The price of houses keeps rising across the US. Since most require a down payment that is more than a renter can afford, how do you become a home owner when you don’t have the savings to cover the down payment? The answer is a home mortgage to purchase your house.
A home mortgage is different from a home loan. A mortgage is a contact that is required for you to obtain a loan from a banking institution or lending company. The actual loan is the money the lender provides.
In recent years, the types of home mortgages available to the public have increased dramatically. I remember purchasing my first home when most loans required a twenty percent down payment. Today, loan terms and the rate status are different with home mortgages and is applied depending on the financial situation at the time of the loan. Some home mortgages offer better terms when the interest rates are low and others rise with high home mortgage rates.
With a fixed rate home mortgage, the interest rate remains the same for the duration of the loan. Therefore, your monthly payment remains the same, even when interest rates rise. This type of home mortgage usually extends for a term of 15 or 30 years.
The amortization period for 30-year fixed rate home mortgages is longer and the monthly payments are lower. Although you can borrow money on a long-term basis, it comes with a high interest bill and builds equity very slowly.
With a 15-year fixed rate home mortgage, the amortization period is shorter allowing equity to build quickly with interest bills much lower. Expect to pay higher monthly payments with this type of home mortgage loan period.
Adjustable rate home mortgages have lower interest rates. Keep in mind, this low interest rate is only for a short time. Usually after the first year, the new interest rate will rise or fall, depending on the movement of the lending company’s prime rate.
If you’re considering an adjustable rate home mortgage, make sure the interest rate is low enough to be an advantage. Your monthly payment will remain low when the interest rate is low, but when interest rates rise, you may be left with a monthly payment you are unable or unwilling to pay.
Once you’re in the home of your desire, your property begins to accumulate equity with the rise in home prices. If you find yourself in need of quick cash, you can always take out the equity with a home equity loan. The home mortgage rates for home equity loans have always been thought to be higher than the home mortgage rates of other loan types. If you plan to stay in the home for many years, this may be a good option for you, otherwise don’t sacrifice the equity unless you absolutely must.
Once you understand the types of home mortgages that are available, you will need to decide what you must have in your new home and what you consider as an “extra.” You’ll want to find the best interest rate, but you’ll also find that homes in your price range may not include everything you want. So be prepared to negotiate and willing to sacrifice if you find a great deal. Once you’re in your home, you can always upgrade in a few years, using the equity you’ve built up in your property.
By: Gail Anderson-Metcalf
Posts Tagged ‘Loan Terms’
Understanding Home Mortgage Loans
April 29th, 2010FHA Mobile Home Mortgage Loans – How Do They Work?
March 16th, 2010
If you are looking to buy a mobile home and you have a limited amount of money to put down towards your purchase, you may want to consider a FHA mobile home loan. FHA stands for Federal Housing Administration and it’s responsible for Housing and Urban Development (also known as HUD). How does this help you? FHA insures your mortgage loan so that lenders will give you a good deal, even though you do not have a sizable down payment.
Under the FHA mobile home loan umbrella there are two types of programs. One is for people who already own land to put the mobile home on and the other is for people that choose to locate their mobile home in an established mobile home park.
When lenders consider applicants for FHA-backed mobile home loans, they must follow certain eligibility requirements. These requirements include considering the applicant’s credit rating, the income and the ability to repay the debt.
A Title 1 loan can be used to buy a mobile home, a lot on which to place a mobile home, or both. The home must be the primary residence of the person or persons obtaining the loan. There are maximum loan amounts as well as loan terms that must be adhered to, as follows. For a mobile home only, the maximum is $48,600. For a piece of land or lot, the maximum is $16,200, while the maximum for a combination of the two is $64,800. Maximum loan terms for FHA mobile home loans are: 20 years for a mobile home or a single section mobile home and lot, 15 years for a lot, and 25 years for a multi-section mobile home and lot.
Most of the time when you buy a mobile home, you will also have the opportunity to finance your purchase at the mobile home dealer in which you make your purchase. Sometimes these dealers will not offer FHA-backed loans. If they do not, ask them for a referral to a lender who will use FHA. Or you could consider finding a lender online.
To qualify for a FHA-backed mobile or manufactured home mortgage loan, you must meet some minimum criteria. You must be able to provider five percent down payment (although there are additional programs to help if you do not have this amount), proof of income and a suitable place to locate your mobile home (this may be on your own land or in a mobile home park).
By: Milt Wapner
A Co-signer Can Aid Home Loan Approval!
March 10th, 2010
Many requirements are usually not met by main applicants but can easily be fulfilled by a co-signer. What one alone can’t get, can be achieved by the power of two combined. When you apply with a co-signer, his credit score, income, credit history, assets, etc. are also taken into account at the time of loan qualification and if either you or the co-signer fulfills a requirement, it is considered to be covered by the two of you.
Co-Signer: Concept
When you apply for a loan with a co-signer, he is responsible for the repayment of the loan as much as you. He is obliged by the same loan terms and is legally responsible just like you. If you fail to meet the monthly payments, the co-signer has to pay the installment since otherwise, the lack of payment will also be recorded into his credit history.
Being a co-signer implies risks. If you are asked to act as one, bear in mind that you will be responsible for the lack of payment of the main applicant and will have to substitute him or else the delinquency will be reported and added to your credit report. Moreover, the lender can take legal actions against you in order to recover his money. The lender doesn’t have to follow a certain order, he can choose between claiming you the money or the main applicant.
Requirements Not Met
There are income requirements for home loans that you may not be able to fulfill. When applying with a co-signer, the incomes are combined and if the addition of both meets the requirements you can get approved. In many cases, when it comes to couples the combined income can raise a bit the required minimum but it never reaches more than 20% more.
Credit requirements are also important when it comes to home loan approval. In this case instead of adding, the co-signer credit situation can replace yours and fulfill the requirements. If your credit score won’t allow approval, the co-signer’s score will be taken into account and if his reaches the minimum score required, the loan will be approved without hassles.
100% Financing
In many cases, in order to get approved for a home loan, a down payment is required. If you can’t provide a down payment, you can opt for requesting 100% financing on your home loan. But approval for this kind of loans is complicated. In order to guarantee approval you may need to apply with the aid of a co-signer. That way you’ll be able to obtain full financing for the whole property’s value without having to put money down.
By: Kate Ross
