Loans by Zach

When you are looking at how to successfully refinance things may seem very complicated and confusing, but it really is a lot simpler when broken down. To make this work well you just need some planning with a calculator, pencil, and paper.

The first thing to understand is that refinancing means to finance again. You are getting a completely new loan, which you pay off your current one with, and then just start making payments on your new loan.

If your loan is anything other than a mortgage things are really simple for you! Find a lower interest rate, or terms that suit you better, and take them.

For a mortgage things are a little more complicated. So, how to successfully refinance?

When you got your original mortgage you probably remember all of the opening costs, the appraisal fees, the insurance, etc. All of these things will have to be done again. On top of this, you will have fees to close your current loan. Check your loan terms to see if you have a fee for closing out your loan early as this can be a real problem. You want to try your best to add up all of your initial opening costs. For a general estimate many say to expect to pay 3-6% of the new loan amount plus any prepayment penalties on your old one. So, why would you want to do this with all of these upfront costs? Let’s look at what you can save.

As a general rule of thumb it will probably be worth it if you can find a two percent lower interest rate. When you find this lower rate you want to break out your calculator. See how much this rate will save you each month and then figure out how long until you’ve started saving more money each month than you initially spent on opening costs. Will you still be living in the house at that time? Many people estimate this takes three years on average.

Now you know the simple secrets. If you break it down and add all the numbers together you’ll know how to successfully refinance.

How to Successfully Refinance
By Jennifer Quilter

Your credit rating can help determine whether you get a loan and what interest rate you pay, so getting your score as high as possible can save you big bucks.

The difference in interest rates for mortgage loans is nothing to sneeze at. Someone with a FICO score, or credit rating, of 760 to 850 could pay $188 less per month on a $216,000 30-year fixed-rate mortgage than someone with a score of under 658, according to MyFICO.com. The amounts are based on interest rates of 5.99 percent for the higher rating and 7.31 percent for the lower rating.

Credit scores are grouped into five basic categories, according to MyFICO.com. In general, about 35 percent of the score is based on your payment history, about 30 percent on how much you owe, 15 percent on the length of your credit history, 10 percent on new credit and 10 percent on types of credit used. The mix can vary depending on your situation.

Credit ratings evolve over years, but there are ways to raise your credit score a few points at a time.

Pay your bills on time.
“I’m not sure a lot of people understand that,” said Jack Guttentag, professor of finance emeritus at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and the man behind The Mortgage Professor Web site (mtgprofessor.com). “They always say, ‘I always pay it eventually.’ ”

Pay more than the minimum on your credit cards every month.
Your score could go up a few points as your credit card balances go down. Just a few larger payments can help if you previously were paying the minimum.

Limit the number of new credit-card accounts you open.
An exception is for people who are trying to re-establish credit after a bankruptcy or other financial crisis, according to MyFICO.com. “Opening new accounts responsibly and paying them off on time will raise your score in the long term,” says the Web site, which is published by Fair Isaac, the company that invented the FICO score.

Keep your balance well below the credit limit on revolving accounts like credit cards.
Your credit score will likely be higher if you have small balances on four or five credit cards (as an example) than larger balances on two or three cards, especially if the balances are close to the credit limits, Guttentag said.

Pay off any uncollected items.
Your credit score is being hurt if you’re withholding payment because of a dispute with the lender, no matter how “right” you are.

And finally, always remember that paying down your revolving credit, or credit cards, is the best way to improve the portion of your credit score that looks at how much you owe.

There’s no doubt about it: Lenders have tightened the guidelines they use to evaluate loan applications. That means borrowers who want to refinance their mortgage to take advantage of low interest rates may wonder whether they will qualify for a new loan. This summary should help you understand what lenders look for when they evaluate mortgage refinance applications:

How much you make and how much you owe
Lenders weigh your monthly income and debt payments through a debt-to-income (DTI) ratio. Conventional wisdom is that lenders look for a DTI that’s no more than 38 percent. However, some programs are more flexible and allow a larger DTI ratio.

DTI is a complicated calculation, so you should discuss your income, debts and housing costs with at least a few lenders to determine if you’ll qualify to refinance your mortgage. If you have a high debt-to-income ratio, you may want to concentrate on paying off some of your debts prior to refinancing.

Also keep in mind that most lenders will require that you document your income with recent paycheck stubs, W-2 Forms or federal income tax returns.

How much you want to borrow and how mch your home is worth
Another factor that contributes to whether you can qualify for a mortgage refinance is your loan-to value (LTV) ratio. To calculate your loan-to-value ratio, divide the amount you want to borrow by the current value of your home. For example, if your home is worth $250,000 and you want to borrow $210,000, your LTV is 84 percent.

Most lenders look for a loan-to-value ratio of less than 80 percent to refinance. However, again, some loan programs are more flexible.

One example is the new Making Home Affordable program, which allows refinancing with up to 105 percent LTV. This program is open to borrowers who have a good track record of making their mortgage payments and whose loan is owned or backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.

A second example is the streamlined refinancing program offered by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), which doesn’t require an appraisal. This program is open to borrowers who have an FHA-insured loan.

Have you paid your bills?
Your credit score also can be an important factor in your ability to qualify to refinance your mortgage. While there is no specific minimum credit score that you’ll need to refinance, keep in mind that if your credit is impaired, the interest rate and terms you’ll be offered might not make refinancing an attractive option. If you have a strong credit score (and a good track record of paying your bills on time), you’ll likely be offered a lower interest rate and better terms.

Remember, lenders will look at a combination of the factors mentioned above —your debt-to-income ratio, loan-to-value ratio, and credit history—along with other aspects of your financial situation to determine whether you’ll qualify to refinance your mortgage. Either way, it is best to speak directly with a lender or multiple lenders to determine your options. You can get no-obligation rates and offers from multiple lenders through LendingTree.

Also keep in mind, if you do qualify to refinance, you should still consider whether refinancing makes sense for you.

Qualifying to refinance your mortgage
By LendingTree

Home buyers can choose from many different types of mortgages. The basic models are fixed rate mortgages and adjustable rate mortgages or ARMs. More choice is created when lenders vary the term of the loan, the way the principal amount you owe is paid off or amortized, or add features such as a conversion option or prepayment privilege.

“In addition to the traditional 30-year fixed rate mortgage, there are dozens of mortgage loan products available, from adjustable rate mortgages to interest-only and negative amortization loans,” says LendingTree Chief Consumer Officer Ed Powell.

The factors you should take into account when choosing your mortgage include:

* What you can afford to pay each month based on your current income.
* Whether you expect your income to rise, fall or stay the same over time.
* Whether you plan to stay in the house long-term or move in a few years.
* Your tolerance for risk.
* Whether you expect interest rates to rise, fall or stay about the same.

Taken together, these factors narrow the range of mortgages that you should consider.

Take this scenario: you and your partner both earn good money and expect your salaries to rise. You plan to move in three to five years and expect interest rates to stay about the same or even fall during that period.

Under these circumstances, you might choose a fully amortized five-year ARM or fixed rate loan with pre-payment options.

A five-year mortgage is a good choice because the term matches the length of time you expect to own the house. If you sell after three years, your early redemption penalty will be minimal. If you decide not to move, you can refinance when the mortgage matures.

A fully amortized loan with prepayment options allows you to pay down the principal amount you owe and build equity quickly – a good idea for anyone who can afford it.

An adjustable rate loan might suit you if you are confident that interest rates are on their way down. But if you don’t like taking any risks, you’ll probably want to protect yourself against the possibility that rates will increase by taking a fixed rate loan.

Here’s another, quite different, scenario that leads to a different mortgage choice: your income is low and/or fixed. You plan to stay in your home for many years, and expect interest rates to rise.

You will likely choose a traditional 30-year fixed rate mortgage. The 30-year term and fixed rate allow you to lock in affordable monthly principal and interest payments for the long term. You know your installments will be manageable, and you will be chipping away at the principal of the loan and building equity slowly but steadily.

With all the options available, there’s bound to be a mortgage that suits you and your situation. Powell suggests you talk to a loan officer at your bank about the choices. “Taking the time to learn about the process is worth it, because you’ll be a better advocate for yourself,” he says.

Finding the best mortgage for you
By LendingTree

Buying a first home can feel intimidating. However, by understanding the process, you can have a great experience buying your first home.

1. Begin the loan process.
One of the first steps in buying a home is finding out how much you can afford. Lenders call this prequalification, because they determine roughly for how much of a mortgage you qualify. To get prequalified, you contact a lender and provide basic financial information, such as your credit history, income, assets, etc. The lender then determines roughly how much of a loan you are qualified for. You can also get prequalified through LendingTree. Prequalification is not binding, however. The next step is to get preapproved, which occurs when the lender verifies your financial information. By getting prequalified and preapproved, you are in a better position to shop for your first home.

2. Find a REALTOR.
Once the mortgage process is started, you are now ready to contact a REALTOR. They can help you to find the right community and the home that best meets your needs. To find the best REALTOR to help you buy your first home, get recommendations from people you know, or you can search online.

3. Find your home.
Now that you have a REALTOR, the next step is to start your property search. Allow plenty of time to look at as many homes as you can so you can find the perfect first home. When you find the house you would like to buy, the next step is to make an offer. Your REALTOR assists with the paperwork and helps you make an offer that the seller may accept.

4. Get a home inspection.
Once the owner accepts your offer, you now have a contract on your first home. But the process isn’t over yet. You must arrange a home inspection to make sure there are no problems with the house. The inspector will provide you with a list of potential problems that you can ask the seller to fix. You and the seller then negotiate on what needs to be fixed before closing on your first home.

5. Moving arrangements.
The next step is to make moving arrangements. Whether you are moving yourself or hiring a moving company, you should set this up in advance. If you plan to move yourself, get boxes and rent a moving truck to transport your possessions to your first home. If you plan to hire movers, call them well in advance so that they can be scheduled for the day that you need them to move into your first home.

6. Arrange homeowner’s insurance.
You need to have homeowner’s insurance on your first home. Start by calling your insurance agent. Your agent will ask you questions regarding your home, such as the address, square footage, type of roof, number of bathrooms, etc. The agent gives you a quote and then coordinates with your lender. At closing, you pay the premium as part of your closing costs.

7. Packing.
Now it is time to start packing! A great way to get started is to go one room at a time. Start with a room that is used the least in your current residence and start packing there. This is also a great opportunity to get rid of anything that you no longer want. You don’t want to move anything that you do not need, so if there is something that needs to be thrown away or donated, now is the time to do that.

8. Address change and utilities.
You will want your mail to arrive at your first home, so don’t forget to change your address with the post office. This can now be conveniently done online. Also, it is necessary to have the water, electricity, gas, cable, etc. turned on in time for your move-in day.

9. Walk-through.
Prior to possessing your first home, you have a walk-through. This is a chance for you to make sure that everything from the inspection was fixed. It is also a chance to see that your first home is in move-in condition.

10. Closing and move.
The final step in the process of buying your first home is closing and then actually moving in. At closing, you sign the papers from the lender and any others that the state requires that make the home yours. You will also have to pay closing costs. Once the paperwork is done and your check is signed, you can move your possessions in to your first home. After weeks of preparation, the house is now yours.

Buying your first home
By LendingTree

Shopping for a mortgage can be intimidating. It’s natural to feel anxious about doing something new for the first time, and getting your first mortgage is no exception.

Fortunately, there are a few simple things you can do to make sure you’re being well-prepared before you start looking for your first home loan. Here are five tips to help first-time mortgage borrowers.:

1. Lock Your Interest Rate. Interest rates on mortgages can increase or decrease from day to day or even hour to hour. Discuss the interest rate outlook with your loan officer and try to learn as much as you can about how ups and downs in interest rate quotes might affect your mortgage payment and your ability to qualify for that loan. To protect yourself from interest rate rises, ask about a rate lock, which can reserve a specific interest rate for you for a set time period. If you decide to lock your rate, make sure your lock period won’t expire before your closing date. (Read more about locking your interest rate.)

2. Consider FHA. If you’re a first-time home buyer, you might want to shop for an “FHA loan,” which is a mortgage that’s insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). FHA loans offer competitive interest rates, allow smaller down payments and have easier qualification guidelines compared with other types of loans. The minimum down payment for an FHA loan is just 3.5 percent of the purchase price of the home, although FHA loans do require that you pay mortgage insurance.

3. Take the Tax Credit. If you haven’t owned a home in the past three years, you may be able to qualify for the federal First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit, which is worth up to $8,000. The credit is refundable, which means you’ll even get a rebate of sorts from the federal government if the income tax that you owe is less than the full amount of the credit. The credit is subject to income limitations and you’ll have to act fast since it’s set to expire after Nov. 30, 2009. Some lenders may allow you to use the credit as a down payment, to pay settlement fees or other closing costs or to pay discount points to reduce the interest rate on your loan.

4. Educate Yourself. A plain-vanilla 30-year or 15-year fixed-rate mortgage is fairly easy to understand. But other types of loans can be more complicated. If you want to consider an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) or other less common type of loan product, do your homework and make sure you fully understand how your loan works before you sign the loan documents.

5. Shop Around. Interest rates, loan products and loan terms vary among lenders. That means all borrowers, whether novice or not, should shop around for loan offers. Ask about the benefits and risks of each loan and be sure to compare the quoted points and estimated closing costs as well as the interest rates on different loans before you decide which would best fit your personal situation.

5 tips for first-time mortgage borrowers
By LendingTree

Mortgage loans are not “one size fits all” type of deals. Because every borrower’s situation is unique, lenders have created several loan programs to fit various needs. For those looking to make a long-term home purchase or for those interested in safety, fixed rate mortgages are typically the best way to go. These offer predictable monthly payments that never change over the course of the loan. The most common terms are 15 or 30 years.

For first-time homebuyers or subprime borrowers, adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) may be the easiest way to break into the housing market. These loans provide low interest rates during the first several years, making the payments more affordable, making it easier for borrowers with smaller incomes or poor credit scores to qualify for financing. ARMs do carry a danger – the interest rate will eventually go up and without careful planning, many borrowers are caught unprepared to make the higher payments, putting them at risk of default.

There are also jumbo loans for those buying homes worth more than the Fannie Mae conforming limit (currently set at $417,000 for most U.S. areas.) There are also balloon loans provide for low payments for several years, after which the entire loan balance comes due. This makes it easier for some borrowers to qualify for mortgage money and they refinance after several years in order to avoid the “balloon” payment. There are all sorts of loans and with the help of a qualified lender, you can find one that is just right for you.

Choosing the Best Loan Program
By Mortgage101

FHA energy efficient mortgages are special loans that are backed by the Federal Housing Administration to encourage the construction and purchase of homes that utilize less energy in day-to-day functioning.

The purpose of energy efficient mortgages

FHA energy efficient mortgages are designed to do several things. These include:

* Enable the purchase of energy efficient homes — FHA energy efficient mortgages are available for those who are in the market to buy energy efficient homes or make such improvements to them at the time of purchase.

* Refinance homes to make improvements — FHA energy efficient mortgages can also be used to refinance existing home loans so energy efficient improvements can be made to a property.

Who funds FHA energy efficient mortgages?

FHA energy efficient mortgages work like other government-backed loans. This means a borrower must go through an approved mortgage lender who will underwrite the loan. The FHA simply insures it.

Qualifications for FHA energy efficient mortgages

There are a number of qualifications that must come into play for people to be eligible for FHA energy efficient mortgages. They include:

* Regular qualifications — Buyers must qualify for standard FHA-backed loans to obtain this type of mortgage.

* Cost effectiveness of the improvements — FHA energy efficient mortgages are designed to make minor to moderate improvements. The cost of improvements cannot exceed 5 percent of the property’s value.

* Size of the property — FHA energy efficient mortgages are available for properties that are one to four units in size.

FHA Energy Efficient Mortgages
By Mortgage101

Veterans who served on active duty and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, during World War II and later periods are eligible for VA loan benefits. World War II (September 16, 1940 to July 25, 1947), Korean conflict (June 27, 1950 to January 31, 1955), and Vietnam era (August 5, 1964 to May 7, 1975) veterans must have at least 90 days service. Veterans with service only during peacetime periods and active duty military personnel must have had more than 180 days active service. Veterans of enlisted service which began after September 7, 1980, or officers with service beginning after October 16, 1981, must in most cases have served at least 2 years of continuous active duty or the full period (at least 181 days) for which you were ordered or called to active duty and been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, or have completed at least 181 days of active duty and been discharged under the specific authority of 10 USC 1173 (Hardship), or 10 USC 1171 (Early out), or have been determined to have a compensable service-connected disability; or have been discharged with less than 181 days of service for a service-connected disability. Individuals may also be eligible if they were released from active duty due to an involuntary reduction in force, certain medical conditions, or, in some instances for the convenience of the Government.

If you served on active duty during the Gulf War, you must have completed 2 years of continuous active duty or the full period (at least 90 days) for which you were called or ordered to active duty, and been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable; or completed at least 90 days of active duty and been discharged under the specific authority of 10 USC 1173 (Hardship), or 10 USC 1173 (Early out), or have been determined to have a compensable service-connected disability, or have been discharged with less than 90 days of service for a service-connected disability. Individuals may also be eligible if they were released from active duty due to an involuntary reduction in force, certain medical conditions, or, in some instances, for the convenience of the Government.

If you are now on regular active duty (not active duty for training), you are eligible after having served 181 days (90 days during the Gulf War) unless discharged or separated from a previous qualifying period of active duty service.

If you are not otherwise eligible and you have completed a total of 6 years in the Selected Reserves or National Guard (member of an active unit, attended required weekend drills and 2-week active duty for training) and were discharged with an honorable discharge; or were placed on the retired list; or were transferred to the Standby Reserve or an element of the Ready Reserve other than the Selected Reserve after service characterized as honorable service; or continue to serve in the Selected Reserves. Individuals who completed less than 6 years may be eligible if discharged for a service-connected disability. Eligibility for Selected Reservists expires 09/30/2009.

You may also be determined eligible if you are an unremarried spouse of a veteran who died while in service or from a service connected disability, or are a spouse of a serviceperson missing in action or a prisoner or war.

Eligibility may also be established for certain United States citizens who served in the armed forces of a government allied with the United States in WWII and individuals with service as members in certain organizations, such as Public Health Service officers, cadets at the United States Military, Air Force, or Coast Guard Academy, midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy, officers of National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, merchant seaman with WW II service, and others.

Who is Eligible for a VA Loan?
By Mortgage101

Few things influence the home buying process more than your credit. I like how Clark Howard refers to the three credit repositories as, “the three screw-ups”. There is some validity to that, and hopefully recent legislation will help clean up many of the inaccuracies. Regardless, lenders need a source to determine levels of risk for lending money… and the Fair Isaac Company is where it lies. (Note: Fair was one of their last names… doesn’t necessarily denote fairness.) There are close to 50 different things that influence your credit; some good, some bad. Within those 50, there is some 14,000 variations…talk about a fragile balance! For example, did you know that if you pay off a collection it might actually lower your score! Don’t worry most lenders don’t know it either. Also, beware of credit counseling services that promise all kinds of miracles. The only things that can be legitimately removed from your credit are things that are invalid, erroneous, or outdated. Aside from that, if it is yours… it’s yours. There may be ways to “flower it up” but it isn’t coming off. (Being intellectually honest, you know it shouldn’t either.)

If you are going to be hunting for a home, be sure to curtail the temptation to go out make purchases that may affect you credit. Obviously you wouldn’t want to go buy a car, but other things that may not be quite as obvious may be the purchase of furniture or home improvement items that would need financing. Chances are you may need these things, but wait till after closing.

What is the biggest credit mistake?

You wouldn’t believe how common it is! The biggest credit mistake that most of us make is closing our old paid off credit cards. I know that is seems like the right thing to do when you pay off the balance but 15% of your FICO score is made up of your credit history. If you close a credit card with no current balance that you’ve had for years, you are getting rid of a lot of your credit history.

Another 30% of your FICO score is made up by your Debt to Credit Limit ratio. With this component, you show how well you manage the credit extended to you by using it wisely and judiciously. Let’s say that you had two cards with $2,000 limits and one was maxed out and the other one was just paid off. Well you have $4,000 of credit extended to you and you’re using almost $2,000 of that credit (you don’t want to go over 50%). Now you cancel the paid off card and your new debt to credit limit ratio is 100% ($2.000 out of $2000). Ouch, that hurt your credit score.

Credit Suicide
By Chris Brown