Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Refinance After Bankruptcy - How Does Your Bankruptcy Affect Home Mortgage Refinancing?

There are a few basic concepts one should know when looking into refinancing a mortgage after a bankruptcy. Most importantly, you need to know the two different types of personal bankruptcy that you can declare.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, often called "straight bankruptcy", is an attempt for someone financially overextended to liquidate most of their assets to satisfy creditors, keeping only a few personal assets needed for the basic necessities of life such as an economical car, personal clothing, etc.

In Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, your assets are not liquidated. Instead, you come to an agreement with an appointed trustee where late charges and other penalties are eliminated and you start a payment plan to repay much of the debt owed. This process can take over a year or two, but will allow you to retain belongings (and property). Also, it is looked at more favorably by lenders because you are attempting to repay your debts, not just write them off. Lenders will look at both the date the bankruptcy was filed and when it was discharged.

A Chapter 13 Bankruptcy "buyout" is a refinance loan, taking out a new loan to cover the existing mortgage and some or all of the other debts. This is basically considered a "cash-out" refinance. Most Chapter 13 Bankruptcy refinance loans are limited to roughly 85% of the value of your home.

When refinancing out of a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, or soon after a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, you will almost certainly be working with a sub-prime or "non-prime" lender. These lenders specialize in helping borrowers with blemished credit histories. Often, borrowers refinancing near the time of a bankruptcy will seek the assistance of a mortgage broker, many of whom have experience with this type of loan. If possible, it is best to wait at least two years after the discharge of your bankrupty to refinance your mortgage. This will help you to receive a better interest rate. Start now to pay your bills on time and in full. This will help to repair your credit and give you even better chances of a lower rate.


http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles/refinance-after-bankruptcy-how-does-your-bankruptcy-affect-home-mortgage-refinancing-117366.html

Mortgage Tips: How to Save Thousands of Dollars

Educate yourself. Get several quotes. Mortgage brokers will generally offer a better deal than a bank, but it doesn’t hurt to call a bank or two for comparison as well. A good loan originator will spend as much time with you on the phone as you need. And a truly professional loan originator will ask enough questions to understand your goals. If you don’t feel good about a conversation, trust your instinct; cross them off your list and move on.

Get everything in writing

Make sure to ask for Good Faith Estimates. There can be quite a few costs associated with getting a mortgage. You want to see every one. Comparing Good Faith Estimates can be challenging because different mortgage lenders often use different terminology. Don’t let that stop you. It’s also a good idea to ask the mortgage broker if there are any additional costs that are not shown on the estimate.

Ignore the APR

APR, or Annual Percentage Rate, was originally designed to help borrowers compare mortgages. I won’t go into the mathematics involved, but in principle APR was a good idea. In practice it has turned out to be useless. Lenders do not all use the same inclusion methods in calculating APR. To add to the confusion, adjustable rate mortgage calculations are notoriously misleading. But that’s okay! APR involves two variables, note rate, and closing costs, and all you need to see is on the Good Faith Estimate.

Points versus rate

I’ve been a Florida mortgage broker since 1989. My company is also licensed in Georgia, Massachusetts, and Virginia. We talk to lots of people about home financing. It’s my experience that when people are shopping for a mortgage they often fixate on the interest rate, and overlook the points. Interest rate and points are inversely related. Unless you specify that you don’t want to pay points a lender is likely to price your loan with one or two points. This will make your rate lower, but it may not be a better deal. If the lower rate saves you fifty dollars a month on your payment but you pay an extra five thousand dollars in points, it will take you eight years to catch up with the cost of the points. Do the math.

The margin trap

Many adjustable rate mortgage programs now offer a variety of margins for you to choose from. This means that you may have an opportunity to control your future interest rate. Sooner or later all adjustable rate mortgages adjust to an interest rate that is equal to an index plus the value of your margin. You have no control over the movement of the index. But if you can get a lower margin you will have a lower rate (once your loan starts adjusting) for as long as you have your loan. Your good faith estimates should all indicate the margin for your loan. Call the individual mortgage brokers and tell them you are interested in a lower margin. Don’t be shy. It’s your money!

Pre-payment penalties; Good and bad

As a Florida mortgage broker licensed in several states I discuss financing with many people every day. Most people are averse to considering a loan with a prepayment penalty. But it is worth looking into. Adding a prepayment penalty to your loan may reduce your interest rate significantly. Prepayment penalties typically expire after three years, but recently many lenders have started offering a choice of one, two, or three year penalties. Will you still be in the home past the expiration of the prepayment penalty? If you outlast the penalty you have reduced your monthly payment for as long as you have the loan. That can add up. And it didn’t cost a penny!

Choose wisely

There are an amazing number of mortgage programs to choose from these days. You can select a fixed or an adjustable rate mortgage. Or you might choose one of many hybrid fixed period adjustable programs designed to give the comfort of a fixed for a predetermined number of years before starting to adjust. Interest only options are available now on both fixed and adjustable rate programs. When selecting your mortgage program think about yourself. Any decision only makes sense if it makes sense in the context of your life.


http://www.articlesbase.com/mortgage-articles/mortgage-tips-how-to-save-thousands-of-dollars-105409.html

Lower Monthly Payments by Refinancing a Mortgage

Amongst the most common reasons homeowners consider refinancing their current mortgage is to lower monthly payments or to reduce current interest rates. Bad credit ratings have a negative impact on lenders, therefore, when refinancing banks or financial institutions often quote high mortgage refinance interest rates. If cleverly approaching this issue, one can find options that help reduce rates and hopefully get a decent quote.

Repairing Your Credit Score Will Give You Prime Options

Being labeled as bad credit often places you in the sub-prime market, where rates are higher and approval percentages are lower. Naturally, your best interest is to belong to the prime market giving you more flexible options and lower interest rates. The best way to achieve this (without paying a large down-payment) is to repair your credit. If you want to repair your credit without contacting a credit counselor, pay your monthly bills on time. After a few months your credit score will climb and eventually find more refinancing opportunities.

Taking this course of action might seem difficult at first since it requires will power, changing your current spending habits and correct money management, however, in the long term it really pays off.

Comparing Online Quotes for the Optimum Rate

The home loan refinance market these days is very competitive. Use it for your advantage! Comparing different lenders' quotes online is cheap, simple, fast and easy. In addition it can be done every day of the year including holidays. Understand that lenders quote lower because they save more money from the "selling" point of view and can pass on the savings to the borrowers. Another reason to compare multiple quotes is to avoid getting scammed. When you compare different mortgage lenders and options you get a clearer look at the market rates. Therefore, when you get a very low, or to good to be true offer chances are you met a scammer.

When looking into bad credit home loan refinance be sure to pay attention to the fine print. Compare mortgage lenders to get the best quote possible.


http://www.articlesbase.com/mortgage-articles/lower-monthly-payments-by-refinancing-a-mortgage-122988.html

Mortgage Refinancing - The Facts

Mortgage refinancing is when a homeowner gets a new home loan to pay off their existing one. The benefits of doing this are that they may be able to save money by getting lower interest rates or special deals. Refinancing is not the best option for everyone, though. For a person who is facing financial problems refinancing could spell trouble.

It is common for a person to want to save money on their home loan. A home is most likely the biggest purchase a person will ever make, but that does not mean they have to stick with one lender and pay the same high interest rates forever. Home owners have the option of refinancing to cut their home buying costs. Refinancing involves shopping around for a better deal then the one they currently have.

When shopping around it is advisable to approach a few good mortgage brokers that work with a large panel of lenders, not just one or two. This way they can search the market place to find the right deal for you. This is even more advisable if you have a bad credit history.

A good broker will have access to a number of specialist adverse or sub prime lenders who will be able to offer you competitive rates. The same is true if you are self employed and have trouble proving your income.

Many times when a person is facing financial problems they see using their home as a way to clear their debts. While that is an option, refinancing to get out of financial problems is not a good idea. One reason is that should the person be unable to make the new loan payment, then their house is now in jeopardy.

Unless a person is truly sure that refinancing their home to get money to pay off debts is something they can afford and will truly solve their problems, then it is not a wise decision.

Some people refinance to change from a variable interest rate to a fixed interest rate. This can be very beneficial. Fixed rates mean that the mortgage payment never changes and is the same form month to month.

With a variable rate the amount of the mortgage can change drastically form month to month as the interest rates fluctuate. However, with a fixed rate a person has to be careful not to lock in on too high of a rate. They would then lose out when interest rates go down, unless they go through mortgage refinance again.

There are also many lenders out there who are not what they say to be. Mortgage refinance scams are common and can really be damaging. To avoid scams a person should always deal with a trusted lender and read every piece of paperwork completely. If a deal does not seem right then it is best to back out before ever signing anything.

Mortgage refinance can be a very good thing if done carefully. There are also many ways in which it can go wrong. Homeowners need to be aware of everything involved in mortgage refinance so they can get the best possible deal that will save them the most money.

They should also always be aware that they are risking their home should they not carrying through with their mortgage obligations. It is important to make sure everything is in place and understood before ever signing the papers.


http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/mortgage-refinancing-the-facts-127772.html

Bad Credit Mortgage for a Safe and Secure Online Adverse Credit Remortgage

Reverse Mortgage is different from normal mortgage. Mortgage is a form of hypothecation of the property to the banks as a security for a loan. The common form of security, which banks insist, is on the mortgage of the house for which the loan is being availed of by a borrower. Mortgage refers to the transfer of an interest in specific immoveable property for the purpose of securing money advanced. The transferor is called a mortgagor, the transferee a mortgagee, the principal money and interest of which payment is secured are called the mortgage money, and the instrument by which transfer is affected is called a mortgage deed.

A reverse mortgage also aids the borrower who is facing bad credit problem due to mortgage loan defaults. A bad credit reverse mortgage is specially designed to encourage cash flow among borrowers with adverse financial situation. It allows you to combat the current predicament.

Does mortgage reverse work?

In case of a reverse mortgage, the property owner surrenders the title of the property to a financial entity. The financial entity doesn’t pay the entire amount to the owner upfront. On the contrary it pays out a regular sum each month for the agreed time. The owner gets to stay in the property along with spouse for their lifetime. Thus the owner can ensure a regular cash flow in times of need and enjoy the benefit of staying in the property. After the owner’s death, the property is transferred to the institution, and not to the heirs. Reverse mortgage is quite popular in the developed countries like UK to generate cash flow.

The financing institution has to bear the risk of the individual outliving the agreement. At the expiry of the agreement period, the monthly payments to the owner stop. The monthly payout depends on the value of the property, the term of the agreement and the rate of the payment. The valuation of the property is to be done by the professionals. The pay out mechanism –calculation and computation depends on the law of probability. On the death of the owner, the spouse can continue living on the premises. Only in case both the husband and wife die during the tenure of the scheme, the institution will sell the property, take its share and distribute the rest among the heirs. There would be a need to align these arrangements with the existing inheritance laws of the country.

However, the inheritance laws differ from country to country. It is vital to the borrower to understand the intricacies and the legal implication of a reverse mortgage before opting for a reverse mortgage lender.


http://www.articlesbase.com/loans-articles/bad-credit-mortgage-for-a-safe-and-secure-online-adverse-credit-remortgage-130763.html

I Want to Refinance a Mortgage to Consolidate Debt, Should I?

From year to year more people find themselves drowning in debt and can't seem to find a way out. They have a mortgage to repay and the amount of debt they are in is "killing" their credit score. Depending on your status you might want to refinance your mortgage to help you get out of debt, but, not always.

Identifying the Debt Problem before Refinancing

Refinancing is a good idea if the process will not cost you too much and will eventually help you in the long term. Therefore, identifying the main reason that got you into debt is a necessity. If the Mortgage payments are too high and you don't use your credit card that often (or wisely), you may want to refinance to a longer repayment period. Doing so will lower your monthly payments and help you manage your income without paying too much for your mortgage.

If you find that your credit card is the main cause for your debt, refinancing wouldn't be the best. This action would put your house as collateral and if you refinance your mortgage to consolidate debt and can't keep within your monthly budget you will eventually have to give up your house. Therefore, if you do not have a different option, do it wisely and get rid of those credit card problems by making sure you won't use them often.

How do Bad Credit Ratings Effect Your Refinance Quote?

Being labeled as bad credit gives lenders a "bad impression" about your spending habit. This doesn't mean you won't be able to refinance, but, at a relatively high rate. If you want to be offered decent rates, work your way up! Pay your bills on time. After a few months your credit score will improve and you will be welcomed into the prime market will you will be quoted lower rates and receive flexible repayment options.


http://www.articlesbase.com/mortgage-articles/i-want-to-refinance-a-mortgage-to-consolidate-debt-should-i-141613.html

Refinancing your Mortgage for the Right Reasons

There are a several reasons people decide to refinance their home mortgage. Some do it for the right reasons and unfortunately some refinance for the wrong reasons. If you are thinking of refinancing your home mortgage ask yourself some important questions first.

Do I have To Refinance?

Experts recommend refinancing a home mortgage when you don't have a better option and you need extra cash. If you know that refinancing will be the ultimate solution, once you've done your due diligence, then go ahead. If you are hesitating maybe wait a bit longer or perhaps contact a few lenders and get some opinions.

What is the main purpose you would like to refinance?

If it is for home improvements, or to extend your mortgage repayment period then chances are that you are on the right track. For example, if you have obtained an Adjustable rate mortgage and would like to refinance to a Fixed Rate Mortgage, read the TOS before making a decision. The total costs may not be worth it. However, if you can afford the payments and you will feel comfortable, refinancing may be a good idea.

Am I refinancing To Improve My Credit Score?

This is a big NO! When you refinance with bad credit ratings the chances that you will get a good rate are very low. The cost of refinancing is just not worth it. First pay your bills on time. In the course of a few months you will belong to the prime market where you will find better rates.


http://www.articlesbase.com/mortgage-articles/refinancing-your-mortgage-for-the-right-reasons-142000.html

Refinancing a Mortgage at the Best Time Possible

There are some dilemmas that people have to cope with before refinancing. Among the most popular ones is the timing. It often can be frustrating when planning on refinancing a mortgage because you don't want to pay the down payment or for any other reason. When proper research is done prior taking action, one will understand the market better and eventually make an educated decision.

Identify the Main Reason for Refinancing

In cases where you need extra cash for home improvements it is said that any time is a best time for refinancing. You may also use this opportunity to lengthen the repayment period which will eventually give some relief with the monthly payments that are to be paid.

When the main purpose is to consolidate debt things tend to be a bit tricky. You know that you need the cash to pay off debt but are worried about placing your house as collateral against unsecured credit card debt. The best advice you can get is to refinance as the last option.

Refinancing at an Early Stage

If you have obtained a mortgage and are at an early stage of repayment, however, you've found that the repayment plan you chose to work with is too high and for any reason, find it difficult to keep up with the payments, refinancing may be the best option you have. It will give you a chance to spread out the payments for a longer time, eventually giving you some peace of mind.

Calculate Before You Take Action

Make sure that if you refinance don't do it more than once. It will be expensive and time consuming. If at any point you get the idea to refinance for the main purpose of improving your credit score you are headed in the wrong way. Paying your bills on time is the best way to improve your credit ratings.
Find home mortgage refinance loan information, and avoid scams.


http://www.articlesbase.com/mortgage-articles/refinancing-a-mortgage-at-the-best-time-possible-142004.html