10 Tips For Buy-To-Let Investment Success

10 Tips For Buy-To-Let Investment Success

by James Copper

The Buy-To-Let market place is booming. More and more people are investing in a second property as a long term investment plan. As attractive as the proposition sounds, there are a number of potential pitfalls that need to be taken into consideration. Use the steps below to ensure that your Buy-To-Let investment is a success.


#1 Choose The Right Property
The location is extremely important. Make sure that speak to a number of local letting agents to determine the supply and demand in the area. Look at such things as whether there are local employers or a university. You can get the details of letting agents near you by contacting The Association of Residential Letting Agents.


#2 Choose The Right Mortgage
You will need to check with your lender to how much you eligible to borrow. Most lenders will allow you to borrow 85 percent of the properties value. Also most lenders will take into account the expected rental income when they are deciding how much they will lend. Make sure that your rental income covers 125 percent of your monthly mortgage payment.


#3 Work Out Costs And Income
Work out how much your monthly mortgage repayment will be and whether the expected rental income will exceed this. Checking out the rental prices of similar properties advertised in newspapers in your area will give an indication of whether this is possible. Also look at whether you could afford your mortgage if interest rates shop up and the property is unoccupied for 3 months.


#4 Consider Hidden Costs
You will have to pay solicitors fees, estate agents fees, building insurance, mortgage arrangement fees, stamp duty and possibly service charges and ground rent.


#5 Budget For Ongoing Costs
You are responsible for ensuring that the property meets health and safety standards. Local authorities require that you comply with fire regulations, which could mean you have to put in fire doors and smoke alarms.


#6 Choose A Professional Letting Agent
You might want to consider using a professional letting agent. They will find tenants, collect deposits and the rent and arrange the inventory and tenancy agreements. But expect to be charged anything from between 10 to 18 percent of the gross rental income that you get.


#7 Ensure You Have The Right Insurance
As you are the owner it is your responsibility to insure the structure of the property, which includes permanent fixtures and fittings. You will need to check your policy as most buildings insurance policies exclude buy-to-lets.


#8 Sort Out Your Tax Position
You have to pay income tax on any rental income you receive, but you can deduct some expenses and you will probably be liable for Capital Gains Tax when you sell. You would be well advised to speak to your accountant before you proceed.


#9 Get A Fully Flexible Mortgage
These types of mortgages are well suited to the buy-to-let market. This is because you can fluctuate your payments in line with rental income.


#10 View Buy-To-Let As A Long Term Investment
Do not expect to make a quick profit on rental income and equity gain in the property. You look at the longer terms for profits. Generally about five to ten years.

About the Author


James Copper writes on all areas of finance. He works for Any Loans who specialise in Secured Loans and Remortgages.

7 Reasons to Choose a Mortgage Broker over On-Line Lenders

7 Reasons to Choose a Mortgage Broker over On-Line Lenders

by Jay Popejoy

1. Personal Advice: Breakwater Mortgage Corporation calls Hampton Roads and the surrounding communities (Norfolk, Suffolk, Chesapeake and Portsmouth) home and an on-line lender could be located anywhere. Breakwater Mortgage Corp. is located in Virginia Beach and Williamsburg, Virginia. Our team provides personal mortgage business services that enable mortgage clients to discuss their personal financial scenarios for mortgage lending that is often not available with on-line lending. Breakwater Mortgage's philosophy: Your Home, Your family, Our Pleasure, is based on our personal and professional ethics, enabling our clients trust, and demonstrating our abilities through our confidence and experience. Face to face mortgage financial discussions allow Breakwater Mortgage associates to effectively communicate with the clients to meet their personalized needs in a professional manner. The challenging questions are answered concisely and directly by the Breakwater staff. By choosing a local professional mortgage broker, clients are empowered to gain trust, respect, and a greater understanding of loan products that are available. The dialog between the local broker and borrower allows for the best loan product to emerge for the refinancing homeowner or new home purchaser. The benefit of utilizing a local broker versus on-line lenders eliminates delay and possible confusion in the completion of on-line documents. 2. Problem Resolution: The local broker has a great advantage over the on-line lender, though both are able to solve issues regarding the loan process. When working with an on-line lender, one of the determining factors that can help you decide in choosing your mortgage approach is your familiarity with the internet. With a local lender, other factors come into play: home purchase procedures, a realtor's advice, a local mortgage professional's availability, personal refinance requirements not expressed on paper, and other pertinent documents related to the mortgage financial transaction. For clients with more detailed transactions, challenging credit issues, or living in a tight home market, he or she will have more flexibility and personal attention by choosing a local mortgage professional. 3. Consumer Protection: Peruse the on-line mortgage web site. Does the internet web site have methods in place to facilitate the complaint process? If not, consider a different lender or broker to handle your loan process. Most on-line mortgages are sold to new lenders. This can create challenges in first time payments, follow-on payments, and obtaining follow-on support to solve issues by the on-line lender's business approach. Local brokers, loan officers, and other mortgage specialists often develop relationships with their lenders to help in solving client's needs and issues. This approach generally eliminates the void of personal distance that an on-line lender may incur. 4. Formal Complaints Regarding Mortgage Lending Services: Each state has different laws and procedures in providing/obtaining derogatory information regarding your chosen lender. Breakwater Mortgage operates in Virginia. Our governing body is: The Bureau of Financial Institutions of the State Corporation Commission, Commonwealth of Virginia. This office provides oversight, code interpretation, training, and audit review of our organization. Consumers may telephone the Bureau to research complaints against any mortgage organization to ensure the organization is currently in good standing. On-line lenders may not fall under the Bureau's scrutiny and may not be as astute as a local broker or local mortgage professional.
5. No Cost Closings and Add-On Fees: On-Line/Television mortgage lenders sometimes promise a no fee loan. The key word is fee. Fee represents loan origination fees (often referred to as points, but this is not correct) but may not disclose other charges associated with the loan. Costs to you as the borrower can be service charges, mailings/postage, closing locations, premiums, insurance, appraisals, title costs, etc. The careful consumer will often realize that television and on-line lending may not be the applicable choice. A local professional, such as Breakwater Mortgage, can offer alternatives and trim add on costs. 6. Credit Issues: Borrowers with questionable credit may be eliminated by on-line lenders or charged a much higher interest rate than the rate advertised, which is usually provided to the best credit applicants. Breakwater Mortgage Corp.'s staff provides services that support consumers with a wide variety of credit scores and financial challenges. Breakwater Mortgage's mortgage specialists/loan officers/support staff/processors all work together to provide our client the ideal experience to purchase or refinance a property. The residential properties can be primary residences, investment properties, or a wonderful vacation home. Breakwater Mortgage's team values our clients, realtors and support associates. Referrals, returning clients, and follow-on refinance business provides a long-term relationship which improves our success level. On-Line lenders usually do not have the same connection within the local community and typically do not share the same level of repeat business. At Breakwater Mortgage (Virginia Beach, Williamsburg) we strive for repeat and new business. To show the level of desire to help the local community and potential home buyers, we provide a free service that enables clients with questionable credit to potentially qualify for a home through a 'Get Mortgage Ready Program,' designed specifically for those with credit issues. 6. First Time Homebuyers: Breakwater Mortgage in Virginia Beach has special programs with lenders that have excellent competitive rates that cater to first time homebuyers. On-Line lenders may not offer the variety of mortgage lending programs that mortgage brokers provide. Many brokers may have in excess of 60 lenders to support the client to provide the best product through each lender's specialized products. 7. Primary Mortgage Insurance (PMI) and Other Insurances: Bottom line up front: PMI is to support the lending institution and NOT the homeowner! If you have a single loan that equals 80 percent or greater of the home value, the likelihood of the lender requiring PMI (to protect the lender) is great but not always required (check with your broker, they have multiple programs that the on-line lender may not!!). Many consumers may perceive that PMI is for their benefit and often find out after a life issue that prevents the consumer from meeting the financial home obligations that PMI is for the lenders benefit! Other insurances that are available to protect the consumer include credit life and mortgage life insurance. Other insurance options are available and consumers should check with a local insurance representative to provide the best options available.

About the Author


Jay R. Popejoy's educational background in financial and mortgage lending
includes B.S. Degrees (Marketing/Business Education)and a M.B.A. program. Jay has 19 years of professional experience in
banking, finance, logistics management, civil affairs and
international development. Jay R. Popejoy is currently Managing
Director of Breakwater Mortgage Corp. in Virginia Beach and is a senior staff officer for the US Army.

7 Mortgage Marketing Tips for Loan Officers

7 Mortgage Marketing Tips for Loan Officers

by Globalhlf.com

It is my intention that these marketing tips will help you avoid common mistakes made by the majority of loan...
7 Mortgage Marketing Tips for Loan Officers
It is my intention that these marketing tips will help you avoid common mistakes made by the majority of loan officers. Heed this advice!


--Mortgage Marketing Tip #1
Make your advertising and print media more effective by having a headline on everything: letters, greeting cards, ads, everything.
Headlines are what get the reader. They make them want to read more. They tell the reader what benefit he/she will get from reading more. And that's exactly what you want them to do.


Make the headline powerful and include a benefit.


Examples:


3 things you can do today to improve your credit
Make sure to include a headline in all your media and it will increase your results.


--Mortgage Marketing Tip #2
When you do something for a client, brag about it.
What I mean is, if you accomplish something, make it a big deal.'
Make yourself out to be the valuable professional you are. Make sure that your clients know exactly what you do for them.


--Mortgage Marketing Tip #3


Write thank you notes to people everyday.
This one mortgage marketing tool can make you so much money your head will spin. Everyone loves to be appreciated and acknowledged. Being nice and having manners are a thing of the past. But when you take the time to thank someone, you connect to them on deeper level.


Get yourself some thank you cards from the stationery store and thank people who did something for you today. It could be for anything,


#Thank your mailman for bringing the mail up to the office


#Thank the underwriter for a speedy decision


#Thank your client for calling to say they would be late


#Thank the realtor for the referral.
These cards can make someone's day. And you really stand out from the crowd as a caring mortgage professional when you use them.


--Mortgage Marketing Tip #4
If someone answers your phone for you, have him or her use the following line.,
"He/she is working with a client right now, let me see if he can take the call."
This does a couple things,


1. Makes you seem busy even if you are not. This shows the client that you are in demand and confirms that he made a good decision by choosing you.


2. Allows you to not talk to people you do not want to talk to


3. Allows you to say to the caller, if you pick up, that they are important enough to you to interrupt an important client meeting.


This might not be a "traditional" mortgage-marketing tool, but it will make you more desirable. And while it will not make the phone ring more, when it does, you will get respect from those on the other end of the line.


--Mortgage Marketing Tip #5
CANI
Constant and Never Ending Improvement
Do something everyday to improve your business. 1 small change everyday can make a huge difference in a couple months. Implement one mortgage marketing tool at least once a week. At least.
Over the course of a couple years, the results will be dramatic.
Just one small thing is enough. Examples are:



* Hanging a certificate of completion on the wall


* Hanging a testimonial on the wall


* Adding a signature to your emails


* Adding a small consumer article to your website


--Mortgage Marketing Tip #6
Look at other businesses for great ideas to adapt to your business
Most innovations come from other businesses.


Like the drive thru window. Who knows who started it, but fast food places use it, banks use it, pharmacies use it, and even restaurants are experiencing success with it.
What new services do you use that make your life easier? Can you adapt these to your business? How about emailing potential customers the interest rate everyday if they request it? Or Providing a Post-Closing Kit with items clients will need when moving?


You can use the marketing tools from other businesses too. If you see a marketing piece that really gets your attention, think about how to adapt it and use it in your business.


--Mortgage Marketing Tip #7
It doesn't matter how good a loan officer you are - if you suck at marketing, you will starve.
Knowing how to get clients is infinitely more important than any other knowledge you may attain.


How much money you make has very little correlation to how much you know. Of course you must know the basics, but other than that, it makes very little difference at all.



For More Information Vist this site
www.globalhlf.com


Source:

www.buzzle.com

About the Author


None

6 Ways to Generate 100 Free Mortgage Leads in 20 days

6 Ways to Generate 100 Free Mortgage Leads in 20 days

by Hartley Pinn

Could you use some free mortgage leads? If you're new to the mortgage business or a veteran loan officer who is a little short on cash, you'll be happy to know there are several ways to generate free mortgage leads.


That's right. Even if you're dead broke, you can still generate good, quality, pre-qualified mortgage leads at no cost. Just keep reading and I'll share 6 powerful steps to generate free mortgage leads.


1) Create a powerful unique selling proposition (USP)


If you don't currently have a unique selling proposition - Find one. What makes you different from all the other mortgage lenders out there? What makes you better? Why should a prospect use you over a competitor? Answer these questions and you will have your unique selling proposition.


This is an important first step because you will need a strong USP to generate free mortgage leads using the tips below.


2) Find joint venture partners

Offer a referral fee of $100 to $1000 for any referral resulting in a funded loan. Offer this opportunity to all friends, family, neighbors, anyone and everyone.

Can you call the past clients of a co-worker to generate referrals? If so, you could split the commissions generated from your efforts.



3) Give free seminars


Arrange to present your USP to others to produce referrals. Here are some ideas:


1) Contact the sales manager at real estate offices to present your USP at a realtor sales meeting
2) Contact human resource managers. Give a free seminar to employees of a company.
3) Present your USP to CPA's or financial planners to create referral relationships.
4) Contact divorce attorneys and offer your services to their clients.
5) Contact relocation companies


Do you need some ideas for how to successfully approach these professional? If so, visit the following web page and download three sample approach letters:



http://www.Mortgage-Leads-Generator.com/a/refiletter.htm



4) Write Articles

Write articles about mortgage products, rates, no closing cost loans or no money down financing. Then submit your articles to article directories with your contact information at the end of the article. Here are the article directories I recommend:

About:
sbinformation.about.com/library/blsubmission.htm


ezinearticles.com
goarticles.com
articledashboard.com
searchwarp.com
contentdesk.com
isnare.com
buzzle.com
ideamarketers.com
businessknowhow.com
articlesphere.com
amazines.com
web-source.net/syndicator_submit.htm



Try to include the following elements in your articles:


1) Useful information - a must!
2) A text link to your site.
3) A lead generating offer relating to the subject mater in your article.
Provide a link to a web page on your site where the reader can get a complementary special report or something else of value.


If you submit just two articles a week to the sites listed above, after one year you would have 100 articles all over the internet. If you publish useful information, these 100 articles could easily generate hundreds if not thousands of free mortgage leads daily.


5) Start your direct mail campaign

Borrow money from a friend or family member and start a mail campaign. Use a credit card or borrow a credit card to get started.

If you borrow money or a credit card, offer that person a split of the commissions generated from the project.

6) Cross sell

Once you get a client using one of the 5 tips above, impress them with your extraordinary customer service skills and generate a testimonial. Use that testimonial to create a referral relationship with:

* HR manager at their work
* Listing real estate agent and that agents entire office
* Selling real estate agents and that agents entire office
* CPA
* Financial planner
* Insurance agent
* The seller of the home on a purchase transaction
* Title Company
* Real estate appraiser
* Neighbors

There you have it. Use these 6 tips to help jump start your mortgage business.
For more helpful mortgage lead generation tips and advice visit the Mortgage Marketing Blog at:
http://Mortgage-Marketing.Mortgage-Leads-Generator.com

Please feel free to reprint this article as long as the resource box is left intact and all links are hyperlinked.


About the Author


As a top producing mortgage loan officer, Hartley Pinn has been actively testing, researching, and evaluating lead generation strategies since 1995.


Mr. Pinn has written several articles on the subject and has recently created the "Mortgage Leads Generator" Training Course to teach new and experienced mortgage loan officers how to generate a five to six figure monthly income while cutting their work schedule down to only 10 hours a week.

5 Myths About Mortgage Points

5 Myths About Mortgage Points

by RJ Baxter

Mortgage points are one of the most misunderstood concepts in the mortgage world. On the surface, points are scary, and many consumers equate points with mortgage scams and unnecessary junk fees. However, nothing could be further from the truth.


If utilized correctly, points can be used to save you thousands of dollars through properly structuring your mortgage. So, first of all, what are points?


One point is equivalent to 1% of the loan amount. So, if you are obtaining a $300,000 mortgage, one point equals $3000. Points come in two categories, origination and discount points. Although both origination and discount points are technically the same thing, origination points are typically a fee that a mortgage company charges to do your loan where as discount points are points used to discount the mortgage or lower your rate.


The 5 Myths:


So now that you understand the basics of what mortgage points are, here are the 5 most common myths about mortgage points.


1. Points are a fee that goes to the lender. Technically, this is correct. Points do go to the broker, however, an honest broker will help you obtain a lower interest rate if you choose to pay points.


2. Points must be charged on every transaction. Not true. Brokers get paid two ways- through points and/or through "yield spread premium" or a percentage paid to them directly from the lender. If the broker charges points, the yield spread premium will be zero or negative, and if the broker does not charge points, he or she will make a percentage from the lender for their services. Here is an example:


"No Points" Loan
Program: 30 year fixed
Loan Amount: $200,000
Rate: 6.375%
Points: 0
Cost of points: $0
Monthly payment: $1247.74


"One Point" Loan
Program: 30 year fixed
Loan Amount: $200,000
Rate: 6.0%
Points: 1
Cost of points: $2000
Monthly Payment: $1199.10


Points should always be your choice. In this scenario, you would save $48.64 per month in the form of a lower payment by paying an up front point cost of $2000. Carefully consider whether you will be in the home long enough to recover the cost of the points before making this decision.

3. Points are tax deductible. This is partially true. When you purchase a home, points are tax deductible in their entirety in the year you purchase the home. In a refinance transaction, you must "amortize" the cost of the points over the term of the loan. In other words, if you have a 30 year loan, in the case of a refinance, you can only write off 1/30th of the cost of the points each year for 30 years.


4. Points are paid up front. Many consumer mistakenly think that mortgage points must be paid out of pocket before their transaction closes. This is not true. Points are charged at closing as part of the settlement charges.


5. Points can be used to buy down the rate as low as you want to go. Points are used to obtain a lower interest rate, however, some clients have asked me if they can pay, for example, 5 points to lower their rate to an extremely low rate. Unfortunately, this cannot be accomplished for two reasons.


First of all, predatory lending laws prohibit a broker's total fees to exceed a certain percentage of the loan amount. Second, there is always a threshold with every loan program where the lender makes it unattractive to continue to buy down the rate. In other words, perhaps you can "buy down" the rate .375% for each of the first two points. The lender will likely make it unattractive to use additional points, only allowing you to better your rate by .125% for each additional point beyond 2 points. This is because there is an ebb and flow of money in the economy, and mortgage paper at an unusually low rate is not as hot of a commodity for lenders to have in their portfolio.


I hope that you now feel more comfortable with the concept of mortgage points. It is critical that you find an honest mortgage broker who is looking out for your best interests and can give you an analysis of the long term effects of different loan structures based on your unique situation. With hundreds of loan programs available in the marketplace, it is only through careful consideration of your needs and long term financial goals that the right decision can be made.


About the Author


RJ Baxter has been a mortgage consultant for four years. RJ utilizes his teaching background through educating consumers and advocating ethical business practices in the mortgage industry. RJ has received several awards for excellence and loan volume and has consistently ranked in the top ten among over 400 loan consultants at PrimeLending. To access more of RJ's articles or read more about RJ or PrimeLending, please visit www.rjbaxter.com.

5 Highly Effective Ways to Use Your Mortgage Business Card...Part II

5 Highly Effective Ways to Use Your Mortgage Business Card...Part II

by Tom Domin

5 Highly Effective Ways to Use Your Mortgage Business Card...Part II


In Part I we talked about adding value to your card and using the back of the card to promote your mortgage marketing message. I'm sure these remaining business card tips will help you in your mortgage business:


3. Set a goal indicating the number of business cards you want to hand out each day.


If you're a newbie (new person) in the mortgage business with a limited budget...or if you're an experienced originator experiencing a period of very few referrals...this tip is for you. Even the best of us get back in the trenches to generate business.


Now here's the deal: You pick the number and set your daily goal. The only thing I suggest is that you pick a good number...it can be three, five, seven, ten, etc.


You'll have to meet your goal every day. Now, I don't expect you to work on Sunday and...you can also take off Saturday...but only if you've reached your goal the previous five days in a row.


So...if you picked five as your daily goal and you reached your goal each day...you now have twenty five cards out there working for you. Do this for a month or two or three and all of a sudden you have three hundred cards out there working for you.


Are you going to get some business as a result...of course you are. It's a numbers game...the more people you talk to...the greater your chance of success.


When I first started in this business, this is how I did it. I picked ten as my number and at the start of my day I set aside ten business cards. I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't go home until I had handed out every one of those cards.


I did that for over six weeks straight and even worked in a couple of Saturdays. No matter what I had going that day, I made sure that I hit my goal. I have to tell you...it works. In six short weeks I had distributed over 330 cards. It wasn't long before I had some calls coming in from these contacts and eventually loans in my pipeline.


4. Print your own cards. Even if your company supplies business cards, find a way to print a few cards.


Most employers don't object to this. Plus, this gives you the opportunity to create an identity with your card as well as produce cards with multiple backs.


Why multiple backs you may be asking? For different sales messages of course! For example...If you spend a fair amount of time calling on Realtors, then the back of your card should relay a message geared specifically towards Realtors.


Over the years I've seen cards with various back designs including the following:


1. A mini-certificate good for $250 which can be applied towards closing costs.


2. A list of documents needed to begin the application process.


3. An Amortization Schedule.


4. A list of loan programs available to borrowers.


5. A special loan program like the low start rate program.


6. A statement like "I save commissions!" or "Last year we saved $146,000 in commissions." This is obviously geared for Realtors.


7. "We offer easy Builder approval!"


8. The possibilities are absolutely endless...think about your market...and you'll find a message.


Ok, here's my last point on the subject of Business Cards:


5. We touched on it above...use your business card to create an identity for yourself. Printing your own card helps to do this. Personally, I don't like the picture idea at all...I'll leave that idea for the Realtors.


Instead, create a consumer-friendly phrase to separate yourself from other loan officers. Many loan officers use "Loan Officer for life" theme. Think original, such as; "Moving? Take me with you to finance your next home." Spend some time on this and pick a good brand for yourself.



About the Author




About the Author: Tom Domin is currently publisher of "Tom's Mortgage Tips" a twice-weekly Mortgage Newsletter for Mortgage Professionals and the author of "101 Ways To Originate Mortgages" at: http://www.101WaysToOriginateMortgages.com/

5 criteria to get your Home Loan Mortgage approved

5 criteria to get your Home Loan Mortgage approved

by Chris Edison

Why do some people get their home loan mortgages approved in a breeze while others struggle through with hiccups? What are the differentiating factors between one application and another? What do lenders look at when they evaluate you?In reality, getting your home mortgage approved depends on how your background matches the list of criteria set forth by the lender. Although these rules that they have are not always entirely hard and fast, the loan application officer does not stray too far away the guidelines he or she has been entrusted with. Needless to say, applicants should at best present themselves as creditworthy creditors and have the adequate documented records as proof of this.Believe or not, lenders have a scoring system for aspects of your background that they are evaluating. The following are areas in which you will be scrutinized on:1.Employment History
You must have been in employment for not less than 2 consecutive years within the same industry. This shows that you have the capability to be sustained in a permanent position, and do not hop from one job to another. Lenders look for stability and consistency as best they can, and your employment history is a good basis for them to evaluate your capability to generate income to finance your mortgage.2.Credit History
The next indicator of your credit-worthiness is your short-term debt, a.k.a. your credit card bills. It's ok to have some debt on your credit card, but you must show a history of on-time payments. Apart from that, too much debt on credit cards with credit lines fully utilized shows the possible inability to pay for debt. Therefore, at least six months before applying for a loan, it would be best to clean up your short term debt as much as possible.

3. Outstanding Liabilities
The size of your income dictates the amount of liability you can support. As a rule of thumb, lenders stipulate that a person's total monthly payments for liabilities should not exceed 42% of his or her monthly earnings. With this, total liabilities include credit card debt, car loans, student loans, existing mortgages or child support collectively. This means that in order to qualify for your home loan mortgage, you need to reduce your monthly repayments on liabilities to the point which is acceptable by the lender.4.Cash and Asset Reserves
Another aspect to show that you can afford your home loan mortgage is to provide proof to the lender on the amount of cash and liquid assets that you possess. The minimum reserves that you have must be sufficient to pay at least 2 months of monthly repayments for mortgage payments. Some lenders even go to the extent of requiring 6 months worth of reserves in order to qualify.5.Existing Housing Repayments
Finally, if you already have existing housing rental payments, there should not be any late repayments for these within the past 12 months. This again shows your priorities as a responsible tenant and is adequate proof to the lender that you potentially will be a responsible borrower as well.Some applicants who may lack supporting documents for their home loan mortgage applications should compensate by providing documents that will help to prove themselves to be responsible pay masters. These could be payments receipts of utility bills, phone bills or even car insurance, which are useful documents to be used to prove that you are indeed creditworthy.


About the Author


Chris Edison is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.mortgage-traps.com a home mortgage loan information site, that reveals mortgage traps for home buyers.

4 things to watch out for when choosing a mortgage company 4 things to watch out for when choosing a mortgage company

4 things to watch out for when choosing a mortgage company

by Bart Fadington

We all know that there are a lot of mortgage companies out there. But how do you know which company to choose? Some companies have flashy advertisements about low interest rates, but are they really the best company to choose? A mortgage is a very large investment, so the company that you choose has to be the best company out there for you. As a mortgage expert, I can give you a few tips when choosing a mortgage company.1. Watch out for interest rates. Some companies have higher interest rates than others. Choose the company with the best interest rate for you (usually the lowest, but not always). Be careful of special promotions that have hidden fees. Don't get sucked in by an extremely low interest rate. Be sure you know everything involved with that interest rate. Be sure to check things out and understand the terms of the interest. If you do this, you will have a much better chance of getting a nice interest rate that you and your family are comfortable with.2. Be sure to know all of the fees. Some mortgage companies have hidden fees, or they tack on additional costs. Don't get stuck paying extremely large fees. Once again, companies will try to hide behind low interest rates, but then they will stick you with several large fees. Don't fall for it!3. Be mindful of the application and appraisal fees. You want to get the lowest fee possible with the highest quality service. Some mortgage companies charge insane amounts for applications and appraisals. Charging a lot does not necessarily mean that they are worthwhile companies. The best service, for the lowest price is always the best way to go!4. Finally, and most important of all, is the service. Some companies are not committed to their customers. A Mortgage company that gives you terrible service, but extremely low rates is not the best company out there. Watch out for companies with quite a few different contacts. One on one customer service is the best. You want a mortgage company that cares and is willing to get to know you and your needs. How a mortgage company presents itself to its customers, and how it handles them is a reflection of the kind of company it is. A company that has lousy service, rude representatives, and little customer interaction is not the company for you. A quality company will be attentive to your needs because you are the customer, and you are what is most important.Choosing a mortgage company may seem like a daunting task. Just remember to keep costs in mind. The most expensive is not always the best, nor is the cheapest always the best. Keep in mind service. Service is the most accurate representation of a company. If you follow these simple tasks I am positive that you will choose the best mortgage company for you and your family.


About the Author


RESOURCE BOX (HTML):
Bart Fadington writes about Mortgage company topics.

3 Essential Mortgage Refinance Secrets You'll Need To Pick The Right Home Loan

3 Essential Mortgage Refinance Secrets You'll Need To Pick The Right Home Loan

by Joel McDonald

Although lowering your monthly mortgage payment is always attractive, don't let a slightly lower mortgage rate fool you. If you're not careful when thinking about a mortgage refinance, you could cost yourself more in expenses than what you save in monthly payments -- and not even know it. (Even with so-called "no cost" mortgage loans.) Refinancing a home loan has more to it than appears on the surface. Be sure to consult with a mortgage professional before getting yourself into something you can't reverse.


Mistake #1: Waiting for lower interest rates.


Mortgage rates are notoriously unpredictable. No one can speculate on mortgage rates with enough accuracy to win every time. If rates are attractive, consider refinancing. If you do it right, and rates go down again later, you can always refinance again. If trates go down substantially before you finalize the loan, you can always change mortgage brokers. If rates go up, you'll be glad you locked that initial rate in!


Mistake #2: Not shopping around enough with local mortgage bankers/brokers.


E-loan, Lending Tree, and other online mortgage shopping sites are great, but be careful! They are national mortgage shopping sites. That might sound nice because you get mortgage lenders from across the nation competing for your business, but be careful - any lender other than a mortgage lender who is familiar with lending in your home-state will not be familiar with local practices, and that could cost you in many ways. It might not only cost you that lower interest rate, but depending on your other circumstances, it could actually cause you miss that window of opportunity.


Mistake #3: Not looking at the whole picture.


If you have been paying your mortgage for several years, the amount saved every month by refinancing might not save as much as you think. In fact, it usually costs far more than people think! In other words, if you are 10 years into your mortgage loan, refinancing your mortgage would make you start over on the repayment of that debt. Obviously, it might be great to save some money after refinancing your home loan, but once you refinance the loan you've been paying on for 10 years, you'll be paying off that loan for an additional 10 years! That could really hurt. Sure, it may seem great that you're lowering your $1200 monthly payment by $100, but when you factor in the extra 120 payments of $1100 that you'll have after refinancing, you'll find that your "$100 monthly savings" will actually cost an extra $108,000 over the life of the loan! ($1100 times 360 payments over 30 years is $108,000 more than $1200 times 240 months.)


Be sure to get a "good faith estimate" and "Truth in Lending statement" from your mortgage broker before jumping into a new loan that could cost thousands of dollars (if not hundreds of thousands) over the life of your new loan. Get your mortgage broker to explain not only what your monthly payment will be, but also what your new loan balance will be compared to your old loan, what the new interest rate is, and how many years you will be adding to your repayment schedule if you do refinance.

About the Author


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1% Mortgage Refinance - How?

1% Mortgage Refinance - How?

by Tristan Hunt

1% Mortgage Refinance loans, you've probably seen 100 different advertisements, but how is it possible? There is really only one big secret to 1% mortgages: 1% minimum payments are below the interest payable on the loan. Once we've addressed this feature, most of the other facets of 1% mortgages are relatively logical. 1% mortgages, which now come in dozens of varieties with start rates from below 1% (some even starting at 0% for a few months after refinance) up to 4% or more, offer astonishingly low payments. Some of them offer fixed rates for 30 or even 40 years, some of them are adjustable from the day you take them out, all of these are basically "1% mortgages" and are extremely popular amongst homeowners today. 1% mortgages and their offspring are being used for debt consolidation, cash flow management, investments, and for tax purposes, and they are being used a lot.


A full 40% of home loans originated in 2005 and 2006 are estimated to be from the 1% mortgage family, with multiple payment options. By its proponents, the success of the 1% mortgage has been hailed as a new era of affordability and flexibility, of an extremely sharp financial tool once available only to the very rich now available to every family in the country. Its opponents tend to think that the 1% mortgage is a bit too sharp for the average homeowner to handle, they fear "Average Joes" could conceivably cut themselves. Despite their division, one thing is certain, the popularity of the 1% mortgage is driven by the relentless pursuit of the American dream. There are more homeowners in the United States today than in any other period in history, and many of those who own homes have only been able to accomplish home ownership, which was once a lifelong achievement, in their early 20's and 30's, largely because of the extended availability of these 1% mortgages to normal borrowers.


How much less expensive is a 1% mortgage payment option versus the comparable 30 Year Fixed traditional principal and interest payment?


For a $500,000.00 Mortgage:


1% Minimum Payment: $1200.00
Normal Loan Payment: $3000.00
-----------------------------
Cash Flow / Savings: $1800.00


It's easy to see why the 1% mortgage refinance is so heavily marketed as a way to cut your mortgage payment in half. In the above example, the 1% mortgage minimum payment option is 60% less than a typical, traditional principal & interest loan payment. 1% mortgage minimum payments are usually 50% lower than even the highly lauded Interest Only payment mortgages, and most loans in the 1% mortgage family include the ability to pay more than just 1% if need be.


So How Does it Work?


In fact, 1% mortgages are more than just the 1% start rate. They have a fully indexed rate as well, which is the true amount of interest due each month. When making a 1% mortgage minimum payment, the borrower is not paying all of the interest due, which is seen by some as a good thing and some as a bad thing. Let's examine some of the commonly perceived benefits and caveats of 1% mortgages:


Commonly Perceived Benefits of the 1% Mortgage Family:


1. Extremely Low Monthly Minimum Payment: As we've seen in our example, the minimum payment option is less than half of the typical traditional mortgage payment.


2. Flexibility to Control Your Own Money: Unlike a traditional mortgage, which requires a payment to principal each month, 1% mortgages allow borrowers to take the power into their own hands to make principal payments when they want to, e.g after a bonus or a particularly good year.


3. Separate Cash Flow from Equity: While many personal finance pundits laud the benefits of building home equity, the reality is that investing home equity yields a 0% return on investment on a month to month basis. In the above example, paying the traditional principal and interest payment forces the borrower to invest $1800 more each month in their home, money which is locked up entirely in the equity of the home. Home Equity is illiquid, meaning all this money locked in equity cannot be accessed unless the home is sold or refinanced. The bank won't cut a check each month for the borrower's home equity in a traditional loan. With a 1% mortgage minimum payment, that $1800 difference in payments is money in the borrower's pocket, to invest or spend at their discretion. By deferring interest using a 1% mortgage, the borrower has full access to money that normally would be locked up until they sold the property. That $1800 per month adds up to over $100,000.00 in cash over 5 years on a 1% mortgage, and it's available every time your paycheck does not get used up paying a huge traditional mortgage payment each month.


4. Maximize Debt Consolidation: Using a 1% mortgage refinance to pay off all of your other creditors, such as credit card companies and high interest rate lenders, means that you can save even more money than with a 1% mortgage refinance alone. Since you aren't throwing high interest money at your creditors each month, the cash which you save by making the 1% mortgage payment actually goes into your pocket, your savings, your investments, or wherever you need it most. That's ultimate control. Let's say that in our $500,000 1% mortgage example above, we rolled in $30,000 of credit card and other high interest debt that have a monthly minimum payment requirement of $1,000. By using a 1% mortgage refinance to pay off those debts, total monthly savings using the earlier example would be over $2800 per month, $1000 from the debt consolidation plus $1800 from the difference between the traditional loan payment at 6% and the 1% mortgage minimum payment.


5. Turn Equity into a Tax Deduction: First, the 1% mortgage payment is 100% interest and therefore should be 100% tax deductible in most cases. Secondly, One of the most attractive benefits of 1% mortgages is the additional tax deduction available on deferred interest. What this means is that borrowers can realize a tax deduction on interest they did not have to lay out the cash for, and choose the time at which this deduction is realized, which can be a huge savings upon liquidity or refinance. For real estate investors, this is a huge advantage as it can often wash out the capital gains consequences of selling a property. Disclaimer: We do not dispense tax advice, and you should consider consulting a CPA.


6. Easy Qualification: Normally, to qualify for low payment mortgages, borrowers are required to have exceptional credit. However, 1% mortgage refinance loans are routinely available to borrowers with credit scores as low as 620, and if they are borrowing less than 80% of the value of their home, scores can even be in the 500s provided there are no late mortgage payments reported on their credit file. The borrower's income can be stated, and sometimes no income or employment documentation is required at all.


7. Enhanced Protection from Foreclosure: Because the minimum payment option is so low, the cash savings each month so high, and the loan is so flexible, the 1% mortgage family offers homeowners a low minimum payment option which they have a much higher likelihood of paying should they suffer an interruption of income or become disabled.


8. Biweekly Payments: A popular way to maximize the benefits of the 1% mortgage refinance is to elect to make biweekly payments (which are available on select 1% mortgages). This optimizes the loan to coincide with most borrower's payment cycles and reduces any possible negative effects of deferring interest.


Commonly Perceived Caveats of the 1% Mortgage Family:


1. Artificially Low Payments: Because the minimum payments are so low compared to traditional mortgages, many pundits fear that people who would normally not qualify for home ownership can now own a home. The fear is that new or "low income" homeowners could "get in over their heads" by buying more house than they can truly afford. Ultimately, it is up to the borrower to decide how much they can afford.


2. Deferred Interest: Often referred to as negative amortization, this concern is commonly cited by journalists as a "negative" because the loan balance may increase over time if the minimum payment is always selected. However, this perspective does ignore the advantages of dramatically increased cash flow in the borrower's pocket each month and the tax benefits of deferring interest. Of course, the borrower can choose for themselves whether they want to spend their money paying interest to the bank or if they would rather put the difference into their own pockets.


3. Depreciation: If the value of the borrower's home falls dramatically, and other factors force the borrower to sell the home while the value is low, the borrower may wind up owing more than the home is worth. This is a valid risk over short periods of time for all types of mortgages, not just 1% mortgages. Even a traditional principal and interest mortgage does not pay off enough principal over the first 5 years of its life to offset a dramatic short term decline in home values. The risk of property values declining is a real risk of owning property, period. However, history tells us that residential real estate appreciates consistently over any given ten year period in the past 50 years.


4. Too Easy To Qualify: This may not seem to be a disadvantage to most borrowers looking to purchase or refinance a home, but there are those who believe that borrowers should be forced to document significantly more income and assets to qualify for these types of loans. A lot of this sentiment is an outgrowth of antiquated conceptions of 1% mortgages as a "Rich Man's Mortgage", which used to require significant net worth to obtain, and some of it is attributable to equally antiquated "one size fits all" notions about mortgages. Your perspective will likely depend on whether or not you are in a position to provide extensive documentation of your income and assets in support of your loan application.


Many of the criticisms of 1% mortgages revolve around the adjustable rate variety of these mortgages, which like all adjustable rate mortgages go up and down with the rest of the market. However, in most 1% mortgages, the minimum payment stays fixed and can go up or down only 7.5% per year. So if your payment in Year 1 is $1000.00 , in Year 2 it can go no higher than $1075.00. Because the rate on the loan can change more or less than the minimum payment, which is extremely low, the loan can result in the deferral of interest if only the minimum payment is made. Many of the amortization issues which are seen by critics of 1% Mortgages as their key detractor have been recently resolved by the introduction of fixed rate minimum payment loans to the 1% mortgage family.


Fixed rate 1% mortgage variations, the latest additions to the 1% mortgage family, have fixed interest rates from 3 to 30 years or more. The minimum payment option is generally available for the first 5, 10, 15 or in some cases 20 years of the mortgage, at which point the 1% mortgage payment recasts or readjusts to the interest only payment or the full principal & interest payment. During the fixed period, the loan payment and interest rates of fixed 1% mortgages are utterly predictable and can be defined down to the penny. Many borrowers who would prefer a fixed rate can benefit significantly from the 30 year fixed 1% mortgage, which actually carries a minimum payment of 1.95% and a fixed rates in the 6% to 7% range for 30 years.


While there are those in the journalism community who believe that 1% mortgages have too much power for your average homeowner, ultimately the decision is in the homeowner's hands. Make a high payment to the bank each month, or put the money in their pockets. And homeowners seem evenly divided, as refinances into loans from the 1% mortgage category are projected to represent over 50% of all refinances in 2007. Traditional mortgages are not a one size fits all solution, and neither are 1% mortgages, but with low minimum payment options, excellent debt consolidation capabilities, significant cash flow and tax advantages made possible by deferring interest, and flexibility to control your finances or insulate yourself from interruptions in income or disability, 1% mortgages continue to post significant growth across the country. Whether or not a 1% mortgage refinance is right for you should be determined by performing a detailed analysis of your personal financial situation with a home loan professional who has extensive experience with 1% mortgage products. As always, we welcome your calls and emails.

About the Author


Tristan Hunt is a seasoned financial professional with a wealth of experience in the mortgage industry, advising clients on Debt Consolidation & Refinancing.
Phone: 800-515-8443 Website: http://RefinanceOne.net