Michael A. Goldstein asked:




If you are behind on your mortgage payments or are struggling to stay current on your loan payments, you may have considered refinancing your loan. However, if you have been turned down for a refinancing, and your home is worth less then you owe on it, you may be able to modify your loan. Below are several tips to successfully modify your existing loan, even if you do not have good credit.

Prepare a detailed document listing all of your income, assets and debts both secured and unsecured. More specifically, you should list out any income from wages, investments, social security, etc. You should also list any assets you have, such as investments, stocks, bonds, money in any checking or savings account, 401K, and fair market value of any additional real estate. You should list out all secured debts, such as 1st and 2nd mortgages, car loans, and any credit cards that use property as collateral, such as jewelry. Finally, you should list your home expenses, such as utilities, credit card bills, educational expenses and any other monthly expense that you incur. Draft a short hardship letter. Every loan modification has a story behind it. You need to tell the most compelling story as to why you can not stay current with your mortgage, or why you need to modify the loan to enable you to conduct some other life necessity. Prepare all of your financial documents such as: two years of tax returns, six months of bank statements, three months of pay stubs, Proof of home insurance. Form your negotiation strategy You want the bank to believe it is in their interest to modify the loan. As such, you want to remind the bank that you do want to remain in the home, but should no modification be entered into, you may have to file bankruptcy and force the lender to foreclose on your home, thereby incurring all of the legal fees and financial losses of selling your home in a depressed market. Always ask for more then you expect or want (It never hurts to ask) You want to leave room to negotiate to your eventual goal Typically start at 70% of your goal. When forming your offer, make sure you have thrown in a few items, you do not need, but can use a bargaining chips by taking them off the table. When the bank makes their first offer, you want to counter without emotion. For example you can say “let me see if that number will work for me, I need to run my numbers and get back to you with in 48 hours. I will need to speak to my attorney or broker first.” As discussed earlier, when negotiating with a bank, you may want to imply that should the loan modification or short sale not work out at the walk away price, the bank will end up taking the property and incur all the foreclosure sale fees involved. This is especially important in a depressed market, where it is unlikely the bank will recoup their return on investment. Banks do not want to owe properties in this market.


If after talking with your lender you have not received the results that you need, please feel free to contact our law office.

Willie

Peyton asked:


Please Please go easy on me, I am hoping to be a first time house owner.

Two Questions:
1) If a house you are buying is appraised for $30,000 and you are buying the house for $20,000. Can you get a loan (mortgage) for $30,000 (so I can take the extra $10,000 to fix up the place)?

2) What would be one advice would you give a 1st time home buyer, that YOU wished you knew when buying a house.

Thank you!

Sue

Ivan A Cuxeva asked:




Anyone who has experienced problems clearing CCJ debts can apply for a mortgage. The product that may suit your circumstances is sometimes called a CCJ default mortgage. Although there are many products specifically designed for those with a bad credit history, a CCJ default mortgage scheme needs specialist professional advice. If you are incapable of clearing your CCJ debts, then mortgage lenders may see you as a high risk candidate especially when the loan amount is large such as a mortgage. You may find that lenders will apply higher interest rates or special restrictions on you. The easiest method of finding a product that suits your CCJ default mortgage requirements is to speak to a professional mortgage adviser that specializes in bad credit mortgages.

How Can I Get Professional CCJ Default Mortgage Advice?

If you have had any County Court Judgments against you, you are obligated to pay the debt as soon as possible. If you manage to pay the debt before it is registered on your credit rating, then you may circumvent adding the CCJ to your credit history. If you are unable to pay off the debt during this period, the CCJ will stay on your credit history for six years, whether you clear the debt or not. Defaulting on a County court judgment can be harmful to your credit rating, because the CCJ would have been issued for non-payment of debt in the first place. If you then neglect to attend to the CCJ, your credit rating can suffer.

If you are in CCJs default and you want to buy a property, mortgage advice is absolutely essential to your success. There are many specialist mortgage schemes available to CCJ default applicants, and because of the rise in the number of people who have CCJs issued against them the amount of products in the market is growing. It is estimated that every year over a million UK residents have County court judgments issued against them. Due to the increased demand for bad credit mortgage products, lenders have introduced a wider range of schemes for the various types of credit problems that now exist.

The best place to get CCJ default mortgage advice and information is by contacting a specialist bad debt mortgage broker. By law, mortgage brokers have to be professionally qualified, regulated and approved by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). These measures were introduced to protect consumers and all mortgage brokers must follow strict FSA guidelines. If you need a CCJs default mortgage, you should make sure that the mortgage broker you choose has experience of the bad debt mortgage market. These specialist products can be very complex so it is vitally important that the broker understands both your situation and all the schemes available before they recommend any products to you. Signing up for a CCJ default mortgage is a big obligation so you, the broker and the lender must be absolutely sure that you are able to meet the full criteria of the agreement before the loan is agreed.

Are CCJ Default Mortgages More Expensive?

You should be aware of the fact that that a CCJ default mortgage will cost more than a standard residential mortgage loan. From the lenders perspective there is more risk involved in loaning money to someone with a bad credit history than to people who have not had debt problems. However, interest rates and charges for bad credit mortgages are much more competitive than a few years ago, because the market is far more competitive. So although the cost to you will be higher than a standard mortgage, they may not be as high as you might think.

Samuel

sosa__98 asked:


I’m thinking very seriously about entering the loan brokering business…any and all advice is greatly appreciated…

Geraldine

AbileneTxen asked:


My husband and I are trying to get a home loan (we only need 20,000) for a home we are looking to purchase in TX. This would be our primary home. My husband’s score is 573 and we need to get this done as soon as possible. We have a small dp to put down (1,000 or so), any advice?

Harry

Jessica asked:


home? The 1st mortgage is current I owe them $250k. The property value is only $215k. The 2nd lienholder are “private investors”; and they have sent me a trustee sale notice which has no opening bid. I matched the recorders office instrument # and it belongs to another property which is not even my property! to me it seems like they are faking the notice of trustee sale becuase it is not recorded? I have been getting advice out there and Ive been told I can file a bankrupty ch13. What to do ? help? Can they foreclose even though my 1st mortgage is being payed current ? and plus there is no equity?

ps I stopped paying because I couldt afford to pay these private investors anymore an interest rate of 13%.

also the property is in California, LA county

Marcia

Chris Borthwick asked:




It has never been harder than at the moment to get a mortgage with the current economic state. This guide has been created to provide practical tips to anyone looking to get a mortgage whether it’d be for a London or Aberdeen mortgage or anywhere in between.

Borrowing

First things first, you need to see how much you can borrow, generally mortgage lenders will allow you to borrow three times your salary or if you are buying with someone else it will likely be two and a half times of the joint salary.

There are other options to consider so don’t worry if you can’t afford to buy your ideal home using the above methods. One option lenders offer is to allow two people to buy together giving three times the salary of the larger salary and one times the lesser. Other options include if you want to rent a room out you can add this income to your salary before income assessments are calculated. It is worth searching the market to see what options lenders are offering as they often change, using a mortgage broker will help you search the market without the hassle.

Final tip for borrowing – been honest! If you hide information on debt or county court judgements held when you take a mortgage it can come back to affect you greatly, later on.

Deposits

Banks are being understandably more careful with their lending. The size of the deposit makes a huge difference not only in terms of being able to acquire a mortgage but at a decent rate. Larger deposits are needed to secure a mortgage so if you can hold on a little longer, save up a bigger deposit it will save you money in the long run. Many work overtime or take a second job and/or live at home to save money as quickly as possible. Bigger deposit -means a much better deal.

Although there are no 100% or 125% mortgages on the market as at time of writing (and unlikely soon) you do have the Family Equity Loan Plan mortgage where a parent or close family relative will take an equity stake in the property when paying for part of the home.

If you are in Scotland you also have the option of the new LIFT mortgage scheme were the government will take a stake in the property, allowing you to get that property of your dreams.

Mortgage Broker

Using the services of a mortgage broker is a good place to start. A good mortgage broker will search the whole of the market to ensure you find the best deal available whether it’d be for an Aberdeen Mortgage, London or anywhere else in the UK.

Walter

Louie Latour asked:




Many homeowners fall on hard times with their finances at one time or another. Loss of a job, divorce, illness, or the death of a family member can quickly put your budget under water. Fortunately, you have a number of options to reduce or even defer your mortgage payments. Here are several suggestions that could help manage an unwieldy mortgage payment until you are back on your feet.

I. Contact Your Mortgage Lender

Believe it or not, contacting the mortgage lender before you are behind and explaining the situation could be the answer to your financial problems. Mortgage lenders will generally work with you as long as you contact them before you’re in serious trouble. The mortgage lender may work out reduced or even deferred payments for several months simply by asking. It is usually in the best interest of the mortgage lender to keep your home out of foreclosure. Remember, you will find the lender much more accommodating if you ask before you’ve dug yourself into a deep hole.

II. Mortgage Refinancing Could Lower Your Payments

If the mortgage lender is unwilling to help you with reduced or deferred payments, consider mortgage refinancing. There are a number of loans that can significantly reduce your payment amount for a number of years. Interest only and hybrid loans are two options to consider depending on your tolerance for financial risk. Interest only mortgages allow the lowest payment amount because you are not paying any of the loan principle during the interest only period; this interest only period often lasts as long as five years.

If you have less tolerance for risk, consider a hybrid mortgage. Hybrid loans are a blend of fixed and adjustable rates that will give you a low payment like an interest only mortgage, without the same level of risk. Extending the term length of the loan type you choose will further reduce your payment amount. Traditional mortgages come with thirty year term lengths; however, there are now forty and even fifty year mortgage loans. By choosing an interest only or hybrid mortgage with the longest term length, your payment will be significantly reduced. This new, significantly lower payment amount will allow you to take back control of your budget.

III. Shop Around for the Best Mortgage Loan

Once you have decided mortgage refinancing is right for you it is important to shop around for the best lender. Homeowners often make the mistake of assuming the mortgage with the lowest interest rate is best; these homeowners neglect to factor in lender fees and closing costs, often overpaying thousands of dollars for the new loan. You can learn more about mortgage refinancing while avoiding costly mistakes by registering for a free mortgage guidebook.

Eva

Michael Petrone asked:




Although it can be confusing and seem hard to figure out, it is important you understand the terms and standard procedures which will occur when you get a home loan modification. Federal loan modification programs will require that you meet certain requirements for eligibility when applying for a modification and hoping to use a Government plan, such as the “Making Home Affordable” plan. For the absolute best chance of being approved for a home loan modification, it is necessary that you know the basics.

Home Loan Modification Terms.

These are the guidelines, terms, conditions, as well as methods, which will allow you to modify your home mortgage loan into a much more affordable payment, with better interest rates. Generally, terms of a home loan can changed to reduce the interest, deferring some of the principal, or extending the length of the home loan. Every different mortgage lender and bank will have slightly different requirements for who will be approved for a home mortgage modification through the Federal plans that are available. Make sure you know exactly what is required prior to applying for home mortgage loan modification. This way you ensure you will be approved for the best refinancing or modification deal possible.

The Standard Procedures of a Home Mortgage Loan Modification.

When applying for a home mortgage modification, their will be certain steps which must be followed depending on the type of modification, and the lenders requirements. Most certainly, a part of this procedure will require financial statements such as pay stubs, tax returns, bills, expenses, monthly budgets, bank statements, or other paperwork relating to your monthly and future financial situation. Next, pending you meet the requirements from your mortgage lender or bank, you will interview with the mortgage lender. They will basically review your documents, discuss your options, and give you the appropriate mortgage modification package for your financial situation.

If you are one of the many homeowners who is at risk of losing your home, do not wait any longer. Take action now and get a home mortgage modification through Obamas “Making Home Affordable” plan and start seeing the savings add up.

Vicki

Dennis Estrada asked:




The mortgage underwriter understands the mortgage loan qualification, approval, and pre-approval. He makes the decision if the borrower qualifies for the mortgage. If the mortgage application fails to meet the qualification level, he determines the best mortgage loan options for the borrower.

To qualify for the mortgage, the mortgage underwriter basically looks at the credit history, credit score, down payment, equity, income, and outstanding loan. So, he also understands how to repair bad credit rating, and increase the credit score.

The credit history tells how the borrower pays off loan obligation. As you pay off the mortgage, the Credit Score increases. A high score is a positive indicator. The borrower will possibly be approved for the mortgage.

The income and debt ratio helps the mortgage underwriter prove that the income is enough to cover the mortgage, and outstanding loan. To prove, the mortgage underwriter verifies all the different source of income.

First, the loan officer prepares the necessary documents for the mortgage application. Then, the loan officer enters the personal and credit information into the underwriting system. The system checks the qualification of the information. Eventually, the loan officer gets the qualified application. Then, the loan officer sends the qualified application to the mortgage underwriter. The mortgage underwriter verifies the documents including pay stubs, and bank statements. If there are missing documents and unsatisfactory documents, the mortgage underwriter asks the borrower to provide the documents. This makes sure that the borrower has enough income to pay off the mortgage. Finally, the mortgage underwriter gives the final approval.

All these steps ensure that there is absence of fraud, and meets the standards in which the mortgage are insurable, and serviceable. So, the mortgage underwriter knows the good and bad practice on mortgage application. The standards are set by the company and government.

Margaret