How Can Home-Owners Get Better Deals?

When looking for finance, being a home owner has many benefits. There are loans specially designed for home owners that use the property as collateral to secure the loan, but home owners can also get better deals on unsecured loans. Both types of loans are explained in this article.

Home Loans, Refinance Mortgage And Home Equity Loans

These are secured loans, the property guarantees the loan and the creditor can rest assured that if you fail to make the monthly payments he can recover his money by means of the legal action of repossession. But, on the other side, the borrower will enjoy a much cheaper loan because the interest rates charged for secured loans are significantly lower than those of unsecured loans.

Home loans, also known as mortgage loans, are usually employed for purchasing a new home. Nevertheless, a mortgage loan can also be requested against a property you already own as long as it does not have other mortgages and can also be used for making home improvements or other purposes.

A refinance mortgage loan is a loan you request in order to repay a previous mortgage loan. The new mortgage replaces the previous one and the new loan is guaranteed with the same property. Refinancing can save you money if the new loan comes with lower interest rates or can make monthly payments more bearable if the repayment program is extended.

Home equity loans are secured personal loans that can be used for any purpose. The guarantee for these loans is not the whole property but the difference between the market value of the property and the remaining mortgage debt. This amount is called equity and determines the maximum amount of money you can request. There are however some lenders that offer a 135% finance combining the mortgage loan and the home equity loan.

Unsecured Personal Loans

As opposed to the previous loans, unsecured personal loans are not guaranteed by any asset. Since they require no collateral, these loans are the only option for tenants and non-homeowners. They usually come with higher interest rates, smaller loan amounts and shorter repayment programs. However, since they are the only option for those who do not own a property, they are widely available.

You may wonder why a home-owner would want to request an unsecured loan. The reasons are quite simple: Unsecured personal loans have no risk of repossession. Since there is no collateral, there is no legal action against a particular asset. The creditor has to take legal action directly against the debtor which takes a lot longer.

Moreover, since approval, loan amount, interest rate, and loan length are determined by the debtor’s credit when it comes to unsecured loans, home-owners can get much better deals on these loans than non-homeowners. The applicant’s assets are part of his overall credit worthiness and thus, the loan amount he will be able to request can easily reach the value of his property or even more. Similarly, the interest rate will be lower and the repayment program more flexible because, though not directly, the property will still be guaranteeing the loan along with all the debtor’s assets.

Home Loan Options for Newbies

The process of choosing a loan and a lender can be quite complicated but if you tackle it in stages you can avoid disappointment, frustration and wasted time. In choosing a home loan that's right for you, the considerations you have to think about are: (1) your needs, (2) the associated costs, and (3) the home loan features.

Considering your needs means answering questions like, "Do you want to make the minimum payments only?"Or "Do you want to be able to extend the loan in the future in case you're unable to pay?" Knowing what mortgage payment you can afford and is the first step into the whole process. Tampa mortgage rates for 2010 are available and are updated online so you can check them before making any decision.

The associated costs include interest rates, current mortgage rates, and fees. Mortgage lenders generally use a ratio of 36% as the guideline for how high your debt-to-income ratio should be. A ratio exceeding 36% could be seen as risky, and the lender will likely either deny the loan or charge a higher interest rate.

Luckily, loan calculators are available online now, so you can do your computations faster and more accurately.

Now it's time to shop for home loans. Like any ordinary shopping process, you have to know the key features of the product you're buying. Here are some home loan options you can choose from:

FHA Loans—or Federal Housing loan is ideal for first timers and middle to low-income borrowers. The FHA loan requires only small down payments; has no penalty payments; and will allow large sum loans when reasonable. Also includes the 203k loan or203k Rehab loan.

VA Loans—or Veteran Affairs loan is a mortgage option which provides American Veterans with financing assistance with their properties. The VA loan allows 100% financing without private mortgage insurance.

USDA loans—this loan is offered strictly for rural areas and is ideal for low and moderate-income families. The USDA loan is a government insured 100% purchase loan.

Reverse Mortgage—also known as a "lifetime mortgage" where senior citizens are allowed to make zero payments and all interest is added to the security interest on the property. Reverse mortgages helps in the release of the home equity in the property so as to use it for a single or multiple debt payment.

Refinancing—has low interest rates. This can help you reduce costs if you have an existing loan, but should be taken with caution if used for consumer purchase (like buying a car). If it lowers your rate by two percent, then choose to have your mortgage refinanced.

Do the math before making a choice. Factor in how much debt (including your spouse if applicable) you can handle with a 36% ratio by multiplying your monthly gross income by .36, which will give you your total allowable monthly payments. After getting the product, add all other existing loans and payments. This will give you your total monthly debt payments. Finally, subtract your total monthly debt payments from your allowable monthly payments. The answer will be your maximum mortgage payment. You can then make a sound decision of what you can or cannot afford. In addition to doing the math, keeping your self updated with current mortgage rates and canvassing for lenders with low mortgage rates should be kept in mind always.

Look for a trusted and government certified home loan company that can provide your mortgage needs. Try Marimark Mortgage LLC. They serve the states of Florida and Virginia.

How to Get Equity Loans Fast

Getting an equity loan is fairly easy nowadays. Many lenders are offering equity loans online that are presented to homeowners with credit problems and so forth. Still, few lenders expect a credit rating around 720; however, few lenders will accept applications from borrowers with lower credit rates. The downside is that the borrower will not receive discounts offered in some loans for outstanding credit ratings, nor will they receive the lowest interest rates or monthly installments.

Still, home equity loans can be of good use if you are paying high interest on secured loans or credit cards. The loans often roll the interest rates into the loan, converting them to a lower rate. It depends on lender and type of loan, but various loans offer rewarding options, while other loans present higher risks. Thus, when searching for equity loans you want to consider all options.

E-Loans are a sort of equity loan that helps borrowers to save. Thus, the E-loan combines “credit scores” with the loans helping the borrower to find a way out of paying high interest. Many lenders offer E-loans that roll the fees and costs of the loan into the monthly installment, thus reducing the cost for the homebuyer. Other types of loans focus on the same principle; however, the lenders may toss in clauses or penalties. In other words, the lender may feel that offering you a great choice presents a threat and will incorporate penalties and clauses in the agreement.

It sounds wacky; still, this is how few lenders work. The penalties may stipulate that if the borrower pays off the mortgage loan earlier than the term agreement, then he may be forced to pay off the first loan in addition to paying off the second loan. Thus, read and learn before considering equity loans.