- Rates are still really low.
- FNMA DU Refi+ and the Freddie Mac Open Access HARP programs are still around through May.
- You might not have to pay for an appraisal
- Self-employed people can still get a loan.
- 100% Financing is available in rural areas (Frederick/Firestone count as rural)
- FHA has lowered its up-front mortgage insurance premium from 3.5% to 1.0%.
- 100% VA Loans are still available. (Have you ever checked your eligibility?)
- VA interest rate reduction loans are cheap and easy.
- FHA Streamlines don’t require income documentation. (Great if you have kept up on your payments even with a drop in income.)
- Mortgage interest and Mortgage Insurance are still tax deductible!
Posts Tagged ‘Getting a Mortgage’
Top 10 Reasons for Getting a New Mortgage in 2011
January 21st, 2011Posted in Mortgage Industry, News, Real Estate Industry, Uncommon Useful Knowledge, Understanding Your Mortgage
Tags: 1st Time Home Buyer Applying for a mortgage Beating the System Difficult to Get a Mortgage FHA FHA Mortgage Refinance First Time Home Buyer Getting a Mortgage How to Refinance My Home Less Interest Mortgage Industry Mortgage Interest Rates Mortgage Refinance Move-Up Home Buyer New Mortgage No Cost Refinance Refinance Refinance Home Refinancing Repeat Home Buyer The Kunselman Team Tips to getting a good mortgage
Get the Process Started Now
December 8th, 2010The loan process is not what it used to be. In the not so distant past, we used to be able to start a new refinance and get it closed within 3 weeks. Lenders were a lot more streamlined and were staffed to handle the amount of loans they were getting.
But because of new regulations and a large influx of business (due to such low interest rates), loans are just taking longer to get done. So what should you, the consumer do?
Get started now. If you are thinking that you would like to refinance but are going to wait until after the holidays, you could be missing out. Rates are still good but all indicators point to rising rates in the near future. If you wait until after the holidays to start the loan process you could end up paying a higher rate.
The reality is that because of longer timelines to get a new mortgage, a refinance started now most likely won’t be closing until after the New Year.
We all make New Years Resolutions to get our finances in better shape but why wait to start those resolutions until after the 1st of the year. Getting started now will give you a head start and ensure that procrastination doesn’t cost you more money.
Posted in Know Your Mortgage, Mortgage Industry, News, Uncommon Useful Knowledge, Understanding Your Mortgage
Tags: 1st Time Home Buyer Applying for a mortgage Beating the System Difficult to Get a Mortgage FHA FHA Mortgage Refinance First Time Home Buyer Getting a Mortgage How to Refinance My Home Less Interest Mortgage Industry Mortgage Interest Rates Mortgage Refinance New Mortgage No Cost Refinance Refinance Refinance Home Refinancing Repeat Home Buyer The Kunselman Team Tighter Guidelines Tips to getting a good mortgage
What could I really Save?
December 8th, 2010In the last couple of weeks, the mortgage industry has seen interest rates bottom out and start to move back up. Most analysts believe that we have tested the lows and now the Fed wants to get inflation back to its target of 2% and to do so, it will start raising interest rates.
Even so, you can still get great interest rates. It is still possible to get your rate in the 4% but if you don’t act soon, you may miss that window.
Let’s look at some examples of what the principle and interest payment on a $200K mortgage would be over a range of interest rates:
Interest Rate Monthly Payment
4.50% $1013.37
4.75% $1043.29
5.00% $1073.64
5.25% $1104.41
5.50% $1135.58
5.75% $1167.15
6.00% $1199.10
Now someone could look at this and think, “The difference between 6.00% and 5.00% is only ~$126/month; That is not worth the cost of refinance.” But you have to remember that this is just comparing different rates for the same loan amount. If a borrower had an original loan amount of $215K at 6.00% and has had this mortgage for 5 years, their payment savings would like more like this:
Original Payment at 6.00% = $1289.03
New Loan Amount $205K
Interest Rate New Payment Monthly Savings
4.50% $1038.70 $250.33
4.75% $1069.38 $219.65
5.00% $1100.48 $188.55
Now I know that the odds of this being your example situation are pretty slim but this example is designed to show you that even though we have seen the bottom of interest rates, rates are still good and can save you thousands of dollars in interest. But you do not want to wait long.
Posted in Know Your Mortgage, Mortgage Industry, News, Real Estate Industry
Tags: Applying for a mortgage Beating the System FHA Mortgage Refinance Getting a Mortgage How to Refinance My Home Less Interest Mortgage Industry Mortgage Interest Rates Mortgage Refinance New Mortgage Refinance Refinance Home Refinancing The Kunselman Team Tips to getting a good mortgage
Why Should You Have Your Own REALTOR® When Buying a Home?
November 5th, 2010This is a question that has come up more and more in recent months. The interesting thing is that the biggest reason for the question is the misconceptions of what part a REALTOR® plays in the transaction.
The first misconception is that if the buyer works with the seller’s agent, that they will get a better deal. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Sometimes if a REALTOR® is working with both the buyer and the seller, the REALTOR® will offer a discount in the fees to the seller, but not to the buyer.
The second misconception is about who pays the REALTORS® commission. Real Estate commissions are by default paid by the seller. 99% of home sales happen that way.
The third misconception is what is the REALTORS® role if they are representing both the buyers and the sellers? At that point, the REALTOR® becomes a transaction broker. Their job is to facilitate the transaction, not to negotiate for either side. To me, this is the greatest thing lost by not using your own REALTOR®. Why not have a paid negotiator working for you, especially when you are not the one paying for them.
Always remember that when buying a home, the first thing you should do (even before looking at any homes) is talk with a skilled mortgage professional about what you qualify for. The Kunselman Team is always hear to help!
Posted in Mortgage Industry, News, Real Estate Industry, Uncommon Useful Knowledge
Tags: 1st Time Home Buyer Applying for a mortgage Beating the System First Time Home Buyer Getting a Mortgage Mortgage Industry Move-Up Home Buyer New Mortgage REALTORS® REALTOR® Repeat Home Buyer The Kunselman Team Tips to getting a good mortgage
Is It Still Worth it to Buy a Home without the Tax Credit?
November 5th, 2010Over the last couple of months some people have expressed disappointment about the $8,000 tax credit expiring in June. Now while it’s always nice to get money back, all is not lost. The interest rates are now much better than they were a year ago.
Let’s look at a $200K 30 year mortgage at a current rate of 4.25% vs. the rates from a year ago, around 5.25. At 4.25% the principle and interest payment would be $983. At 5.25% the same mortgage would have a payment of $1104. That is a difference of over $120/month. A $120/month over the life of the loan is $43,200. So even if you subtract out $8000 tax credit. You are still better off buying now at the better interest rates by over $35K.
So what does this mean? If you have been thinking about buying a home, go out and do it now! Don’t wait for the market to take a big swing up because by then, you will pay more for the same home, and the interest rates will be higher. Give The Kunselman Team a call today and make owning your dream home a reality!
Posted in Mortgage Industry, News, Real Estate Industry, Uncommon Useful Knowledge, Understanding Your Mortgage
Tags: 1st Time Home Buyer 1st Time Home Buyer Tax Credit 6500 Credit 8000 credit Applying for a mortgage First Time Home Buyer First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Getting a Mortgage Less Interest Mortgage Industry Mortgage Interest Rates Move-Up Home Buyer New Mortgage Repeat Home Buyer Tax Credit The Kunselman Team Tips to getting a good mortgage



