Robbie T. James asked:




Home is where the heart is. Home is where you hang your hat. Home… well, you get the picture. The home holds a dear place in the heart, minds and souls of pretty much everyone on the planet.

And yet, from a less sentimental perspective, the home can be seen yet another way: it is where we invest a heck of a lot of money.

Yes, besides the sentimental and practical value of our homes, they also represent a very significant financial investment for each and every homeowner. Not only are there the up-front closing costs and down payments associated with buying a home, but there are the ongoing, monthly expenses as well. No matter the value or price of your home, it is almost a sure bet that it wasn’t cheap to buy.

Maybe you have been able to make your mortgage payments for a number of months or years, but then something happens in life that makes it harder to keep up. Maybe you are able make your mortgage payments, but doing so causes you to sacrifice too much in other important areas of your life. Or, maybe you have been consistently late in making your payments – and may even be risking default.

In those cases, a mortgage loan refinance may be in order.

When To Consider Mortgage Loan Refinancing

Regardless of whether you actually have trouble making your monthly mortgage payments or whether you would just like to save some money like everybody else, an excellent way to reduce your payments is to refinance your loan.

While there is no single magic formula for knowing when it is best to refinance your home, there are some rules of thumb that can help. You should consider refinancing if:

a. you notice that mortgage rates (such as 15 year fixed or 30 year fixed) have gone down since the time you got your current mortgage by at least 0.5% to 1%

b. your credit score has improved since the last time you refinanced

c. you would like to extend the term of your loan to 30 years from 15 or 20 years

d. you have equity in your home that you would like to cash out (turn into cash)

Mortgage Loans Refinance: Home Loan Tips

If you are considering refinancing, the next step is to shop for the best deal. Here are 3 tips that can help you make the right decisions:

1. Research the best mortgage loan refinance lenders in your area: Start by making a list of at least 5-6 lenders who specialize in refinancing.

2. Figure out the ideal mortgage term for your new loan: Use an online mortgage calculator. By plugging in different payment terms (e.g., 15 years, 30 years, etc.) you can figure out how this will affect your future monthly payment amount.

3. Apply to multiple lenders: Be sure to apply to all of the lenders on your list. Remember, more lenders means more choices, which means a better chance of landing an excellent rate.

Follow these 3 tips to get the best-possible interest rate on your new mortgage loan refinance.

Jesus

Shaye P asked:




Credit requirements for FHA Loan are comparatively less stringent as compared to

Conventional Mortgage Loan VA Mortgage Loan USDA Home Loan

The first thing to understand is that there is no specific score requirement specified by FHA. The loans are underwritten based on overall credit profile of a borrower. Most lenders use automated systems like Desktop Underwriter by Fannie Mae or Loan Prospector by Freddie Mac, along with investor specified credit score requirements, to determine eligibility. If the loan is auto approved by DU or LP and score requirements are met then other factors like lates (Not Mortgage Lates), collections, charge offs are accepted, relatively easily, by underwriters. Generally a prospective Buyer may not like to pay charge offs or old collections and this may be possible on an auto approval.

Judgments and Tax Liens

Judgments and Tax Liens are a different ball game since these affect title. A 12 month history from IRS may be accepted by certain lenders and prospective Buyers may not be asked to clear the entire outstanding tax Lien in one go. Judgments normally need to be paid.

Credit Scores 640 + or 620 +

Credit requirements required by majority FHA Home Loan Lenders has already been increased to 640 for the past few months now. The earlier score requirements were 620. There are some lenders who will finance borrowers with 620 + fico. There are no additional pricing hits for FICOs being below 640 and above 620.

Credit Scores Below 620

Few FHA Home Loan lenders will accept such borrowers, if they have NO NEW lates in the last 12 months. Any new collections or charge offs opened as a result of lates before the last 12 months are considered OK.

No Active TradeLines or No Scores

The same principle applies. Some FHA Home Loan lenders will accept such borrowers if they have NO NEW lates in the last 12 months. Any new collections or charge-offs opened as a result of lates before the last 12 months are considered OK only if Non Traditional credit can be established. Non Traditional Credit for 12 months can be documented in the form of Rent payments, Telephone/ Cell phone payments, Electricity, Water, Garbage, Cable, Storage or any other payments made consistently for the last 12 months. Generally a combination of 4 Traditional or Non traditional lines are required.

Prospective Home Buyers should read comprehensive Lending information on FHA Loans, VA Mortgage Loans, USDA Loans, Conventional Loans.

Access the PreQual affordability Mortgage Calculator

Doris

Juhani Tontti asked:




The reverse mortgage loan is a long term solution. Many seniors seem to think, that when they postpone the financial decisions, the time will handle the issue. Unfortunately,. The time just worsens the things and the only wise thing is to make the decision now. And, the reverse mortgage loan is just one option.

1. It Is Important To Act Quickly.

The limit is 3 months. If a senior is 3 months, or more, behind with his mortgage payments, it is important to act quickly. The first thing is to contact the lender and to tell him honestly, what is your situation and whether he has some tips, what to do. You can also ask, whether the reverse mortgage loan would be useful in your situation.

Most obviously a senior needs more disposable money to be able to handle all the monthly costs. When he has an old mortgage left, which he has to pay monthly, the reverse mortgage loan can handle two things. A senior can pay away the old mortgage with the reverse loan, which gives him more disposable money. Exactly, what he needs. The reverse loan has no monthly payments.

2. The Importance Of The Good Credit Score.

The credit score is like a good health. When it is okay, you will not even notice it, but when you have lost it, it causes many troubles. The bad credit score makes the borrowing more expensive or even impossible. If a senior meets the foreclosure, his credit score will drop by 250 – 300 points for 10 years. And he will lose the home.

3. How The Reverse Home Mortgage Will Help A Senior?

The best feature of this loan type is, that the lender will pay to the senior. A senior has to have a home, where he has an equity left, which is his permanent home. The age must be 62 or over.

By taking the reverse loan, he transfers a part of the home equity into cash money. This means extra disposable money every month. On the top of this, he can pay away the traditional mortgage with the reverse one, which further adds his disposable monthly cash. The new loan capital, interests and all costs will be paid, when the loan will be closed. This happens, when the borrower will move away, sell the home or die.

4. How The Loan Amount Is Calculated?

There is a maximum limit of $ 625.000. The age of the borrower, the interest rate level and the appraised value of the home are the 3 factors, which influence on the loan amount. The thumb rule is, that the older the borrower is, the higher the appraised home value and the lower the interest rates, the more a senior can borrow.

5. This Is A Must: A Senior Has To Meet The Counselor.

Before a senior can sign the reverse mortgage loan contract he has to meet the counselor, says the law. This is very good, because the counselors are free to guide also concerning other options and they are not salespeople. A senior makes it wise, if he will prepare well for this meeting, because it can be honestly useful.

Leslie