Mortgages

Home Equity Loan Refinancing

If you have lived in your home for more than two years, it has probably appreciated which means that you have built up equity. What is home equity? Home equity is the difference between the value of your home and the amount of all that you owe on your home. If your home has an appraised value of $200,000 and all of the outstanding liens against it total $150,000 then your home equity equals $50,000. Often times when a home has accumulated value, the homeowner decides to take some of that value out in cash. Sometimes the cash is used to pay off bills, for home improvements or for a child’s education. One of the best ways to tap the money available from your property is to refinance it with a home equity loan.

When considering a home equity loan, there are several steps you should take to ensure you choose the refinancing package that is right for you.

· The current market for home equity loan refinancing is crowded and very competitive. As a homeowner you probably receive solicitations for loans almost daily via the telephone or the mail or the Internet. Be wary of accepting any of these solicitations without thoroughly investigating them. The best course of action might be to initiate your own independent search for a financial institution or mortgage broker. Also be aware of the fact that a mortgage broker in any loan situation is not automatically working to get you the best deal. You are the person who should take responsibility for making sure that the final loan product is the one you need. The Better Business Bureau, the yellow pages, the Internet and references from friends are all good places to start your search for refinancing your loan.

· You will need a certified appraisal for the actual loan. However, it is wise to have an idea of the value of your home before you begin the process of refinancing. There are many online services that will give you an estimate of your home’s value. Many times home sales are listed in the newspaper. Watch these listings for homes in your neighborhood that are similar to yours in size and condition. Note their prices.

· Know your credit score. By law you are allowed one free credit report a year. The credit reporting agencies that supply the report generally will also offer your FICO score for a small additional fee. There are other factors that influence your ability to obtain a home equity loan but your credit report and FICO score are good places to start.

· Once you have identified several possible sources for refinancing your loan, have the lenders explain the different loan products they offer. Don’t be afraid to ask specific questions and don’t be hypnotized by a low interest rate. A low interest rate alone is not sufficient reason to accept a loan proposal. Ask about the term of the loan and the closing costs. Make sure the lender explains any terms you may not fully understand such as points.

· Let the lenders know they are competing for your refinancing business. Sometimes a lender will sweeten your deal if there is the possibility the it might be lost otherwise.

· Have all proposals submitted in writing. Take the time to compare them and always make sure you are comparing the same types of things. For instance, don’t just look at the bottom line number on the closing costs see what each lender is including in the closing costs.

· Be alert to potential scams. Don’t be intimidated by your refinancing lender into signing anything that isn’t absolutely true. Don’t sign anything that has blanks or that you haven’t read.

· Know your rights. There is generally a three day penalty free right to cancel when you refinance your loan. If something doesn’t seem correct to you, don’t shy from invoking that right.

Refinancing your loan in order to access your home equity can be a wise financial move. Your home, however, is probably the largest portion of your net worth so proceed with caution and knowledge.

Bad Credit Mortgage Refinancing

Bad credit mortgage refinancing loans are used to solve two different problems.

Problem Number One: The homeowner has bad credit, significant high interest credit card debt and a home with substantial equity. In order to pay off the high interest bills, the person refinances his/her home and cashes out all or part of the equity. The cash from the equity is used to pay off the high interest obligations. Although the interest rate on the bad credit mortgage refinancing loan may be higher than that of a conventional loan, the house payment should still be less than the total of the high interest consumer debt.

A bad credit mortgage refinancing where the owner intents to use the cash from the home’s equity to pay off bills is called a debt consolidation loan. The value of the home being refinanced must have grown so that the home’s appraised worth will justify a larger loan. The new loan amount must be high enough that the owner can cover the loan’s closing costs and still have enough left over to pay off the credit card debt.

A bad credit mortgage refinancing such as this can have several advantages. The term of the loan will be longer. Since even a high interest subprime loan carries a lower interest rate than do high interest credit cards the new house payment will be smaller than the total of the old house payment and the consumer debt payments. However, choosing to refinance in this manner carries risks. If the homeowner does not change the behavior that led to the high debt, even more high interest credit card bills may be accumulated. Since the homeowner’s equity has already been “cashed out” of his/her house the only alternative in a money crunch may be bankruptcy or foreclosure.

If a homeowner chooses a debt consolidation loan as the method of bad credit mortgage financing, it is imperative to use the cash received to pay off the accumulated debts. Credit counseling to keep from returning to poor credit practices should also be considered.

Problem Number Two: The homeowner had bad credit when the home was originally purchased and had to take out a high interest subprime mortgage loan at that time. Two or more years have passed since the loan was made during which time the homeowner has made all of the loan payments on time and has incurred no other bad credit. Now the time has arrived to refinance the loan and receive a better interest rate.

Even with two years of excellent credit history, a homeowner trying to refinance a bad credit mortgage may not be able to obtain a conventional low interest loan. The type of loan that can be attained will depend on a variety of factors such as current income and how much debt the homeowner has.

Refinancing a bad credit mortgage under these circumstances may be a good idea if the following two statements are true.

1. The new loan will carry an interest rate two or more percentage points lower than the current loan.

2. The homeowner plans to stay in the house for three or more years.

Bad Credit Home Financing – Choosing a Subprime Mortgage Lender

In the early nineties subprime mortgages accounted for about five percent of all mortgages. Today the subprime mortgage loan sector comprises more than twenty percent of the mortgage market. With this explosion of subprime mortgage lenders and brokers, it is important to know what to look for when choosing your lender. Not only do you want to be sure that you are getting the best deal possible for your subprime mortgage, you also want to know how to avoid falling prey to a predatory lender.

What makes a person a candidate for a subprime mortgage? Bad credit is the predominant reason but there are others. Fluctuating income and even the type of property being purchased can also necessitate an unconventional mortgage. If your unique situation requires a subprime mortgage do the following when choosing your loan agent or broker.

Know your credit history, particularly your FICO score. A score lower than 620 generally means that you will be offered a subprime mortgage. Do not take for granted that you must seek a subprime mortgage. Ask what products are available for you. Also, make sure you have your employment, income and payment histories readily available.

Do not assume that getting the lowest interest rate also means you are getting the best loan. Most subprime mortgage loans will be two percentage points higher than a conventional loan and may have additional fees. All of the prospective subprime mortgage lenders should submit their loan packages to you in writing. Take the time to carefully analyze all of the mortgage offers. Compare not just the interest rates but also the fees you are being charged.

Be wary of prepayment penalties. A subprime mortgage is a vehicle for repairing your credit or responding to a specific applicant situation and usually is a short term solution. Hefty prepayment penalties may lock you into a subprime mortgage for a longer term than is necessary or cause you to pay a substantial price for refinancing to a conventional mortgage at a later date. You may have to accept some sort of prepayment penalty but negotiate with the various lenders to guarantee you have the least burdensome penalty possible.

Even though you are looking for a subprime mortgage lender you still have many options. After comparing the loan offers from the different lenders, negotiate the terms. Do not feel that a lender is doing you a favor by offering you a subprime mortgage. Many times the compensation a lender receives for a subprime mortgage is greater than that which is received for a conventional mortgage.

Most subprime mortgage lenders are honest and responsible business people. Still, the regulation of subprime loans varies widely and you should be careful not to fall victim to a predatory lender.

1. Don’t respond to telephone or direct mail offers from subprime mortgage lenders. Do your own research. The Better Business Bureau, the telephone book and the Internet are all good resources. Ask friends for referrals.

2. Don’t allow yourself to be pressured. Ask for offers in writing and use plenty of time to compare them.

3. Don’t sign any documents that have blank spaces or incorrect dates.

4. Don’t be convinced to inflate your income or net worth.

5. Don’t skip reading any portion of your loan documents because your lender tells you “that part isn’t important”.

Choosing a subprime mortgage lender is like any other purchase. The more knowledge you have and the more research and analysis you do, the better your decision will be.

Refinance Mortgage Lenders – Finding The Best Refinance Lender

Finding a good lender to refinance your mortgage can be almost as important a decision as the actual mortgage you choose.  In order to make a wise selection of a refinancing lender you should do four things:

1. Know the objective of your mortgage refinance

Do you want to lower your current interest rate?  Generally, refinancing your mortgage can be profitable if your current mortgage is 2% higher than the prevailing rates.  Do you want to move from an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) to a fixed rate mortgage?

If interest rates are creeping up this may be a good idea.  Do you want to shorten the term of your mortgage to accumulate value more quickly?  Do you want to take cash out of your home’s equity?  The mortgage refinance lender you pick will want to know your reason for refinancing so that the appropriate mortgage product can be chosen.  You will also want to be aware of your credit score and the terms of your current mortgage.

2. Know the different types of mortgage refinance lenders and the different types of mortgage refinance products that are available

Just like when your home’s mortgage was originally financed, there are a variety of lenders who can refinance your mortgage:  Banks, credit unions, mortgage companies.  There are also brokers who will find a variety of lenders for you.  You should be aware, however, that unless specifically contracted to do so a mortgage broker does not have to find the mortgage refinance package that might be the best for you.

Refresh your knowledge of the mortgage financing vocabulary.  Be fluent with terms such as interest rate, point and prepayment penalties.  Also, most newspapers publish a daily listing of current interest rates for different types of mortgages.  Become familiar with these listings and check them on a daily basis.

3. Shop around and find several different lenders to refinance your mortgage

The market for refinancing mortgages has become so crowded and competitive that it is fairly easy to find several lenders to compare.  You might use a broker.  The newspaper and the yellow pages are also good places to start.  If you are comfortable negotiating the Internet, it is an excellent resource.  There are many services online which will perform a preliminary search for a lender.  Your current mortgage lender should also be included in this group.

4. Negotiate the mortgage refinance loan that suits your needs

Many times the compensation a lender makes on refinancing a mortgage is dependent on the terms of the mortgage so it is up to you to make sure that the loan received is the most advantageous for you.

You might want to investigate mortgage refinance lenders who offer no closing cost loans or free appraisals.  It is important to make sure that you are comparing like products.  In order to do this, have your lender present proposals in writing and require ample time to compare the different offers.

Prepare a list of the features of each loan.  The type of loan, interest rate, points, prepayment penalties, closing costs are a few of the loan elements which should be compared.  Check the rate you are being offered against the rates from the most current newspaper listings.  The more organized, thorough and knowledgeable you are, the better your decision will be.

Deciding to refinance your mortgage is an important choice that should not be made lightly.  Know why you are doing it.  Know the possibilities for refinancing lenders and products that are available.  Be willing to shop amongst the different lenders and to negotiate a beneficial deal.  If you follow these steps, finding a good mortgage refinance lender will be much easier.

Home Equity Loan Comparison – Access Your Home’s Equity Through a Second Mortgage or Equity Loan

You can access your home equity without the cost of refinancing with two financing options. A second mortgage will give you a lump sum check with a fixed or adjustable rate. A home equity line lets you tap into your equity when you want to. Both options allow you to write off interest on your taxes and avoid high financing costs.

Benefits Of A Second Mortgage

A second mortgage allows you to borrow up to 90% of your home’s value. The lender, which doesn’t have to be your primary mortgage lender, writes you one check. You can choose to pay off credit cards or make a major purchase.

Fees are none to minimal with a second mortgage. Rates are usually fixed and last 15 or more years. A 15 year loan lets you pay off the debt quicker, saving you cash on extended interest payments.

Benefits Of A Home Equity Line

A home equity line is like a secured credit card, only you are borrowing against your home’s equity. You can choose to borrow a lump sum or only as needed. Most lenders issue checks and a credit card.

Rates are adjustable and are based on when you borrow the money. You can choose to never use the equity, but just know it is there in case of an emergency.

One option for new homebuyers is to put down a large down payment, securing low rates, and then apply for a home equity line. It’s like a safety net, ensuring that you can still access your cash if needed.

Picking The Right Financing

Each type of home equity loan has its own advantages. A second mortgage offers secure fixed rates with small payments over a longer period. It makes sense for large projects, such as remodeling or paying off credit cards. A home equity line offers flexibility, better suited for smaller purchases.

With both types of programs, you still want to investigate lenders before applying. Be sure to look at financing companies other than your current mortgage lender. You want to find the lowest rates with the best terms by asking for quotes on both rates and fees. By investing a little bit of time, you will save yourself hundreds.

Sub-Prime Mortgage Loans – Five Ways To Lower Your Rates On A Sub-prime Mortgage

Sub-prime mortgages don’t mean you have to pay excessively high interest rates to buy a home. By taking time to do some research and pick the right terms, you can save thousands on your mortgage. The following five tips will help you get low rates with the right subprime lender.

Compare Lenders

The number one way to lower your interest rates on your sub-prime mortgage is to compare lenders before you apply. It sounds so simple, but too many homebuyers skip this step, costing them thousands.

Plan on taking at least a day to explore your options. The easiest way to look at financing packages is to request quotes online. While you are requesting quotes, take a look at conventional lenders as well. They often offer good rates and terms for those with adverse credit histories.

Pick An ARM

Adjustable rate mortgages (ARM) offer lower rates and are easier to qualify for than fixed rate mortgages. The drawback is that ARM rates can increase over the years. But if you are planning to move soon or just want to buy a home, then an ARM probably is your best choice.

You can also convert your ARM when your credit score improves. As property prices increase and your equity builds, you will also be able to get better terms in the future.

Increase Your Down Payment

By increasing your down payment, you can knock off up to a percentage point. Zero or little down financing is great for those short on cash, but rates are significantly higher. Ideally, you want to put down 25% to get the best rates. Just leave enough cash reserves to financing moving expenses.

Pay A Point Or Two

Points paid upfront can also lower your interest rate. You want to be sure though that you recoup the upfront costs. If you plan to move or refinance in a couple of years, you will not see the savings of lower rates.

You may also find that your money would be better spent on increasing your down payment than on paying points. With this type of decision, you will want to do some math with a mortgage calculator.

Bulk Up Cash Reserves

By increasing your cash reserves, you can also improve your credit score to qualify you for lower rates. Take advantage of tax refunds or cash bonuses by putting them into your savings. Lenders look at saving accounts, money markets, and CDs as cash reserves, not stocks or other volatile assets.

Is Your Subprime Mortgage Lender a Predatory Lender

Subprime lenders offer financing for people with low credit scores who don’t 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 home’s 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 isn’t 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 weren’t disclosed prior to signing loan documents. According to federal law, you have three days after the loan’s closing to walk away. The lender may keep part of your application fee, but you get the rest of your cash back.

Home Loan Refinancing – When Do You Have To Close?

Refinanced mortgages have a couple of different rules when it comes to closing. For one, there is a mandatory rescission clause for primary residence mortgages that allows you annul your loan. You can also choose to close at anytime, which is beneficial if you think rates will drop in the near future.

Rescission Clause

With a rescission clause, you have three days after closing to cancel your loan if the property is your primary residence. Think of it as a “cooling off” period. If you have second thoughts, you can annul the loan and recoup nearly all the fees.

Most often this clause comes in handy when homeowners are deciding to tap into their home’s equity, but then change their minds. Other times, a change in job situation or home plans makes the refinanced mortgage unnecessary.

Once you have annulled your mortgage, you will only have a short term hit on your credit score from the lender’s background check. It will make little difference if you decided to apply for another loan in the near future.

Delaying Closing

You don’t have to close your refinanced mortgage within 30 days. You can keep it open indefinitely. However, you have to weigh your choices carefully. While you are waiting for rates to drop, you may see them rise while paying your current high mortgage rate.

Mortgage rates fluctuate on an almost hourly rate, but they do follow a trend. You can read about general mortgage rate in your newspaper’s finance section or hear it on the evening news. When the Federal Reserve Board raises or lower rates, it will eventually impact mortgage rates. But other factors also affect mortgage rates, making it difficult to predict exact changes.

You also have to remember that every month you delay locking in rates, you are losing a chance to save money. While a percent can save you a significant amount of money, a quarter or eighth of a percent doesn’t really make it worth it. Waiting for lower rates is a gamble that you have a right to.

Know Your Options

Once you begin the refinancing process, know that you aren’t locked into the loan or closing. You have the power to stop the process even after the loan has closed for three days. You also have the choice on when to lock in rates. With these options, you can explore all your financial choices and make the decision that is right for you.

Poor Credit Mortgage Refinance – Refinancing Your Home After Your Credit Score Has Dropped

You can still refinance with bad credit, but you will need to shop around. Each refinance application is looked at on an individual basis. So even if you have bad credit, other factors could qualify you for a low interest rate. However, if you don’t apply, you will never know.

Reasons To Refinance

If you bought your home with good credit, you probably found reasonable rates. But you still may be able to lower your rates by refinancing. You can also lock in rates by converting to a fixed rate mortgage.

You can also lower your payments by extending the terms of your loan. You may also choose to tap into your equity through a cash-out mortgage. You can use your equity to pay off bills while writing off the interest on your taxes.

Qualifying For Refinancing

Just because you have poor credit, doesn’t mean you can’t qualify for refinancing. You can still use a conventional lender even if you have missed a couple of payments. And if you have sufficient equity, most lenders will look at your application.

The government also offers programs if you have made on time payments on your mortgage. With the FHA’s streamlined mortgage and the VA’s IRRL, as long as you are reducing your interest rates, you can refinance. Most mortgage lenders handle these types of loans.

Strategies For Refinancing

Once you have decided to refinance, begin researching mortgage lenders. Do your homework by comparing rates and terms of several different lenders. When you have found a good quote, apply. If the lender does deny your application, you can look at subprime lenders.

Good subprime lenders can offer fairly competitive rates. And more and more conventional lenders are also working with subprime financing. You will want to look at their offers and see if it will work with your situation.

You may also decide to wait and work on your credit record. By focusing on creating a reliable payment history, reducing debt load, and increasing cash reserves, you can qualify for good credit in two years. But before you jump to this step, make sure you have explored all your options.

1st and 2nd Mortgage Refinance Loan

Refinancing a first and second mortgage requires some extra considerations. Depending on your equity, you may find that combining the two mortgages results in a higher interest rate. You may also find that you have to carry PMI with the refinanced mortgage.

Will Refinancing Benefit You?

Refinancing two mortgages allows you to consolidate your loans into one payment, often lowering your monthly bill. You may also find lower rates under the right circumstances.

Those with a large amount of equity benefit most from consolidating loans since they qualify for the lowest rates. It is important to look at interest savings, not just monthly numbers which can be misleading.

However, if you have less than 25% equity, you may end up qualifying for higher rates. With less than 20% equity, you will also have to pay for private mortgage insurance. Even with these factors, you may still find that you will save money by refinancing.

Have You Done Your Research?

To see if refinancing makes sense for you, research mortgage lenders. You can quickly go online and request quotes and terms. Look at the different offers, and work out the numbers. An online mortgage calculator can help you figure out monthly payments and interest costs.

An easy way to compare cost is to first add up your interest payments for both mortgages. Use this number to compare interest payments with each potential mortgage.

You also need to factor in the cost of refinancing. Just like with your original mortgage, you will have to pay fees and points. You want to be sure that you can recoup these costs with your interest savings.

Why Do You Want To Refinance Both Mortgages?

While refinancing both mortgages is convenient, you may decide to refinance only one or both separately. With your main mortgage, you can expect to get low rates.

A second mortgage will usually qualify for higher rates, but you can lock them in. You may also choose to convert from a line of credit to an actual mortgage. Again, you will want to investigate financial packages before signing up with a lender.