29.12.09

So What is Mortgage Insurance ?

Mortgage insurance is a kind of financial security for lenders whenever a borrower defaults on a mortgage loan. The insurer eradicates or decreases the loss to the lender if the borrower defaults on the loan.

Mortgage insurance assists the lender who is  providing the financing. It allows anybody to be a homeowner faster and gives them more control in acquiring a property. Low downpayment is possible for first-time homebuyers to assist them to have the funds for their first property. On the other hand, mortgage insurance gives great tax gain for those previous homeowners because they can utilize the money for moving costs, investments and other expenses as downpayment.

Typically, at least 20% downpayment in a home's purchase cost is required for a borrower if there is no mortgage insurance security. This re-assures the lender that the borrower is going to meet the requirement of monthly compensation. Lender normally agrees with five or ten percent downpayment from the borrowers if there is a mortgage insurance security.

Naturally, borrowers are the ones who pay for the insurance. At closing, a preliminary premium is collected and the property sum is integrated in the monthly payment to the lender, who passes on the amount to the insurer.

There are different kinds of premium plans available such as annuals, monthly premiums and singles. Refundable as well as non-refundable premiums can be preferred with these plans. If ever the mortgage insurance is terminated even before the credit is paid, the borrower will benefit with a money-back guarantee on a refundable premium. On the other hand, the borrower cannot have a refund if the mortgage insurance plan is terminated through a non-refundable premium.

Whatever the case may be, always plan your finances and refinancing resources carefully to avoid going into any mortgage loan default.  Stay prudent !

18.12.09

Compare and Select The Right Mortgage Lender

Before making that big decision to refinance your home or purchase a  brand new one with a good mortgage deal, it is always best to investigate and examine lending companies, their track record and current financial status.

And while the interest rates and payment terms that are being offered are just as important, it is always best to work with a financial institution that you can trust and rely on.

Compare mortgage loan lenders based on the length of time that they have been in the business as well as the number of clients they currently have. Take notice of the banks that they do business with to ensure that they are stable lenders with stable banks to back them up.

Of course, as most people would first consider in choosing their lending companies, compare mortgage lenders based on the deals they offer. Most of the time it is not just good to check out whose rates are more competitive.

Do note that there may be deals that are too good to be true but will turn out to be nightmares in the end. There are many good online resources and mortgage calculators that allow you to compare mortgage deals effectively.

Make sure that you avail of deals that are not only reasonable but are well within your financial capability to pay, after you have taken due notice of your regular expenses.

Look around for recommendations and testimonials. Scrounge around for feedback, both good and bad, on the mortgage companies that you are considering before closing a deal. Afterall, the person ultimately servicing the mortgage is you and you will have to bear due consequence for making the decision on which mortgage loan company to take on. 

Again, never take things for granted.

8.12.09

Regarding Home Mortgages

The world has advanced so much that a common observation shows that in the past 10 years all the people that did not have luxurious houses filled with latest electronics now literally have them stocked full at home.

And if you look at the current financial situation, it hasn't improved so greatly that half of the world population could buy what they currently own.

So the answer to this entire mind boggling confusion is quite frankly : MORTGAGES

So what exactly is a home mortgage, you might ask ?

Suppose you intend to purchase a house, the lending institution who will give you the money will require some of the money as a security for the housing loan and the amount of that security will be called the mortgage for that particular property, and the same applies for all the other things that you will buy on which the mortgage system can be applied to, the thing which has to be bought, certain value of its price is given the title of mortgage value.

Indeed this system is in the market but you may never seem to find the right mortgage rates. So the easiest way out is simply to engage the services of a mortgage loan company. Their employees are divided into sections which keep an eye on all the leads.

The next thing that the lending company will provide you with is commercial mortgage and the residential mortgage help that you require to make effective decisions that can not only help you save your money but get you what you require the most. These companies will also provide you with mortgage advice, information about bad credit mortgage and how to refinance them to help pay for other mortgages and so on.

Mortgage marketing these days has become a different league of its own and the people use many ingenius tactics that attract customers to opt for the mortgage and forget about the other things that are in fine print and only shown in the documents and that is where the word of caution comes in. Always remember that before you sign on any deal, always make sure that you read all the instruction and all the conditions that are stated.

If you intend to sell some of your property it is advisable to make sure that you have the mortgage option and along with that you advertise it with the top mortgage companies, as these companies give you the right attention that your property needs and that is the reason why such companies have been in the business for so long, so trusting them is not a mistake but an opening for your dreams to become wealthier and better and all this can be done just by following some simple procedures.

Mortgages are indeed a thing that takes some time to calculate and understand, but once you get it, then the system is as easy as it can get.  Deal your cards right and reap in the benefits.

1.12.09

Welcome My Twitter Friends

To all my friends whom I invited from my Twitter group to visit my blog, a warm welcome and a hearty thanks for your support and comments.

And thanks to Prakesh from India for some of your article contribution on mortgages.

Do keep on coming by !

29.11.09

Let Us Take a Look At Mortgage Loan Rates

Having the right mortgage rate can really make a huge difference to your life.

Mortgage has been around for quite some time and the most important thing that affects the whole system is the mortgage rate. This rate is used to calculate the overall interest and the years that the borrower will have to pay the interests.

Hence it is one of the main factors in the mortgage loan that needs to be considered thoroughly before taking one up. Some might be thinking that if my current rate was 5% instead of 10% I would pay half and be free in the later half, then you are exactly right. And that is the whole point of it and that is the reason why certain companies provide you simple guidance for all the ways that can help you drastically reduce your mortgage rates.

First we have to see how the mortgage rate can be altered. The first thing that one should do is to be aware of all the current rates that are available in the market. The next step is to see how you can get a low mortgage rate.

Obviously, the first thing is to have a clear and positive credit report. It is not necessary that you should make large transactions to make it look better, the fundamental key is your regularity, and if one has a steady input and output then the mortgage interest rates that he/she will get will obviously be very low.

Another big concern is not to be a defaulter of any bank. Also, it would be good to have a small mortgage on other things, and have a steady income by which you can repay the amount. The basic thing that is checked is the steady income and according to the mortgage rate and the interest rate calculators, the number of years are very important, if you are capable of repaying the loan or then the overall rate would definitely be lower.

However the main thinking of most people should be to find the best mortgage rates, and this is not difficult nowadays due to intense competition in this business. You have a variety of packages that can help you to find excellent rates, and interest only mortgages packages. Some of the firms can also change their rate of interest according to the value of the land and other factors as well as offering fixed rate packages.

To sum it all up, mortgage rates are dependent on various factors, and all the firms that will provide you the mortgage will check for different things, however it is up to you to save yourself from fraud and scam and be able to find the best loan rates that are available at the present time.  Just learn to stay prudent and you will be fine !

20.11.09

Refinancing Your Mortgage Loan

There are a number of benefits in refinancing your existing home mortgage loan.

Mortgage refinancing can help you to :

  • Lower your monthly payment
  • Lock in a fixed rate
  • Get cash from home equity

However, mortgage refinancing is not suitable for everyone. It is very important that you weigh all your options before considering on whether to refinance your loan or not.

If you do decide to take up on refinancing of your existing mortgage loan, you will have many options to consider, which is briefly outlined below :

Fixed rate mortgage loans - Lock in a low fixed mortgage rate that is guaranteed to never change. Popular terms include 15, 20, 30, and 40-year loans.

Cash-out mortgage refinance loans - Get extra cash without a second mortgage.

Adjustable rate loans - Flexible mortgage loan terms for your short-term goals.

Interest-only mortgage loans - Lower your loan payments and maximize your cash.

FHA mortgage loans - Guaranteed by the government, FHA loans offer more flexible guidelines than traditional mortgages.

To sum up, ensure you conduct adequate research as you are going to be the one who will ultimately have to bear due consequence on whichever type of mortgage refinancing loan you eventually decide to take on.  Never take things for granted !

8.11.09

Getting the Best Mortgage Deals

The best mortgage deals are those which offer low interest rates, a low downpayment and a simplified application process with a reputable lender, complete with quality after sales customer service.

Many lenders claim to offer the lowest home mortgage loans around, but do exercise due caution over such lofty claims if they are not willing to provide actual referrals or documentation to back their claims. It is very well known that everyone wants to find the lowest mortgage loan offers when taking the initial steps toward purchasing property or refinancing a property.

Do not be overwhelmed by the task of finding the best deal. There are unlimited resources out there and the Internet is a great place to gather some information for a start.

There are a number of search engines to consult to get information on home loans. Be prepared to sort through results from millions of web sites. This may sound daunting, but take it one step at a time and you will be on your way to finding the best mortgage deal to suit your needs. Surf through the first few web sites that result from the search and take notes on the specific type of mortgage loan needed.

In order to find the best mortgage deals, homebuyers will need to learn about the different types of loan packages from several different lenders. Having a high credit score will also greatly increase any chances of finding a good home loan because high scoring consumers will qualify for a lower interest rate.

Many consumers have some credit issues in their past and this will keep them from getting good offers from lenders. However, most mortgage lenders are accustomed to working with borrowers that have credit problems, so they will do their best to offer the best mortgage deal depending on your unique situation.

Depending on the circumstances, there are a number of mortgage loan packages that will enable the borrower to borrow with little or no downpayment and obtain affordable monthly repayments. The best mortgage deals can be found by investigating on a few local lenders that have a good reputation. Homebuyers should also speak with friends, family or colleagues to ask for their advice when choosing a lender.

Another way to obtain good loan offers is to have a large downpayment. This will cut the term of the loan and therefore cut the amount of interest paid. Some of the best mortgage deals are those in which the lender pays the closing costs. This may be rare, but it is not unheard of. Lenders are very competitive and will do their best to promote their best mortgage deal via various advertisement means be it on the net or in the print.

Do your due diligence on your research online as well as arranging to meet your current lending institution specialist (if you are already on other existing loans like student loans or even auto loans etc) or even arranging to meet up with new ones to access your options.  Stay alert at all times and pick up your best choice that suits your needs.

3.10.09

What Is A Mortgage Loan ?

A mortgage loan is a type of home loan that is usually used in acquiring a house. It is a type of debt instrument which makes use of a security or collateral to ensure that the borrower would not default on paying the monthly installments until the entire loan is repaid. The lender could possess this security in case the borrower fails to pay the loan. In home mortgage loans, the security used is the house itself that is being bought with the loaned sum.

Mortgage loans are available to anyone who wants to purchase a house. Various lenders exist that caters to the different preferences of the different home buyers. Eight of the most common are : mortgage bankers, wholesale lenders, portfolio lenders, correspondent lenders, direct lenders, mortgage brokers, online lenders and sub-prime mortgage lenders. These lenders offer a wide range of services, all related to home loans.

However, it is not sufficient that a borrower should know what type of lender he or she must deal with. The lender should also know what type of borrower the individual really is. The credit record of borrowers is the main basis for the determination of the type of mortgage loan that is most suited to the borrowing individual. Borrowers with a high or strong credit record are usually the ones that are offered the best deals by lenders.

On the other hand, borrowers on the bottom side of the bad credit rating are not usually granted mortgage loans. However, if allowed, they usually may have a more difficult time in keeping up with their monthly payments because their loans have much higher periodic rates.

The idea of defaulting often makes mortgage loans not very appealing for most borrowers. But this is the quickest and easiest way for one to be able to own a house. On the other hand why think of defaulting if you are more than capable of completing your payments until the end of its term.

Again, never take things for granted. Do your due diligence in understanding what a mortgage loan is, what it entails to take up such a loan and lastly ensure that you are able to repay your monthly instalments on time and not let it lapse.  Be prudent and careful in your search.

6.9.09

Took Up a Home Mortgage Loan Myself

I ran through 4 of the top local banks in a week and tasked the financial reps. to offer me their best mortgage package for my apartment.

It was totally a walk in affair and no pre-call booking was required.

So I sat thru' each and every section, going thru' all the terms and conditions, the perks they offer, the premium rate, the repayment terms etc etc etc...... I asked, double asked all questions I am confused with. I did not want anything unanswered. Afterall, I was the one taking it up and I would not take any chances or mistakes signing on the dotted line.

Well, I took all the info and booklets back home and did my own calculations again to match what they showed me on their laptops.

Called up a couple of old friends and checked with them on their mortgage loan package to see that everything was in order and ensured that I not miss out any details.

After careful consideration, I went back to the best deal I had and duly signed up !

Yup, 1 week of online research, checking with friends and meeting up 4 bank reps.

Never take things for granted as such a mortgage loan will take 10-20 years to repay.

And thanks to all my group buddies for their articles and inputs as I myself finally went through the mortgage.  Phew !

21.8.09

What Exactly Is a Home Equity Loan ?

In brief : A home equity loan, also known as a second mortgage, allows homeowners to borrow money from their home's available equity.

Home equity loans are commonly used for debt consolidation, home improvements, educational expenses, unplanned emergencies, other gifts and purchases.

So you might ask : What are the benefits of having a home equity loan ?

Equity loans are a popular financing option for homeowners who need additional cash. These loans usually offer a lower interest rate than credit cards. In addition, the interest you pay may also be tax deductible. Do consult a tax advisor regarding tax deduction.

Fixed Equity Loan vs. Line of Credit

The two most popular types of home loans are a home equity line of credit (HELOC) and a fixed home equity loan.

A HELOC offers you a revolving credit line with a variable rate likened to a credit card. You draw only what you need, when you need it. They normally have a lower monthly payment because your payments are interest-only.

With a fixed home equity loan you receive the entire amount at once. It offers the stability of a fixed rate and fixed payments over the life of the loan.

Compare Options and Save

If you do decide that a home equity loan is right for you, remember to do your due homework. There are tons of options available so it's important that you compare lenders and rates in order to find the best home equity loan deal. Ask for free, non-obligatory quotes from various sources and do your math, and you will know how much you can save.

Whatever the case may be, you are ultimately responsible for servicing the loan.  So make the right choice and do not be too hasty to jump into a situation you might not jump out of later.

19.6.09

Second Mortgages

A second mortgage is one of the things that comes naturally once you have not planned your entire mortgage package. However all is not lost, as all one has to do is to make the most of the opportunity that is at hand.

This is how the second mortgage system runs, as once the first loan is not paid back the owner is bound to take on a second one. However there are many things that are related to the second mortgages.

Take note that once the second mortgage is taken, it pays off the first mortgage, but the loan amount that is being lent to the borrower will be very high as it is the total of the first plus the second mortgage interest and its amount. This means that the interests rates will be extremely high, and if the person cannot come up with an appropriate solution the lender can claim foreclosure on the borrower and then eventually get your property on the first mortgage which will be in the good shape as the second loan has paid it all.

So the basic thing is that second mortgage should not be taken unless it is completely required. However if you have no other way out, there are market plans such as the bad market credits which can help you in such situations and there are other lenders which would agree on lesser interest rate then the bank itself or major lenders, as they would first check all your record and then give you an interest rate that may become difficult to repay.

Unless you want to take the second mortgage make sure that you have some amount of money coming your way and try to get rid of it as soon as possible; however here is another thing that one has to decide, and it is indeed a very critical one.

If you fail to pay your first mortgage and the only option left is the second mortgage, the mind usually stops to work, and you get confused with everything. The thing that you should think of is whether your financial situation is going to get good, or is there any option that you can get a refinance on your mortgage. If none of these things is happening that the wise choice would be to just sell the place which the mortgage plan that is available or hand it back, it may require some legal documentation but the biggest step is your mental state. However this only remains as a suggestion. The main decision lies in the borrowers hand, and every person's financial condition is only clear to him.

There are various loan companies opening day by day, offering you many incentives and that is the thing that can help spice you up in our quest to find the best second mortgage deal. Each of the firms has sites on the internet, so you do not even have to go and visit them personally and you can easily get a general view and careful analysis of all the plans. However the most important thing is that if you really want your dream home or any other thing on which you have taken the mortgage to stay under your hands, then the second mortgage is more of blessing that can help you gain the ownership once again.

Just remember to stay level-headed and you will do fine.

28.5.09

Some Fundamentals on Home Mortgages

Ten Home Mortgage Basics :

  1. The first step in getting a home mortgage loan is to gather all the information you'll require to include in a loan application.
  2. Next, review your credit report by ordering a copy from the credit bureaus used by local mortgage lenders.
  3. Prequalifying for a home loan lets you know how much you can afford and makes you a more attractive buyer.
  4. Conventional mortgages limit housing costs to 28% of gross income and total debt payments to 36% of gross income.
  5. Mortgage terms are usually 15 or 30 years. The longer the term, the lower your monthly payment, but the higher your overall interest costs.
  6. Thirty-year mortgage loans often permit additional principal payments. One additional monthly payment per year will reduce a 30-year loan to 22 years.
  7. Interest rates are fixed or variable over the term of the loan. Variable rates may be best for buyers who plan to sell within three years.
  8. Generally speaking, one interest rate point is worth 1/8 of 1% off the loan rate.
  9. Points and interest on mortgages or home equity debt are usually tax deductible.
  10. A balloon payment is a lump sum payable at the end of a specified term.

Three Steps to Finding the Right Mortgage Loan For Your Home :

  1. Estimate how long you plan to live in the house. If the answer is around three to five years, consider an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM),which typically starts out with a lower rate. If you plan to live in your new home longer than five years, a fixed-rate mortgage offers better protection against rising interest rates.
  2. Shop around for rates. Banks, credit unions, and mortgage companies all offer mortgages. Compare at least 6 lenders in your vicinity.
  3. Add up all the costs for each mortgage loan lender. Include fees, points, closing costs, etc., to arrive at the total cost for each lender.
I hope the above will provide you with some basic knowledge on home mortgage loans and how to deal with them.  Again, never take things for granted or you may end up in a worst off situation.

23.5.09

Welcome and General Introduction

Thank you for visiting my blog !

To my Google group members, welcome and I hope you enjoy and continue to visit my blog on mortgage and loans.  And keep on sending me the latest updates in your neighbourhood !

To start off, if you are looking for a housing loan, there are in fact many agencies with tons of mortgage and equity loan information online. So Google them, search and request for free quotes. Find a few that suits you and call them up for a confidential consultation.

Make sure you read all the fineprints and do your due calculation to ensure that you are able to afford the monthly servicing of your mortgage loan.

Okay, this is the gist of what my blog is about : on mortgage and equity loans :)  Thanks guys !

22.5.09

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