Compare Mortgages

Creating and maintaining wealth is a very difficult task. Ask any millionaire!!! The delicate balance of living a dream lifestyle and holding expenses tight creates this difficulty. As a financial advisor, I have assisted people accumulate monies to live their dream life while discovering ways to reduce their necessary expenses. Everyone would agree mortgages are necessary expenses. Probably the biggest expense most of us have. Mortgages present the opportunity to secure income tax deductions while utilizing the house to live. What if you could reduce your mortgage interest rate to 3% and be required to pay interest only for 5 years? Would you refinance your current house? Purchase another? While refinancing a clients mortgage, I discovered such a mortgage. The client will save lots of money the next few years. Here is his scenario:

Client #1 500,000 Loan Amount
Current
30 Year Fixed @ 6.00%=P&I 2,997.75 month
5th year loan balance 456,989.77
Equity (assuming no appreciation) 43,010.23

Past
LIBOR ARM @ 3.00%=Interest only 1,250.00 month
Applied additional 1747.75 month to principal for 5 years
5th year loan balance 362,370.82
Equity (assuming no appreciation) 137,629.18

Creating and maintaining wealth is a very difficult task. Ask any millionaire!!! The delicate balance of living a dream lifestyle and holding expenses tight creates this difficulty. As a financial advisor, I have assisted people accumulate monies to live their dream life while discovering ways to reduce their necessary expenses. Everyone would agree mortgages are necessary expenses. Probably the biggest expense most of us have. Mortgages present the opportunity to secure income tax deductions while utilizing the house to live. What if you could reduce your mortgage interest rate to 3% and be required to pay interest only for 5 years? Would you refinance your current house? Purchase another? While refinancing a clients mortgage, I discovered such a mortgage. The client will save lots of money the next few years. Here is his scenario:

Client #1 500,000 Loan Amount
Current
30 Year Fixed @ 6.00%=P&I 2,997.75 month
5th year loan balance 456,989.77
Equity (assuming no appreciation) 43,010.23

Past
LIBOR ARM @ 3.00%=Interest only 1,250.00 month
Applied additional 1747.75 month to principal for 5 years
5th year loan balance 362,370.82
Equity (assuming no appreciation) 137,629.18

Client #21.2 Million Loan Amount
Current
525 ARM @4.25%=P&I 5,903.28 month
5th year loan balance 1,064,681.48
Equity (assuming no appreciation) 135,318.35

Proposed
LIBOR ARM @3.00%=Interest Only 3,000 month
Applied additional 2903.20 month to principal for 5 years
5th year loan balance 971,261.81
Equity (assuming no appreciation) 228,738.19

You can see from these scenarios this mortgage can be a great tool to reduce your monthly mortgage payment or to shave down the loan balance thereby increasing your equity. This mortgage interest program is termed negative amortization. Rather than paying off the interest over the time period, you are paying of a small portion of the interest but not the required amount. Interest rates can go as low as 1.25%. If you want savings refinance your mortgage.

What is an interest only home equity loan? This is a loan where the principal borrowed is not paid back each month only the interest is repaid. The principal borrowed may be due in 10, 15 or 20 years. A borrower may decrease the amount of principal due in the future by making payments on the principal.

Interest only mortgages may be adjustable rate mortgages (ARM) or fixed rate mortgages. A fixed rate mortgage will have a set payment for the period of the loan. ARM mortgages will have a fixed rate initially for a six-month period, and then the rate will increase or decrease based on an index, prime rate or five-year treasury rate.

A balloon second mortgage is a short-term mortgage with a fixed rate of interest. Balloon mortgages require repayment of principal and interest. The monthly payments of principal are not based on the five-year term of the mortgage but a longer amortization period of 30 years. Balloon mortgages must be refinanced every five years at the expense of the borrower and subject to any dramatic increase in interest rates.

One of the advantages of the balloon second mortgage is the lower monthly payments could yield additional funds for debt consolidation and home improvements. With lower monthly payments the homeowner has more money to budget towards other expenses.

If the balloon mortgage is repayable in five years and the ARM is a 520 loan, both loans must be refinanced in five years. The balloon second mortgage must be refinanced with a new second mortgage, a line of credit or a home equity line at the expense of the borrower. ARM mortgage rates reset using a mechanical rate adjustment procedure set in the original contract and have a cap on the amount the rate of interest may be increased.

Currently the rates on balloon mortgages are generally lower then the rates on ARM mortgages. If one were sure that rates would be lower in five years, the balloon mortgage would be a wise choice. If one is unsure of future interest rates the security of knowing the maximum rate the interest can be five years in the future would be worth the slightly higher cost of the ARM mortgage.

Both of these second mortgage loans can co behind a negative amortization loan in 1st position, as long as the broker or lender allows the deferred interest loan. Check with your home equity lenders to make sure that they will allow you to get a home line of credit or second mortgage behind a payment option ARM.

If we had a crystal ball to look into the future the comparison would be simple. In a scenario with 15% interest rates the ARM would be the wise choice while in a scenario with 5% interest rates the balloon mortgage would be the wise choice. Unfortunately the uncertainty of the future of interest rates makes it clear there is some risk involved in making this decision.

Recent statistics from the Department for Constitutional Affairs state that court actions by mortgage lenders rose to 28,476 in the second quarter of this year for those that dont follow such trends thats up over 50% on one year ago. Also, at 18,330, the number of repossession orders was the highest for 9 years.

Although yet to reach the previous peak of around 40,000 repossessions in the second half of 1991, this is a very worrying trend for homeowners and landlords alike, who have got used to permanently rising prices and historically low interest rates and borrowed against ever increasing equity either to fund a higher quality lifestyle or to pay the deposits on further investment properties.

The massive house price inflation over the recent years gives lie to Gordon Browns boasts about his low inflation economy. However the mock shock horror at the antics of yet another lying politician is of no importance. What is VERY important is the fact that it is consumer borrowing against this property price inflation that has kept the economy afloat. With house price inflation slowing, stopping, or going into reverse (depending on whose statistics you believe), people have nothing left to borrow against and are reaching their limits. Combined with the UKs near total de-industrialisation and reliance on the service sector (which has little or no export value), this is going to have a serious negative effect on the economy in the near future.

So what does that mean for you the landlord? A sudden large-scale collapse in prices – as seen in the early nineties – seems unlikely to this author because there are still more people in need of housing than there are suitable and available properties; simple supply and demand economics – people will still need property to rent.

However if the economy takes a severe downturn, aside from other problems too complex to cover here, then a lot more peoples rent will have to be met by the government. As well as the obvious strain on the taxpayer, this is quite obviously bad news for those private landlords who refuse to take tenants who are claiming housing benefit. If you think about it, Housing Benefit is better than free property advertising in that there are a constant stream of takers and the cheques definitely do not bounce!

Those negative landlords are, as in every business, the ones that will find themselves being left behind the proactive landlords who have already opened their minds and embraced the income stream generated by tenants on Housing Benefit. Although there may be problems at the moment, the council is working very hard to overcome them and make the service all that it should be.

The best financial deals are found only after a thorough investigation into home loans and mortgages. Many people dream of owning their own home, but the high cost of homes generally requires a home mortgage to make it a reality. A mortgage is just like any other product; thus whether it is a home purchase, refinancing or a home equity loan, the price and terms of a mortgage can be negotiated. If you decide to apply for a home equity loan, you shouldn’t necessarily automatically go with the same bank that holds your first mortgage. Instead, shop around to find the best rates and loan terms. Finding the right loan is always a challenge; it requires checking different lenders and comparing options to select the home equity loan that best meets your needs!
There are different types of mortgages today to suit different classes of people. To make life easier for the old and the retired, the government has even introduced reverse mortgages. This type of mortgage is a loan against the home that does not have to be paid back as long as the owner is alive and living in the home, and at the same time provides income to the owner.
Until recently, bad credit was something of a mystery. However, after the establishment of the FICO score, a uniform credit scoring agency, measuring people’s credit behavior has become easier. Your future credit behavior can more easily be predicted based on this data. Most lenders use the FICO score as a starting point when deciding whether or not to extend credit to you. Moreover, if you don’t pay your monthly mortgage payments, the mortgage company can foreclose leading you to lose your home and affecting your creditworthiness in the future.
In a rapidly changing economic scenario it is often difficult to keep up with the complexities of the financial world. We at mortgageproguide.com have made every effort to elucidate and enunciate in simple terms, matters related to money and mortgage. Mortgageproguide.com is a comprehensive site offering free and unbiased information on home loans, conventional mortgages, bad credit mortgages, home equity loans and reverse mortgage. So go through to moneyproguide.com in detail and make an informed decision on all matters concerning money and mortgage.

Selecting a Mortgage
Selecting a mortgage is not only time consuming but confusing, given the large variety of loan packages on offer in the market today. With different mortgage rates, varied costs and fees and multiple terms and conditions, you need to be well informed to make the correct decision about which mortgage is best suited for you.
Among other things, mortgage rates are extremely important while selecting a mortgage. Interest rates fluctuate depending on different factors that influence the economy like prime rate, Treasury bill rates, federal fund rate, federal discount rate and certificate of deposit rate etc. If the economy is doing well and the demand for mortgages is high, the interest rates will also see a climb. On the other hand, if the demand for mortgages is low in a poor economy the interest rates will drop as well.
However, there are several other factors that are as or perhaps more important than interest rates that determine which mortgage is right for you. These primarily include your financial situation such as income, savings and liquidity, your housing needs and duration of stay, the level of risk you are willing to take as well as the term of your loan. All these factors need to be considered equally and balanced with ones present position and future goals.
Before you decided on which mortgage is best for you, you will need a mortgage lender approval who based on your credit rating will offer you a loan that he feels is within your reasonable risk limits. The mortgage lender will take into consideration your ability to pay and then adjust your interest rates, points, terms etc accordingly. Only after this will you be able to select a mortgage that fits your requirements both, personally as well as financially. You can go in for mortgage refinancing at the end of the term if such a need arises.

BASIC FEATURES WHILE SELECTING:
1. Interest rate fixed or variable:
In a fixed rate mortgage your interest rate will not change during the entire duration of your loan. This will enable you to know exactly what your periodic payout is and how much of the mortgage will be paid off at the end of the term.
Federal Housing Administration Insured Loans (FHA)
Veterans Administration Loans (VA)
Farmers Home Administration Loans (FmHA)
With a variable rate, the interest will vary periodically during the life of the loan, depending on interest rates in financial markets.
2) Duration of mortgage: short term or long term
The duration of mortgage is the length of current mortgage agreement. A mortgage typically has duration of six months to ten years. Usually, if the term of the loan is short, the interest rates will tend to be low. A short term mortgage is for two years or less and is appropriate for people who feel that the interest rates will drop in the future, especially when it is time for renewal. A long term mortgage is for three years or more and most suited for people who believe that current rates are stable and reasonable and want the security of budgeting for the future. After the expiration of the term loan, you can either go for a renewal in mortgage at the current rates or repay the balance principal owing on the mortgage.
3) Open or closed mortgages
Open mortgages are typically short-term loans and can be paid off at any time without penalty. Homeowners who are planning to sell in the near future or require the flexibility to make large, lump-sum payments before maturity choose these kinds of mortgages. Closed mortgages are committed after taking into consideration specific terms. If you want to pay off the mortgage balance you will have to wait until the maturity date or pay a penalty.
4) Conventional or high ratio
A conventional mortgage is one that is not more than 75% of the appraised value of purchase price of the property. The balance amount is paid through your own resources and is known as down payment. If you have to borrow more than the stipulated 75%, then you will need a high ratio mortgage. If the down payment is less than 25%, the mortgage will have to be insured. The insurer will charge a fee which will depend on the amount you are borrowing and the percentage of your down payment. Fees range from 1% to 3.5% of the principal amount and can be paid up front or added to the principal amount of the mortgage.

REVERSE MORTGAGES:
Unlike a traditional mortgage where you make monthly payments to a lender, in a reverse mortgage, you receive money from the lender. It is a loan against your home or borrowings on home equity, which you do not have to pay back as long as you live there and yet, retain the title to your home. It must only be repaid once you die, sell your home or permanently move out of there. With a reverse mortgage the value of your home can be turned into cash which you can receive as a lump sum and up front, monthly cash advance, credit line which allows you to withdraw as and when you need it or a combination of all.
Reverse mortgages thus help homeowners who are privileged to own a house but are cash strapped stay in their homes and still meet their financial obligations. Reverse mortgage is for seniors. To be eligible for most reverse mortgages, you must own your home and be 62 years of age or older. The proceeds of a reverse mortgage are generally tax-free, and most have no income restrictions. They also do not affect Social Security or Medicare Benefits.
There are typically three types of reverse mortgages:
Single purpose reverse mortgage these are offered by some state and local government agencies and nonprofit organizations and have very low costs. To qualify, one should typically belong to a low or moderate-income group. They are not available everywhere and can only be used for a single purpose as specified by the lender like repairs, improvements, paying property taxes etc.
Federally-insured reverse mortgages- which are also known as Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs), and are backed by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and
Proprietary reverse mortgages- which are private loans that are backed by the companies that develop them.
In both, the HCEMs and proprietary reverse mortgages, the costs are relatively higher, widely available and can be used for any purpose. Additionally, the amount of money you can borrow with these mortgages depends on several factors, including your age, type of reverse mortgage you select, appraised value of your home, current interest rates, and the area where you live. In general, the older you are, the more valuable your home, and the less you owe on it, the more money you can get.
Just like a traditional mortgage, there are several fees and costs associated with reverse mortgages. These charges include an origination fee, up-front mortgage insurance premium (for the FHA Home Equity Conversion Mortgage or HECM), an appraisal fee, and certain other standard closing costs. In most cases, these fees and costs are capped and may be financed as part of the reverse mortgage.
Origination fee
This fee covers a lenders operating expenses, office overheads and marketing costs for making the reverse mortgage. Home Keeper borrowers are charged an origination fee that may not exceed 2 % of the value of the home.
Mortgage insurance premium
Under the HECM program, borrowers are charged a mortgage insurance premium (MIP), equal to 2% of the maximum claim amount or home value, whichever is less Additionally there is an annual premium thereafter equal to 0.5% of the loan balance. The MIP guarantees that if the company managing your account goes out of business, the government will intervene to ensure that you have continued access to your loan funds. Moreover the MIP guarantees that your debt will never exceed the value of your home at the time of repayment.
Appraisal fee
It is paid to the appraiser who is in charge of appraising your home and assigning it a current market value. Since Federal regulation mandate that the home be free of structural defects, an appraiser will also ensure as much. If the appraiser uncovers property defects, these will have to be repaired through an independent contractor whose costs can be financed in the loan.
Closing Costs
Include other miscellaneous charges such as credit report fees, flood certification fees, escrow or settlement fees, document preparation fees, recording and courier fees, title insurance, pest inspection and survey fees.
Service fee set-aside is an amount deducted from the remaining loan proceeds at closing to cover the projected costs of servicing your account.
The benefits of reverse mortgages are plenty. Reverse mortgage for seniors is a boon and allows the older generation to live with dignity and happiness.

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