Lower mortgage rates is a common misconception that is perpetuated by the mainstream media when the Fed makes an announcement of lowering rates. However, when the Fed cuts interest rates, mortgage rates can actually increase. Fed 101: According to Wikipedia: The Federal Reserve System (also known as the Federal Reserve, […]
Mortgage Payments
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When shopping for a hazard insurance policy, something called “bundling” can actually save you quite a bit of money that most people aren’t aware of. Many of the big insurance companies price their insurance rates to attract a particular segment of the market. They usually price their hazard insurance policies […]
The VA Funding Fee is an essential component of the VA home loan program, and is a requirement of any Veteran taking advantage of this zero down payment government loan program. This fee ranges from 1.25% to 3.3% of the loan amount, depending upon the circumstances. On a $150,000 loan […]
Calculating an exact mortgage payment without a calculator on a loan is no small task, but there are some simple rules-of-thumb you can use to get a close estimate. With the exception of the MIT Blackjack Team, performing this type of complex math in your head often leads to frustrating […]
Timing the market for the best possible opportunity to lock a mortgage rate on a new loan is certainly a challenge, even for the professionals. While there are several generic interest rate trend indicators online, the difference between what’s advertised and actually attainable can be influenced at any given moment […]
The difference between APR and actual note rate is very confusing, especially for First-Time Home Buyers who haven’t been through the entire closing process before. When shopping for a new mortgage loan, you may notice an Annual Percentage Rate (APR) advertised next to the note rate. The inclusion of an […]
Mortgage Insurance, sometimes referred to as Private Mortgage Insurance, is required by lenders on conventional home loans if the borrower is financing more than 80% Loan-To-Value. According to Wikipedia: Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) is insurance payable to a lender or trustee for a pool of securities that may be required […]
When mortgage lenders go out of business and are essentially taken over by the FDIC, homeowners are left wondering if they still need to make a monthly payment. Great thought, and a very common question for many borrowers in the 2006-2010 timeframe. The short answer is YES, you still have […]
* Disclaimer – all information in this article is accurate as of the date this article was written * The FHA Mortgage Insurance Premium is an important part of every FHA loan. There are actually two types of Mortgage Insurance Premiums associated with FHA loans: 1. Up Front Mortgage Insurance […]
By committing to a mortgage loan, the borrower is entering into a financial agreement with a lender to pay back the mortgage money, with interest, over a set period of time. The borrower’s monthly mortgage payment may change over time depending on the type of loan program, however, we’re going […]