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Mortgage Brokers or Banks: Which is Right For You?
When youre looking for a home loan, you might work with an officer at a bank or other lending institution, or you might choose to work with a mortgage broker. The end result is the same - a new house, but the two types of jobs differ.
Bank Loan Officers: The loan officers at a bank, credit union or other lending institution are employees who work to sell and process mortgage and other loans originated by their employer. They often have a wide variety of loan types to draw from, but all originate from that specific lender.
The loan officer takes your mortgage application and works to find a loan product that suits your needs. If your personal credit is approved, the officer moves forward to process the home purchase transaction.
Mortgage Brokers: Mortgage brokers are professionals who are paid a fee to bring together lenders and borrowers. They usually work with dozens or even hundreds of lenders, not as employees, but as freelance mortgage agents.
Think of mortgage brokers as scouts. They find and evaluate homebuyers, analyzing each persons credit situation to determine which lender is the best fit for that persons needs. The mortgage broker submits the homebuyers application to one or more lenders in order to sell it, and works with the chosen lender until the loan closes. A good mortgage broker can find a lender for just about any type of credit.
The mortgage broker working to secure your loan is earning a fee for that transaction - and the better deal they achieve for a lender, the more they are paid. Dont be too anxious to disclose the interest rate you would be willing to accept, let them tell you what terms they can secure. Shop around to make sure the terms are reasonable.
Many of the mortgage options advertised online are by mortgage brokers. What difference does it make? Maybe none, but you should be aware of the differences between the two positions. A local or online mortgage broker may find you a lender in another part of the country. An online bank might not have a local office where employees can help you one-on-one.
Mortgage brokers can often find a lender who will make loans that a bank refuses. Problem credit is one example. Loans for unique or commercial properties might be easier to secure through a mortgage broker.
Reverse Mortgages: When Is One Right For You?
How do you know if a reverse mortgage is right foryou? The answer depends on your current financialsituation of course.
But other factors such as your medical condition andlifestyle are important in determining whether or nota reverse mortgage is your best choice compared to ahome equity loan, a line of credit, or just sellingyour home.
A reverse mortgage might be worth your considerationin many situations. Some of the common reasons youmight get a reverse mortgage loan are if:
A reverse mortgage is not for everyone. You may want to avoid areverse mortgage if you answer no to any of the followingquestions:
As you can see, there are a number of factors to consider andquestions to ask before you can determine whether or not areverse mortgage is right for you.
Refinancing Your Mortgage Can Really Save You Money
Refinancing a mortgage is simply taking out a new mortgage. It means paying off one or more old debts by getting a new loan. Sometimes, refinancing your mortgage can really save you money. You may be able to pay less interest, lower your monthly payment, or convert from a 30-year loan to a 15-year loan and build your equity faster. But be sure that refinancing is right for you.
1. Refinancing can be a good idea for you if you:
- want to get out of a high interest rate loan to take advantage of lower rates. This is a good idea only if you intend to stay in the house long enough to make the additional fees worthwhile.
- have an adjustable-rate mortgage and want a fixed-rate loan to have the certainty of knowing exactly what the mortgage payment will be for the life of the loan.
- want to convert to an adjustable-rate mortgage with a lower interest rate or more protective features.
- want to build up equity more quickly by converting to a loan with a shorter term.
- want to draw on the equity built up in your house to get cash for a major purchase or for your childrens education.
2. Some situations where refinancing your mortgage can really save you money:
- refinancing your higher interest rate unsecured loans with lower interest rate unsecured loans if the terms of the loans are comparable and the new rate is lower than the existing rate.
- refinancing your secured debts (such as your mortgage or car loan) if the new loan is for the same length of time left on your old loan (or shorter), and the interest rate on the new loan is substantially lower than the interest rate on your existing loan.
- refinancing your home to pay-off expensive car loans or credit cards provided you?re not in financial difficulty and not at risk of losing your home.
Mortgage refinancing can be worthwhile, but it does not make good financial sense for every homeowner. A general role of thumb is that refinancing becomes worth your while if the current interest rate on your mortgage is at least 2 percentage points higher than the prevailing market rate. This figure is generally accepted as the safe margin when balancing the costs of refinancing a mortgage against the savings.
Sometimes, refinancing is an appropriate way to resolve financial problems. In some situations, however, refinancing can make existing financial problems worse. If you decide that refinancing is not worth the costs, ask your lender whether you may be able to obtain all or some of the new terms you want by agreeing to a modification of your existing loan instead of a refinancing.
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