5 Tips on Choosing a Mortgage

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Availing a mortgage can be confusing as there are so many options available today. It is important to make an informed choice as any mortgage is not a “one day” matter. It will remain with you for a long time at least 5-10 or more years.

While mortgages enable you to buy your dream home or commercial property instantly it is a debt and needs to be paid back with interest. Since a mortgage is a long term financial commitment you need to consider aspects like income, expenditure, expanding family needs, and more before going right ahead and buying a home you really cannot afford. If you find yourself in apposition of confusion, seek the help of an independent financial advisor. Try not to consult a real estate agent or loan officer at the bank as it is in their interest for you to buy a property or avail a loan. A professional financial consultant will be able to sit down with you and study your case and then make sensible and practical recommendations based on aspects like income, future prospects and so on.

According to experts it is important to:

a. Know what kinds of mortgages are available. Study the various options with care. Know whether to select a fixed rate mortgage or adjustable rate mortgage.

b. Know your needs and based on that decide which type of mortgage you don’t need.

c. Next weigh the pros and cons of the remaining types and then choose the mortgage that is ideal for you.

When selecting a mortgage the most important things are:

1. Determine how much you can afford to pay towards the principle and interest each month. Remember you must have enough money left over to meet daily needs. Be practical and create an income/expenditure chart. And in your planning be sure to include escalation in expenses say for example a child will be due to start going to college in 3-4 years and so on.

2. Always make the effort of doing a comparison of lending rates and mortgage packages. There are online comparison tools that you can use.

3. Select a reputed and dependable mortgage company. Do a background check on the company you intend to use and make sure there are no complaints against them. Try and avail a mortgage from an institution you are already familiar with, for instance your own bank or credit union. Find out if the pace you work in has a tie up with any bank or financial institution.

4. Work out the loan tenure intelligently. Depending on the interest rate payable if you chose a long tenure you will pay out considerable amounts as interest. In case you find it difficult ask a loan officer to help you decide the tenure.

5. Always read the contract/agreement carefully. And if the mortgage has insurance cover avail that. This protects your family in case of death or any other problems.

A mortgage is a long term commitment and non payment or defaulting can mean loosing your home. So a mortgage must always be selected with care.

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Refinance Your Home Mortgage Online

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The largest financial obligation most people ever take on couldn’t escape the reach of the Internet. Home mortgage loans originated online comprise an integral part of one of the largest and most profitable aspects of the banking industry. Unlike many shifts in big business recently, this change actually seems to greatly benefit consumers by increasing competition and placing more financial control in the hands of homeowners.

To finance or refinance a home in the olden days (before the Internet), you needed to find a mortgage lender, broker, or banker who wanted to make a loan for you. Though mortgage lenders always wanted to make good loans, the process of gathering information to compare interest rates, points, and loan programs among lenders presented a tedious task for borrowers. Without a centralized information source for mortgage rates, loan programs and financial advice, most people just called a few banks and went with the lender that seemed to offer the lowest rate for the least discount points.

Now borrowers can access up-to-the-minute financial information and economic indicators online. Comparing rates and fees between lenders takes only the click of a mouse. Loan programs and mortgage calculators quickly figure the best strategy for everything from which loan represents the lowest cost over time to how much money a borrower could save by prepaying their mortgage on a monthly or bi-weekly basis. Financial tools available online truly empower any borrower with Internet access.

Though the Internet represents a faster and more hassle-free way to refinance your first or second mortgage, remember these important facts:

Loan Programs – Just because the Internet makes the loan process easier doesn’t mean you should abandon common sense. Take the time to analyze which loan program best meets your needs based on the big picture of how long you’ll live in the house, the payment you can handle comfortably, and how much cash or equity the lender requires.

Fees – All lenders don’t charge equally. Many offer a lower interest rate, but make up the discount in fees and charges. Analyze costs between lenders by obtaining a list of all associated loan fees known as a “Good Faith Estimate”.

Service – Obtaining a loan online won’t do you a bit of good if you run into a problem and need to speak with a live human. Make sure your online lender maintains offline customer service.

Rate Lock-in – The lender’s website should clearly explain their interest rate lock-in period and policy. Don’t get lured in by a lender offering a lower rate and points only to find out the hard way that your interest rate lock expires before you can get the loan closed.

Loan Commitment – Find out from the lender’s site what legally binding documentation they provide to document the loan commitment once you get loan approval.

Though many borrowers use the Internet purely for research, record numbers now go online to apply and complete the entire mortgage process on the Web, while saving significant money and time in the process.

Jim Edwards

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Your Finances

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Which category do you fall in?

I have determined that financially, people fall into one of
three categories.

1. Family 1 has all the money they need for necessities and
more and manage it very well.

2. Family 2 has all the money they need for necessities and
more but live payday to payday with ever increasing debt.

3. Family 3 don't have enough money for necessities.

The funny thing about the three families above is that they
could have exactly the same income and family size. This is
not to say that special circumstances has nothing to do with
it, but on the average most people live above their means.

Family 1 has established a workable budget. They don't pay
more than they can afford for housing, transportation,
utilities, etc. They also have money set aside for long and
short term savings. This short term savings provides two
things. First, it makes money available when the car breaks
down, you need a new washer or any number of unexpected
expenses that crop up. Second, it prevents the need to use
credit cards for these items. The savings here could be
hundreds of dollars. Family 1 planned.

Family 2 is still struggling to establish a budget. In many
cases their house payments or rent is much more than they can
afford. They don't take the time to evaluate the money that
could be saved with little effort. Usually there is no short
term savings, let alone short term. They use credit cards as
if they were cash and pay hundreds of dollars in unnessary
finance charges and penalities. These people find themselves
with financial problems that often leads to bankruptcy. Family
2 either didn't plan or may not know how the handle their
finances.

Family 3 has given up on a budget. No matter what they do there
isn't enough money to pay for housing and other necessities.
They struggle to put food on the table. Most don't qualify for
credit cards, which is a good thing. In some cases this
situation is self inflicted and some are due to circumstances.

What is the answer to these problems?

Family 1 - Leave these people alone unless you plan to ask their
advice.

Family 2 - These are the people that need to seek help and stand
a chance of becoming a family 1 family. The possible solutions
include a debt management company like Consumer Credit Counseling
Service. They need to establish a budget and stick to it. If
their housing and other expenses are too high, then they need to
cut back, even if they have to move. They also need to cut up
the credit cards and think about consolidating. Depending on
how far they are in debt, this could take years.

Family 3 - While their struggle seems useless, there are things
that can be done. First, they need to see to it that everything
is being done to keep expenses down. The electric bill is a
good example. There is federally subsidized housing that only
charges a small fee based on your income. Make sure that they
are receiving all federal and state benefits that they are
entitled. If they are able, they should seek job training or
some other means to make their life a little better.

Which family are you? No matter whether your are family 1, 2
or 3, there is hope. The primary thing that must be done is to
educate everyone that learning to managing their finances is
absolutely for their peace of mind. With the vast amount of
information on the internet providing help, this is possible.

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Will You Qualify for that New Mortgage or Re-Finance?

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The Federal Reserve continues to raise short-term interest rates, but long-term mortgage rates are still at 40-year lows. This may be one of your last opportunities to lock in great interest rates below 6%. So, we put together a brief checklist for you to follow in order to make sure that the process goes smoothly for you.

First, it is a good idea to check your credit report to make sure there will be no surprises when your lender takes a look at it. You can get a free copy of your credit report and credit score at http://www.trimyourdebt.com/GetYourCreditScore.aspx. Remember a score above 700 usually means you will get the best interest rates. Usually a rate below 680 is considered to be of higher risk and so the lender requires a higher interest rate to mitigate the increased risk of loss.

If you find any incorrect information in your credit report, be sure to get it cleaned up before applying. Cleaning up negative items from your credit will also ensure that you get a better credit score. For information on how to get your credit cleaned up before you get that new mortgage, visit http://www.trimyourdebt.com/CreditRepairGuide.aspx.

Next, list out all of the debts reported on your credit report and add up all of the monthly payments. Also include what your payment would be with your new mortgage. In order to estimate your monthly payment with a mortgage interest rate of 6%, you can use $6 per thousand dollars of mortgage. So for example, if you need a $150,000 mortgage, then multiply 6 times 150, which equals $900 per month. Add this payment to the other monthly debts listed on your credit report and this will be your total debts.

Now take out your most recent paycheck stubs to do a debt-to-income calculation. The calculation is done by taking the total debts from above and dividing this number by your gross monthly income. The ratio should be less than 38%. If your ratio is too high, then you need to do your best to start paying down your debts. The quickest way to do this is to follow the debt plan that is available at http://www.trimyourdebt.com/welcome_budget_short.aspx.

The final item that you will need to provide to your lender is documentation that shows your assets such as bank account statements, 401(k) statements, any cash value of life insurance, etc. Your lender wants to see where your down payment will be coming from.

You are now ready to check for the best rates and start looking for a lender. To get free rate quotes with no obligation and no credit check, feel free to visit us at http://www.trimyourdebt.com/MortgagePlanner.aspx.

About the Author

Don Blackhurst is the co-founder of TrimYourDebt.com (http://www.TrimYourDebt.com), which provides free budgeting tools, debt planning, and credit help. He has been working in the banking and finance industries for over 15 years and has an MBA with an emphasis in Finance and Econometrics.

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Take a Second Mortgage For Improving Your Home

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When you need finance for a home improvement project, you have many options at your reach. However, one that is not often considered and can turn out to be a very cheap source of founds is to take a second mortgage on the same property you are planning to improve. Home equity loans or second mortgages are the right tool for financing home improvements.

The fact that these loans are based on equity and that you are planning to improve the property that is guaranteeing them has several implications that need to be taken into account. Both the lender and the borrower will benefit from the fact that the loan will be used to improve the asset that is guaranteeing the loan.

Home Equity Loans (Second Mortgages)

Home equity loans or second mortgages are based on the remaining equity on your home. Basically, equity is the difference between the home value of your property and the outstanding debt guaranteed by that property. Home equity loans use this equity as collateral to guarantee the loan just like home loans use the property as collateral.

This implies that the risk involved for the lender is reduced due to the guarantee and thus, the interest rate charged is low. These loans along with home loans are probably the lowest rate loans of the private financial market. This in turn, implies also low monthly payments which are perfect for financing home improvements so you do not have to pay high lump sums every month.

Also, since these loans are guaranteed, the lender is willing to offer higher loan amounts. However, the loan amount will be limited by the equity left on your home. Higher loan amounts are also very useful for home improvements because generally, home improvements are rather expensive and an important amount of funds are needed to undertake home improvement projects.

An Alternative: Home Equity Lines of Credit for Home Improvements

These lines of credit are revolving sources of funds that are also guaranteed with your home equity. Instead of a fixed loan amount, what you are offered when requesting a home equity line of credit, is a flexible source of funds with certain credit limit. Up to this limit you can request as much money as you need and repay it the way you want. Generally, the minimum payment is the interests charged for the money you withdraw.

Once you repay the principal, you can withdraw it again as many times as you want as long as you do not exceed the credit limit. This tool provides a lot of flexibility that comes in very handy when making home improvements that have costs that you cannot always predict and thus having a fixed amount can seriously limit your project.

The main difference as regards the terms of home equity loans and lines of credit is that home equity lines of credit always carry a variable interest rate that is altered every three months according to market conditions, while home equity loans can carry either a variable rate or a fixed interest rate that will remain the same all through the life of the loan.

by Amanda Hash

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3 Tricks That Will Steal Your Equity

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While it may appear fairly simple to work up a new equity loan, there are things that you must look at to avoid equity scams. Actually, plenty of the things that you'll see here are not explored often. Before you enter into your loan arrangement, please investigate this...

I want to point out that most lenders on the equity loan marketplace are legitimate lenders; though, several lenders are taking advantage of people facing financial hardships. These corrupt lenders grant sweet-sounding loans, yet fail to advise the borrower about concealed costs or balloon charges. Concealed expenses are regularly stripped from loans, since the APR is a supposed safety net to the borrower that weeds out concealed expenses. Abusive lending practices range from equity stripping and loan flipping to hiding loan conditions and packing a loan with excess charges.

Equity Stripping is one of the leading scams on the loan marketplace. Lenders will attempt to relieve you of your hard earned money by stripping the majority of the equity from your house. They will in fact strip you of your home after you default on the loan. The lenders engaging in equity stripping will routinely present to borrowers (Wow, what a deal!) deals, leading you to be certain that you are saving money. As a result, once the borrower consents to the legal contract, the lender will show new costs, expensive interest, and other costs that puts weight on the borrower, until he or she breaks and fails to make payments on the mortgage. The lender then repossesses the home, disposing of the home for cash while the borrower is left homeless with a questionable future.

Therefore, the Federal government has provided the information to help borrowers avoid losing their equity. Since equity stripping is becoming a huge industry, the Fed's urge homeowners to lookout for equity stripping, as well as being aware of lenders that are providing loans that reach beyond your income. Signs of the scam is when a lender says it's fine to exaggerate your personal earnings. The lender may sway you to create a loan with monthly payments that are too high for your cash flow. The loan is authorized, because the lender reports your salary as higher than it truly is.

The feds also urge borrowers to remain conscious of loan flipping, which is the process of switching loans frequently and asking for larger amounts of money on each refinance applied. Loan flipping behaves this way: When a customer falls behind on a loan, the lender offers to renew the loan and take care of any missing payments. A number of lending companies are refinancing loans persistently in a short period of time.

You will additionally want to watch out for PMI, which is personal mortgage insurance, which is a requirement; although, a few lenders try to charge for further coverage that is not needed. Therefore, homeowners, especially low income families, should read the the whole story of any loan issued meticulously.

If a lender is pushing you to sign a agreement, you will need to locate another lender, because pressuring borrowers is a dependable warning that the lender is doing something unscrupulous.

In spite of everything, the final voice for handling house equity scams will be up to you. Use the information in this article to find the best course for addressing your funds and you will enjoy your home with few worries.

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Find cheaper bad credit history remortgages - Many tips given

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Several subjects that will be covered during the report are early redemption charges, life and payment insurance, fixed rates, along with other important subjects.

The aim of this short report is to help those with poor credit histories that are looking to get a mortgage. Although we don't promise earth shattering savings, by following the simple steps a substantial saving could be made on your monthly mortgage payment. With bad credit history remortgages getting lots of rejections can be daunting and most lenders will not accept poor credit, the tips given will try to eliminate turn downs and increase you chance of getting the deal you require.

Step I : Don't stretch yourself ! With house prices so high it is easy to over stretch your budget and this could lead to debt problems in the future. Maybe fixing the bad credit history remortgages would make planning for the future easier.

Step II : Don't accept the first quote ! Weigh up the benefits of different offers using either a broker or mortgage adviser. Use online mortgage league tables to see what kind of interest rate are being offered for customers with poor credit histories.

Step III - PPI - Lots of reports in newspapers and TV have said that payment protection insurance is a scam and should be avoided. That can be the case but it depends on your personal circumstances and likely hood of needing to claim. If you have 12 months full pay if sick at work then you may not need cover. If you have no other cover in place then cover may be of benefit to you. If you are considering taking PPI on your bad credit history remortgages then rather than comparing APRs compare the total amount repayable over the whole term. Because one lender may charge a cheaper APR but a bigger amount for the protection you could be better paying a higher APR and getting the cheaper cover throughout the term.

Step IV : Use a bad credit history remortgages specialist broker or independent mortgage adviser. These specialists have lots of experience at helping similar people to you and because of the large number of lenders they can access have the best chance at helping you. The opposite of building societies and banks these agencies have access to hundreds of mortgage products and can sometimes offer cheaper rates than going direct to the actual bank lending the money.

Step V : Watch out for early settlement charges ! Sometimes when taking a mortgage you get a discounted or fixed interest rate that lasts for an agreed length of time. By moving companies within that time or sometimes even after you can be stung by early redemption charges. Always find out what the penalties are and consider your future requirements.

What should I do now ?

Ensure that the correct steps above have been undertaken then read below. For bad credit history remortgages the best site we found is Bad Credit Remortgages


About the Author: Damian is the owner of many finance related websites. Including mortgage, loans and debt advice. For more information visit http://www.remortgagesupermarket.co.uk

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Student Credit Cards

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In today’s world, having a credit card is a luxury. Credit cards are a great convenience, meaning that you don’t need to worry about cash when making a purchase. Although some credit cards have strict requirements, there are a lot of manufacturers that are giving both high school and college students the chance to get their own credit cards. Student credit cards can be used the same way as a traditional credit card, although they do come with certain restrictions and limitations that other credit cards don’t normally have.

A lot of companies and banks that offer student credit cards will normally need a co-signer as a form of insurance or collateral. This person will sign on the loan with the student, and will be the person the company falls back on if the student is unable to pay the bill. Normally a parent or guardian, the co-signer is considered to be back up and a peace of mind for the issuer of the student credit card, as they can always count on the co-signer with good credit to pay if the student can’t.

Normally, the APR or interest rate is higher with student credit cards, which helps to minimize the risk for the company. The spending limit is also different with these credit cards, as most are between 250 - 800 dollars. The reason for this, is because most students have established any credit, and therefore won’t have a great credit rating. Although the spending limit is obviously lower with these cards than other credit cards, they will still help students establish credit.

Students who plan to make a large purchase, can greatly benefit from using student credit cards. To make large purchases, you’ll need good credit - which is where a student credit card can really help out. You can use these credit cards as a stepping stone to building credit, and establishing a good credit rating. If you can get your credit rating high with your credit card, you’ll then be able to be approved for much higher loans in the future.

Student credit cards can also help students gain a sense of responsibility. The card works just like any other credit card, although the spending limit is much lower. Once the student has mastered usage of the card, he or she can manage money much better later on in life. These cards are great for students to have, and can teach them money skills that will last a lifetime.

Just like traditional credit cards, students should also know that student credits cards can be dangerous. Although they are great to have, there are pitfalls such as overspending. If students spend more money than they having coming in, they will be unable to pay their credit card bill, which will then affect their credit. If the company goes after the co-signer to pay the bill, it could also affect their credit as well. Therefore, students should always have a budget in mind before they start using their credit cards.

All in all, student credit cards are great to have. For high school students or college students, these credit cards are a means of freedom, and a way to teach responsibility. They can come in handy during emergencies, which is reason enough to invest in them. If your son or daughter is in school right now, you should look into student credit cards. They can help your child to establish credit - which will take them farther wherever they go in life.

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Refinance After Bankruptcy

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Refinancing your mortgage after bankruptcy is actually the same as replacing it with an entirely new mortgage. The most common reason for refinancing your mortgage after bankruptcy is to get a lower interest rate and save money over the length of your mortgage. It is possible for you to lower your payments and save money each month and there has never been a better time to refinance. Mortgage lenders will consider refinancing your mortgage after bankruptcy because the risks involved in refinancing an existing mortgage are extremely low.

You can receive quotes from multiple lenders who are competing for your business, even if you have filed bankruptcy in the past. A quick online application will put you in touch with lenders who are experts in refinancing mortgages after bankruptcy. You can be pre-qualified in just minutes and the application is quick and easy. Refinancing your home, even after bankruptcy, can lower your payments and even give you extra cash for that well-deserved vacation, to consolidate bills, or to fund your child's college education.

If you thought refinancing your mortgage after bankruptcy was impossible, you will be pleased to learn that you can refinance and dramatically lower your monthly payments with one short online application. Lenders who are anxious to help you find the best refinancing package available for your special circumstances will contact you within as little as 24 hours after receipt of your application. A bankruptcy does not have to mean you are stuck with a high interest rate and less than desirable mortgage terms. Mortgage lenders have hundreds of loan programs that will help you meet your financial goals.

If you have been through bankruptcy and are wondering if it is possible to refinance your mortgage, complete a short online application today and learn how much money you can save each month and over the entire length of your mortgage. The difference could mean thousands of dollars in your bank account over time. Get the information you need and learn how you can lower your monthly payments and get the cash you need for bills or unexpected expenses. Refinancing your home is the best way to take advantage of the lowest interest rates in many years.

Refinancing your mortgage after bankruptcy is not impossible. Get free quotes today from multiple lenders with one simple online application. You have nothing to lose and you will find that mortgage lenders are prepared to offer you better terms than you thought possible. Lowering your mortgage payments and consolidating bills can make all the difference in your financial situation. You can be on your way to financial freedom when you contact mortgage lenders who will give you expert advice and offer you numerous choices in refinancing your home, even after bankruptcy.

by : Carrie Reeder

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Refinancing Your Home Loan? When Should You Refinance Your Home?

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If you have a current mortgage and are unhappy with the interest rate or the amount of the monthly payments, it is possible to refinance your home and eliminate your problems. But before you call your lender, there are some questions that you should ask yourself in order to determine whether or not it’s the right time for refinancing your mortgage loan.

The first question that you should ask yourself is if you have the cash on hand to pay the fees. Depending on the amount of your mortgage, and the specific fees that your lender will charge, you could pay anywhere from a couple of hundreds dollars to a few thousand. Be sure that you’re financially ready for the move before applying for the loan.

Next, you should take a look at the current interest rates compared to the ones on your existing mortgage, and then decide whether or not a refinance would help your situation. For example, if you have an ARM mortgage, and the interest rates are at an all-time low, you might want to refinance your loan and turn it into a fixed rate so your payments won’t go up again as rates rise. In addition, if you have a fixed rate, but bought your home when interest rates were higher, you might want to refinance in order to lower yours.

If you find yourself with a lot extra debt, you could take advantage of a cash-out refinance loan. With this type of loan, you add on an amount to your home loan, refinance the entire thing at a lower interest rate, and then take the “extra” money out and pay off your debt. This will allow you to reduce the amount of debt you owe (because the interest rate will be lower), and at the same time, reduce the amount of the monthly payment.

Most experts agree that you shouldn’t go to the trouble or expense of refinancing your home if you don’t intend to stay in it for at least three years. Otherwise the cost of the process would likely be more than the overall savings.

To view our recommended sources for mortgage refinance loans, visit: Recommended
Refinance Mortgage Lenders Online


by : Carrie Reeder

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