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Mortgage Refinance Information

Home Equity Loans ? Research Your Lender Carefully


Real estate prices are rising across the country, and Americans are tapping into their home equity like never before. Americans took out $431 billion in home equity loans in 2004, and that amount may increase in 2005. The reasons vary; some are using the money for home improvement, others are using the money to buy real estate, and some are taking reverse mortgages in order to enjoy a better retirement. With interest rates still near historic lows and the bull real estate market continuing, more and more predatory lenders are entering the lending profession.Most lenders are honest, and prospective borrowers will probably not have any problems resulting from taking out a loan with a national bank. On the other hand, newer, smaller, and less honest lenders are advertising aggressively and may grab your attention by offering terms that seem more favorable than those offered by the larger banks. Sometimes, these terms sound too good to be true, and they often are. Here are a few things to watch out for when taking out a home loan:A promised low interest rate ?disappears?, only to be replaced with a higher figure on the contract at closing time. The borrowers, who expected to close right then and there, feel pressured to sign and often accept the higher interest rate.Previously unmentioned fees turn up on the application at closing. Again, by presenting these previously undisclosed fees at closing time, the borrower is pressured to sign.Blanks on the application form. It?s hard to believe that a lender would present a blank form and assure the borrower that the blanks will be filled in later, but this actually happens, and borrowers actually sign such deals. Remember, your signature on the form constitutes your agreement to the terms, even if the terms are filled in later.These problems can be avoided by taking a few simple precautionary steps. Ask about the total fees and interest rates ahead of time. Inform your lender that you fully expect to see those same figures on the documents at closing, and make it clear that you will not sign documents that state otherwise. Make certain that you have provided honest information to the lender. Refuse to sign any blank documents. These things may seem obvious, but when closing approaches, borrowers tend to get in a hurry, as they are eager to get the closing out of the way. Borrowing against your home is not something to take lightly; you can lose your home if you unknowingly sign a predatory document. Take your time.

Do Your Homework - Find the Mortgage That Fits Your Lifestyle and Your Budget


You've been looking at houses for months, and finally you?ve found it--the house that's just right. So now, all you have to do is to purchase your new home, move in, and get settled, right? Not quite. There?s one more big step to go-getting a mortgage loan. You?re going to want to decide on the type of mortgage and payment terms that fit within your budget. And you?re going to have to prepare yourself by doing some research. What follows is valuable information that will be crucial in helping you make loan decisions that will fit your budget and circumstance.

Real Estate Tip: Escrow Accounts -- Do You Really Need Them?


If you have a mortgage on your property, whether it's for your personal residence or a real estate investment, chances are you have an escrow account. But if you are working on building wealth through real estate, you may want to take a hard look at your escrow account (or accounts, if you own more than one piece of real estate) and decide if you really need it.

Cardinal Principle of Homeowner Personal Loans ? It is a Solution for Any Sort of Financial Funding


You bought a house and you were promoted to the position of a homeowner. It was perhaps the most important decision of your life. Now you are taking a loan and it is going to be a decision that will affect your financial plans henceforth. What if we join these two life changing things ? homeowner and loan? The result is ?homeowner loan?. The result is a Good loan but there is a scope for improvement. Let us join ?personal?. The result is Homeowner personal loan. Now, that is one commendable loan type.

Save Time With a Bridge Loan


Why You Need a Bridge Loan

Home Equity Loans Categories


Fixed Rate Mortgages: These loans have a fixed rate of interest over the entire term for which the loan has been disbursed. The term for these mortgages is typically between 10 to 30 years. The monthly interest payment on these loans is fixed and hence there exists a certainty about the repayment of the debt over the entire term of the debt. Another advantage of fixed rate mortgages is that the initial down payment required is very low, generally around 5% of the loan amount to be disbursed.

Home Equity Loan Considerations


In other words, the benefit of the loan must outlast the loan period. Taking a loan for financing that elusive vacation is a strict no-no. Moreover, home equity loans must also never be taken for day-to-day expenditures. This option should be saved for emergency needs only.

What Are Home Equity Loans?


A home equity loan is simply borrowing on the difference of the value of your home and the outstanding mortgage on the house. Lets say, you have bought a home worth $50,000 some time back, after making a down payment of $5,000. The value of your home has now appreciated to $60,000. The difference between the present value of your home ($60,000) and the outstanding payment ($45,000) is $15,000. This is the amount of the home equity loan that you can apply for.

Types Of Home Equity Loans


There are two broad types of home equity loans:

Lesser Known Facts About Home Equity Loans


Refinancing your debt via a home equity loan shifts your debts loan to your home. The flip side to such a move is that your home is on the line. However, tax deductions on interest repayments make it an attractive proposition. Moreover, in such a case of loan consolidation, it makes financial sense to go for a fixed term equity loan.

Home Equity Loan Risks


Home equity loans give individuals a tool to extend their existing credit line by securing debt on the equity value of their existing homes. This access to easy and cheap money can lure the borrower into securing a debt for reasons which otherwise could have been funded through wise money management.

Home Equity Loans Popular Scams


Most borrowers fail to realize that when trading their much beloved home for cash, lenders can foreclose on their property in the case of default. Moreover, because of fly-by-night operators who are ready to strip unsuspecting borrowers of their most prized asset, it is doubly necessary that borrowers be familiar with some frauds that could be perpetrated on them.

Refinancing vs Line of Credit


Refinancing vs line of credit are two popular options you have when deciding the best way to take equity out of your home. Sometimes it makes sense to establish a line of credit. But in other situations it's better to get a cash back refinance mortgage loan.

Buying a House or a Home?


A house is just that, a house, until someone lives in it. That's when it becomes a Home. There's a big difference. At our house, we always say our home is "well lived in." And, with a family of six, four of them being between the ages of 9 and 15, this house has no choice! Our house, being in the family for over 65 years, is a well seasoned "home."

Who Else is Ready to have Their Money Work Harder for Them?


What does it mean to refinance? Why would anyone want toconsider it? There are numerous situations when someonewould refinance. When we use the word refinance, we arebasically referring to a loan: for example a car or houseloan. It may also be a business loan. In this article, weare going to explain the home loan and some of the common terms of refinancing and how they apply to other types ofloans as well.

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