home mortgages interest rates – Home Mortgage Interest Rates – How Low Can They Go?

Many reading this are old enough to remember home mortgage interest rates when they were above 15%. Compared to those days, today’s rates are at historic lows. It is possible that sometime in the future many will look back wishing they took advantage while they can.

One must be careful when scrutinizing the offered interest rate on any given mortgage. Some lenders can use tricks to make borrowers think that the rate is lower than it actually is. The devil is often in the details.

Some mortgages are what are called adjustable rate mortgages, or ARM’s for short. These loans come with an initial interest rate which then adjusts along with the prevailing market rates. The adjustment formula usually dictates the rate goes one way which is up.

These ARM’s can have low initial interest rates. Some borrowers assume that this rate will stay the same for the life of the loan. This is not the case. They are confusing ARM loans with what are called fixed rate loans.

A fixed interest rate loan never changes. You know exactly what your mortgage payment will be as long as you own the home. This allows for effective family budgeting pertaining to your housing expenses.

At the other end of the spectrum are ARM’s with extremely low introductory interest rates. These mortgages are called “teaser rate” loans. Teaser rate loans are especially dangerous and can result in a foreclosure.

When mortgage payments skyrocket it catches many families surprised an unable to afford their housing expense. It is essential that you read the fine print on any adjustable rate mortgage to make sure that interest rate is really as low as you think it is.

It is a great time to take advantage of low home mortgage interest rates. The lower the interest rate equates to a lower payment for you. Just ensure you do your research and don’t get tricked into getting a mortgage with a high interest rate disguised as a low one.

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Just out of school and considering buying your first home? You’ll be surprised how easy it can be to qualify for a loan. Too often, the newly minted workforce doesn’t realize the confidence lenders have in their ability to be responsible homeowners.

Ok, so Mom and Dad told you that you need to buy a house. You’ve graduated from college and you’re earning a decent income. Even though you don’t feel like it most of the time, you are officially all grown up. But you ask yourself, “I’m only twenty-four years old, who would possibly loan me money to buy a house?”

First time homebuyer programs are established with flexible guidelines to attract – you guessed it -first time homebuyers! You are in a great position to buy a home provided you have established some history of decent credit. Even if you don’t have traditional lines of credit to show for yourself, you may have established non-traditional credit and not even realized it. Do you have utilities, a cell phone and cable bill in your name? Have you paid them on time for 12 months? Then you have established non-traditional credit. Granted, many of you already have a credit card or gas card in your name. That’s why Dad wanted your name on it, too. Good thinking on his part. At the time, you were just excited to get the credit card “for emergencies.” It didn’t even occur to you that you were establishing a good credit history.

Most lenders want to see at least a year under your belt earning income. The majority of new job workers are making at or under the median income limit for their area. There are those that beat the curve, but then, if you’re making that much money on your first job, you don’t need a first time homebuyer program. You can probably take another route to your first home. Also, recent graduates can get credit for having a diploma. If you have a diploma and an employer who is willing to verify that you earn what you say and are likely to continue on with them, then you’re good to go -even without a year’s employment history to show for yourself.

Some lending programs ask that a borrower have maintained an excellent rental history, preferably a two year history. But, you don’t get penalized if you have been living at home. Especially, if home is in the same city that your school is located. You are simply asked to provide explanation as to how you managed to live rent free. Sometimes, Mom and Dad have to provide a written statement. They’re probably willing to do that to get you out of the house and off the payroll.

What about a down payment and closing costs? Most programs will allow a seller to chip in 3% of the sales price toward your closing costs. This allowance can cover most if not all of your closing costs. Your Realtor simply needs to be aware that you need this concession so she/he can negotiate it with your purchase contract. And how much do you have to come up with for a down payment? How about $0? Nearly all first time homebuyer programs are designed for empty pocket consumers with potential to earn more and maintain good credit. Some programs don’t require you to have any reserves in the bank. Since so many first time homebuyers live on a budget, these programs allow for the reality of life. And you can be rewarded for being a conscientious consumer with lower than average interest rates being available to you.

You may be ready to buy your first home and not even know it. A good mortgage specialist will pre-qualify you, find out what you can afford or what your comfortable paying. Then, you just have to find the right home. It’s easier than you think!

We encourage our kids to plan for their future, but we seldom include buying a first home sooner than average as a path to building that future. Let them know buying a home is easier than they think.

Most of the people who read this column are not first time homebuyers. The fact of the matter is many of you that are first time homebuyers and reading this article are relatively mature individuals who are fighting off your commitment fears of being tied to a mortgage. But there is a huge segment of the population that could buy their first home, yet it doesn’t occur to them to do so. Who are these people? Well, it’s your 24 year old son or daughter, new to the work force, and is throwing away money on rent somewhere. Encouraging your children to buy a home when they are young is some of the soundest financial advice you can give them. Equity in a home is an easy way to grow one’s portfolio with very little investment. But the fact of the matter is it doesn’t occur to most of us to encourage the younger generation to buy early in their lives. And trust me, it rarely occurs to our kids themselves to consider buying a home in the early twenties. They are more concerned with buying a new Halo 3 for their Xbox.

Why do so many people miss the boat on this opportunity? It could be they plan to be in the area for only a short time because they will job hop to advance their career, thus viewing a mortgage as “too permanent.” I counter to simply sell the house when you move. Or maybe they expect their income to double or triple over the next three years. I say buy a home now, then upgrade to a new home; sell or rent the old house. Investing in real estate is a proven, safe and solid return on investment. And with the right combination of credit history (or a history of paying utilities, cable and your cell phone on time) and no money down, you or someone you care about can start investing in the future.

When Junior starts his new job at the company and 401(K) is available, he’s been informed by his folks, boss or peers to enroll and contribute at least a little something to it with every paycheck. Yet, he is rarely counseled quit renting that apartment for $750 a month and buy a $75,000 house. Where will he come up with the money to do it? There are multiple options for first time buyers that allow for 100% financing. Get the seller to kick in closing costs (up to 6% of sales price with some products), and one can close on a loan and bring no funds to the table. If your home value appreciates 4% in the next year, that’s a nice return on a no cash investment.

For some time, I’ve considered writing this series for first time buyers to let them know buying a home is easier than they think. But, the more I thought about it, the more I realized the advice I would offer would most likely not reach my target audience. So parents, it is up to you to supply your kids with this last little bit of advice and help to set them free to further establish their independence in this world. Clip this article out and tape it to their iPOD or the steering wheel of their car – someplace it will get noticed.

I think for most of us who have been through the experience, our first home buy was a very daunting experience. There are so many choices and unknowns – it can be overwhelming. In this series, I will try to break it down the process into small logical steps and make it easier understand the steps involved in financing your first home. Where do you start? That is perhaps the easiest part. Our newly established worker should first make a list of all his or her debt obligations such as student loans (unless deferred), car payments, credit card debt, etc. Hopefully at this age, this will be a small list. Then add what you think amount you could afford for a mortgage. Take that amount and divide it by your gross monthly income. If you come in at 43% or less, you’re in business. If you have something in your savings or checking – great. If not, don’t let it deter you. You have options.

Contact a mortgage specialist to drill out the details and find a good realtor who knows your market for housing you can afford. What next? Get ready to tell your landlord “Adios!.”

Many families are beginning to feel the impact of a slowdown in the economy. The impact is even greater on families with home mortgage loans.
It is believed that just over half of parents with home mortgage loans will have to restrict spending on their children in 2009 as living costs increase. Nearly one in two families are struggling to make ends meet and almost a third of those who are living comfortably now expect to cut backs on spending next year.

Cutting back on children’s expenses
Having a home loan often leads to reductions in the amount parents spend on their children for toys and clothes. Additionally, with more parents stating that holidays will see a cut back in 2009, holidaymakers may have to get a personal loan if they wish to take a well-earned break in the holiday season.

Using debt funding to meet expenses

For may people who spend more than they earn or just break even, the additional burden of a home mortgage loan means they have to resort to use debt to fund spending. Most seek a personal debt consolidation loan to get their finances back on track and ensure that spending starts to meet income.

Finding ways to earn more to meet expenses

Home mortgage loans require a regular income source for years that will keep paying of debts. In most cases salaries don’t rise significantly each year and this affects families who wish to maintain their lifestyle. Many mortgagees have resorted to starting a small side business, taken on a second job or another stream of income to supplement their main source of income. While most people like to stick to the same careers that are comfortable to them and feel too overwhelmed to put in the time to develop an additional revenue stream, based on the economy it seems that more people have no other alternative.

Prioritising short term and long term expenses

With most people relying on one or two fixed income sources, usually from jobs, a home mortgage loan requires prioritizing one’s long term and short term expenses. Does one buy the latest plasma TV now or do the bathroom renovation first? Here are some of the items that would have to be considered.
-Paying off medical bills
-College funding for your children
-Home improvements or renovations
-Paying off debt (with restrictions)
- Planning holidays
- Sending kids on excursions
- Buying a second car for the spouse.
Paying off debts with the proceeds from a home equity loan is good, but only if you permanently change your spending habits. Clearing off your charge cards only to start using them all over again will only get you into more trouble. It will take a commitment and some discipline on your part.

Changing spending habits

A large sized home mortgage loan requires some smart spending tactics. What exactly are people with a mortgage suggesting?
When going to the store don’t assume the lowest priced product is the “cheapest.” You have to look at a number of factors when choosing what provides the best value for your money. Factors to consider are lifespan, quality, and ongoing operating costs. Often the more expensive product will be a much better value and save you money in the long term.
Buy store brands. Selecting store brands over name brands often results in savings of up to 50% for the same quality of product. Most grocery stores have the price broken down to price per a smaller unit to be able to quickly compare the cost across a range of sizes.

Taking on debt in the form of a home mortgage loan will definitely have an impact on everyday living. Making sure you choose the right home mortgage loan is a vital financial decision that will affect you for the next several years.

There are lenders out there who give what are referred to as bad credit mortgage loans, if you are experiencing financial problems, a situation that is common to many people everywhere. Possibly you recently just got divorced, lost your business, had large medical bills, or maybe you have had too many credit cards and now the balances are out of control. In all likelihood, things like this may have caused your credit rating and FICO score to drop. Sometimes setbacks happen in life, but there is hope if you still must get a mortgage to buy a home or for other reasons.

There are a number of reasons which contribute to poor credit, damaged credit or bad credit, all of them with almost the same effect as having no credit at all. When a credit check reveals a low score or a questionable credit history, it is more likely that lenders will reject your home mortgage application. So, if you cannot qualify for a regular home mortgage, bad credit mortgage loans come into play to rescue you.

There are many lenders and brokers willing to help people who want to refinance or apply for a home mortgage but do not qualify because of a poor credit history. These loans are usually more costly than regular home mortgages but you can switch to a better option when your credit and finances improve.

Buying a home involves a large disbursement so before you apply try to repair your credit first as much as you can. Although, there are companies which specialize in helping you out in this matter, never trust in organizations that promise to erase your bad credit, or create a new credit identity for you. Self help is your best aid for fixing your finances and your credit history and it is not that hard to achieve.

Bad credit mortgage loans are available for those people whose credit (FICO) score is less than 650, although most banks or financial institutions will let you know that you need a sub-prime loan. Due to the nature of their offer, most lenders are open to work with borrowers with challenged credit, to find the right mortgage and terms for them.

It is a good idea to begin to repair your credit by paying your bills on time, and reduce the number of credit cards that you carry. Remember that late payments are as bad as not paying, and have the same negative effects on your credit score.

Try at all costs to avoid bankruptcy, and do no expect to receive better bad credit mortgage loans, if any, after declaring your bankruptcy. For lenders it is a somewhat risky situation in their eyes to loan out money to someone with damaged credit. Obviously, what they are worried about is whether they will get their money back in case you cannot make the monthly payments.

This is one of the reasons why you will have to pay a higher interest rate and possibly abide by other rules, in this situation. But, if you have a recent track record of paying debts back on time, to credit cards or other lenders, that will certainly help.

There are a large number of resources online for both learning more about credit repair, and finding the right type of loans, according to the borrowed amount and your capability to repay your debt. Also remember that in addition to higher interest rates, some creditors may require collateral or a co-signer to secure the deal.

After doing your research for bad credit mortgage loans, either online, in the newspaper, or yellow pages, contact at least five lenders to compare their offers and get the best option within the limitations of your financial condition.