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Mortgage Refinance Information

Home Loans and Mortgages - The Selection Can Be Bewildering


For years, when someone wanted to purchase or refinance a home, the choices were simple. The buyer chose either a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage or a 30 year fixed-rate mortgage. That was it. Of course, those were also the days of twenty percent down payments, which seriously hindered the ability of many Americans to obtain the loan necessary to buy their own home. In recent years, more flexible loan types have become available and down payment requirements have been relaxed. There are now far more choices of loan types available for the borrower than ever before. That can be a mixed blessing, however, as prospective borrowers now have to do a tremendous amount of homework in order to determine which type of loan might be the best choice. The selection of loan types that are currently available can be quite bewildering, and the wrong choice could cost the prospective borrower thousands of dollars over the term of the loan.

The standard 15-year and 30-year mortgages are still quite popular. Each provides the stability of a fixed interest rate and a payment that will remain the same throughout the duration of the life of the mortgage. When interest rates are near historic lows, as they are today, these traditional choices work well for most buyers. Buyers who find a 15-year or 30-year mortgage to be within their means would probably benefit from obtaining such a mortgage now.

In recent years, as home prices have increased faster than wages, the lending industry has created more flexible types of mortgages designed to help buyers who may have trouble with traditional loans obtain financing. These types of loans tend to have adjustable interest rates:

  • The Adjustable Rate Mortgage, or ARM, has a rate that adjusts over time as spelled out in the mortgage agreement. Typically, the rate at the time of singing the loan is lower than that of a traditional mortgage, perhaps by one percent or so. The difference is that the rate can adjust over time as the market changes. The loan agreement will spell out how often the rate may change and how much the rate may change at one time. The agreement may also indicate a maximum interest rate that may be charged over the life of the loan. These types of loans are ideal for buyers who do not intend to stay in their home for more than a few years, or buyers who are purchasing in times of high interest rates, when there is an expectation that rates will drop over time.
  • Convertible mortgages are ARMs that offer the buyer an opportunity to "convert" the adjustable rate loan to a fixed rate loan after a certain period of time that is spelled out in the loan agreement. There is a fee charged for converting the mortgage, but the fee is typically less than the fees associated with refinancing the mortgage altogether.
  • Two Step mortgages offer an initial rate that is lower than the rate for fixed-rate mortgages for the first few years of the loan. After a set period of time, the rate increases to a fixed rate. This allows buyers to pay less during the early years of their loan, when they may earn less or need extra cash for home furnishings. The disadvantage of this type of loan is that the increase in the interest rate can be substantial, and may make the payments unaffordable for some buyers..
  • These are just a few of the types of loans that are currently available in the market. There are probably dozens of variations on ARM loans, and prospective buyers should study their options carefully before agreeing to a loan. Making the right choice could save buyers thousands of dollars over the life of the loan. Making the wrong choice could leave buyers with a loan that they cannot afford to pay. A little time spent on research is time well spent.

    ©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing.

    Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including End-Your-Debt.com, a Website devoted to debt consolidation information and HomeEquityHelp.net, a site devoted to information on home equity loans.


    MORE RESOURCES:

    Housing Wire

    Obama pressures Congress on mortgage refinance program
    Fox News
    WASHINGTON – President Obama is rallying support for his plan to expand government assistance to homeowners, pressuring Congress to help lower lending rates for millions of strapped homeowners. Obama, in his radio and Internet address Saturday, ...
    President Obama's Mortgage Refinance Plan Just a Bid for VotesYahoo! Contributors Network
    Obama Unveils Mortgage Refinance EndeavorsMortgageorb
    Obama to Announce New FHA Mortgage Refinance ProgramGo Banking Rates
    Housing Wire -MarketWatch -CBS Moneywatch
    all 1,239 news articles »


    MonitorBankRates.com

    Mortgage Refinance Rates: 15 Year Refinance Mortgage Rates at 3.29%
    MonitorBankRates.com
    Mortgage refinance rates on 30 year conforming home loans are averaging 3.98%, unchanged from yesterday's average 30 year mortgage refinance rate. Mortgage refinance rates today on 15 year home mortgage loans are averaging 3.29%, down from yesterday's ...

    and more »


    Fox News

    Obama Proposes Mortgage-Refinance Plan
    Wall Street Journal
    By NICK TIMIRAOS President Barack Obama called on Congress during Tuesday's State of the Union address to approve new legislation that would give all homeowners who are current on their mortgages the opportunity to refinance at record low mortgage ...
    Obama proposes mortgage refinance programPolitico (blog)
    Will Obama's Mortgage Refinance Plan Be D.O.A.?U.S. News & World Report
    Obama proposes new mortgage refinance programHousing Wire
    Daily Caller
    all 314 news articles »


    International Business Times

    FOX 11 News Discussion: State of the Union
    MyFox Los Angeles
    And he aimed a pitch at homeowners, announcing a new mortgage refinance program with "historically low interest rates" that "gives every responsible homeowner the chance to save about $3000 a year on their mortgage." He added, "A small fee on the ...
    Winning Words, But Not a WinnerU.S. News & World Report
    Obama State of the Union 2012: Mortgage Refinance Changes Face ObstaclesInternational Business Times

    all 12,250 news articles »


    CBS Local

    Six Questions on Obama's Mortgage Refinance Proposal
    Wall Street Journal (blog)
    By Nick Timiraos President Barack Obama said Tuesday night in his State of the Union address that he would send a plan to Congress to allow all homeowners who are current on their mortgages to refinance. Here's a quick look at the proposal: How is this ...
    Obama plan could help refinance Bay Area mortgagesSan Francisco Chronicle

    all 19 news articles »


    Anchor Bancorp Wisconsin Inc. Announces Third Quarter Results
    MarketWatch (press release)
    Revenues in the quarter ending September 30, 2011, were unfavorably impacted by a $5.1 million impairment charge on the capitalized mortgage servicing rights asset due to lower interest rates and the resultant mortgage refinance activity.

    and more »


    KOMO News

    Living large? Get the best rate on your jumbo mortgage refinance
    NASDAQ
    If you buy apparel from "big and tall" clothing stores, you're used to paying more and having less to choose from. "Regular guys," on the other hand, benefit from a wider selection of products and more competition between retailers.
    Mortgage Interest Rates Move Higher: 15 Year Mortgage Interest Rates at 3.34%MonitorBankRates.com

    all 113 news articles »


    AgedLeadStore.com to Add 1100000 Aged Mortgage Refinance Leads
    Middle East North Africa Financial Network
    COM, January 26, 2012 ) Baltimore, MD AgedLeadStore.com is increasing its value for its customers by adding 1.1 million aged Mortgage Refinance Leads in February. This is important as many people depend upon their ability to refinance to make progress ...



    High Volume Stock Movers: Bank of America, Sprint, Cisco, Annaly, Sirius Feb. 8th
    Wall St. Cheat Sheet
    By Derek Hoffman Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC): The US's Home Affordable Refinance Program has increased mortgage refinance applications and strained capacity at Bank of America, leading the bank to ask some customers to wait 60 to 90 days, ...



    New HARP Could Help Up to 6.7 Million
    NASDAQ
    Other changes to the program were designed to make it easier for homeowners with private mortgage insurance (PMI) to refinance or to obtain a HARP mortgage refinance with a lender other than their current mortgage servicer. In addition, new limits were ...

    and more »

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