Posts Tagged ‘Interest Rate’
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How To Choose The Best Mortgage
A mortgage is a financial investment which involves a large amount of money, and it is important for you to do your research before deciding which company you want to go with. While many mortgage professionals are honest, they are looking for a large commission in helping you obtain a loan, and will often look out for the best interests of their job rather than you. Because of this it is important to take the steps necessary to insure you get the best possible deal.
How Is Your Credit?
The first thing you should do before applying for a mortgage loan is to review your credit report. Errors on your credit history can lead to an increase on the interest rate and cost of the mortgage. This is something you want to avoid. It is also important to understand the terms used in the agreement.
Which Type Of Mortgage?
You should know what type of mortgage you are applying for and how it fits in with your financial goals. Do you want a mortgage with an interest rate which fluctuates, or would you rather have one that is fixed?
Which Mortgage Company?
This is one of the questions you will need to answer when choosing which mortgage company you want to use. You should also know how much money you need to borrow and how much you can afford to pay each month. If there are certain things you don’t understand, you should consult a professional. There are many counseling services which are available to assist you. Like any financial expense which involves large amounts of money, you should shop around to find the best service.
Adding Up All The Costs
Many different companies will have a variety of different closing costs and interest rates. Your goal should be to find the company which offers the best service for the lowest price. Some lenders will try to estimate the cost of the closing, and this is something you don’t want. You want the exact prices, not estimates. If the company can’t give you the exact cost of all the fees up front, it would probably best for you to take your business some place else.
You Can Always Walk Away
It is also important to make sure you aren’t pressured into signing any agreements. Be wary of any lenders who try to get you to borrow more money than you need. If they try to pressure into getting the loan, this generally means they are more concerned with making money than helping you get the best mortgage. Companies like this should be avoided. If you don’t understand certain terms of the agreement, ask that a copy be made of it so that it can be reviewed with a lawyer before choosing to sign it.
Honesty Is The Only Way
Never put false information on your loan application, even if the loan officer urges you to do so. Loan officers who do this should be reported to the FTC. It is also a good idea to avoid purchasing credit insurance which is not necessary. If you feel that you need insurance, contact other companies other than your lender to see what deals they offer. At the closing you should make sure you carefully read the document before signing it. Don’t let anyone rush you into signing it without reading.
If you find that the terms of the agreement have changed, you should have not problem terminating the deal. You don’t want to sign a document which will put you in a financial strain later on. A mortgage is one of the most important parts of your personal finance, and you can’t afford to deal with a unethical lender. Making a mistake when choosing a mortgage can lead to years of financial headaches if you work with a lender who doesn’t have your best interests in mind.
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How getting Adverse credit mortgage becomes easier through brokers
A relatively newer concept in the lending market has been the emergence of brokers. The role of a broker becomes all the more important in an adverse credit mortgage or mortgages aiming to meet specific requirements. A broker is different from a lender. While lenders themselves lend to individuals, brokers serve as middlemen between lenders and borrowers.
Brokers make lending more accessible. It isnt that individuals themselves cannot approach lenders for their mortgage needs. However, getting the best mortgage is where individuals find themselves hapless. With numerous lenders operating in the UK, choosing one of these will be an uphill task. Had searching finance been the only task at hand, one would have searched, searched and searched. The search however has to be undertaken without upsetting the present work schedule. Consequently, it is best to authorise brokers to search adverse credit mortgage deals.
Mortgages requiring special consideration, as in adverse credit mortgage is where the services of brokers come handy. Adverse credit mortgage options are not available in plenty. Since, borrower has suffered a bad credit report, mortgage lenders feel that heshe is habitually irregular in making payments towards his debts. Brokers will help in shopping for the right mortgage lender. These brokers have several years of experience in the field of finance and they know just the mortgage lender who can offer the best deal for a particular set of circumstances; adverse credit in this case.
Lenders who offer Adverse credit mortgage generally peg the interest rate too high. While at times this is used as a deterrent, on most occasions this will be to profit from the urgency faced by the borrower. Brokers can intervene to bring the rates down. Since the adverse credit mortgage application is forwarded to a large number of mortgage lenders, not all mortgage lenders will have the same intent. Some of them will be considerate enough towards the problems of the adverse credit borrowers. The terms actually prescribed for adverse credit mortgage will be provided to borrowers.
Brokers associate with a large number of regulated and unregulated lenders in the UK through an arrangement whereby brokers forward the mortgage application to lenders for a fee. Brokers themselves conduct initial verification for authenticity of leads offered. When individuals themselves approach the lender for adverse credit mortgage, chances are that they will be refused. Brokers however will not be refused finance even when the customer shows very little credibility. At least one lender of the ones associated with will undertake to finance the mortgage application. The change in decision is influenced more by the respect enjoyed by the broker.
This brings us to a very important point; i.e. the reputation enjoyed by a broker appointed. There are two kinds of brokers. Brokers of the first category will provide very few offers or the offers will be mostly irrelevant. Example, a borrower looking for adverse credit mortgage gets deals that have good credit as a prerequisite. The other category of brokers, that is also the one that borrowers will desire to associate with, only forward deals that are relevant.
Brokers have their personal relationship with the lending organisations. The quality of the deals provided to the banks will have primary influence on the way their customers will be cared for. A broker who is known for offering genuine deals with minimum hassles can get its customers better deals in adverse credit mortgage. The terms are made more lenient. Moreover, amount available on adverse credit mortgage is increased.
The way to a best deal has to be routed through a competent broker. It is through the contacts of the broker and to the lenders who have been forwarded application that will decide the manner in which adverse credit mortgage performs over its term.
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Home Mortgage Loans
Getting rid of the mortgage early is something that many home owners in the UK aspire to achieve. Being free of the principal financial debt in most people’s lives at the earliest stage possible offers financial security and peace of mind for later on in life. Paying off the mortgage early is no pipe dream though. In 2003, the average age of outright home ownership was 56, by 2004 the average age had fallen dramatically to just 48!
How home owners pay off their mortgages early
The secret to paying your mortgage off early lies in choosing the right type of home loan, and this is where flexible mortgage loans and offset mortgage loans step in.
Flexible mortgage loans, as their name suggests, offer flexible mortgage repayment terms where overpayment of mortgage is allowed by the home owner without incurring a penalty. Some flexible mortgage loans allow overpayment of a limited amount, such as 10% of the mortgage value, while other flexible home mortgage loans cater for unlimited overpayment by the home owner.
The advantage of flexible home mortgage loans is that as well as allowing you to overpay, you can also underpay, so taking a ‘payment holiday’ if finances become a little thin. Underpayment is of course subject to the terms of the mortgage, and will normally only be allowed if it amounts to less than the funds that have been overpaid.
Overpayment via flexible home mortgage loans means that you get to reduce your mortgage capital as well as pay off interest accrued on the capital each month. For each successive month that you make an overpayment the amount of interest paid on the overall mortgage is therefore reduced. An overpayment of just 65 on an 80,000 mortgage with the interest rate at 6.0%, will see mortgage loans paid off 5 years early, amounting to a total saving of some 15,000.
Offset home mortgage loans
Offset home mortgage loans were unveiled to the home owner in 1998, and have gained a great deal of respect from home owners since that time. Offset mortgage loans help to pay off a mortgage early by using what is known as a ’sweeper’ system. Providing that the home owner has their current andor savings account with the mortgage loans provider, their available balance is ’swept’ across to their mortgage account each day to offsetreduce the amount of mortgage capital subjected to interest.
To illustrate the advantages of offset mortgage loans, take a mortgage of 100,000 and a balance of 10,000 in your current account andor savings account. Instead of the interest rate being applied to the 100,000 every day or every month, the interest rate would be applied to your mortgage balance less the balance in your current account savings account. This means that interest would only be applied to 90,000 of your mortgage, effectively making 10% of your mortgage interest-free!
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Home Mortgage: What To Consider
When looking for a home mortgage, there are several aspects that you will want to consider about this loan. First off, this is likely to be the biggest investment that you undertake in your lifetime. It should be done carefully, only after you have found the options that will fulfill your needs in the best way possible. There are several aspects that you should consider here, all of which will have a direct impact on the outcome of your future loan.
Interest Rates
The most costly aspect of your purchase of a loan will be that of the interest rate. This is the cost of the purchase. The interest on a loan is compounded every month and so it really can add up to extraordinary levels. When comparing the home mortgage of one lender to that of the next, you should carefully look at how much interest you will be paying in the long run. Comparing the various options that you have can help you to get the best results possible.
Another option that you have is to go with adjustable rate loans or with fixed. You should compare the outcome of these to find the best solution for your needs. An adjustable rate offers an interest rate that will go up and down depending on what the prime rate will do. This can be beneficial in times where rates are tending down. A fixed rate will remain the same on the entire length of the home mortgage and is ideal in times of low rates.
Terms
The terms of the home mortgage are also quite important. You should carefully look at how long you will have the loan for your home. The longer you have it, the more time for your loan to compound interest. This means that it will cost you additional funds to purchase your house over the long run. Still, the longer the terms are on the loan, the less you will pay in monthly payments too. You should look for the balance in all of these various options.
Types Of Loans
One thing is for sure, there are many various types of loans that you can choose from. The standard is the conventional loan that provides for the most common house purchases. For those that are purchasing for the first time, a FHA may be the ideal way to go because these are federally backed and often have a lower rate of interest on them. There are also VA loans for those that have served in the armed forces. Finding the right home mortgage choice for your needs is ideally the one that offers the lowest total payment or monthly payment for your needs.
Comparing and contrasting all of these options will lead you to the house that you were meant to own. In most cases, individuals can find the best options for loans for a house purchased right on the web. With so many loans out there, it is necessary to take your time and compare. But, doing so can help you to save thousands of pounds on your home mortgage over the course of your loan.
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Glossary of common terms used during the mortgage process.
APR – This stands for Annual Percentage Rate. It enables you to compare the full cost of the mortgage. Rather than just being an interest rate, it includes up front and ongoing costs of taking out a mortgage. The formula for calculating APR is set by Government Regulations and therefore enables direct comparison of the cost of mortgages.
Capital and Interest Mortgage – This is when part of your monthly payment contributes to paying off the outstanding mortgage in addition to paying the interest on the mortgage. The payments are structured so that at the end of the term, your mortgage will have been completely paid off. For this reason this type of mortgage is also called a Repayment Mortgage.
Capped Rate – This is a mortgage where the lender agrees that the interest charged will never exceed a specific percentage. This deal lasts for a set period of years. After the set period, the rate usually reverts to the lenders standard variable rate. During the capped period, the interest charges can move up and down with the lenders interest rate – but cannot exceed the capped rate.
Cashback – An amount, either fixed or a percentage of a mortgage, which you can opt to receive when you complete your mortgage. The lender may well claw back this money through a higher interest rate.
CAT marksstandards – CAT stands for Fair Charges, Easy Access and decent Terms. They were created by the Government in an attempt to provide consumers with simple, clear financial products with straightforward, easy to understand terms. A CAT mortgage will have no arrangement fees, no redemption fees and will have interest calculated daily. It will also have a minimum loan of just 5000, offer you repayment flexibility and the mortgage should be portable should you move home. Finally, you will not have to buy the lender’s insurance products and there will be no penalties should you find yourself in arrears but can subsequently catch up.
Completion – This is end of the house buying process, when the funds are transferred and the keys are handed over. Happy moving!
Contract – A contract is a binding agreement between the buyer and seller. In the context of house buying, after the contract is signed by both the buyer and the seller it is then ‘exchanged’ between the respective solicitors for a set completion date. At that point, the contract is legally binding on both parties.
Conveyancing – This is the legal process in which property is bought and sold. You can do it yourself or hire a solicitor or specialised conveyancer to perform the tasks for you. The buying of a freehold is much less complicated than the buying of a leasehold.
Discounted Rate – This is where the lender makes a guaranteed reduction off the standard variable rate for an agreed period of time. After the discounted period ends, the mortgage usually moves to the lenders’ standard variable rate. Watch out for redemption penalties that overhang the initial discount period.
Early Redemption Charges – Redemption is when the borrower pays off the capital and the interest on the mortgage and thus owns the property outright. Early redemption fees are the charges incurred for paying off the mortgage early, either to buy the house outright, move or re-mortgage. Always ask about early redemption charges before you agree a mortgage.
Endowment – Endowments are life assurance policies with an investment element designed to pay off the outstanding capital on an interest-only mortgage. There are a few types of endowments, such as ‘with profits’, ‘unitised with profits’ and ‘unit-linked’. In the 1980s, these were sold by salesman who seemly suggested that these policies were “guaranteed” to pay off the mortgage at the end of the term. However, the investment returns on these policies have fallen to below what was previously considered to be the norm. Consequently, many policies are not worth what was originally forecast and may not fully repay the money borrowed at the end of the mortgages’ term.
Equity – In housing terminology, equity is the difference between the value of the property and the money owed on the property. So if the property is valued at 200,000 and you owe 150,000 on the mortgage, you have equity of 50,000. If you sold at that moment, you would receive 50,000. Should the value of the home be less than the mortgage outstanding then you have negative equity.
Freehold – Owning the freehold means that you own the total rights to the property and the land on which it is built.
HLC – This is the Higher Lending Charge (it was previously known as a Mortgage Indemnity Guarantee). It is levied by around three quarters of all lenders on clients who cannot afford to put down a deposit of 10% of the price of the property. In practice it is a type of insurance aimed at protecting the lender should you default on your mortgage when the value of your home is less than the capital you borrowed. The insurance only provides cover for the lender, not you, and typically costs 1,500.
Homebuyers Report – A property survey aimed at providing more information than a mortgage valuation but less information than a full structural survey. It will help the borrower to decide whether to purchase and help the lender to decide how much to lend.
Interest Only Mortgage – This is a mortgage where your monthly repayments only pay the interest on the mortgage. Therefore, at the end of the mortgage you still have to repay the full sum you borrowed. You are advised to have a separate investment vehicle into which you make payments aimed at building up a fund capable of paying off the mortgage capital at the end of the term. Typical investments include ISA’s, a pension or an endowment policy.
IFAs – Stands for Independent Financial Advisor. These advisors are regulated by the Financial Services Authority. To be classified as “independent” they have to be able to offer you the full range of products from all financial product providers. They are not entitled to describe themselves as “independent” if they can only offer products from a restricted panel of financial companies. A Financial Advisor can be one man band or work for very large companies. Before they make any recommendation, an IFA must carry out a detailed fact find so they fully understand your financial circumstances. They can then make their recommendations to suit your personal circumstances.
ISA – An ISA is an Individual Savings Account, which is a tax-free method of owning shares, building up a cash savings account or a life assurance policy. You can use an ISA to build up a capital sum to repay an interest only mortgage.
Leasehold – If your property is leasehold, ownership of the property reverts to the Freeholder at a set date. Many houses were originally sold on 999 year leases which means that 999 years after the initial date of the Leasehold, ownership of the property reverts to the Freeholder. Building in multiple occupation such as apartments, are always sold on a leasehold and usually have a much shorter leasehold period – 100 and 125 years is quite common. Often, with a block of apartments, the apartment owners individually own the leaseholds whilst a management company, in which they hold shares, owns the freehold. These days, however, leaseholders who live in the property have the legal right to buy their freehold under terms laid down by UK law.
Life Insurance – This can also be called Term Insurance or, when specifically linked to proprty purchase, as Mortgage Protection Insurance. It is designed to pay a tax free lump sum in the event of your death to enable your mortgage to be repaid in full. There are a number of variants such as Level Term Life Insurance and Decreasing Term Life Insurance. At the outset you take out insurance for the full sum you have borrowed from your mortgage lender and for the same number of years as you have agreed on your mortgage. These insurance policies do not have any investment or surrender value. The premiums are based on a number of factors – the main ones being the amount of cover you need, your age, health and how many years you want to be insured for.
Lock-In Period – This is the minimum period you have agreed to stay with the lender. Depending on the deal, it could be as low as six months up to the whole of the term. Should you wish to repay the mortgage or remortgage during the lock-in period, you will invariably have to pay redemption penalties. Always make sure you know how long you are locked in for with your mortgage.
LTV – Literally means Loan to Value. This is a measurement of the mortgage amount against the value of the property or the price that you are actually paying. A 157,500 mortgage on a property for which you paid 175,000 would be a LTV of 90%. Lenders tend to charge a Mortgage Indemnity Premium on mortgages with a loan to value of anything about 75%. Some don’t so ask about this.
MIG – This has now changed its name to HLC. See above.
Mortgage – A mortgage is a long-term loan taken out in order to buy a property with repayment secured on that property. So if you don’t keep to the repayment terms, the lender can repossess the property, sell it and retain the money they are owed. Any balance is then paid to you. If the property is sold for less than you owe your lender, you still remain liable to repay the shortfall.
Mortgage Advisor – On October 31st 2004 the selling of mortgages in the UK came under the remit of the City watchdog, The Financial Services Authority (FSA). As from that date any person providing mortgage advice had to be registered with the FSA and abide by its rules of conduct, methods of operating and training programmes etc. The objective has been to improve life for the consumer by offering better protection, clear information and access to redress for poor advice.
Negative Equity – Negative equity is when the value of your home is less than the amount that you owe on your mortgage plus any other loans secured against it. It can happen very easily if you take out a 100% mortgage or if property prices fall. (Also see Higher Lending Charge)
Portable – This is a measure of how easy it is to move a mortgage from one property to another should a property move be required. This is vital if you are moving during your lock-in-period and wish to avoid redemption penalties.
Repayment Mortgage – This is the same as a Capital and Interest mortgage – see above.
Searches – During the conveyancing process, the buyer has to be sure that the seller has title to the property and identify any matters may affect the prospective owners ownership of the property. For example, whether the property is affected by any proposed road building, whether there are preservation orders affecting the property, is it a listed building and has it been built in accordance with planning conditions and building regulations. Searches will also show whether there are mines under or close by the property. This information is obtained by the person undertaking the conveyancing from HM Land Registry and the relevant Local Authority. These investigations are collectively known as “Searches”.
Self-Certification – Should you have difficulty in providing documentation that “proves” your income to a prospective mortgage lender, you may need a self-certification mortgage. In essence you personally certify what your full income is. If you receive high bonuses, or work seasonally or on commission, or are self-employed this may be your best option. You declare your income plus some evidence that your declaration is reasonable. Ideally lenders want to see as much guaranteed income as possible. To compensate the lender for the increased risk they are taking on a self-certified mortgage, they will charge you a higher rate interest, typically 1% over their standard variable rate.
Stamp Duty Land Tax (commonly known simply as Stamp Duty) – You pay Stamp Duty Land Tax on property like houses, flats, other buildings and land. If the purchase price is 120,000 or less, you don’t pay any Stamp Duty Land Tax. If the price is more than 120,000, you pay between one and four per cent of the whole purchase price, on a sliding scale.
Upto 120,000 – No duty payable
120,001 to 250,000 – 1% duty payable*
250,001 to 500,000 – 3% duty payable
500,001 and over – 4% duty payable*If you’re buying a property an area designated by the government as ‘disadvantaged’, you don’t pay any Stamp Duty Land Tax if the purchase price is 150,000 or less.
Did you know? Stamp Duty was originally introduced by William of Orange when he was King of England.
Structural Survey – The most thorough report you can get on the condition of the property you are considering to buy. The surveyor will look in detail at the inside and outside of the property and will tell you if the property is structurally sound. All major and minor defects in the building will also be listed and should tell you what maintenance work may be needed either now or in the future. You should make sure the scope of the survey is agreed in writing before you commission it. Should the survey identify problems, use them to negotiate a reduction in the price before you exchange contracts.
Variable Rate – This is when the interest rate you pay on your mortgage can go up or down depending on changes to the lender’s standard variable rate. If you have a variable rate mortgage your monthly mortgage payments will change whenever the lender changes the interest rate.
Valuation – This is where a valuer appointed by your proposed lender, visits the property in order to estimate its current value. This value is then used by the lender as a basis for its security and to calculate its Loan to Value Ratio. The borrower never sees the valuation. With some mortgage deals the lender absorbs the cost of the valuation but in many cases the borrower has to pay upfront.
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Fixed Rate Mortgage vs. Adjustable Rate Mortgage
The most basic distinction between types of mortgages that are available when you’re looking to finance the purchase of a new home is how the interest rate is determined. Essentially, there are two types of mortgages – fixed rate mortgage and an adjustable rate mortgage. If you choose a fixed rate mortgage, the rate of interest that you are paying on your mortgage remains the same throughout the life of the loan no matter what general interest rates are doing. In an adjustable rate mortgage, the interest rate is periodically adjusted according to an index that rises and falls with the economic times. There are advantages and disadvantages to either, and no easy answer to ‘which is better, a fixed rate mortgage or an adjustable rate mortgage?The main advantage to a fixed rate mortgage is stability. Since the interest rate remains the same over the entire course of the loan, your monthly payment is predictable. You can count on your monthly mortgage payment to be the same amount each month. On the minus side, because the lending institution gives up the chance to raise interest rates if the general interest rates rise, the interest on a fixed rate mortgage is likely to be higher than that of an adjustable rate mortgage.A fixed rate mortgage loan makes the most sense for those that are going to settle into their home for many years. While the initial payments may be larger than with an adjustable rate mortgage, stretching the payments over a longer period of time can minimize the effect on your budget.An adjustable rate is one that is adjusted periodically to take into account the rise or fall of standard interest rates. Generally, the adjustable term is annual – in other words, once a year the lending company has the right to adjust the interest rate on your mortgage in accordance with a chosen index. While adjustable rate mortgages make the most sense in a situation where interest rates are dropping, though it’s dangerous to count on a continued drop in interest rates.Lenders often offer adjustable rate mortgages with a very low first year ‘teaser’ interest rate. After the first year, though, the interest rate on your mortgage can increase by leaps and bounds. Even so, there are limits to how much an adjustable rate can actually adjust. This is dependent on the index chosen and the terms of the loan to which you agree. You may accept a loan with a 2.3% one year adjustable rate, for instance, that becomes a 4.1% adjustable rate mortgage on the first adjustment period.Finally, there’s a new kind of loan in town. A hybrid between adjustable rate mortgages and fixed rate mortgages, they’re known as ‘delayed adjustable’ mortgages. Essentially, you lock in a fixed rate of interest for a number of years – say 3 or 7 or 10. At the end of that period, the loan becomes a 1 year adjustable rate mortgage according to terms set out in the agreement you sign with the mortgage or financial institution.
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Fixed Rate Mortgage Advice
One of the most important decisions you will make in your financial life is which mortgage you should get. For many people, the option of a fixed rate mortgage seems appealing. But what exactly is a fixed rate mortgage, and why do so many people choose this option? If you are new to mortgages then this article will let you know a little more about fixed rate mortgages and their benefits.
What does fixed rate mean?
A fixed rate mortgage is fairly straightforward, and does exactly as the name suggests. A fixed rate mortgage has an interest rate that remains the same throughout the mortgage term, meaning that your monthly repayments will remain the same, allowing for inflation of course.
Why a fixed rate mortgage?
Many people choose fixed rate mortgages because of the security and peace of mind that they provide. If you have a fixed rate mortgage, then you know your monthly repayments will not change, meaning you can budget effectively for both the short and long term. If you have a mortgage with a variable rate of interest then your payments can change depending on market fluctuations. This can leave you paying less, but often leaves you paying more each month. The best times to get fixed rate mortgages are when competition is high, and the fixed interest rate is lower than that of the tracker or variable rate mortgages.
Are there any drawbacks?
There are drawbacks to getting a fixed rate mortgage. The biggest drawback is that the interest rate is usually higher than that of variable rate mortgages. The added security comes at a price, in that you have to pay more in interest over the length of the mortgage. Also, the fixed rate is usually only fixed for a certain number of years, usually 2 or 3, after which the rate can be put up and then fixed for another period. This can mean that your mortgage will be cheap now, but in the future the rate could rise.
Who should get fixed rate?
Despite its drawbacks, there are many people that should definitely opt for fixed rate mortgages. If you are on a tight budget and have a fixed income each month, then you cannot afford for your payments to rise. Having a fixed repayment each month means that you know you can make the payment even if national interest rates rise. Also, if you can get a deal whereby the starting interest rate is lower than that of a variable rate mortgage or even the same, then opt for the fixed rate mortgage.
How to decide?
If you are still unsure about whether or not a fixed rate mortgage is right for you, then consult an independent financial advisor. They will be able to help you find the best deal, as well as tell you whether or not the base interest rate is going to fall or rise. This will determine whether a fixed or variable rate mortgage is best for you.
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