Your daily mail has arrived and you see a certified letter from an out of state law firm. Wow, you say, maybe I’ve inherited some money from a long lost relative. You open the letter, and it’s not good news. The lawyer advises you that you have an unpaid mortgage and if not paid, you could lose your home. Just like a ghost in a haunted house, law firms are contacting property owners View full post…
When the CARES Act was signed into law this past March, 2020, it gave homeowners who had government backed mortgages, protection from foreclosure up through August 31, 2020. The primary purpose of the new law was to keep homeowners and renters in their homes.
The government backed loans included the FHA, VA, USDA, Ginny Mae, and Freddie Mac. It did not protect those homeowners who had direct mortgages with mortgage lenders, or private party loans. Prior to the August 31 expiration date, the government agencies mentioned above have now extended View full post…
Retirees need sufficient income to get them through their golden years. If your home is your largest asset, though, what do you do?
The FHA started the reverse mortgage program for seniors just like you. Unlike a traditional mortgage with required monthly payments, the reverse mortgage pays homeowners age 62 and older some of their home’s equity. You may choose from a lump sum payment, monthly payments, a line of credit, or a combination.
In the last few years, the media ran wild with horror stories of scam artists taking advantage of seniors with reverse mortgages, but they’ve come a long way. Today, the reverse mortgage program offers seniors access to their funds without selling their home.
Like any other mortgage or loan, the reverse mortgage has its risks and rewards. Check them out below. View full post…
An interest only mortgage can appear to be a very attractive offer at the onset. However, it can also be a disaster waiting to happen for many borrowers who don’t completely understand what awaits them five or ten years down the road.
About ten or twelve years ago, a period known as the Great Recession caused havoc for many homeowners. One of the causes of this economic ruin was interest only mortgages held by borrowers who bought expensive homes they couldn’t afford. When the interest-only period ended and they had to begin repayment of principal also, and a higher rate of interest, they defaulted. have brought this option back for certain home buyers. The question we have is, should a home buyer View full post…
If you’re a military veteran, you’ll be glad to know that the Department of Veterans Affairs has a program to help you buy a home. This program, known as VA loans, makes it much easier for a veteran to get a VA mortgage through a private lender. The VA does not make loans directly and instead, guarantees home loans for veterans.
One advantage of a VA loan is that a down payment isn’t always necessary. Other advantages are that mortgage insurance is not required, plus there is no VA requirement of a minimum credit score.
VA loans are available to active duty military personnel and also military veterans, who generally find that they can qualify for a VA loan easier than a conventional mortgage, especially View full post…
What is a mortgage preapproval and why would I want to get one? Short of a formal loan commitment, there are two types of letters that a lender will issue to help a house hunter in the purchase of a home.
A prequalification letter is one that is issued by a lender after reviewing certain financial information submitted by the buyer. This letter is rather broad and gives an estimate of the amount of a mortgage that the buyer may qualify for.
A preapproval letter is one that is issued by a lender after reviewing and verifying all of the financial documents that are required View full post…
When interest rates are low, applications for a mortgage refinance are a major portion of the total of all mortgage applications. This is due because when mortgage interest rates fall, many borrowers see an opportunity to restructure their debt hoping to get a more favorable rate or term.
Simply having a drop in mortgage interest rates doesn’t mean that its the right thing to do for everyone. We all have different situations and lifestyles and everyone doesn’t fit into the “average” cookie cutter mold. Because of this, the following 9 points may help you if you are considering refinancing your mortgage.
Equity is one of the first items that a refinance lender will look at. If it’s not there within the banks’ guidelines, most conventional lenders will decline your request. During the last recession, many homeowners were underwater, some very deep.
The value of homes has been rising as of late and the number of underwater loans has dropped. This varies from state to state and is determined by a number of factors. If your home has little equity, a conventional lender probably View full post…
If you’re getting near retirement age you may have come across this financial product. Just about everyone asks the same question, just how do reverse mortgages program work? They continue to grow in popularity and the basics are relatively simple.
A reverse mortgage is designed for senior adults getting near retirement or already retired. Its similar to a conventional mortgage in one respect – it allows you to borrow against the equity that you have in your personal residence.
However, unlike a traditional mortgage where you are required to make monthly payments of principal and interest to repay the loan, with a reverse mortgage, you don’t. As long as you live in the home, none of the mortgages has to be repaid. Not until you sell the home, or it is no longer your personal residence, or the last borrower dies, is the loan repaid.
This program is administered by the FHA and does have certain conditions that must be met.
A reverse mortgage does differ from a conventional mortgage or a home equity loan. The latter two View full post…
(BPT) – Buying a home is a major financial commitment. It’s exciting, but can also be confusing and overwhelming. Choosing the best mortgage that fits your needs is an important first step and first-time home buyers in particular should research the many options and know the right questions to ask. Here are some questions to ask a lender when shopping for a mortgage that will help you make an informed mortgage decision:
* How much can I afford? A home affordability calculator can help you get an idea of what you may be able to afford and keep your monthly payments within your budget. In addition to recurring expenses like car payments, student loans, credit cards and disposable income, be sure to consider other monthly expenses related to the new home, like association fees, homeowners’ insurance, utilities and property taxes. Further, some types of mortgages have firm eligibility cutoffs related to the ratio between a buyer’s total debt amounts and their monthly income.
* How much do I need for a down payment? It’s a common misconception that a View full post…
Many years ago, when looking for a home mortgage, it wasn’t a difficult task. You found the home that you liked, your realtor sent you into the bank or savings and loan association that they used, and you completed the application.
A few weeks later, the lender contacted you saying you were approved and quoted you their loan terms. This too was rather cut and dry – loan amount, interest rate, monthly payment, and the number of years. A settlement was done about a month later, and that was it.
Fast forward many years to today’s market. Wow, what a change. Instead of a small number of mortgage lenders, now there are thousands – some good and some not so good. Some of the terminology used today almost requires the borrower to be a finance person or one having a legal background.
When shopping for a home mortgage today, you must protect View full post…
