ewushi asked:


I understand that some law prohibits mortgage lenders from giving ARM to people over certain age. I am 54 years old and I am struggling with this rate now. Someone told me I could use this fact to persuade my lenders to reduce my interest rate, or to move me to a fixed rate. Is this true?

Howard

Andrew Bicknell asked:


For many people there comes a time when it makes sense to refinance their home mortgage. There can be any number of reasons to do this but for most people the primary goal is to lower their interest rate and their monthly payment. Everybody’s situation is different so the reasons for doing a refinance can vary from person to person.

When you do a home mortgage loan refinance you are basically taking out a new loan and using it to pay off an existing loan. You of course do not want to refinance if your new loan will cost your more in interest and monthly payments so it pays to research any new loan carefully.

As you delve further into the realm of refinancing a home you will undoubtedly run into terms that you may not be familiar with. These may include the following:

Term Length - This is the amount of time you have to pay back the loan. The majority of loans go for either 15 or 30 years. The longer the term the more interest you will pay during that term.

Fixed Rate Mortgage Loan - This is a mortgage in which the rate is set at closing and does not change for the life of the loan.

Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) - This is a mortgage with an adjustable rate. That means the rate can move up or down depending on what the prime rate or treasury index it is tied to is doing. This type of loan usually starts out at a low rate that makes it a great deal, but consumers need to be careful if and when the interest rate goes up, increasing the monthly payment.

Annual Percentage Rate (APR) - This number represents all the costs associated with a mortgage shown as an interest rate. It can vary among different lenders because they all calculate it a little differently. If you are comparing rate use the Good Faith Estimate that all lenders are required to provide.

Good Faith Estimate (GFE) - This is a document that all mortgage lenders are required by law to provide to all applicants. It will give a full account of all the estimated costs for a loan from a particular lender. You should have this in hand no longer then 3 days after filling out a loan application.

Loan to Value Ratio (LTV) - This ratio is a percentage that shows what percent you are borrowing against the appraised value of your home. Keeping this ratio below 80% is what most lenders are looking for. If your LTV is higher then 80% you will probably be required to purchase mortgage insurance in order to refinance.

Points (Discount & Origination) - There are two types of points that you can pay. Discount points are paid up front at the closing and are used to bring down the interest rate. Normally one point will equal one percent of what your total loan amount is. Origination points, or fees, are paid for the services rendered by the loan representative.

Refinancing a home mortgage loan can be a good way of freeing up money for other uses but it pays to pay close attention through out the process because you don’t want some hidden cost or fee to make your new loan cost more than the original mortgage.



Milton

green asked:


use to be know as ‘no doc loans’
–looking for a home mortgage loan
–I know that these types of loans require a higher down payment, (like more than 20%) and come with higher interest rates,
–I’m self employed and would like to know if I can qualify for a mortgage without waiting 2 yrs for tax returns

Nathan

AccessNational asked:


Although there are a few options for veterans qualifying for VA home loan programs, VA mortgage loans for home purchases are probably the most well-known and most commonly utilized, and for good reason. Eligible veterans VA mortgage loans are a benefit of service designed to make home buying easier and more affordable for them.

What Are VA Mortgage Loans?

VA mortgage loans are more accurately described as VA insured mortgage loans because in actuality that is what they are. The federal government and/or the Veteran’s Administration does not make direct loans to veterans; instead, the federal government provides insurance for VA mortgage loans that decrease the risk of the loan, thus allowing lenders to offer better terms. They also grant VA mortgage loans to qualified veteran borrowers without requiring a down payment or requiring Private Mortgage Insurance to be paid on the loan.

The first thing to understand as a veteran interested in exercising your benefits is that your loan is still funded by a private bank or mortgage company, just as it would be if you were to take a traditional home loan; in this way the basic mortgage product is not very different. The difference is that the government guarantees payment on your loan should you default, and so lenders will be more willing to give you better rates and terms than you would qualify for on your own as a private citizen.

Why is it important to know this? Because it is important to know that as a veteran with this eligibility you should not settle for a lesser home loan. But even more importantly it is important to know this because it is important to know that the government only insures your loan, it does not dictate your terms. Different VA mortgage lenders will still offer different terms and interest rates, just like if you were shopping for a traditional home loan.

Practically speaking, this means that the first loan you are approved for may or may not be your best deal and you should seek the best VA mortgage loan terms you can. It also means that no matter where you live in the U.S. there are good and better VA mortgage lenders, so you should shop for one with that has your best interests in mind. However, know that that lender does not necessarily have to reside in your state—you might look for an Alaska VA mortgage lender online and find that the best professional will work from Colorado. The key to success is to work with an experienced lender that offers good terms and excellent customer service.

What VA Mortgage Loan Services Do Lenders Offer?

The other piece in understanding VA mortgage loans is knowing that there are a number of options available to you. The job of the VA lender is to work with you to explore those options and to walk you through the process seamlessly. Again, this does not necessarily mean the best professional will be local to you. For example, that Colorado or Alaska VA mortgage lender could be just as qualified (or more qualified) to walk you through the Pennsylvania VA home loan process. The process is based on federal regulations, so the same basic rules that apply for an Alaska VA mortgage lender will apply for the one managing the Pennsylvania VA home loan process, and so on.

Regardless of where you live and what your mortgage shopping needs are, if you are an eligible veteran, or think you might be, you should look into VA mortgages before making any final decisions. You might just find that VA insured mortgage loans offer just what you are looking for, including a VA home loan refinance. The tools and resources of VA mortgage lenders can help you determine whether a VA mortgage or VA home loan refinance might be best, and you can use their tools (like the VA mortgage calculators) to help you compare and contrast programs and terms.

There really is a lot to know about VA mortgage loans, but you do not have to try to navigate the waters alone. There are excellent VA mortgage experts and specialists that can clarify all your options and possibilities, and help you evaluate the benefits of VA mortgage loans so that you can be assured you are entering into the best home mortgage program with the most affordability for you.



Caffeinated Content

Roy asked:


What would be the consequences if I did so?
One lender quoted a better rate but did not seem confident in approving the loan on time. I trust the other lender, but they have a higher rate.

Caffeinated Content for WordPress