Posts Tagged ‘home loans’

The Purpose Of Mortgage Aggregators

Saturday, November 6th, 2010

It is unusual for mortgage lenders in Australia to deal directly with brokers who put through a low level of applications. Most lenders have policies that direct them to only deal with Mortgage Brokers who submit at least a minimum level of applications each month, such as one or two million dollars worth.

This is a very high volume for most mortgage brokers to deal with. Each home loan will be worth several hundred thousand dollars, so the broker would need to submit an application a week to comply. This would be acceptable if brokers only dealt with one lender because each broker should be able to submit at least one application per week.

This does not, however, account for the Mortgage broking model as a whole. Mortgage intermediaries are supposed to provide a selection of lenders for their clients to choose from. In Australia, brokers offer mortgage products to their clients from up to around thirty different lenders. It is this choice that attracts customers to brokers instead of applying directly with a lender. A problem arises when each of the thirty lenders demand that at least one million dollars worth of business is closed with them each month. Therefore each broker would need to submit a total of millions of dollars worth of applications each month to be able to meet the collective volume requirements off all those lenders. Most brokers simply wouldn’t be able to complete that much business on their own.

Aggregators solve this problem by acting as an entity between the lenders and brokers. An aggregator will have several brokers working for them – perhaps hundreds – and will allow them to submit their home loan applications through them. The aggregator will in turn send the applications on to the lenders. This business model ensures that more than enough applications are sent to each lender each month to maintain the relationships. All the brokers working for the aggregator will therefore be able to offer products from all the lenders on the aggregator’s lending panel.

One of the more common business models that aggregators use is that of franchising. The franchisor can have up to several hundred franchisees working for them. As with all franchise arrangements, the broker will use the franchisor’s brand name and the franchisor will provide support and administration functions. It should be noted that while the franchise model is popular with mortgage brokers in Australia, not all aggregators are master franchises.

Because Mortgage Brokers receive their income by way of commissions awarded by lenders for successful home loan applications, it follows that aggregators receive a portion of the commissions for all loan applications put through them. Brokers therefore surrender part of their commission in return for the benefit of using an aggregator. Each franchisor will have their own individual fee structures, so not all brokers give up the same level of commissions.

In all, aggregators are a necessary part of the mortgage broking industry in Australia. By providing the ability to allow brokers to offer products from a selection of lenders, they help brokers maintain their independence and offer impartial advice.

Flexible Types Of Mortgages – Part 2

Saturday, November 6th, 2010

Welcome to the second article in the series about the different types of mortgages in Australia. From reading these articles you will get up to speed with some Mortgage News and information that can help you choose a home loan. Here we’ll continue with a look at the different types of mortgage products available.

Fixed Rate Mortgages

If you want to be sure of how much your monthly repayments will be throughout the term of the loan then you might want to consider a fixed rate mortgage. The interest rate on these loans remains fixed and will not move when market rates move.

This will provide one hundred percent certainty that you will pay the same amount every month for your home loan during the fixed rate period. These fixed rate periods usually last for a couple of years. During this time, monthly payments will remain the same, allowing for households to control their budgets more accurately.

This can be very helpful to young households that don’t have a lot of extra spending money. Increases in monthly mortgage payments can hit households hard. Mortgage payment increases can send some households into insolvency. If you are worried about having your home repossessed due to rate rises then you might want to apply for a fixed rate Mortgage.

The downside to fixing your interest rate is that you won’t benefit from decreases in rates. If the Reserve Bank lowers the official cash rate, lenders usually follow their lead and lower the rates on their variable lending products. People who have obtained credit under a variable rate will subsequently save money. Borrowers with fixed rates, however, will still pay the higher rate.

It is therefore important to carefully consider your options when trying to choose between a fixed rate product or a variable rate product.

Variable Rate Mortgages

Needless to say, home loans with variable rates are the opposite to loans with fixed rates. These home loans have interest rates that can increase and decrease over time. The rate can go as high as your lender wants it to go. There are also no restrictions on how quickly the rate can rise or fall.

Obviously there is a risk that rates can rise to high levels, making your mortgage unaffordable. It is therefore a good idea to have savings set aside if you are going to apply for a variable rate product. You can use your savings if your monthly repayments become unmanageable.

This type of home loan product is therefore only suitable to people who have cash reserve or who have a low risk aversion. If this isn’t you, then you could apply for this type of home loan if you feel that rates will not rise for some time.

Alternatively, if interest rates decline, home owners with variable rates can save a lot of money. Their monthly repayments could fall substantially while borrowers with fixed rate products continue to pay the same payment they had before. If you believe that rates will drop then you should consider applying for a mortgage with a variable interest rate.

Flexible Types Of Mortgages – Part 1

Sunday, October 31st, 2010

The Australian real estate market very advanced compared to many other countries. The home loan market is also highly sophisticated. Although there is still some level of government control over the mortgage market, the reigns were loosened a while ago when the finance market was deregulated.

The mortgage lending market has expanded considerably since the restraints were lifted. The new lenders that entered the market have brought about new and sophisticated products for borrowers. There are now home loans for almost all types of borrowers from various different financial and employment situations.

These articles provide information on home loans and some current Mortgage News to help you decide what type of product is best suited to your needs.

Standard Home Loans

Although there is no definition of a “standard” mortgage product, it could be said that a product with a variable interest rate and no flexible features could fit the name. Products considered “standard” would be something like a traditional mortgage issued by a big bank from many year ago.

A standard home loan product would only be available to borrowers with perfect credit files and who have a safe, secure job with a consistent salary. To buy a house with this type of home loan you would also need enough cash to fund a large deposit of about twenty percent.

Standard Mortgage products are becoming a rarity these days. Home loans typically have at least one variable that is non-standard because people live completely different lifestyles to those that existed several decades ago.

Low Doc Home Loans

Probably the most non-standard product available is the low doc home loan. This type of mortgage does not require the applicant to prove their income by way of wage slips. Why? This is usually because most applicants of low doc loans do not have pay slips because they’re self employed.

This type of mortgage product was invented for self-employed workers who do not get pay slips but who have a steady income. Lenders have recognised that many self-employed workers are able to pay off home loans just as good as their employed counterparts.

For low doc mortgages, applicants prove their income with a statutory declaration. It is important to be truthful when declaring your income in this way as it is illegal to lie on a loan application form.

The lender will assess the application in the normal way and will approve the mortgage if they believe the self-employed worker has the ability to pay back the loan. Low doc loans usually require a larger deposit than standard mortgage products, so evidence of being able to fund the deposit will form part of the application.

Low doc mortgages sometimes come with options such as offset accounts and the ability to overpay or underpay. It is important to note, however, that not all low doc home loans offer the same flexible benefits as others. Low doc home loans also come with slightly higher interest rates than their standard loan equivalents.

Important Advice On Home Loans

Tuesday, October 5th, 2010

The property values have been increasingly steady of late through it is true, that is still on quite possible to be able to qualify and afford in your own home if you are holding a steady job with a steady stream of income. The above six tips are quite helpful for those who are attempting to obtain a home loan.

A lot of the times those seeking to buy new homes will be able to discover some great products designed specifically for low down payments and small incomes. If you can look for those home loans that offer great deals from banks in South Africa. The negotiation is always an option, too. Do not be afraid to try to haggle a better deal.

The repayment period of your loan can be prolonged from 20 years to 30 years. It will help you to reduce or lower the monthly instalments enabling you to handle a larger loan amount. But if you take a larger loan amount for longer period much of your amount will be paid towards interest only.

For those who cannot qualify for a loan on their own, they can have a co-signer. A person you are close to, whom you can rely on, and they on you, would be an ideal candidate for co-signing on a mortgage loan. The bank will base their decision of whether you qualify on both of your credit scores and histories. They will also add together your two gross incomes when determining if you meet the income criteria.

Naturally everyone wants to get the most home they can for the least amount of money which is, of course, in opposition to the home seller, who wants the most money for their home. This inherent conflict is one of the things that makes real estate sales… challenging at times. It has been my experience of late that home sellers in Phoenix are becoming much more realistic. While it used to be quite common to hear sellers say things like, “But my neighbours house sold for x dollars last year!”, sellers seem to be getting more realistic when it comes to their home’s value, as depressing as that may be.

When you pay for your loans, it can be noted that your gross monthly salary must be 3 or 4 times the loan amount that you pay every month. Loans work in a way that the lender sanctions you the loan such that the loan amount you pay will be only 20% to 30% of your monthly income. This is done so that the loan doesn’t deprive you of paying for your essential commodities. To not become disappointed at low loan sums granted to you, make sure you do the math beforehand as to what the sum is.

Generally while processing your loan the bank always considers your credit profile which contains data that includes your consumer bureau credit results, history of employment, income and your standing with the bank. And all these are compact into a number that is based on specific scoring model as devised by the bank.

Advice On Mortgage Refinancing

Sunday, October 3rd, 2010

If there is a rise in the interest rate of an individual he is supposed to again finance the mortgage. This has been frequently suggested by most of the people who have wide knowledge about the interest rate of the mortgage. If anybody is interested to stay in their residence for a lengthy time period, and not interested in any of the huge cut in the rate of interest, in that case he needs to refinance the mortgage immediately and take hold of the chance even though if there is a decline in the percentage to a certain extent.

Just as you finance your mortgage for the first time, you have to follow the similar steps and procedures for refinancing also.

At the time of refinancing your mortgage, it is necessary to ask the banker about the closing cost estimates, this is because when you go for mortgage, the loan provider does not always tells about the closing cost estimates and since it is necessary that you should ask your banker. Decrease in interest rate is not only reason for your refinancing of mortgage. Refinancing has other reasons too.

There are several options for individuals seeking to make a change to their existing mortgage. Individuals with a variable rate mortgage may wish to reduce interest rates by seeking a fixed rate mortgage. Often, individuals wish to shorten the repayment period of a loan to build equity faster, perhaps by retirement age, for example. Home equity loans on the existing equity in an individual’s home may assist that person with a specific need in their life, such as the marriage of a child, remodelling of a home, or the children’s college education. Individuals seeking a new mortgage, or home equity loan, should consult with their banker to determine if they qualify.

The loan amount is given after deducting a certain amount from the desired amount and the lender should be able to pay it back. An old lender would not enjoy any advantage in this matter compared to a new lender. Loan with cost of zero is available from some banks and though it may look better, the increased interest rate makes it more expensive than it appears to be.

The most vital part of refinancing a home loan is that you should be aware of the value of your home which can be taken on mortgage basis. In other sense, refinancing an expensive home would lead you to disheartening state of mind as this is not done any more and also the price of this expensive home goes down due to fair or zero cost in their property.

One can avail of refinance for a new home if your older house is really worth the cost showed on paper; and one should pay a sum upfront, to get a low rate home mortgage.

This Is How You Change Your Home Loan

Sunday, October 3rd, 2010

In owning a property, a home loan can be considered very convenient and also helpful. But it may land you in stressful situation if an unnecessary amount is being paid. The solution to reduce the present high amount of monthly instalment is to arrange one more home loan from a different financial institution which also ensures to restrict the pay back period to the absolute minimum.

The most common reason would be to have a low interest rate. If your interest rate is low on your home loan then this means that your monthly instalments will also be much less which will result in the availability of more cash in your pocket to take care of other financial commitments. If you are thinking of refinancing your home loan it may be because of one of a few possible reasons.

To continue in the market, many financial institutions devise their product for home loans with special packages with very attractive interest rates to allure the loan takers and this might land the loan takers to a new lender. Some of these loan takers would refinance their home loans with a view to owning a large amount of money to invest in business or pay back their earlier debt and also buy other assets. This refinancing a home loan always carries both merits and demerits.

In South Africa most of the people who need home loans are approaching alternate financing institution other than bank. The difference is that financial institutions such as mortgage originator asks you to fill out only one application form whereas going to various bank asks to complete different forms with each bank.

Applications submitted to a Mortgage Originator are sent to several prominent banks and lenders to gather information which would allow you to compare interest rates. This makes it easier for the borrower to shop around for the best interest rate, as well as compare repayment conditions.

Every financial institution is charging very high amount for the exit of the loan. The fees is collected in two ways either they will add it to your monthly instalments by increasing the amount to be paid each month or they will increase the duration of the payback period. The exit fees are only the percentage and these percentages are always lower if you decide to make the exit after long duration.

Ancillary expenses are involved to make a new home loan secure which include fees for financial institution for getting the loan also. So it is always better to cling to the original lender if you want to make your expenses economical with a view to restricting the higher expenses for exit charges as well as ancillary charges.

So many times we have to make decisions without a framework and no way to judge between two choices. When faced with a tricky decision it’s often a good idea to line up your choices and ask “Which one of these most honours the things that mean the most to me?” The decision that’s most in line with the things that mean the most to you – your core values – will be the best decision for you. That might not be the simplest or most practical, but because it fits with who you are and what’s most important to you it will always be the best decision for you.

Want To Know How To Calculate Your Monthly Mortgage Instalments?

Tuesday, September 28th, 2010

You have planned and decided to purchase a home suitable to your family. You have decided its location, size, future appreciation and budget. You are prepared to accept terms either monthly payments or outright. The only worry is locating the home. Why do you worry, the internet is there which will take care of such dilemma?

The break up of mortgage instalments are as follows: 1. Down payment including interest. 2. A processing fee. 3. Insurance premium. 4. A life insurance policy.

Light has to be thrown on the calculation of mortgage instalments as far as lenders are concerned. It is done in more or less similar manner by all the banks. Prime rates are used for the derivation of interest rates; thereby making them an important driving factor. Credit rating, period of the loan, age of the client etc. are few other important factors to be considered.

A tenure of 20 years is generally set aside by the lenders. However, there is no hard and fast rule, as this tenure is totally negotiable. One may discover that the tenure of repayment of loan may be extended to a period of as high as 35 years; however, longer the repayment period, higher is the interest rate. Hence one should try and select a variable-rate APR over a fixed-rate.

As per the guidelines of the institutions of South Africa, one’s total monthly charges cannot exceed 25% of his total income. However, in case of a married couple, one can jointly apply for 30% of the total income of both the people. In the event of the existence of marriage between two people having stability in their jobs, one can hope for qualification of the home loan of a greater amount at a lower rate of interest.

There are lot of other charges that need to be paid while settling for a mortgage. Most of the banks require paying the following two elements-the principal amount (the amount which is received from lender) and the interest amount (the amount fixed for lending that money).

Administration charges to be incurred on a monthly basis are basically a figure that is negligible. The cost incurred for life insurance is totally within the payment range of the companies. A lot of people dispute regarding the beneficiaries of the life insurance policy in the event of death of the policy holder. Home owner’s insurance is important as it provides protection against the property under the possession of the bank from criminal activities and natural calamities.

Acquiring a home loan is very easy now and you do not have to go from one bank to another searching for the best deal. With the comfort of your home, you can browse the umpteen sites and get the best loan terms and rates suitable for you. The process can be initiated online too. It’s as simple as that.

Is It Time To Refinance?

Sunday, September 26th, 2010

Whether ‘tis nobler in the hearts and minds of men to suffer the slings and arrows of the refinance?

Good question. Interest rates are at a four-decade low and have been for months. Should you refinance? And maybe more importantly, can you refinance? To help set your mind somewhat at ease, first note that yes Virginia banks are lending, however it is not as easy to get a loan as it had been in fact lenders are making it quite hard to get approved.

Lenders used to only require tax returns and pay stubs going back for 18 months. Now everyone is requiring 2 years worth of documentation and proof.  Only borrowers with clean credit histories and high credit scores can get those super low interest rates. Unfortunately there are many would-be borrowers who have suffered a job loss or pay reduction. If your current income falls below the minimum required to qualify, you won’t be able to take advantage of today’s low rates.

However even those up-side down or under water can get refinancing. It isn’t impossible to do but it certainly isn’t easy either. There will be those who are not able to refinance because they do not have any equity, however help is still available to some in the form of Home Affordable Mortgage Program, HAMP, if you have a loan that is owned by either Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. If your loan is owned by either of these you can refinance with out having any equity.

What if you recently refinanced? What if you just financed a new home in San Marcos or Detroit?Recent interest rate drops have enticed homeowners who already refinanced to think about refinancing again. Is that a good idea? It depends on how long it would take you to recoup the refinance closing costs, including title insurance, points and escrow and appraisal fees. An average loan will cost about $3000 to refinance. Compare your old mortgage payment to the new proposed mortgage payment. How many months of savings will it take to “get back” the closing costs?

Remember that just because you have new lower monthly payments does not mean that you have really lowered your costs. You are restarting the payment clock when you refinance. Let’s say you have been paying your mortgage for 15 years, there are 15 years left to pay it off. If you get a new 30 year loan, your payment will be significantly lower, but you’re starting the 30 years over. The money you spend on an added 15 years of mortgage may be more than what you thought you would be saving by getting a lower rate. Ask your loan officer about a 15 or 20 year loan. Often the interest rates are even lower on these shorter term loans.

Like every other purchase you make do your homework. Ask around. Talk to friends and family and see what rates they have been able to obtain and who they went to for their loan. Before the housing meltdown, people were in a buying frenzy. They borrowed without really doing their homework. You must understand the terms of the loan now and in the future. You have to pay back the loan according to these terms or you could lose your home as so many people are doing right now. Read all the documents that come with your new loan. Ask questions if there’s something that you don’t understand.

If you educate yourself, do the research to know what you’re getting into and think about the decision sensibly, you could save a lot of your hard-earned money in the long run.

Criteria For Getting A Mortgage

Saturday, September 4th, 2010

There are a lot of things to remember as a first time home buyer and it can be difficult to keep track of everything. It is important to talk to your realtor, mortgage company and any trusted friends or relatives who can help guide you. Having a good understanding of what you need to do is especially important when it comes to choosing and obtaining a home loan.

When someone is considering entering into a home loan it is beneficial to use a mortgage calculator. This is because it can help the prospective borrower work out how much their repayments would cost. Using a mortgage calculation tool normally takes into account the term of the loan and interest payments and how much can be borrowed in relation to their earnings and outgoings.

When you apply for a home loan, the banks or mortgage companies look into some factors which act as the criteria for determining whether you are eligible to avail the loan facility. You might be or might not be a first timer. The factors are job and salary, age, amount deposited etc. All these are considered, to finally determine whether you will be able to afford the house and repay the debt within time.

Age is a big factor when obtaining a mortgage. Typically, more mature buyers are given more desirable deals and a larger amount of funds along with competitive interest rates. The fact that they have more stable employment, and better collateral to put up, is usually the reason for the preferential treatment.

This however, does not indicate that younger people don’t get home loans. They get home loans with good interest rates in fact. The criteria points that the applicant has is a factor and if he has good enough points, he will have a good chance at receiving the amount of money needed to buy the home. Also, many of the financial houses look at each and every applicant’s situation prior to the decision.

Securing a home a loan is facilitated by the applicant having sufficient income to make monthly payments. This is true because one of the primary criteria in calculating your eligibility is your debt to income ratio. This determines how much you can afford in a monthly house payment. This criterion is standard amongst lenders.

Discover More About Mortgage Interest Rates

Saturday, September 4th, 2010

It is decided every day how much you will pay on interest on a home loan. The final balance of what you owe is the determining factor, so if you are staying ahead of your payments, your interest amount will decrease. The size of the loan is also a factor in the interest. You will pay less interest on a smaller loan.

Take this for example. You receive a work bonus of 500 rands on the tenth day of any month. You can use this against your current loan in order to lower the interest amount on this term. The banks always total the interest rate up at the end of the month so you see savings on next months bill.

There are never static interest rates. People with home loans would love a falling interest rate so that they can pay less, but heightened interest rates result in higher payments. Even with a 1% rise in the rate, you can pay a significant amount due to the large amount of a home loan. People who have variable rates have experienced financial difficulties due to risen interest rates. This is one factor that you should consider when looking into a home loan to purchase property.

Homes should be purchased while interest rates are stable unless you can afford more than the required maximum term so that money can be saved by paying on a lower balance.

If the situation should arise that interest rates increase on two separate occasions, it would be prudent to make preparations to include an additional amount to the monthly payment. Failing to do so will have a dire effect on your finances since the original amount of calculated interest will be greatly increased. Once the rate of interest stabilizes, submitting the lowest possible amount would be a consideration.

In case if the interest rates are rising, it is better to consider the above suggestion which is a wise decision. You are sure to see the benefit in the long term even if you may have to cut back on allowances on holidays and clothing. Don’t forget that the advance payments you have made would also have become a support for you, even if you have problem making the monthly payments. So if you have used up this reserve of the advance payments you should think about making increased payments when there is improvement in your financial status.