What is an Adjustable Rate Mortgage

•So which is better fixed rate or adjustable rate mortgage
?   by Syd Johnson This is a question that keeps coming up when customers start looking at purchasing or refinancing their home. If you look at the average 30 or 15 year mortgage, it seems that the better mortgage depends on the type of customer.The best mortgage is one that fits in your long term budget, won’t use up too much of your monthly income, and gives you a sense of control over your home so you don’t end up house rich and cash poor. Let’s look at the basics.Fixed rate gives you...

•Home Mortgage Refinancing A second chance for homeowners with high interest loans
   by Syd Johnson Home Mortgage refinancing is a great option for homeowners who have a mortgage that is a couple years old, have built up some equity, but find themselves struggling with a high interest debt. The entire home mortgage refinancing process is basically getting your mortgage company or another lender to pay off your existing loan, and qualify you for another one with a lower interest rate.Your finances get a second lookEven if you are dealing with your current mortgage lender,...

•Short on Cash Get a Mortgage with a Buy Down
Short on Cash? Get a Mortgage with a Buy Down   by Syd Johnson A buy down is an alternative financing technique where you make significantly lower payments for the first few years of the loan, and make up the difference with larger payments in the later years of the loan. The initial payments might be interest only or less than interest payments, so you can expect to pay a much larger monthly fee when you actually start working on the principal. Loan structureIf you get a temporary buy down,...

•How to get the best mortgage rates in any economy
   by Syd Johnson Mortgage rates are intricately tied to the health of the overall economy as well as consumer demand for home loans. Two of the most important factors are the activities of the Federal Reserve Board and Fannie Mae. The Federal Reserve board sets interest rates for the overall economy and this in turn affects the type of mortgage rates that are offered to consumers. Fannie Mae buys your loan on the secondary market and this frees up the cash from mortgage lenders so they can...

•Low mortgage rates are spurring the recent boom in home ownership
   by Syd Johnson Anyone serious about buying a home has seen the recent ads offering low mortgage rates for first time buyers and current homeowners. One reason for this mass of offers is that most financial institutions now understand the economic importance of having home owners as a part of their clientele.The advertising for low mortgage rates is specifically designed to bring in customers who never thought that they could qualify for a home loan. Who are these customers in demand?Lenders...

•Why should I get a second mortgage It s a good way to pay off high interest debt
Why should I get a second mortgage? It's a good way to pay off high interest debt.   by Syd Johnson Second mortgages are basically any type of home loan that you take out while still making payment on the primary mortgage. This is not an arrangement to be entered lightly because you will end up paying a lot of fees and can rack up a huge debt that negates some of the progress you have made in paying off your original mortgage.Keep loan below Fannie Mae guidelinesOne of the most common reasons...

•What is an Assignment of Mortgage
?   by Syd Johnson Most mortgages are sold at least once during the life of the loan. A mortgage company or your local bank will sell the loan to free up their cash and then lend out more money other home buyers. When the mortgage is sold of it is called an assignment. The party that bought the mortgage is now responsible for dealing with you the customer to make sure that all payments are made for the next 15, 20 or 30 years.An assignment of a mortgage is a bank to bank, or entity to entity...

•Get a biweekly mortgage or make extra payments on your own
?   by Syd Johnson Consumers are more aware than ever of the advantages of a biweekly mortgage. This is a type of mortgage where you make two equal payments per month instead of one. A Biweekly mortgage is great because you end up making one extra payment per year. This extra payment will decrease your principal and over the life of the loan, decrease the amount of interest that you will pay for borrowing the money.For the average loan, the difference means that your 30-year mortgage will be...

•Beware of Balloon Mortgages
   by Syd Johnson This is a mortgage where the one payment, usually the last one is bigger than any other payments. Balloon Mortgages are usually set up like a regular 30 year mortgage except that at some date in the future, a large balloon payment will be due. The balloon payment is typically the entire balance of the mortgage. The due date of the balloon payment and it's relationship to all other monthly payments is spelled out in the terms of the mortgage agreement.How are balloon mortgages...

•Mortgage brokers can help you save time and mone
   by Syd Johnson A good mortgage broker can help you search through hundreds of mortgage products, and lenders to find the perfect fit for your financial situation. The average buyer does not have years of experience in evaluating financial products and services.The average mortgage broker spends their entire day doing these types of evaluations and can point you in the right direction, for a small fee.Buying a home is a relatively short, one time activity that can be completed in as little...