Saturday, April 10, 2010

ARMs a Good Investment?

One of the most innovative mortgages we've seen in a very long time is a new adjustable-rate mortgage Reevytown with some very compelling features. First, it's based on an institutional rate benchmark known as Bankers Acceptance. Most of us are familiar with the rate benchmark - and we are accustomed to assessing mortgage rates based on it. The BA, on the other hand, is the rate at which banks will lend money to one another - and it's typically a lower rate (sometimes much lower) than the prime rate offered to a bank's best customers. The new BA-based mortgage - compared to the best prime-based mortgage available - could have saved a mortgage client a bundle over the last several years, primarily because the prime rate tends to be "stickier" in an environment where rates are falling. Often, the more fluid, market-based BA rates deliver the rate change more quickly. The BA rate is no trade secret, by the way; pick up a copy of your favourite financial paper and look for the published money rates to find the Bankers Acceptance Rate.

But the attractive rate structure is not the only perk. The same BA-based mortgage - so welldesigned to help clients wring the last quarter point from their mortgage rate - now also comes with a rate cap which guarantees that your rate will never climb higher than 2.15% above the starting base rate - no matter what happens to rates during your mortgage term. There's no worry about locking in too high because the rate is always adjustable down.

Only the ceiling is fixed. It's a homebuyers' dream:

A mortgage with limited upside and unlimited downside. If you're thinking about buying a home this year, or you haven't had your mortgage reviewed in the last several months, take the opportunity to get an expert assessment of your many options from a mortgage professional Reevytown. It could be the best investment you'll make this year!

Can You Get Perks Out of an ARM?

These are heavy days for homeowners. If you've been in your home even a few years, you've probably already enjoyed a modest climb in the value of your home. Even if you don't intend to sell, it's good to know that your real estate investment is doing well. But we're also enjoying an environment in which mortgage rates Reevytown have reached historic lows.

That combination -- strong valuations and low mortgage rates -- has an unprecedented number of homeowners looking for ways to capitalize on the great opportunities available to them.

Whether it's to buy their first home, trade up, or take equity back out of their homes, homeowners are jumping at the opportunity to borrow at today's rock-bottom rates.

While many homebuyers are reconsidering the value of fixed-rate mortgages to lock in those low rates, you should keep in mind that adjustable-rate mortgages Reevytown - the darling of the dropping rate trend - can still offer real value to homeowners. It's a matter of finding the right combination of mortgage features and options.

As banks have been joined by other lending institutions, we have seen our menu of New Jersey mortgage options grow accordingly - with some innovative new mortgage types now available to help homeowners take advantage of today's unusual opportunities.

Who Can Get a Reverse Mortgage?

Who qualifies for a Reverse Mortgage Reevytown?

All titleholders must be 62 or older and own a home with some equity. There are no income or credit qualifications. Existing mortgages or liens must be paid off, but are often paid with proceeds from the Reverse. The homeowner must also remain current on insurance and property taxes, but these can also be paid with proceeds from the Reverse.

How can a borrower use the money?

The funds can be used for any purpose from making ends meet to living retirement dreams. The top reasons for funds used given typically by borrowers are:

•Paying off debts, primarily mortgage and credit cards

•Home repairs and remodeling

•Living expenses

•Travel

•Health care or long-term care

•Easing the financial burden on children

•Education

•Hobbies

•Escalating property taxes

The amount available depends on the borrower’s age, the value of the home, interest rates and local FHA lending limits. Older borrowers can receive a higher percentage of their equity than younger borrowers. Funds can be received in a lump sum, a monthly payment or a line of credit.

What are the costs?

As with most any loan product, there are origination fees and closing costs, but they can be paid from the proceeds of the Reverse Mortgage Reevytown. HECM loans also have a charge for the FHA’s Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP). There are usually no out-of-pocket costs to the borrower.

What consumer protections are in place?

Reverse Mortgages Reevytown are non-recourse consumer loans – the loan payoff can never exceed the value of the home. To get a Reverse Mortgage, the customer must attend a mandatory counseling session and review their financial situation with a trained, professional Reverse Mortgage counselor. Many of the counselors are certified by the AARP. The counselor ensures that they understand the transaction, the costs and their other alternatives.

Reverse Mortgages?

Seniors today often live with a great deal of financial uncertainty. The retirement they imagined may not be consistent with the reality they face.

Incomes are flat or declining, living and medical expenses are higher than ever and few income boosting alternatives exist. Even those who have heard about Reverse Mortgages Reevytown may be unsure about how they work or what questions to ask. As they search for information, they often turn to their financial institution for guidance and information. By becoming familiar with the product, you can be an even more valuable resource to your clients providing them with income supplementing alternatives to drawing down assets.



What is a Reverse Mortgage?



A Reverse Mortgage Reevytown is a special type of loan that allows a homeowner to convert a portion of the equity in their home into cash they can access. The funds are not taxable to the homeowner and typically don’t interfere with eligibility for Social Security or Medicare benefits. (However, in the federal Supplemental Security Income program, beneficiaries must keep their liquid resources under certain limits.) The customer retains title to the home as well as right to any appreciation in home value when the loan terminates after it is paid off. The loan remains in force until the last titleholder dies, permanently leaves the home or sells the property; the borrower can't be forced to sell or move by the lender. The loan may be repaid at any time. But unlike a traditional home equity loan or second mortgage, no monthly payments are required. Instead of putting further pressure on an already stretched budget, a Reverse Mortgage can free a senior homeowner of monthly debt obligations.



Most Reverse Mortgages Reevytown today are Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) and are FHA-insured and guaranteed. Because HECMs are subject to FHA lending limits, proprietary products have also been developed to help homeowners with properties in excess of the FHA lending limits.

The Value of Your Mortgage

If you are like most homeowners, you are focused -for good reason - on finding the best possible rate for your mortgage. Your mortgage broker Reevytown can offer you the best range of rate options and terms. If a mortgage broker can get you one per cent off the posted rate, that could translate into more than $13,000 in interest per $100,000 borrowed over a 25-year amortization schedule. If, however, you believe that most mortgage rates are basically the same from one institution to the next, then consider the fact that even an eighth of a point difference in the rate can offer significant savings over the duration of your mortgage.

But it's also important to look beyond the rate. There are other ways to find savings in your mortgage. Your mortgage broker Reevytown is up-to-date on market trends and new opportunities... as well as some of the tried-and-true ways to save money in a mortgage.

Do you get an annual bonus in your job? You may want to use that bonus to pay down the principal of your mortgage. If you pursue this strategy consistently over the life of your mortgage, you could save thousands of dollars in interest by paying your mortgage off sooner.

Are you paid bi-weekly or bi-monthly? Consider a change from the usual monthly mortgage payment. Set up your mortgage payment schedule to coincide with your pay period. Again, you can shave years off your mortgage, and enjoy thousands of dollars in savings.

In the coming weeks, we'll look at some of these savings opportunities in more detail. In the meantime, consider the old penny proverb again. How much is your time worth? Time savings is one of the key, unexpected benefits that clients say they have enjoyed when they choose to work with a mortgage broker Reevytown. Above all, a mortgage broker is an expert in customer service, and that means that your broker looks after every detail of your mortgage research and negotiations on your behalf.

Your Mortgage Savings

"A penny saved is a penny earned"... or so the old proverb goes. Of course, the value of a penny has changed somewhat from the time when your mother offered her wisdom on the value of keeping what you earn. Today, you could save thousands of dollars by simply making the right mortgage decision. If you're like most homeowners, your home mortgage Reevytown is a goldmine of potential savings.

In the past few articles, we've talked about the importance of your mortgage as one of your most significant financial decisions. We've explored the value of seeking the advice of a mortgage professional -whether you're buying a home or renewing an existing mortgage.

Today, let's take a look at the bottom line: the savings you can enjoy by making the right home mortgage Reevytown decisions.

It is the primary role of a mortgage broker Reevytown to find you the right product for your personal situation. A mortgage broker is a financial professional and - like your investment advisor - he or she will want to understand your personal situation and payment preferences. Your mortgage broker has access to a broad spectrum of lending institutions, so you can do some valuable comparison shopping for the right combination of features, rates and mortgage options.

All these choices offer you substantial opportunities to save money over the life of your mortgage.

Your Jumbo Mortgage Loan

Jumbo mortgages Reevytown are not so different from standard mortgages but there are a few key things that are worth looking in to.

Jumbo Mortgage Loans

A jumbo mortgage loan Reevytown is a loan taken for property that is high-priced.. In Colorado, as in most of the U.S., a jumbo mortgage loan is any mortgage that exceeds $417,000 - the limit set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for conforming loans. Link

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two agencies that buy the majority of real estate mortgages, will not finance loans greater than $417,000 in most states; however Alaska, Hawaii, and a couple others are exceptions. Therefore, the large jumbo mortgage loans are sold to other investments, often banks and insurance companies, and so a jumbo mortgage loan falls into a different category. Rates for a jumbo mortgage are also higher than conforming loans because there is more risk involved.

What This Means for Jumbo Mortgage Interest

The size of a jumbo mortgage loan Reevytown means there is more to lose. The size, coupled with other factors, results in somewhat higher jumbo mortgage rates than those carried by conforming loans. Since percentage points on jumbo mortgage rages can mean sizable payment differences, buyers should shop around for a good lender when applying for a jumbo mortgage loan in order to find the best rate. Buyers should shop around for a good lender when applying for a jumbo mortgage loan in order to find the best rate.

In truth, jumbo mortgage interest rates are only one thing to consider when shopping for a jumbo mortgage. There are additional fees and closing costs to be considered that could even out the difference in jumbo mortgage rates. Sometimes, the company with the jumbo mortgage rates is actually the cheapest, all things considered.

Also, buyers shopping for good jumbo mortgage interest rates need to consider their goals, plans, and all of their options. Like conforming mortgages, jumbo mortgages are offered in a variety product lines. Buyers have the option of taking out loans with adjustable jumbo mortgage rates with 3 or 5 year locked rates that adjust after that period, or 15 or 30 year fixed jumbo mortgage rates that never change.

Deciding which type of product (variable or fixed jumbo mortgage interest rate) is better for you depends on whether you plan to stay in the home for more than that locked 3-5 year period, or whether you will refinance the loan within 3-5 years anyway.