Tips For Locking in the Best Home Mortgage Rate

Tip #1: Always Shop For Home Mortgage Rates

Don't blindly accept a Realtor or Builder referral to apply for a Home Mortgage through their preferred lender. Many times they will say, "We work closely with this guy and he gets the job done". Translation: "We play golf together and he buys the beer". Remember, the Realtor won't be paying the bill each month for the next 30 years, you will.

Mortgage Loan Officers that work off of a referral network of Realtors and Builders don't have to have competitive Home Mortgage Rates because they have a steady stream of "Drones" (people who are referred to them and don't shop) calling them. Shop around, get the lowest cost Home Mortgage Rate, then if you are inclined, approach the "preferred" Loan Officer you were referred to and ask him to match the quote.

If you apply for a Home Mortgage through a preferred lender without shopping, you will pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars in additional costs.

Tip #2: Call For Home Mortgage Quotes After 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time

Mortgage Rates change each day and sometimes midday. The previous day's rates typically expire by 8:30 a.m. the next morning. Generally, Home Mortgage Rates are published each day by 11:00 a.m. Eastern time. This varies from lender to lender. To make sure you are getting Home Mortgage Rates from the current day and not a mixture of rates from the previous day from some lenders and the current rates from other lenders, always do your rate shopping after 11:00 a.m. Eastern time.

Get all your quotes after 11:00 a.m. Eastern time.

Sometimes Home Mortgage Rates change midday due to a volatile bond market. When this happens, some Home Mortgage Lenders will adjust the Discount Points for their rates in accordance with the new bond prices and publish new Home Mortgage Rates for that day. Other Lenders may continue to honor their morning rates.

Tip#3: Always Tell The Mortgage Loan Officer You Are Prepared To Apply For A Loan NOW

If you are buying a home, tell the Home Mortgage Loan Officer you are Rate shopping and you have a "ratified contract" to purchase a house. Tell him you intend to make a decision and Lock-In a rate on that day, but you have to check a few other lenders. If he asks you how his rates compare to the others, tell him he's the first person you've called. If you are refinancing, tell the Home Mortgage Loan Officer you are ready to apply for a Refinance Home Mortgage today. If you don't tell him that, he may provide a fake Home Mortgage Rate quote.

Loan Officers know you will probably talk to another lender with lower Home Mortgage Rates and the only way he can be sure for you to call him back is to give you a fake quote that appears to be the lowest. He's expecting you will rate shop for several days and figures you will call him back in a day or two because he provided a low, bogus rate quote. Also, since Home Mortgage Rates change daily and are subject to change at any time, he's not concerned about giving you a fake quote.

How will you compare quotes if you don't know which quotes are real and which are part of a bait and switch plan? The only way to ensure getting real quotes is to box in the Home Mortgage Loan Officers by making them think you are ready to Lock-In a Home Mortgage Rate immediately.

Tip#4: Ask For The Total Points And The Total Fees

When you call a Mortgage Lender, ask for the "Total Points" (Discount Points, Loan Origination Fee, Broker Points) for each Home Mortgage Rate. Some lenders will only quote the Discount Points and deliberately leave out the Loan Origination Fee. You won't find out about the 1.00 Point Loan Origination Fee until you apply for the Home Mortgage. By that time, the Loan Officer figures you will just accept it because he's got your application and pulled your credit report. In addition, Mortgage Brokers often neglect to mention their Broker Fee.

Some lenders do not charge a Loan Origination Fee.

When you are quoted the Total Points, specifically ask them if there is an additional Loan Origination Fee or Broker Fee being charged. You truly have to nail this down when you talk to a Home Mortgage Loan Officer.

Also, ask for a list of ALL other fees that will appear on the Good Faith Estimate that you will be paying to the Lender or Broker. Make sure they include their Credit Report and Appraisal Fees. Some lenders charge one lump sum fee and that includes the Credit Report and Appraisal Fees while other lenders will itemize each fee. Keep it simple and ask for all fees, including the cost of the credit report and appraisal fees.

Don't get confused by Title Company, Attorney Fees or Escrows. A lender will estimate these on your Good Faith Estimate, but these charges are not related to costs associated with a Mortgage Rate quote. The amount required for your escrow account will not change from lender to lender and Title Company and Attorney Fees are not being charged by the lender. Don't include them in your comparison.

Tip#5: Always Confirm The Rate Lock Period When Asking For A Rate Quote

If you are buying a home and you need 60 days to close, make sure you specifically request Mortgage Rate quotes with a 60 Day Lock period. Some Home Mortgage Loan Officers will quote rates with 15 Day or 30 Day Lock periods because the Discount Points for shorter lock periods are less than rate locks for longer periods. Quoting a Home Mortgage Rate with a 15 Day lock period obviously gives that Loan Officer an unfair edge. It is also a waste of your time because the quote isn't real if you can't settle on your loan within 15 days. Always specify a 60 Day Lock-In if you are buying a home. Ask for 45 Days if you are refinancing, but you may be able to get it done within 30 days if you are very diligent and call your Home Mortgage Loan Officer twice a week for a status of your application.

If your rate lock expires, the lender will re-lock you at the higher of either the original rate or the current rate when you decide to re-lock. That's a LOSE/LOSE situation for you. Never let your rate lock expire.

Tip#6: Compute The Dollar Cost Of The Points And Add All Fees

After you've spent some time talking to a bunch of Mortgage Loan Officers, you will have lots of Rates, Points and Fees on a sheet of paper. You will need to compute the dollar cost of the Points (multiply the mortgage amount X the Total Points expressed as a percent; For example, multiply 400,000 mortgage amount X.625% for.625 Points). Then add the dollar cost of the points to the Total Fees. You can then compare each Home Mortgage Lender's Total Cost (dollar cost of the points + all lender related fees) for a given rate. That will show you which Home Mortgage Lender has the lowest cost Home Mortgage Rates.

If Mortgage Insurance (not to be confused with mortgage life insurance) is required on a Conventional Home Mortgage, ask for the cost per year expressed as a percent and compare it from lender to lender. Some lenders require different levels of coverage and this will affect your monthly Mortgage Insurance payment. In addition, lenders use several different mortgage insurance companies and they charge different rates for their coverage. The lender will select the mortgage insurance company.

The cost of Mortgage Insurance can vary from lender to lender even though most Home Mortgage Loan Officers will say, "We don't determine the Mortgage Insurance coverage, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac do". Your can just say, "Please humor me and provide the Monthly Mortgage Insurance expressed as a percent".

You will want to check the quoted percent with what is on your initial application documents and final loan documents to make sure the Monthly Mortgage Insurance payment isn't higher than what you were quoted. If it is, get it reduced immediately. If they won't do that, then ask them to reduce your Home Mortgage Rate by.125% and that should cover the difference.

If you are getting a government insured mortgage (FHA or VA), you don't have to get into a comparison of the FHA MIP or the VA Funding Fee. This is a cost you will be paying, however every lender MUST use the same costs, so there is no reason to attempt to compare these costs from lender to lender.

Tip#7: When You've Found The Lowest Cost Rate, Apply and Lock The Rate

While you were looking for houses or thinking about refinancing, you may have shopped around and gotten some quotes from lenders and narrowed down your search to the best 5 Home Mortgage Lenders or Brokers. But when it is time to apply for your Mortgage, make sure you update your quotes for the 5 lowest priced Home Mortgage Lenders. After you identify the Home Mortgage Lender with the lowest cost rate, call and apply for the loan. Tell the Home Mortgage Loan Officer you want to Lock-In your Home Mortgage Rate and apply NOW. If the quote has changed since you updated your quotes a couple of hours before, tell the Loan Officer you want him to honor the previous quote. If he won't do it, tell him you may call back. Then call the next cheapest Home Mortgage Lender on your list. If that lender tells you the same thing, you can go back to the first lender and proceed with the application process.

Before you provide your application information, make sure the Home Mortgage Loan Officer agrees to provide you with an actual Rate Lock confirmation via email or fax on the same day you apply for your loan. When you receive the Rate Lock confirmation, check it and make sure you are Locked-In for the number of required days (30, 45 or 60), with the correct Loan Type (30 Year Fixed, 15 Year Fixed, etc.), with the correct Total Points quoted. It's normal for a lender to require you to apply over the phone before they will Lock-In your Home Mortgage Rate.

TIP#8: Never Float The Rate

If the Mortgage Loan Officer thinks you might be inclined to FLOAT your Rate and Points, he may say, "I think the rates are going to be coming down, so you might want to FLOAT". Remember this, never FLOAT your Home Mortgage Rate. Never. Always Lock-In the Rate and Points. If you FLOAT, and the Discount Points for Home Mortgage Rates drop, you will only realize the benefit of a small part of that drop in the Points, if any at all. The Home Mortgage Loan Officer will keep the rest of the savings as a fat commission.

Here's how they increase their commission when you FLOAT. Originally, the lender quoted 4.875% with 1.00 Total Point when you applied for your loan. Then 45 days later you called to Lock-In. Keep in mind that over the 45 day period that you were FLOATING, the actual Points for 4.875% dropped to.250 Total Points. So you should have saved.75 Total Points on your 4.875% rate. Right? No! First, you don't know if his company's points have dropped or by how much they might have dropped. So, instead of giving you 4.875% for.250 Total Points, the Home Mortgage Loan Officer tells you his rates only dropped a little bit. He says you can Lock-In 4.875% for.75 Total Points. You are happy because it is.25 lower than what it was when you applied for your loan, but the Home Mortgage Loan Officer is ecstatic because he keeps half of the "overage" you paid. That overage is.50 points and he splits this with his company. If the mortgage amount was $400,000, he just earned.25% which is an additional $1,000 commission. That's not bad for a five minute phone conversation.

If you FLOAT and the Discount Points for Mortgage Rates increase, you will pay for the increase. FLOATING is a LOSE/LOSE proposition for you and a WIN/WIN for the Home Mortgage Loan Officer.

Some companies quote very low rates and attract lots of applications, but they don't let you Lock-In until 15 Days prior to loan closing. If you apply for a Mortgage through a company with that policy, you will get screwed. When it's time to Lock-In your Mortgage Rate, you will pay an "overage" that will go straight to the Mortgage Loan Officers pocket. You will either pay more points for the rate you requested at the time of application or you will get a higher rate. Either way, you will get screwed and the Loan Officer will get a fat overage added to his commission.

Tip#9: Get a Final Good Faith Estimate Several Days Before Loan Closing

Get a copy of the Final Good Faith Estimate at least a few days before the scheduled closing day. Check the Mortgage Rate, Points, Fees and Monthly Mortgage Insurance Premium (if applicable). Make sure you are getting exactly what you bargained for. Ask questions if you don't understand something. Demand that previously undisclosed fees be removed from the Final Good Faith Estimate. Make sure you get a revised estimate if the Mortgage Loan Officer verbally agrees to make changes.

The day of loan closing is the wrong time to haggle over discrepancies.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mick_Taylor

Applying for Your First Home Mortgage? What You Need to Know

The following home mortgage tips will help you figure out how to best go about the home mortgage loan process for your situation.

Home Mortgage tip #1 Interest Rates

Before applying for your first home mortgage loan you will want to shop around and see what average home mortgage loan rates are. Shopping for home mortgage rates online is a timesaver and frequently have lower rates as well. Your home mortgage rate will affect how much money you have to pay back over the term of the loan, so the lower the better.

Home Mortgage Tip #2 Fixed or Variable Interest Rate

When it comes to your home mortgage loan there are more options than just a loan you pay back over a set amount of years. You can choose different home mortgage interest rates that work best for your current and future situations. So, before you apply for a home mortgage loan do some research on variable and fixed interest rates to find what will work best for you.

Home Mortgage Tip #3 Down Payment

When applying for a home mortgage loan for the first time you might not be aware of the general down payment you will be required to make. Many times a home mortgage loan requires between 10 and 20% of the price of the home, but if you have good credit sometimes you can make a lower down payment and still get a good deal on your home mortgage. This depends on the home mortgage lender, so shop around.

Jay Moncliff is the founder of http://www.mortgages-reviews.info a website specialized on Home Mortgage, resources and articles. This site provides updated information on Home Mortgage. For more info visit his site: Home Mortgage

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Looking At Two Popular Residential Mortgage Companies

Are you looking for a first time mortgage? Are you looking for a new mortgage or a way or refinancing your current one? If so, then you have probably looked over the promotional material of many lending agencies.

Those that have not explored what is offered by American Home Mortgage and Allied Home Mortgage would definitely benefit from taking a closer look. Both of these lenders have many positive attributes a brief overview of what these entities have to offer is provided?.

American Home Mortgage (americanhomemortgage.com) ?This is a service that provides a number of simple and easy to use online mortgage tools. These tools can then be employed to find high quality loan programs and competitive, low rates. This company offers a host of services including purchasing, refinancing, and even construction lending. This makes it a very popular online destination for those looking for a high quality mortgage issuance service.

Allied Home Mortgage (alliedmtgcapital.com) ? Allied Home Mortgage is such an expansive lender that is issued over $15 billion in one year in the form of 12,000 approved loans. Yes, this is one of the largest mortgage lenders in the United States. In addition to its expansive online presence, it is affiliated with various lenders in all 50 states. This company issues all variety of loans making an attractive to applicants from all sectors of borrowing.

In terms of the specific loans that each lender offers, applicant can seek to apply for a multitude of loans. American Home Mortgage offers 30 year fixed rate mortgages; 15 year fixed rate mortgages; Traditional Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARM); Hybrid, Annual, and Monthly ARM rates; and rare mortgage loans such as 2/1 Buy Down and Negative Amortization loans. Allied Home Mortgage offers many of these same mortgage deals as well as a full variety of traditional loans.

There are also a host of other helpful benefits offered online. American Home Mortgage offers free online consultations. These online consultations can be accessed through an internal instant messaging system that provides real time answers to your questions. This will aid in making sure you are applying for the right loan and are able to properly fill out the necessary applications. Allied Home Mortgage does not offer online help, but you can contact them via phone or email.

A representative will definitely contact you in a timely manner to help you with your inquiry. American Home Mortgage also offers a clear description of the loans they offer on their website. Allied Home Mortgage offers a glossary featuring the loans they offer, but it is not as clear or easy to navigate as American Home Mortgage. So, it would be fair to say that American Home Mortgage has more expansive online services; however, this is not to infer that Allied Home Mortgage is inferior in any way.

In summation, both of these lenders have something to offer those looking for a lending source. As such, it is recommended to visit both sites and read them over. Within their online pages, you might be able to locate the answers to your lending queries.

By: Mohamad Alodah

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Mortgage Rates: The New Way To Uncovering Timely Information

A borrower is not always required to visit their bank or a mortgage lender only to see the current day's home mortgage loan rates. That's the archaic way of doing things. The more convenient way is getting it on the internet, which makes getting mortgage rates a whole lot faster and easier. The feat can be done in under five minutes at the convenience of your home or even phone if you have internet access on the phone.

Getting a mortgage loan rate from an online mortgage website can be very advantageous to homeowners due to the reasons that follow:

Advantages:
1. You receive a quick response from reputable mortgage lenders and brokers as compared to your typical bank with limited programs inside of 24 to 48 hours.
2. Online consumers get the benefit of receiving multiple interest rate quotes which permit you to analyze and compare rates, fees, pros and cons offered by each company.
3. You will have a pre-approved home loan mortgage rate quote much before you have chosen a home. This becomes extremely helpful and letsyou know the mortgage loan amount you are qualified to get based on your salary or self-employed earnings as well as other credit and financial criteria.

A mortgage loan typically covers a large quantity of items such as a mortgage for buying a home, refinancing a mortgage, a mortgage for home equity, debt consolidation mortgage. In all of these cases involving various loan types, the home you get or already have will be considered collateral for the mortgage.

For prospective mortgagees, it is strongly suggested to learn and understand mortgages better so that you can negotiate with the lender or broker for better rates and terms. Getting your home mortgage loan rate quote is just the initial phase in the process. Here are a few quick definitions of some of these terms relating to mortgages that you should get familiar with:

Good faith estimate: This is the standardized form listing all the costs, taxes and associated fees with your home refinance or purchase itemized so you will have a very close indication of what it will cost yo to obtain said loan. Moreover, some fees are negotiable so it is wise to review then check back with your loan officer of what can may be reduced if applicable.

There are basically two kinds of interest rates for home loans.
Fixed rate mortgage: The interest rates are fixed for the life-period of the mortgage loan. Your monthly mortgage payments will be fixed as well.

Adjustable rate mortgage: The interest rate is not fixed during the whole term but may be fixed for the first year or upto ten years fixed. After that, the rate may vary on a monthly basis related to the market rate fluctuations.

Tag : mortgage,mortgage rates,mortgage refinance,mortgage loan

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How Denver and Colorado Mortgage Lenders Can Help if You're Looking for a Denver or Colorado

If you are in Denver or Colorado and looking for a home loan there are many options for you, thanks to technology. You can look for a loan from anywhere in the country, but that doesn’t mean you should if you are looking to buy a refinance a Denver or Colorado mortgage.

No one has the knowledge of Denver or Colorado home loans like local Denver mortgage lenders, despite the fact you can shop for a Colorado or Denver mortgage online or fill out a Colorado and Denver application with the press of a button. Those far removed from the unique housing market of the area can really give you the understanding you need for a Denver and Colorado mortgage.

Colorado and Denver Mortgage lenders and their knowledge

The real estate market in Colorado is its own animal. It’s unique and a Colorado mortgage company will know that. Denver mortgage lenders understand that you can find modest single family homes, investment properties, luxury homes and vacation properties all in the same market. Other markets are very different, with not as many kinds of properties available, so lenders outside the market may try to fit only one type of Denver and Colorado home loans to a lender — without success. Those seeking Denver Colorado home loans and properties will be more successful if they find a Denver mortgage lender who can offer more products specifically targeted to the individual’s needs.

The unique nature of the market means you must have someone working for you with a good knowledge base of Denver and Colorado home loans and a Denver or Colorado mortgage company that can get to a variety of products.

The best Denver mortgage lenders should be able to access many different funding sources for Denver Colorado home loans, jumbo loan products for those seeking larger Denver Colorado home loan and standard Denver Colorado home loans for conforming loans under $417,000.

With these products, Denver mortgage lenders can also provide program flexibility, with the ability to access both fixed and variable rate products for Denver mortgage lenders serving short- and long-term home seekers.

Different buyers have different Denver Colorado home loan needs, including those who want to sell after a few years, those who are looking to refinance and those who want to stay in their homes for a long time and want stable Denver Colorado home loan payments (and preferred fixed rate loans from Denver mortgage lenders).

The bottom line for those looking for a loan is that the needs will differ depending on what kind of loan you want and need. Finding the best rates for your needs means finding a good Denver and Colorado mortgage company which is flexible and experienced enough to provide a good Denver and olorado home loan. Consumer watch groups like the Tom Martino mortgage referral system can help those shopping for Denver Colorado home loans. The system makes looking for a good Denver mortgage lender that much easier. Plus, the added security of a good consumer advocate can be a big boost in finding reliable Denver mortgage lenders.

Tag : mortgage,colorado mortgage,mortgage loan,mortgage rates

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Mortgage And Refinance Mortgage Loans For Home Improvements

Thanks to relatively new market creations, home improvements can now be financed with promotional rates by obtaining mortgage loans and refinance mortgage loans that have been specially designed to pursue this purpose. These loans provide special terms to offer inexpensive financing for home improvement projects.

Depending on your situation you may need to resort to a mortgage loan or a refinance mortgage loan. You may also be able to resort to home equity loans in order to finance home improvements and both home equity loans and refinance mortgage loans will be guaranteed with the available equity on your loan in order to keep rates low.

Home Equity Loans

Home equity loans resort to equity in order to provide the needed guarantee to allow the lender to provide better loan terms. Equity is the difference between the market value of a real estate property and the amount of debt that the property secures (usually a home mortgage balance). This guarantee reduces the risk for the lender with many benefits for the borrower too.

Home equity loans provide loan terms almost as advantageous as those of home loans. With home equity loans you can obtain lower interest rates, higher loan amounts, longer repayment programs and lower monthly payments compared to unsecured loans. All of this is particularly beneficial when it comes to home improvements.

Refinance Home Loans

Refinancing a home loan consists on taking a mortgage loan and using the money to repay the previous loan. The same property is used because, once the loan is obtained, the previous mortgage is fully paid off and canceled. If the new loan provides a higher amount than the remaining of the previous mortgage debt, the additional cash can be used for any purpose, including home improvements.

These loans are known as cash-out refinance home loans and the extra cash has obviously the same loan terms as the rest of the loan which implies extremely low interest rates, low monthly payments, a flexible repayment schedule and high loan amounts. All of which are especially beneficial for home improvements.

Home Improvements Purpose

As long as the money is used for home improvements, lenders can provide you with promotional interest rates and other advantageous terms. This is due to the fact that when used for home improvements the money that the lender grants contributes to increasing the value of the property that is being used as collateral for the loan.

Thus, don’t forget to mention the fact that you are planning to make home improvements when you request loan quotes from different lenders as they might be able to offer you special loan programs to suit your needs. More and more lenders are designing exclusive loan programs for home improvements in order to attract customers who need finance for that particular purpose.

Also, don’t forget not to go with the first offer you receive. Instead, compare loan quotes from different lenders paying special attention to the APRs and the loan terms that most concern you (repayment program and loan amount). That way, you’ll be able to get the best terms on your home improvement loan.

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5 Key Points For Home Mortgage

Mortgage is one of the finance option provides facilities for the customer to buy the house or property.

Normally the mortgage is provided by the banks and other financial companies and institutions for the home and other property loan. Some mortgage companies are also working in USA to give mortgage facilities where you can get the proper information and advice as per your need. There are various types of condition apply while you are purchasing the home through mortgage.

Here are some key points to be considered before proceed for the mortgage loan:

1. Monthly payment against the mortgage facilities are based on many factors, considering all the factors and general rules the average of the monthly payment is around 25 to 33 percent of the gross income of loan holder.

2. The repayment period of the mortgage of the home loan would be 5, 10, 15, 20 and maximum 25 years. While the repayment period for the commercial property would be normally of 20 years for new property and 15 years for old property.

3. The mortgage company gives flexible option for the repayment of loan as well as in the time period that are suitable to the customers. You can select the repayment period depending on your ability after discussing with mortgage consultant.

4. The mortgage application is properly scrutinized by the mortgage company with related documentation. After proper analysis, based on present income the mortgage company decide the repayment terms and the amount of repayment.

5. The mortgage company check your credibility before sanction of mortgage loan. Normally the mortgage company take the home documents as security against the mortgage loan. Once you repay your loan, the mortgage company give back all the documents of home.

Gary Zivkovich is a writer for http://www.1888mortgages.com the premier website to find Mortgage, home mortgage, mortgage rates, mortgage calculator, Mortgage Company, mortgage loan and many more.

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Dealing With Colorado Mortgage Programs

Dealing with Colorado Mortgage Programs

If you are already a homeowner or just someone who wants to own a home, you know there are many Denver mortgage choices available to you. But since people who are interested in buying a home are different, the top Colorado mortgage providers must be diligent about coming up with the right types of Denver mortgages for their customers. Colorado mortgage providers are looking for ways to meet the financial demands of their customers, who come from different financial backgrounds and have varied mortgage concerns.

The Colorado Mortgage That Fits

Denver mortgage lenders have different products to meet different needs, but all with the same goal of getting would-be home owners into a house and getting refinancing customers a deal that works for them. If you are a qualified Colorado borrower, then you will be able to tap into a broad range of home loan products which help you get into a home.

The scope of these products also comes with a downside. It makes it tough for the typical potential home owner to find out what Denver mortgage works best for them. In order to get the Colorado mortgage product that fits, you will need help from a professional who can examine the different programs, hold them up to your situation and find the right fit in terms of affordability and terms. This help will take your goals and needs into consideration.

Understanding Denver Mortgage Options

The best way to approach the Colorado mortgage search is as an educated customer. You want to know about the Denver mortgages you will be able to choose from in order to understand what will work best for you. By getting this information, you will also understand:

• Which loans you like
• Which loans to ask about during your meeting with a Colorado mortgage lender
• The varied mortgage terms you will be told about
• Which Denver mortgage programs lenders are looking at for you

Being educated about these programs will ease your search and perhaps you can find an overlooked program or one that will work the best for your specific needs. You can do this better when you understand what your choices really are.

Among the programs you will see when you meet with a Colorado mortgage provider include:

• Colorado Fixed Rate Mortgages. The interest rates of these are the same over the term of the loan.
• Colorado Adjustable Rate Mortgages, or ARM's. The interest rates of this loan can change and are considered risky, but helpful to those people who may not otherwise get into a loan.
• Variable termed Denver mortgages, including 10, 15, and 30 years.
• Interest-only Colorado mortgages
• How the interest rates can change, depending on your program, your down payment and loan to value ratios.
• FHA mortgages and other special programs

There will be Denver mortgage options that are risky, but when they adjust to your specific needs, that risk, along with how much they cost, can change. If you have a home that you aren’t going to be in for long, then you can get a lower interest ARM which will work. But a fixed Denver mortgage with a moderate interest rate works better if you are looking to be in a home for a longer period.

If you think about it, the number of Colorado mortgage choices can be too much to understand. But on a positive note, the numbers of options available to home owners give many more people a chance to take part in home ownership. If you work with a skilled Denver mortgage lender, you can be on your way to ownership. Mortgage choices for Denver and Colorado are easier to understand if you have a professional working with you.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/dealing-with-colorado-mortgage-programs-390845.html

Understanding Fixed Rate Mortgage

No matter if you are trying to mortgage your home or trying to buy a home, you must know in the market today the two most common mortgage rates known as a Fixed Rate Mortgage (FRM) and the Variable or Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM).

There are many benefits and disadvantages to consider when deciding if a fixed rate mortgage is right for you. It is important to look at all options when it comes to something as important as getting a mortgage for your home.

A fixed rate home mortgage loan (FRM) means that the interest rate you get upon loan approval is the interest you maintain for the life of the loan. The benefit is that the rates and payments remain constant. There won't be any surprises even if inflation rises out of control and mortgage rates head to 20%. The life of the loan is refereed to as a mortgage term. A mortgage can range anywhere from a six months loan to 30 years. The 30-year fixed rate mortgage is the most common terms.

In general, fixed rate mortgages are a safer way for first time home buyers to get a mortgage, since there is greater stability and less risk involved. It is easy to budget and regulate your monthly expenses when you know exactly what your interest will be. Generally, FRMs are more expensive to compensate for the lesser risk and greater comfort involved. FRMs are also less risky since you always have the option to refinance in case interest rates drop uncontrollably. If the current interest rates are low, a fixed rate mortgage will be a good choice as you will be assured of locking in at low interest all throughout your loan term.

There are also a few things to consider when deciding to choose a fixed rate mortgage. To take advantage of decreasing rates, mortgage holder would have to refinance. This means that you must spend a few thousand dollars in closing costs. Fixed rate mortgage can be too expensive for some borrowers, especially if the current rates are high, because there is no early on payment and rate break like there is with adjustable rate mortgages.

Which type of mortgage is better for you depends on your ability to handle the interest fluctuations. A fixed rate mortgage is right for you if you like the stability of a fixed payment over a predetermined period of time. You can apply for any term mortgage you feel you want, for example, a five year fixed table can be created for you with a fixed rate mortgage. This means that for five years you will repay the loan with a fixed interest rate table.

About The Author:
Liza has written various articles about insurance issues, including homeowners insurance, and home mortgage.

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Choosing the Right Mortgage - Basic Mortgage Terms and Features

Choosing the Right Mortgage – Mortgage Basics

There is an astounding range of commercially available mortgage products, which makes choosing the right mortgage increasingly difficult without a firm grasp of mortgage basics. Here we try to give the consumer struggling to understand the basics of what a mortgage is, how it operates, and what features are right for him or her, the basic terms and distinctions that will allow the consumer facing an all-important mortgage decision – perhaps for the first time – to begin to choose the right mortgage from the thousands of mortgage products available on the market. But a word of caution – there is an incredible range of mortgage products commercially available. Before making a final decision on which mortgage is right for you, it would only be prudent to consult with an experienced and knowledgeable mortgage broker.

What Is a Mortgage?

A mortgage is a loan – but a loan that is secured, in this instance, against a home and/or piece of land. The person who borrows the money to buy a house is the mortgagor and the person, company or bank etc. who lends the money is the mortgagee. In most instances, the person buying the house will be required to pay some amount, perhaps as little as 5 per cent, as a down payment on the house or property. A mortgage from a commercial or private lender is secured to pay the balance of the purchase price. The mortgagee/lender provides the balance of the money to buy the house on the ‘closing date’ (i.e., the day the deal for the house is completed and the property ownership changes) and the mortgagor/purchaser pays back the money borrowed to purchase the house over time, usually over a number of years.

Key Mortgage Terms & Concepts

Amortization Period – A mortgage is written based on an understanding that the mortgagor/borrower will pay back the money borrowed over a number of years, rather than months. When purchasing a home that is typically worth several times what the purchaser earns in a year, it is understood that a the number of years will be needed to fully pay off the mortgage. The ‘amortization period” is the number of years that it will take to pay off the mortgage in full under the terms of the mortgage that is agreed to. The usual amortization period is 25 years, although shorter and longer amortization periods are available.

The amortization period sets out how long it will take to pay off the mortgage in monthly payments. Monthly payments consist of two parts – one part goes towards paying the ‘principal’ (the amount of money borrowed) and other part goes towards paying the ‘interest’ (the fee charged for borrowing the money.) The longer it takes to pay back the principal – i.e., the longer the amortization period – the greater the amount of interest that will be paid over the life of the mortgage.

Term – A mortgage agreement will not typically be for the full length of the amortization period. It is too difficult for either party – mortgagor and mortgagee – to foresee all the changes in financial circumstances over such an extended period. Accordingly, the parties – mortgagor/borrower and mortgagee/lender – will agree to a mortgage covering a specific number of years of the mortgage – e.g., 5 years. When the term of the mortgage expires the mortgagee is paid in full for the money that was borrowed to purchase the home. Typically, since it is anticipated that the mortgage will be paid off over the length of the amortization period, at the end of the term the mortgagor will have to negotiate a new mortgage – either with the initial mortgagee/lender or a new mortgagee. This process of ‘refinancing’ is normal, yet is an excellent way for prudent borrowers to re-examine their financial circumstances – for example, to see if their circumstances have changed so that they can shorten the amortization period and pay their mortgage off more quickly, thereby cutting down on the total interest they will pay in purchasing their home.

Fixed-Rate vs. Variable-Rate Mortgages – In a fixed-rate mortgage, the same interest rate is charged throughout the entire mortgage term. In a variable-rate mortgage the interest rate will change based on changes in interest rates that are being charged in the market.

Since interest rates do change based on the financial markets, risk is being assigned and the mortgage rates for both fixed-rate and variable-rate mortgages will reflect who is taking the risks – the mortgagor/borrower or the mortgagee/lender. When mortgage rates are relatively high it is the borrower who takes the risk that interest rates will not fall lower than the rate he or she agrees to for a fixed-rate mortgage. So when mortgage rates are relatively high, mortgagee/lenders will usually be willing to offer fixed-rate mortgages for a lower interest rate than the current interest rate for a variable-rate mortgage. The opposite is, of course, true. When mortgage rates are relatively low – as they are now – the mortgage/lender assumes the risk that interest rates will not go up. Since there is always the risk that rates will go up, a fixed-rate mortgage will have a slightly higher interest rate than a variable-rate mortgage when interest rates are relatively low. (The advantage of a fixed-rate mortgage is, of course, that the mortgagee will always know the cost of his or her mortgage payments over the term of the mortgage.)

Open Mortgages vs. Closed Mortgage – With an open mortgage some or all of the balance of the mortgage can be repaid during the term of the mortgage without a financial penalty. This is particularly advantageous, if the home purchaser has to move for employment or other reasons and if one’s financial circumstances change. Under a closed mortgage, no extra payments or changes in the mortgage can be made before the end of the mortgage term without a penalty being charged. Such penalties can be onerous for the homeowner who is forced by circumstances, such as a change of job, to relocate before the term of the mortgage expires.

Open mortgages can also prove to be very advantageous for the prudent homeowner who is able to make periodic payments directly to the principal owing under the mortgage. Each mortgage payment is split between interest costs and money that goes towards paying off the principal of the loan. If the borrower makes periodic payments over and above the regular mortgage payments that are required (the amounts and timing of which are usually set out in the mortgage itself), these payments directly reduce the amount owing under the mortgage. Doing so effectively reduces the amortization period of the mortgage, since in every subsequent mortgage payment more money will be going to pay off the principal of the mortgage and less money will be going towards the interest costs.

The Importance of Mortgage Advice

While this covers some of the mortgage basics that the consumer will need to choose the right mortgage product, it is important to note that there are quite literally thousands of mortgage products to choose from – each with its own intricacies and detailed terms. Accordingly, the prudent mortgage shopper should consult with someone with advanced expertise in the products and range of choices that are available on the market, given the borrower’s circumstances. An accredited mortgage broker will have the expertise and knowledge to assist the borrower in choosing the right mortgage for his or her situation. Moreover, since an accredited mortgage broker typically receives his or her fee from the lender, a mortgage broker with expertise and knowledge of the thousands of mortgages that are commercially available can assist the borrower in understanding and choosing the right mortgage from the thousands that are available at no cost to the borrower.

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Reverse Mortgage Types

The reverse mortgage helps the seniors over sixty two years old to use the equity of the home to supplement an existing income. Reverse mortgage is loan advance to the home without repayment unless the owner moves, dies, or sells the home.

In the United Kingdom, reverse mortgage is more common as lifetime mortgage. Hence, the owner never needs to repay as long as the owner lives in the home. The reverse mortgage lenders distribute the cash as lump sum, regular payment, credit line, or combinations.

In the United States, the basic types of reverse mortgage are single purpose reverse mortgage, federally insured reverse mortgage, and proprietary reverse mortgage. There may be more types in different countries, but the main idea is very similar.

Single Purpose Reverse Mortgage

The government agencies and non profit organizations offer this type of reverse mortgage. It is generally low costs. Although the government agencies may be local or state, the mortgage is available in a few locations only. The purpose of reverse mortgage is specific such as home repair, home improvements, and property taxes. And, the owner earns low or moderate income.

Federally Insured Reverse Mortgage

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) backs this type of reverse mortgage. This type is more commonly known as Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECM). The upfront costs are high especially if the owner stays in short period of time. So, this reverse mortgage is costlier than Single Purpose Reverse Mortgage.

It is the opposite of Single Purpose Reverse Mortgage in which the reverse mortgage loan can be used in any purpose. And, the mortgage are widely available anywhere. There are also no income or medical requirements.

Proprietary Reverse Mortgage

The private companies backed or owned this type of reverse mortgage. It is generally the most expensive type of reverse mortgage. However, the owner may get more than other types of reverse mortgage. Generally, it works the same way as the Federally Insured Reverse Mortgage.

Dennis Estrada is a webmaster of mortgage calculators, reverse mortgage, and jumbo mortgage loan website.

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100% Mortgage Financing – A Way To Avoid Private Mortgage Insurance

Ideally, traditional mortgage lenders want new homebuyers to have a 20% down payment when purchasing a new home. Thus, if purchasing a $200,000 home, you should be prepared to have $40,000 as a down payment.

Unfortunately, many people do not have this kind of money lying around. For this matter, private mortgage insurance (PMI) was created as a way for mortgage companies to recoup their money if a homeowner defaults on the loan. There are various loans available to assist people with down payments. In some instances, homeowners can obtain 100% financing, and avoid PMI

What is Private Mortgage Insurance?

Because Americans are earning less money, and home prices are steadily increasing, the majority of the population is unable to save the recommended down payment of 20%. In order to make owning a home possible, mortgage companies created a particular mortgage insurance, (PMI), for people with less than 20% to put down on a home. This insurance protects the lender if you default on the mortgage.

How to Avoid Paying Private Mortgage Insurance

On average, PMI may increase your mortgage payment by $100 – sometimes less, sometimes more. However, there are ways to avoid paying this additional insurance. The obvious involves having at least 20% as a down payment. If this is not an option, homeowner may agree to a higher interest rate. Another tactic entails getting approved for 100% financing.

How Does 100% Mortgage Financing Work?

100% mortgage financing makes it possible to buy a home with no money down. Also referred to as a piggyback loan or 80/20 mortgage loan, 100% mortgage financing involves obtaining a first mortgage for 80% of the home cost, and a second mortgage, or home equity loan, for 20% of the home cost. Together, the first and second mortgage allows a home purchase with no money down, and no private mortgage insurance.

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Obtain A Jumbo Mortgage Loan For A More Expensive House

A jumbo mortgage loan is merely a very large mortgage loan just like its term suggests. Far more precisely, a jumbo mortgage is a mortgage loan where the amount which is financed is much more when compared to the amount which has been set by GSE or Government Sponsored Enterprises who establishes the rules for jumbo loans. GSE is actually a group of financial companies which keeps access to home loans as well as cuts down on the expense of the loans so that consumers can acquire houses. The traditional guideline amount that has been established for a mortgage loan by GSE has been $600,000.00 because this is the total amount which GSE has set as part of their duties.

If a mortgage is actually bigger than this particular total amount then it receives the category of becoming a jumbo mortgage. Given that we all know that there are numerous houses that are more expensive as compared to that amount, then we should understand that the need for a jumbo loan has grown because property prices have raised as much as there are homes that are offered. A lot of loan companies offer jumbo loans, nevertheless some creditors do not. A jumbo mortgage loan is going to bring more of a danger for a mortgage company because the mortgage repayments are usually quite high and no matter how good your financial situation, something can go wrong.

Furthermore, more expensive properties can take a lot longer to sell than a cheaper residence mainly because not as many people can pay for these homes, therefore if the homeowner should have financial difficulties it could take awhile to get free from the mortgage loan as well as a fall behind on the mortgage loan could occur. Numerous loan providers will demand a larger deposit on a jumbo mortgage because of the higher priced properties and the chance of financial concerns.

Interest rates will likely be higher for a mortgage loan that goes above the GSE's maximum guideline amount. With conventional mortgages a homebuyer may be able to get a house for minimum money down, nevertheless this is not so with a jumbo mortgage because of the inherent risk to the mortgage company. These larger loans will demand some money down, nevertheless the process to get a jumbo mortgage is very comparable to a regular mortgage for a more affordable home. In case you have found a property which has been hit by higher home prices, don't give up hope since there is probably a jumbo mortgage available for you should your credit is great, and you have the ability to settle the mortgage loan.

However, be ready for the loan to cost a little more than a smaller mortgage, not only with the amount borrowed but additionally to borrow the money. If you decide to visit a house that you want and you know you can pay for it, don't be deterred by the price since there is a solution to help you purchase your dream home.

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Do You Pass The Mortgage Lender Analysis? Understanding The Home Loan Application And Mortgage Approval

When a mortgage lender reviews a real estate loan application, the primary concern for both home loan applicant and the mortgage lender is to approve loan requests that show high probability of being repaid in full and on time, and to disapprove requests that are likely to result in default and eventual foreclose. How is the mortgage lenders decision made?

The mortgage lender begins the loan analysis procedure by looking at the property and the proposed financing. Using the property address and legal description, an appraiser is assigned to prepare an appraisal of the property and a title search is ordered. These steps are taken to determine the fair market value of the property and the condition of title. In the event of default, this is the collateral the lender must fall back upon to recover the loan. If the loan request is in connection with a purchase, rather than the refinancing of an existing property, the mortgage lender will know the purchase price. As a rule, home loans are made on the basis of the appraised value or purchase price, whichever is lower. If the appraised value is lower than the purchase price, the usual procedure is to require the buyer to make a larger cash down payment. The mortgage lender does not want to over-loan simply because the buyer overpaid for the property.

The year the home was built is useful in setting the loan's maturity date. The idea is that the length of the home loan should not outlast the remaining economic life of the structure serving as collateral. Note however, chronological age is only part of this decision because age must be considered in light of the upkeep and repair of the structure and its construction quality.

Loan-to-Value Ratios

The mortgage lender next looks at the amount of down payment the borrower proposes to make, the size of the loan being requested and the amount of other financing the borrower plans to use. This information is then converted into loan-to-value ratios. As a rule, the more money the borrower places into the deal, the safer the loan is for the mortgage lender. On an uninsured home loan, the ideal loan-to-value ratio for a lender on owner-occupied residential property is 70% or less. This means the value of the property would have to fall more than 30% before the debt owed would exceed the property's value, thus encouraging the borrower to stop making mortgage loan payments. Because of the nearly constant inflation in housing prices since the 40s, very few residential properties have fallen 30% or more in value.

Loan-to-value ratios from 70% through 80% are considered acceptable but do expose the mortgage lender to more risk. Lenders sometimes compensate by charging slightly higher interest rates. Loan-to-value ratios above 80% present even more risk of default to the lender, and the lender will either increase the interest rate charged on these home loans or require that an outside insurer, such as FHA or a private mortgage insurer, be supplied by the borrower.

Mortgage Closing Settlement Funds

The lender then wants to know if the borrower has adequate funds for settlement (the closing). Are these funds presently in a checking or savings account, or are they coming from the sale of the borrower's present real estate property? In the latter case, the mortgage lender knows the present loan is contingent on another closing. If the down payment and settlement funds are to be borrowed, then the lender will want to be extra cautious as experience has shown that the less of his own money a borrower puts into a purchase, the higher the probability of default and foreclosure.

Purpose Of Mortgage Loan

The lender is also interested in the proposed use of the property. Mortgage lenders feel most comfortable when a home loan is for the purchase or improvement of a property the loan applicant will actually occupy. This is because owner-occupants usually have pride-of-ownership in maintaining their property and even during bad economic conditions will continue to make the monthly payments. An owner-occupant also realizes that if he/she stops paying, they will have to vacate and pay for shelter elsewhere.

If the home loan applicant intends to purchase a dwelling to rent out as an investment, the lender will be more cautious. This is because during periods of high vacancy, the property may not generate enough income to meet the loan payments. At that point, a strapped-for-cash borrower is likely to default. Note too, that lenders generally avoid loans secured by purely speculative real estate. If the value of the property drops below the amount owed, the borrower may see no further logic in making the loan payments.

Lastly the mortgage lender assesses the borrower's attitude toward the proposed loan. A casual attitude, such as "I'm buying because real estate always goes up," or an applicant who does not appear to understand the obligation he is undertaking would bring low rating here. Much more welcome is the home loan applicant who shows a mature attitude and understanding of the mortgage loan obligation and who exhibits a strong and logical desire for ownership.

The Borrower Analysis

The next step is the mortgage lender to begin an analysis of the borrower, and if there is one, the co-borrower. At one time, age, sex and marital status played an important role in the lender's decision to lend or not to lend. Often the young and the old had trouble getting home loans, as did women and persons who were single, divorced, or widowed. Today, the Federal Equal Credit Opportunity Act prohibits discrimination based on age, sex, race and marital status. Mortgage lenders are no longer permitted to discount income earned by women even if it is from part-time jobs or because the woman is of child-bearing age. Of the home applicant chooses to disclose it, alimony, separate maintenance, and child support must be counted in full. Young adults and single persons cannot be turned down because the lender feels they have not "put down roots." Seniors cannot be turned down as long as life expectancy exceeds the early risk period of the loan and collateral is adequate. In other words, the emphasis in borrower analysis is now focused on job stability, income adequacy, net worth and credit rating.

Mortgage lenders will ask questions directed at how long the applicants have held their present jobs and the stability of those jobs themselves. The lender recognizes that loan repayment will be a regular monthly requirement and wishes to make certain the applicants have a regular monthly inflow of cash in a large enough quantity to meet the mortgage loan payment as well as their other living expenses. Thus, an applicant who possesses marketable job skills and has been regularly employed with a stable employer is considered the ideal risk. Persons whose income can rise and fall erratically, such as commissioned salespersons, present greater risk. Persons whose skills (or lack of skills) or lack of job seniority result in frequent unemployment are more likely to have difficulty repaying a home loan. The mortgage lender also inquires as to the number of dependents the applicant must support out of his or her income. This information provides some insight as to how much will be left for monthly house payments.

Home Loan Applicants' Monthly Income

The lender looks at the amount and sources of the applicants' income. Sheer quantity alone is not enough for home loan approval; the income sources must be stable too. Thus a lender will look carefully at overtime, bonus and commission income in order to estimate the levels at which these may reasonably be expected to continue. Interest, dividend and rental income would be considered in light of the stability of their sources also. Under the "other income" category, income from alimony, child support, social security, retirement pensions, public assistance, etc. is entered and added to the totals for the applicants.

The lender then compares what the applicants have been paying for housing with what they will be paying if the loan is approved. Included in the proposed housing expense total are principal, interes

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Why You Should Use A Mortgage Calculator To Understand The Mortgage Amortization Process

Mortgage amortization is often a mystery to the consumer. After all, they oftentimes watch as loan officers whip out their calculators and spill out complicated numbers in record time.

But most consumers, unless they work in an industry related to the home buying and mortgage lending process, do not understand how loans are amortized. That’s okay—as a consumer it’s really not necessary for you to fully understand the amortization process and how your monthly mortgage payments are determined.

However, it is important, if you are seeking a home mortgage loan or if you already hold one, to have a general understanding of mortgage amortization and how to figure monthly payments.

In short, by having a general comprehension of mortgage amortization, you will be a more informed mortgage consumer.

What Does It Do?

When a mortgage loan is amortized, the amortization schedule is what will calculate the amount of your monthly mortgage payment. A normal, or standard, mortgage amortization will allow for the monthly mortgage payment to cover all interest accrued on the loan in the last thirty days since your last payment as well as a portion to be applied to the original principal balance of the home mortgage loan.

By following the mortgage amortization schedule, the borrower is paying off the balance of the mortgage loan principal, a little bit each month, and building equity into his home.

It is not necessary for the mortgage consumer to know the mathematical formulas that are used in mortgage amortization in order to be able to answer common mortgage questions.

What is important is that you have a general understanding of mortgage amortization

About The Author
Tim Henry This article provided courtesy of http://www.first-time-home-buyer-guide.net

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How a Fixed Rate Mortgage can be Beneficial When Buying a Home

If you are just about to buy a house, one of your most important decisions, almost as important as which home you buy, is what type of mortgage to take out. You basically have two choices; a fixed rate mortgage (FRM) or an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) Choosing a mortgage that best fits your specific needs can potentially either save or cost you a great deal of money over the term of the mortgage.

Around 70% of homebuyers today choose a fixed rate mortgage, rather than an adjustable rate mortgage. A fixed rate mortgage is exactly what it sounds like. The interest rate on the loan doesn’t change, regardless of whether interest rates in general go up or down. An adjustable rate mortgage may go up or down, depending on the interest rate at the time. Your decision may be influenced by your overall financial situation, the present state of the economy and the cost of your house.

The overall amount that you end up paying for your home can be greatly influenced by even a small change in the interest rate. A lowering of the interest rate by just one point can mean that a homeowner with a 30 year mortgage can enjoy average savings of around $50,000 over the term of their mortgage. An increase in the interest rate of just one or two percent can mean monthly payments that are between $50 and $250 higher, depending on how much you paid for your home. Whether you are taking out a 15 or 30 year mortgage may also influence your decision to take out an adjustable rate or fixed rate mortgage.

The biggest benefit of a fixed rate mortgage is the peace of mind that comes with knowing that regardless of how bad the economy is the rate on your mortgage loan won’t increase; neither will your monthly payment amounts. In fact, the terms and conditions of a fixed rate mortgage are protected by law. A fixed rate mortgage is an ideal option for those buyers who just don’t want to take a risk, or consider themselves the cautious type when it comes to finances.

Another benefit of a fixed rate mortgage is that it makes it easier for the homeowner to budget the expense. Your mortgage payment is probably your single biggest expense and you always know exactly how much the monthly payment will be. Some buyers believe that this makes it a little bit easier to plan and budget for some of life’s other big expenses. Certain things like college funds and retirement for example. With a fixed rate mortgage, the amount of the monthly payment will only increase if there is an increase in the amount of insurance rates or property taxes.

A fixed rate mortgage is not affected by inflation or the cost of living. Supposing you have a monthly mortgage payment of $700; this amount will still be the same after five, ten, and twenty years have gone by. Even though everything else has increased in cost, your mortgage payment will stay the same. One way to offset this is to consider the possibilities in the future. Chances are you could have a more disposable income as time passes. You could be earning a higher salary, but still paying the same every month for your home.

If you prefer the safer option of the fixed rate mortgage, one solution would be to take out a fixed rate mortgage and then refinance your loan if and when interest rates are lowered. This approach keeps your options open. If interest rates go down sufficiently to justify the cost of refinancing, you can do just that; if rates stay where they are or go up you will be glad you have the fixed rate mortgage. Some financial experts advise that it is only worth refinancing if the interest rate will be at least 2% lower than your current rate, although that decision entirely is up to you.

Another strategy that can be applied towards either a fixed rate or adjustable mortgage is to pay an extra amount each month towards the principal. By doing this regularly, you can potentially save a large amount in interest charges. It can also make the term of the mortgage shorter and you may be able to own your home sooner. Make sure that you specify that any extra amount that you pay is going towards the principal and not the interest. By doing this, if you have a fixed rate mortgage and the rate is not as low as it could be, you are getting ahead a little bit.

Ultimately the decision of whether to take a fixed rate mortgage or an adjustable rate mortgage is yours. Although several factors may influence your decision, one of the biggest questions to ask yourself is how much of a risk you want to take.

About the Author

Shawn Thomas is a freelance writer who writes about economic issues and financial products pertaining to the mortgage industry such a fixed rate mortgage as well as the lowest mortgage rates.

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Applying For a Home Mortgage Refinance Loan

Have you been thinking about applying for a home mortgage refinance loan?

Perhaps you are in an adjustable rate mortgage, looking to consolidate debt, or even just lower your rate to a lower, fixed monthly payment. No matter what goal you are seeking to obtain at closing, one thing that you should stay focused on is how to save time and money when applying for a refinance of your home. However, all too often, many home owners make the common mistake of not being fully prepared.

Being prepared, what does that mean?

When applying for a refinance loan, you will want to be able to lock in your interest rate as quickly as possible when you see a low rate you want. Unfortunately, many homeowners lack the organization of the required documents and end up fumbling for them when they see a low rate, only to miss their chance to lock it in before the market changes, and even delay the closing of their loan which costs even more time, money, and heartache. Here's how to avoid losing your precious time and money:

Gather Your Employment and Income Information

Always have one month of your pay stubs and spouse on hand, and if you are self-employed you will need to have your tax returns for the past two years. You should also have your W-2's from your employers for the past two years also. If you haven't been working at the same place of employment for at least two years consistently, have your work history and employer contact information along with payment history available as well. This will allow you and the lender to quickly and accurately calculate a monthly average of income.

Obtain Most Recent Bank Statements and Other Asset Statements

Typically most homeowners will only need to show two months worth of statements from your bank accounts, IRA's, 401k, and any other investment accounts when applying for your home mortgage refinance. Documenting assets is a vital part of loan application which can also position you to get the lowest rate possible. Your lender will typically ask for the last 3 months of these statements to evaluate.

Get Your Homeowner Documents Organized

In many cases your lender will ask for the title insurance and home owner's insurance policy and may even inquire about the property taxes you pay on the home. In some instances they may also ask for to see the note to your home if you have an adjustable rate mortgage or prepayment clause. Also be prepared to show the lender the most recent appraisal and survey of your home in case they ask. One other important document to have on hand is also the most recent mortgage statement that shows the balance and monthly payments of any and all loans on your home.

You've got everything Together, Now What?

Good! Now that you've got all the necessary paperwork together, you're going to find that when you're applying for your home mortgage refinance, you're going to feel very confident and in control. You'll notice that nearly every possible question on the loan application will be easily answered because you are prepared with the necessary information and you're lender will be happy too! So get started and apply for your loan today knowing that you just saved yourself a great deal of headache, time, and especially money by simply getting organized!

About The Author:
An author on refinancing. For additional articles and an extensive resource for everything about mortgage refinance rates and bad credit mortgage refinance . Please visit us for more info.

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Fixed Rate Mortgage - Past, Present And Current Market Status

Mortgage loans and fixed rate mortgage history:-

The fixed rate mortgage can be understood as a type of mortgage for which the interest rate has been fixed, or made constant, for the entire length of the mortgage term. Simply, it a mortgage loan with a constant interest rate, which does not change over the entire tenure of the loan. Mortgage loans are traditional types of loans, and have been in existence since centuries. In the past, moneylenders and lords (Europe 16th to 18th century) offered low mortgage rate refinance to needy people, often the pheasants and laborers. However, the middle class families too borrowed money to satisfy their financial needs, and later repaid the amount. In such cases, the lender generally decided the final fixed interest mortgage rate to be charged for the credit amount lent. The rate of interest was more or less standard, and did not change, but it was at the discretion of the moneylender to decide and fix the net chargeable home mortgage loan amount, since there was no controlling authority which decided which moneylender should charge what interest rate, and what kind of benefits the debtors should avail from the creditor, apart from the loan facility. So, to summarize the mortgage loans scenario of the past, the loan procedure and working was not standardized or streamlined. There was little or no authority to question the creditor on fair practice or ethical trade related issues. The rule was quite simple. The moneylender was rich and had surplus money, and was ready to offer some amount at a particular rate of interest. It was for the borrower to decide how badly the credit facility was needed, and whether it was possible to accept the terms and conditions. If yes, the lender would give the money, and the borrower repaid the home mortgage refinance amount as per convenience.

Mortgage and fixed rate mortgage status now:-

Things are different now. Democracies and republics play the part of deciding how fixed rate mortgage and credit finances should be lent, and recovered. And since the governments are composed of common people, financial market has been greatly influenced by how creditors should lend their money, and what kind of protection the debtor should have while paying back the money borrowed. There are regulations in place, along with checks and counter checks, which balance the market economy, and ascertain that creditors do not harass their debtors, and also help the lenders to recover their capital in case the debtors fail to redeem. It has to be a two way street, a path which can be used by both the creditor as well as the debtor, in a harmonious manner?

Mortgage and fixed rate mortgage current market conditions:-

As far as the current mortgage indices are concerned, mortgage rates are indicating yet another strong move higher this week. This is owing to the focus amongst bond investors, who have strong concerns regarding the budget deficits and inflation. Even with the prevailing market conditions, mortgage rates still remain well below the 6 percent mark. The rates do not pose an impediment to deserving borrowers. The Federal Reserve currently has a $1 trillion deficit in terms of outstanding mortgage payments, and if this deficit is catered to, it is possible to bring the mortgage rates down. No further announcements are likely to take place before June, this year, by the Federal Open Market Committee meeting. Mortgage rates sharply increased last week, indicating that the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate increased up to 5.65 percent. As per the national survey, the average 30-year fixed mortgage is associated with an average of 0.44 discounts, as compared to its origination points. The average 15-year fixed rate mortgage rose to 5.06 percent, and the average jumbo 30-year fixed rate rebounded back to 6.68 percent. As far as the average adjustable rate mortgages are concerned, the rate decreased to 5.01 percent while the 5-year ARM jumped to 5.20 percent. Everything said and done, the mortgage rates still remain significantly lower as compared to what they were a year ago. At this time last year, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was availed at 6.52 percent, indicating that a $200,000 loan would ideally carry a monthly payment of $1,266.77. With the average rate remaining stable at 5.65 percent, the monthly payment for the same loan amount would be $1,154.47, suggesting a savings of $112. 30 per month.

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The 15 Year Mortgage Plan To Pay Off Your Home

Home appreciation is not a realistic motive for owning a home, nor a means for achieving personal wealth. Now, a more practical view is to see your home as a long term place to live, while thinking ahead to prepare for a financially secure future.

When buying or refinancing a home, most people will take the path of low payment over a plan to eventually pay off the mortgage. The idea of owning a home free and clear of any mortgage may be a low priority to many people, but it’s only a matter of time, 15 years, or maybe even less.

A 15 year fixed rate mortgage can provide a realistic goal of being mortgage free, while saving thousands of dollars on interest payments, instead of a 30 year mortgage. For example, on a $200,000 loan, a 15 year mortgage could save as much as $120,000 over the life of the loan when compared to a 30 year mortgage term.

There has been an ongoing debate about the pros and cons of paying off a mortgage. Behind the argument for not paying off your mortgage is the reasoning that you could invest the extra money and earn a higher return, while keeping your money more liquid. That may have been a good reason in the past, but the rate of return on investing is questionable, compared to the fact that every dollar paid to reduce a mortgage balance provides a guaranteed return equal to the interest rate on the mortgage.

Another debating point about keeping a mortgage has been the tax deduction benefit. In order to get an accurate picture of the tax benefit, compare the standard deduction allowed to itemized deductions with mortgage interest. If you paid $20,000 in mortgage interest for the year and received a $2,000 net tax write off, is that a good reason to prolong your mortgage?

What are the benefits of a 15 year mortgage?

• Provides a fixed term strategy to eliminate your monthly mortgage expense.
• Incorporates the retirement of your mortgage into your overall retirement plan.
• Long term investment that guarantees a rate of return by reducing your debt.
• A future with less financial stress and the security of really owning your home.
• Saving a large amount of interest expense on a 15 year term instead of 30 years.

The goal of living without a house payment is attainable. If you can afford a 15 year mortgage, you set a timetable to one day enjoy the benefits owning your home free and clear. You also have the option of shaving a few years off the term by paying a little extra towards the principal balance each month. By the way, 15 year mortgage rates are usually lower than 30 year rates.

By: Rick Smith

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