Refinance Mortgage Perth

Homebuyers and homeowners need to decide which home Mortgage loan is right for them. Then, the next step in getting a mortgage loan is to submit an application ( Uniform Residential Loan Application ). Although we try to make the loan simple and easy for you, getting a mortgage loan is not an insignificant process.

Below is a short synopsis of some loan types that are currently available.

CONVENTIONAL OR CONFORMING MORTGAGE Loans are the most common types of mortgages. These include a fixed rate mortgage loan which is the most commonly sought of the various loan programs. If your mortgage loan is conforming, you will likely have an easier time finding a lender than if the loan is non-conforming. For conforming mortgage loans, it does not matter whether the mortgage loan is an adjustable rate mortgage or a fixed-rate loan. We find that more borrowers are choosing fixed mortgage rate than other loan products.

Conventional mortgage loans come with several lives. The most common life or term of a
mortgage loan is 30 years. The one major benefit of a 30 year home mortgage loan is that one pays lower monthly payments over its life. 30 year mortgage loans are available for Conventional, Jumbo, FHA and VA Loans. A 15 year mortgage loan is usually the least expensive way to go, but only for those who can afford the larger monthly payments. 15 year mortgage loans are available for Conventional, Jumbo, FHA and VA Loans. Remember that you will pay more interest on a 30 year loan, but your monthly payments are lower. For 15 year mortgage loans your monthly payments are higher, but you pay more principal and less interest. New 40 year mortgage loans are available and are some of the the newest programs used to finance a residential purchase. 40 year mortgage loans are available in both Conventional and Jumbo. If you are a 40 year mortgage borrower, you can expect to pay more interest over the life of the loan.

A Fixed Rate Mortgage Loan is a type of loan where the interest rate remains fixed
over life of the loan. Whereas a Variable Rate Mortgage will fluctuate over the life
of the loan. More specifically the Adjustable-Rate Mortgage loan is a loan that has a
fluctuating interest rate. First time homebuyers may take a risk on a variable rate for qualification purposes, but this should be refinanced to a fixed rate as soon as possible.

A Balloon Mortgage loan is a short-term loan that contains some risk for the borrower. Balloon mortgages can help you get into a mortgage loan, but again should be financed into a more reliable or stable payment product as soon as financially feasible. The Balloon Mortgage should be well thought out with a plan in place when getting this product. For example, you may plan on being in the home for only three years.

Despite the bad rap Sub-Prime Mortgage loans are getting as of late, the market for this kind of mortgage loan is still active, viable and necessary. Subprime loans will be here for the duration, but because they are not government backed, stricter approval requirements will most likely occur.

Refinance Mortgage loans are popular and can help to increase your monthly disposable income. But more importantly, you should refinance only when you are looking to lower the interest rate of your mortgage. The loan process for refinancing your mortgage loan is easier and faster then when you received the first loan to purchase your home. Because closing costs and points are collected each and every time a mortgage loan is closed, it is generally not a good idea to refinance often. Wait, but stay regularly informed on the interest rates and when they are attractive enough, do it and act fast to lock the rate.

A Fixed Rate Second Mortgage loan is perfect for those financial moments such as home improvements, college tuition, or other large expenses. A Second Mortgage loan is a mortgage granted only when there is a first mortgage registered against the property. This Second Mortgage loan is one that is secured by the equity in your home. Typically, you can expect the interest rate on the second mortgage loan to be higher than the interest rate of the first loan.

An Interest Only Mortgage loan is not the right choice for everyone, but it can be very effective choice for some individuals. This is yet another loan that must be thought out carefully. Consider the amount of time that you will be in the home. You take a calculated risk that property values will increase by the time you sell and this is your monies or capital gain for your next home purchase. If plans change and you end up staying in the home longer, consider a strategy that includes a new mortgage. Again pay attention to the rates.

A Reverse mortgage loan is designed for people that are 62 years of age or older and already have a mortgage. The reverse mortgage loan is based mostly on the equity in the home. This loan type provides you a monthly income, but you are reducing your equity ownership. This is a very attractive loan product and should be seriously considered by all who qualify. It can make the twilight years more manageable.

The easiest way to qualify for a Poor Credit Mortgage loan or Bad Credit Mortgage loan is to fill out a two minute loan application. By far the easiest way to qualify for any home mortgage loan is by establishing a good credit history. Another loan vehicle available is a Bad Credit Re-Mortgage loan product and basically it’s for refinancing your current loan.

Another factor when considering applying for a mortgage loan is the rate lock-in. We discuss this at length in our mortgage loan primer. Remember that getting the right mortgage loan is getting the keys to your new home. It can sometimes be difficult to determine which mortgage loan is applicable to you. How do you know which mortgage loan is right for you? In short, when considering what mortgage loan is right for you, your personal financial situation needs to be considered in full detail. Complete that first step, fill out an application, and you are on your way!

For additional information about mortgage loan types, mortgage loan products or a bad credit mortgage loan and where to apply for a Bad Credit Mortgage Loan visit http://www.EZLendMortgage.com a popular website providing information, tips, mortgage advice and resources including information on independent help finding the best conventional mortgage, adverse mortgage lenders, subprime mortgages, and a Refinance Mortgage Loan

Author: Charley Smith
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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In each state there are thousands of mortgage brokers. How do you know which one to choose so that you will end up at the closing table on time with the interest rate, loan terms and fees promised to you? Here are some tips and data that hopefully will give you the information and tools needed to find the right mortgage broker, how to work with them and to help minimize the risks before you get to the closing table.

First let’s eliminate some of the ways borrowers typically choose a mortgage broker. This may just remove most of the problems before they occur.

How Not to Shop for a Mortgage

As a lot of people do, you could go to the Internet and call the first few mortgage brokers that pop up, check the local Sunday Real Estate Section to see who has the best rate, or call someone from out of the Yellow Pages. However these should be defined as ways NOT to shop for a mortgage:

Searching On-Line

Most every mortgage broker is listed on the Internet. While it is a great resource, it is not the best way to shop for a mortgage. It may be obvious to some, but just because a mortgage broker’s Web site shows up high on search engine listings does not mean they have the lowest rates or have the best service or are even reputable. High search engine rankings do not speak to these factors, but rather to the fact that the webmaster who built the Web site probably spent hundreds of hours building and fine-tuning their site to show up on the Internet listings when you type in certain mortgage “keywords”. Search engines do not rank listings by the quality or reputation of a broker but more by the amount of other similar Web sites that link to that Web site, the amount of visitors it receives, how much the broker may have paid to be listed there and many other factors.

Once I had a customer call me and say “You must be reputable as you showed up #1 in Google.” Yes, I am reputable, and I do like to think we offer very good service and low rates, but that is not why my broker was listed at the top. (Number one out of over 275,000 listings for the term “atlanta mortgage”.) It was because the webmaster spent hundreds of hours building and fine tuning all of the pages within the site to show up with high rankings.

There are many Web sites that list mortgage company’s rates on-line. I don’t put too much stock in sites that list these company’s rates online. Typically mortgage brokers pay to be listed on those sties and some are “affiliate” sites. Which means they are charged a fee when the visitor goes to the link that was clicked on. To find out if you are on an “affiliate” site, click on the link it takes you to and examine the web address. If it has a code at the end of the domain name, such as “www.anybroker.com/source=2519″ it is generally an affiliate. There is nothing wrong or illegal about this, just realize some of the sites may be biased by the companies that pay or give an incentive to be listed on their site.

Another tip is not to waste time in clicking on sponsored links. On Google they are listed in the right column, (and recently at the top of every page in a shaded box) while AOL’s links are lightly colored boxes at the top and bottom of the page and on Yahoo they are listed in the column on the right side and at the bottom of the page in a colored box. As they name implies they are “sponsored” links which means to be listed the broker has paid to be there.

Be aware that if you complete a form on a mortgage Web site concerning wanting more information prepared to be flooded with calls or emails from mortgage brokers wanting your business. There are a lot of Web sites that are only “lead” sites. They get your information and then sell that information to mortgage brokers across the nation. Only submit information on the Web site of the mortgage broker that you know you will be working with.

The bottom line is the Internet is a great way to find out more about a mortgage broker that you are considering using but it may not be the best way to find one you can trust.

Choosing a Mortgage Broker Based Solely On Rate
The interest rate obtained on a mortgage is one of the most important factors of a loan, but it is not everything. There can be over 30 separate closing fees that can factor into the total cost of obtaining a mortgage loan.

Don’t be fooled by brokers advertising that they have the lowest rates. Most mortgage brokers and lenders have about the same rate on comparable programs on any particular day. They may quote them with or without Loan Origination fees and/or Discount Points, which makes it even more confusing. When selecting a mortgage broker the interest rate is an important factor but let’s take it a step further to get a better picture of the total cost to you.

Sometimes when a prospective client calls me asking “What’s your rate?” I ask them what they would like 6%, 5% or even 4%. The fees to obtain such a low rate may be exorbitant, but we offer it. So again, rate isn’t everything. It is the total cost that the borrower ends up paying that makes the difference.

You have probably seen mortgage brokers advertise rates at 1%. Do you really believe that 1% money is available? The answer is No. This is what the monthly payment is based. Don’t be deceived by just rate.

The Liar’s Rate Sheet

Another way some borrowers shop for a mortgage broker is by comparing rates in the Sunday Real Estate section of their local newspaper. In the industry this is referred to as the “Liar’s Rate Sheet”. Here is how it works. Mid-week the mortgage companies forward rates and APR (Annual Percentage Rate) to the newspaper for the different loan programs. They may quote the actual rate for that day or they may be quoting what they think it will be on Monday. All mortgage companies know you can’t call them until the first business day of the week so they may hedge the rate a little to get the phone to ring on Monday. I am not suggesting that all or even a majority of the mortgage companies that list their rates in the newspaper do this. Most mortgage brokers and loan officers that I have met over the last 20 years are honest and ethical. But this is a very competitive business and there is a lot of money to be made on every loan.

Another flaw in the Liar’s Rate Sheet is in the APR’s that are listed. A simple definition of APR is, the true cost of the loan including certain designated closing costs. There are some loan officers that do not know how to calculate APR correctly. So do not base your decision on choosing a mortgage broker solely on the APR quoted.

Here is a sample of 10 recent rates and APR’s quotes in a major metropolitan newspaper by local lenders and mortgage brokers: (These are based on $175,000 loan amount with 20% down payment, 30 year fixed rate loan.)

Note Rate APR Origination Fee Discount Points

5.875% 6.050% 0 1.90

6.000% 6.103% 0 0

6.125% 6.603% 1.00 .13

6.125% 6.270% 0.16 0

6.250% 6.122% 0 0

6.250% 6.305% 0 0

6.250% 6.425% 0 0

6.250% 6.624% 0 1.00

6.375% 6.289% 0 .75

6.375% 6.470% 0 00

If you were trying to make a decision as to what mortgage broker you may want to contact based upon the note rate (interest rate) or the APR you would not only be terribly confused, you would also be misled. The only way you can accurately compare rates and fees among mortgage brokers is with an accurate and complete Good Faith Estimate and complete Truth in Lending forms.

It is also important to remember that many, if not all of the mortgage companies and brokers listed typically pay to be listed there each week.

If you want a partial list of mortgage brokers in your city use the Sunday paper for that reason. Utilizing the phone book or Internet will give you a bigger list. If you want a full list go to your state’s Web site that lists all licensed mortgage brokers in your state.

Where to Start

When you are looking for any type of professional service person, accountant, dentist, etc, who do you turn to? People typically ask the opinion of someone they trust, be it family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, attorney, accountant or other professionals. The referral method can also be used to help find a mortgage broker.

Make a list of 10 people (who have a mortgage) and ask the name of the broker they worked with. Be sure and get the name of the person they worked with. Keep in mind that service between one broker or loan officer and another can vary widely so you will want to contact that specific person, not just anyone in that broker. Also be sure to ask if they were happy with the rate and service they received.

Collect at least three names of loan officers or brokers or maybe even up to seven or eight. Why so many? Because it may have been a few months or years since your referral source last used this individual and it is possible that they have moved to a different company or even changed careers. In addition, not every mortgage broker is going to want to work with you concerning items that we are discussing. Also list any broker or loan officer that you have used in the past and were happy with.

A wise business man once told me. “Know who you are dealing with”. Now that you have a preliminary list of names let’s try to find out a little more about whom you are dealing with. To help with this I have put together two simple approaches:

1. Background checks

2. Making contact (Parts A and B).

Step 1 – Simple Background Checks

Don’t worry, there is no need to hire a private investigator or do any “dumpster diving” to gain secret information. I do, however, suggest that you do a little investigative work. It should only take about 30 minutes and it will not cost you anything. In fact, it may save you a bundle of money and stress later in the process.

Visit the government Web site for the state in which the mortgage broker is located that you are researching. Locate the page that has a list of mortgage brokers or lenders. If the company you are researching is not listed they may be listed under a different name. Also you may be able to search by the individual or loan officer’s name.

If they are listed on the State’s Web site, it may also list how long the broker has been licensed (you should do business with them only if they have been in business for a minimum of two years), how many loans they have closed in the previous year, how many employees they have, and if they have had any consumer complaints made against them, administrative fines levied or regulatory orders (such as “cease and desist” orders) placed on them, any of their employees or broker. Be sure to search under the individual broker or loan officer’s name, keeping in mind that some states do not license loan officers so that person may not be listed. Checking with the Better Business Bureau may give you some additional information but in my experience most mortgage brokers and lenders are not members of the BBB.

Find their Web site and read about them. Do they post their rates and update them daily? Do they offer informative articles or information? Read their bio’s, Mission Statement and Privacy Policy to try to get a sense of what they are about, what they stand for and their vision of how they conduct their business. In addition, look for membership in professional associations, awards, etc. If they do not have a Web site I would not deal with them.

Check to see if they are a member of the National Association of Mortgage Brokers. www.namb.org. I highly recommend working only with a broker or loan officer that has such designation because it shows a higher degree of professionalism and dedication to the industry.

Another organization to check with is the Association of Professional Mortgage Women. www.napmw.org Members of this association are made up of individuals in all aspects of the mortgage industry, however, you typically will not find many brokers or loan officers as members. This is a great resource for finding mortgage professionals in affiliated services in the mortgage industry such as title insurance brokers, appraisers, closing brokers and real estate attorneys.

There are also local mortgage associations that are not affiliated with a national association and I would still give credit to the broker or loan officer for being a part of a group that offers ongoing education and sets goals of ethical standards to their members.

Look on the company Web site to see if they are a member of any of these mortgage organizations or other trade associations. However, keep in mind that just because you see one or all of these logos or references on their Web site, does not mean that the person you are working with holds the designation or is a member of that association.

Here is a recap of information to research as you are narrowing down your top candidates:

Broker or Lender?

State Web site for complaints?

How long in business?

BBB complaints?

Has a Web site?

Rates are posted daily?

Member of any national or local mortgage association?

Professional designations?

STEP 2 – MAKING CONTACT

The next step is to contact the mortgage broker or loan officer to whom you were referred.

Part A – Approaching the Broker

If you were referred to a specific loan officer try to stay with that person. If you just have a broker name or if the individual you were referred to is no longer there and you still wish to check out the broker, ask for the broker or manager of the company and not just any loan officer who gets the phone. While this may not always be possible or practical, unlike a loan officer, the broker does not have to split the income with anyone else. In a larger broker the broker may not be able to give your loan the full attention it needs. But always start with the broker or manager and work down.

Many years back I received a phone call from a gentleman stating he was looking for a mortgage broker to “establish a business relationship with.” That struck me as a professional way to do business. I ended up doing a couple of transactions with him and felt we had a good working relationship. He approached me as a professional and I treated him as such. The point is, when you contact the person you are considering working with, let them know you are looking for a mortgage broker to establish a business relationship with.

Here is a suggest way to start the conversation:

“My name is _________ I am shopping for a mortgage and am calling a few brokers that have been recommended to me to see who I would like to establish a business relationship with. I was recommended to you by __________.

Do you have a few minutes to speak?

Great, I have just a few questions:

If they agree to speak to you, briefly lay out what you are doing, including if you are looking for financing for a purchase or refinance and the loan amount. In addition, mention your credit scores or credit history, the percentage of down payment. Then ask, if they offer the type of financing you need. If the person starts to offer rates, terms etc. politely let him know that you are not shopping for the rate and program now, rather you just want to get some basic information.

Ask if they are a broker or lender. If you are speaking with a loan officer then ask if the broker is a broker or lender. If they are a lender, try to politely end the conversation or tell them you need to work with a broker. (I recommend only using a mortgage brokerage broker, not a mortgage lender for your transaction.

Another good question to ask is how long they have been in business. (If speaking with a loan officer – how long they have been with this broker as well as how long they have been in the mortgage business.) I suggest you work with someone that has been in the mortgage business for at least two years.

It is important not to commit to a meeting on the phone or let them send you a Good Faith Estimate. The most important information is if they are a broker or lender, how long they have been in the business and maybe if they offer the type of financing you are looking for.

Part B – The Interview

Once you have narrowed down your list of potential mortgage brokers that you may want to deal with, it is time for the interview.

Start by calling them back and let them know you may be interested in working with them and you would like to get more information. I always suggest that you meet face-to-face at their office to get a feel for them and their broker. If you can’t meet with them at their office you can do it over the phone. Be prepared with your list of questions listed below, as they may want to do the interview immediately.

When you speak with them, again mention what type of loan you will need, (purchase or refinance, conventional, construction, investment, etc.) and be prepared to go into some detail about your financial situation, including employment status, credit history, down payment amount and the source of it and a rough idea of your financial assets. Do not let them start taking an application on you. You are there to interview them, not the other way around.

Do not give out your social security number during this interview. There is no need to do this yet as you are not going to decide on what broker to deal with until you have interviewed everyone on your list.

Questions to Ask the Mortgage Broker
Here is a list of suggested questions to ask the broker or loan officer.

Application Questions

Will I get a signed Good Faith Estimate?

Will you guarantee your estimate of closing costs? If not all at least yours?

Who will pay for any extra charges that are over and above your Good Faith Estimate?

Will you update the Good Faith Estimate as we move through the process?

Is there an extra cost if I do not set up an escrow account (commonly called waiving escrows) providing the loan program allows that to be done?

If my credit score affects the interest rate and/or program is it possible that you will help me raise my score to obtain a better rate and program?

Does your credit reporting system offer a Credit Score Analyzer so we can work on raising my score?

What is your approximate closing ratio for loan applications taken?

Service Questions

Do you have in-house or contract processing? (If you are scoring these answers then in-house processing gets an extra point.)

Will it be okay if I speak directly with your loan processor?

How often can I expect to be updated on the progress of my loan?

(If purchasing). My contract has a date to get approved for financing Can you make that deadline?

What will you provide me to give to the seller to satisfy that stipulation?

Will I get a copy of the appraisal, title commitment, and credit report? Note: Some, but not all states require the mortgage broker to give you a copy of the credit report that they have pulled. If they are not allowed to give you a copy they must at least give you a form that shows the credit scores on your report.

Do you utilize Automated Underwriting?

May I pick my own title or closing broker or attorney?

Will I have a Preliminary Closing Statement 24 hours prior to the closing so that my attorney and I have time to review it?

Will you be present at the closing?

Fee Questions

Do you charge an application fee? (Be aware that some brokers charge a non-refundable up-front loan application fee. Is the fee applied towards the appraisal and credit report? Ask if you will receive a refund of the unused portion).

What is your typical Loan Origination fee on a loan of this size?

I s there a separate broker fee? If so, how much is it?

What is your processing fee?

Is there an admin fee or any other fees that will be paid directly to you?

Will you refund any overage on the credit report or courier fees?

Note: Do not mention the word or imply that there are any junk fees. It may be construed as offensive to a broker or loan officer. Be specific when addressing the fees or charges.

Rate Questions

Do you have a rate float down policy?

What if I lock a rate and the rate goes down? Will you lower the rate?

Privacy Questions

How will you secure my private financial information?

Do you have a written information and privacy plan?

Note: The Gramm-Leach-Bliley (GLB) Act requires financial institutions to ensure the security and confidentiality of all personal information collected from potential customers and to have a written policy and plan in place that all employees must abide by. Ask for a copy of their privacy policy (If they don’t have one, you may not want to give this broker all your personal and financial information, including data needed for someone to steal your identity).

Miscellaneous Questions

How long have you been in the business?

About how many lenders are you approved with?

What professional associations are you a member of?

Do you have any professional designations?

Tell me about your broker and why I should choose you to handle my loan transaction?

Loan Program Question

If you are unsure or if you would like more input ask: What loan program would you suggest?

Cost Estimate Question

Would you mind preparing a Good Faith Estimate and Truth in Lending statement?

Broker Questioning Opportunity

Do you have any questions of me?

When the interview is complete, thank them for their time and let them know that you will get back with them. If at this point you feel comfortable with working with this broker or loan officer you may ask that he forward a Good Faith Estimate and Truth in Lending to you so you can review these forms and estimates.

EVALUATING THE BROKER

After your interview you may want to ask yourself some other questions to help determine or grade the mortgage broker regarding how you think they will handle your loan.

Consider these points:

Did the mortgage broker have any questions for you?

Did you feel he wanted to know more about your overall financial goals and how this mortgage fits with those goals?

Take time to evaluate which broker you wish to work with. Do not make a commitment to anyone until you have reviewed the Good Faith Estimate and Truth in Lending disclosures closely.
When you do receive the Good Faith Estimate, and hopefully, the Truth in lending statement, it should look professional and be complete have accurate dates and other information disclosed.

Hopefully, after you have done all of your homework you will be able to find a broker you feel comfortable with and that you believe will give you honest and ethical service.

To learn more, go to http://www.secretsofmortgagelending.com

Excerpted from the e-Book, Secrets of Mortgage Lending. Available at http://www.SecretsOfMortgageLending.com

About The Author – Adrian Skiles, GML, began his career in the mortgage business over 20 years ago. He has held the title of a loan processor, loan officer and branch manager. In 1997, Mr. Skiles opened his own mortgage brokerage firm in Atlanta, Georgia where he is currently located and offers mortgage services for both residential and commercial lending.

He is a long time member of the National Association of Mortgage Brokers and the National Association of Professional Mortgage Women. Mr. Skiles’s broker and employees have achieved awards for continued success in the mortgage industry including Georgia Mortgage Broker Association “Top Gun” Mortgage Broker and the Atlanta Business Chronicle “Top Mortgage Broker Performer” for the last five years.

You may contact Adrian Skiles, GML at Adrian@SecretsOfMortgageLending.com

Author: Adrian Skiles
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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APR – This stands for Annual Percentage Rate. It enables you to compare the full cost of the mortgage. Rather than just being an interest rate, it includes up front and ongoing costs of taking out a mortgage. The formula for calculating APR is set by Government Regulations and therefore enables direct comparison of the cost of mortgages.
Capital and Interest Mortgage – This is when part of your monthly payment contributes to paying off the outstanding mortgage in addition to paying the interest on the mortgage. The payments are structured so that at the end of the term, your mortgage will have been completely paid off. For this reason this type of mortgage is also called a Repayment Mortgage.
Capped Rate – This is a mortgage where the lender agrees that the interest charged will never exceed a specific percentage. This deal lasts for a set period of years. After the set period, the rate usually reverts to the lenders standard variable rate. During the capped period, the interest charges can move up and down with the lenders interest rate – but cannot exceed the capped rate.
Cashback – An amount, either fixed or a percentage of a mortgage, which you can opt to receive when you complete your mortgage. The lender may well claw back this money through a higher interest rate.
CAT marks/standards – CAT stands for Fair Charges, Easy Access and decent Terms. They were created by the Government in an attempt to provide consumers with simple, clear financial products with straightforward, easy to understand terms. A CAT mortgage will have no arrangement fees, no redemption fees and will have interest calculated daily. It will also have a minimum loan of just 5000, offer you repayment flexibility and the mortgage should be portable should you move home. Finally, you will not have to buy the lender’s insurance products and there will be no penalties should you find yourself in arrears but can subsequently catch up.
Completion – This is end of the house buying process, when the funds are transferred and the keys are handed over. Happy moving!
Contract – A contract is a binding agreement between the buyer and seller. In the context of house buying, after the contract is signed by both the buyer and the seller it is then ‘exchanged’ between the respective solicitors for a set completion date. At that point, the contract is legally binding on both parties.
Conveyancing – This is the legal process in which property is bought and sold. You can do it yourself or hire a solicitor or specialised conveyancer to perform the tasks for you. The buying of a freehold is much less complicated than the buying of a leasehold.
Discounted Rate – This is where the lender makes a guaranteed reduction off the standard variable rate for an agreed period of time. After the discounted period ends, the mortgage usually moves to the lenders’ standard variable rate. Watch out for redemption penalties that overhang the initial discount period.
Early Redemption Charges – Redemption is when the borrower pays off the capital and the interest on the mortgage and thus owns the property outright. Early redemption fees are the charges incurred for paying off the mortgage early, either to buy the house outright, move or re-mortgage. Always ask about early redemption charges before you agree a mortgage.
Endowment – Endowments are life assurance policies with an investment element designed to pay off the outstanding capital on an interest-only mortgage. There are a few types of endowments, such as ‘with profits’, ‘unitised with profits’ and ‘unit-linked’. In the 1980s, these were sold by salesman who seemly suggested that these policies were “guaranteed” to pay off the mortgage at the end of the term. However, the investment returns on these policies have fallen to below what was previously considered to be the norm. Consequently, many policies are not worth what was originally forecast and may not fully repay the money borrowed at the end of the mortgages’ term.
Equity – In housing terminology, equity is the difference between the value of the property and the money owed on the property. So if the property is valued at 200,000 and you owe 150,000 on the mortgage, you have equity of 50,000. If you sold at that moment, you would receive 50,000. Should the value of the home be less than the mortgage outstanding then you have negative equity.
Freehold – Owning the freehold means that you own the total rights to the property and the land on which it is built.
HLC – This is the Higher Lending Charge (it was previously known as a Mortgage Indemnity Guarantee). It is levied by around three quarters of all lenders on clients who cannot afford to put down a deposit of 10% of the price of the property. In practice it is a type of insurance aimed at protecting the lender should you default on your mortgage when the value of your home is less than the capital you borrowed. The insurance only provides cover for the lender, not you, and typically costs 1,500.
Homebuyers Report – A property survey aimed at providing more information than a mortgage valuation but less information than a full structural survey. It will help the borrower to decide whether to purchase and help the lender to decide how much to lend.
Interest Only Mortgage – This is a mortgage where your monthly repayments only pay the interest on the mortgage. Therefore, at the end of the mortgage you still have to repay the full sum you borrowed. You are advised to have a separate investment vehicle into which you make payments aimed at building up a fund capable of paying off the mortgage capital at the end of the term. Typical investments include ISA’s, a pension or an endowment policy.
IFAs – Stands for Independent Financial Advisor. These advisors are regulated by the Financial Services Authority. To be classified as “independent” they have to be able to offer you the full range of products from all financial product providers. They are not entitled to describe themselves as “independent” if they can only offer products from a restricted panel of financial companies. A Financial Advisor can be one man band or work for very large companies. Before they make any recommendation, an IFA must carry out a detailed fact find so they fully understand your financial circumstances. They can then make their recommendations to suit your personal circumstances.
ISA – An ISA is an Individual Savings Account, which is a tax-free method of owning shares, building up a cash savings account or a life assurance policy. You can use an ISA to build up a capital sum to repay an interest only mortgage.
Leasehold – If your property is leasehold, ownership of the property reverts to the Freeholder at a set date. Many houses were originally sold on 999 year leases which means that 999 years after the initial date of the Leasehold, ownership of the property reverts to the Freeholder. Building in multiple occupation such as apartments, are always sold on a leasehold and usually have a much shorter leasehold period – 100 and 125 years is quite common. Often, with a block of apartments, the apartment owners individually own the leaseholds whilst a management company, in which they hold shares, owns the freehold. These days, however, leaseholders who live in the property have the legal right to buy their freehold under terms laid down by UK law.
Life Insurance – This can also be called Term Insurance or, when specifically linked to proprty purchase, as Mortgage Protection Insurance. It is designed to pay a tax free lump sum in the event of your death to enable your mortgage to be repaid in full. There are a number of variants such as Level Term Life Insurance and Decreasing Term Life Insurance. At the outset you take out insurance for the full sum you have borrowed from your mortgage lender and for the same number of years as you have agreed on your mortgage. These insurance policies do not have any investment or surrender value. The premiums are based on a number of factors – the main ones being the amount of cover you need, your age, health and how many years you want to be insured for.
Lock-In Period – This is the minimum period you have agreed to stay with the lender. Depending on the deal, it could be as low as six months up to the whole of the term. Should you wish to repay the mortgage or remortgage during the lock-in period, you will invariably have to pay redemption penalties. Always make sure you know how long you are locked in for with your mortgage.
LTV – Literally means Loan to Value. This is a measurement of the mortgage amount against the value of the property or the price that you are actually paying. A 157,500 mortgage on a property for which you paid 175,000 would be a LTV of 90%. Lenders tend to charge a Mortgage Indemnity Premium on mortgages with a loan to value of anything about 75%. Some don’t so ask about this.
MIG – This has now changed its name to HLC. See above.
Mortgage – A mortgage is a long-term loan taken out in order to buy a property with repayment secured on that property. So if you don’t keep to the repayment terms, the lender can repossess the property, sell it and retain the money they are owed. Any balance is then paid to you. If the property is sold for less than you owe your lender, you still remain liable to repay the shortfall.
Mortgage Advisor - On October 31st 2004 the selling of mortgages in the UK came under the remit of the City watchdog, The Financial Services Authority (FSA). As from that date any person providing mortgage advice had to be registered with the FSA and abide by its rules of conduct, methods of operating and training programmes etc. The objective has been to improve life for the consumer by offering better protection, clear information and access to redress for poor advice.
Negative Equity – Negative equity is when the value of your home is less than the amount that you owe on your mortgage plus any other loans secured against it. It can happen very easily if you take out a 100% mortgage or if property prices fall. (Also see Higher Lending Charge)
Portable – This is a measure of how easy it is to move a mortgage from one property to another should a property move be required. This is vital if you are moving during your lock-in-period and wish to avoid redemption penalties.
Repayment Mortgage - This is the same as a Capital and Interest mortgage – see above.
Searches – During the conveyancing process, the buyer has to be sure that the seller has title to the property and identify any matters may affect the prospective owners ownership of the property. For example, whether the property is affected by any proposed road building, whether there are preservation orders affecting the property, is it a listed building and has it been built in accordance with planning conditions and building regulations. Searches will also show whether there are mines under or close by the property. This information is obtained by the person undertaking the conveyancing from HM Land Registry and the relevant Local Authority. These investigations are collectively known as “Searches”.
Self-Certification – Should you have difficulty in providing documentation that “proves” your income to a prospective mortgage lender, you may need a self-certification mortgage. In essence you personally certify what your full income is. If you receive high bonuses, or work seasonally or on commission, or are self-employed this may be your best option. You declare your income plus some evidence that your declaration is reasonable. Ideally lenders want to see as much guaranteed income as possible. To compensate the lender for the increased risk they are taking on a self-certified mortgage, they will charge you a higher rate interest, typically 1% over their standard variable rate.
Stamp Duty Land Tax (commonly known simply as Stamp Duty) – You pay Stamp Duty Land Tax on property like houses, flats, other buildings and land. If the purchase price is 120,000 or less, you don’t pay any Stamp Duty Land Tax. If the price is more than 120,000, you pay between one and four per cent of the whole purchase price, on a sliding scale.
Upto 120,000 – No duty payable

120,001 to 250,000 – 1% duty payable*

250,001 to 500,000 – 3% duty payable

500,001 and over – 4% duty payable

*If you’re buying a property an area designated by the government as ‘disadvantaged’, you don’t pay any Stamp Duty Land Tax if the purchase price is 150,000 or less.
Did you know? Stamp Duty was originally introduced by William of Orange when he was King of England.
Structural Survey – The most thorough report you can get on the condition of the property you are considering to buy. The surveyor will look in detail at the inside and outside of the property and will tell you if the property is structurally sound. All major and minor defects in the building will also be listed and should tell you what maintenance work may be needed either now or in the future. You should make sure the scope of the survey is agreed in writing before you commission it. Should the survey identify problems, use them to negotiate a reduction in the price before you exchange contracts.
Variable Rate – This is when the interest rate you pay on your mortgage can go up or down depending on changes to the lender’s standard variable rate. If you have a variable rate mortgage your monthly mortgage payments will change whenever the lender changes the interest rate.
Valuation – This is where a valuer appointed by your proposed lender, visits the property in order to estimate its current value. This value is then used by the lender as a basis for its security and to calculate its Loan to Value Ratio. The borrower never sees the valuation. With some mortgage deals the lender absorbs the cost of the valuation but in many cases the borrower has to pay upfront.

Michael Challiner has 15 years experience in financial services marketing at senior level. Michael now works as the editor of Kings Remortgage Brokers

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Author: Michael Challiner
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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The term mortgage is assumed really controversial by people when they are contemplating the idea of taking a loan. It is definitely a very simple procedure which is presumed complicated because your home is attached to the term mortgage. In the layman language it is the conditional conveyance of property as a security for the repayment of the loan.

In the real estate market you are sure to hear mortgage more than often and yet not sure what it is. First understand the mortgage in real estate terms and then decide if you want to opt for this type of loan borrowing. Every loan lending company would be interested in giving you a loan if you can place some guarantee for their money. This is as justified for as the need to insure your property against some unfortunate incident. Therefore, the disadvantage while opting for mortgage is that you may loose your property or home in case of your failure of repayment.

Now, dont give up yet the expansion of the loan market has included terms which ensure that your home will be as safe as ever. Mortgage in the real estate has furcated into various forms. You can choose a form that is ideal for your needs and demands. The more acknowledged variants of mortgage are – fixed rate mortgage, variable rate mortgage and balloon mortgage.

These various kinds of mortgages may again seem confusing, but the reality is that they are introduced to simply the process and make it more adjustable to our demands. A fixed rate mortgage is procured at a fixed rate throughout the length of the mortgage term which is determined either before taking the loan or at the time the loan is taken. There is further simplification under a fixed rate mortgage like the thirty year fixed rate mortgage or biweekly mortgage, convertible mortgage etc.

A variable rate mortgage has a fixed rate of interest for a fixed period of time and is liable to change later on. A variable rate mortgage is also called ARM or adjustable rate mortgage.

Balloon mortgage, as the term suggests, is a singular form of mortgage. In a balloon mortgage a fixed rate of interest and a fixed monthly payment is given for a predestined time period. At the exhaustion of the term the entire remaining amount has to be paid in summation.

It already feels so reassuring to know that so many forms are accessible for the people like us who have been browsing for a mortgage. Mortgage are backed by various lenders banks, credit unions, mortgage bankers, mortgage brokers. Usually the lender gets an inception fees and likewise the broker gets the broker fees. It is very legible and totally free of any hassles, if any.

The homeowners in UK can go for mortgage at any time. But what if you are not a homeowner yet and thinking that mortgage holds no option for you. May I take the opportunity to tell you that you certainly have an alternative for yourself! Being a first time buyer you might be in dilemma about which loan programme to choose. Look carefully through all the mortgages and mortgage rate available for a first time buyer. Before looking for a home it is prudent enough to know what your budget is and the method of repayments. Exercise caution during legal proceedings. If you opt for a mortgage, lenders will find the best deal and interest rate from innumerable options available.

Council right to buy is UKs largest single mortgage market. It is the scheme tailor made for those tenants who want to buy the property in which they have lived, for two or more years, at discounted rates. It is one of the finest ways, introduced in UK, to enable people to own a place to live and encourage social coherence, tolerance, self dependence and general well being.

Buy to let mortgage is meant for those homeowners who have bought a property in order to rent it to tenants. This is a method of earning and numerous companies are coming forward to provide mortgage for such an undertaking. The upside of buy to let mortgage is that the amount borrowed is determined by the potential income of your residential property.

Real estate is not meant for financial wizards, with the right research and following of the guidelines, you can master it in no time. As it is said well begun is half done. So browse first, do your research and read all the information available online there is a hoard of it. It is advisable not to ignore any instruction before plunging in this area. Mortgage is a very crucial decision and so dont play around while making the choice. So many people have fulfilled their dreams by opting for mortgage. Dont you want to be one of them? Pick any of the above given variants of mortgage and see how they work to give you the profits you have been looking for.

Amanda Thompson holds a Bachelors degree in Commerce from CPIT and has completed her masters in Business Administration from IGNOU. She is as cautious about her finances as any person reading this is. She is working as financial consultant for http://www.chanceforloans.co.uk To find a Secured loan that best suits your needs visit our website.

Author: Amanda Thompson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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