What Is The Best Deal For A Mortgage?
Few of us invest the time and effort into researching and securing the best deal for a mortgage to purchase our home. For most of us, our house is the single most important and expensive purchase we ever make! We invest a lot of time and effort into finding the perfect property in the best location and with as many of the features from our wish list as possible, yet, when it comes to finding the best deal for a mortgage, we take what is offered rather than researching and securing the best mortgage for our situation. When you consider that the average homeowner will pay out more in interest over the lifetime of their mortgage than the home originally cost, you can see why getting yourself the best deal for a mortgage now, could save you tens of thousands of dollars in interest over the 20 30 year term of your home loan. Your research for the best mortgages or loans and repayment options currently available can be carried out on the internet, thus making the whole process that much more convenient and time efficient for you. Mortgages are not a "One Size Fits All!" Mortgages come in many different forms and you need to be aware of the various forms in order to determine which one is the best deal for a mortgage to your unique circumstances. Basically, mortgages fall into one of the following categories. Lenders will have variations of these basic categories, but armed with this information, you will be able to sort through the choices for just the right package. Fixed Rate Mortgages: Loan with an interest rate that remains at a specific rate for the entire term of the mortgage/loan. Approximately 75 per cent of home mortgages are this type. A fixed rate mortgage is often considered the best deal for a mortgage for first time buyers as you can establish a consistent relatively fixed budget of household operating expenses. ARM's or Adjustable Rate Mortgages or Variable Rate Mortgages: A mortgage/loan with an interest rate that adjusts or varies with the changes in rates paid on Treasury Bills or bank Certificates of Deposit. In Canada, the rates vary according to the posted weekly Bank of Canada rates. To offset the risk associated with an adjustable rate mortgage, some lenders offer various 'capping' options. Often, they fix or limit the maximum level to which the interest rate you are subject to can rise for a given period of time. Sometimes they fix the cap per year and sometimes for the lifetime of the mortgage. Adjustable or variable rate mortgages can be very attractive as usually the rates are considerably lower than for fixed rate mortgages. They are an excellent vehicle for borrowers who are attentive to the rate fluctuations and prepared to 'lock in' their mortgage when interest rates start climbing. If you're constantly watching the money markets, this may be the best deal for a mortgage for you. Balloon Mortgages: A mortgage in which the monthly payment is not intended to repay the entire loan. The final payment is a large lump sum of the remaining principal. Balloon mortgages are often only partially amortized and requiring a lump sum repayment at maturity. It's popular mortgage in the US for homeowners who aren't planning to stay in their new home for more than 5 or 7 years. The advantage is that the interest rate is lower than a fixed rate mortgage however, the disadvantage is that if you remain in the home beyond the 5 to 7 year term, you would have to secure a new loan or mortgage to pay off the balloon mortgage. Jumbo Mortgages or 'Non-Conforming' Mortgages: In the US, Congress has legislated a conforming limit to the amount a mortgage is allowable for funding by Federal National Mortgage Association (a.k.a: Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (a.k.a: Freddie Mac). The 2005 limit is $359,650; $539,475 in Alaska, Hawaii and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Any loan or mortgage above that conforming limit is considered a Jumbo Mortgage. A Jumbo mortgage/loan allows you to borrow over the conforming limit, but for that privilege, you will incur higher interest rates. There are variations to the Jumbo Mortgage such as the Super Jumbo Mortgage, but I'm sure you get the basic picture. Canadians have an equivalent referred to as a "High Ratio Mortgage" guaranteed/funded through Canada Mortgage And Housing Corporation (CMHC). Now that you have identified which type of mortgage might suit you best, you need to consider repayment methods and you basically have two options: Interest Only:
An interest only payment method can be combined with any type of traditional mortgage. Interest only payment periods almost never run for the entire term of the loan, so prepare to have your payment rise to include both principal and interest once the interest only period ends.
Principal and Interest or Capital & Interest:
Your monthly repayments are divided into an interest payment and a principal or capital repayment. In the early years of the mortgage period most of the
monthly payment is swallowed up in interest but over time the balance reverses and you start to pay off more of the capital or principal borrowed. So Many Mortgage Lenders ... So Many Choices! There are so many mortgage lenders offering such a variety of loan options that at first it can seem a daunting task trying to determine which lender most suits you and your circumstances and which Lender is offering you the best deal on a mortgage! It is important to note that as you shop for a mortgage, each lender will perform a credit check prior to committing to the mortgage or loan. Each credit check remains on your credit record and could potentially reduce your credit score and eligibility for a mortgage or loan. Helen March offers simple House And Home Sense solutions for buying or selling real estate as well as informative articles for home improvement and lifestyle alternatives. Visit her at: http://www.HouseAndHomeSense.com
Related News
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Lesser Known Facts About Home Equity Loans
Refinancing your debt via a home equity loan shifts your debts loan to your home. The flip side to such a move is that your home is on the line. However, tax deductions on interest repayments make it an attractive proposition. Moreover, in such a case of loan consolidation, it makes financial sense to go for a fixed term equity loan.
Consolidate Your Debt With a Home Equity Loan and Improve Your Credit Score
A home equity loan is a loan based on the difference between what your current home value is and what you currently owe on your house. There are also mortgage companies that will loan a little over the equity you have in your home. They can usually do this safely because most homes appreciate in value over time.
Mortgage Refinance - Tips to Help You Cut Fees and Costs
Saving money through a mortgage refi is more than just finding the lowest interest rates. You can further cut fees and costs through the structure of your loan, avoiding PMI, and buying lower interest rates.
How to Find the Best Home Improvement Loan
If you're looking for the best home improvement loan for your money it can sometimes seem like an uphill climb. You may not know whether the offer that you've received is the best that you can get, or if you should try to find a better offer elsewhere? but you shouldn't let finding the best home improvement loan stress you out so badly.
Understanding Fixed-rate Mortgages
A fixed-rate mortgage is a mortgage on which the interest rate is set for the term of the loan. Your interest rate stays the same for the term of the mortgage or for a specified period of time. Most people use a fixed-rate mortgage. In fact, about 75 percent of all home mortgages have fixed rates. The main advantage of a fixed-rate mortgage is that you always know exactly how much your mortgage payment will be, and you can plan for it.
Understanding Mortgage Points
When a mortgage broker asks a borrower to pay points, he or she is asking for a lending fee expressed as a percentage of the value of the loan. For example, two points on a deal worth $100,000 works out to $2,000.
Poor Credit Home Equity Loan Tips
A home equity loan can help repair your poor credit history. Begin by finding a competitive financing lender with affordable rates and terms. Next, work toward establishing a solid credit history, enabling you to lower your interest rates on future loans.
13 Extra Costs to be Aware of Before Buying a Home
Whether you're looking to buy your first home, or trading up to a larger one, there are many costs - on top of the purchase price - that you must figure into your calculation of affordability. These extra fees, such as taxes and other additional costs, could surprise you with an unwanted financial nightmare on closing day if you're not informed and prepared.
A Guide to Finding Cheap Homeowner Loans
If you're actively looking for cheap homeowner loans, there are several things that you should take into consideration to make sure that you get the best loan for your money.
Look For a Great Mortgage Online
People who are looking for a mortgage today have many more options than those who were searching for a mortgage a few years ago, thanks to the Internet. Consider how technology has changed the way we do many things, including shopping for products and services - including loans and mortgages. This change is largely due to the sheer number of people who log onto the Internet every day and businesses that see the opportunity to tap into that market.
Private Mortgage Insurance Basics
Will you be asked to pay Private Mortgage Insurance, or PMI?
Most lenders will require you to carry PMI if you cannot put 20% or more of your loan amount forward as a down payment. PMI protects the LENDER in case you default on your payments. PMI does not protect you, the borrower. The lender will secure the PMI policy for you, and you will pay for it. Most people choose to have PMI added to their monthly mortgage payments, but other payment arrangements are possible. The monthly cost of PMI is based on your loan amount. An approximate cost of PMI for a $100,000.00 loan is about $50.00 a month.
A Guide to UK Buy to Let Mortgages
Essentially there is little difference between the process that one follows for a buy to let mortgage in the UK than there is for any other type of mortgage. The lender still has to consider your credit worthiness, the value of the property, how much down payment you can afford and all of the other usual considerations. However, in addition, the lender will usually be interested in what the market is for letting properties in the same area as the one that you are thinking of investing in. The lender will look at property taxes and average rents for similar properties. Other than those particulars, however, the process moves along nearly the same.
The Debt Test: Are You Making Out a Mountain Out of Your Mortgage?
According to the Council of Mortgage Lenders, first-time buyers are the most susceptible group of homeowners to debt, as they are more likely to have higher loan-to-value ratios and commit a higher proportion of their income to mortgage repayments. Despite their susceptibility to debt, there is evidence which indicates that insurance take-up and employee benefits provide recent first-time buyers with a safer foundation than the general population of mortgage borrowers.
Mortgage Broker or Assassin? A Banker Who Offers You This Loan May be Trying to Kill You!
What if a banker or mortgage broker told you he's loan you 25 percent above the value of your home? You might think it sounds great, but I sure hope you'd say no. This is a loan only the most money-hungry and unscrupulous loan officers will sell. Few, if any, banks will do them. There are wholesale lenders, though, who will actually loan 125% of the value of your home.
Bad Credit Mortgage Lenders - Things You Should Know About Subprime Lenders
Interest rates and fees vary between subprime lenders just like regular mortgage lenders. Just because you have bad credit, that doesn't mean you should accept the first financing offer from a subprime lender. Take the time to do your research, and you can make sure you are getting the best deal in terms of interest rates and fees.
Housing Bill - Changes in the Right To Buy Scheme
Presently council tenants are able to purchase their rented property after 2 years of tenancy. However, this is about to change. As of the 18th January 2005, the new Housing Bill becomes law and the current 2 years will change to a period of 5 years. This means, that once the proposals come into force, any new council tenant will have to wait 5 years before having the option of buying their property.
Buying a Home? Dont Get Saddled with Two Mortgage Payments
I have a lot of friends and family who are currently buying houses. Many of them have had a problem with timing. In other words, they buy a house and sign a contract that says that they have to pay the seller in 30 days. (Incidentally, it's never wise to go less than 45 days.) Now, it takes two to three weeks to sell their house, and they sign a 30-45 day contract, so they don't get their money in time to help finance the down payment for the house they are buying. The answer to this problem is simple. Get a bridge loan.
To Refinance or not to Refinance -- Here is the Answer
I have written many articles on refinancing a fixed rate mortgage to an adjustable rate mortgage. I have helped people cut as much as $800 off their monthly payments by turning their high fixed rate mortgage loan into a much lower ARM. This may be the time, however, to put the strategy in reverse, especially if your adjustable rate mortgage is coming up on the adjustment period.
No Money Down Home Loan
Are you in the market to purchase a home but are concerned about not having enough money for the down payment? No down payment home loans or 100% financing for your mortgage loan used to be only advertised during late night infomercials and in obscure real estate publications. The good news is that if you want to buy a house but have little or no money available for the down payment, there are mortgage lenders who are offering no money down home loans in your area. Currently, less than half of all homebuyers put down the standard twenty percent. Among first time homebuyers, less than half put ten percent down, and nearly thirty percent of homebuyers financed the total purchase price of their new home.
Bad Credit? First Time Buyer? You Can Still Get Approved For A Home Mortgage Loan
Do you have bad credit that you worry will stop you from being able to apply for a home mortgage loan? Have you given up on the dream of being a home owner? Well don't. Take comfort in the fact that there are special home mortgage loans that you can apply for, that will make sure your dreams of becoming a home owner are fulfilled!
|
