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Catherine Brock - MortgageLoan.com | 12/15/2008 - 1:49am
Demand for purchase and refinance mortgages have risen from their historic lows on the strength of lower interest rates.
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Catherine Brock - MortgageLoan.com | 12/04/2008 - 1:12am
The government's solution to the foreclosure crisis isn't drawing many takers, and new estimates say the program will fall far short of initial projections.
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Catherine Brock - MortgageLoan.com | 12/01/2008 - 1:44am
Here's a reality check: your home is probably worth less than you think. A quarterly survey reveals that many homeowners are overly optimistic about the value of their property.
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Catherine Brock - MortgageLoan.com | 10/07/2008 - 2:08pm
The government takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could potentially increase your tax bill down the road. It can also mean it's a good time to refinance.
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Tom Kerr - MortgageLoan.com | 09/19/2008 - 12:39am
Millions of ARM loans will do-or have already done-an "ARM reset," which means that they undergo a scheduled monthly payment adjustment. Because they typically begin with a low teaser rate, they generally go much higher when the ARM reset kicks in, and it's not unusual for monthly mortgage payments to double.
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Catherine Brock - MortgageLoan.com | 09/17/2008 - 12:58am
Don't panic if you need to refinance quickly; dozens of state and federal government programs can help.
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Tom Kerr - MortgageLoan.com | 09/12/2008 - 12:22am
Frequent cash-out refinancing can be a financially risky strategy, because a cash-out refinance can bleed the equity out of your property. Before doing a refinance of any kind, it's important for homeowners to carefully study the bottom line and the long-term repercussions of such a move.
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Tom Kerr - MortgageLoan.com | 09/05/2008 - 12:55am
As it becomes increasingly difficult to borrow for a refinance from traditional banks, more and more consumers are turning to private lenders. While this strategy usually costs more, it involves fewer hassles and more assurances that loans will go through without delays.
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Catherine Brock - MortgageLoan.com | 09/04/2008 - 12:06am
When you have a mortgage you can't afford and refinancing isn't an option, don't dismiss the possibility that a Chapter 7 bankruptcy may actually help you in the long run.
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Catherine Brock - MortgageLoan.com | 09/02/2008 - 12:08am
The no-free-lunch rule applies to mortgages, even those that call themselves no cost mortgage refinances.
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Catherine Brock - MortgageLoan.com | 09/02/2008 - 12:42am
Need refinancing answers fast? You're in the right place.
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Catherine Brock - MortgageLoan.com | 09/01/2008 - 12:00am
An FHA or VA streamline refinance can reduce the payments on your mortgage, fast.
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Catherine Brock - MortgageLoan.com | 08/10/2008 - 12:51am
Government programs designed to help America out of the housing crisis may finally get pushed through to implementation. How much relief these programs can provide, however, remains to be seen.
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Catherine Brock - MortgageLoan.com | 08/09/2008 - 12:47am
A mortgage refinance may have some negative consequences that you never anticipated.
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Tom Kerr - MortgageLoan.com | 08/02/2008 - 12:46am
The financial formulas used in the past to help homeowners make mortgage refinance decisions may be obsolete. Before refinancing, it's important to put the decision into an updated and accurate perspective.
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Greg Mischio - MortgageLoan.com | 08/01/2008 - 12:42am
The lessons of the subprime mortgage crisis are obvious: If you have an adjustable-rate mortgage, refinancing to a fixed-rate home loan is a smart move. The sooner you act, the less likely you'll get caught between rising interest rates and declining home values.
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Tom Kerr - MortgageLoan.com | 07/25/2008 - 12:46am
Baby Boomers face new challenges when it comes to refinancing to tap home equity for fixed income. The real estate value they banked on to fund retirement may have been erased by the recent housing downturn, leaving them without the equity windfall typically enjoyed by seniors.
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Catherine Brock - MortgageLoan.com | 07/19/2008 - 12:47am
Shaquille O'Neal, basketball's Big Diesel, wants to provide refinancing for at-risk mortgages.
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Tom Kerr - MortgageLoan.com | 07/18/2008 - 12:32am
The housing market is a mess, and mortgages are harder to get; but there are also some rare and wonderful deals on the market. Those who can come up with mortgage funds can capitalize on the unusual opportunity while it lasts, and there are a variety of ways to help fund a purchase.
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Tom Kerr - MortgageLoan.com | 07/11/2008 - 12:41am
Conventional wisdom tells us that when interest rates fall, people tend to refinance in order to capture them. But refinancing has also historically spiked when rates turn upward, because people don't want to miss the chance to lock in attractive rates that may soon slip away.
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Catherine Brock - MortgageLoan.com | 07/11/2008 - 12:44am
Don't head into a refinance without knowing the territory. Get organized with this list of resources that can help you prepare.
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Tom Kerr - MortgageLoan.com | 07/04/2008 - 12:33am
Cash is king during a recession, and those who have money to buy today's depressed income-producing properties are laughing all the way to the bank. To get investment capital, many are turning to refinancing strategies.
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Tom Kerr - MortgageLoan.com | 06/28/2008 - 12:06am
Jumbo mortgages are larger-than-normal mortgages that are used to pay for, or refinance, higher-cost homes. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) began insuring these big loans this year, at least on a temporary basis, as part of the government's much-touted economic stimulus package.
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Tom Kerr - MortgageLoan.com | 06/19/2008 - 12:18am
Homeowners who tried refinancing, but were rejected because they owed more than their homes were worth, may be ready to walk away and abandon their mortgages altogether. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and that has given rise to some novel and offbeat strategies.
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Tom Kerr - MortgageLoan.com | 06/19/2008 - 12:21am
People who are refinancing home loans are advised to scrutinize the closing costs. Study the settlement statement, and object to any fees that are not warranted or justified. While the interest rate may get the most attention, other small details can add up to a significant amount of money.
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Tom Kerr - MortgageLoan.com | 06/13/2008 - 12:20am
Homeowners thinking of remodeling to boost the value of their property may want to first hire a professional appraiser to look at the home improvement plans. The appraiser can do a market appraisal and demonstrate "before and after" values. Having that information can help avoid costly mistakes while guiding decisions to ensure that you get maximum equity from a project.
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Catherine Brock - MortgageLoan.com | 06/12/2008 - 12:10am
The time to refinance is when rates have dropped enough to save you money. The harder question to answer is: how do you know when the rates have dropped enough so you can do just that?
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Tom Kerr - MortgageLoan.com | 06/07/2008 - 1:02am
As rescue plans and bailout debates continue, almost everyone distinguishes between homeowners and investment speculators. They point out that what's beneficial to one group will harm and threaten the other. But the two may have more in common than meets the eye.
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Tom Kerr - MortgageLoan.com | 06/06/2008 - 1:53am
While politicians debate various plans to rescue our ailing real estate and mortgage markets, some experts oppose any artificial life support that could potentially disrupt the natural forces of our free market system. They argue that such manipulation got us into this mess in the first place.
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Catherine Brock - MortgageLoan.com | 05/15/2008 - 1:37am
When circumstances make it tough for you to make your mortgage payments, consider asking your lender about a mortgage recast.
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Tom Kerr - MortgageLoan.com | 05/08/2008 - 1:42am
To many real estate industry veterans, relying upon computer programs to calculate home values seems like a deplorable idea. But in an increasingly automated world, appraisals via software are now popular with many lenders. Unfortunately, it may adversely affect your mortgage or refinance.
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Catherine Brock - MortgageLoan.com | 04/29/2008 - 1:39am
Learn how to raise the money you need by leveraging your home with a cash back mortgage refinance loan.
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Greg Mischio - MortgageLoan.com | 04/15/2008 - 1:01am
There are two ways to overcome credit card debt. The first is refinancing your home, and using a new mortgage as a debt consolidation loan. The second is to modify your behavior and pay off your credit card debt slowly.
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Catherine Brock - MortgageLoan.com | 04/10/2008 - 1:21am
More than a year into the subprime crisis, the mortgage industry hasn't shown any convincing signs of recovery. Politicians say that more needs to be done to help homeowners in distress, and they have some big ideas for action.
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Catherine Brock - MortgageLoan.com | 04/09/2008 - 1:18am
When you're facing foreclosure and you don't qualify for a refinance, consider asking mom and dad to help you out of the jam.
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Greg Mischio - MortgageLoan.com | 03/19/2008 - 2:35am
Real estate is a lot like life: Sometimes, when one door closes, another one opens. Case in point: The slumping real estate market has hurt many property owners, but it has also provided a real opportunity for people looking to buy a condominium for a vacation home.
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Greg Mischio - MortgageLoan.com | 03/14/2008 - 2:06am
For homeowners, a cash-out refinance used to be the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. In the days of sky-rocketing home values, this type of loan was an easy source of cash. But as the declining number of refinances indicates, times have definitely changed.
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Tom Kerr - MortgageLoan.com | 03/13/2008 - 2:46am
To help distressed homeowners avoid foreclosure, Democratic senators have proposed the "Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008." The bill would help borrowers by potentially lowering the amounts they owe, and would free up more money to pay for the mortgage refinance of subprimes.
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Catherine Brock - MortgageLoan.com | 03/04/2008 - 2:36am
Politicians and economists are clamoring to come up with a solution to the nation's mortgage crisis. One measure that's currently being considered will allow states to issue tax-free bonds to fund mortgage refinances.
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Tom Kerr - MortgageLoan.com | 03/03/2008 - 6:28pm
"Refi Fever" has again swept across the land, and record numbers of homeowners are rushing to refinance and capture extra low interest rates. But many get turned away because of jumbo mortgages or low credit scores.
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Catherine Brock - MortgageLoan.com | 03/02/2008 - 2:15am
The emerging trend of house-swapping can be a strategy for downsizing your home and your mortgage.
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Greg Mischio - MortgageLoan.com | 02/28/2008 - 2:15am
The word auction conjures up images of art at Sotheby's going for astronomical prices, or a fast-talking guy in a straw hat selling odds and ends at a frantic pace. In today's sagging real estate market, it can also apply to selling your home.
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Tom Kerr - MortgageLoan.com | 02/19/2008 - 2:15am
If you plan to refinance your mortgage, it's important to understand the expenses involved. Otherwise, you may get to the closing table and have a rude awakening. Thanks to lots of relatively small costs that add up quickly, paying for a refinance can get surprisingly expensive.
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Tom Kerr - MortgageLoan.com | 02/18/2008 - 2:15am
Pay attention to the details if you have an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM). Many three-year ARMs are scheduled to reset during the next 18 months, and many homeowners aren't prepared for the drastic payment increase.
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Tom Kerr - MortgageLoan.com | 02/08/2008 - 2:15am
To do a realistic, cost-conscious mortgage refinance, first determine your break-even point, or how long it will take to start gaining a positive return on your investment of the costs of refinancing. With a calendar and a calculator-or help from your number-crunching lender-it's relatively easy.
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Tom Kerr - MortgageLoan.com | 01/30/2008 - 2:14am
To lock or not is a question that plagues many consumers when they decide to refinance a loan. The rate might be yours for years, so it's advised that you make an informed and savvy decision.
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Tom Kerr - MortgageLoan.com | 01/26/2008 - 2:14am
Paying for a remodeling project with a home loan is usually a good idea. But choosing exactly the right type of mortgage instrument may require some planning and calculation.
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Amelia R. Frost - MortgageLoan.com | 01/22/2008 - 2:14am
When refinancing a home loan, one of the many decisions that you'll have to make is whether or not to escrow your homeowner's insurance and property taxes. Some say yes, others no. Which option is right for you?
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Greg Mischio - MortgageLoan.com | 01/17/2008 - 2:12am
Just because times are tough for lenders doesn't mean that you should be shy about pursuing a mortgage refinance. For a variety of reasons, many lenders will welcome your business with open arms, even if your credit is less than perfect.
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Greg Mischio - MortgageLoan.com | 01/13/2008 - 2:14am
Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to a mortgage refinance. The more details you know about your current mortgage, the easier it will be for you to decide if it's the right time to refinance that loan.
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Greg Mischio - MortgageLoan.com | 01/05/2008 - 2:12am
When a doctor taps your knee with a rubber hammer, your body's natural reaction is to kick. Similar knee-jerk reactions occur when you examine the monthly savings of a mortgage refinance. But if you close on a loan without knowing some of the reasons not to refinance, you may wind up kicking yourself.
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