loans

Thursday, June 7, 2007

Mortgage F.A.Q


Apply for Mortgage online


How can I benefit by using Mortgage Quote Advisor?
Our site is for anyone who knows what type of loan they want and who is looking for a low cost loan with fast and easy approval. Check out the rates on the other Web sites, and then come to us for a low cost, efficient loan on the Web! It's fast, it's easy, and it's totally online.


What happens after I apply with Mortgage Quote Advisor on this Web site?
You will receive an e-mail within 24 hours of submission of your application. This e-mail will indicate the status of your application and the next steps you need to take.


How do I know how much house I can afford?
Generally speaking, you can purchase a home with a value of two or three times your annual household income. However, the amount that you can borrow will also depend upon your employment history, credit history, current savings and debts, and the amount of down payment you are willing to make. You may also be able to take advantage of special loan programs for first time buyers to purchase a home with a higher value.

Which is better - a fixed or adjustable rate mortgage?
It depends. Because interest rates and mortgage options change often, your choice of a fixed or adjustable rate mortgage should depend on:

  • the interest rates and mortgage options available when you're buying a house
  • your view of the future (generally, high inflation will mean ARM rates will go up and lower inflation means that they will fall)
  • your personal financial and investment goals, and
  • how willing you are to take a risk.

When mortgage rates are low, a fixed rate mortgage is the best bet for many buyers. Over the next five, ten, or thirty years, interest rates are more apt to go up than further down. Even if rates could go a little lower in the short run, an ARMs teaser rate will adjust up soon and you won't gain much if you plan to stay in the house more than a few years (the broker can tell you your break-even point). In the long run, ARMs are likely to go up, meaning many buyers will be best off locking in a favorable fixed rate now and not taking the risk of much higher rates later.


How much do I need for a down payment?
Most lenders offer financing programs that allow the borrower to finance up to 100% of the sales price of a new home. However, if no down payment is made, the borrower will be required to pay for private mortgage insurance (PMI), see question ten, below, for further information on PMI. If you can afford to put more money toward a down payment, it will reduce the amount of your monthly mortgage payments. Some loans programs offer 3% down payments if you meet certain income standards.


What is private mortgage insurance (PMI)?
Private mortgage insurance or "PMI" policies are designed to reimburse a mortgage lender up to a certain amount if you default on your loan and your house isn't worth enough to entirely repay the lender through a foreclosure sale. Most lenders require PMI on loans where the borrower makes a down payment of less than 20%.


What are points?
In the special vocabulary of mortgage lending, "points" are a type of fee that lenders charge (the full term to describe this fee is "discount points"). Simply put, a point is a unit of measure that means 1% of the loan payment. So, if you take out a $100,000 loan, one point equals $1,000


How do I determine my own credit status?
You may use the following categories as a general guideline in evaluating your own creditworthiness. Please note that these are general guidelines only-other factors will often be included in the loan approval or credit evaluation process:

Excellent Credit

  • Credit scores of 680 and above.
  • At least 5 trade credit lines (credit cards, auto loans, mortgages) have each been open for at least 24 months.
  • All accounts have been paid as agreed.
  • No public records of bankruptcy, foreclosure, serious past due accounts, or collections within the last 10 years.
  • Low current credit balance relative to maximum available credit limit.
  • Minimum number of credit inquiries.

Good Credit

  • Credit scores between 650-679
  • At least 5 trade credit lines (credit cards, auto loans, mortgages) have each been open for at least 24 months.
  • Most accounts have been paid as agreed, with only occasional late payments.
  • No public records of bankruptcy, foreclosure, serious past due accounts, or collections within the last 10 years.
  • May have significant current credit balance relative to maximum available credit limit.
  • Several recent credit inquiries.

Fair Credit

  • Credit scores between 610-649
  • At least 3 trade credit lines (credit cards, auto loans, mortgages) have each been open for at least 24 months.
  • Most accounts have been paid as agreed, with only occasional late payments.
  • No public record of bankruptcy, foreclosure, serious past due accounts, or collections within the last few years.
  • May have significant credit balance relative to maximum available credit limit.
  • Several recent credit inquiries.

Poor Credit

  • Credit scores 530-609.
  • One or more accounts have not been paid as agreed.
  • May have had a bankruptcy, foreclosure, serious past due accounts or collections.
  • High number of recent credit inquiries.
  • Proportion of revolving balances to revolving credit limits is too high.

What does my mortgage payment include?
For most homeowners, the monthly mortgage payments include three separate parts: Principal: Repayment on the amount borrowed Interest: Payment to the lender for the amount borrowed Taxes & Insurance: Monthly payments are normally made into a special escrow account for items like hazard insurance and property taxes. This feature is sometimes optional, in which case the fees will be paid by you directly to the County Tax Assessor and property insurance company.

Smart Home Buying

t's a sorry sight when you see so many homes being repossessed. Repo's and foreclosures and more prevalent than ever before as first-time home buyers are making some cardinal mistakes during the buying process that are leading to problems later on. One of the biggest mistakes people are making is not having their finances completely in order and arranged before buying a home. The buying of a home is an awesome responsibility both financial and otherwise and not being prepared for those responsibilities is one of the largest causes of repossessions and mortgage defaults.

Your credit is intricately tied into the purchase of a home. In fact, your credit will determine the amount that you will be able to afford to borrow on a home. Get in touch with your credit bureau and get a copy of your report. This will detail your credit history and allow you to discover anything that may be detrimental to your mortgage application. Outstanding credit issues can dramatically reduce the amount you are eligible to borrow, so it's a good idea to see to any of these things. Pay them out if necessary and get release letters from the debtors so that you can show them to a prospective lender if the paid debts have not yet been removed off your report.

The next logical step is to secure a pre-approval from a mortgage lender. This will take some careful shopping to find the loan that is right for you. There are so many different kinds of mortgage available it pays to take the time to investigate not only the loan but the lender itself. Make sure you are borrowing from a lender who has a good reputation and a good track record. This is critically important as there are many fly-by-night lenders who will take advantage of a borrower who does not do their homework. Make sure you ask about interest rates and whether or not they are fixed or variable. This can have a big impact on your monthly payments so make sure you ask about all aspects of the loan before signing it.

Finally you should be able to start looking for a home. Be careful in recognizing the difference between your needs and your wants in a home. Don't look for more home than you can handle. Be choosy when looking and if you find a suitable candidate make sure that you look it over a few times before making an offer.

Reverse Mortgage

You are debating whether getting a reverse mortgage on your home is the best way for you to ensure you financial security in retirement. But your home is you most valuable asset and you do not want to take the chance of encumbering it with a loan from an unscrupulous lender.

You need reverse mortgage information which will tell you both how a reverse mortgage works, and where you can find trustworthy lenders. Reverse mortgage information, fortunately, is widely accessible.

What You Don’t Have To Worry About

The first pieces of reverse mortgage information which you might find helpful are those which dispel some commonly held notions. A reverse mortgage is not the same as a home equity loan, so you will not be making monthly payments on it. Your eligibility for a reverse mortgage is not determined by your income level or credit history, but even so it is not a magical answer to your financial problems, and it will accrue interest just like any other loan.

The Requirements

Any reverse mortgage information you get should explain that you must own, and be living in at least half of each year, the home of which you want to take the mortgage. You, or the youngest homeowner of the home--for instance, your spouse--must be at least 62 years of age; and your home itself must qualify for a reverse mortgage.

You will be required to consult with a reverse mortgage broker or lender, who will provide you with reverse mortgage information on the mandatory home appraisals and inspections, and the various financing terms for which you qualify. You should talk to as many brokers and lenders as your comfort level requires in order to feel that you have all the reverse mortgage information you need.

You need reverse mortgage information on the options for receiving your money; you may choose to have it in a single amount of cash; in monthly payments; as a line of credit to be accessed at your discretion; or as some combination of all three.

Spending and Repaying The Money

The final pieces of reverse mortgage information concerns the way in which you can spend your money, and your repayment obligations. This is usually good news; you will have to use it to pay off any existing obligations on your home--mortgages or liens--but after that the money is yours to do with as you please.

As to repayment obligations, there are none, as long as you remain in your home at least half of each year. You will have to maintain you home’s condition, continue your home insurance coverage, and pay property taxes, but until you leave it for good, sell it, or the last of it owners passes away, the loan will not have to be repaid.