Mortgage Brokers in Australia

Mortgage Brokers In Australia most people go to mortgage brokers to get access to a greater range of mortgage options, for better service and for the mortgage broker’s ability to negotiate with lenders. A mortgage broker offers loans from a panel of financial institutions, including banks and non-banks. In Australia there are literally hundreds of lenders with many options, that were traditionally available in the past and competition amongst lenders for customers is fierce with new home loan products available every day. Using a mortgage broker is now an essential part of sourcing the market for the right home loan. In plain terms, mortgage brokers evaluate your situation against the 20 or 30 lenders on their panel for the best deal. Specialised mortgage lenders offer competitive products to first home buyers, self employed and business people, retirees, new Australians and immigrants, previous bankrupts and people with a bad or poor credit history. One of the great advantages of using a good mortgage broker is that they have access to many of these lenders and their products. The mortgage broker should be able to provide you with the cheapest home loan to the most competitive home loan in the current financial market. The mortgage broker should be able to provide you with at least three options of which lender suits you best. The mortgage broker should be able to explain in detail each home loan product he/she is offering and why they have chosen these home loan options for you. The options the mortgage broker provided is from the information that you have provided to them. This will show if the mortgage broker has done their homework correctly. Mortgage Brokers usually run their own businesses. Lenders work with mortgage brokers because they effectively give the lender a bigger “shop front” without carrying a traditional employee or “bricks and mortar” overhead. Some lenders like Citibank, ING, Macquarie Bank and Heritage have few or no branches and partly rely on mortgage brokers to represent their products. Other lenders like CBA, Westpac, ANZ, NAB and St George have their own branch networks, but simply extend their access to Customers through the mortgage broker network. The lender pays the broker fees or commissions for your business. Just as if you were dealing with a bank manager or lender, these fees do not change the interest rate you pay on a home loan. To be sure you are being recommended to the right lender, just ask your mortgage broker to show you all the lenders on their panel, and what your loan options would be, against each lender’s criteria. What a Broker should do for you When you first meet with a broker, they should always start by asking you to explain your entire finance situation, including future plans. Little things can make a big difference to making sure you get the right home loan for your situation now and with flexibility for future changes. Have your key documents on hand to refer to when meeting with the broker so you can give the most accurate details to ensure you get the right home loan. Your Mortgage Broker should: Discuss and confirm loan scenarios and options in writing Explain all documents of the loan application and assist in completing the loan application Explain the loan process, from start of the application to closing Explain all associated costs, fees and disbursements of the loan application Communicate with you throughout the loan process Follow up the lender for you from application through conditional and on to unconditional approval Negotiate with their lender or lenders to achieve the best deal How do I know a mortgage broker is any good? Establish the right mortgage broker for you and check his/hers experience and qualifications. A good mortgage broker will be committed to the industry’s code of practice. It is vital to ensure you’re getting the best loan for your needs. Below is a checklist that will help you know if your mortgage broker is a good person For residential loans, all of the mortgage broker’s services should be free – remember mortgage broker’s are paid commissions from the lenders The right mortgage broker will take the time to really understand your entire finance situation, both now and into the future Your mortgage broker should have a range of home loans from a wide variety of lenders, for example, banks and non-banks, conforming and non-conforming lenders Check that your mortgage broker is not just an agent for one lender Check the qualifications and experience of your mortgage broker, even ask for references from previous borrowers Is the mortgage broker a member of MFAA – Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia / FBAA – Finance Brokers Association Australia Ensure your mortgage broker discloses all commission and payments received by the lenders Ask your mortgage broker to show you how the loans they offer compare to your own situation (on a computer). Good mortgage brokers should have the appropriate software and be able to clearly outline options requested by you Ask your mortgage broker how they comply with the Privacy Act to ensure security of your personal and financial details Your mortgage broker should have appropriate insurances (for example Public Indemnity Insurance Cover) A good mortgage broker should be able to explain the most complex loans in simple plain English In conclusion you would like to have trust in the Mortgage Broker that you will use. It is important that you take your “gut instinct” when you are choosing a Mortgage Broker. You want to make sure that you like the person and ensure that the Mortgage Broker will do the ring thing for you. It does not hurt to ask the Mortgage Broker for testimonials (what other customer have said about them)

An Explanation of a Residential Mortgage

Buying a home is one of the most important decisions that most people will make in their lives. It’s likely to be the most expensive asset that most people will ever purchase. With the average home costing the equivalent of several years’ salary, it’s very rare that anyone can save enough money to pay for their residence with savings. The only option that most people have when they’re ready to buy a house is to borrow money in order to pay for it. A loan that is taken out in order to buy a home is known as a residential mortgage. If you’re planning to buy a home, it’s important to understand what a mortgage is and how it works.

A mortgage is a secured loan.

There are two basic kinds of loans – unsecured and secured. An unsecured loan is money that is lent without any sort of collateral, simply on the good credit of the borrower and their promise to repay it. If the borrower defaults on the loan (fails to make the required payments), the only way for the lender to get its money back is to sue the borrower in court. A secured loan is one where the borrower guarantees payment by putting up collateral. If the borrower fails to make the payments as promised, the bank or lending company has the right to take possession of the collateral and sell it to recover their money.

A mortgage is a secured loan in which the house serves as collateral. When you take out a mortgage on a home, you sign a mortgage note that essentially gives the bank partial ownership of the house. Until you make the final payment on your mortgage, the bank or lending company has the right to foreclose on your home if you fail to make the scheduled payments on your loan. That means that they can take possession of your house and sell it to recover any money that’s still owed to them on the loan.

The mortgage rate is the interest that you pay on your loan.

When you borrow money, the bank charges interest on the money lent to you. The interest is expressed as a percentage of the amount that you borrow multiplied by the length of time you take to pay it back. The length of time that it takes you to pay back the loan is called the term of the loan. Most lenders offer mortgages for terms of twenty years, thirty years or forty years. Some lenders offer mortgages for as short a term as ten years, and the most common term for a mortgage is thirty years.

There are many different kinds of residential mortgages. The best known are fixed rate mortgages (FRM) and adjustable rate mortgages (ARM). They are exactly what the names say. If you take out a fixed rate mortgage, your interest rate is guaranteed to stay the same for the life of the loan. If your mortgage rate at signing is 6.25%, it will remain 6.25% until the entire mortgage is paid off. An adjustable rate mortgage is one where the mortgage rate can change based on an index of some sort. If that index goes up, your interest rate goes up. If it drops, the interest rate drops.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both kinds of mortgages. Because a fixed rate mortgage offers a guarantee against interest rate increases, the interest rate usually starts out higher than the mortgage rate for an ARM for the same amount and term. An ARM will spell out specific conditions under which the interest rate can be changed. Generally, the rate is reconsidered every three, six or twelve months. Some ARMs have low initial rates that are guaranteed for a specific period of time – generally two to five years. After the initial period, the interest rate is subject to adjustment according to a specified schedule.

Mortgages carry other costs and fees in addition to the interest charged.

In addition to the interest, most loans also have other costs and fees associated with them. Those costs are often payable at closing, though they are frequently financed and added to the amount of money borrowed for the mortgage. Other costs must be paid before the loan is closed. The costs may include loan origination fees, a loan broker’s fee, the cost of private mortgage insurance and legal fees. Paying those costs up front can reduce the interest rate as well as the total cost of the loan.

Buying points can reduce the interest rate and the cost of your mortgage.

There are a number of ways that you can reduce the total cost of a mortgage. One of the most common is called “buying points”. When you buy or pay for points on your mortgage, you are paying part of the interest up front. One point will cost you 1% of the face value of the loan. If you’re taking out a mortgage for $100,000, you’ll pay $1,000 a point. For each point that you pay on your mortgage, the lender will reduce the interest rate by a certain amount. The exact amount varies from lender to lender. You can find mortgage points calculators online to help you decide whether or not paying points is a good idea in your situation.

Potential Disadvantages of an Adjustable Rate Mortgage

There are both advantages and disadvantages to adjustable rate mortgages. Your lender may be pushing an adjustable rate mortgage for any number of reasons, including that they are more profitable for the lending company. If you only look at the advantages of an adjustable rate mortgage, they can sound pretty good. You start with a lower interest rate, which means lower monthly payments. Because of the lower payments and rate, you may be able to afford a larger mortgage. Your lender may be pitching it as a way to buy a bigger house than you could otherwise afford, or suggest that it’s a good way to get into the housing market. Most commonly, the lender may suggest that you should take the adjustable rate mortgage for now, and refinance later when the rates adjust up.

While all of these things are true, there are also cons to an adjustable rate mortgage. It’s important that you consider both sides of the issue before making a decision on the type of mortgage that you want to take out.

What an adjustable rate mortgage is

Unlike a fixed mortgage, which comes with a specific interest rate that remains the same for the life of the loan, an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) has an interest rate that fluctuates according to a specified index. Your adjustable rate may be tied to the interest rate on Treasury Bonds, to the Consumer Price Index or to a number of other indicators. If that index rises, your interest rate – and your monthly payment – will rise. If it drops, so will your interest rate and monthly payment.

Why adjustable rate mortgages can be attractive

When lenders approve a fixed rate mortgage, they are placing a finite limit on the amount of money they’ll make from that mortgage. An adjustable rate mortgage offers the lender the possibility of making more money if interest rates rise over the life of the loan – which is a good possibility. To offset the limit on fixed rate mortgages and make adjustable rate mortgages more attractive to home buyers, lenders typically offer lower interest rates on adjustable rate mortgages than they do on fixed rate mortgages. In essence, they are offering borrowers a more attractive rate in return for assuming the risk that their mortgage rate and monthly payment will rise over the term of the loan.

The down side of adjustable rate mortgages

When looked at in that light, some of the cons of an adjustable rate mortgage become obvious.

1. Interest rates can go up, raising monthly payments as well.

Most borrowers understand and accept that their monthly mortgage payment may rise, but are willing to take the chance that their mortgage will continue to remain affordable. It’s important to know the caps on interest rate rises by which your lender is bound. When you shop around for the best adjustable mortgage, it’s important to look further than the initial interest rate so that you understand exactly what expenses you may be agreeing to.

2. Over time, payments nearly always surpass the payments on a fixed rate loan for the same amount.

If you’re planning to stay in your home for the long haul, this can be an important consideration. Depending on the specific loan agreement that you make, it may be several years before the interest rate and monthly payment reach and surpass the monthly payment for a fixed mortgage. If you’re only planning to stay in your new home for a few years, this can work to your advantage, because you’ll be paying lower monthly payments for most of that time. If, on the other hand, this is your dream home where you plan to live the rest of your life, a fixed rate mortgage is probably more economical.

3. Fluctuating payments can make it difficult for you to make a budget.

While many ARMs only adjust once a year, some may adjust as often as once a month. More frequent adjustments can make it very difficult to fit your monthly mortgage payment into your budget because you will only know what your next month’s payment will be when you receive your notice. Even in the longer term, a fluctuating mortgage payment can make it difficult for you to plan long-term savings and investments.

4. If fixed rate mortgages become favorable enough that you decide to switch, you’ll have to refinance and incur the costs and fees related to refinancing your mortgage.

5. The annual interest cap may not apply to the first interest adjustment, and it may be a big one.

Many lenders offer very low initial interest rates on ARMs to attract first time home buyers. Often, these mortgages exempt the first increase from the annual cap on adjustments. This can be especially difficult if the ARM was one of the hybrids that offered a low fixed rate for one to five years, with a jump to market interest rates at the end of the specified period. When that happens, your monthly mortgage payment can suddenly rise by hundreds or even more than a thousand dollars.

All About Collateralized Mortgage Obligations, Known as Cmos

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (CMOs) sometimes referred to as Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduits (REMICs), are one of few innovative investment methods available in today’s investment world. CMOs offer relative safety, regular payments and notable yield advantages over other better known fixed-income securities of comparable credit quality.

A wide variety of CMO securities with different cash flow and expected maturity characteristics have been designed to meet specific investment objectives. While CMOs offer advantages to investors, they also carry certain risks which will be further explained in this document. To determine if CMOs fit within your investment portfolio, you should first understand the distinctive features of these securities.

CMOs were first introduced in 1983. The Tax Reform Act of 1986 allowed CMOs to be issues in the form of REMICs, creating certain tax and accounting advantages for issuers and for certain large institutional and foreign investors. Today, almost all CMOs are issued in REMIC form. Remember that throughout this CMO explanation, REMICs and CMOs are interchangeable.

THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF CMOS Mortgage Loans and Mortgage Pass-Throughs When a CMO is created, it begins with a mortgage loan extended by a financial institution (such as a savings and loan, commercial bank or mortgage company) to finance a borrower’s home or other real estate. The homeowner usually pays the mortgage loan in monthly installments composed of both interest and “principal”. Over the duration of the mortgage loan, the interest component of payments in the early years gradually declines as the principal component increases. To obtain funds to generate more loans, lenders either “pool” groups of loans with similar characteristics to create securities or sell the loans to issuers of mortgage securities. The securities most commonly created from pools of mortgage loans are “mortgage pass-through securities” (MBS) or “participation certificates” (PCs). MBS represent a direct ownership interest in a pool of mortgage loans. As the homeowners whose loans are in the pool make their mortgage loan payments, the money is distributed on a pro rata basis to the holders of the securities. Several factors can affect the homeowners’ payments.

Typically, the homeowner will “prepay” the mortgage loan by selling the property, refinancing the mortgage or otherwise paying off the loan in part or whole. Most mortgage pass-through securities are based on fixed-rate mortgage loans with an original maturity of 30 years, but experience shows that most of these mortgage loans will be paid off much earlier. While the creation of MBS greatly increased the secondary market for mortgage loans by pooling them and selling interests in the pool, the structure of such securities has inherent limitations. MBSs only appeal to investors with a certain investment horizon – on average, 10-12 years.

CMOs were developed to offer investors a wider range of investment time frames and greater cash-flow certainty than had previously been available with MBS. The CMO issuer assembles a package of these MBS and uses them as collateral for a multiclass security offering. The different classes of securities in a CMO offering are known as tranches, from the French word for slice. The CMO structure enables the issuer to direct the principal and interest cash flow generated by the collateral to the different tranches in a prescribed manner, as defined in the offering’s prospectus, to meet different investment objectives.

THE HIGH CREDIT QUALITY OF CMOS The Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA, or Ginnie Mae) an agency of the U.S. government, along with U.S. government-sponsored enterprises (GSE) such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA, or Fannie Mae) or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC, or Freddie Mac), guarantee most MBSs. Ginnie Mae is a government-owned corporation within the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have federal charters and are subject to some oversight by the federal government, but are publicly owned by stockholders.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac issue and guarantee pass-through securities. Ginnie Mae only adds its guarantee to privately issued pass-throughs backed by government issued (FHA and VA) mortgages. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have issues CMOs for quite some time; the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) began to issue CMOs in 1992, and Ginnie Mae initiates its own CMO program which began in 1994. Securities guaranteed or guaranteed and issues by these entities are known generically as “agency” mortgage securities. The agency guarantees enhance their credit quality for investors. In addition, the mortgages backing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgage securities must meet strict quality criteria. Those backing GNMA pass-throughs are underwritten in accordance with the rules and regulations of the FHA and the VA, which insure them against default.

The extent of the agency guarantee depends on the entity making it. Ginnie Mae, for example, guarantees the timely payment of principal and interest on all of its mortgage securities, and its guarantee is backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. government. Holders of Ginnie Mae mortgage securities are therefore assured of receiving payments promptly each month, regardless of whether the underlying homeowners make their payments. They are guaranteed to receive the full return of face-value principal even if the underlying borrowers default on their loans. Mortgage securities issued by the VA carry the same full faith and credit U.S. government guarantees.

Fannie Mae guarantees timely payment of both principal and interest on its mortgage securities whether or not the payments have been collected from the borrowers. Freddie Mac also guarantees timely payment of both principal and interest on its Gold PCs and CMOs. Some older series of Freddie Mac PCs guarantee timely payment of interest, but only the eventual payment of principal. Although neither Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac securities carry the additional full faith and credit U.S. government guarantee, the credit markets consider the credit on these securities to be equivalent to that of securities rated triple-A or better.

Some private institutions, such as subsidiaries of investment bank, financial institutions and home-builders, also issue mortgage securities. When issuing CMOs, they often use agency mortgage pass-through securities as collateral; however, their collateral may include different or specialized types of mortgage loans and/or pools, letters of credit and other types of credit enhancements. These private-labeled CMOs are the sole obligation of their issuer. To the extent that private-label CMOs use agency mortgage pass-through securities as collateral, their agency collateral carries the respective agency’s guarantees. Private-label CMOs are assigned credit ratings by independent credit agencies based on their structure, issuer, collateral and any guarantees or outside factors. Many carry the highest AAA credit rating.

As an additional investor protection, the CMO issuer typically segregates the CMO collateral or deposits it in the care of the trustee, who holds it for the exclusive benefit of the CMO bondholders.

A DIFFERENT SORT OF BOND Prepayment Rates and Average Lives Although CMOs entitle investors to payments of principal and interest, they differ from corporate bonds and Treasury securities in significant ways. Corporate and Treasury bonds are issued with stated maturities. The purchase of a bond from an investor is essentially a loan to the issuer in the amount of the principal, or face amount, of the bond for a prescribed period of time in return for a specified annual rate of interest. The bondholder receives interest, generally in semiannual payments, until the bond is redeemed.

When the bond matures, or is called by the issuer, the issuer returns face value of the bond to the investor in a single principal payment. With a CMO, the ultimate borrower is the homeowner who takes who takes on a mortgage loan. Because the homeowner’s monthly payments include both interest and principal, the mortgage security investor’s principal is returned over the life of the security, or amortized rather than repaid in a single lump sum at maturity.

CMOs provide monthly or quarterly payments to investors which include varying amounts of both principal and interest. As the principal is repaid (or prepaid), the interest payments become smaller because they are based on a lower amount of outstanding principal. A mortgage security “matures” when the investor receives the final principal payment. Most CMO tranches have a stated maturity based on the last date on which the principal from the collateral could be paid in full. This date is theoretical, because it assumes no prepayments on the underlying mortgage loans. Mortgage securities are more often discussed in terms of their average life rather than their stated maturity date. Technically, the average life is defined on the average time to receipt of each dollar of principal, weighted by the amount of each principal payment.

In simpler terms, the average life is the average time that the principal dollar in the pool is expected to be outstanding, based on certain assumptions about prepayment speeds.

Advantages to Using a Mortgage Broker Vs. a Local Bank

Many individuals who are in the market for a mortgage loan will go directly to the bank that they are used to doing business with, or at best will take the time to shop around at two or three different banks in order to try and find the best deal. While there is obviously nothing wrong with this practice, better deals on mortgage rates and terms can often be found through the use of a mortgage broker instead of dealing with banks or other mortgage lenders directly. Using a mortgage broker can help you to find a wider range of loan offers without having to do nearly as much work, and may even be able to find you loan options that you were previously unaware of or may not have even been able to apply for on your own.

But what is a mortgage broker? In simple terms, the broker is not a lender. He or she may work for a company that has a bank-sounding name, but they really serve as independent sales people representing a variety of banks and financial institutions who will ultimately make the loan and service the payments. The mortgage broker does not represent any one financial institution; therefore they act as your representative when shopping for a home loan. Mortgage brokers work solely on commission and they do not get paid anything if the loan does not close. It is in their best interest to get you approved and to secure terms that are beneficial and affordable to you. In contrast, your local bank can only make loans strictly according to the terms of what their institution is currently offering. Bank loan officers are typically compensated by a combination of salary and commission.

There are a number of advantages to using a mortgage broker instead of applying for your loan through a local bank. The most obvious of these advantages is the fact that the broker already has contacts with a number of different banks and mortgage lenders, letting you take advantage of this to receive competing loan quotes without having to seek out each one individually. Many mortgage brokers will even be able to bring you loan offers from banks and other lenders outside of your local area, giving you loan options that you might not have had access to otherwise.

In addition to simply having a larger number of loan options, you may also be able to receive deals on your mortgage loan that you simply would not be able to get if you were not using a mortgage broker. Many mortgage brokers will be able to use the relationships that they have built with lenders over the years to negotiate better rates and mortgage loan terms than an individual would be able to find on their own, helping you to save money both on interest rates and other costs that may be associated with your mortgage. Your local bank simply may not be able to match the interest rates and loan terms that a mortgage broker can offer.

Another advantage of using a mortgage broker instead of applying for a mortgage loan at a local bank is the fact that many mortgage brokers are able to arrange a variety of different payment options. While local banks may have specific payment options that they use, your mortgage broker may be able to find a loan that fits your specific payment needs. With almost any lender you can make payments using automatic withdrawal, by making deposits into a specified account, by sending in a check or money order each month, or other payment options that your broker can specify for you.

Should you later need to refinance your mortgage loan, using a mortgage broker can be a major asset here as well. They will be able to compare interest rates and loan terms for you easily, helping you to find the best deal available on your mortgage refinance so that you can adjust your mortgage as needed. Your refinanced loan may be with the same bank or mortgage lender that the broker connected you with when the original mortgage loan was taken out, or they may be able to find you a better deal elsewhere without you having to do all of the legwork of checking all of the lenders that the broker has access to.

If you do decide to use a mortgage broker instead of a local bank, keep in mind that you should take a little bit of time to compare different mortgage brokers in your area so that you will be able to get the best deal possible on your mortgage loan. Speak with several brokers and find out the average interest rates that they might be able to get for you, comparing them just as you would different banks if you were shopping for your mortgage without the broker. This will help you to find the mortgage broker that has the right connections to get you a great deal on your mortgage loan, and will also help you to make sure that you have fully explored your options.

How to Compare Mortgage Brokers

Choosing the right mortgage broker is important, as you want to make sure you save as much money as possible on the mortgage loan that you take out. Being picky about your mortgage broker is more than just a matter of trying to save a few dollars, though – the right mortgage broker will also help ensure that you get the best loan terms available to you, and that you will have someone that you can work with should any changes need to be made to your mortgage loan’s terms. Comparing mortgage brokers is not difficult, but it does require that you have a basic knowledge of what to look for in the mortgage loans that the different brokerages offer to you.

It is important that you understand exactly what a mortgage broker is, of course; unlike a traditional bank or mortgage lender who will offer you a mortgage loan directly, a mortgage broker will pair you with a lender that meets your needs and will act as an intermediary between you and the lender. Because of this you can often get a better deal on a mortgage through a broker than you would be able to directly, since they can do the “shopping around” for you. Different mortgage brokers may offer different rates and terms on the loans that they find for you, however, so it is still important to shop around and compare brokerages before choosing the one that is best for you.

Before you start to compare mortgage brokers, take the time to research the basics of mortgage loans online. Not only will this give you some useful information that can be used as a basis for your comparisons, but you may also be able to learn about mortgage options that you did not know about previously. This does not mean that you have to learn everything that there is about mortgage loans, of course; simply try to cover the basics of loan options, opening and closing costs, and interest rate plans. You may also wish to take the time to find out what the average interest rates in your area are as well as nationwide so that you will have a better idea of how good of a deal the rates that you are being offered are.

Once you have a basic grasp of the mortgage lending process, start looking for mortgage brokers who operate in your area. You should be able to find several using your local telephone directory or internet listings. The more mortgage brokerages there are in your area then the greater your chances will be of finding a good deal on the mortgage loan that you take out, since you will have a number of different options to choose from. Begin contacting each of the brokers that you find and request average interest rate and loan term quotes from each.

When you have collected quotes from a number of different mortgage brokers it is time to begin your comparison. Sort the quotes by the interest rate that is being charged, but make sure that interest is not the only factor that you look at. In addition to the interest rate that you have to pay there may be a number of other costs which can affect how good of a deal a particular mortgage is, and the terms of one mortgage offer may not be as flexible as those of another. Sorting quotes based on interest will at least give you an idea of where the various offers stand based on one of the most obvious factors of the mortgage, however, and can also make it easy to eliminate the offerings of any broker whose rates are much higher than the others.

You may also list the points next to each loan’s interest rate. Points are a percentage of the loan you pay either at closing or rolled into the mortgage principal that acts as a “buy down” of the interest rate. For example, a rate that is 1% lower than a comparable loan may have 1 to 3 points attached to it whereas loan number two has zero points. Depending on the amount you are borrowing, one of these loans may be less expensive than the other. Your particular situation will determine which has the lower overall cost.

Begin comparing the quotes that you have received based on the estimated monthly payments you will have to make, opening and closing costs, and any specialized terms or conditions that certain mortgage quotes might have. Read through the quotes of the mortgage brokers several times to make sure that you have all of the information that you need for your comparison, and begin removing quotes from consideration when you find them to be more expensive or to have more strict terms than some of the other quotes. Continue reducing your potential mortgage loan quotes until only two or three remain so that you can compare them more closely before choosing a mortgage broker. Once you have finished the comparison you should have an idea of the broker who will find you the best deal on your mortgage so that you can then begin the process of getting the exact loan that is right for you.

When Choosing Your Mortgage ‘ Consider This

When comparing mortgages there are various factors to be taken into consideration. This article covers the following mortgage specific considerations, with more to follow in part two onwards.

- Total Cost Calculation
- Overall APR
- Arrangement fees
- Portability
- Early Repayment Charge
- Term of mortgage / Age of borrower

Total Cost Calculation

For many the major consideration when taking out a mortgage is how much the monthly payment will be. This is understandable as most people know what their level of income is and how much they can reasonable afford to pay in financing a mortgage. Unfortunately, it is this assumption that can cost you dearly. All too often those applying for a mortgage look only at the interest rate and the monthly payment, making the judgement that the lower the rate and monthly payment the better the mortgage.

In most cases the opposite is true because of total overall cost. Total cost refers to the overall cost of both the monthly payment plus any combined fees for the arrangement of the mortgage, such as a lenders arrangement fee or booking fee, a valuation fee, solicitors fee etc, and based on a specific period in years.

An example based on an interest only mortgage of £100,000

A £100,000 2 year fixed rate mortgage at a mortgage rate of 4.85% with a £499 lender arrangement fee and a £300 valuation fee has a total cost of £ 10,499 over 2 years

A £100,000 2 year fixed rate mortgage at a mortgage rate of 4.59% with a £1499 lender arrangement fee and a £300 valuation fee has a total cost of £ 10,979 over 2 years

In the example above, had the lower rate been taken, then the monthly payment would have been £21.66 per month less, but the net overall total cost would have been £480 more over a 2 year period, after the addition of the higher arrangement fee. This may not seem a huge difference over two years, but if the same decision were taken every two or three years over a typical 25 year mortgage term, the cost in additional interest would come to more than £10,000 pounds. In addition, as no capital is repaid with an interest only mortgage, the outstanding balance at the end of the term would also include the lenders arrangement fees that were added to the loan bringing the balance up to around £112,000.

Overall APR

Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is the total cost of borrowing which depends on the nominal rate of interest and on whether interest is charged annually, monthly, quarterly, daily or on some other basis. Comparison of the APRs of different providers is a facility for providing a direct and fair comparison of costs since the method of calculation is laid down in the Consumer Credit Act 1974. It is possible to compare the total amount payable by the end of the mortgage term. These are important comparisons if you are concerned about the total cost of the loan as well as the monthly outlay.

A word of caution however. The APR reflects the comparison of cost over the full mortgage term. If however the mortgage is changed after say a three year fixed rate period, the APR is not a good rate to use for comparison, and you would be better to look at the ‘Total Cost Calculation’ of the mortgage product as detailed in the section above.

Arrangement fees

An arrangement fee is generally payable to the lender to reserve the mortgage funds and is common amongst all lenders. The size of an arrangement fee can vary from a couple of hundred pounds up to one percent or more of the mortgage value, which can be a sizeable sum.

Many lenders now offer lower interest rates offset by a higher arrangement fee. Don’t be misled by the attractive rate as the overall cost often works out to be more than a slightly higher interest rate with a lower arrangement fee.

You should look very carefully at any conditions associated with the arrangement fee, as in some instances the arrangement fee will be payable on or before completion, although generally the option to add the arrangement fee to the loan is available.

Some lenders expect you to pay the arrangement fee when you submit your mortgage application (and may be reluctant to refund it if you decide not to proceed with their mortgage offer). For those lenders that allow the arrangement fee to be added to the loan, you will end up paying more interest over the term of the loan.

Portability

How often do you envisage moving house in the future? Having the facility to transfer the mortgage to a new property if regular moves are predicted, may be advantageous. For example, lets say you have taken a five year fixed rate mortgage which has an early repayment charge during the five year fixed rate period, but you then have to relocate due to work commitments. Being able to ‘Port’ (transfer) the mortgage to a new property means you can transfer the mortgage without incurring the lenders early repayment penalty charge.

Early Repayment Charge

When a loan is redeemed, there may be an early repayment charge levied by the lender depending on the type of mortgage you wish to take. Fixed, discounted and tracker mortgage rates usually charge a penalty of between 3% and 5% of the original loan amount if the loan is redeemed at any time during the fixed, discounted or tracker rate term.

Nowadays, it is common practice to waive any early repayment charge when an existing loan is transferred to the borrower’s new property, especially where a fixed rate mortgage is involved. This provides continuity to the borrower, and helps retain the business and existing client for the lender.

Term of mortgage / Age of borrower

Whichever method of repayment is selected for your mortgage, the shorter the term, the more expensive will be the monthly cost. If total peace of mind is required then a standard capital repayment mortgage should be selected. This is the only type of mortgage that guarantees that the mortgage will be paid in full if all mortgage payments are made.

When choosing either a Pension, ISA backed mortgage, contributions look more attractive over longer terms as the tax incentives have a compounding effect on the investment returns in the fund and will, therefore, generally become more competitive. There are no guarantees however, and fund values can go down as well as up. When considering a pension mortgages your age and the term of the mortgage are particularly important considerations as pensions are unable to provide any capital to repay the loan until at least age 50. For instance a first time buyer aged 22 would end up with a term of at least 28 years if the pension option was chosen.

Checking for the Loan Requirements to Meet

It is always been saver and easier for you if you are choosing your option to your payday loans through the online service. By doing a little time saving research on the rates, fees, and terms, you are able to get the best company for taking your cash advance loan. Based on the federal law, the lenders of the payday loan must have their rates and fees posted so that it can be our first note in comparing these services. The companies of the cash advance are really required to have their rate by the annual rate percentage in their profile. In other words, the rates of the lending are listed for the entire year. It is all intended for providing a cash advance for a really short period which is commonly will last up until the upcoming period of the payment. Yet, if you are in need for extended time, you are able to have it all arranged to the lenders.

The conveniences of the application process are other important things to be considered including the minimum requirements. Online applications have been distinct into two types which are the no fax and with fax included. The matter of working period also something that will need to be verified as you must be at least working for four years or more. So before you got your self signed up to the loan, make sure to check the requirements you must meet.

Mortgage Pools – Jump In, the Water’s Fine

I often get questions from potential investors about the basic functions of a mortgage fund (aka a mortgage pool). Therefore, I’ve decided to write about mortgage pools in general to clear up any misconceptions.

Mortgage pools are securities that are required by state and federal agencies to provide complete and full disclosure through an offering memorandum. A mortgage pool is a collection of capital contributions from many investors and is usually in the form of a limited liability company that sells shares. The investment pool of capital is then used to purchase a number of different loans, which are commonly called mortgages or trust deeds, and secured by real estate.

There are basically three ways to invest in mortgages, and regardless of a person’s real estate or investment acumen, there is a mortgage investment option available today that fits their investment portfolio. The three ways are: funding a mortgage directly, participating in a multi-lender or syndicated specific mortgage, or by investing in a mortgage pool.

The purpose of a mortgage pool is to create a long-term investment vehicle that provides for the fund’s management and a favorable rate of return to investors, while providing them with a diversification of risk and stability. Also, mortgage pools are redeemable on relatively short notice so they offer more liquidity than a direct mortgage or syndication.

For investors who don’t have the real estate expertise and don’t want to commit the time and energy to learn, the best route is to find a company that offers mortgage pools, like The Grace Fund LLC. These companies employ the services of a manager and administrator of the mortgage pool on the investor’s behalf who furnishes the investor with a monthly statement to keep them informed of their account balance, current yield and other details. The mortgage fund manager is paid a modest fee to research the proposal, make the lending decisions and handle all of the payments and administration. Fees earned by the manager are not paid by the investor, but rather a percentage of the income earned on the mortgages and servicing fees charged to the borrower.

These mortgage pools work through a four-step process: 1) investors purchase shares of a company; 2) the company purchases a number of qualified trust deed investments or mortgages; 3) the trust deeds and mortgages provide a return to the company and; 4) the company distributes a return to the investors from monthly cash flow, or growth through a Distribution Reinvestment Plan instead of taking a monthly payment.

Investing in the mortgage market can be a solid option for investors who want to benefit from the commercial real estate market without actually buying real property. In the past couple of years, returns of 10% to 12% or more in mortgage pools – compared to 3-4% for more mainstream investments – have been common. The pool is continuously managed with a primary objective of securing new mortgages to replace mortgages that mature, thus insuring investors a steady stream of passive income.

Monthly income from most mortgage pools usually varies as interest rates change or when mortgages are paid off. The returns to investors from the mortgage pool would follow market interest rate increases or decreases. The investor in a mortgage pool earns a blended rate of return on investment based on the interest earned from each respective mortgage. However, in the case of an investment in The Grace Fund, monthly distributions of 1.25% (15% annualized) are made to investors. To achieve the higher return, the Grace Fund mortgages are fixed at 15.5% annual interest to the borrower, an affiliate of Grace Realty Group. The higher rate reflects a premium to distinguish The Grace Fund from the many competitors vying for investor dollars in the marketplace.

I believe the most convenient, effortless and safest method for the average investor to invest in a debt instrument is through a mortgage pool. They pool their money by buying shares in the fund, and the interest earned from the mortgage payments received from the borrowers becomes income for the fund. All income earned is distributed to shareholders according to their proportional interest. Simple.

Similar to a mutual fund, a mortgage pool provides a vehicle to diversify a portfolio of investments – in this case, mortgages instead of stocks or bonds. Investing $50,000 in a mortgage pool consisting of 25 loans valued at $15 million provides better security through diversification than a $50,000 investment in a single loan secured by a single property.

Unlike a mutual fund, mortgage funds are secured by real estate and not subject to the same volatility as the stock market. Most mortgage pools are backed by well-underwritten and well-secured real estate loans. This is particularly true when the mortgages are secured by property that is financed at a very low loan-to-value ratio. To further mitigate risk, additional security is realized when the borrower purchases properties at a price far below their replacement cost with considerable value-added possibilities (buy low, fix up and sell strategy).

Another advantage to mortgage pools is that they are very suitable for most tax-deferred savings accounts including IRAs and 401ks, making them a good fit for future retirees or anybody else on a fixed income. An investment in a mortgage pool should be considered for inclusion in every serious investor’s portfolio.

Finding the Lowest Mortgage Loan

Today it’s particularly easy to find and choose the lowest mortgage loan. The internet makes research into a mortgage loan as easy as clicking a button. Here are some tips on how to find the best mortgage loan and the mortgage loan that is right for you.
1. Choose the right type of mortgage loan

Decide if you want a fixed rate mortgage loan or a variable rate loan. A fixed rate loan is where the payments are fixed for a certain period of time or for the entire loan period. A variable rate loan is where the repayments fluctuate with the interest rate.

A fixed rate mortgage loan is best when bank interest rates are low. Then you can protect yourself against higher payments when the interest rate increases.
A variable rate loan is best when interest rates are higher.

Today, applying for a mortgage loan is made extremely easy by the advent of the internet. There are a multitude of brokers and mortgage loan companies who offer home mortgage loan and loans online. They also offer a host of information, mortgage calculators and tools online to calculate the lowest home mortgage loan rates.

Before you choose a mortgage loan company or broker though, be sure to shop around for the lowest mortgage loan rate and make sure you ask about those hidden costs. Using a mortgage broker, instead of a loan company can be a great way of getting extra quotes, which can save you some time in shopping for the lowest home mortgage rates.

A mortgage loan company will review your application and will either deny or approve the loan, but a brokerage will send your application to several home mortgage companies and you will then receive multiple offers for lowest mortgage loan rates from various loan companies, so when searching for the lowest mortgage loan rates, it is advisable to choose a mortgage loan broker, rather than going directly to a mortgage company. But before you send your details to just anyone, make sure that the broker you’re using is an accredited home mortgage broker.
Before you shop, you need to decide if you are looking for the lowest mortgage loan rates for a fixed home mortgage loan or the lowest mortgage rates for a variable interest home mortgage loan. There are pro’s and con’s to both types of loans.

A fixed rate mortgage loan is a loan where the interest rate is fixed – therefore payments on the loan are fixed for a period of time or for the entire loan period. This mortgage loan is good for when interest rates are expected to climb, since if the rate climbs, you are protected from higher repayments. The downside is that if rates fall below you rate, you payments do not decrease. This type of loan does however make it a lot easier to budget and can be a godsend when the rates suddenly fly up.

A variable rate mortgage loan is a loan where the interest and therefore the payment fluctuate along with the mortgage loan interest rate. This home mortgage loan is good where you are taking out a mortgage loan and the current mortgage rate is very high. If the rate falls, then your payments will fall accordingly. The downside is that if the rate climbs then your repayments will climb as well, and you may be out of pocket if you did not budget correctly.
But whether you’re looking for a fixed rate mortgage loan or variable rate home mortgage loan, be sure to shop around for the lowest home mortgage rates. The lowest mortgage rates could save you thousands in the long run.

To find the lowest mortgage loan rates search for a broker in your area.