Florida Mortgage Blog

By: Peter Spyr

Shopping around for mortgages is so popular these days that many people can be excused for thinking that switching lenders is the only way to save money on your home loan. But there is a much easier way that does not require phone calls, computers connected to the internet, or trips to your bank or building society.

Did you know, for instance, that making overpayments on your mortgage can slash thousands of pounds off your interest bill? Additionally, it will cut the length of time taken to repay your home loan so you get to own your home sooner.

Imagine, say, that you have a £100,000 repayment mortgage, with a 25-year term and an interest rate of 6%. Your monthly payments will be £644, and after 25 years you will have paid back a total of £193,290. In other words you will have paid back £1.93 for every pound borrowed.

If, however, you were to overpay your mortgage by just £50 each month, your total payment would be reduced to £177,279 — a saving of over sixteen grand in interest. Furthermore, this overpayment shortens the length of the mortgage by 45 months, which means almost four extra years of bliss.

Its is worth being prudent though and ensuring that your will not be penalised by your lender for changing your standing order or making overpayment. In the main, most flexible mortgage lenders will allow you to make overpayments of up to 10% each year. But if your lender doesn’t allow this, you have another trick up your sleeve!

Lessening the term of your mortgage from 25 years to 21 years would increase your payments in exactly the same way as overpaying by £50 each month. Mind you, this is a much harsher way to do it because payments are fixed. However, it doesn’t prevent you from increasing your term again, should you need to, by simply writing to your provider.

At the end of the day, paying off your mortgage early is simply the best and least risky ways of saving money. By making overpayments to your mortgage of around 6%, your money would be working harder than if you had invested it into a savings account with 7% earnings.5% for a basic-rate taxpayer. For a higher-rate taxpayer, this risk-free and tax-free rate is equivalent to 10%, which is practically unbeatable!

Many people forget that even though we sign up for a 25-year mortgage term there is no earthly reason why we have to stick to this. If you have any extra cash each month, using it against your mortgage can make a huge difference and it can save you thousands of pounds in interest each year.

Good luck on removing that mortgage millstone from around your neck!

By: Tom Domin

How To Find First Time Home Buyers…Your Never Ending Supply Of Mortgage Prospects

Regardless of the “doom and gloom” mortgage stuff that is being publicized these days, the first time home buyer market just doesn’t waiver very much. Suffice it to say, this is the area that you need to originate mortgages from to survive in the mortgage business.

Your mission…should you choose to accept it…is to find those young couples that are renting, who are first time home buyer candidates. Now, this message won’t self-destruct in thirty seconds, but I hope this little tip will make you think or re-think your first time home buyer marketing.

This idea is really quite simple: just place a nice ad in your “Apartment Weekly” or whatever local rental magazine you have in your area or place a little newspaper ad in the “Homes for Rent” or “Apartments for Rent” section of your local paper. Place a nice border around the ad…make it attractive and appealing. Here’s an example of how your ad may read:

“Wanted…Young married couples who are sick and tired of renting and want to own their own home using almost nothing down. Come to my website at localmortgageperson.com and see what we can do for you! Stop renting and start owning now! There’s never been a better time!”

This works even better with a good apartment complex flyer/mailer/drop-off. Hit every apartment complex with a good looking one-page message that does nothing but direct them to your website. Post it on their bulletin boards as well.

Simultaneously with doing this, you should add a page to your site to capture the contact information of those people who respond Its called a “capture page” and should appear when they click on “Looking for your first home? Click here!”

That “click here” takes them to where your smiling face looks out at them with a very brief message: “Please enter your name and phone and I will call and acquaint you with what we can do for you!” They enter their information…you say “Thank you, I will be in touch shortly.” The result of all of this is a good solid mortgage lead.

Now, if you don’t have a personal mortgage web site to take advantage of this, shame on you! Get started today and set one up right now.

If you currently own and are using a “24 hour toll free number” in your marketing efforts, work that into the equation as well.

Remember in all of this, you are not looking to change your current mortgage marketing methods and leave what works for you behind, you are simply looking to originate a loan or two extra with very little effort on your part. If that happen, this technique would be an unqualified success won’t it?

Let’s face it; sometimes it’s a little tough finding prospects. So, think outside the box and find a few prospects on your own that no one else is really looking for!

By: Rony Walker

Vroom! Vroom! Nestled in the driver’s seat, you feel like you are at home in your favorite recliner. With a firm grip at 10:00 and 2:00 on the steering wheel, you bolt down the German Autobahn with no other cars in sight. The wind whips through your hair as sunrays melt off your cool shades. You glance over at that someone special in the passenger’s seat and shout out, “It doesn’t get any better than this!” Suddenly, the sound of a throat being cleared causes your eyelids to sheepishly rise. The voice came from the salesman “Honest Al,” who is sporting a green plaid suit that was the latest fashion…30 years ago! It hits you that you are in a car showroom. You ask Al about the lowest price he can offer you. After he replies, your jaw hits the car floor. If he had given you an equity home loan mortgage rate at relatively the same value, the result would have been the same.

Good, Better, Best

A gold nugget of shopping wisdom is that you can always find a better price. You could find a better price at a car auction than at a used car lot. You could find a better price in a clothing brand’s factory outlet than at a department store’s seasonal sale. And you could find a better equity home loan mortgage rate on the Internet than at a fly-by-night mortgage lender. Although it takes some time and effort to find the best mortgage interest rate, it is definitely worthwhile. Except for those who can afford skyscrapers and corporations, houses are the biggest investment for most people. So, it pays to spend some extra time and energy to find the lowest equity home loan mortgage rate available.

A Date with Rates

Life would be easier if you could just take out a mortgage and always pay a standard equity home loan mortgage rate. But the system never works that way. Banks and construction societies are constantly updating and broadening the types of mortgages that they offer. This constantly keeps the market competitive. One of two significant aspects of mortgages is how you pay the interest on the capital. Some examples include:

* Fixed rates, in which the rate is fixed for the timeframe that is agreed upon.
* Variable rates let you pay the current rate, on your loan. The mortgage rate usually changes after interest rate changes are calculated for a year. The mortgage rate can also change each time interest rates change.
* Discounted rates apply over a set period. This program offers the borrower a price cut on the lender’s variable rate. The rate paid changes according to changes in the variable rate.
* Capped rates are fixed, but you pay the lower rate in the case that rates fall.

An Engine’s Rate

When searching for the best equity home loan mortgage rate from these various types, you can do the footwork yourself by using the search function at websites with equity home loan mortgage rates. Usually the search engine will request that you supply information, such as your credit profile, your home (family) description, and the type of loan. Then after clicking on the search button…BOOM! You have the info you need.

When shopping for clothing, computers, or cars, you can always find a better price. Finding the lowest equity home loan mortgage rate is no different. Speed off and find the best one today!

By: Tom Domin

Refinances are down, new home sales are off, lenders are closing their doors, loan programs are being eliminated, and credit requirements are being tightened…it’s no wonder we’re not quite as optimistic as we once were.

It’s against this backdrop that your on-line mortgage presence and Internet marketing takes on a whole new importance. There is mounting evidence that if you are not on the Internet bandwagon and if you can’t be found by people searching for mortgages on the Internet, you are completely “missing the boat” in the mortgage business.

Many of you have told me “I just don’t get that involved with online marketing. I’ve been very successful the traditional way for many years.” Here’s my response…My sincere congratulations on all of your past success and my profound empathy for the frustration you will suffer in the months and years ahead as your prospects leave you at the station while they board the express mortgage train called the internet.

Here are a few points about this trend to the Internet that you should ponder:

Both Search Engines and web sites are considered “referrals” and “trusted sources” by those doing the search. Being directed to your web site by organic search engines is a valid referral, just as a phone call is, or a referral from a friend or associate. People consult Google, Yahoo, MSN and AOL with inquiries and their most delicate questions over a billion times a week! If Internet referrals constitute a “trusted source,” shouldn’t you be one of those “trusted sources?”

The Internet is alive and on duty 24/7, and you would be amazed at what time of day (or night) people search for homes and mortgages. In contrast, the morning newspaper is usually in the trash by dinner time.

Supporting the proposition that newspaper readership and advertising is not as important as it used to be, consider these facts: In every age group, newspaper readership is down. In the 30-45 age group, less than 35% of people read a newspaper. Even in the 45-55 age group, only slightly more than 45% of people read the newspaper. People are turning to the Internet in staggering numbers.

Many publications including the New York Times are transitioning as fast as they can to Internet publication and advertising as they fear for the future of traditional newspapers in America.

Have you tried to get a teenager to read a book, lately? They are probably too busy Instant messaging, text messaging friends on their cell phones or watching videos on YouTube. Our next generation will be even less paper friendly and even more Internet friendly.

Mortgage professionals that have already committed to online marketing have been able to expand their marketing area and remain effective due to online communication; people find you on the Internet, call you or email you, and use you to help them secure a mortgage in an area they may not know.

So, unless you are in a state of denial about the Internet’s importance to your future mortgage transactions, you need to take action immediately.

You do need the Internet…today and in the future…to succeed in the mortgage business. If you are welcoming and ready to exploit the changes you need to make, you’ll be more successful in your online mortgage marketing and that’s where the money will be in the future!

By: Rony Walker

There is always a possibility of getting a no-cost refinance. Mortgage rates being what they are, this is, of course, a very welcome option. But lenders are in business to make money. Keep this in mind when you are trying to get a refinance. Mortgage problems make your entire fiscal situation even worse if not properly managed.

If your creditor is not earning income by charging direct costs for the loan, those fees will be integrated into the loan or you will be paying through an interest rate that is higher than normal. It is true that some banks offer true no-cost loans but not a lot of them do. Make sure you read your agreement thoroughly. You can get a Good Faith Estimate. When you do, ask the lender to guarantee it. Legally, Good Faith Estimates do not have to be guaranteed. This makes them almost worthless. However, lenders will guarantee these estimates if they do business with you.

It is a complex thing to seek refinance. Mortgage transactions have many costs attached. These include, loan discount points, processing costs, administration costs, application costs, and many others. Lender charges can be negotiated by the borrower. Some of them can even be waived. A Yield Spread Premium is the money that banks give to mortgage brokers for bringing your loan. Ask about this beforehand as you might have received a lower interest rate if the lender did not pay the broker a Yield Spread Premium.

What Is The Downside?

The bad things about a refinance? Mortgage refinance fees you pay to acquire the loan for one thing. You might not recoup these fees for a number of years. Another is the extension of the amortization period. You may be qualified to shorten it but you simply may not want to pay more each month. Also, a mortgage refinance makes the entire mortgage just that much bigger. The position of your equity will be affected by the refinance. Mortgage will increase if you take out the refinance in cash

Bill payment is something people do with a refinance. Mortgage payment is not the priority for them. They also use the cash to pay off credit cards. This is not a wise course of action. You will only dig yourself deeper into debt.

And The Upside?

Sticking with the home long enough will help you break even on the cost of the mortgage refinance. Lower interest rates and monthly payments will greatly improve your cash flow. You can also shorten your loan period in exchange for higher mortgage payments. Finally, the cash you obtain can help you in another investment. You just have to make sure the rate of return is higher than your interest payments.

Clearly, there is a lot to learn about mortgage refinance. A lot of it depends on your particular situation. As with most things, seeking professional advice will yield better results. Make sure that the counselor understands your situation and what you intend to do with the refinance.

By: Max Hunter

PMI - a recurring, monthly, unwelcome guest. It sounds similar to and is about as welcomed as a similar acronym. PMI is private mortgage insurance. This insurance policy is paid for by the homebuyer when the amount of their primary mortgage is greater than 80% of the value of the property.

You will note that the term “primary mortgage” was used. This is for a specific reason. It is not the total of all mortgages and home loans on the property that is evaluated, but rather the amount of the primary or largest mortgage on the property that can trigger PMI.

PMI is calculated by taking 0.5% of your primary loan balance and dividing it by 12 (12 monthly payments). For example, if your primary mortgage is $200,000 and you are required to pay PMI, your mortgage payments would be an additional $83.34 per month. For most homebuyers, this additional premium is a considerable financial burden to undertake.

There are ways around PMI for those homebuyers unable to put down 20% or more on their new home. Mortgage lenders have created loan packages which include two or more home loans that when combined exceed the 80% threshold, while no one of the loans exceed that threshold. Typically there is a primary mortgage and either one or two home equity loans taken out simultaneously which are 81% - 100% (or sometimes more) of the home value. This affords the homebuyer to put less than 20% down, or perhaps put nothing down at all while at the same time eliminating the need to pay PMI.

If you know you are going to be putting less than 20% down on the purchase of your home you should immediately speak to your home lender about avoiding PMI. A good home lender will inform you about these types of packages. Though the rules on these packages may differ from state to state, the vast majority of states allow for these types of loan packages.

When you review this type of package you will note that there will invariably be a different interest rate on the mortgage than there is on the home equity loan(s). The mortgage rate may have a slightly lower interest rate or perhaps even a considerably lower interest rate. You should be able to calculate what the monthly payments would be for the combined loans and then determine if it comes out less than a single mortgage with PMI. Obviously, a good lender is only going to present you the package if the payments are cheaper than a single loan with PMI.

You are able to refinance the loans at any point and combine them into one payment. You would only do this when the value of the home is more than 20% above of the amount you will mortgage. As the value of your home increases through home improvements or time, you can receive an appraisal and speak to your home loan professional to determine if refinancing the loans into one loan makes sense.

These types of loans are often referred to as 80-10-10 loans or 80-15 loans, among other names. An 80-10-10 loan is a mortgage at 80% of the amount to be financed and than two home equity loans at 10% each. You will likely find that all three loans will have a different interest rate with this type of package. 80-15 loans are similar but would be the main loan at 80% and a secondary loan at 15% with the buyer putting down the additional 5%.

It is important to note that when financing 90% - 100% of a home, or more, the appraisal will play a key role in the loan approval process. If the appraisal does not come out at a pre-determined amount, the lender may feel that the transaction is not a sound one. You may need to go back and renegotiate the purchase price of the home or run the risk of being denied the mortgage. Most real estate contracts, however, do have a clause in them that allows the buyer out of the contract if they are denied a mortgage. You will want to speak to the lawyers and real estate agent in advance if you are planning for applying for this type of loan. Some contingency clauses in contracts specify a maximum percentage of a loan you need to qualify for and if you are denied for a loan at a higher percentage you are not protected by this clause.

It is important for you to have all of this information in place before you start your home search. By knowing how your financing is going to be handled you will be able to make sure you are protected in the transaction and you will also be able to negotiate a better deal since your financing has been completed or is close to being completed. The key is knowing in advance what percentage of the value of the home you are able to and willing to put down on your new home.