Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Mortgage Refinancing Tips for Self Employed Homeowners

Mortgage refinancing for self employed homeowners is not impossible; you will simply need to provide more documentation to the lender. There are a variety of reasons for mortgage refinancing regardless of the economy and mortgage interest rates. Here are several tips to help you decide if mortgage refinancing is right for you.

Convert Your Adjustable Rate Mortgage

Mortgage interest rates have been on the rise in recent years; as a result many homeowners are converting their Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) loans to fixed interest rates. Converting your ARM to a fixed interest rate has the advantage of a predictable mortgage payment that will not change over time. As a self employed homeowner, having regular mortgage payments you can plan your budget around is a definite advantage.

Recouping Your Expenses

Because there are costs involved with mortgage refinancing it is important to determine how much you will save and how long it will take you to recoup the lender fees and closing costs. Generally speaking, the longer you plan on keeping your home, the more sense it makes to refinance your loan. A simple mortgage calculator will help you determine your new payment amount based on the interest rate and term length you choose.

Choosing a Shorter Term Length

As a self employed homeowner your financial objective might be to eliminate your debts as quickly as possible. Mortgage Refinancing with a shorter term length could help you reach this goal. By shortening the term of your new mortgage, 15 years is a popular choice, you will build equity at a much faster rate and qualify for a lower interest rate. Shortening the mortgage term length results in a higher payment amount and you will need to budget accordingly.

Documentation You Need When Mortgage Refinancing

Mortgage lenders tend to require slightly more documentation when approving self employed homeowners. You can save yourself stress and future headache by gathering the necessary documents before applying for a new mortgage. Here is a list to help get you started.

I. Tax Returns for the Last Two Years

II. Your Current Year Profit/Loss Statement

III. Your Homeowners Insurance Policy

IV. Bank Account and Investment Account Statements for the Last Two Years

V. The Payoff Balance and Contact Information for Your Existing Mortgage

You can learn more about mortgage refinancing while avoiding costly mistakes by registering for a free mortgage guidebook.

To get your free mortgage guidebook visit RefiAdvisor.com using the link below.

Louie Latour specializes in showing homeowners how to avoid costly mortgage mistakes and predatory lenders. For a free copy of "Mortgage Refinancing - What You Need to Know," which teaches strategies to find the best mortgage and save thousands of dollars in the process, visit Refiadvisor.com.

Claim your free mortgage refinance information guide today at: http://www.refiadvisor.com

Mortgage Refinancing Self Employment

Preparing to Apply For an Auto Loan

It can be exciting to purchase a new vehicle. It doesn't matter if the vehicle is brand new or slightly used - it is new to you. However, unless you have faithfully saved, you will need an auto loan. That isn't quite as exciting.

However, you can make the entire process go smoothly. By being prepared, you eliminate a lot of the stress from the lending process. You know that you can afford the car you pick out before you sit down in the dealer's office. That is a good feeling.

First, you need to know where you stand credit-wise. Know what your credit report says and where your credit score is. If there are any inaccuracies on your report, you want to fix them before you try to borrow money. A lower score will result in higher interest rates.

Years ago, I had a dealer tell me that I didn't have very good credit, so I didn't qualify for the best rates. But I knew that I had a near perfect credit score, so I took my business elsewhere and got the prime rate. If I hadn't been aware of my credit situation, I may have paid thousands of dollars in unnecessary interest.

The chances of finding a lender or a dealer that tries to make you take a higher rate loan are not as small as you may think. I have encountered national lenders (some that advertise their products quite heavily) who offer the "best rate possible." This best rate actually turns out to be much higher -- up to 4% higher -- than the current rate for borrowers with perfect credit. The assumption is that you won't be shopping around for your loan and will take whatever they quote you. Don't be fooled into thinking that lenders must give your a quote for the best rate you apply for. Many lending agents get bonuses for getting you to accept a higher interest rate than you qualify for. It is essential that you shop around.

You need to know exactly how much you can afford to spend on your new vehicle. Don't forget to consider the additional insurance costs, gasoline costs and maintenance bills. And don't forget tag, title and tax. Use an online car payment calculator to figure out what your monthly payments would be. If it doesn't fit into your budget, you have to spend less. One quick way to tell if you can afford a vehicle is to compare it with what you have right now. If you are already financially strained, you can't afford a higher vehicle payment.

You need to look at the big picture, not just the monthly payments. Look at what you are paying for the vehicle and at the overall costs of the loan. Getting a good deal on a vehicle doesn't mean that you won't pay for it in the long run.

Many borrowers choose to make a low down payment or none at all. It is easy to fit into their current budget -- nothing up front. However, the total cost of your loan is increased because you are paying interest on a larger amount of money. In fact, the choice means that you will probably be upside-down on your vehicle for years to come -- you owe more than it is worth. A down payment is also a wonderful way to get a good interest rate. It shows that you will not default on the loan.

Check around with different lenders before you even visit a car lot. Call your local credit union and bank. Look at a few online lenders -- though be cautious in giving out information to anyone you don't know. Many times, the car dealer won't offer you the best auto loan. Have outside financing, let the dealer know you have outside financing and ask if they can beat the rate. Despite what I've always heard, in the past three auto loans I've received, the dealer was able to beat the bank's rate every time. Having outside financing shows that you have your ducks in a row and gives them something to compete against. You have the added security of knowing what is fair and bargaining power is always a good asset.

Martin Lukac represents RateTake.com Mortgage mortgage marketplace. RateTake matches consumers with multiple lenders offering low mortgage rates from our network of accredited lenders.

What's In A Home Mortgage Calculator?

So what is a home mortgage calculator? Simply put, this calculator is a great tool for anyone in the real estate market. But what does it do? It helps you calculate figures related to your mortgage. If you are in the real estate market, you need one. It speeds up all the calculations by using formulas unavailable in a standard calculator.

Different Flavors

There are many variants of the home mortgage calculator. You can choose from many different types. The most basic gives you the payment after you enter the value. No frills and no fuss. All you need is a fixed time period, simple interest, and a fixed monthly payment.

Then there is the home mortgage amortization calculator. It is simply the basic home mortgage calculator with the addition of an amortization schedule. This schedule shows how much of your payments finances principal and how much finances your interest. But, any payment figures yielded will not have any insurance or taxes factored in.

Current homeowners use a home loan mortgage calculator to help them decide about refinancing to a lower interest rate. This calculator gives you the total projected savings in payments and interest. Some will even factor in closing costs.

Step It Up

If you are lucky enough to own multiple homes, you will be using a multiple home mortgage calculator. This type of calculator allows you to determine interest rates of multiple loans at the same time. Home builders are a common class of users for this type of calculator. Owners of rental or vacation properties are another class.

An advanced multiple home calculator is very complex and is used by banks and financial institutions. It can calculate the blended rate of up to four loans in a month and then yields an average blended rate by averaging the differing rates over the total length of all the loans. Some can even calculate loan payments of up to 30 years.

An interest only home mortgage calculator is perfect for the homeowner that is thinking of paying a little more than is required by his monthly payment. It displays how much more per month the homeowner would have to pay to reduce the loan length.

A home mortgage qualifier calculator basically tells you how much mortgage you can afford. It will need information such as income and expenses.

An adjustable rate mortgage payment calculator can derive new payments as rates change. Obviously, this is the type of calculator favored by people with an adjustable rate mortgage.

A balloon payment home mortgage calculator relates to a payment that is made to pay off the entire loan. This calculator helps you determine whether this is a viable option for you. A balloon mortgage is generally short term but the payment is based on a long term. The loan balance is paid off at the end of the period

As you can see, you have a lot of choices depending on your situation. Hopefully, you will use the right type of calculator given all the information above.

Use a home mortgage calculator to calculate the latest mortgage rates for your California refinance. Visit WhatAboutLoans.com today.

What Is Capped Mortgage

The capped mortgage is basically an adjustable rate mortgage in which the maximum interest rate is set. Any spike of interest rate over the maximum interest rate will not affect the mortgage repayment. The borrower knows the maximum mortgage payment.
When the interest rate takes a dive, the borrower pays a lower monthly mortgage payment or bi-weekly mortgage payment. Using the capped mortgage, the borrower is protected from a spike in interest rate.

This protection on interest rate spike comes with a price. The mortgage lenders will charge a slightly higher interest rate. For example, the current interest rate is 4.5%. The borrower pays 5.0% interest rate.

The main benefit of capped mortgage is peace of mind. The borrower knows exactly how much is the highest mortgage payment. And, the borrower knows that the mortgage payment will not exceed the maximum mortgage payment.

Recently, the mortgage lenders suffered from mortgage meltdown. The interest rate went up high enough that the borrower could not repay the mortgage. There were so many foreclosures. In this instance, the capped mortgage could have been advantageous for the borrower.

The interest rate for capped mortgage is a compromise between the fixed rate and adjustable rate. So, the interest rate will be slightly over the fixed rate.

Annually, the mortgage lenders allow a certain level to pay additional or lump sum amount without paying mortgage penalty. When the borrower pays additional amount or lump sum amount over the certain level to pay off mortgage early, the mortgage lenders charge the mortgage penalty as well.

In most mortgage lenders, the capped mortgage is available mortgage options for buy to let mortgages. The buy to let mortgage is a mortgage in which the borrower purchase the property to rent. The borrower can purchase several property with buy to let mortgages.

Maximum Mortgage Loan To Value Ratio

A key part of a mortgage lender's loan guidelines is how much they are willing to lend in different scenarios.

Lender base their loan analysis of a mortgage application on many factors, including:

income

assets

property type

down payment

property equity

loan type requested

bankruptcy

credit

One of the most critical areas lenders look at is the equity in a loan.

If a person is putting down a large down payment in a purchase loan then a lender is willing to look on this loan more favorably than a similar lender with no down payment or a smaller down payment.

In a refinance mortgage the lender will look at how much equity there is in a property. It will compare the total of:

current first loan

current second loan

loan closing costs

additional cash taken from the property

This will be the total size of the new proposed loan. The lender will compare loan size to the current appraised value of the property. This is the "loan to value" ratio.

Lenders usually offer a wide number of different loans, such as 30 year fixed loans, 15 year fixed loans, interest only loans, etc.

For each of these types of loans a lender may have a maximum loan to value (LTV) for different credit scenarios. For people with a credit score of over 720 and who can document all of their income the maximum loan to value ratio may be 100%.

The maximum loan to value ratio offered by the lender may decrease as the credit and other factors decrease. A borrower with an identical property, income, and assets but with a credit mid score of 550 may be eligible for a maximum loan to value ratio of only 70%.

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Monday, July 28, 2008

An FHA Home Loan without a Down Payment

Most of the time when you apply for an FHA home loan you will be looking at a three to give percent down payment, which is generally much better than you would get if you went with a conventional home loan. While this is a good deal, there is a program out there that will allow you to move into your new home without a down payment. This is using the FHA backed loan that you have already qualified for, but it just sweetens the deal because it will allow you to move into a new home without being burdened with the closing costs and down payment. The great thing about this is that many people dream of owning a home but all of the combined costs, even with FHA, prohibit them from enjoying home ownership.

The Neighborhood Gold Program Makes it all Possible

The Neighborhood Gold Program is what can allow people to move into their home without a down payment and closing costs. Of course, the costs are still there, this program just takes care of it for the borrower. This Neighborhood Gold Down Payment Assistance program truly does allow for a borrower to buy a home and there is no repayment. As an added bonus, the program is not just extended to first time homebuyers; instead it is extended to anyone that can qualify for an FHA home loan!

With this program, you could receive as much as three to 10 percent of the sales price that will go toward your down payment and closings costs. The amount that you receive will actually depend on the participation of the seller. The only requirements for the program are that the borrower has been qualified for the FHA home loan and that the seller is also willing to participate, and in most circumstances the seller is willing to get involved.

The Neighborhood Gold Down Payment Assistance program is a nonprofit program that basically issues cash grants to homebuyers that need assistance in closing their loan. One needs to be prepared going into the home buying process to take advantage of this program because it will need to be stipulated when making an offer, but if everyone agrees to using this program in the purchase offer it can allow the borrower to move in with very little or nothing out of pocket.

This is a great program to take advantage of and if you know that you will qualify for an FHA home loan and you hook up with the right realtor and the right buyer this program will enable you to move into a new home with very little or nothing out of pocket. While the FHA home loan allows for people to move into a home much more affordably than conventional loans, there are still a lot of costs involved and the Neighborhood Gold Down Payment Assistance program will reduce or eliminate those costs. Through this program thousands of people have been able to buy a home for the first time in their life and many others have been able to buy a home after foreclosure or bankruptcy. There is no greater joy than home ownership and FHA and this program come together to make this joy a really for large numbers of people every year!

To get more information about a FHA home loan which doesn't require a down payment and get expert financial advice visit our site at: www.refinance.com/

How Much Does a House Cost?

The price of homeownership can stack up.

If you’re planning on buying your first home, you’re probably already educating yourself about the obvious costs involved: The “sticker price” of the houses, the mortgage, the down payment, earnest money, the fees for credit checks, closing costs, inspections, and so forth.

But if you’ve been an apartment dweller, you may not have considered the other costs that figure into the purchase process—or the ones that continue to affect you long after you’ve moved in.

So now’s the time to get out your calculator and get a reality check. After all, you’re making what is quite likely to be the biggest investment of your life, and this is the time to be the wisest, most informed consumer that you can possibly be.

Let’s start with moving costs. There’s the cost of the moving service or rental moving van and gas. Plus boxes, packing tape, and pizza for the family and friends who lend you their muscles and time.

Next, the utilities—water, cable, electricity, gas, garbage service, telephone, etc. Perhaps when you lived in an apartment, some or all of these things were covered in your monthly rent. But when you’re a homeowner, you’re responsible for your own utility bills—and some of them will require a deposit. Of course, your water, electric and gas bills will vary from month to month and from season to season because of the weather. The size of your home, your appliances and electronics, and your personal choices regarding comfort levels in heating and air conditioning will also make impacts on your monthly utility bills.

Will you need to purchase major appliances? More than likely, your apartment was furnished with a refrigerator and stove, a microwave, a dishwasher, and access to a washer and dryer. But you’ll probably need to set aside funds to buy at least some of these items for a new home.

Consider what furniture you’ll need in a new home. Chances are, you’ll have more space and more rooms to furnish in a home than you would in an apartment. And you might want a fresh design or “look” that coordinates with the style and architecture of your new place. So think about budgeting for this. But wait until after you’re actually a signed- sealed-and-delivered homeowner before you make any furniture or appliance purchases on credit. That’s because you don’t want any “big ticket” purchases to show up on your credit report. Mortgage lenders take into consideration all of your debt when they run a credit check. So wait until after you move in before you start filling up the house.

Remember that the “joys” of home ownership include home maintenance and repairs. An air conditioning and heating system needs annual or bi-annual service to keep it running efficiently and to extend the life of the unit. That can translate into several hundred dollars a year. And that doesn’t cover breakdowns and the subsequent cost of repairs. Plumbing maintenance and problems should also enter into your budgeting. In fact, it’s smart to put aside money every month and create a fund for just such things. Also, check to see if your new home comes with a one-year home warranty—which might take care of big things like the air conditioner going out. You might even be able to pay extra and have the warranty cover the small machinery—as well as give you an option to renew it after one year.

Figure in homeowners insurance and property taxes. There’s no getting around these two things—they’re absolute essentials. It would be a good idea to get a realistic estimate of what property taxes will run—you don’t want any unpleasant, unexpected surprises come tax-paying time! As for homeowners insurance, it protects your home in case it’s destroyed by fire or other calamities. A standard policy should cover at the very least the value of your home and/or the mortgage loan amount. You also need to purchase flood insurance if your home is within a flood plain; it’s a requirement as a condition of closing.

Landscaping, security, and upkeep costs have to be considered. Putting in a lawn, shrubbery, trees, and flowers—then maintaining them year ‘round—not only require work, but money. You might also want to consider things like a sprinkler system, and a lawn/garden care service—if you don’t plan on buying a lawn mower and other gardening tools and doing it yourself. As for a security system, insurance companies see it as a good idea. So good, in fact, that a monitored security system can sometimes get you a nice-sized discount on your homeowner’s insurance. Not to mention some peace of mind.

If your home is in a restricted or gated community, you may also be required to pay Homeowners Association membership and/or maintenance fees. And don’t forget to check your deed restrictions before you move large things like your boat or your RV to your new home. You might find that they’re not allowed, which means you’re going to have to pay to store them elsewhere.

Still think being a homeowner is the smart way to go? Well, you’re right—it is. Yes, it may be a little overwhelming at first. And sure, it can be a costly proposition. But there are definitely rewarding reasons for owning your own home—especially financially. For instance, when it comes to investment value, it really beats renting (think of all that money spent with nothing to show for it). And keep in mind that a house is a marketable commodity; in some cases, it could be a much safer investment than many stocks and bonds. Besides, the advantages of home ownership really stack up high in the long run. You’ll have proof of that come April 15th.

Find new homes for sale in the Rio Grande Valley & South Texas online at iNewHomeSearch.com by the area's leading builders featured in the Rio Grande Valley New Homes Guide

An Introduction to Mortgage Backed Securities

What Are Mortgage Backed Securities?

Mortgage backed securities are securities that are backed by the principle and interest payments on a group of mortgage loans. Lenders group together mortgages and the money that is repaid by the borrowers' pays investors in the mortgage backed securities.

Why Do Mortgage Lenders Issue Mortgage Backed Securities?

There are a variety of reasons that lending institutions issue mortgage backed securities rather than holding the mortgage themselves. Most lenders have a limited amount of liquid assets. By selling mortgages they are able to free up money in the short term to make additional loans.

Another reason that mortgage lenders sell off their loans as mortgage backed securities is to minimize their risk. Although every effort is made to establish the creditworthiness of an individual before a loan is made, circumstances can change. If a borrower defaults on his mortgage, the lender will have unplanned for expenses just in dealing with repossession and selling of the property. Adding in the lost principal and interest, and a small, local lender could find themselves in a financial mess very quickly.

When a lender sells a mortgage as a mortgage backed security, they receive their money up front, both the loaned amount and a percentage of the loan as their fee. The investors in a mortgage backed security then receive income each month, as the borrower pays back the principal plus interest on his loan.

Types of Mortgage Backed Securities

There are a variety of mortgage backed securities. The majority of mortgage backed securities are issued by the Government National Mortgage Association, otherwise known as Ginnie Mae, the Federal National Mortgage Association, or Fannie Mae, and the Federal Loan Mortgage Company, or Freddie Mac. These are all groups sponsored by the federal government. While Ginnie Mae is backed by the full faith and credit of the government, and guarantees its investors that they will receive their payments, both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have the authority to borrow from the Treasury, which makes them relatively safe investments as well.

In addition to the government agencies, brokerage firms and banks often offer mortgage backed securities. These are known as private-label securities.

Are Mortgage Backed Securities Risky?

Mortgage backed securities are not generally considered a risky investment. To obtain a mortgage, the borrower must go through a qualification process that assures the bank or lending institution that the loan will be paid back. The group who sets up the mortgage backed security will then group mortgages together in order to sell. By pooling the mortgages together, the risk to the investor is minimized. One borrower, who defaults on a loan, or, conversely, pays the loan off early, depriving the group of years of interest payments, will have less of an effect when he is a member of a large group. The same borrow, particularly one who defaults on a mortgage, can cause a real financial shock to a small lending institution.

Do Mortgage Backed Securities Make a Good Investment?

All investment decisions are extremely personal, and will depend on your personal needs. Decisions on investments are best made with help from a financial advisor. For someone who would like a monthly income, a mortgage backed security can make a good choice. A mortgage backed security, particularly one sold by Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, or Ginnie Mae, can be excellent investment vehicles. In general, the greater the amount of loans held in a mortgage backed security, the safer the investment, because the risk is spread over more people.

Before investing in a mortgage backed security, you should find out your expected rate of return. While this can vary, it is nice to know what investors have been receiving. Remember, it is not only loan defaults that can affect your income from a mortgage backed security, but also prepayments and principal only payments. The income from the security is figured on full payment of both principal and interest over the life of the mortgage, typically 15 or 30 years. Any action taken by anyone holding a mortgage in the security can affect your income. It is important to be clear about this with the person you purchase the security from.

Mortgage backed securities are an excellent development for borrowers, lenders, and investors. No matter what group you are in, it is important to understand exactly how they work and what you can expect. By doing that, you are better able to make a wise financial decision.

About Author:
Craig Elliott is a freelance writer who writes about topics pertaining to the mortgage industry such as Mortgage Rate Calculator | Mortgage Lender

Need a Mortgage, How Much Can I Borrow? Find Out

Getting the most for your money is the goal of most people these days. Credit concerns and high housing costs can look like a giant question mark in your life. You may find your self wondering "I need a mortgage, how much can I borrow"? Having a nice place to live in with an affordable monthly payment is a realistic goal that can be achieved.

Calculating what you bring home each month is the first step. What you would so is consider your straight weekly pay (no overtime or bonuses), multiply by 52 and then divide by 12. This is the money that you are pretty sure you will make barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Once you have figured out your annual and monthly pay you can decide how much money you can borrow. Basically someone bringing home $25,000 each year earns about $2083 each month. This would be called your gross income, all the money you make before any deductions, including taxes.

Next you would need to subtract any credit loans from this amount, such as: tuition, credit cards, auto, bank notes, or even non-credit like child support. Most lenders will allow you to borrow around 1/3rd or about 36% of your total gross income

Don't be afraid of all the numbers, mortgages are a long term decision and it just takes a little work to make sure you are making the right choice. With something that could last between 7 and 40 years (longer than most relationships these days!) you don't want to rush. Lenders are also going to look at your job stability and your future income earning ability.

Thankfully internet tools are also available to help you calculate these figures. On-line mortgage calculators, brokers, agents and lenders are ready and willing to help you in the pre-mortgage process. Finding a loan match is important for all the parties involved.

When deciding to borrow, it is important to not leave out any options. Money you have saved up could be a down payment and help you get a larger loan. While you may be able to do this, it is not an absolute necessity. Your idea of the perfect house may cause a loan that is more than you can handle, leading to many sleepless nights.

So now you are ready to ask "It's my time to secure a mortgage, how much can I borrow?" So it is time to be honest with your numbers and check out all the facts. It is important to be organized, have a monthly budget and then you will know the answer to your question and you won't be disappointed when matching your loan amount to the home you want.

A common question that comes with many first time home buyers is "I need a mortgage, how much can I borrow? Getting a definitive answer can be tough but were here to help. For more, visit www.MortgageLoans-101.com where you'll find this and plenty more on your mortgage loan needs.

Absolute Best Way to Calculate a Mortgage Payment

How to calculate a mortgage payment is one of your most important decisions when purchasing a home. Rather than be a mathematician, you will just need to learn a little bit about the process and what it is all about. You will have many choices when it comes to figuring out what your payment will be. Key to the process is what your credit is and what you will want to borrow.

What kind of mortgage do you want? Whether you choose an adjusted rate mortgage (ARM), a fixed, or a balloon type payment will depend mainly on how much money you make and what your credit score is. These variations will cost you dearly if you are not well informed about their differences!

If you get a balloon mortgage you will have to pay it off or refinance it every 5 or 7 years generally. Interest rates can change daily and so will your ARM. Your rates could start as low as 5% and go up passed 8% in a short period. The rates don't stop there either; they could go very high, with no cap. Don't make the mistake of comparing a low ARM rate to a higher fixed rate, the fixed rate won't change but the ARM will. With a fixed rate of 7% what you start with is what you will end your mortgage rate with.

Do you have a large or small income? When a loan agent reviews your loan they will look at you using between one fourth and less than one half of what you make monthly or yearly. The best bet is not to spend more than a third of the money you make each month on your house payment. Basically you can look at it like this, if you are bringing home $1200.00, you will want your house payment around $400.

Are you aware of your credit score? The four basic categories for credit scoring are poor, fair, good and excellent. If you have good or excellent credit, the interest rate that you are offered is usually going to be lower. If your credit is in the low ranges, you can expect to see higher interest rates. Most mortgage loans are based on simple interest.

One type of simple interest loan, the amount of interest is added each day. If your payment on the first day is $360, the next day would be $370 and so on. Each day your interest is added until you pay for that month. When you have made your payment, your principle will go down (the base loan amount), and interest will be added to that smaller amount. So you will be saving money each time you do this by paying less interest.

Mainstream mortgages are usually calculated as monthly simple interest. Regardless of what day you pay your mortgage it will not change what you owe because the interest is charged monthly, as long as you pay on time. When using a mortgage calculator it is important to know which type of interest you are going to go with, daily or monthly.

When you decide on how to calculate a mortgage payment, make sure you are familiar with all of the terms associated with your loan. You will have a choice of simple or advanced models. You will get a bigger financial picture when you use the more advanced mortgage calculators.

Save time and learn the best way to calculate a mortgage payment from your own home. For more, visit www.MortgageLoans-101.com where you'll find this and plenty more on your mortgage loan needs.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

How to Get a Wholesale Mortgage Rate When Refinancing Your Home Loan

If you are in the process of refinancing your home mortgage qualifying for the lowest mortgage rate will save you a lot of money. Did you know that mortgage loans are sold as retail products just like your kitchen appliances? If you accept retail interest rates when refinancing your loan you could overpay thousands of dollars every month you keep the loan. Here are the basics you need to know about mortgage interest rates before refinancing your home loan.

Retail vs. Wholesale

When you’re talking about mortgage interest rates what's the difference between wholesale and retail? Most homeowners are unaware that mortgage companies and brokers mark up their interest rate for a commission. This markup of your mortgage interest rate is called Yield Spread Premium and is what makes mortgage rates “retail.”

Why do mortgage companies and broker mark up interest rates? Loan originators mark up your rate with Yield Spread Premium because the wholesale lender pays them a bonus for charging you above market mortgage rates. For every .25% you agree to overpay when refinancing your loan originator gets a bonus of 1.0% of your loan amount. This bonus is paid in addition to the origination fees you already paying for their services.

Yield Spread Premium in Action

Suppose you refinance your home for $300,000. Your mortgage broker tells you that you qualify for a 6.75% interest rate and charges you 1% or $3,000 for the origination fees. What your broker isn’t telling you is that the wholesale lender approved you for a mortgage rate of 6.0% and they marked it up for a bonus of $9,000. You get stuck paying retail mortgage rates and your broker pockets $12,000. Does this sound like a scam to you?

Some People Get Wholesale Mortgage Rates…You Can Too

How can you avoid paying Yield Spread Premium when refinancing your mortgage? Homeowners who learn to recognize this unnecessary markup can negotiate with potential mortgage companies and brokers to avoid paying it. You can learn more about refinancing your mortgage without paying Yield Spread Premium by registering for a free mortgage video tutorial.

To get your FREE six-part Mortgage Refinancing Tutorial, visit RefiAdvisor.com using the link below.

Louie Latour specializes in showing homeowners how to avoid costly mortgage mistakes and predatory lenders. To get your hands on this free video tutorial: "Mortgage Refinancing - What You Need to Know," which teaches strategies for finding the best mortgage and saving thousands of dollars in the process, visit Refiadvisor.com.

Get your free mortgage refinancing tutorial today at: http://www.refiadvisor.com

Wholesale Mortgage Rates

Mortgage-Refinance Loan Measurment 101 -- Evaluate Your Own Ability to Pay

We live in a society where people are losing their homes at an alarmingly high rate. There are several reasons for this, but one could certainly be avoided -- buying a house that creates a loan that is too large for you to handle. This article will examine how to decide your loan size -- whether you are purchasing or refinancing. We'll look at this issue from the point of view of lenders and from the standpoint of what is actually best for you.

In a conventional, conforming loan -- one in which you have good credit and good job history -- a lender will look at what he calls "debt-to-income ratio." Many mortgage brokers refer to it as DR (debt ratio). They also break it into two categories -- front end ratio and back end ratio.
A front end debt ratio calculates your gross monthly income against your new house payment. Conventional lenders want this number to be at 28 percent or less. So, if you make $3,500 each month in gross income (before taxes and other withdrawals), just take this number and divide by 28 percent. This new number is $980.00, which is the number the lender will use as your front end ratio. So in the lender's mind, you can afford a house payment of $980.00 or less.

Remember, though, this is only half of the equation. Now, the lender will look at your overall debt scenario. When calculating your back end debt ratio, the lender takes your new mortgage and all other monthly credit debts -- car payments, credit card payments, other loans, cell phones, etc. Items like insurance and utilities are not included. Conventional, conforming lenders want this ratio to be at 36 percent or less.

So, to calculate your back end or overall debt-to-income ratio, take your gross monthly income and divide by 36 percent. Again, let's assume you make $3,500 monthly. When divided by 36 percent, you get $1,225.00. Now, add up all your monthly minimum payments, plus your new house payment, and this new number needs to be less than $1,225.00. So, if you have very little debt, you can afford to go all the way to the $980.00 for a new mortgage. If you have a couple of cars, several credit cards and a cell phone, you'll likely have to get much less house.

Now, these ratios are very conservative. In most cases, lenders will allow you to break one or both of these guidelines, based on other factors -- things like A+ credit, good liquid assets or a large down payment.
Or, you may need a loan program that is non-conforming. This would involve a lender who increases these ratios as high as 50 percent, meaning your debt can be half of your gross monthly income. Lenders, you see, want to make loans. That's why they are so rich, because they are doing trillions of dollars in loans each year, and getting back even more in interest payments.

In order to assure yourself of getting a loan that you can afford, you should qualify yourself. It's important to remember that when calculating debt to income ratios, lenders don't take many important factors into account. For example, they allow you to use gross income -- instead of net income. We pay our bills with our net, not our gross. When deciding what you can qualify for, consider your net income.

In other words, add up all your debts and look at the money you have after taxes, retirement, savings, other investments, etc. Also, account for debts lenders do not, such as insurance, groceries, utilities, the probability that taxes on your home will go up, clothing, and spending money for fun and hobbies. After all, you want having a home to add to your life -- not make it more difficult. Lenders leave this part out.

Mark Barnes is the author of the new novel, The League, the first work of fiction, based on fantasy football. He is also an investment real estate and home loan finance expert. Learn more about his suspense thriller at http://www.sportsnovels.com. Get his free mortgage finance course at http://www.winningthemortgagegame.com

Refinance Home Loan after Bankruptcy: How to Qualify for a Better Mortgage with a Bankruptcy

If you are a homeowner with recent bankruptcy on your record you might think refinancing your home loan is not possible. Ten years ago this was true; however, today there is a type of mortgage lender that specializes in bad credit and bankruptcy mortgages. Here are several tips to help you qualify for the best mortgage when refinancing your home loan with a recent bankruptcy.

Refinancing home loans is a stressful time for homeowners with good credit. If you are struggling with poor credit and have a recent bankruptcy there are a number of steps you can take to improve the interest rate and terms you will qualify for on the new loan. Here are three steps you can take starting with your credit.

I. Review Your Credit Reports

As soon as your bankruptcy is complete you need to request copies of your credit reports from the three credit agencies. Your credit reports will contain your bankruptcy along with negative information form each of the creditors listed on your bankruptcy. There is nothing you can do about this negative information; however, if you find errors in your credit reports you need to dispute the error and have it removed.

II. Build a Favorable Payment History

Once your bankruptcy is complete open a credit card account with a company that specializes in credit cards for individuals with poor credit. Expect the interest rate on this card to be extremely high; however, you can use this to rebuild your payment history. Maintain a low balance on this credit card and make all of your payments on time. In as little as 24 months you will find creditors willing to work with you offering competitive interest rates.

III. Shop for the Best Mortgage Lender

If you are unable to wait 24 months before refinancing your home loan, you can find a decent lender in as little as six months. Because you will be paying more for your new mortgage it is important to shop from a variety of mortgage lenders and brokers for the most competitive offer. When shopping for a home loan you need to compare all aspects of the mortgage loans, not just the interest rates.

To learn more about refinancing your home loan after a recent bankruptcy, register for a free mortgage guidebook.

To get your free mortgage guidebook visit RefiAdvisor.com using the link below.

Louie Latour specializes in showing homeowners how to avoid common mortgage mistakes and predatory lenders. For a free copy of "Mortgage Refinancing: What You Need to Know," which teaches strategies to find the best mortgage and save thousands of dollars in the process, visit Refiadvisor.com.

Claim your free guidebook today at: http://www.refiadvisor.com

Bankruptcy Home Loan

Bad Credit Mortgage Refinancing Home Loan

Bad credit mortgage refinancing loans help borrowers with credit problems refinance an existing mortgage to either payoff debt or get cash out. If your credit is poor because of excessive credit card debt then bad credit refinancing is one of the best ways to improve your credit score.

Bad credit refinancing is typically for home owners who have credit scores under 620 and have late mortgage payment's in the last 12 months. Sub prime lenders are the main source for these types of loans and many will lend to bad credit borrowers with a 30, 60 and even a 90 day late payment on record. Although the amount of equity you can borrow will be greatly reduced with the amount of late payments you have. Qualifying Credit scores for sub prime loans begin at 500 and go all the way up to 700, at a 500 credit score expect to be able to borrow 70-80% of your home appraised value. The higher your credit score the higher the Loan To Value you can borrow.

Many sub prime lenders offer 2 or 3 year Adjustable Rate Mortgages to bad credit borrowers, short term Adjustable mortgages are not a good idea for the bad credit borrower. The biggest drawback to an ARM is that if you should fail to improve you credit score and be unable to refinance, your payments will begin to rise when your adjustment period begins. The rise in payments can often be hundreds of dollars a month making your mortgage difficult to pay. When applying for a bad credit home loan It is best to stick with a fixed rate subprime mortgage, if you need a lower payment ask your mortgage broker about 40 year fixed rate subprime loans.

With the availability of subprime home loans bad credit refinancing can be a great way to improve your credit score, however when the wrong programs are chosen it can do just the opposite. Use a good reputable mortgage broker and always use common sense when shopping for your subprime home loan.

Learn More About Bad Credit Home loans

There are over 1100 mortgage, real estate and credit articles available at http://www.mkemortgage.net/content/sitemap.htm that can help you educate yourself and make the proper financial and real estate decisions. And borrower's who may have very bad credit please http://www.bad-credit-finance-guide.com

Need a Mortgage, Refinance or Equity Loan? Learn What it Takes, Before Applying

Do you know what it takes to qualify for mortgage and refinance loans? There are several factors involved with qualifying for a purchase, refinance or equity line of credit, and having an in-depth understanding of these could make the difference in you being accepted or turned down by a bank loan officer.

Here are some things loan underwriters use in seeing if you qualify for a loan: your credit rating; your income; the amount you wish to borrow vs. the value of the property, this is known as loan to value or LTV; your assets; cash on reserve to cover down payments and reserve funds to cover a few months worth of mortgage payments, in the event you can't pay for an indefinite period of time; your employment history.

Most people worry about credit, even people who have excellent credit. Credit is such an unknown. Put your mind at ease. You can purchase a house with poor or no credit at all. In fact, with a poor credit rating and only 3 percent for a down payment, you can get an FHA loan. FHA is not a credit score driven program, so you can qualify this way if you have to do so.

If you have excellent credit, the lending world is wide open to you. You can put very little -- even no money down -- and still get a great interest rate. Excellent credit also gives you the power to take 100 percent of your homes equity at the prime interest rate, making interest-only payments, which is a very powerful thing.

Work history is also an important factor, as most lenders want to see two years of consecutive employment, although good mortgage professionals have programs that will get around this guideline. If you are purchasing a house, you'll need what lenders call "seasoned funds" for your down payment. That is, they have to be in your account for a set amount of time (usually 3-6 months).

When you are ready to get a loan, be sure you have assessed all of these factors, even before you mortgage professional does. Put all of the documents that verify your income and your assets together and have them ready to show to a banker, upon your visit. Be proactive and your chances of qualifying for any loan will improve.

Check out more great loan information now at Direct Lending Solutions

Friday, July 25, 2008

Fixed Rate Loan Calculators on the Internet

A mortgage is simply a type of loan. More specifically, it's a loan used for the purchase of a home, in which the home itself serves as security, or collateral, for the loan.

There are two types of mortgage loans: fixed mortgage loans, and adjustable rate mortgage loans. Out of the two, a fixed mortgage loan is simpler and is generally preferred by borrowers.

A fixed mortgage loan is a scheme where the monthly principal amount and interest payments remain steady throughout the life of the loan. This type of Mortgage is called a Fixed Rate Mortgage (FRM). Depending upon the term of the loan, which is the time span of the mortgage loan (the number of years given to repay the loan) - the interest is calculated. For example if the fixed rate mortgage is calculated for 30 years, it is called a 30 year fixed mortgage rate (FRM). If it is for 20 years, it is called a 20 year fixed mortgage rate (FRM) and if it is for 10 years, it is called a 10 year fixed mortgage rate (FRM) calculation.

The great advantage of a fixed rate mortgage is that it enables a person to buy a home or office and keep paying a steady amount irrespective of inflation or rising interest rates. Changes in interest rates do not impact your monthly mortgage payments if you opt for a fixed rate mortgage scheme.

Advantage of a Fixed Rate Mortgage: Predictability

The fixed rate mortgage has been a favorite among Americans for the last two generations. The major advantage of a fixed rate mortgage is you can predict what you are going to pay and prepare yourself for it. There are no shocks with changes occurring at the most unexpected time.

You know what you earn and what you need to pay. So it's wise to cut your shirt according to your size, so to speak. In other words, don't assume a loan with a monthly payment greater than you can bear. A good rule of thumb is not to assume a mortgage that would have you paying more than 25% of your monthly income.

This type of mortgage loan is useful for those who can plan their repayment well in advance. For example, salaried employees. The salaries of many people steadily increase with time. This means a planned mortgage loan scheme is best suited for them.

On the other hand entrepreneurs and small business people are not really sure about their income streams. For these people, a fixed mortgage loan may not be the best choice. However the choice of any mortgage loan scheme changes from person to person. Since repayment of a mortgage varies according to the amount of loan and the term (number of years), it is always a good idea to calculate various permutations and combinations. To make these calculations, you would use a mortgage loan calculator.

How Are Fixed Mortgage Loan Calculators Useful?

A fixed mortgage calculator is one of the easier financial tools to use. Just enter your loan amount and the prevailing rate of interest. The loan calculator will do the math and tell you exactly how much your monthly installment will be over a given period of time, whether it is a 15 year loan or a 30 year loan. You can see all the options available and choose what is best suited for you. Many good simple loan calculators are available free online and you don't have to deal with the hassle of approaching a lender or finance consultant and then fielding telephone solicitations for the next ten years.

SuperLoanCalculators.com often reviews websites with online loan calculators and even rates them according to criteria such as whether the website requires registration, whether special software or plugins are required, and the quality of the loan calculator itself.

Some of the online calculators you may find useful include:

* BankRate.com - I almost always find myself recommending Bankrate.com. They have many excellent tools, and I'll be writing a complete review of their site in the future. Among other things, they have a very nice suite of loan calculators of all kinds, including of course a simple mortgage calculator, and also a fixed rate versus adjustable rate mortgage calculator. Bankrate.com's fixed rate mortgage calculator, which they simply call a "Mortgage payment calculator," lets you plug in your mortgage amount, the term (the number of years of the loan), and the start date of the mortgage. You click the calculate button, and it tells you the amount of the payment. Very simple. As I mentioned, the fixed rate mortgage is a very simple type of loan to calculate. The calculator also has an "extra payments" section that lets you calculate how much sooner you could pay off the loan if you added a fixed extra amount every month, or if you added an extra yearly payment, or even if you added a one-time extra payment on a particular date. It's a nice tool.
* CNNMoney.com has a good mortgage calculator. From the home page, mouse over the Real Estate tab at the top of the page, and select Home Finance Calculator from the pulldown menu. The calculator has certain "assumptions" built in. CNNMoney says about this: "We've assumed a 30-year mortgage term, annual property tax of $3,500 and homeowners insurance of $481 -- the national average. And we do not factor in private mortgage insurance, which you'll owe if your down payment is less than 20 percent of the purchase price. It averages from $50 to $80 per month. Plug in your own numbers for more tailor-made results."
* EasyCalculation.com is not a loan calculation site in particular, but it's got a ton of calculators of all kinds, with the links to the calculators conveniently placed right on the front page. In the Mortgage Calculator section, they've got all the following types of calculators: Simple Mortgage (that would be the fixed rate mortgage calculator that this page discusses), Amortization, Loan Comparison, Adjustable Mortgage Payment, Down Payment, Interest Only Mortgage, Mortgage Prepayment, Pre-Payment Penalty, Mortgage Refinancing. You can't fault them for thoroughness! Be aware, though, that the calculators are pretty basic and don't offer all the bells and whistles like the sites listed above.

This is not an exhaustive list of websites with good mortgage calculators, as there are many others available on the net and I haven't attempted to review them all. But the ones mentioned are among the best and should more than meet your needs.

Frank Herbert is an experienced freelance writer specializing in financial topics, and is founder several blogs dealing with subjects such as online bill pay, money transfer services, and mortgage loans.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Frank_Herbert

How Mortgage Calculators Work

Mortgage calculators are tools that allow you to estimate your monthly payments on a fixed rate mortgage, calculate your total cost of borrowing and even give you an approximation of the size of mortgage that you can afford.

A basic mortgage calculator will take the sale price of the home, the size of the down payment, the length or term of the mortgage and the annual interest rate to come up with an estimation of your monthly payments.

Private Mortgage Insurance Calculator

A good mortgage calculator will also include the cost of private mortgage insurance (PMI) for down payments that are less than 20% of the sale cost.

For example, a basic mortgage calculator may calculate a $200,000 mortgage with $20,000 down and an interest rate of 6.5% amortized over 30 years as having a monthly payment of $1137. However, a mortgage calculator that includes the estimated $100 per month for private mortgage insurance (payable until the 20% down on the total capital is reached) will give you a better approximation of your monthly payments.

Property Tax Calculator

An even better mortgage payment calculator will ask about property taxes in your area. Typically, the mortgage calculator will ask you for the property's prior tax rate. From there, it'll calculate an estimated basic increase in property tax values and give you an approximation of your expected monthly payments. Remember, a $200,000 home can expect to pay around $2000 a year in property taxes; that's an extra $166 a month.

Extra Payment Calculator

An extra payment calculator lets you input your expected mortgage payments along with an estimated additional monthly or yearly payment. In turn, it'll tell you how that amount affects the final date your mortgage is paid off.

For example, as stated earlier, a $180,000 30-year mortgage with a 6.5% interest rate will have monthly payments of approximately $1137. If the mortgage starts on Jan 01, 2009, the estimated pay-off date is Jan 01, 2039.

An extra payment calculator will show you that adding just $50 per month to your payments will push your mortgage end date up to 2035 (that's 4 years earlier), and adding $100 each month will bring it up to 2032 (that's 7 years earlier).

The Problem with Mortgage Calculators

Unfortunately, mortgage calculators don't always reflect the truth of sometimes fluctuating interest rates, early payment penalties, and the longer terms on refinancing mortgages.

While a mortgage calculator can give you useful estimates, it's always best to speak directly with a lender or mortgage professional to gain a clear and accurate idea of your exact monthly mortgage costs.

For information on practical home mortgage recommendations, please visit http://www.home-mortgage-preparation.com, a popular site with great insights about home loan considerations, such as private money lenders, FHA loan limits, and many more!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jack_Burnette

Commercial Mortgage Calculators

Commercial mortgage calculators permit you to calculate complicated commercial mortgage loans. Commercial mortgage calculators feature amortization tables to help you understand loan mechanisms, have a template-driven design with multi-language support, customizable interest compounding and initial value setting to match your market and currency symbol. There are plenty of commercial mortgage calculators on the web which you can use free of charge. All you need to know is your mortgage amount, the down payment, interest rate, and the number of years. You will get your monthly payment calculated for you by simply putting those numbers into the commercial mortgage calculator.

If you are thinking of refinancing your current commercial mortgage loan, a commercial mortgage calculator can be a great tool for you. For this, you need to know what your existing commercial mortgage loan balance is, the current commercial mortgage interest rate, and number of years you wish to refinance your commercial mortgage loan.

Most of the commercial mortgage calculators feature a PDF calculation sheet, which permits the customers to print calculation results. Some commercial mortgage calculators support multi-language; this means you can translate the interface language into your country language. You can set any initial value, to match your market, whether you are operating in the lower or higher segments. Some commercial mortgage calculators feature customizable currency symbols which mean that you can set virtually any currency symbol you want. Some have customizable thousand and decimal delimiters, so that you can match your country number formatting easily. Adjustable compounding periods that can be used in any country, where compounded factors do not matter, is another feature seen in some commercial mortgage calculators.

There are commercial mortgage payment calculators with which you can calculate mortgage monthly payment with applicable financial charges including insurance and property taxes. There are commercial mortgage principal calculators which allow you to peek into the future. With these you can determine the remaining balance of your commercial mortgage after several years of payments. Commercial mortgage length calculators will help you to find out your savings in case of bigger monthly payments.

Commercial Mortgages provides detailed information on Commercial Mortgages, Commercial Second Mortgages, Commercial Mortgage Lenders, Commercial Mortgage Brokers and more. Commercial Mortgages is affiliated with Commercial Mortgage Brokers Online.

Mortgage Rate Calculators

A mortgage rate calculator is a special calculator that displays the mortgage rate of interest. Online mortgage rate calculators can also display amortization charts with payments to be done on a monthly basis. The basic intention behind using mortgage rate calculators is to show how much of the monthly payment goes towards the principal and how much goes towards payment of interest and taxes.

The inputs required in a mortgage rate calculator are the principal amount of mortgage taken, the period, and the rate of interest during the time of taking the mortgage. If there are any taxes and insurance involved, then they have to be fed into the calculator also. When the solve button is pressed, the figure of the total monthly payment is displayed. Interest rate calculators have a special button that splits this monthly payment into the principal and the interest.

Mortgage rate calculators available online are much more detailed. When the information is inputted, they display an entire chart, which gives the schedule of the amortization. There are various columns such as payment on principal, payment on interest, etc. Such an amortization chart gives a proper view on the fact that as the period increases, the payment towards the principal increases and the payment towards the interest amount decreases. Online mortgage rate calculators can be used to depict up to three different scenarios which gives the buyer a clear idea when purchasing a mortgage. Some online mortgage rate calculators can present the information in a graphical chart format to enable better understanding.

Handheld mortgage rate calculators are used by banks and other companies dealing with the selling of mortgages. They are also frequently seen among mortgage brokers and agents. A handheld mortgage calculator would cost anything between $20 to $100, depending on its quality and the features it has.

Mortgage Calculators provides detailed information on Mortgage Calculators, Mortgage Payment Calculators, Mortgage Rate Calculators, Free Mortgage Calculators and more. Mortgage Calculators is affiliated with Mortgage Information Services.

Understanding Monthly Payment Mortgage Calculators

To calculate the monthly payment of your mortgage is the most basic calculation in terms of mortgage. You can apply the same calculation for loans. That is why mortgage monthly payment calculator is also called loan payment calculator. To be safe, make sure you stay below forty percent of your net income. For example, 40% of $4,000 comes to $1,440 mortgage payment.

Here is the mortgage monthly payment formula: payment = [P(1 + r)n r]/[(1 + r)n - 1]

Here are the amounts that you need:

- P means principal amount of loan.

- r means interest rate. To get the rate divide the interest rate by twelve months, because there are twelve months in year.

- n means the number of payments. Basically, multiply number of years by twelve months.

Suppose you want to know the monthly payment for a 30 year mortgage for $100,000 at 7% interest rate. Rate equals .00583 which is interest rate divide by twelve months, while number of payments equals 360 (30 years X 12 months). You pay $665 mortgage monthly payment per month.

Here is the actual calculation: Payment equals [$100,000(1 + .00583)360 x 0.00583] / [(1 + 0 .00583)360 - 1]. Your monthly mortgage payment comes to $665.30. By the way, 360 is an exponent.

Dennis Estrada is a webmaster of Able Mortgage Calculators which calculate the mortgage payments, and compare different interest rates.