Mortgage Guide

Eileen McAdam asked:


Well, surely it can’t drop much lower? If you haven’t locked a mortgage rate in by now, or haven’t got yourself pre-approved, you had better hurry up. All those people who can remember the 11% mortgage interest rate will be trampling over each other to try and re-new at these rates.

Both the thirty year fixed rate mortgage and the fifteen year fixed rate mortgage have dropped by almost another half a point. Rates are really competitive for those who want to be able to budget and feel secure about their future. You can lock in the mortgage rate for fifteen years at an average 5.21% at the moment. This means that you will know exactly what your mortgage repayment will be for the next fifteen years. That’s security!

A survey taken this last week on mortgages, reports that the fifteen year fixed rate mortgages are at their lowest rate since July 2005 and that for the first time in seven years the rate is lower than the average rate offered on a one year adjustable rate mortgage.

These results were published by Freddie Mac in the Primary Mortgage Market Survey. An announcement from Freddie Mac vice president stated that the further mortgage decreases were in large part a reaction to the drop in consumer spending.

Figures have been published which show that December’s consumer spending was down by 0.4%. He added that sales of garden equipment and building materials were particularly hit, with the loss of sales in these areas dipping to an almost 3% loss from the previous month.

This explains why mortgage interest rates keep dropping. It doesn’t explain why everyone is fairly cautious about re-financing or getting a mortgage - even a fixed rate! Is it possible that people are not buying their dream home until they have seen the lowest edge of the mortgage rates?

Just how much money is involved for the average member of the public here? Well, for every one eighth point on a conforming loan, you will pay an extra $25.00 per month. This week the rate for a fifteen year fixed is averaging out at 5.21%. A 15 year fixed rate mortgage last week averaged 5.43% which was down from the week before when it averaged 5.68%.

In real money, you could have saved yourself around $50 per month in repayments by just one week’s difference in time. This means that the home you are hanging out for may be snapped up by someone else. A buyer who is who is prepared to pay the extra $50.00 per month; a buyer who has decided not to gamble on the ultimate lowest of the low rates, but rather to snap up the property that they want now.

It is anyone’s guess whether the mortgage rate will go up or down. Unemployment figures rose last month compared to the month before, but the inflation and economic data has already been calculated to reflect long term lending risks. Lenders anticipate the news and indications are pointing to the fact that rises in the rates are more likely than drops in the rate.

First time buyers must be encouraged to at least try to get approval at this rate. Approval is not a contract, and it does not need to be taken up and used, but at least this low-return mortgage rate will be available to them for a few weeks, if they wish to buy a home - before the rate inevitably creeps up!

Betty

1st American Mortgage asked:


Jumbo mortgages are not so different from standard mortgages but there are a few key things that are worth looking in to.

Jumbo Mortgage Loans

A jumbo mortgage loan is a loan taken for property that is high-priced.. In Colorado, as in most of the U.S., a jumbo mortgage loan is any mortgage that exceeds $417,000 - the limit set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for conforming loans.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two agencies that buy the majority of real estate mortgages, will not finance loans greater than $417,000 in most states; however Alaska, Hawaii, and a couple others are exceptions. Therefore, the large jumbo mortgage loans are sold to other investments, often banks and insurance companies, and so a jumbo mortgage loan falls into a different category. Rates for a jumbo mortgage are also higher than conforming loans because there is more risk involved.

What This Means for Jumbo Mortgage Interest

The size of a jumbo mortgage loan means there is more to lose. The size, coupled with other factors, results in somewhat higher jumbo mortgage rates than those carried by conforming loans. Since percentage points on jumbo mortgage rages can mean sizable payment differences, buyers should shop around for a good lender when applying for a jumbo mortgage loan in order to find the best rate. Buyers should shop around for a good lender when applying for a jumbo mortgage loan in order to find the best rate.

In truth, jumbo mortgage interest rates are only one thing to consider when shopping for a jumbo mortgage. There are additional fees and closing costs to be considered that could even out the difference in jumbo mortgage rates. Sometimes, the company with the jumbo mortgage rates is actually the cheapest, all things considered.

Also, buyers shopping for good jumbo mortgage interest rates need to consider their goals, plans, and all of their options. Like conforming mortgages, jumbo mortgages are offered in a variety product lines. Buyers have the option of taking out loans with adjustable jumbo mortgage rates with 3 or 5 year locked rates that adjust after that period, or 15 or 30 year fixed jumbo mortgage rates that never change.

Deciding which type of product (variable or fixed jumbo mortgage interest rate) is better for you depends on whether you plan to stay in the home for more than that locked 3-5 year period, or whether you will refinance the loan within 3-5 years anyway.

Buyers should not be scared off from higher jumbo mortgage rates; jumbo mortgage rates are higher only by a quarter of a point or so for well qualified buyers. What’s more, jumbo mortgages are the only option for home buyers in many parts of the country because $417,000 really isn’t that high a price in today’s housing market. As a matter of fact, jumbo mortgage loans are the only type available in many areas. The best way to find a good jumbo mortgage loan is the find a reputable and experienced lender with good rates. A great mortgage lender will take the time to understand your needs so they can help you select an appropriate product.

Ruben

Miodrag Trajkovic asked:


For new home buyers the first thing to consider is the home loans mortgage rates. It is important to try to get the best deal as possible as you will spend a long time paying for your dream house based on the agreed home loans mortgage rates.

Before shopping for your dream home and checking out the different homes for sale, it is important to plan your budget way ahead. By doing this you can foresee what kind of mortgage payment that you can afford paying for a long tenure of time. Also it is a chance for you to narrow down your home choices to somewhat a few remaining but still great and affordable homes that will meet your budget.

The best way to figure out how much is the best house you can afford is by understanding the different home loans mortgage rates that prevails in your area. This way you can foresee what percentage you would pay each month for 6, 10 or 15 years.

Mortgage institution or a lot of lending companies generally uses a formula in computing their existing home loans mortgage rates this is of course depends on the economy, the federal rate, bank rates and interest rates that prevails in the present economy.

Home buyers should compute these home loans mortgage rates accordingly to their monthly income and it is recommended that the total rates for the home mortgage payments and other housing expenses should be at least fall into the 25-28% of your household monthly income.

When you avail a mortgage home, you will then be charged with the existing home loans mortgage rates which the mortgage company or lender charges you for purchasing a house using their money. This will determine how much money you would shelve every month for paying them. Make sure the total amount will be within reach of your total monthly income or you will risk non payment and foreclosure of your home. Generally putting it this way that the higher the home loans mortgage rates, the higher the monthly mortgage payment you will have to pay.

Home loans mortgage rates changes all the time, like everyday and even by hour. Make sure that you lock on with a mortgage loan facilitator if you think that the mortgage rate they are offering are acceptable because if you don’t and it increases the next day you risk paying for a bit higher mortgage rate.

Lenders naturally allows you to lock in for a specific home loans mortgage rates up to 60 days until both parties should agree on a deal with regards to purchasing a home using their money and afterwards it will be left for you to pay that amount through the agreed home loans mortgage rates every month.

Lisa

GirlNextDoor asked:


My husband and I are first time home buyer’s. We didn’t kow if it was better or worse to let several banks run pre-approvals. I wasn’t sure if it would hurt our credit for a bunch of diffrent people to pull up our history. I want the best rate but I don’t want to harm our rating. What is the best route to take when looking for a mortgage?

Jill