Saturday, August 27, 2011
Secured Loans - Cashing In On Rising House Prices
Look in any estate agent's window and it becomes clear very quickly how much house prices are rising across the UK. But that can be a real advantage to a homeowner looking to raise some quick cash - perhaps to consolidate credit card and other debts or to embark on some home improvements.We're talking secured loans here, of course, perhaps the easiest form of loan to obtain.That's because security for the loan is provided by bricks and morter - your home, in other words.And because there are so many lenders willing to provide such loans, because the borrower is offering bricks and morter as security, some really competitive loan rates are available.The secured loan takes advantage of the equity which may be locked up in the value of a home. For example, a home bought for £60,000 (via a mortgage) may, years later, be worth double the purchase price or more because of the steady, increasing rise in house prices.And it's this difference in value then and now, known as the equity, which allows the homeowner to borrow against and which is attractive to the lender.
The loan may be provided by the lender of the original mortgage. Or it may be obtained via a second mortgage, through a different lender. The homeowner could also obtain a remortgage, for a larger amount.No matter by what method the secured loan is obtained, if the homeowner defaults on repayments, the lender can repossess the property and get back the money borrowed.And of course the lender providing the original mortgage has a legal first charge.This means their claim has priority over the claim of any subsequent lender involved.As such, because of the perceived increased risk, the rates offered by the second lender will usually be higher.
So how much can you borrow? Depends on the equity. What sort of terms are available? Anything from a few years to 10, 20 or more years. What rates can you expect? Somewhere around 6% to 7% is fairly common.But it all depends on your circumstances - and everyone's situation is different.Talk the matter over with an independent financial adviser first before taking the plunge.
The loan may be provided by the lender of the original mortgage. Or it may be obtained via a second mortgage, through a different lender. The homeowner could also obtain a remortgage, for a larger amount.No matter by what method the secured loan is obtained, if the homeowner defaults on repayments, the lender can repossess the property and get back the money borrowed.And of course the lender providing the original mortgage has a legal first charge.This means their claim has priority over the claim of any subsequent lender involved.As such, because of the perceived increased risk, the rates offered by the second lender will usually be higher.
So how much can you borrow? Depends on the equity. What sort of terms are available? Anything from a few years to 10, 20 or more years. What rates can you expect? Somewhere around 6% to 7% is fairly common.But it all depends on your circumstances - and everyone's situation is different.Talk the matter over with an independent financial adviser first before taking the plunge.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Mortgage Loans After Bankruptcy
Many people believe that once they file for bankruptcy they will have a difficult time getting a mortgage loan. However, there is still hope for being approved even with a recent bankruptcy. If you have bad credit and apply for a mortgage loan, more emphasis will be placed on your income your down payment.
Most lenders prefer to wait until two years after your bankruptcy before considering a person for a mortgage loan. After these two years, it should be relatively easy to get financing. In addition, you will probably be able to get one hundred percent financing. This will happen as long as all your payments have been reported as on time to the credit bureau since your bankruptcy.
If you want to get a mortgage loan before the two year period is finished then you will need a pretty much flawless payment history since the time you filed for bankruptcy. In addition, you will need to provide a down payment. The down payments usually range between three and five percent to get approved.
If you do not have the money for a down payment then you can consider borrowing from relatives. Once you finance your home, you should be able to get a second and third mortgage that will allow you to repay them. However, it is best to check with your lender before doing this since most lenders have regulations on where the down payment comes from.
If you do not want to borrow the money then another option is to look for a down payment assistance program like Neighborhood Gold or the Nehemiah program. Such programs give the seller aid in helping you with the down payment. Normally receiving a down payment from the seller is illegal, but through these programs, it becomes legal.
Obtaining mortgage loans after bankruptcy is becoming much easier today. By searching around you will likely find a lender willing to help you with your mortgage loan.
Most lenders prefer to wait until two years after your bankruptcy before considering a person for a mortgage loan. After these two years, it should be relatively easy to get financing. In addition, you will probably be able to get one hundred percent financing. This will happen as long as all your payments have been reported as on time to the credit bureau since your bankruptcy.
If you want to get a mortgage loan before the two year period is finished then you will need a pretty much flawless payment history since the time you filed for bankruptcy. In addition, you will need to provide a down payment. The down payments usually range between three and five percent to get approved.
If you do not have the money for a down payment then you can consider borrowing from relatives. Once you finance your home, you should be able to get a second and third mortgage that will allow you to repay them. However, it is best to check with your lender before doing this since most lenders have regulations on where the down payment comes from.
If you do not want to borrow the money then another option is to look for a down payment assistance program like Neighborhood Gold or the Nehemiah program. Such programs give the seller aid in helping you with the down payment. Normally receiving a down payment from the seller is illegal, but through these programs, it becomes legal.
Obtaining mortgage loans after bankruptcy is becoming much easier today. By searching around you will likely find a lender willing to help you with your mortgage loan.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
All About Variable Rate Mortgages
Variable rate mortgages have an interest rate that may fluctuate throughout the term of the loan. Interest rates attached to variable rate mortgages usually move in line with either the Bank of England Base Rate (BoEBR) or the lender’s Standard Variable Rate (SVR) and is quoted as a fixed percentage above one of them. An example of this is a variable rate home loan with an interest rate equalling BoEBR plus 0.25%.
Fixed rate mortgages, on the other hand, have a static rate of interest that is locked in for an agreed period of time. Changes in the base rate or the lenders SVR will not affect the interest rate attached to this type of home loan making this type of product less risky to the borrower as their monthly mortgage payments will not increase.
There are several different types of variable rate mortgage products including tracker rates, discount rates, and capped rates. Tracker rate mortgages and discount rate products have no upper or lower limit and therefore offer the borrower no protection against excessive interest rate rises. They also, however, offer the borrower the potential for substantial decreases in the interest rate attached to the variable rate home loan helping them to save money.
Capped rate mortgages have an inbuilt upper limit above which the interest rate on the product cannot rise even if the base rate rises above this limit. Capped rate mortgages therefore offer the borrower protection against excessive base rate rises while still offering the advantage of saving money through potential decreases in the base rate.
Unlike fixed rate mortgages, variable rate mortgages offer borrowers no protection against interest rate rises and are therefore risky. The amount of monthly repayments due can both rise and fall throughout the term of the mortgage therefore making variable rate mortgages unsuitable for householders who have a tight budget.
Despite this risk, variable rate mortgages do have some advantages. During periods of traditionally high interest rates many borrowers opt for variable rate mortgages if they are expecting the cost of borrowing to fall. This is because any fall in the underlying interest rate will be passed onto them by their lender, resulting in a decrease in their monthly mortgage payments.
Additionally, variable rate mortgages have less stringent terms and conditions than their fixed rate counterparts, and are usually offered with low fees and no tie-in periods. It is essential to assess the fees and charges attached to home loans before applying instead of opting for the product that appears to have the most favourable interest rate structure. This is because the cost of the fees may outweigh the benefits of the interest rates – whether they are fixed or variable.
Because of the various advantages and disadvantages of variable rate home loans, professional and impartial advice should be sought from an independent mortgage broker before applying for a this type of mortgage. An independent broker will be able to offer impartial expert mortgage advice on all types of home loans from the entire range of UK lenders.
Fixed rate mortgages, on the other hand, have a static rate of interest that is locked in for an agreed period of time. Changes in the base rate or the lenders SVR will not affect the interest rate attached to this type of home loan making this type of product less risky to the borrower as their monthly mortgage payments will not increase.
There are several different types of variable rate mortgage products including tracker rates, discount rates, and capped rates. Tracker rate mortgages and discount rate products have no upper or lower limit and therefore offer the borrower no protection against excessive interest rate rises. They also, however, offer the borrower the potential for substantial decreases in the interest rate attached to the variable rate home loan helping them to save money.
Capped rate mortgages have an inbuilt upper limit above which the interest rate on the product cannot rise even if the base rate rises above this limit. Capped rate mortgages therefore offer the borrower protection against excessive base rate rises while still offering the advantage of saving money through potential decreases in the base rate.
Unlike fixed rate mortgages, variable rate mortgages offer borrowers no protection against interest rate rises and are therefore risky. The amount of monthly repayments due can both rise and fall throughout the term of the mortgage therefore making variable rate mortgages unsuitable for householders who have a tight budget.
Despite this risk, variable rate mortgages do have some advantages. During periods of traditionally high interest rates many borrowers opt for variable rate mortgages if they are expecting the cost of borrowing to fall. This is because any fall in the underlying interest rate will be passed onto them by their lender, resulting in a decrease in their monthly mortgage payments.
Additionally, variable rate mortgages have less stringent terms and conditions than their fixed rate counterparts, and are usually offered with low fees and no tie-in periods. It is essential to assess the fees and charges attached to home loans before applying instead of opting for the product that appears to have the most favourable interest rate structure. This is because the cost of the fees may outweigh the benefits of the interest rates – whether they are fixed or variable.
Because of the various advantages and disadvantages of variable rate home loans, professional and impartial advice should be sought from an independent mortgage broker before applying for a this type of mortgage. An independent broker will be able to offer impartial expert mortgage advice on all types of home loans from the entire range of UK lenders.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Home Mortgage Loans
Getting rid of the mortgage early is something that many home owners in the UK aspire to achieve. Being free of the principal financial debt in most people's lives at the earliest stage possible offers financial security and peace of mind for later on in life. Paying off the mortgage early is no pipe dream though. In 2003, the average age of outright home ownership was 56, by 2004 the average age had fallen dramatically to just 48!
How home owners pay off their mortgages early
The secret to paying your mortgage off early lies in choosing the right type of home loan, and this is where flexible mortgage loans and offset mortgage loans step in.
Flexible mortgage loans, as their name suggests, offer flexible mortgage repayment terms where overpayment of mortgage is allowed by the home owner without incurring a penalty. Some flexible mortgage loans allow overpayment of a limited amount, such as 10% of the mortgage value, while other flexible home mortgage loans cater for unlimited overpayment by the home owner.
The advantage of flexible home mortgage loans is that as well as allowing you to overpay, you can also underpay, so taking a 'payment holiday' if finances become a little thin. Underpayment is of course subject to the terms of the mortgage, and will normally only be allowed if it amounts to less than the funds that have been overpaid.
Overpayment via flexible home mortgage loans means that you get to reduce your mortgage capital as well as pay off interest accrued on the capital each month. For each successive month that you make an overpayment the amount of interest paid on the overall mortgage is therefore reduced. An overpayment of just £65 on an £80,000 mortgage with the interest rate at 6.0%, will see mortgage loans paid off 5 years early, amounting to a total saving of some £15,000.
Offset home mortgage loans
Offset home mortgage loans were unveiled to the home owner in 1998, and have gained a great deal of respect from home owners since that time. Offset mortgage loans help to pay off a mortgage early by using what is known as a 'sweeper' system. Providing that the home owner has their current and/or savings account with the mortgage loans provider, their available balance is 'swept' across to their mortgage account each day to offset/reduce the amount of mortgage capital subjected to interest.
To illustrate the advantages of offset mortgage loans, take a mortgage of £100,000 and a balance of £10,000 in your current account and/or savings account. Instead of the interest rate being applied to the £100,000 every day or every month, the interest rate would be applied to your mortgage balance less the balance in your current account / savings account. This means that interest would only be applied to £90,000 of your mortgage, effectively making 10% of your mortgage interest-free!
How home owners pay off their mortgages early
The secret to paying your mortgage off early lies in choosing the right type of home loan, and this is where flexible mortgage loans and offset mortgage loans step in.
Flexible mortgage loans, as their name suggests, offer flexible mortgage repayment terms where overpayment of mortgage is allowed by the home owner without incurring a penalty. Some flexible mortgage loans allow overpayment of a limited amount, such as 10% of the mortgage value, while other flexible home mortgage loans cater for unlimited overpayment by the home owner.
The advantage of flexible home mortgage loans is that as well as allowing you to overpay, you can also underpay, so taking a 'payment holiday' if finances become a little thin. Underpayment is of course subject to the terms of the mortgage, and will normally only be allowed if it amounts to less than the funds that have been overpaid.
Overpayment via flexible home mortgage loans means that you get to reduce your mortgage capital as well as pay off interest accrued on the capital each month. For each successive month that you make an overpayment the amount of interest paid on the overall mortgage is therefore reduced. An overpayment of just £65 on an £80,000 mortgage with the interest rate at 6.0%, will see mortgage loans paid off 5 years early, amounting to a total saving of some £15,000.
Offset home mortgage loans
Offset home mortgage loans were unveiled to the home owner in 1998, and have gained a great deal of respect from home owners since that time. Offset mortgage loans help to pay off a mortgage early by using what is known as a 'sweeper' system. Providing that the home owner has their current and/or savings account with the mortgage loans provider, their available balance is 'swept' across to their mortgage account each day to offset/reduce the amount of mortgage capital subjected to interest.
To illustrate the advantages of offset mortgage loans, take a mortgage of £100,000 and a balance of £10,000 in your current account and/or savings account. Instead of the interest rate being applied to the £100,000 every day or every month, the interest rate would be applied to your mortgage balance less the balance in your current account / savings account. This means that interest would only be applied to £90,000 of your mortgage, effectively making 10% of your mortgage interest-free!
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