Making a Mortgage Calculator Work for You

Buying a new home can be a minefield, there is so much to think about and it can be easy to get confused. There are so many different types of mortgage on the market that it can be hard to make a decision about what is right for you. One tool that anyone can try to help them to find out how much they could borrow from a mortgage lender is a mortgage calculator.

A mortgage calculator is an online tool that calculates the possible amount of money an individual or couple could borrow for a mortgage. To use a mortgage calculator you first need to enter financial details such as monthly salary / salaries, outgoings such as loans, credit cards, hire purchase agreements and so on. Then you can select the repayment term that you would like to aim for – this can be anything from 10 years or so all the way up to 35 years or more in some cases. Once you have done this you can then get the mortgage calculator to calculate how much you could, in theory, borrow and how much your monthly repayments would be.

This can be a huge help to anyone who is thinking of applying for a mortgage as often it can be hard to work out how much you could potentially borrow. However you need to be aware that the calculations that a mortgage calculator comes up with are not a mortgage offer and the amount you could borrow could change. It does provide a ball park figure which can be a huge help to first time buyers in particular.

When you use a mortgage calculator you can also alter the figures. So for example if you initially thought that you would like a 15 year mortgage then change your mind you can easily alter the repayment term and do a recalculation. In addition to this when you use a mortgage calculator you are under no financial obligation to take out a mortgage. You can use one purely for informational purposes, the choice is yours.

Often using a mortgage calculator can play a useful role when you are taking the first steps towards getting a mortgage. It can be daunting to speak to lenders and financial experts, so using a calculator can give you an idea of what you can expect to be offered. You can also use a mortgage calculator to work out a budget for when you do secure a mortgage. This can be invaluable for anyone who has never thought about this before and is novice to the mortgage market.

So if you are looking into obtaining a mortgage and would like a way to calculate what you could potentially borrow you should use a mortgage calculator. It is the smart way to find out more about your financial position and it will not cost you a penny to use one. Make a mortgage calculator work for you and make sure that you have done your homework before you apply.

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How Can Using a Mortgage Calculator Help You?

Obtaining a mortgage can be a really difficult process, especially with the current economic climate being the way that it is. With this in mind there are various tools and services that can help anyone who is looking to buy a home and needs a mortgage. One of these is a mortgage calculator, a tool which can be a great help for anyone who wants an idea of what size of mortgage they could obtain. So how can using a mortgage calculator help you?

* A mortgage calculator can initially help anyone who is looking to apply for a mortgage understand how much they could, in theory borrow. When you use a mortgage calculator you will be asked to fill in information relating to how much you and anyone else (if you are applying for joint mortgage) earn and your monthly expenses. Once the relevant sections on the calculator have been filled in you can then get it to calculate how much you could borrow. This will then enable you to see if you can afford the size of mortgage that you were interested in.
* Using a mortgage calculator can help you to work out the term of the mortgage that you could apply for. Anyone looking to apply for a mortgage needs to know how long they will be paying their mortgage for. This can be anything from around 10 years all the way up to 40 years or more (although these longer mortgages will only be awarded in certain circumstances). You might even find that after using a mortgage calculator you can opt for a mortgage with a shorter term.
* A mortgage calculator can also help you to budget for your new mortgage. If you have an idea of how much you can afford to borrow and what your repayments would be you can then work out if you make your monthly repayments. It can sometimes be easy to overlook certain expenses when you are applying for a mortgage and a mortgage calculator can help you to see the wider picture of your finances.
* A mortgage calculator is free to use. This means that you can gain an insight into your possible borrowing options without having to involve a financial advisor. Once you have a better idea after using the calculator you can then decide what you want to do next.

As you can see using a mortgage calculator can be of use in many ways. Not only can they give you an indication of how much money you could potentially borrow you can also start to budget using one. So if you want to find out how much you could potentially get for your mortgage without the expense of seeing a financial advisor a mortgage calculator is a great idea. They are easy to use, they give you an accurate indication of your potential borrowing and you can alter the mortgage term on them as and when you like. In short if you want to get some decent free financial information on your mortgage use a mortgage calculator.

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Budgeting is Key to HSBC Loan Modification

In lieu of Obama's new loan modification program, getting a HSBC loan has never been easier.

Previously, any HSBC modification programs that were available were only for six to eight month terms, but in light of the economic and housing crisis they have opened up to longer termed modifications. They have begun offering programs that range from two to thirty years, depending on the borrower's situation.

Those who were turned down for modifications from HSBC are now eligible to reapply under the new program. And thanks to the new requirements stating that modification is not available to anyone who is not going through financial hardship. Meaning that no one will be turned down because they are having a hard time -- as a matter of fact, it will help them.

It sounds great, but in truth HSBC loan modifications are difficult to get, as are modifications with any other financial institution. Despite getting incentives for approving applications, lenders are pensive to approve. This is most likely because approximately 89 percent of borrowers do not make their first payment after their mortgage has been modified.

An important part of the application process is the hardship letter -- which is the portion where the borrower states their case and lets their lender know what they're going to do in order to handle their payments. In the hardship letter, some borrowers state their intentions to work on a budget and stick with it. It's easy to work out a budget, but it's difficult to maintain it.

The key to HSBC loan modification, like one with any lender, is to truly believe that you will be able handle even lower monthly payments. It's critical to make your case in the hardship letter and hit home the fact that you are going to be able to manage your payments. Working out a budget beforehand and including some details in the letter can be highly beneficial.

Be sure the budget you work out is actually doable. Working on a budget that cuts out too many necessities is pointless, but one that is logical and is actually the best you can do will get you much further -- your lender can tell if you're trying to reach too far and won't be able to handle it.

Working out a careful and prudent budget that you actually believe and know you can handle will show in your application and your hardship letter. HSBC is not looking for another pointless modification, they're looking for someone who will actually be able to handle a budget.

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Prequalifying for a Mortgage

Prior to obtaining a mortgage, consumers generally seek to prequalify. This is the process of having a lender look at the consumer’s credit profile, debt to income ratio, and from there make an educated guess about how much money the lender is willing to give to the consumer as a mortgage loan. This is usually done before the consumer ever even starts looking at homes. For the majority of home shoppers, this prequalification actually determines the price range of homes they will focus on with their buyers’ agents. What is more, such a prequalification protects consumers from bidding for a house only to be disregarded because they lack a lender letter stating that this bidder is a serious contender and considered creditworthy by a lender.

Prospective home sellers want to see buyers who have already entered into discussion with a lender willing to write a mortgage loan for them. This separates these consumers from others who might not be able to secure financing, and who may – while the buyer and seller are tied up in a transaction that will ultimately fall through – in the end be a costly mistake for the seller who sends other would-be buyers packing. While there are a number of mortgage calculators on the Internet, the only accurate means of discerning how much money a borrower can qualify for is through discussion with an actual lender. After all, even though the lending rules are fairly standard throughout the industry, different lenders offer different loans.

Moreover, some lenders may not offer the kinds of loans a consumer might find more profitable and which, in the long run, might allow her or him to buy more house for the money. This is especially true for borrowers who would like to buy more home at the onset than they have money for in the long run, but – because of future business growth – anticipate being able to afford the actual house payments in the future. Such loan products may include adjustable rate mortgages, balloon payments, and also low interest or interest only loans that for brief periods of time offer a set of payments easy on the pocketbook. In some cases there are even alternative means of financing that only lenders truly know about and can set up for their clients.

Prequalifying with a lender is quick and easy. Rather than submitting a whole loan application, the would-be borrower simply needs to disclose assets, liabilities, monthly payments, income from all sources, and consent to having a credit report pulled. The lender will evaluate these figures and based on the debt to income ratio and also the underwriting standards germane to that particular financial institution offer a figure which presents the upper cap of the loan the bank is likely willing to offer. In some cases they might even go so far as to calculate the interest rate the consumer might have to pay for the loan, which further influences the buying decision of future homebuyers who are ready to make the largest investment in their lives.

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Commercial Property Loan – In Today’s Climate

Funding a commercial property loan in today’s market is no easy task. Banks either are scared to lend or worse, face their own liquidity issues. Many borrowers are running around, scrabbling for options, often baffled by what their local banks tell them. Loan to values requirements have dropped, borrowers cash flow and liquidity requirements are up.

We hear borrowers often make comments such as. “I’ve been with my existing bank for 30 years, never missed a payment… now they will barely take my call.” Or “my local banks are offering me decent rates but the amortization schedules are capped at 15 years. This will strangle my cash flow, and they don’t seem to get it.” This is a frustrating time for many business owners and finding palatable commercial loans is often difficult.

Borrowers need to break away from the limitations that their local banks provide. There still are sources that have the capital and appetite to fund commercial property loans. In fact, some aggressive and well capitalized banks/lenders are taking advantage of these times and “swallowing” large chunks of their competitor’s market share.
Commercial Property Loans - Solution

One of the best commercial real estate loan programs out there today, is the government backed variety. On refinances they can go as high as 85% loan to value, which is such a critical point, as property values continue to decline. Many borrowers that go with their local banks have a very unpleasant surprise when the $3,500 appraisal report comes in with a property value 20% lower than what was expected. The borrower has a dead deal, and 2 months of wasted time to show for his efforts. By being able to go up to 85%, borrowers hedge their bets on this issue.

Another major benefit of the government backed programs is a reliability of funding. This is one of those subjective issues, that's impossible to predict. For example, you may go with a local bank and your commercial property loan request may fit all of their guidelines, yet the bank declines the file. Why? They may give you some random reason that makes no sense at all. The committee may just not like the industry you’re in, your personal history or they may just have a bad feeling about the deal. Due to the economy this is happening more and more.

With a government guarantee, loans that fit the guidelines close. The level of subjectivity is much less. If it fit’s, it funds.

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