Home Loan Confusion Continues
May 23, 2008
Unfortunately, most Americans still do not understand how home loans work and how to take advantage of the wide array of programs available. The way I see it, people are still confused about mortgages in general and real estate finance, in particular.
Just last week, a friend of mine told me he was buying a house. He was pre-approved for a loan, he said, and I was very happy for him. You see, he is young, just 25, and he is embarking on the American Dream of home ownership. So, I asked him about the type of mortgage he was getting. He said, “I don’t know. I was just approved, and I haven’t even signed any papers, yet.”
He did have the house picked out, though. Although it is all too typical of a response, I found myself still surprised that my friend didn’t know anything about the loan he was being pre-approved for. As another acquaintance recently pointed out, the right loan program can make hundreds of dollars of difference in your monthly payment. This person will save $6,048 this year using an adjustable rate mortgage over that pesky fixed rate that so many people desire.
Bridge Loans: Everything You Wanted To Know
May 22, 2008
As the name implies, bridge loans fulfill a vital need for active developers by giving life to a new project in the months before lenders feel confident enough to make available a construction loan, or a repositioning loan in the case of an existing project. But real estate bridge loans have other uses, both tactical and strategic, that make them indispensable in today’s New York marketplace.
For new development projects, bridge loans provide financing for property assemblages, site acquisition, and development expenses. Not only do such loans provide the developer with the funds to acquire a site, they also supply the breathing room that the developer needs to create the architectural designs and analyses for new construction projects. Just as important, bridge loans offer an opportunity to refine the developer’s property repositioning or acquisition plan in the case of an existing project.
During the development–or repositioning–planning stage, the developer’s financial advisor has the time to arrange senior construction and mezzanine loan financing. For example, in recent months our firm has arranged highly competitive financing for projects under the 80/20 Bond Financing Program, and other projects under the recent Liberty Bond Program for downtown Manhattan. Still others have been condominium or office projects in which the fiercely competitive New York marketplace requires developers to move extremely rapidly to acquire control of desirable locations.
Free Credit Report - Really
May 21, 2008
2005 marks the year that consumers will be able to get a free credit report each year. The roll out of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act signed into law by President Bush actually began last December 1. If you didn’t know about it, don’t worry. You haven’t missed the boat. Not everyone is eligible to get their credit report. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is allowing the credit bureau’s to implement the program piecemeal so as not to overload the new credit report system. Millions of consumers are expected to take advantage of the free reports.
Last December, consumers from Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming were able to take advantage of the free credit report. Next March, the Midwest will have access to free credit reports. The South has to wait till June, and the East must wait until September 2005.
Imagine Cutting Over $8,000 Off Your Mortgage This Year
May 20, 2008
I once helped a customer cut over $700 off his monthly mortgage payment. That’s right, over $8,000 each year and over $40,000 in just five years. Now, not everyone can save this much, but if you have a loan that is over $200,000, you could come close to this, if you refinance your fixed rate mortgage to a new loan program.
What’s the secret, you might ask? Don’t be afraid to take an Adjustable Rate Mortgage or, perhaps, an interest-first mortgage. The problem, though, is most mortgage brokers or bankers will not encourage you to make this move.
There are many reasons — the most likely one being their desire to make more money off of you. They do this based on the program and the interest rate you accept. You see, mortgage brokers are not unlike realtors, home improvement companies or car salesman — they all work on commission.
Mortgage brokers can also make a commission, paid by your lender, if you take a higher interest rate than you qualify for. So, a mortgage broker may encourage you to take a new fixed-rate, 15-year mortgage at 6.5 percent. This might be an improvement of 1 percent over your current 30-year fixed rate loan. Now, most people will think this is amazing.
Navigation After Financial Closure - Bankruptcy Personal Loans
May 19, 2008
Bankruptcy has a stigma attached to it that is hard to eradicate. Is that what you really think, then you need to rethink. Just because you have filed for bankruptcy does not mean you do not have a right to a solid financial status again. Bankruptcy is as much deserving of a personal loan for refinancing, consolidation of debts, mortgaging or any kind of personal loans. However there is no doubt bankruptcy is not the most wanted thing on your credit report. The aftermaths of bankruptcy are many and they can stay to as long as ten years. But still the changing trends have given way to a more lithe and sympathetic approach towards bankruptcy personal loans.
But you have already heard enough about getting bankruptcy personal loans. There are enough people who have been advertising for bankruptcy loans therefore it becomes highly bewildering whether it is possible to have a bankruptcy personal loans or not. Bad credit, no credit has still got an option but what about the condition where the credit is completely damaged. Bankruptcy is one such stipulation. There are chances that the bankruptcy loan offer might turn out to be a scam. You have to shop carefully before pouncing on a particular bankruptcy personal loan. There are very few bankruptcy personal loans that are actually viable. But this certainly does not mean that the market is deprived of any lenders whatsoever for bankruptcy personal loans.
Bankruptcy Myths Busted
May 19, 2008
The average American knows very little about bankruptcy. Most people probably are aware of bankruptcy’s ability to dissolve debt and give the debtor a fresh start. Some of the information you might have heard is correct, but some is not. The purpose of this article is to dispel some of the most common bankruptcy myths.
1. Even if I file for bankruptcy creditors will still harass me and my family.
This is absolutely false. Bankruptcy law provides for an automatic stay. Simply, as soon as you file for bankruptcy a hold is put on all your outstanding debts and any creditor attempts to collect those debts. The law prohibits a debtor to attempt to collect, possess, or even contact the debtor in regard to the debt. If a creditor does not follow the rules, the debtor may have an action in the form of punitive damages. Basically, punitive damages are meant to punish a creditor for not following the procedures set out in the bankruptcy code. Whether a debtor has a cause of action against a creditor should be left to an attorney to answer. However what you need to know is this; once you file for bankruptcy, creditors must leave you alone or suffer the consequences.
Interest-only Equity Loans Create Amazing Power and are Quite Easy to Get
May 18, 2008
The power of home equity and interest-only payments, provided from most home equity loans is amazing. You can get a home equity loan, with no closing costs and pay as little as $30.00 to $40.00 per month for up to $10,000 in equity cash. These loans are surprisingly easy to get for both residential and investment real estate.
The terms on these amazing loans vary, but are quite nice. You can get them for up to 30 years, but they are usually completed in terms of 10 to 15 years. You can always pay just the interest on the loan - a very low payment, or you can pay on the principal loan, if you desire. You have all the power. Another fantastic part of home equity loans is that in many cases you can take out 100 percent of the equity. So, if you owe $130,000 and your house is valued at $140,000, you can get $10,000. Now you’ll need good credit to do this. Not to worry, though, if your credit has some flaws. You can still get at your equity.
Home Equity Can Create a Never-ending Money Cycle
May 17, 2008
What could you do with $10,000? Well, you can have it, now in a new home equity loan! Did you know that if you have been in your home for just one full year, you may already have the opportunity to take out huge dollars in equity from your home — tens of thousands, even! Did you also know that you can get this money with no closing costs, use it any way you like, and, best of all, it will cost you as little as the price of your cable bill each month, and you can create an amazing money cycle that will give you an endless supply of cash.
Unlike conventional mortgages, home equity loans are paid back with interest-only payments, and have no taxes or insurance added, which make for extremely low payments. This means you can get tens of thousands of dollars for as little as $33 per month on your equity loan. Imagine having 10,000 dollars and paying this little to get it! What’s more, if you use this equity properly, you can pay off debt, saving hundreds monthly. Then, in a few years, you can get a new home equity loan, with the new equity you have built in your home from simple appreciation in value.
What Are We Teaching our 2005 Graduates about Money?
May 16, 2008
Now that we are in the month of June I can’t help but wonder if we have prepared our new graduates for the responsibility of managing and budgeting their money.
I had a very interesting conversation with my God-son, a recent graduate from a local Los Angeles high school. He assured me that he is ready to take on the responsibility of purchasing a used car because he was working par-time for a fast food restaurant. When I asked him how much money he had saved he quickly told me that he hasn’t received his first paycheck yet, but would appreciate money as a graduation gift to purchase a vehicle.
We talked about the value of saving as well as more responsible things he could do with the money he was earning. I explained to him that having a job was a good step towards saving for a car. However, he was still lacking in responsibility for assuming everyone else would buy the car for him. I strongly agree with the lending belief of banks, "if you can’t come to the table with some of your own money, I can’t give you my money." So our conversation ended with an agreement that he would cover insurance and gas with his income and save at least 10% for college expenses and I would send him a cash gift towards the purchase of his vehicle as a graduation gift.
Risk It With A Bridging Loan?
May 15, 2008
How many times have you been casually going about your business, seen a great property and thought, “that would be a really nice place to live”? Then you snap out of it, knowing you can’t lay your hands on the money fast enough. Well what if you really wanted this property? You discussed it with the agent, your emotions got the better of you and you made an offer.
This has to be a fast sale or the vendor will sell it to someone else, what will you do? How will you find the cash at such short notice? Unless you happen to have thousands of pounds lying around in some bank account you forgot about, you’re going to have to borrow some money and fast!
Did you expect the financial industry NOT to have a product for people just like you? Of course not. They’ve thought of everything. The answer is a bridging loan!
A bridging loan provides a temporary window. As is suggested by the name, it bridges the gap between the amount of cash you need now and the amount you currently have. What you earn normally has no bearing on the matter. How much your current property makes on open market again does not come into it. Your bridging loan takes care of your what you need right now.
