The Home Equity Loan Zone

The low interest rates, the easy repayment options with large time periods and its easy availability are some of the major factors behind the pristine esteem gained by the Mortgage loans.

Mortgage loans are basically long term loans that are provided for a period of 15 to 20 years by the federal government or private lending institutions to assist you to purchase a house. The time period for which these loans are extended can be modified according to the borrower’s needs. For instance, some mortgage loans can be limited to a period of 5 years whereas some can extend up to 30 years. However, the time period also depends upon the amount for which loan has been taken. For very small loans the time period cannot be extended beyond a limit.

The rate of interest for mortgage loans can be of two kinds, fixed as well as floating. The basic difference between these two types of interest rates is that, under fixed interest rates the monthly installment that has to be paid by the borrower remains the same irrespective of the changes in the economy. Whereas, under a floating interest rate mortgage loan, the interest rate on the amount for which the loan has been taken and thereby the monthly installments can increase or decrease depending upon the fluctuations in the economy. As a rule the fixed rate mortgage loans carry a higher rate of interest than the floating rate mortgage loans. This is so because they are very secure and don’t carry the risk element that the floating rate mortgage loans do. Thus, although the fixed rate mortgage loans can seem to be costly in the beginning, they prove to be beneficial in the long run.

There are many factors that can affect the mortgage rates. Some of these factors are under the control of the borrower and some are not. Thus, a borrower should be aware of all those factors that are under his command and take every necessary step to ensure that he gets the best deal. Some of the major factors that influence the mortgage rates are: whether it is a fixed rate or a floating rate mortgage loan, the amount for which the loan has been taken, life of the mortgage loan, income of the mortgage borrower, amount of down payment and the closing costs.

It is recommended that a borrower should always opt for fixed rate mortgage loans. Secondly, he should pay down as much as he can for the down payment to minimize the amount for which the mortgage loan is taken. By minimizing the amount needed for the home mortgage, one can minimize the amount of interest paid back over time. If the borrower can afford the monthly installment involved then he should always go for the minimum possible time for the life of a mortgage loan as the length of the mortgage loan can significantly reduce the interest rate on it. Additionally, the borrower should also consider refinancing his first home mortgage or opt for a second home mortgage to pay off the first home mortgage in order to obtain better rates as time goes on.

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In the last few years reverse mortgages have been growing in popularity among the elderly. While there are numerous advantages associated with reverse mortgages there are also disadvantages as well. Before you take out a reverse mortgage, be sure you have the whole story.

First, understand what is involved in a reverse mortgage. Basically, this type of mortgage allows you to transfer a portion of your equity into cash without the need to take on an additional monthly bill, as is the case with a regular home equity loan, or sell your home. With a reverse home mortgage, unlike a regular mortgage, you receive money for the equity in your home and are not obligated to pay it back until you are no longer living in your home. It should be understood that the money will need to be paid back; either when you sell your home, move to another principal residence or die. In the event that you have a lot of equity in your home but you’re having difficulty meeting your monthly financial obligations, this can be a good option. Other advantages include the fact that the money you receive from the reverse mortgage is typically tax-free because it will have to be repaid. In addition, depending on which lender you choose, there are typically no income restrictions.

There are regulations in order to qualify for a reverse mortgage. You must be at least 62 years of age and live in the home as your principal residence.

There are three basic types of reverse mortgages. These mortgages are single-purpose reverse mortgages, federally-insured reverse mortgages that are also known as Home Equity Conversion Mortgages or HECMs and proprietary reverse mortgages.

Single purpose reverse mortgages are offered by state and local government agencies as well as some non-profit organizations. One of the major advantages to this type of reverse mortgage is that it will not generally have high costs. Unfortunately, their availability is limited depending on where you live. In addition, there may be regulations specified by the lender regarding what you can use the proceeds of the loan for. The most common purposes include property taxes and home repairs and improvements. This type of loan may also have income restrictions; meaning you can’t make more than a certain amount of money in order to qualify.

A HECM will generally have higher cost than a single purpose mortgage and those costs are usually up front. On the flip side, they are more widely available and typically do not have income requirements. In addition, there are no purpose limitations. Because HECMs are backed by HUD you will be required to meet with a counselor from a housing counseling agency who will explain all the details regarding the loan to you. The amount of money you can borrow using a HECM will depend on your age, the value of your home, where you live and current interest rates. This type of loan can be quite flexible; providing options such as a line of credit as well as fixed monthly payments.

Because proprietary reverse mortgages are backed by private loan companies, the options with this type of loan can vary. Usually this type of loan will have a higher cost than a HECM.

Joe Kenny writes for the UK Loans Store where you will find information and reviews of the latest loans and offer more information on personal loans and other loan topics available on site.

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If you are planning to get a mortgage, then you should make sure that you avoid a number of common mistakes that will leave you paying too much money or getting into financial difficulties. If you are aware of potential mistakes you can make then you will be better equipped to get the best deal for your needs. Here are the most common mortgage mistakes and how to avoid them:

Not sorting out your finances

If you try and get a mortgage before you have sorted your finances out, you could find yourself getting a rough deal or even being rejected for a mortgage. If you are rejected for a mortgage it can harm your chances of getting one from elsewhere. Before looking at mortgages, get all of your finances in order and have all your paperwork ready to submit to mortgage lenders. Also, get hold of your credit report and make sure that all the information on it is correct. If there are mistakes on your credit report it could harm your chances of getting a good mortgage.

Looking for a house without pre-approval

Many people make the mistake of looking at property without having any idea whether they can secure a mortgage to pay for it. The most common mistake people mistake is confusing ‘pre-qualified’ with ‘pre-approved’. Pre-qualification is a very initial estimation of how much you can borrow, and there is no guarantees you will get this amount at the rate you want. Pre-approval means that you go through the credit checking process and the lender agrees in writing to give you a certain amount of money. Getting pre-approval gives you a budget and makes you much more attractive to sellers because you have the finance already in place.

Borrowing too much

Perhaps the biggest mistake people make is to borrow too much money. This can come about through a combination of not being honest with yourself and pressure from lenders. If you are not honest with yourself about how much you can afford then you will end up in financial difficulty. You shouldn’t be tempted by lenders who offer you overly generous mortgages because it is you who will pay the price if you cannot keep up with the repayments. Work out how much you can comfortably afford to pay each month and stick to this budget.

Not shopping around

It is quite easy to get hold of a mortgage, but if you want a good deal you have to shop around. If you find a good deal, you shouldn’t automatically think it is the best deal you can get. Many companies offer amazing deals that turn out to be a lot more expensive than initially advertised. Do your research and find out what someone with your credit rating should be paying on average for a mortgage. If you do this then you will end up with a much better price.

Paying for things you don’t need

With a lot of mortgages you will be offered extra items and pay extra fees that are simply unnecessary. Although they might seem a small amount here and there, they can soon add up and you could end up paying a lot more than you need to. Make sure that your mortgage agreement only includes the items that you need, and query the price of any fees you think are too expensive. If a company tries to charge you too much then walk away. Remember, there are always other providers for you. If you are careful and avoid common mortgage mistakes then you will get a great deal and remain financially stable.

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