Sunday, January 13, 2008

New FHA mortgage options extend relief to cash-poor buyers

As home foreclosures accumulate in what looks to become a year-long crisis, Congress is poised to enact a government mortgage alternative.

The pending FHA Modernization Act intends to help low-income borrowers who've been stuck in the commercial subprime market with exorbitant adjustable interest rates they can't sustain.

The Federal Home Administration would be allowed to grant mortgages up to 100 percent of appraised home value. And the down payment requirement would drop from 3 percent to 1.5 percent.

The FHA mortgages would also be fixed at about 6 percent for the present, compared to the adjustable loans that are going sky-high.

And the government application process would be made easier and quicker. The legislation's sponsors note that from 1996 to 2005, the subprime market went up 13 percent to exactly match the decline in FHA mortgages during that real estate boom.

Rep. Michael Castle and Sen. Thomas Carper of Delaware, who both serve on banking and finance committees in Congress, are backers of these changes. The Senate and House of Representatives passed different provisions for FHA reform, and they must be reconciled now.

Hundred-percent mortgages have been criticized as stretching borrowers' limits. But the sponsors argue that FHA has a better track record with loss mitigation counseling for payers to fall behind, and a much lower foreclosure rate.

There's also an experimental option for credit granted on the basis of ordinary bill payment, for people who don't have much credit history.

Rep. Castle said that while expanding FHA loans likely won't help homeowners already facing foreclosure, they would open the housing market to poorer people who still aspire to buy.

And some homeowners who are slipping behind could try to refinance with the government. That would be welcome relief, too.

Source:http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080113/OPINION11/801130307/1112/OPINION

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

40-year mortgages are here


If you're buying a home, you should find it easier than ever to get a mortgage.

While the U.S. mortgage market is troubled, Canada's mortgage market is still healthy, competitive and innovative.

Several changes introduced last year make it easier for buyers with a good credit record to move into their dream homes more quickly.

But don't take all the financing you're offered just because you qualify for it. Some mortgage products are too expensive and benefit lenders more than borrowers.

You can now pay off your mortgage over 30 to 40 years, instead of up to 25 years as before.

This allows you to reduce your monthly payments or buy a bigger house for the same monthly payment.

"A surprising number of existing homeowners are looking at this as an opportunity to purchase `more house' while leaving their monthly payments unchanged," says mortgage broker Elisseos Iriotakis, a principal with Safebridge Financial Group.

Extending the mortgage amortization to 30 to 40 years doesn't mean locking in an interest rate for that long. You can get a fixed rate for up to 10 years – though most borrowers opt for five – after which you must renew the mortgage. This means negotiating with your current lender or switching to a new one.

You can now get a conventional mortgage by putting down 20 per cent of the purchase price.

Until last year, you needed a 25 per cent down payment to avoid a "high-ratio mortgage," one that was insured against default by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. or Genworth Financial Canada.

Mortgage default insurance protects the lender from losses in case the loan is not repaid.

If you have a down payment of 20 per cent or less, you must pay an insurance premium ranging from 1.75 per cent to 3.1 per cent of the loan value. This premium is usually added to the total mortgage amount and spread over the same repayment period.

Those with low down payments can get a mortgage without default insurance from some non-bank lenders. However, they pay a much higher interest rate and extra administrative fees.

Mortgage insurance is no longer dominated by two players, CMHC and Genworth.

AIG United Guaranty, a subsidiary of New York-based American International Group Inc., made a splash when it came into Canada's mortgage insurance market last year. AIG offers new options, such as a product for buyers who can put down only 3 per cent of the purchase price. The payments can be spread over 30 to 40 years.

Cash-strapped borrowers once needed a 5 per cent down payment to get the same flexibility.

Though insured "no money down" mortgages are also available, they require a higher credit score and higher fees.

AIG's 3-per-cent-down mortgage insurance product is attractive to people buying in Toronto, says mortgage broker Ann Pope-Todd of Assured Mortgage Services.

"Because the city imposed a new land transfer tax ... many people don't have a 5 per cent down payment," she says.

You can now qualify for a low-down-payment mortgage if you're self-employed or work on commissions. CMHC has introduced self-employed simplified insurance, which allows you to buy a home with as little as 5 per cent down. And you don't have to hand over your tax returns for the last few years to qualify.

"A self-employed person used to need a down payment of 15 per cent to 25 per cent to get a conventional mortgage from a bank," says Bill Nugent, a broker with Mortgage Intelligence in Newmarket.

Self-employed simplified insurance is available for mortgages with a payback period of up to 40 years.

You can now qualify for a mortgage if your total debt load is more than 40 per cent.

When looking at whether you can afford to buy a house, lenders look at the gross debt service (GDS) ratio. Monthly housing costs, including mortgage, property taxes and heating, shouldn't exceed 32 per cent of gross household income.

They also look at the total debt service (TDS) ratio, which takes into account debts such as bank loans, car loans and credit card balances.

If your total debt load exceeded 40 per cent of your monthly gross income, you used to be turned down when applying for a conventional mortgage.

Today, many lenders will give you one if your total debt load is 42 per cent of household income. Some go up to 44 per cent.

"The thing that gets missed is that these are maximums," says John Schipper, president of Mortgage Intelligence Inc.

He believes lenders should require borrowers to do a monthly budget for a realistic view of their income and expenses.

Schipper is also concerned about the longer payback periods.

"My daughter is 23 and wants to buy a condo. I'd suggest a 40-year mortgage. I see a place for them if they're effectively managed," he says.

"But they can be used by unscrupulous lenders or brokers. Say, offered to 50-year-olds."

When you stretch out the mortgage payments for so many years, your total costs are much higher.

Suppose you buy a $375,000 house, put down $75,000 and take out a $300,000 mortgage at 5.99 per cent (the lowest current five-year rate).

You'll pay almost $784,000 with a 40-year mortgage, compared with $575,000 on a 25-year mortgage (assuming the rate stays the same).

That's more than $200,000 in extra costs – and for what?

By extending the payback period, you'll save only $285 in your monthly payments.

You could get the same bang for the buck – about $9 a day – by bringing your own lunch to work or taking public transit instead of your car.

Will Dunning, a housing economist in Toronto, believes Canadians "borrow conservatively, especially for homes," and there's no danger yet of Canada heading down the same road as the U.S.

source:http://www.thestar.com/columnists/article/292254

Sunday, January 6, 2008

Gearing up for Bad Credit Mortgages

Mortgages would have never happened, had mortgages been a no profit venture for the mortgagees or the mortgage providers. The lender receives much more than he had actually lent. And you feared that you would not qualify for the mortgages having a bad credit history. Mortgagees somehow find ways to match borrowers with the offers available with them in order to have your business.

Bad credit mortgages are mortgages offered to people whose credit history has been adversely tainted. Sub-prime lenders make a special provision for people with an adverse credit history. But, it is crucial to escape lenders who pose as sub-prime lenders, but are actually overcharging them. There is a misconception in the minds of people that having a bad credit lessens their chances of getting a mortgage. In fact they take the offer as if it is the best that they can get.

We cannot expect the mortgage providers to not differentiate between those with a good credit history and those who have not. This however does not mean that the borrower must accept all terms on the mortgage without questioning their validity. There are many mortgage providers in the UK and the case will match some or other lender if a proper and exhaustive search is made. There are a few tips which could be used to reduce the intensity of the differentiation.

The trust having been botched because of the bad credit can be restored somewhat by advancing a certain percentage of the mortgage amount as a deposit. The lender is more concerned about the security of the amount lent when he decides to not offer mortgages to people with a poor credit history. With the borrower offering a part of the mortgage, the lender can be assured that the borrower will not default.

A mortgage protection will also go a long way in instilling faith in the lenders. However these will involve an extra payment from the borrower. This often deters the borrowers from taking mortgage protection. The borrower already burdened with the monthly repayments to the mortgage feels mortgage protection as a nuisance. However, one must take mortgage protection as a bitter pill which will be helpful in crisis situations like death, illnesses, and unemployment. Lenders get the impression that the borrower is more concerned about the repayment of the mortgage.

The decision to advance mortgages is made after viewing the credit report. The credit report is prepared by the credit reference agencies. Many a times there are discrepancies in the credit report. It is necessary to apply for a correction in the credit report as many lenders may disqualify at the very sight of a bad credit. It is also necessary to get the credit report from all the credit reference agencies as there might be differences between them.

Before planning to not pay the next installment on the bad credit mortgage, the borrowers must keep this in mind. There is not always a second chance available. While lenders had faith on you in offering mortgages this time, they would not have it the next time. So, it is better to be regular in making payments to the mortgages. This will also help in an improvement in the credit history.

source:http://www.articlefeeder.com/Business__Finance_and_Management/Gearing_up_for_Bad_Credit_Mortgages.html

Bad Credit Mortgage

Many people can find themselves in difficulties with mortgage or other loan repayments, which can result in a bad credit rating and problems borrowing money in the future. When you apply for a new mortgage or remortgage this might be refused, even though the problems are in the past.

However loans, mortgages and re-mortgages can often be obtained for those with past or present credit problems, even County Court Judgements (CCJs), as long as you own your home and it is of sufficient value. For many people, obtaining a fresh loan and reorganising their finances can bring large savings. If you are having difficulties, it is always a good idea to approach a specialist mortgage provider in order to give you professional advice and avoid damaging a credit rating even further.

There are specialist lenders who have experience with bad credit mortgages and may be able to assist you, provided you own your own home, with or without an existing mortgage. You may be advised to take out a fresh mortgage in place of your existing mortgage, giving you some spare cash to repay outstanding loans and at the same time making savings in your monthly payments.

source:http://www.ukpropertyshop.co.uk/bad-credit-mortgage.shtml

Monday, December 31, 2007

Florida Mortgage Loan For Total Mortgage Solutions

Mortgage schemes are actually financial loans offered to interested individuals. Real estate property must be put on stake to obtain mortgage. Such loans are paid back in regular monthly installments.

Florida mortgage loan is ideal for people in and around the area. There are various mortgage options to suit every purse. Most people have dreams of purchasing their own houses. But they are unable to fulfill them as and when they wish because of fund shortage. Mortgage loans are indeed a boon in such situations. With the wide variety of schemes with benefits by various organizations, finding a suitable mortgage plan is a simpler task today. Our elders stayed away from mortgage as long as they could for fear of risks. These days, the scenario has changed drastically. Youngsters who earn lump sums of money are interested in such schemes to buy their own home and settle down at the earliest.

Florida mortgage loan states that the property that the client purchases represents the collateral for the loan borrowed. Florida mortgages have several well defined steps to make the deals. Firstly, the borrower is expected to apply for the loan he chooses. This requires a great deal of homework. Clients must do some background research and get knowledgeable about the market situations. They must be at least vaguely aware of the market worth of their property before offering it as security.

There are several websites such as the California mortgage pages which guide first time borrowers regarding the procedures and any risks involved. There is a simple application procedure where the homebuyers may fill in a form and submit their expectations. This is definitely not obligatory and it is free of cost. This is done to attract potential loan applicants. The criteria to apply are equivalent to other forms of loans. The mortgage agents may schedule a meeting with prospective borrowers. They evaluate the borrower's property in terms of location, opportunity and market estimate.

Of course, people applying for mortgage the very first time may have several apprehensions regarding the risks. After all, a huge amount of money is at stake. But the risks are same for all, whether it is a fresh client or a seasoned borrower. Getting the best Florida mortgage loan plan is made easy if the borrower does extensive research before embarking on the loan procedure. There are useful grants and lower payment facilities offered to fresh borrowers. If the borrower is capable of making a substantial down payment, he is usually granted the loan if all other prerequisites are satisfied. So prepare well and grab a good scheme.

Is most comprehensive resource on Debt Consolidation Loan, Bankruptcy, Mortgage and Credit. Get all information on debt consolidation, credit report, online mortgage, credit report and bad credit here.

source:http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=47346

Sunday, December 9, 2007

Is the New Mortgage Bailout a Financial Life Raft For You?

President Bush has unveiled a deal with the mortgage-banking industry to freeze an estimated 1.8 million loans for the next five years to help borrowers who may lose their homes because they were given credit they couldn't handle. Will you get help from this plan, or are you in trouble?

The plan is aimed at about 1.2 million subprime-loan holders on the verge of drowning in mortgage debt but who are not a total lost cause. But it won't help the 600,000 borrowers who are now in foreclosure, have refinanced their homes, or are more than 60 days delinquent on more than one payment over the past year.

Here's what you need to know and do to find out if you are eligible:

* Determine the type of loan you have. The new initiative only covers a subset of borrowers whose loans were issued between Jan. 1, 2005, and July 31, 2007, and whose interest rates will adjust upward between Jan. 1, 2008, and July 31, 2010. The new plan also only protects loans that have been packaged into securities, not those held by banks.
* Contact your credit counselor. Being proactive is key; no one will contact you automatically. Borrowers should contact their credit counselors or loan-service providers, who would sort them according to their credit and payment history and ability to pay. While missing one mortgage payment won't totally disqualify borrowers, they can't have been more than 60 days late more than once in the last 12 months.
* Pick the option that works best for your financial situation. There are two options for borrowers under the plan: the rate-freeze option and a refinance option. In order to qualify for the rate-freeze option, borrowers must live in their own homes and face a payment increase of more than 10 percent when their rates reset for the first time. This program is aimed at helping borrowers who are not good candidates for refinancing because of a poor credit score, have little or no equity in their homes, or a history of late payments. The refinance option is aimed at borrowers who have a decent credit score and home equity.
* If you have questions, ASK! While borrowers are encouraged to contact their mortgage companies first, they can also call 1-888-995-HOPE, which provides counseling to homeowners with mortgage problems.

Source:http://www.diversityinc.com/public/2820.cfm

Bad Credit Mortgage Refinance Loan

The loan market is quite a tough ride for those borrowers who are facing bad credit. That is because not all the lending companies offer loans to the borrowers with bad credit. Generally, the lenders who offer to give a bad credit mortgage refinance loan charge a very high rate of interest than the regular loans. The terms and conditions of these bad credit loans are also very rigid. It does not help at all to get a bad credit mortgage refinance loan but the borrowers do not have any other option left for the pressure of the situations.

Borrowers who own a property, which is worth a good deal, can secure a loan from the bank in case of bad credits. But people without anything to show as collateral or any asset can have a tough ride while applying for a bad credit loan.

Finding the Right Lender for Bad Credit Mortgage Refinance Loan

Finding a lender to secure a bad credit mortgage refinance loan is a tough job. Generally, the banks would not like to refinance a bad credit borrower and even if it does the interest rates will be sky high and the terms and conditions for the repayment of the loan will not at all support the borrower in any way. It might even make the scenario much worse than it was before.

The borrower has to look for a lending company who offers these kinds of loan. An online search may turn out successful. Bargaining on the interest rates may lower down the interest rates a little bit, but it would not help the borrower as much as a regular loan could do. The borrowers may apply for a bad credit mortgage refinance loan online filling out a loan application form but has every chance of getting rejected. The lenders will check on the credit history, which might turn out wrongly for a bad credit borrower. Finding the right lender helps the borrower to repay his mortgage loans or credit and also improve his financial status, which has gone down considerably due to bad credits.

Making Amendments to improve Credit History with Bad Credit Mortgage Refinance Loan

A bad credit can happen due to various factors like job loss, irregular payments, unwanted expenses, huge medical expenses and many others. But a borrower must do everything possible to raise his credit scores. If a borrower could secure a bad credit mortgage refinance loan he should repay all his debts and hence improving his credit records for future loan requirement. A borrower can even wait for sometimes and improve his credit scores and then apply for a regular loan. This will give him the privilege of acquiring a regular refinance with favorable interest rates and easy terms and conditions for repayments.

Source:http://www.bestsyndication.com/?q=112007_bad_credit_mortgage_interest_rates.htm

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Refinance With Bad Credit

In today's economy, refinancing with bad credit is not unusual, on the contrary, it's more common than you might think. Learning more about your options can save you stress and undue charges, if you know what to ask for.

First, it's important to fully understand your position in trying to ease your financial woes. Your mortgage is probably your highest monthly expense and if you could rewrite your mortgage and possibly make use of your equity, you could greatly improve your entire financial picture and reset your stress meter, right?

As a Realtor, I know firsthand, that there are many people totally unaware of what awaits unsuspecting homebuyers, when they apply for a mortgage. According to recent findings, 79 percent of consumer's credit reports have mistakes or errors. That is an alarming statistic in itself, but what does that say to our entire economy?

Refinancing your mortgage with bad credit is not only possible, but much easier than you'd think. Refinance can be a life-saving option for your whole financial situation. You could refinance your mortgage and take enough equity cash out, to pay off some of those incredible credit card debts. Just imagine having fewer bills, less interest being assessed against you and having a refinanced mortgage that you can pay comfortably.

Bad credit is not the end of all time. Know that you can actually view your own credit report and see if you don't find items in question, that may not belong to you. Credit bureaus make mistakes too, and more often than you'd expect. Let's face it, they gather information from thousands of sources and that's where it all begins. By the time it ends up on credit reports everywhere, there are tons of errors.

The best approach to refinancing your mortgage with bad credit is to check your credit reports first, find any items that you don't think should be there, and report these items to your credit bureau for dispute. If you dispute these items, the credit bureau must flag these items as in dispute, which in itself will improve your credit score. This is a totally legal process that you can turn the tides of financial reports on themselves. If you dispute enough items, you could easily refinance your mortgage and benefit from your revised credit report.

The next step is to shop your lenders for the absolute best interest rate and terms in which to refinance your mortgage. Lenders are eager to have your business, so keep this in mind. Don't jump at your first offer. Make them prove to you that they are your best choice. Comparisons are your friend, use them wisely and benefit as much as you possibly can. A happy home is one with little or no stress.
Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Refinance-With-Bad-Credit&id=831846

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