Mortgages - types of interest rate

Types of Interest Rate

You have researched into all the different mortgage types and found a suitable one for you. Now is time to look into what type of interest rate you wish to pay. The type of interest you wish to pay will depend on your circumstances and how much you are willing to pay out every month. You will find out below that not all interest rates/types are the same.

Discounted rate

A discounted rate allows the buyer to pay a reduced payment for a fixed amount of time. After the fixed term is aver the rate usually increases to the national base rate. Discounted rates are attractive for first time buyers and also home buyers who require extra cash for renovations. The term of discount does give you time to get used to having a mortgage payment.

Fixed rates

With a fixed rate mortgage you are guaranteed the same rate of interest every month for a fix period or term. This rate will not fluctuate as long as you are in an agreement for a fixed term. The fixed term can be anywhere from 1 to 7 years. Do be careful when taking a fixed rate mortgage term don’t forget to ask the lender if you have any obligation to stay with the lender after the fixed term is over?

Variable rate

Variable rate mortgages do tend to fluctuate around the base rate, and are generally higher then the discounted, fixed and capped rates that are also available. Usually, after you have been at a discounted rate, your interest rate will move up to a variable rate. This could be for a specified time you have agreed to with the lender.

Capped rate

With a capped rate mortgage, the lender will cap the mortgage rate to a specific amount, which allows the interest rate to never rise above this level for a fixed term. However if the interest rate decreases? So will your rate.

Tracker mortgages

A tracker mortgage actually tracks the Bank of England base rate. This means your mortgage stays in line with interest rates. The way a tracker reflects on your monthly mortgage interest payments is that they go up when the base rate goes up and go down when the base rate goes down.

Similar to a standard variable rate mortgage a tracker follows the percentage rate imposed by the Bank of England. Unlike the standard variable rate mortgage changes annually or monthly a tracker mortgage guarantees to follow changes in the Bank of England base rate within 2 weeks of the interest rate changing, allowing the borrower to benefit from both falls and rises of the interest rate quicker.

However, there are disadvantage to tracker mortgages. If interest rates were to rise sharply, so too would the cost of a tracker, so in situation like this you would lose out and find yourself paying more per month that you did the previous month. In this type of situation a fixed rate or a capped rate mortgage would have been advantageous to the borrower.

Trackers do work better for the borrower when interest rates are falling but if you look at the bigger picture, they give you clear insight to whatever the Bank of England does with rates. With a tracker both the borrower and the lender know exactly what they are getting.

Flexible Mortgages

With a flexible interest mortgage, you the lender can usually pay more if you have extra cash available, pay less if you need to save a little, maybe even take a holiday from your payments. Flexible is what it is, flexible. Also the interest on a flexible mortgage is calculated daily instead of annually. So you reduce the interest amount with every payment.

Checking the APR

Always remember to check the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) of the mortgage you are considering taking out for a specified term. Usually the lower the APR the cheaper the rate at which you will pay back every month. However do be careful, some lenders will offer you the opportunity to take a very low APR over a fixed period and then a standard rate for a further fixed term. Situations like this can potentially turn to disaster for some people. If you have discounted mortgage rate for two years at 3.9% which totals a monthly payment of Ј300 per month, after the 3.9% term has ended, you are still in a contract with the lender for a further two years at a rate of 5.9% you will find that the payment will increase substantially.

In this situation you could find yourself not being able to afford the mortgage payment, also unable to transfer your mortgage to another lender due to redemption penalties for early breach of contract.

Redemption penalties

The various discounted mortgages available e. g. capped, discounted and fixed do tend to carry a redemption penalty. This is due to the lender operating a special rate for the fixed amount of time. Some of the standard rate periods can be for a longer period than the special rate term. So do not forget to read the small print, and always remember to ask about the redemption penalties and the standard rate period of the mortgage you are enquiring about. There are mortgages out there now that offer no fixed penalties or require you to be tied in with a lender over the discounted period.

Mortgage broker training tips

If you want to be a successful mortgage broker there are a few things that you can do to increase your chances. There are thousands of mortgage brokers across the world, and to set yourself apart you are going to have to be the best at what you do; there is no two ways about it.

Here are seven mortgage broker training tips that you can follow if you want to be the best in the industry.

1. You do not need to use hundreds of lenders in order to be a successful mortgage broker. Many mortgage brokers think that the more lenders they work with, the more money they will make. By getting five reliable lenders on your side, you will be able to do all of the business that you could hope for.

2. Make sure that you know your lender’s rules and guidelines for loans. After all, if you are going to be selling their loans, you need to know everything about them. Many people make the mistake of skimping in this area. Do not let this happen to you.

3. Stay in touch with your lenders, underwriters, and anybody else that is integral to the loan process. By doing this they will be more inclined to stick with you through the thick and the thin. You can stay in touch via mailers, brief calls, or gifts during the holiday season.

4. Determine what your market is, and how you are going to define it. In other words, know what you sell and stick to it. This includes the loans that you are trying to sell to borrowers, as well as what type of people you will work with. Some mortgage brokers only work with borrowers that meet a certain credit score requirement. This is not a bad idea as long as you are consistent.

5. Try to carve out a niche for yourself. By doing this you will have much less competition to go up against. One example would be specializing in foreclosure loans. Sure, you are going to have competition, but it will not be nearly as fierce.

6. When you are communicating with borrowers and lenders make sure that you are professional at all times. This process can be hard on everybody; but a good mortgage broker can make things seem much easier.

7. Ask people that you know in the industry if they can help you garner new business. This way you will have a marketing technique working for you. This is one of the most overlooked but effective mortgage broker training tips.

Overall, these are only some of the mortgage broker training tips that you should consider. In order to be more successful come up with a list of your own tips to follow.

Mortgage calculators - simple but effective

The Oxford Dictionary defines mortgage as “the method of conveyance of property as security for debt until money is repaid”. The word mortgage is a French loan word, literally meaning dead pledge, but commonly used to refer to the legal device used in securing be property. A calculator on the other hand is an electronic device used for making calculations. Owning a home or moving into a larger one is the part of any person’s dream. However dreams come with the price tag and so at times, to attain what we want, we need a little financial help at times, which we refer to as loans.

A mortgage calculator is a simple way to determine how much the monthly payments would be, thereby providing a base leading to the fulfillment of dreams. However, there is a word of caution here. Mortgage calculators follow the standard ratio of debt to income; which means that debt can be taken only upto 28 percent of the income. This poses as a major problem, especially in markets like Southern California where this warning is overlooked by many lenders. Thus in a country where the average income is less than sixty four thousand dollars, one is expected to earn over 128,000 dollars to afford a home that is moderately priced at 5,00,000 dollars. Also, there are a variety of mortgage calculators available. Basic mortgage calculators determine how much your payment will be. In such calculators, a number is received by inputting the amount of the loan, the term and the interest rate. Mortgage calculators can also calculate how much you can afford for a home. In return for supplying data of your income and any other additional payments that you may have to incur, the mortgage calculator helps you ascertain the amount of money you need to take out. However, this type of mortgage calculator does not take into account the amount of down payment that is being made. Mortgage calculators of higher utility take into consideration the amount of earning needed, and allows the input of all that information in addition to the amount of savings being made for the down payment.

The mortgage calculator has its own advantages. For one, the confused customer is assured that even if he responds to the lucrative and yet myriadly mazed policies of the banks, he will not be cheated. Also, since a major chunk of the business of mortgage calculators are carried on through the net, the economy of the country receives a positive kick. Mortgage calculators also motivate the banks to strive for betterment of their policies thereby enhancing national growth.

In most jurisdictions, mortgages are strongly associated with loans secured on real estate rather than on other property such as ships, gold etc. There are also cases where only land may be mortgaged. Contriving a mortgage is often seen as the standard method by which individuals or businesses can purchase residential or commercial real estate without paying the full value immediately. Mortgage calculator sees it’s boon in countries like Great Britain, Spain and the US.

The advantages of reverse mortgages

In recent years property values have soared, while investment returns have been modest. This has created a situation where a lot of seniors are finding themselves in the position of being house rich and cash poor. These cash strapped seniors are looking for ways to increase their retirement income while continuing to live in their homes. These retirees find that their options are limited, and in most cases require them to risk their home. Enter the reverse mortgage, which can provide many advantages over these other less desirable options.

No Payments With Reverse Mortgages

The biggest advantage of a reverse mortgages is not having to make payments as long as you continue living in your home. In fact, this is the number one reason that seniors choose to borrow reverse mortgages. Almost 80% of reverse mortgage borrowers use a reverse mortgage to pay off their current loans in order to eliminate their house payments. Let's say you owe $50,000 on your first mortgage and borrow $80,000 with a reverse mortgage. This would pay off and eliminate the payment on the first mortgage and provide you with $30,000 to use as you please.

Live in Your Home as Long as You Like

The second advantage of reverse mortgages is the ability to live in your house as long as you like. The great thing about this is the amount you owe on the reverse mortgage can never be more than the house is worth. Let's say you live to 115 and have selected to recieve a $300 a month payments for life from the reverse mortgage. The amount received from the reverse mortgage payments could be substantially higher than the value of your home, yet the amount owed will still only be the value of the home. In this situation, FHA insurance will cover the difference.

Reverse Mortgage Withdrawal Options

Another advantage of reverse mortgages is the different withdrawal options that a you are able to choose. These options include lump sum distributions, line of credit, monthly payments, or any combination of these three. So if you were eligible to borrow $100,000 on a reverse mortgage you could select to receive $30,000 up front to cover current expenses, and hold the rest as a line of credit that you can use whenever you need it. This flexibility of reverse mortgages can significantly improve you financial independence during retirement.

Tax-Free Nature of Reverse Mortgages

Another advantage of reverse mortgage is the tax-free nature of the loan proceeds. The American Bar Association guide to reverse mortgages advises that generally the IRS does not consider loan advances to be income. This means that all the money from the proceeds of the reverse mortgage end up in your pocket.

With these features, reverse mortgage are definitely an option to consider if you are looking for ways to supplement your current income. As with any financial decision, you should seek the advice of a trained professional, a reverse mortgage counselor, to evaluate and determine if a reverse mortgage is right for your situation.

Refinancing your mortgage 101

Practically everyone has refinanced or thought about it at one point in time. We've seen the dozens of commercials that urge us to do it. With rates at record lows over the past few years, refinancing has helped many borrowers lower their monthly payments.

Refinancing your mortgage can be a very hard and confusing experience. When you're making your decision, there are several things to keep in mind.

First, even a small rate cut can pay off quickly.

Second, if you are planning to stay in your home for at least three to five years, it may make sense to pay "points" (a point equals 1% of the loan amount) and closing costs to get the lowest available rate.

And third, you can avoid a cash layout and still get a low rate by adding the fees and closing costs to your new mortgage. This does not mean shouldering a lot of extra debt. If you've had your current mortgage for at least three years, you've probably reduced your balance by several thousand dollars. So you may be able to tack your closing costs onto your new loan, lock in at a lower rate and still end up with a mortgage amount that's less than your original one. More importantly, a lower monthly payment.

Another factor to consider is how long you expect to stay in your home? If your planning to move in the next few years, the monthly savings may never add up to the costs that are involved in refinancing.

You may have bought your home with a finance company mortgage, or took out a second mortgage to pay for central heating or furniture. Your payments are probably very high because some finance companies charge interest rates of up to 50 per cent. It is advisable that you look carefully at the small print to find the true rate—most mortgage refinancing loans are over a fairly short term, about 15 years at most.

HOMEOWNERS Please get the very BEST financing rates available today

Mortgage refinancing for people with bad credit how to choose a refi lender

If you have bad credit, choosing to refinance your home mortgage may help improve your situation. Why? For starters, when most homeowners refinance their loan, they do so to acquire a lower rate, which lowers their monthly mortgage payment. In addition, obtaining a cash-out refinance will provide homeowners with the extra funds to reduce debts and payoff bills.

Benefits of Refinancing with Bad Credit

Refinancing your mortgage with bad credit has several benefits. A huge advantage involves the ability to reduce and eliminate your debts. Bad credit occurs gradually over time. For the most part, consumers receive a bad credit status by paying bills late, having several missed payments, and acquiring too much debt.

A mortgage refinancing can be a solution to credit problems. After you obtain the funds from the refinancing and payoff credit balances, your credit score will begin to show improvements. Of course, the tricky part is getting a mortgage refinance with a good rate.

If you have bad credit, obtaining a low rate loan is challenging. Fortunately, there are various lenders willing to offer comparable rates to you. Because a mortgage refinancing creates an entirely new home loan, and the loan is secured, most lenders are eager to do business with a bad credit applicant. If you default on the mortgage loan, the lender will simply foreclose the property and resell.

How to Choose a Bad Credit Refi Lender?

There are several tips for selecting a refinance lender that offers loans to people with poor credit. In fact, your current lender may specialize in sub prime loans. Thus, it will be to your advantage to contact your lender and request a quote. Because lenders want to keep customers, they may offer you the best rate.

After obtaining a quote from your existing lender, contact an online mortgage broker and complete an application or quote request. Working with brokers is fast, easy, and convenient. Brokers have a database of various prospective lenders. Upon reviewing your information, the broker will match you will suitable lenders. Next, you will receive quotes from at least four lenders.

Lender quotes will include all pertinent information such as rates, terms, services, estimated costs, etc. Once you choose the lender with the best offer, submit an official application. You can expect to close on the loan within 30 days.

Mortgage lenders your options

Finding your dream home is usually the simplest part of the house buying process! Once you see somewhere you want to put in an offer for, you’ll want to move fast. It helps, therefore, to have your mortgage sorted before you find somewhere you want to buy.

You can choose a lender and mortgage, apply for the loan and get your mortgage ‘approved on principle’ before you even start looking for a house. This means that you know what your budget will be and can be fairly certain that your mortgage will be accepted. The lender will still want to see the valuation survey, however, and there may be other checks that have to be completed before the deal is closed.

While most people used to take out their mortgage with a building society or bank, these days there are a number of other options to consider. Smaller, specialist mortgage providers can offer good deals and are sometimes more flexible about terms.

Banks and Building Societies

Since the market has become much more competitive, the larger finance houses have adapted their practice to become much more flexible with their mortgage deals. You will have the advantage of knowing that a reputable lender provides your mortgage, and local branches can make your day-to-day banking more convenient.

Insurance Companies

Some companies now offer their own range of mortgage products, which can give good terms, along with insurance products and investments. Legal and General are a well-known example. Check that you are not committed to taking out insurance policies with the lender along with your mortgage.

Specialist and Centralised Lenders

Generally this type of lender operates from one location – you won’t be able to visit a local branch, but they may offer lower rates as a result of having fewer overheads to cover. Virgin Direct and Mortgage Trust are two lenders who can offer particularly flexible mortgages. Telephone and internet banking make this kind of borrowing more convenient.

Local authorities

Council house residents may wish to apply to their local authority for a mortgage. There are also some mortgages available from some authorities for people who wish to renovate derelict houses – contact your local council for more information.

It’s good practise for a lender to subscribe to the Mortgage Code – this is a voluntary scheme that means the lender has promised to uphold commitments to good service.