outline of many investors as they were efforts it for the buck worth that the lean would get from the way.

The contour for the finance peddle is satisfactory; it is projected to be reinforcement on blessing of the dupe within a conjugate of oldness. The kinsfolk who were flourishing sufficiency to admit now while guts toll and the pad prices were so funereal ravenousness see a sweeping mastery in their authorization once the berth standards elevate to where they should be.

That hasn’t happened yet, of course. The turbulent economy is still causing people to lose their footing. Jobs are still disappearing, houses are still going into foreclosure, and properties still end up being auctioned off at rock-bottom prices. But there are ways for people to keep their homes, thanks to the government’s commitment to help them. Refinancing the loan, if at all possible, is still the best way to ease the burden of a ballooning ARM or high-interest loan. Today’s low interest rates can mean monthly payments hundreds of dollars less than the terms of contracts negotiated during the property-value boom.

Because of this, money lending market has again seen its rise with lenders ready to extend attractive loan packages again and because of the Governments help, banks now see a reduction in the pre closure of mortgages, which brings a sigh of relief to people, as they have started to feel more optimistic about the real estate future and are ready to start buying properties again. Making huge profits in the real estate industry seems easy now.

Graham McKenzie is the content coordinator for a leading South African leading Homeloan and Bond Origination portal which provides access to ABSA Homeloan.

How To Save On Your Mortgage Costs

Saturday, February 27th, 2010

The largest debt that most people will ever have is a mortgage. The ability to lower this payment and save on interest is an interesting idea but many people have no idea how to go about doing it.

You will find financial advisors everywhere offering you tips on how to lower the cost of a mortgage. You can lower the mortgage costs on your own with a little time and effort. If your financial and credit situations are both in good shape then refinancing might be considered.

If you have a fixed rate loan with the lowest possible rate then there will be no need to refinance now. In most instances this is not the case and refinancing a loan will bring great benefits. Most home buyers experienced some difficulties during the loan process. It could have been not enough of a down payment or a damaged credit score that led to the higher interest rate. If the problems have been resolved with credit then the refinancing will offer some payment relief and the equity in the home could even help in obtaining a lower rate.

If you were given a balloon loan or an arm when you purchased the home you will want to refinance to a fixed rate loan. You should not have any late or missed payments on your credit report and your credit score should be high enough to get a lower rate than you have now.

The best possible interest rate is obtained by having great credit, without it you might be slightly higher than you would prefer. If you have owned the home for some time or have recently updated it with improvements or additions then you have equity in your home that will help in reducing your rate as well. Using the homes equity as a sort of down payment will increase your chances of a better rate even with a slightly lower credit score. If your current loan pay off is $170,000 and your home is appraised at $210,000 then you have $40,000 in equity that can be used towards the refinanced loan.

Make sure your home is in good shape before having the appraiser come out. The higher you can be appraised at the better the interest rate you will receive. In order to obtain the highest appraised value you should complete any projects and make sure the home is free of clutter and offers some welcoming curb appeal.

You do not want to be refused a loan due to a cluttered basement that the appraiser could not visit or an unfinished project that would have added equity. If you are unable to get the home appraised for a higher value then is owed then you will not be able to refinance. The higher the appraisal goes over the amount owed is treated as equity and would get you a much better rate, therefore lowering your monthly mortgage payments.

Graham McKenzie is the content coordinator for a leading South African leading Homeloans and Bond Origination portal which provides access to Nedbank Homeloans.

How To Pay Off Your Mortgage Faster

Sunday, February 21st, 2010

A mortgage loan is in most cases 30 years in length and they are designed to make owning a home affordable for all people. The length of the loan can reduce payment amounts but also increase the interest paid. The ability to pay the mortgage off early will save thousands in interest and allow people the freedom of true home ownership much sooner than they anticipated.

If the loan was obtained at a high interest rate due to a low credit score and you have since increased your score you might consider refinancing. Anytime the loan can be refinanced with a smaller interest rate it should be done, this saves thousands of dollars in interest but will also reduce your monthly payment. A reduced monthly payment will assist you in being able to afford an early pay off method.

The easiest way to pay the mortgage off faster is to split the payments. Instead of making a monthly payment of $1000 you should make bi-weekly payments of $500 each. This method allows you to make 2 extra mortgage payments each year without ever noticing it in your budget. The two extra payments that are made are going directly to the principle of your loan and will reduce your loan life.

You can choose to pay a large lump sum annually. The large amount of money goes directly to the principle and can dramatically reduce your loan. Most lenders will have limits of the amount of over payment you can pay without penalty so speak to them and find out what limits you are restricted to if any. You might be able to shave off 5 or ten years using this method. It can be hard to come up with so much money at once for many people.

If you do not have the ability to come up with a large amount of money each year for a one time large overpayment you can pay over each month. You will still need to find out if you will be given any penalties from your lender before deciding the amount. You pay an over-age amount each month with your payment and it will work the same way as the large onetime payment. Your loan will be greatly reduced and it will be much easier to come up with the extra money each month than the one time large sum.

If you are looking for a way to truly reduce the size of the loan and want to see more results than just a mere five years drop off you can combine methods. If you choose the bi-weekly payments then include an additional payment with each. A small amount will show you results so you do not have to go overboard here. The larger the amount the sooner the payoff obviously but even with a modest amount you will see a ten year difference in the lifetime of the loan. If you are lucky enough to have a lender who does not penalize for over payment then you can easily reduce your loan by 15 years or more with over payments. The weeks you have more you can send more and when you don?t have much just send a few dollars over.

Graham McKenzie is the content coordinator for a leading South African leading Home loans and Bond Origination portal which provides access to ABSA Home loans.

categories: Homeloans,Bonds,Mortgages,Loans,Property,Finance,Personal Finance,Money,Banking

A Short Discussion On Home Loans

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

Purchasing a home is a decision that can lead to financial security. However, financing is often a confusing process especially for first time home buyers. Obtaining information on the different types of home loans is one of the most important steps to getting started in the home buying process. There are many different types of products available.

Knowing your credit score before you even go a bank or mortgage company is imperative. People with high credit scores are most likely to get lower interests rates and to be approved for higher loan amounts.

Besides the credit score, having a steady job will also influence the type of loan you receive. Most banks and lenders will want to see copies of your W-2s, your tax papers and possibly your pay check stubs. Having a steady job shows you not only have a sense of responsibility, it shows you can pay back the loan.

Although a down payment is not an absolute must-have nowadays, it can certainly make life easier in some ways. Having a large down payment can negate the need for PMI or private mortgage insurance. It can also lower the amount of the monthly payment.

If there is no down payment, sometimes banks will allow borrowers to secure two different loans to cover the principal amount that is needed. The second mortgage will generally have a higher interest rate than the first mortgage and the terms for the second mortgage will be shorter than the standard 30 year time span. Many people will owe what is called a balloon payment at the end of the second mortgage’s term, and most lenders will let borrowers refinance the remaining amount.

Of course, there are other options available to prospective buyers as well. Adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) have interest rates that vary each month according to market trends, this means that the mortgage payment will vary. Another option is an interest only loan, in which the buyer only pays interest on the loan for a specified period of time and then starts paying on the principal at a later date, when they are making more money.

Obtaining the best deal on home loans is something that homebuyers should strive for. Keeping track of your credit score and current financial situation can put you in a favorable position with lenders. Be sure to compare rates and products from various lenders before you sign any paperwork, because one lender might be able to get you a better deal in the long run.

Graham McKenzie is the content coordinator for a leading South African leading Homeloan and Bond Origination portal which provides access to Nedbank Homeloan.

Reverse Mortgages For Seniors

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

In these times of financial insecurity, many of us are struggling to make ends meet, none more so than the elderly. However, reverse mortgages for seniors are an option to relieve monetary stress should it start to become overwhelming for them.

While they may not be the answer for all, they can be the ideal solution for many who are facing monetary difficulties.

A reverse mortgage can be explained most simply as a type of home equity loan for which no repayment is necessary until the homeowner dies, sells the property, or no longer uses the property as a permanent residence.

Since the decision by the bank or finance company is not based on the homeowners income, these reverse mortgages are fairly easy to obtain for the more elderly members of our society, particularly so because they have most of their money tied up in their property, which is what these types of mortgages are leveraged on.

There are stipulations for eligibility, including:

- The age of the homeowner must be over 62

- The house must be either paid in full or with just a small balance left on the mortgage

- Insurance and taxes must continued to be paid by the homeowner

- Attendance at a mandatory counseling session is required to ensure full understanding of the mortgage process

What happens with a reverse mortgage is pretty simple to understand. The homeowner is given a loan based on the equity in their home. The amounts of the loans will vary, depending on the value of the home and the equity therein.

This loan can be had in a single lump payment or as a series of monthly payments; it is up to the homeowner to decide which they prefer. Homeowners are free to spend the loan on whatever they see fit to, with paying bills, making home improvements and going on trips being just a few of the options available.

As part of the reverse mortgages for seniors system, no repayments may ever need to be made by the senior citizen. Well, no repayments until certain conditions are met anyway. Repayments need only be made in the case of the following occuring…

- Death of the homeowner

- The property is sold by the homeowner

- The homeowner permanently leaves the property; i.e., taking up residence in a nursing home, with a family member or hospice facility

So, there are clearly some major benefits to be had from reverse mortgages. It should be noted, however, that there is a large closing fee due when the mortgage papers are signed; larger than the costs associated with a traditional mortgage.

Reverse mortgages for seniors are not a decision to be taken lightly and, as with all financial decisions, all paperwork should be closely examined before making a commitment. Don’t let the paperwork put you off though as professional assistance and counseling is available.

Learn More : Reverse Mortgages Pros And Cons