50-year Mortgages

September 5th, 2006

Lending experts are fifty-fifty on 50-year mortgages: some of them say as it can be risky, others say it’s good. Many men, many mind. Nevertheless, Statewide Bancorp in California is the first U.S. lender to introduce a 50-year mortgage. It means that a mortgage has been supersized. Half of first-time home buyers are 32 or older, according to the National Association of Realtors. If those buyers get 50-year mortgages and never refinance or make extra payments, they won’t pay off their loans until they’re in their 80s. Would they be crazy to get loans that amortize or pay off the balance over 50 years instead of the standard 30 years? No way. Getting a 50-year loan is a perfectly rational way to avoid an interest-only or payment-option adjustable-rate mortgage.  Such loans only make up a small fraction of the market as you are not building wealth through homeownership with a 50-year mortgage. Although lenders offer 50-year loans, almost every company has variations: some have a straight 50-year mortgage, some have a balloon payment and some have adjustments. The customer is probably going to be charged a higher interest rate to have the privilege of paying 20 years more interest. Basically, a 50-year mortgage is the program of last resort and borrowers should remember that there will be a day of reckoning and maybe a bad day of reckoning.

Most 50-year loans are actually adjustable 30-year loans that are based on a 50-year repayment schedule. They are called “50s due in 30.” If carried to term, the loans have balloon payments due in 30 years. Some lenders offer adjustable home loans that can be repaid over 50 years. Because it is adjustable, the fully amortized 50-year loan is definitely profitable. Some buyers simply like the idea of having five decades to repay their loan.
As for taxes and insurance, the 50-year loan would begin with a monthly payment of $3,674 compared to $3,826 for the traditional loan. After 30 years, borrowers with the traditional loan would own their homes free and clear. Those with a “50 due in 30” would face a balloon payment of $388,036.  It’s expected that half-century mortgages will rapidly gain popularity. The advantage of a 50-year mortgage is that there is a lot of sizzle, but not much steak.

National City Mortgage

August 23rd, 2006

National City Corporation based in 1955 in Cleveland, Ohio, is one of the ten largest banks in America in terms of deposits. The company operates through an extensive banking network primarily in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri and Pennsylvania, and also serves customers in selected markets nationally. Its core businesses include commercial and retail banking, mortgage financing and servicing, consumer finance and asset management.
National City has been on an acquisition spree of late, including its $2.1 billion purchase of Cincinnati-based Provident Financial Group in 2004. In addition, in 2005, National City acquired Allegiant Bancorp to secure a presence in the St. Louis, MO market. In 2006 they acquired Fidelity Bankshares Inc. for an estimated $1 billion dollar deal that is half cash, half stock. Also acquiring Harbor Florida Bancshares Inc. through a $1.1 billion stock deal, both banks are located in Florida. Combined it gives National City 7.4 billion of assets in Florida. It also gives National City 92 branches in a market that is growing quicker than the midwest. On the other side of the ledger, National City sold to Bank of America its 83% stake in National Processing, which earns fees from processing merchant credit card transactions.
Today National City offers much more types of mortgage loans than in the past as the corporation continually strives to provide their customers with loan programs that meet their needs. There’s a wide variety of programs available whether you’re buying a home or refinancing your present one:
Fixed Rate Programs for stability - your interest rate or principal and interest payment will stay the same over the life of your loan.
Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARM) for flexibility - ARMs offer a lower interest rate to start, so your monthly payments are generally lower.
Affordable Home Programs for modest budgets increase home ownership possibilities by reducing the necessary down payment and costs.
Jumbo Mortgages for luxury homes allow you to borrow more money for the home of your dreams.
FHA and VA Mortgages for government loans usually offer lower interest rates and down payments to those who qualify.
There are also other mortgage program varieties for home buyers with particular requirements or specific circumstances. 
To find more information on a mortgage program, to apply online or calculate your mortgage you can visit National City Co. web-site: www.nationalcitymortgage.com

 

GMAC MORTGAGE

August 21st, 2006

GMAC Mortgage Corporation is the division of General Motors Acceptance Corporation (or GMAC) or the financial services arm of General Motors, the world’s largest automobile manufacturer. GMAC Financial Services provide a suite of financial programs including automotive financing, insurance and real estate and mortgage operations in 40 countries around the world. This international company has been part of the General Motors family since the late 1910s. GMAC mortgages were first offered in 1985, after GMAC Financial purchased Colonial Mortgage Service and Norwest Mortgage. In the late 1990s, the company bought mortgage services from Wells Fargo and unveiled the newly formed Home Services division, which provided all-inclusive services to potential homeowners from real estate assistance to home equity loans. Homebuyers can apply for GMAC mortgages in any of the company’s 200 offices across the country or through the Internet. As one of the largest mortgage providers in America, the company works with homeowners in all financial situations to help them meet their goals. GMAC mortgages are designed to provide the homeowner with a good financial package and peace of mind. Through its full-service approach, homebuyers hardly have a reason to shop around.
GMAC offers all of the most popular mortgage options, like Fixed Rate Mortgages, Adjustable Rate Mortgages, and balloon mortgages. They also work with homeowners who have little or no money for a down payment or who have had past credit problems. GMAC mortgages are also available for second properties, like a vacation home or investment, and can be used to build a new home. Refinancing your mortgage can help secure a better interest rate, lower monthly payments, or change the type of mortgage you currently have. GMAC mortgages can be refinanced with no cost by using their roll down option; although, using the roll down option may leave you with a higher interest rate. As your home appreciates and more of your mortgage is paid off, you should be able to access the funds tied into your house for necessary expenses. Whether it’s to pay off debt or start a home improvement project, GMAC offers loans and equity credit products to help you. Plus, the interest on a home equity loan is often tax deductible. Besides the backing of one of the country’s largest financial institutions, customers with GMAC get help with moving expenses. GMAC offers their clients discounts on supplies like boxes, tape, and packing material. If you finance a second mortgage, GMAC will reimburse you up to $250 on select moving products. GMAC provides its customers with a seemingly endless supply of resources to help navigate the mortgage process. At its website, GMAC offers FAQs, a glossary of mortgage terms, and comparisons of mortgage options. It also offers payment calculators, a rent versus buy comparison, and a tool to tell you how much of a mortgage you can afford: www.gmacmortgage.com
GMAC Rates on 18/08/2006:
                  Conforming Loans:           Jumbo Loans:  
30 year fixed – 6.750%                       6.875%
15 year fixed – 6.500%                       6.625%
5/1 LIBOR AMR – 6.625%                   6.750%

Wells Fargo Mortgage

August 18th, 2006

Wells Fargo & Co. is a financial services company in the United States with consumer finance subsidiaries doing business in Canada, the Northern Mariana Islands and the Caribbean.
Headquartered in San Francisco, California (its bank, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., is legally chartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota but is also operated from San Francisco), Wells Fargo is a result of the acquisition of California-based Wells, Fargo & Co. by Minneapolis-based Norwest Corporation in 1998. Though unusual for a business acquisition, in this case Norwest chose to change its name to that of the acquired company, to capitalize on the 150-year history of the Wells Fargo name and trademark stagecoach. After changing its name to Wells Fargo, it moved its headquarters from Minneapolis to San Francisco, where the old Wells Fargo Bank had been based. Thus, both before and after the transaction, “Wells Fargo Bank” was based in San Francisco, so that a misimpression was created that Wells Fargo Bank had acquired Norwest. By September 30, 2005, Wells Fargo has 6,250 “stores”, 23 million customers, and 153,000 employees.
Today Wells Fargo offers a wide range of services, for example, banking (online banking, savings, etc.), loans (home equity loans, home mortgage, student loans, personal loans, etc.), investing and insurance (mutual funds, brokerage, etc.). Wells Fargo is one of the leading providers of mortgage in the United States. If you want to get more detailed information about Wells Fargo loans, current rates, payment information etc., you can visit www.wellsfargo.com.

Mortgage Insurance

August 17th, 2006

There are different types of mortgage insurance. Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) is default insurance on conventional loans, provided by private insurance companies. The Homeowners Protection Act of 1998 allows PMI to be canceled when the amount owed reaches a certain level, particularly when the debt is less than 80% of the home’s value, and automatically when the loan principal is less than 78% of its original cost. Mortgagee’s Title Insurance is a policy that protects the lender from future claims to ownership of the mortgaged property. It’s generally required by the lender as a condition of making a mortgage. In the event of a successful ownership claim from someone other than the mortgagor, the insurance company compensates the lender for any consequent loses. Mortgagor’s Title Insurance is a policy protecting the buyer/ owner of real property from successful claims of ownership interest to the property. The coverage usually is supplemental to a Mortgagee’s Title Insurance policy, and the premium is customarily paid by the buyer.
 To go into details, Mortgage Insurance is a financial guaranty that insures lenders against loss in the event a borrower defaults on a mortgage. In case the borrower defaults paying off mortgage, the lender takes title to the property and the mortgage insurer reduces or eliminates the loss to the lender. In effect, the mortgage insurer shares the risk of lending the money to the borrower. Mortgage insurance should not be confused with mortgage life insurance, which provides coverage in the event of a borrower’s death, or homeowner’s insurance, which protects the homeowner from loss due to damage from fire, flood or other disaster!
Mortgage Insurance helps home buyers to benefit and allows them to become homeowners sooner. First-time buyers can use a low down payment to help them afford their first home, or to purchase a more expensive home sooner. Home buyers can put less money down and gain significant tax advantages because they will have more deductible interest to claim. They can also use the cash they would have used for a large down payment for investments, moving costs or other expenses. Without the guaranty of mortgage insurance, lenders normally require a borrower to make a down payment of at least 20% of a home’s purchase price, which can mean years of saving for some borrowers. This large down payment assures the lender that the borrower is committed to the investment and will try to meet the obligation of monthly mortgage payments to protect his investment. With the guaranty of mortgage insurance, lenders are willing to accept as little as 5% or 10% down from borrowers. Mortgage insurance fills the gap between the standard requirement of 20% down and an amount the borrower can more easily afford to put down on a purchase. A low down payment also allows borrowers to purchase more homes than they might otherwise be able to afford. Without mortgage insurance, a borrower who has saved $10,000 for the required minimum 20% down payment would only be able to purchase a $50,000 home. With mortgage insurance the borrower could make a down payment of only 10% and purchase a $100,000 home with the $10,000! Or put $7,500 down on a $75,000 home and use the remaining $2,500 for decorating, investing, or buying a car or major appliance. Mortgage insurance broadens a borrower’s options. 
Usually borrowers pay for mortgage insurance. An initial premium is collected at closing and its monthly amount may be included in the house payment made to the lender. Here are some examples of flexible plans for borrowers:
1) Annuals - The borrower pays the first-year premium at closing; an annual renewal premium is collected monthly as part of the total monthly house payment.
2) Monthly Premiums - The cost is slightly more than traditional mortgage insurance plans but monthly premiums dramatically reduce mortgage insurance closing costs. Borrowers pay for mortgage insurance monthly as part of their total monthly house payment but only need to pay one month’s mortgage insurance premium at closing, rather than one year’s.
3) Singles - The borrower pays a one-time single premium (instead of an initial premium and renewal premiums). Since single premiums are typically financed as part of the mortgage loan amount, no out-of-pocket cash is used for mortgage insurance at closing.
These plans offer the choice of refundable or nonrefundable premiums. A refundable premium allows the borrower the opportunity to receive money back on any unused portion, in the event that mortgage insurance coverage is discontinued before the loan is paid in full. The cost for a nonrefundable premium is slightly less than that of a refundable premium, thereby giving the borrower a small savings. If coverage is discontinued on a loan with a nonrefundable premium, the borrower has no opportunity for a refund.

Ameriquest Mortgage

August 16th, 2006

Ameriquest is one of the United State’s leading wholesale sub-prime lenders. It is a private company, owned by Roland Arnall, founded in 1979, in Orange County, California, as a bank, Long Beach Savings & Loan. The bank moved to Orange County in 1991 and was converted to a pure mortgage lender in 1994, renamed Long Beach Mortgage Co. In 1997, the wholesale part of the business (funding loans made by independent brokers) was spun off as a publicly traded company, called Long Beach Mortgage. The retail part of the business was renamed Ameriquest Capital and remained private. In 1999, Washington Mutual purchased Long Beach Mortgage.
Ameriquest is best known for its subsidiary, Ameriquest Mortgage Company, which makes direct loans to customers. Its Argent Mortgage Company affiliate works with independent brokers. It has offices nationwide and more than 12,000 employees. Other subsidiaries are Ameriquest Mortgage Securities, Long Beach Acceptance Corp. and Town & Country Credit.
Ameriquest was among the first mortgage companies to use computers to search for prospective borrowers and to speed up the loan process and is widely known in the United States. It advertises widely on television, has blimps that fly over football and baseball stadiums and was even sponsoring the 2005 Rolling Stones’ U.S. tour. The home stadium of the Texas Rangers is now called Ameriquest Field.
Sub-prime lenders made $587 billion in new mortgages in 2004, up from $390 billion in2003, according to National Mortgage News. Ameriquest’s share of that is estimated at over $50 billion.
Among Ameriquest’s Mortgage Programs include 30 Year Fixed Mortgage which is a fully amortized loan (paid off at the end of the loan period) with a fixed interest rate for 360 monthly payments. The payments are paid monthly and are due the 1st of each month. The payment on this loan remains fixed at the original interest rate for the life of the loan.
Then 15 Year Fixed Mortgage which is also a fully amortized loan with a fixed interest rate for 180 monthly payments. The payment on this loan also remains fixed at the original interest rate for the life of the loan.
5 Year ARM (Adjustable Rate Mortgage) is a fixed rate for the first 5 years, and then it converts to an adjustable rate loan that can adjust every 6 months. The total loan term is 30 years.
3 Year ARM (Adjustable Rate Mortgage) is a fixed rate mortgage for the first 3 years and then it converts to an adjustable rate loan that can also adjust every 6 months with the total loan term for 30 years.
Ameriquest offers the following quick mortgage rates on 08/16/2006:
Product        Rate       APR  
30Year Fixed – 6.625%  6.938%
15Year Fixed – 6.259%  6.756%
5Year ARM   - 6.250%  7.447%
3Year ARM   - 6.125%  7.629%

For more thorough information you can visit www.ameriquestmortgage.com

Commercial Mortgage

August 16th, 2006

C-Mortgage is a mortgage used to buy a commercial piece of property or commercial building. Basically, it’s similar to residential mortgages, but collateral is business property. Interest rates are usually higher than for residential property, the length of the loan can range from 5 - 30 years, and payments due monthly. A commercial mortgage is probably the best way to finance the purchase of buildings and land for business purposes or to expand existing facilities. It provides the most flexible and affordable finance solution. Commercial mortgages are specialized due to the fact that the lender has a legal claim over the property until the loan has been repaid in full. The most common commercial mortgage is a fixed rate loan, where the interest rate remains constant throughout the term. Loans can also be variable or capped. A second commercial mortgage is an additional loan on a commercial property secured behind that of the first lien.
There are some advantages and disadvantages concerning C-Mortgages.
Advantages:
1) Tax Advantage - Interest payments on your mortgage are tax deductible and are made with pre-tax money.
2) Better Cash Flow - A mortgage gives you access to capital that you would not normally have access to with minimal up-front payments and the flexibility to design a repayment plan that suits your needs.
3) Retain ownership - Instead of raising funds by selling a share in the property or the business to an investor, you retain complete ownership. The lender is only entitled to an interest return on its mortgage, not a percentage of ownership that an investor would expect. Also they can only exercise the right if you default on payment. You retain all the benefits of ownership in an asset that has the potential to increase in value.
4) Simplified Cash flow management - Mortgage schedules are pre-set, making cash management more predictable.
Disadvantages:
1) Collateral - The nature of a mortgage requires you to pledge the purchased property to the lender. If you default on the mortgage, the lender is able to foreclose the property and sell it to repay the outstanding money owed to the lender. Make sure when the mortgage is repaid; the lender is obligated to release the mortgage and is required to make available any government files acknowledging this release.
2) Defaults - The lender may define a variety of events that will constitute a default on the mortgage, including failure to make any payment on time, bankruptcy, insolvency and breaches of any obligations in the mortgage agreement. Try to negotiate an advanced written notice of any alleged default, with a reasonable amount of time to cure the default.
A commercial loan can either be set up as either secured or unsecured where a commercial mortgage will be secured against the property. Some business loans may also require personal guarantees which could involve the borrower’s house forming part of the security for the loan as well as the business itself.
Interest rates vary widely (usually between 1% and 7% over base rate) and usually a secured loan will be cheaper than an unsecured loan. Lenders do not often advertise set rates for business loans but will negotiate a deal specific for each case. The lender usually looks at monthly cash flow projections, personal financial statements covering at least the last 3 years, a detailed business plan, tax returns, company balance sheets and profit and loss accounts, a management profile and details outlining how the loan will be used. This is not always the case however and there are some reputable lenders willing to look at a case with adverse credit history, either personal or business. A business loan is likely to be a cheaper option for a company with overdraft facility and sometimes even if there are funds available, there may be tax advantages against interest payments when borrowing money rather than dipping into company funds.
Another commercial mortgage option is flexible commercial mortgage. It may be suitable if you want to do something different with your small business premises. You can buy a new building or release cash locked up in your existing one. For example, Barclays Bank offers flexible commercial mortgages and outlines the following benefits of this option:
1) You get quick access to funds
2) A commercial mortgage is flexible – you can use it for a range of purposes, from purchasing the premises to releasing the equity locked in your property for business uses
3) You can free up your cash flow by taking advantage of an initial repayment holiday of up to 24 months
4) You can cover against death and/or critical illness
Barclays also gives the main C-mortgage features:
1) Any repayment period from one to 25 years
2) Up to 80% of the valuation or property purchase price
3) Optional repayment holiday up to 24 months at the beginning of mortgage period (interest rate will be debited to the current account)
4) Choice of fixed or variable interest rates, with the option to change during the mortgage term
And in conclusion, terms and conditions to follow: The maximum amount of loan is 80% of the market value of the property, and is subject to normal credit checks. There are some limitations for certain industries. You must own and occupy the property that you are offering as security. A legal charge over your property will be required.

Mortgage Loan Closing or Settlement

August 8th, 2006

The mortgage loan closing is a serious process that requires high attention, time and strict sequence of actions. Once your application for a mortgage loan has been approved and you have received a commitment letter from the lender, the final step before you can call the house your own is the closing, or settlement, of the purchase transaction and mortgage loan. Even though you have signed purchase agreement and your loan request has been approved, you have no rights to the property, including access, until the legal title to the property is transferred to you and loan is closed. At closing, you will sign the mortgage loan documents, funds will be collected and the closing agent will record the necessary instruments to give you legal ownership of the property. Settlement of a mortgage loan is a legal process and the procedures and requirements will vary according to state and local laws.
As soon as you receive firm approval from the lender who is making your mortgage loan, you should confirm the actual date of loan closing. An estimated closing date was probably specified in the sale contract, but a firm date needs to be set by you, the seller of the property and your lender. The settlement date also shows correct time to assemble all of the required documentation. If repairs or maintenance on the property are a part of the lender’s commitment, there must be time to complete them. The real estate agents involved in the sale transaction and the lender are often the best people to coordinate the closing arrangements. Most lenders require at last 3 to 5 days advance notice of the closing date in order to prepare the loan documents and get them to the closing agent.
There are standard documents required for a loan closing:
Title Insurance Policy - Every lender requires title insurance. The title policy proves that the seller of the property is the legal owner and that there are no claims against the property. The title company offers both a lender’s policy and an owner’s policy. You will have to pay for a lender’s policy and it is advisable for you to have an owner’s policy as well.
Homeowner’s Insurance - The lender will require you to have homeowners insurance on the property to make sure the policy covers the value of the property in case it’s destroyed by fire or storm. You must pay for the policy and have it at closing.
Termite Inspection and Certification - In many areas of the country, the property must be inspected for termites and the inspection is required in the purchase contract. In some parts of the country, this may be called a “wood infestation” report.
Survey or Plot Plan - Your lender may require a survey of the property, showing the property boundaries and the location of the improvements.
Water and Sewer Certification - If the property is not served by public water and sewer facilities, you will need local government certification of the private water source and sanitary sewer facility. Properties with well and septic water sources are usually governed by county codes and standards.
Flood Insurance - If the lender determines that the property is located within a defined flood plain, you will have to have a flood insurance policy.
Certificate of Occupancy or Building Code Compliance Letter - If your home is new, you will have to have a Certificate of Occupancy. This document is usually obtained from the city or county before you can close the loan and move in. Many local governments require an inspection of a home to assure that the property conforms to local building codes. If a house doesn’t conform to some code it requires repairs or replacement the elements.
Other Documentation - Additional documentation required for closing will be set out in the commitment letter from the lender and will depend upon terms of the sale and peculiarities of the property.
Within 24 hours prior to the actual closing, your and your real estate agent should make a final inspection of the property to make sure any required repairs have been completed, all property described in the sale contract, such as kitchen appliances, carpeting and draperies are present and that no recent fire or storm damage has occurred. In most cases, the lender will make a similar inspection before closing.
The loan closing procedure very often requires you to be represented by an attorney. Even if it is not obligatory by law you may want to have an attorney to review the closing documents. Some lenders will close the loan in their offices, some will use title or escrow companies and some will send their instructions and documents to their attorney or yours to conduct the closing. As soon as you receive your commitment letter from the lender, you should determine who is responsible for closing arrangements. The closing is usually conducted by a closing agent who may be an employee of the lender or it may be an attorney representing you or the lender. It’s not obligatory for the lender and the seller or their representatives to be at the actual closing. The closing agent will make sure that all necessary papers are signed and recorded and that funds are properly accounted for when the closing is completed. You typically need to come to the closing with a certified check for the closing costs, including the balance of the down payment, homeowners’ insurance policy and proof of payment if it has not been delivered earlier.
Here’s a brief description of law documents which can help you understand their significance:
Settlement Statement HUD-1:  1) The form is required by Federal law and is prepared by the closing agent. It provides the details of the sale transaction including the sale price, amount of financing, loan fees and charges and real estate taxes. It must be signed by both the buyer and the seller and becomes a part of the lender’s permanent loan file. 2) Some of your charges on the HUD-1 may have already been paid, such as credit report and appraisal fees. They will be noted as P.O.C. (paid outside the closing). 3) If your loan is greater than 80% of the value of the property, you will probably have to pay for mortgage insurance that protects the lender in case you default. 4) In addition to your monthly payments on the loan, most lenders will require you to maintain an “escrow”, an account for real estate taxes and insurance. Current law permits a lender to collect 1/6th (2 months) of the estimated annual real estate taxes and insurance payments at closing.
Truth-in-Lending Statement is also required by Federal law. You were given an initial TIL shortly after you completed the loan application. If no changes have taken place since that time, the lender doesn’t provide one at closing.
The Mortgage Note is the legal evidence of your indebtedness and your formal promise to repay the debt. It sets out terms of the loan and recites the penalties the lender can take if you fail your payments on time.
The Mortgage or Deed of Trust is a sort of security instrument that gives the lender a claim against your house if you fail to fulfill the terms of the mortgage note. It gives the lender the right to take the property by foreclosure if you default on the loan.
P.S. There will probably be a number of other documents you will be asked to sign at closing. Some are lender or Federal law requirement. These instruments should not be taken lightly. Some may lead to criminal penalties for false information. When everything has been signed and the closing agent is satisfied you become the owner and are given the keys to the property.

Avoiding Mortgage Pitfalls

August 3rd, 2006

If you are planning to get a mortgage, then there are things you need to know before shopping for a lender. Many borrowers make a number of common mistakes that leave them paying a higher interest rate, fees or just getting into financial difficulties.
The biggest mistake you can make is misrepresenting your income and credit to a lender. If you try and get a mortgage before you have managed your finances, you could find yourself getting a rough deal or even being rejected for a mortgage. If you are rejected for a mortgage it can harm your chances of getting one from elsewhere. Before looking at mortgages, get all of your finances in order and have all your paperwork ready to submit to mortgage lenders. Plus make sure that all the information on your credit report is correct. If there are mistakes on your credit report it could harm your chances of getting a good mortgage!
Having bad credit is punishment enough for any financial mistakes people make. It’s awful when lenders take advantage of your circumstances with sky high fees, conditions and interest rates. Don’t let a lender take advantage of you just because you have poor credit rating. There are mortgage lenders truly concerned with helping people and all you need to do is to find them. If you contact with mortgage brokers or lenders that seem pushing pressure on you, don’t use their service and look somewhere else. The same is true of lenders or brokers that seem too eager or promise too much. If you let a broker push you into a loan that is not right for you it could cost you thousands of dollars. You may find yourself with unfavorable terms or huge payment you have no way of making. If your lender or broker is promising you the moon and it seems too good to be true, run away!
The best way to avoid mistakes with your mortgage is to do research. Research lenders, brokers and their mortgage offers, compare fees, conditions and interest rates. Not all mortgage lenders are unscrupulous. Unscrupulous mortgage brokers usually look for homeowners that are not familiar with the mortgage process. The only way to avoid mortgage pitfalls is to educate your self.
Many people start looking at property without having any idea whether they can secure a mortgage to pay for it. The most common mistake is that people confuse ‘pre-qualified’ with ‘pre-approved’. Pre-qualification means how much you can borrow and there is no guarantee you will get this amount at the rate you want. Pre-approval means that you go through the credit checking process and the lender agrees in writing to give you a certain amount of money. Getting pre-approval gives you a budget and makes you much more attractive to sellers because you have the finance already in place.
Borrowing too much is perhaps the biggest mistake people make. This can be a result of not being honest with yourself and pressure from lenders. If you are not honest with yourself about how much you can afford then you will end up in financial difficulty. You shouldn’t be tempted by lenders who offer you generous mortgages because it is you who will pay the price if you can’t keep up with the repayments. Work out how much you can really afford to pay each month and stick to this budget.
Another thing to remember is that if you want a good deal you have to shop around. If you find a good deal, you shouldn’t automatically think it is the best deal you can get. Many companies offer amazing deals that turn out to be a lot more expensive than initially advertised. Take a time, do your research and find out the most suitable rating.

With a lot of mortgages you will be offered extra items and pay extra fees that are simply unnecessary. Although they might seem a small amount here and there, they can soon add up and you could end up paying a lot more than you need to. Make sure that your mortgage agreement only includes the items that you need and query the price of any fees you think are too expensive. If a company tries to charge you too much then walk away. Remember, there are always other providers for you and you don’t have to pay for unnecessary things. If you are careful, self-educated and are able to avoid common mortgage mistakes then you will get a great deal and remain financially stable.

Repayment or Interest Only Mortgages (UK)?

August 3rd, 2006

Basically, there are really only two main types of mortgage, Repayment and Interest. It’s the many variations on them which make things seem more complicated than they have to be. But don’t worry! It can all be kept fairly simple by quickly learning about Repayment and Interest mortgages.
Interest only mortgage is an arrangement where you’re only paying off the interest on the loan. None of your capital debt is being repaid directly. It’s to be repaid by the end of the mortgage term by making simultaneous monthly payments into an investment fund. The idea is that this fund has hopefully grown enough to pay off the capital and leave you with a surplus. To do this your mortgage salesperson may offer you an investment “side” or “by product” (what they’ll claim is a suitable type of investment to pay off the capital part of the mortgage).
Anyway before accepting anything, always shop around for others. You’re probably looking for some type of ISA. A typical arrangement might be an endowment mortgage - at least now they are falling badly out of fashion. Endowments are a mix of savings, investments and life assurance wrapped up into an insurance policy. They were very popular in the 80s and 90s but became troublesome as the “side” investments have done worse than expected. In other words, people won’t own the property because they won’t have paid off the loan. If you by chance already have an endowment and want to get rid of it you can just “sell” it to the company that originally sold it to. However you can make more by selling it on the open market. There are a lot of firms that will do this for you.
Repayment mortgage is the traditional type of mortgage where the property is actually guaranteed to be yours at the end of the mortgage term - provided you have repaid the loan. Your mortgage debt is divided into capital repayments (repayment of the money you borrowed) and interest payments (repayment of the interest you’re being charged for the loan).As you pay off your mortgage every month you’re paying off a bit of capital and a bit of interest until the full debt is repaid. You usually pay off mostly interest in the early years and then gradually more of the capital debt. It may seem as if this is costing more but that’s because unlike the other types of mortgages you’re paying off the capital and not just the interest.

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