Saturday, March 14, 2009 

How to Determine Your Equity Value and Costs on Loans

The expression equity value is sometimes used synonymously with the full equity of a certain home loan. If homeowners look at equity loans, the lender will weigh the equity built in the house. If the home is not worth the sum of money applied for, the homeowner will pay higher rates of interest and higher mortgage payments. The equity, if negative, is thought of as a higher risk than positive equity. However, the equity is controlled by current market value and value of the home to determine the chances.

Lenders put chance first oftentimes since large amounts of cash are affected. First time buyers are given various kinds of loans, but are often high-risk candidates just because equity is non-existent till the closing is final. First time buyers looking for home loans will be graded by their credit history, job, age, sex and the area they reside in. If the buyer has superior credit, this is a positive to the lender.

The lender will often assist the customer by finding decent rates of interest and may even advise a loan that would help the borrower more than other loans. When equity exists, this relieves a bit of the burden off the lender, if the home has negative equity, then the lender is vulnerable.

If the lender states that your home has negative equity, you may wish to ask an appraiser to test the homes value to substantiate that the lender is practical. The appraiser will help you determine the equity on your home, and if negative equity does exist because of a drop in market value, you may need to talk over with the lender. If negative equity does exists due to structural damage, termites, or other damage to the house, you may want to think about a different sum of money to borrow.

How to Determine Cost on Equity Loans

Lenders will sometimes base the loans on the borrower's basic salary from his job and other incomes. The lenders will figure at times 100% of ensured bonuses or 50% of steady bonuses divided by overtime.

Many lenders will provide high multiples and loans, getting at 4 times the basic income. Some lenders will give as much as 5 times the basic income, considering the borrower's job. Despite the offers, homebuyers should think about their income carefully to decide if they can pay off the debts. Homebuyers would be well-advised to think about an increase in equity loans, because the rates of interest are always changing over the period of a year. By law, the lenders must keep to the rates of interest determined by the federal government.

If you get an equity loan, you must see that the loan is meant to payoff your first mortgage and then begin payment on the pending loan. Lenders ask borrowers in most cases to pay 5% to 10% down payment, as a source of guarantee. The larger sum of the down payment will reduce your interest rates and mortgage payments in most cases.

But then, if you do not have money for a down payment, you may need to consider the 100% equity loans, because these loans will integrate the deposit and additional fees and cost into the monthly installments. The negative aspect is that the interest is higher, and frequently so are the mortgage
repayments.

Jim's articles are from extensive research on each of his topics. You can learn more of home equity loans by visiting: Equity Loans

 

Mortgage Rates Down After 5-Week Rise

Mortgage rates were down slightly this week for the first time in five weeks. Freddie Mac reports that the average rate on a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage fell to a national average of 6.74% this week, down from last week's 6.79%.

Many economists are beginning to believe that the Federal Reserve will not continue to raise interest rates. Housing sales have been strong for five years in a row, yet are expected to decline by 7% this year, due to higher mortgage rates pricing people out of the market.

Chief Economist for Freddie Mac Frank Nothaft says that a gradual rise in mortgage rates is expected this year, as long as the Fed doesn't raise rates. The financial markets expect that the Fed will only have one more interest rate hike this year. This has helped to slow the rise of mortgage interest rates.

"This should keep mortgage rates relatively stable for the foreseeable future," said Nothaft.

The average rate on a 15-year, fixed rate mortgage averaged 6.37% for the week, down from 6.44% last week. The 15-year fixed is a popular choice for homeowners who are refinancing. Adjustable rate mortgages also saw a decrease this week. One-year ARMs fell to 5.75% from 5.85% last week. The rates on five-year hybrids were down to an average of 6.33% for the week, from 6.39% the week prior.

The reported rates do not include points. The 30-year mortgage carries a nationwide average fee of 0.6 point. The average fee for a 15-year fixed was 0.4 point. The five-year hybrid carried a fee of 0.5%, while the one-year ARM has a fee of 0.6 point.

Martin Lukac represents RateTake Refinance Rate marketplace. RateTake matches consumers with multiple lenders offering low rates. Got too much credit debt? Get Debt Help and you'd be surprised what we can do together.