'Pokemon Go' Could Help You Sell Your House

Diana Olick reports how realtors are using "Pokemon Go" to help sell houses.

How To Pay Off Your Mortgage Early & Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage

There are many things homeowners can do to pay off their mortgage early. This is why it pays to have top financial planners in your corner. It's their jobs to dissect your financial situation, and help you achieve your goals more quickly. Everyone is looking for ways to pay off the mortgage on their homes but completely avoid small things that make a huge difference. Watch this episode where top financial planner Jeff Gregory of Desjardins Financial explains how to pay off your mortgage faster, and ways you can also save for retirement

6 Mistakes To Avoid When Refinancing Your Mortgage

Mistake 1

Make sure the loan officer that you are working with is qualified to help you with mortgage refinance. The same way you ask loan officers for their rates, ask them about what experience they have, whether they are licensed or not, and whether they hold any industry certifications. It's true that many states have absolutely no licensing, education or experience requirements for loan officers, and some loan officers are hired off the streets without even a background check. Are you willing to entrust one of the most important financial decisions of your life, and your personal confidential information in the hands of someone who does not adhere to any standards whatsoever? I encourage you to ask the lender about the background of the company and the individual whom you are working with. Then use good judgment to make a decision about whether or not to do business with them.

Mistake 2

If it seems too good to be true than it probably is: I always like to remind people of that. I advise you to ask more questions and try to find the catch. If the rate seems really low then look to see if there are any extra fees. Check whether there is a prepayment penalty on the loan. If the fees are reduced, check whether they are built in to a higher interest rate. Also, find out what your mortgage rate lock terms are, and make sure you are able to close the refinance before the lock expiration date.

Mistake 3

Understand that the mortgage rates and the closing costs are directly linked to each other: This one is simple, but confuses a lot of people. Lower the mortgage rate, higher the fees. Higher the mortgage rate, lower the fees. If the ongoing interest rate for a 30 Year Fixed Mortgage is at 6.00% than you can probably get 5.75% by paying additional lender fees commonly known as "points" or you can probably take 6.25% and have the lender pay for some or all of your fees. Ask your lender about these options because you need to look at different variations to calculate the best break-even point for the refinance.

Mistake 4

Understand what the mortgage rates are based on: The mortgage rates are linked directly to Mortgage Backed Securities or Mortgage Bonds that trade in the Bond Market, and are not linked to the U.S. Treasury 10yr. Note. I repeat, Mortgage rates are not linked to the U.S. Treasury 10yr. Note. While, The Treasury 10yr. Note and Mortgage Bonds both trade in the Bond Market, they are completely independent from each other, and quite often trend in different directions from each other. Just because the yield on the Treasury Note drops it does not mean that mortgage rates are going to drop as well. I can't stress it enough this is probably the BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION out there regarding mortgage rates. I've met people who have been in the industry for years and they still think rates are linked to the Treasury Note. Do Not work with a lender who is tracking mortgage rates by keeping their eye on the WRONG INDICATOR because they will NOT be able to properly advise you on a suitable time for Locking or Floating your mortgage rate. This mistake can cause you to miss out a GREAT opportunity to secure in a LOW mortgage rate for your refinance.

Mistake 5

Understand how economic indicators impact Mortgage Rates: Now that we have established that mortgage rates are linked directly to Mortgage Bonds, so the pricing of mortgage bonds is what causes the mortgage rates to fluctuate. If mortgage bond prices rise then rates come down, and if bond prices fall then rates go up. One of the major factors that impact mortgage bond pricing is the upcoming economic indicators that are scheduled to release. As you may know, that bonds & stocks usually have an inverse relationship with each other. Normally, good news for the stocks is bad for bonds, and bad news for the stocks is good for bonds. Think about it, a healthy stock market is usually a good indication of a sound economy.

Investors are more willing to invest money in stocks when companies are beating earnings, unemployment is low, and when economic indicators are pointing to higher levels of growth. In good times investors can experience 50%, 70% or even over 100% returns in the stock market versus the usual 4% - 6% return on mortgage bonds. Why in the heck would you put money in a 4% yielding mortgage bond when your stock investment is giving you a 50% return. In this situation more investors will be allocating their money in the stock market, causing the demand for mortgage bonds to decrease. Low demand will cause mortgage bond prices to fall, which in turn will cause mortgage rates to rise. On the contrary, if the economy slows down, unemployment rises, and companies do not meet their earnings.

All this negative data will cause the stock market to fall, and investors to allocate their money to a safe harbor of bonds. In this case a 4% return on your money from a safe bond investment is better than a potential loss that you may suffer from the risky stock investment. So, in bad economic times investors pull their money out of stocks and park it in bonds for safety. While, in good times they pull it out of bonds and invest it in stocks for higher returns. Therefore, good economic news will cause stocks to rise and bonds to fall while bad news will usually do the opposite. A professional loan officer would have the schedule of all the upcoming economic indicators on his finger tips, and would be able to advise you on how the data will impact the mortgage rates. Work with someone who is qualified to advise you in this matter.

Mistake 6

Maintain a short breakeven point: Breakeven point the means to calculate the amount of time it will take to reap the benefits of your refinance. Breakeven point = total closing costs/monthly payment savings. For example: If you are currently on a 30 year fixed mortgage in the amount of $200,000 @ 7.00% your monthly payment is $1330.60, and if you were to refinance to a 30yr. fixed mortgage at 6.00% your payment will be $1185.85. Let's assume that your refinance closing cost is $3000. In this scenario you will be saving $144.75 on a monthly basis, so you divide $3000 by $144.75 which equals 20.7 months.

That means it will take you almost 21 months to break even the cost of the refinance. Let's say that if you were to take 6.25% the lender will pay for all you closing cost, so in this case your breakeven point is the very next day. Remember mortgage rates and closing costs go hand and hand. I recommend going with an option that has the lowest breakeven point because majority of the mortgages in the U.S. are kept for less than 5 years. Even if you are planning on living in the house for a long time you may not end up keeping the mortgage for that time. Many things can happen, the mortgage rates can go down, you may get a promotion where current mortgage strategy might not be the most suitable for your needs, or you many need to pull some cash out of house. In any case you need to make sure you keep your breakeven point as short as possible.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2521679

Mortgages : How Do Mortgages Work?

Mortgages are basically a repayment that encompasses real estate and which are based on monthly payments that go towards principle. Discover how adjustable-rate and fixed-rate mortgages work with tips from a licensed mortgage broker in this free video on personal finance and real estate.

Helpful Reverse Mortgage Information For Potential Borrowers

As people live in their homes for many years, the thought of utilizing the equity is often a consideration. This extra money is often used for major expenses, such as house renovations, education costs, or to pay off debt. A reverse home mortgage is an option for those who have owned a house for many years. There is quite a bit to know about the process, so the following is pertinent reverse mortgage information that may be helpful.

What Are Reverse Mortgages?

This payment arrangement is a specialized loan that allows homeowners to change a portion of their equity into a liquid asset. This equity that builds up over years of making payments on a loan can be paid out to the owner. Many people confuse this with a standard home equity loan. There is a significant difference, however. With this type of arrangement, borrowers are not required to repay the money until the borrowers are no longer living in the house as their primary residence.

What Is the Difference Between a Home Equity Loan

In addition to the above, there are some additional differences between these two arrangements. With a standard equity borrower, the homeowner must make regular monthly payments on both the principal and the interest. A reverse mortgage is different in that it pays the homeowner. There are no payments to be made. The owner, however, will be required to pay all utilities, insurance premiums, and real estate taxes.

What Type of Loans Are Eligible?

The house must be a single-family dwelling or a unit with at least one unit occupied by the borrower to be eligible for this type of equity loan. Condominiums and any manufactured dwellings that meet FHA standards are also eligible. All reverse mortgage information and requirements must be followed in order to qualify.

Will the House Be Inherited?

One primary piece of information people have questions about is whether or not the house can be inherited after taking out a reverse mortgage. Once the house is sold or is no longer being used as a primary residence, the money paid out, the finance charges, and the interest must be repaid. Any additional money will belong to the estate and can be transferred to heirs. There will be no debt passed into the estate.

Can the Arrangement Be Cancelled?

According to federal law, the owner has three calendar days to change their mind and cancel out the loan. This process, called a three-day right of rescission, will be included in the reverse mortgage information provided by the lender. Always reiterate the need for this information and have it thoroughly explained. Lenders will often differ on how they approach this process. Make sure to have all contact information for the person or people who will be handling the cancellation as well as a copy of the lender's policy.

This reverse mortgage information is just the tip of the iceberg. It is crucial to discuss the process with a reputable lender to ensure there are no questions before moving forward.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9332301

How To Use Home Equity To Renovate Your Home

Watch this episode with Realtor Joe Terceira & mortgage broker Tracey Brock to find out more about how to use home equity to renovate your home.

How To Obtain a Mortgage : What Is An Escrow Account?

Lenders like you to escrow to protect their investment. Learn tips for obtaining a mortgage in this free personal finance video from a loan officer and mortgage closing specialist.