Gary Gresham asked:




Is an interest only home mortgage loan a good or bad idea for financing a home? These loans have become very popular and are one of the many different kinds of financing available for property.

Opinions vary as to whether an interest only home mortgage loan is a good idea for the average home owner, with valid points being made on both sides. If you are in the market for a home you need to consider all the finance options available to you, together with your ability to repay them.

Here are some interest only mortgage loan pro and cons to look at both sides of this kind of financing.

If you are employed full time, single and making a good salary then an interest only home mortgage loan may not be the best financing for you. That’s because you could pay off your loan at a lower rate of interest and in less time with a different kind of loan program.

On the other hand, you could save a lot of money by only paying the interest. It is possible that if you invested this in a safe investment you would not only have enough to pay off the principle on the mortgage, but would also gain a little capital for yourself at the same time.

This of course is a gamble, because how many people will actually invest the savings? However, if you have no other financial responsibilities, it’s one you might find attractive.

If you work in seasonal employment, like in the tourist industry, you may find that paying an interest only monthly mortgage payment allows you the freedom to pay a minimum amount when you are in “off season”.

But during the time you are working, you can make accelerated payments off the principle in addition to the interest.

The risk of paying an interest only mortgage loan repayment is that the principle is not being repaid. Unless the price of homes in your area rises, you don’t build up any equity in your home.

Paying the monthly mortgage payment on an interest only mortgage can become like paying rent. You don’t have the safety net of being able to sell your home to raise cash if you are faced with some emergency in your life.

As a young professional just starting out on your own, this might not be an issue you need to consider. But if you are married and have a family, you should seriously consider the implications of not having the kind of mortgage that allows you to build a financial safety net.

Home equity gives you a form of financial security that can come in handy if you really need to use it. This should be a consideration when deciding which home loan to choose.

A lower monthly mortgage payment will always look attractive on paper, but consider all the implications carefully before taking the option of an interest only mortgage loan as a way of financing your home.

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Banker asked:


went bad? Think about it, a person who trades in a car worth $4500 or less and then is forced to buy a new car. Now if they could only afford a car worth $4500 today, how are they going to afford the payments and insurance on a new car tomorrow? A few maybe, but how many people got into risky loans, loans they could not afford, just like the home mortgage mess, because it sounded like the government was almost giving you a car. Do you think a portion of these loans are risky and will go bad, just like the home mortgage loans?

Tara

Moises Reyes asked:




Be More Informed By Understanding Your Home Loan Mortgage Lender Options

If you’re looking to purchase a home, then it’s important to understand that the first step in the home buying process is to choose and meet with a lender. Before obtaining a home loan mortgage, it’s in your best interest to understand the different lender options available so that you can make the best decisions possible and ensure that the home buying process is a rewarding experience.

Types of Lenders

There are several different types of financial institutions that offer mortgage loans. These include mortgage banks and credit unions, among others. Federal and state agencies regulate most of these lenders and require them to follow federal and state mortgage law.

• Mortgage Brokers

- A mortgage broker is a middleman, representing a wide variety of lenders ranging from online mortgage companies to traditional national banks. They act as intermediaries who sell home mortgage loans for individuals or businesses. As the mortgage market has become increasingly competitive in our society, the role of mortgage brokers has overtaken traditional banks and lending institutions as the largest sellers of mortgage products. Although brokers will often offer a greater variety of lending options, they may also be less regulated depending on the state.

• Mortgage Banks

- A mortgage bank is a lender that specializes in originating and selling home mortgage loans directly to consumers. The key difference between a mortgage banker and a mortgage broker is that a mortgage banker funds its lending with its own capital, obtaining their funds by selling their loans in the secondary mortgage market. Once they originate a loan, they place it on a warehouse line of credit until they can sell it to an investor such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.

• Banks and Credit Unions

- National banks and credit unions raise money to fund mortgage loans through their customers’ checking and savings accounts and certificates of deposit. They provide loans to individual consumers or businesses with the money they have on deposit. Larger institutions may also sell mortgage-backed securities in the financial market to obtain funding to sell mortgage loans to customers. When banks and credit unions make a mortgage loan, they will either hold it in portfolio or sell it to large secondary mortgage market investors such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.

• Savings and Loan Associations

- A savings and loan association (S&L), or “thrift,” specializes in accepting savings deposits and making loans, particularly mortgage loans, and they are owned by and operated for the benefit of its members. In other words, a savings association member is a stockholder in the company, which is typically incorporated and must adhere to federal or state incorporation requirements.

Carla