Monday, August 20, 2007

Should I Refinance My Mortgage or Home

When asking yourself the question should I refinance my
mortgage or home, there are several variables to consider
before making a final decision. You need to first consider
the current interest rates, what you want to use the cash
for, and how this decision could impact the sensibility of
selling the home in the future if that is your wish.
Anytime you are thinking about a large monetary
transaction, it's best to have all of the facts.

Ways the Refinancing Can Work For You

One of the first things you should do before answering the
should I refinance my mortgage or home is what you want to
get out of the deal; some people use the money from the
transaction to make improvements to their home, or pay off
high interest bills or credit cards. Others use the equity
in their homes to help their children pay for a college
education.

One type of home mortgage refinancing that is very popular
right now are the second mortgages because they tend to
have lower monthly interest payments and don't affect the
original home mortgage loan. With this type of refinance
loan, you are often stuck with higher interest rates
however due to lender's concern about repayment and will
depend on whether the loan is a fixed rate or adjustable
rate loan.

Other Types of Refinancing

As you look for the solutions to your should I refinance my
mortgage or home question, it is important to consider all
of the available options to you. Although not nearly as
popular as the second mortgage, likely due to a lack of
publicity, you do also have the option of exploring a
reverse mortgage. Most of the time, older adults find this
type of refinance loan to be beneficial.

Reverse mortgages are excellent for retired people looking
to use the equity they have built up in their homes over
the years. These loans allow the homeowner to transform
some of the house's equity over to cash to be used for
whatever purpose the borrower sees fit. Reverse mortgages
are also set up to be repayed when the borrower no longer
lives in the residence; clearly this is why it is so
popular with older adults.

Only after carefully considering the current housing rates
and researching the various options available to you can
you really make the right decision regarding refinancing
your mortgage. The answer to the should I refinance my
mortgage or home is really all about your timing and what
you and your family needs most.


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Since 2000 Ron has been on a mission to help people
continue their dream. He helps people refinance from an
adjustable rate and the uncertainty that brings to a solid
fixed rate,as well as refinancing to help people get cash
out for a variety of reasons. Mainly he enjoys helping
people KEEP their dream.
http://www.refi-ron.com

Idaho Mortgage Refinancing

The Idaho mortgage refinancing system makes it easy to use
the already present equity in your home to serve whatever
purpose you need it for. Fortunately for most homeowners
there are a variety of ways to get more money out of your
home.

Once you have decided on the best method for you and your
needs, the process of home mortgage refinancing usually
isn't a long one. Always check around for the best interest
rates and find a bank or company you are comfortable
working with.

Lines of Credit and Home Equity Loans

One option for an Idaho mortgage refinancing that many
people take advantage of is a line of credit, which allows
the borrower to only pay back what they actually use from
the home's equity. While you also will be issued checks
like from your checking account, a line of credit works
like a credit card does. Before signing on the dotted line
you will have the opportunity to agree to the interest
rates, then you only make payments on the amount of money
you spend and the appropriate interest.

With an Idaho mortgage refinancing that involves a home
equity loan, you are responsible for the terms that tend to
go along with a traditional loan. You will once again agree
to certain interest rate and terms. Many people find this
the best arrangement for them due to knowing in advance
what their monthly payment will be.

What to Do With the Money

Once you complete your Idaho mortgage refinancing option,
you may be left wondering what to do now; vacation, home
repairs, or paying off other high interest rate credit
cards or loans. It is completely up to you how you spend
the extra money. Many people use it as an opportunity to
make a fresh financial start for themselves and get out
from under the overwhelming debt.

Another option a lot of people go with is education either
for themselves or their children or grandchildren. Higher
education, trade schools, or online learning all have
benefits and it is only natural to take advantage of the
opportunity to better your or a loved ones greater learning
and earning potential.

With an Idaho mortgage refinancing process you are in the
lead and have the responsibility to make sure your possible
future lender meets your needs effectively and cost
efficiently for you. Make sure you know the terms and
policies before signing and an Idaho mortgage refinancing
can work out wonderfully for you.


----------------------------------------------------
Since 2000 Ron has been on a mission to help people
continue their dream. He helps people refinance from an
adjustable rate and the uncertainty that brings to a solid
fixed rate,as well as refinancing to help people get cash
out for a variety of reasons. Mainly he enjoys helping
people KEEP their dream.
http://www.refi-ron.com

Friday, August 17, 2007

Bridge Mortgage Loan

With today's more mobile society, there's a need for a
bridge mortgage loan. Families are moving more often,
requiring more flexible terms for loans on homes. These
types of loans are unique from just about every other
mortgage loan because they are extended for only a short
time, normally a year, and are designed for that period
between putting a house up on the market and actually
selling it.

Like everything else, there are pros and cons to using a
bridge mortgage loan during the sale process.

Pros of a Bridge Mortgage Loan

The first positive thing about a bridge mortgage loan that
can't be overlooked is how convenient it is to have a
temporary loan set in place for the time in between selling
your old home and buying a new one. Depending on the lender
and how this type of mortgage loan is set up, you can
choose to pay off the existing loan and the extra money
after interest and closing costs can be used for a down
payment on the new home.

Typically a bridge mortgage loan only lasts for a year and
when you sell your home, the loan is automatically paid
off. Another enticing aspect of bridge mortgage loans is
that if you haven't sold your home in 6 months, you have
the option of making interest only payments on the house;
in effect buying you more time to sell the old house.

Cons of a Bridge Mortgage Loan

Let's face it; no one really wants to deal with at least
three mortgage loans in a short period of time. You will
have your current home mortgage loan, the bridge mortgage
loan, and the new house loan to contend with within the
span of a year's time. Another feature some people would
consider a drawback is that you must use the same lender
for your new home mortgage as you did for the bridge
mortgage loan.

This type of loan isn't for everyone considering that
bridge mortgage loans often come with higher mortgage fees
and interest rates. For those who simply don't find it
economical to handle the selling of their home in this
manner, you can always consider borrowing against your 401K
plans or liquidating other assets to get you and your
family through the transition stage. Some people have also
had success by taking out personal loans by securing the
transaction with currently held stocks.

There are options out there for making your life easier
during the selling and buying of your homes. Bridge
mortgage loans are incredibly beneficial under the right
set of circumstances.


----------------------------------------------------
Since 2000 Ron has been on a mission to help people
continue their dream. He helps people refinance from an
adjustable rate and the uncertainty that brings to a solid
fixed rate,as well as refinancing to help people get cash
out for a variety of reasons. Mainly he enjoys helping
people KEEP their dream.
http://www.refi-ron.com

Mortgage Payments Missed As More Borrowers Are In 'Distress'

The amount of mortgage payments missed this year is
approaching the 500,000 barrier, new figures from
MoneyExpert reveal.

According to research by the firm, some 460,000 repayments
have been missed since the beginning of 2007 - an average
of about 77,000 per month. However, following the decision
by the Bank of England's monetary policy committee (MPC) to
increase the base rate to 5.75 per cent this number could
be set to rise further as the Bank looks to "pile on the
pressure".

Despite the MPC having risen the base rate five times, by a
total of 1.25 per cent, over the last year the financial
services company pointed out that industry experts believe
more increases could take place. Consequently, interest
rates on tracker and standard variable mortgages have
"inevitably" increased. Meanwhile, those coming to the end
of their fixed-rate products are set to find their monthly
secured loan repayments becoming "more expensive".

Chief executive Sean Gardner said: "Missing a mortgage
payment is a real signal of distress and anyone in such
dire straits needs to address the issue as soon as
possible. We are a long way from the dark days of the late
1980s and early 1990s when more than a million lost their
homes but many are feeling the strain. Anyone who has
missed a mortgage payment should for a start be talking to
their lender and letting them know what is going on."

Mr Gardner added that such consumers should look to reduce
their spending and cut debts as soon as possible. "That
ought to mean sorting out their finances and getting all
loans and credit cards under control," he added. The
executive pointed to debt consolidation and taking out a
secured loan against the value of property as a way of
meeting demands for any outstanding mortgage payments.

Meanwhile, research carried out earlier this year indicated
that some 36,000 homeowners defaulted on their mortgage
every month over the duration of 2006, with this figure now
predicted to be "close to doubling" by the end of this
year. The financial company also pointed to figures from
the Council of Mortgage Lenders indicating that some 59,000
mortgages were between three and six months in arrears as
of the end of last year. Statistics from MoneyExpert also
signified that those aged between 35 and 44 are the most
likely to miss making a payment - with some three per cent
said to have done so over the last six months.

Earlier today, Arthur Morgan, Sinn Fein spokesperson for
housing, claimed that the government needs to take more
steps to curb rising mortgage debt. "More can and should be
done terms of mortgage interest relief to help protect
vulnerable homeowners in particular those on average and
lower incomes," he said. Mr Morgan suggested that
government officials have reported that there is not a
problem with affordability within the property sector
despite the emergence of 100 per cent mortgages and "the
fact that young couples were borrowing unprecedented sums
at a time of historically low interest rates".


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Abbi Rouse writes for All About Loans, where our visitors
can apply online for unsecured loans for tenants, and
secured homeowner loans. Visit today:
http://news.allaboutloans.co.uk

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Mortgage Meltdown! What Does It Mean to Homebuyers?

By Pam Rumley
Not long ago, mortgage companies started to offer a smorgasbord of programs to make home ownership easily available to almost everyone. Some of the common terms we have become accustomed to hearing include:

* Low-Doc
* No-Doc
* Full-Doc
* 100% LTV
* Interest Only
* ARM
* Conforming
* Non-Conforming

The housing market has been red-hot for many months, but we are realizing that all these short-term "solutions" have become long-term "problems". For instance, if a potential borrower had a decent credit score, they could obtain a "No-Doc" loan...which meant that they didn't have to submit documentation proving employment, income or debts.

Not only that, but there were the "interest-only" loans, where people could qualify at a very low "teaser" rate...only to find themselves faced with the higher rate within just a few months.

And, can you even imagine giving someone a loan at 125% of the value of their home? It's crazy! This is a recipe for bankruptcy if I ever saw one. Once they have used this money, it's gone. And when they get into trouble, they can't even sell the home without bringing a substantial amount of money to the closing table. Since most people don't have a huge amount of cash laying around, they are a candidate for bankruptcy or foreclosure. These loans should never have been allowed in the first place.

Many mortgage companies offered "adjustable teaser rates" - which meant that the borrower started out with a low interest rate (perhaps for the first year or so)...then jumped to the higher rate, which meant that several times during the life of the loan, their mortgage payment would increase dramatically.

It's so easy to buy a new home with low payments, and many borrowers just don't realize what the higher payments will do to their budget. I wonder who was there to counsel these homebuyers? Who was there to remind them of what was going to happen in a few months? I consider it my obligation to discuss this with my homebuying clients to make sure they understand the ramifications of this type of financing. As an Exclusive Buyer's Agent, part of my job is to counsel my clients in every aspect of their purchase.

Now, because of many of these loan programs, we are facing major foreclosures. Mortgage companies are folding and the entire industry is undergoing a major meltdown.

The bills are coming due! The delinquency rate on low-quality mortgages is at 13.8%, and the rate has doubled on medium-quality mortgages. Foreclosures are at an all-time high! Many areas of the country have real estate markets in the tank...and may take years to recover.

At least 82 high-risk lenders have re-organized or folded, resulting in huge loan losses. Many lenders are not closing on loans they have committed to. If you are in the process of purchasing a home, it would be to your benefit to check with other lenders in case your chosen lender cannot close on your loan. Many companies are simply cancelling loans and in many cases the homebuyer has to start over with a new lender. This can result in the homebuyer having to pay for another appraisal if the new lender won't accept their current appraisal.

The Bottom Line! Basically, if you are purchasing a new home and have solid employment, a good FICO score and at least 5% of the purchase price as a down payment...you should be fine. But, at this time, borrowers will have to prove that they can afford the home. The days of lenders giving borrowers the benefit of the doubt seems to be over. Everything must be documented.

Until this meltdown settles, many of the loan programs that we have been accustomed to will no longer be there. Actually, this will mean that a bit of "common sense" has returned to the mortgage industry. Someone that can't afford a particular home shouldn't buy it in the first place. Borrowers will have to qualify at the normal rate instead of the "teaser" rate. The mortgage industry is simply coming down to earth.

But, on the flip side, potential homebuyers and investors will be able to purchase foreclosed properties at a substantial discount.

Remember, if you plan to purchase a home in the near future...follow these guidelines for a successful transaction:

o Keep your credit score as high as possible. Check it often and take care of any discrepancies. This can mean a huge difference in your interest rate.
o Maintain your employment. Lenders will want to see at least 2 years of steady employment history.
o Save your down-payment money. Make steady deposits into your savings account because lenders will want to see the "paper trail". And they want "seasoned" funds, which means that the money must be in the account for several months prior to loan application.
o Don't purchase a vehicle just prior to your loan application. This greatly reduces your income to debt ratio and could prevent you from purchasing your new home.
o Plan carefully and try to obtain a fixed-rate mortgage. This will insure that your principal and interest will not increase at any time in the future.

For more information, please contact me. I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Pam Rumley is a veteran real estate broker in Nashville Tennessee Real Estate. She is a true Exclusive Buyer's Agent, which means that her office never takes listings. This fact assures that there is never a conflict of interest regarding your real estate transaction. You can be assured of receiving 100% of her attention and loyalty - 100% of the time!

For more information, visit her comprehensive website http://www.NashvilleRealEstateAuthority.com

Be sure to check out her "Real Estate University" section, where you will find more informative articles on a variety of topics concerning homebuying.

It's easy to save hundreds of dollars by taking advantage of her "Bundle Package". You can also choose your own closing gift from a large selection of high-end home decor items.

Contact Pam directly at pam@pamrumley.com - or 615-826-0305

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