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The adventure begins. As you enter into a loan process, be diligent in expressing your
concerns with questions you need answers to. Fining out your plans, and the results
you want from refinancing your home is our beginning point.
You went through a long drawn out process of paperwork here – paperwork there in buying your home. In refinancing, its not that drastic because you have established
yourself as a home owner.
Helping you get those results, we discuss your consumer history (credit report). Its
the primary source of direction you go through in the details of your new home
mortgage program. Important items that you provide are used in the pre-qualification
steps as your loan request package is put together.
Your consumer history report shows a lot about how you manage your spending
income. Scores are assigned by the Credit Bureaus based upon their grading
principles from 350 to 800. They receive reports from almost every kind of lender
whether a department store, an auto loan, to a doctor expense. The percentage of
consumers who experience bumps on their credit is very high. Its how you handle
the bumps that counts the most in your score.
Having the report, gathering important documents like pay stubs, W-2s, bank
statements, mortgage statements, home owners insurance policy coverage,
1040 tax returns, and so forth are reviewed for stability, verification, and usage
in the loan obtaining process.
When all the items are in hand, we then discuss your loan request package with
different mortgage lenders who will accept your middle consumer history score,
your income, work history, mortgage history among other items in your request.
We establish the different loan programs available to your qualifications and needs
for a loan period of 2-50 years, loan % rate, loan payment choices, establishing of an
escrow account, return of home equity, consolidation of consumer debts etc.
Keeping in mind, that all of the program characteristics most meet or establish a
financial goal to help you improve your lifestyle. Debts are the down side of having
financial freedom. Helping you understand the importance of having excellent
consumer history and maintaining it is a personal goal of mine.
An interesting concept is being put forward by a company called Global Equity Lending which,
according to them,is rooted in the fact that building a secure financial future is more difficult than
ever.The rules are changing and perhaps the old practices need to be revamped.GEL calls its new
philosophy, “Harnessing The Power of Your Mortgage”
In 2004,credit card debt accounted for over half of the 2.1 trillion of consumer debt in the U.S.,
quadrupling over the last decade.Today,the average American household has 9,000 of credit card
debt at 16% interest.To pay that average off,at that interest rate would take ten years,totaling over
8,000 in interest when all is said and done.The financial impact of this,which is virtually unrealized
is devastating.GEL claims to have a better way.Their thinking is that since you must borrow money
over the coarse of life,why not borrow it as inexpensively as possible.Credit cards,auto loans,and
personal loans are all high interest and non deductable.So why not harness the power of your
mortgage?
According to GEL,Americans operate under a mindset,when it comes to personal finance,that
has been burned into our country’s psyche from the days of the great depression.That philosophy
is as such:First get the lowest rate mortgage,then,set up a bi-weekly payment plan,and,whenever
possible send in additional payments.This way you pay off your mortgage as soon as possible.
Sound good to me,right?Well,much to my suprise,this company claims that is exactly what we
should NOT be doing!On the contrary,their idea is one which is echoed by New York Times Best
Selling author of “The New Rules Of Money”,Rick Edelman,who says,”You should get a big,30
year mortgage and never pay it off.”Edelman and GEL put rules forth which read like this:
1.Never send extra money to your mortgage
2.Stay away from bi-weekly plans.
3.Make the smallest payment with the biggest tax break.
4.Putting extra money toward your mortgage is like putting it under the matress.
To back up his claim,Edelman offers five distinct reasons why you should carry a long loan:
1.Mortgages don’t lower your homes value.Your home will grow in value whether or not you
have a mortgage.
2.Your mortgage is the cheapest money you’ll ever buy.Why pay credit card at 18%,when
you can borrow at rates under 7%.
3.Your mortgage is the best way to lower your taxes.There aren’t many tax breaks left.
Mortage loans,unlike credit cards and car loans are fully tax deductable.
4.You should get cash out of you house while you still can.You may find it difficult to
get a loan if something like a loss of job comes up.
5.Mortgages become cheaper over time.Most times your payment will stay the same
over the years while your income rises,making it easier to pay over time.
To further illustrate their beliefs,GEL presentations include a case study called,”The Tale of Two
Brothers”, where they do a financial comparison of two fictional brothers.In the story,Brother A,as
he is called follows the “old” way of thinking,while his brother(yes,you guessed it,brother B)uses
GEL and Edelman’s theory.The results of the study find Brother B with almost a one million pound
advantage over Brother A.The full hypothetical can be viewed on http:yourbighouse.com, but the
jist is that the second brother used the money he saved carrying an interest only loan,or GEL’s
famous “power option”loan to invest in other places.That,combined with the mortgage tax breaks
lead to the million pound separation after 30 years.
So,if you believe in this new way of thinking,and are ready to follow the model(in other words,
REALLY, put that extra money to work for you),then I believe an interest only loan or GEL’s power
option loan is the way to go,but be careful.
For more info on this new philosophy,go to http:YourBigHouse.com
Basically, a mortgage refers to a long-standing credit that a debtor obtains from a financial institution or from a property seller. If you are in a need of large amount of money to buy a house, a home mortgage is a good alternative for you.
In most cases, the house is the usual collateral for the mortgage, thus the term “home mortgage”. In turn, the mortgage lender will be entitled to some legal rights upon the property as long as the mortgage is in full force or until the debtor pays back the loan.
A home mortgage serves as security for loans, thus giving the lender the power to acquire the property through foreclosure in the event that the borrower fails to pay the loan on time.
Normally, a home mortgage is comprised of a large loan. That’s why in most cases a home mortgage can take 15 to 30 years before the borrower can pay back the due amount. In a home mortgage, the due amount to be paid by the borrower stipulates the principal amount of the mortgage and the interest owed relative to the outstanding balance. The real estate taxes and property insurance are also factored into the total mortgage balance.
Some home owners who find it difficult to make their mortgage payments may opt for refinancing of their mortgage. But for those who wish to pay off a home mortgage quickly, there are things to be considered…
1. Make sure you have a stable source of income. Organize your overall financial assets to ensure that paying off your mortgage will not over-extend your cash flow. There are many such considerations that should be carefully planned and organized before resorting to pay-off your home mortgage.
2. You should have a ready reserve of cash just in case of emergencies. This can be in the form of stocks and bonds, a bank savings account, or any other readily available form of cash.
3. Look at your overall financial status. Paying off your home mortgage can be a rewarding experience, but be sure to consider your overall financial status before making the decision to do so. The wrong decision can put you at great financial risk.
If you have considered above considerations already and you think you ready for it, then go for it. After all, nothing beats a worry-free, mortgage-free financial status.
Interest Only Mortgages FSA Makes Move To Protect Homeowners
Abbey recently stated that over 25% of homeowners decide to take out an interest-only mortgage. It’s not hard to see why the monthly payments are significantly less, just look at this example based on a 25 year 125,000 mortgage at 5%. The interest only mortgage will cost 525 per month – but the repayment mortgage is 735 per month an additional 210 a month that’s a lot of money!
At the root of the issue are the first time buyers they simply can’t afford the repayment mortgage, so take the interest only option as an easier way out. However, the interest only mortgage must be accompanied by a suitable savings vehicle to cover the outstanding capital at the end of the mortgage term, and it is this that many are failing to do as many as 37% in fact.
Now the Financial Services Authority (FSA) has stepped in, concerned that many homeowners will face a shortfall at the end of their mortgage term. It is now necessary for lenders to see firm evidence from new borrowers that they have set up a savings vehicle to cover the capital. Previously, borrowers just had to state their intention, for example, they would sell the property to raise the capital. However, that will no longer be good enough. The lender will need to see a proper plan set up they are not allowed to set you up on an interest only mortgage without that proof. If they did, they would be going against regulations and would be penalised by the FSA.
The lender will now need to see proof of a personal equity plan (PEP), an Individual Savings Account (ISA), or evidence that 25% tax-free cash from a personal pension plan (PPP) will ultimately cover the outstanding capital. It will no longer be good enough to say that you will set it up you must show that you have already sorted it out!
In the short time that the new regulations have been in force, individual lenders are already making their own interpretations of the rules. The Nationwide Building Society is not allowing borrowers to use a future inheritance, or future pay rises as a basis on which to set up an interest only mortgage. Similarly, expected bonuses will not be good enough either, not unless you can prove that you will definitely be receiving them. Bonuses based on performance can’t be guaranteed, so would not count.
People that already have their own home will not be subjected to the same rigorous checks however. As long as you are borrowing less than two thirds of the new property’s value, and you have 150,000 of net equity in your current home, then Nationwide will accept you as a customer.
On the whole, mortgage advisers will not recommend interest only mortgages, agreeing that they represent too much risk. Repayment mortgages guarantee that all monies owed are paid at the end of the term, but a separate savings vehicle could fail to live up to expectations, and you could end up with a shortfall. Most mortgage advisers will recommend a repayment mortgage to bypass that risk.
On the other hand, the interest only mortgage is a useful short term solution, and if you can assure your mortgage adviser that you intend to switch over to a repayment mortgage as soon as you can afford to, they may well support your decision. Even in this case however, you will still need to provide the same details as if you were intending to stick with it for the full term. You simply won’t be able to get an interest only mortgage without providing the right paperwork.
The best all round solution is to get an interest only mortgage that allows you to overpay. So if you find that you have some extra capital, you can put it onto your mortgage, and reduce the capital. These types of mortgage are widely available, and many allow you to repay 10% or more in a single year. Of course, if you can’t afford it, then you don’t have to at least you have the choice. Just make sure, before signing up, that you can overpay without penalty.