fionazzz asked:


housing benefit and jsa. if you have savings and loans and a mortgage will they advise you the best way to apply?

thanks

ps no i’m not a scrounger i’ve paid taxes for 13 years and now am unemployed for the first time ever and struggling.

Jennifer

Alan Lim asked:


A home mortgage loan is one of the most common and popular ways through which people buy property. Most properties in the Unites States are bought with the help of a loan and the industry is in itself worth billions of dollars. However, there are several steps before one can actually be approved for a home mortgage loan. But let’s start from understanding the concept it self.

Home mortgage loan

The concept of a home mortgage loan itself is generally quite simple. The property in question remains as the mortgage or the collateral, for the loan being issued. This is usually issued by a financial institute to the person who is buying the property. The original amount of loan remains the principal sum with an annual interest rate imposed on this sum. Should the new property owner be unable to pay the loan, the lending institute seizes the property which then will be foreclosed. Home mortgage loan are usually paid in instalments every month.

Key elements

If you are planning to buy a home or any property through a home mortgage loan, it is advised you work on your credit score long before you actually plan to make the big move. Your credit history is like a research paper on your personal finances and to any lender it speaks volumes about how well you manage your finances and how good you are at clearing your dues. It is usually very difficult to get approved for a home mortgage loan if you have a bad and sometimes even average, credit score. Also consider the fact that things could be somewhat easier if you are able to make a down payment on your property. Larger the payment, better it is.

Financial realization

Before you even begin to apply for a home mortgage loan, you must do some work on your own to get an idea of what your chances are in being approved that loan. Naturally, the first and most important element of the process is realizing your personal or household’s finances. Calculate how much money you are left with every month after you deduct all the fundamental expenses. This is important because it gives you an understanding of how much money you are left with at the end of month which in turn determines how much mortgage you can pay monthly. Don’t forget to anticipate the interest rates.

Documentation to secure a home mortgage loan

When you think you’re ready to go for it, make a check list of documents you will need for your home mortgage loan application process. If you are employed, you will need your W-2 form and pay stubs and if you are self employed then you would generally need to show your tax statements of about two years. Private business owners need to show a balance sheet depicting the revenue and loss you have incurred. Retirees need to have either a two- month long bank statement or the 1099 form. The social security award letter along with copies of all documents related to your pension checks is required too. Then of course there are other basic documents you will need pertaining to your bank and credit card accounts, existing loans and also on the present landlord and investments if applicable. These are the basic documentation required to be eligible for most home mortgage loan.



Tim

JOEY L asked:


I am two months behind on a my mortgage and i have loan mod companys calling wanting to charge me $3000 and promising drastic drop in my interest rate without refinancing. I dont have the money to pay them. please advise

Elmer

~life sucks~ asked:


I need to borrow 25k. My bank doesnt give unsecured loans for that amount. I just bought my house and am pretty sure I dont have 25k equity in it. So, a second mortgage is out. Are there any legit companies out there that will lend that kind of money to a person with good (not excellent) credit? If need be I have a co signer with excellent credit willing to help me. The purpose of this loan is for debt consolidation. I just want to pay off all those credit cards, have one monthly payment and start over. Bankruptcy is not an option. My credit is decent and I want to keep it that way. Serious advise only please.

Susan

itsallaboutobama asked:


I’m currently working for a mortgage broker as an assistant but I’m looking to start my own loans. I need a mentor who can at least give me some helpful advise in how to practice mortgage consultation and brokering within California. Personally, I not looking to become rich just self-employed.

It makes me sick when I see loan reps charge more points then they deserve. Is there anybody out there who can help me?

Bryan

FHA home loan Lender asked:


FHA mortgage loans provide the Best Interest Rates

 Florida FHA Mortgage Loan

Florida home buyers should know the many advantages of the FHA mortgage loan programs. FHA loans were created to help increase home ownership. For the Florida home buyer the FHA program can simplify the purchase of a home, making financing easier and less expensive than a conventional mortgage loan product. Some highlights of the Florida FHA loan program include:

Minimal Down Payment and Closing costs.

Down payment less than 3% of Sales Price Gifts are allowed Seller can credit up to 6% of sales price towards closing and prepaid costs. 100% Financing available No reserves required. FHA regulated closing costs.

Easier Credit Qualifying Guidelines such as:

  No minimum FICO score or credit score requirements. FHA will allow a home purchase 2 year after a Bankruptcy. FHA will allow a home purchase 3 years after a Foreclosure.

APPLY NOW AT http://www.fhamortgagefhaloan.com/

 The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is a United States government agency created as part of the National Housing Act of 1934. The goals of this organization are: to improve housing standards and conditions; to provide an adequate home financing system through insurance of mortgage loans; and to stabilize the mortgage market.

History of FHA home loans

Back in the the Great Depression, the banking system failed, causing a drastic decrease in home loans and ownership. At this time, most home mortgages were short-term (three to five years), no amortization, balloon instruments at loan-to-value (LTV) ratios below fifty to sixty percent.The banking crisis of the 1930’s forced all lenders to retrieve due mortgages. Refinancing was not available, and many borrowers, now unemployed, were unable to make mortgage payments. Consequently, many homes were foreclosed, causing the housing market to plummet. Banks collected the loan collateral (foreclosed homes) but the low property values resulted in a relative lack of assets. Because there was little faith in the backing of the U.S. government, few loans were issued and few new homes were purchased.

In 1934 the federal banking system was restructured. The National Housing Act of 1934 was passed and the Federal Housing Administration was created. Its intent was to regulate the rate of interest and the terms of mortgages that it insured. These new lending practices increased the number of people who could afford a down payment on a house and monthly debt service payments on a mortgage, thereby also increasing the size of the market for single-family homes.

The FHA calculated appraisal value based on eight criteria and directed its agents to lend more for higher appraised projects, up to a maximum cap. The two most important were “Relative Economic Stability,” which constituted 40% of appraisal value, and “Protection from adverse influences,” which made up another 20%.

The FHA Mortgage loans Today

Back in 1965, the Federal Housing Administration became part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Since 1934, the FHA and HUD have insured over 34 million home mortgages and 47,205 multifamily project mortgages. Currently, the FHA mortgage loan has 4.8 million insured single family mortgages and 13,000 insured multifamily projects in its portfolio. The Federal Housing Administration is the only government agency that is completely self-funded. However, although it claims to operate solely from its own income at no cost to taxpayers, there is an implicit guarantee that the taxpayer will help them in times of need.

During budget planning for 2008 HUD had been projecting $143,000,000 budget shortfall stemming from the FHA program. This is the first time in three decades HUD had made a request to Congress for a taxpayer subsidy. Even though FHA is statutorily required to be budget neutral, the GAO is projecting taxpayer funded subsidies of half a billion dollars over the next three years, if no changes are made to the FHA program.

FHA Required Down Payment

A mortgage applicant downpayment may come from a number of sources. The 3.5% requirement can be satisfied with the borrower using their own cash or receiving a gift from a family member, their employer, labor union, non-profit or government entity. Since 1998, non-profits have been providing downpayment gifts to borrowers who purchase homes where the seller has agreed to reimburse the non-profit and pay an additional processing fee. In May 2006, the IRS determined that this is not “charitable activity” and has moved to revoke the non-profit status of groups providing downpayment assistance in this manner. FHA has since stopped down payment assistance program through 3rd non profits. There is a bill currently in congress that hopes to bring back down payment assistance programs through these so called non profits.

FHA Mortgage Insurance for Homebuyers

The FHA insures only a limited range of mortgages provided by FHA-approved lenders. PMI insurers service mortgages of the conventional market. PMI is required if a homebuyer borrows more than 80% of the property’s purchase price in one loan; the FHA insurance is required for any FHA mortgage, irrespective of the size of the down payment provided. The premiums for both insurances get cancelled at a certain point (was not true of FHA premiums before Jan. 1, 2001), but the conditions for this to happen are different (see below).

Mortgage insurance is available for housing loan lenders, protecting against homeowner mortgage default. For a small fee, lenders can obtain insurance for a value of ninety seven percent of the appraised value of the home or building. FHA loans are insured through a combination of a small upfront mortgage insurance premium (UFMIP), as well as a small monthly mortgage insurance (MMI) premium.

The (UF)MIP or (Up-Front) Mortgage Insurance Premium is the upfront fee you pay either in cash at close or financed into the loan. The MMI or Mutual (sometimes called Monthly) Mortgage Insurance is your monthly premium which is included in your payment. This MMI is an annual premium which is to be remitted monthly, it must be paid for 5 years regardless of your LTV (loan to value) if after 5 years your LTV is 78% or less it may be canceled on loans originated after 1/1/01. If your loan term is 15 years or less the 5 year rule does not apply.

In many instances where the home owner has a poor to moderate credit history, the monthly mortgage insurance premium will be substantially less expensive with an FHA loan than with a conventional loan regardless of LTV – sometimes as little as one-ninth as much per month depending on the borrower’s exact credit score, LTV, loan size, and approval status. A borrower with an FHA loan always pays the same mortgage insurance rate regardless of their credit score. This is especially of benefit to borrowers who have less than 22% equity in their homes and credit scores under 620. Conventional mortgage insurance premium rates factor in credit scores, whereas FHA mortgage insurance premiums do not. When a borrower has a credit score under 620, conventional mortgage premiums spike dramatically. If a borrower has a credit score under 575, they may find it impossible to purchase a home for less than 20% down with a conventional loan, as the majority of mortgage insurance companies no longer write mortgage insurance policies on borrowers with credit scores under 575 due to a sharply increased risk. When they do write mortgage insurance policies for borrowers with lower credit scores, the annual premiums are sometimes as high as 4% to 5% of the loan amount. Based on this, if a consumer is considering purchasing a new home or refinancing an existing home, they would often be well-advised to look into the FHA loan program.

 



Franklin

Richard Lowe asked:


Why should you think about availing of a mortgage loan modification plan? What can you get out of it?

Many homeowners believe that refinancing is such a feasible plan to get through with. It is by applying a second loan that the previous debts can be paid off. While it is true that refinancing is quite as easy as reciting the alphabet for those people with good credit standing, the opposite happens to the ones with bad credit scores. They are faced with the challenge of finding the right mortgage lenders and the difficulty of higher interest payments.

There is a myriad of reasons on why homeowners decide to refinance their current mortgage. Their principal aim is obviously to solve their problems on their very expensive monthly payments. Most of the times the loan comes with a high interest charge which makes it harder for the borrower to pay it off. With today’s economic recession, don’t you think it is high time for you to think about refinancing your home?

Refinancing the Mortgage and Your Advantages

One of the many advantages of refinancing a mortgage loan is that you can opt to reduce or increase the term of the loan. If what you want is to be able to save more money and you have grown tired of paying for higher interest rates, better consider refinancing. You can avail of this at such a lower rate. If you shorten your supposed to be 30-year-loan into a 15-year-loan, you can forget about spending too much to compensate for all those monthly interest payments. Thus, you will be relieved because you get to settle your debt at a much shorter time. However, this scheme may require you to pay a larger principal amount but the great piece of news is that you can save more on the interest charges.

Refinancing is best to do if you have a solid plan of living in your home for a longer time. It is an advisable move if the present mortgage interest payment is visibly lower to as much as 2% as compared to the original rate that you are paying.

Another pleasant benefit of refinancing is that you may consolidate your entire debts into your home mortgage.

If you have previously applied for an adjustable rate mortgage, you can now prefer to change it into the lock-in or fixed rate mortgage. This will secure that your monthly terms are not going to change whatever happens in the mortgage rates in the market.

Through the years, your home must have acquired its equity. That means that you may avail of the cash out refinance. This option allows you to receive some additional cash if you increase your loan compared to its actual amount. Of course, doing so has its own advantages and disadvantages. When the amount that you have applied for is more than 80% of the total value of your home, then, you need to secure the private mortgage insurance. This means an additional expense on your part. But then again, the cash out fund may be used to settle your other debts.

You see, the mortgage refinance plan can actually make things easier for you. When you think of it though, you should be aware of the pros and cons so that you will not make any wrong decisions.



Vincent

knowledgeisgreat asked:


What are the benefits of prepaying my mortgage if I know I will sell the house before I actually pay it off? I have a 30-year fixed mortgage. I know one benefit is reducing the amount of interest you pay over the life of the loan. However, I don’t plan on paying off the entire house ever. I’m sure I’ll sell it in a few years. Please advise. Thanks!

Gordon

legend4real asked:


Its long but well worth the read, it’s very informative.

Equifax, Experian and Transunion have begun limited marketing of a new consumer credit scoring algorithm to Risk Based Lenders. According to David Rubinger of Equifax, the planned nationwide rollout to Risk Based Lenders is scheduled for July, and will be followed, approximately 9 months later, with the public disclosure of these scores to consumers.

An algorithm is a mathematical formula that is written to assign value to specific data in order to attain a final score. Risk Based Lenders are financial institutions that lend money based upon a consumer’s credit history and the consumer’s ability and historical willingness to repay a loan. These types of lenders cover the full range of financial institutions lending money for credit cards, auto loans, unsecured loans and mortgage loans.

David Rubinger, the national marketing contact for Equifax, explained “approximately one year ago, the analytical managers for the 3 credit bureaus got together for the purposes of addressing variations within the present scoring models in use. Under the current system, the three major credit-reporting agencies use three different algorithms that produce three different and unique scores, regardless of the data being scored. The primary issue to be addressed was how they could create a solution for Risk Based Lenders who wanted fewer variations within the credit scoring models they were using to make lending decisions.”

The solution for the three agencies was to create a single algorithm that would produce a more “predictive score” by creating a single variable in scoring, which would be the data. To do this, they came up with a solution that involved creating an independent company called VantageScore, LLC. Each credit-reporting agency would own an equal share in the company, and purchase a license to use and sell the resulting scores to risk based lenders under the VantageScore service mark. The hard part was creating the uniform scoring that the three credit-reporting agencies were attempting to design and sell.

To achieve as close a model as possible, the three credit agencies tested the initial base algorithm on 15 million active credit files. Throughout the testing process, changes were made to the algorithm as were needed to create a more stable scoring model until the finished product created an acceptable level of score variance in the finished product.

By creating an independent LLC company, the three credit reporting agencies are now able to offer a single product that has only one variable, the data being scored. Where the credit information reported is the same, the score for a consumer file will be the same, regardless of whether the score comes from Transunion, Experian, or Equifax. Where the credit information is different, the variations in the actual score will be significantly reduced.

Under the new VantageScore product, the three agencies decided to change the scoring formula from its current 450 to 850 scoring range to a new 501 to 990 range. When asked about why they would do this, Rubinger responded, “The new scoring model is to help consumers better understand their credit score. By basing it on a grading scale used throughout the K through 12 school system, consumers can look at their score and know exactly what they have”. Unfortunately for Risk Based Lenders, the new scoring model will require they spend thousands of dollars in updating software to incorporate the new scoring model.

When asked about some of the negative aspects of the change, Mr. Rubinger declined to answer any questions.

The initial question that Down Payment Solutions has relates to anti-trust laws and where the congressional oversight is. As we only have three major Credit Reporting Agencies, how is it they can bypass any oversight to create an LLC company in order to offer a single uniform product in which all can sell, with the goal appearing to be the complete replacement of the present day independent scoring algorithms?

When contacted for comment on this matter, the Department of Justice – Anti-Trust division – declined comment and suggested consumers who have concerns should e-mail them at antitrust.complaints@usdoj.gov. Neither Senator Bill Nelson (D – FL), Senator Mel Martinez (R – FL), Congressman Jim Davis (D-FL) or Congressman Michael Bilirakis (R- FL) offices would offer any comments for this article.

Jan Helder of the Helder Law Firm called the formation of a LLC by the three Credit Reporting Agencies “shady, at best” and advised that, unfortunately for consumers, they “cannot file an anti-trust suit until they have experienced a financial loss resulting from the new VantageScore credit scoring system, and then they will have to prove financial loss in court.” This will be well after low to moderate-income families, and the businesses dependent upon them, have felt the tightening of credit nationwide.

“The new VantageScore model creates a significant financial risk to consumers in their ability to obtain affordable financing,” according to Dwayne Singletary of Allstate Mortgage and Loan Corp in Tampa, Florida. “Many risk-based lenders in the mortgage industry use all three credit-reporting scores–also known as a Tri-Merged Credit Report–and have programs that allow them to use the credit-reporting agency that has the highest credit score. A reduction in that higher score will most likely result in home buyers needing more money out of pocket for a down payment, or require them to pay a higher rate of interest…” under the VantageScore model, whether refinancing or purchasing.

In the installment and revolving credit market, most risk-based lenders do not use the scores from all three reporting agencies. Rather, each lender selects the reporting agency that best fits their type of borrower. A reduction in any one score across any credit-reporting agency, via adoption of the VantageScore algorithm, could result in consumers being unable to obtain credit, or consumers paying a significantly higher rate of interest to borrow the same money tomorrow, versus what they would pay under the current separate credit-scoring models.

Rubinger contends the new scoring model is designed to help consumers better understand their score. However, given the thousands of dollars in financial costs that will be incurred by Risk Based Lenders in updating programming, it leaves the impression the new scoring model may actually be designed to mislead consumers into believing the new VantageScore system actually improves their credit scores.

Under the current system, in theory, if a consumer has a Transunion credit score of 600, then potentially under the new VantageScore model, they could have a score as high as 720. This certainly would go a long way towards silencing a potential consumer backlash if someone with challenged credit sees a dramatic increase in their credit score. This is potentially misleading, and may be the reason for the delay in consumers having access to their new VantageScore credit score for any given credit-reporting agency.

At present, it has not been disclosed how consumers will know what model they are being scored under. As consumers apply for credit, most will assume they are being scored under existing Credit Models, when in fact; they may have been scored under the VantageScore system if a particular financial institution adopted it.

Consumers who are concerned about the potential implications that VantageScore has on their financial future should contact the DOJ – Anti-Trust Division. In addition, we strongly encourage you to contact your Congressman via www.congress.org.

Down Payment Solutions believes that before this new Credit Scoring System is implemented, both the DOJ and Congress have some over sight as to how, when and if Transunion, Experian and Equifax, can implement this type of product in order to protect every American consumer and the businesses dependent upon them.

You are free and encouraged to reproduce, link to, e-mail and redistribute this article in its entirety as long as you leave the below author information intact.

Author: George Chaney, President, Down Payment Solutions, Inc. http://www.downpaymentsolutions.com

Nellie

ZZ asked:


Should I lock in mortgage interest rate now or wait. My husband and I have decided on a house to buy and looking to get our
mortgage loan approved. The house is a new construction that will be ready on 1st April. We are looking at a 30 yr fixed loan.
This week has had the highest rates since start of the year.Please advise if you think interest rates will go higher or will reduce in the
coming weeks.We do not know whether to lock rate now or float and see what happens in the next weeks.

Bertha

Rony Walker asked:


After sifting through your monthly bills for the umpteenth time, you crunch all the numbers again. Still, they do not add up! Then, almost like a bad scene from a terrible movie, the past few years flashed through your mind.

You’re 28 once more, and you feel on top of the world after you bought your first house. After that initial success, however, you attracted hard times like a magnet. You failed to get the pay increase you were bucking for. Then, inflation went through the roof, making the purchase of even foods challenging. So, here you are at present, 34 years old and struggling to make ends meet. You’re not only hard up, you have trouble even putting food on the table. Your only option seems to be refinancing your home mortgage loan. Is the best refinance home mortgage loan rate a way out of your money woes? How do you ensure you get the best refinance home mortgage loan rate in the market?

Mortgage Times Two

A mortgage refinance is the act of taking out another mortgage as a replacement of an existing mortgage on a property. This is done for several reasons.

1. To lower the risks from a changeable rate, by switching to a loan with a fixed rate;

2. To increase the term of the loan and to lower monthly payments;

3. To liquidate equity into cash;

4. To lower interest costs with a mortgage interest rate that is lower.

Refinancing includes many of the same costs as a mortgage, such as loan application fees appraisal. Needing to pay these fees early may seem overbearing, but it is worth it. Learn if you will save money in the long run. Check if the extra fees and penalties’ total is lower than the cost of refinancing, to get the best refinance home mortgage loan rate. Keep in mind that online mortgage calculators often fail to consider all mortgage refinancing costs.

Advice Is Advisable

Because of issues such as the variables involving online mortgage calculators, you could get a financial adviser. A financial adviser can help you get the best refinance home mortgage loan rate. Some financial advisers recommend that before homeowners refinance, they should find refinancing that reduces the mortgage rate by at least two percentage points, to achieve the best refinance home mortgage loan rate. Advisers should also be considered when liquidating equity for the purposes of debt consolidation, eliminating debt from credit cards, and huge expenses.

Rate Or Points?

A financial adviser can also help you deal with a common dilemma that homeowners face when considering refinancing. That is, should you look for the best refinance home mortgage loan rate or for more mortgage points? The answer depends greatly on how long you plan to be the homeowner. Learn the length of time needed to earn back the points’ original cost. A mortgage point is one percent of the amount of the loan. For instance, a point on a $100,000 mortgage would be equal to $1,000. If you plan on purchasing the home and living there for the entire time of the mortgage, it is wise to pay the point.

The Loan Length

The most important factor in getting the best refinance home mortgage loan rate is how long the loan will be. But keep in mind that if you have a mortgage for over five years, you can then start saving money. But if are not in the house before five years is up, paying the mortgage points is more expensive than using a higher rate to finance. In other words, five years after you took out the mortgage, the interest at 7 percent would be equivalent to the how much you paid in points!

With some analysis, planning, and assistance, getting the best refinance home mortgage loan rate will help solve your money woes. Yes, there is a way to keep yourself off the breadline, and this way could be the best refinance home mortgage loan rate.



Leroy