Real Estate Finance Strategy that Few People Consider
August 31, 2007
If you are considering a new home loan anytime soon, and you do not want to get an adjustable rate mortgage (remember, ARMs are very strong loans), you should consider a 2/1 buydown.
This is a great mortgage program for people who require a smaller payment now, knowing that they will have more money in the following years.
Here’s how it works.
You pay an additional premium on your loan amount to get a 2 percent improvement on the rate. So, if the 30-year fixed rate mortgage is 6 percent, you will get a rate of 4 percent in the first year of your loan. In the second year, your rate will go up one percent to 5 percent, and in the third year, your rate will increase to the rate it was when you locked in your loan, the 6 percent in this example.
Then, it will remain fixed at that rate, until you pay it off, sell or refinance.
For people afraid of adjustable rate mortgages, this is a very powerful loan. It’s also great for people buying their first home or for newlyweds, who think they have to rent, before buying. Remember, there are many ways to get into a home. This program is one of them.
What is a Secured Loan?
August 30, 2007
A secured loan is simply a loan that uses your home as security against the loan. Secured loans are suitable for when you are trying to raise a large amount; are having difficulty getting an unsecured loan; or, have a poor credit history. Lenders can be more flexible when it comes to secured loans, making a secured loan possible when you may have been turned down for an unsecured loan. Secured loans are also worth considering if you need a new car, or need to make home improvements, or take that luxury holiday of a lifetime.
Benefits of secured loans include:
Lower monthly repayments than unsecured loans
The ability to borrow more money
Spread repayments over a longer period of time
More detailed information??
A secured loan is a type of loan available to people with securable assets. Usually these assets take the form of property, such as a home; this is why secured loans are often referred to as ‘homeowner loans’, "home loans", "secured personal loans" or "second charge loans".
You do not have to own your own home outright to be able to take out a secured loan; if you have a mortgage you can put the proportion of the home that you own up as security.
Useful Tips When Choosing Credit Cards
August 29, 2007
Chances are you have received your share of “pre-approved” credit card offers in the mail, some with low introductory rates and other perks. Many of these solicitations urge you to accept “before the offer expires.” Before you accept, shop around to get the best deal.
Credit Card Terms:
A credit card is a form of borrowing that often involves charges. Credit terms and conditions affect your overall cost. So it’s wise to compare terms and fees before you agree to open a credit or charge card account. The following are some important terms to consider that generally must be disclosed in credit card applications or in solicitations that require no application.
Annual Percentage Rate: The APR is a measure of the cost of credit, expressed as a yearly rate. It also must be disclosed before you become obligated on the account and on your account statements. Some credit card plans allow the issuer to change your APR when interest rates or other economic indicators - called indexes - change. Because the rate change is linked to the index’s performance, these plans are called “variable rate” programs.
5 Things In Selecting The Best Mortgage - You Should Know
August 28, 2007
Your goal is not only to find the best rates and programs, by searching through a huge number of lenders products, and save yourself thousands of dollars on mortgage payments every year, but also, to save time and hassle by simplifying the loan process and reducing the paperwork. Here are some things you can keep in mind when selecting a mortgage provider.
1. Shop For Rates
You should get instant online free quotes, and be able to apply securely online.
2. Apply Online
Be able to use a secure online application and let a qualified loan specialist help you find the best loan program.
3. Get Prequalified
Find out how much money you can borrow for your next home purchase!
4. Get Pre-Approved
Get free, no obligation pre-approved commitment letter that you qualify.
5. Loan Processing And Approval
This is when your loan is processed, goes through underwriting and final approval.
Taking these steps will be in you best interest to secure a mortgage that will benefit you and your family. It will also help to save you money
About The Author
The Burden of Debt
August 28, 2007
Over recent years personal debt in the UK has exploded. Since 1997 the total debt including mortgages was in the region of £940 million. Approximately 18% of that figure is unsecured credit, accounting for about £8000 per household.
This is a staggering amount of money. With interest rates being raised several times last year, the strain of maintaining our debt is taking its toll. Sources reveal that the UK’s debt "has increased every single month without fail since April 1993".
As it has been relatively cheap to borrow money over that last few years it has been very easy to get access to money. Interest rates are widely predicted to rise further adding even more to the current £5 billion we are paying every month in interest.
According to the FSA (Financial Services Authority) one pound in every 10 we spend is borrowed money. It’s very easy to shop around for good rates when borrowing money. Most of us still buy our financial products on the high street and the big Financial Institutions base the price of their products on what they think is the maximum borrowers are prepared to pay.
Tips To Take Control Of Debt Collection
August 27, 2007
Yes, debt collection tips can help. You may think you have no power when the debt collector comes calling, but think again! Creditors don’t like losing out on the ability to collect money owed them. And most creditors will take steps to settle an unsecured debt to collect some money as opposed to no money.
Tip 1 - Keep Communications Open
Once you have your Money Management Plan on paper, you will be able to professionally respond to requests for payment from creditors and debt collection agencies. They may ask you, or you can offer, to send them a copy of your Money Management Plan. This opens the communication between you, and they may even be able to offer suggestions to improve your plan. Keep in mind, however, they will offer suggestions based upon their best interests, you need to negotiate based upon what’s best for you!
Tip 2 - Know Your Credit Report
Obtaining a copy of your online credit report, and learning how to use it in debt management, can help you when it comes to negotiating with your creditors.
Tip 3 - Negotiating With Creditors
Know Thy Finances
August 26, 2007
The first step to financial success lies in knowing your financial situation at any given time. There is an anecdote attributed to John D. Rockefeller–that as a child he was given a monthly allowance from his parents, but upon stipulation that he had to save 10% of it, give away 10% to charity, and account for the rest of it. While his parents required that he record down to the penny where he spent it–you can be a bit more lenient on yourself!
Track your spending for 1-2 full months
Use a program like Quicken to keep track of all your personal finances. I recommend the latest version of Quicken or a similar financial program if you already own one. You should start out by entering in your present-day personal checking account, savings, investments, and cash situation.
To complete this step, you will also need a cheap plastic filing container or something similar. You can purchase these for about $15 at Office Depot, etc. As you make payments, keep track of all the receipts you receive, the checks you write, and any other monetary transactions you make. Like I mentioned earlier, you don’t need to be exact when it comes to cash–just try to be, as much as you can tolerate.
What is an Unsecured Loan?
August 25, 2007
An unsecured loan is a personal loan where the lender has no claim on a homeowner’s property should they fail to repay. Instead, the lender is relying solely on the ability of a borrower to meet their loan borrowing repayments.
The amount you are able to borrow can start from as little as £500 and go up to £25,000. Because you not securing the money you are borrowing, lenders tend to limit the value of unsecured loans to £25,000. The repayment period will range from anywhere between six months and ten years. Unsecured loans are offered by traditional financial institutions like building societies and banks but also recently by the larger supermarkets chains.
An unsecured loan can be used for almost anything - a luxury holiday, a new car, a wedding, or home improvements.
An unsecured loan is good for people who are not homeowners and cannot obtain a secured loan for example; a tenant living in rented accommodation. There are a few things to consider before applying for an unsecured loan: Unsecured loans are invariably more expensive than secured loans, and the repayment periods demanded by lenders are shorter too. This is because they have no guarantee that you can repay the loan, and therefore charge you more in interest to cover the cost of insurance policies that they need to take out to protect them should you default on repayments. In the event that a borrower does not pay up, the lender will invoke the terms of the legally-binding credit agreement and pursue the borrower through the legal system.
Credit Reports: Find out why you have been refused Credit.
August 24, 2007
You may already have 2 or more credit cards in your purse or wallet and you have just applied for a third and been declined. This can be very frustrating considering you pay off your other credit cards regularly and you are continually having your credit limit raised.
This is a common problem and the only way to find out more is by getting a copy of your Credit Report. Equifax and Experian are the two main credit reference companies in the UK and hold credit details of over 40 million people. Your file includes information about all your credit cards, loans, mortgages, bank account details, as well as any adverse bill payments or County Court Judgements against you.
When a Credit Provider asses your credit risk they will look at your Credit Report and make a decision based on your scoring. Your score is based on several factors. You may get more points for living in your address for more than 3 years or for having a home telephone, be married or for having children. Your age and profession can also help your score. The more points you have on your file the more chance you have of being approved for credit. The credit provider will use all this information coupled with your credit history to come to a decision. A Credit Providers scoring system is sensitive information so it’s not easy to understand why you were refused credit.
Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)
August 23, 2007
If your down payment on a home is less than 20 percent of the appraised value or sale price, you must obtain private mortgage insurance, known as PMI, with your lender. This will enable you to obtain a mortgage with a lower down payment because your lender is now protected against any default on the loan.
PMI charges vary depending on the size of the down payment and the loan, but they typically amount to about one-half of one percent of the loan, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association of America. Mortgage insurance premiums are not tax deductible.
Example
Let’s say you put down 10 percent or $10,000 on a $100,000 house. The lender multiplies the 90 percent loan, or $90,000, by .005 percent. The result is an annual PMI of $450, which is divided into monthly payments of $37.50.
Most homebuyers need PMI because 20 percent of the sale price on a home is a lot of money; for instance, that’s $20,000 on a $100,000 home. Homebuyers must maintain the PMI premiums until they cross that one-fifth-of-principal threshold, a process that can take years in longer-term mortgages.
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