Rising Mortgage Fees = Rising Closing Costs

Alert. If you do not have a FICO Score 680 or higher and cannot put down a sizable down payment you’re being squeezed in the mortgage market. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are charging fees much higher than before to borrowers with lower scores and down payments of less than 30%. Unfortunately these are borrowers that were once considered “prime” credit applicants. Mortgage insurers like MGIC and PMI Group are raising premiums on consumers who have low down payments and scores mid-to upper 600s. Both penalties total thousands of dollars, payable either at settlement or in higher interest rates. Example if you qualify for a loan for 300,000.00 and your credit score is 675 and your LTV (Loan To Value) is 75% with a 25% down payment the additional cost will be 2,250.00 per loan. In today climate of finance the mortgage fallout and rising cost to loans are being passed on to us the consumer placing more strain on our economy and housing sector.

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5 Ways To Restore The Mortgage Market

With the mortgage industry struggling mightily here are 5 creative ways to fixing the mortgage market. Shared Appreciation a few banks offered this mortgage in the 1970s, but the Internal Revenue Service never clarified whether the payments to outside investors could be view as tax-deductibles interest, which left homebuyers nervous. The way it works a homeowner agrees to share the profit on the home if he sales at a profit. This idea is popular in Australia. Hedge with a short sale the homeowner would short a regional index of home prices. The bank would hold the futures position in escrow; it could reduce its risk of losing money. If the homeowner had to sell, he’d make enough on the short sale to cover the decline in value of his home. Offer Puts the homeowner would buy insurance against a decline in regional home prices. Vary duration, not monthly payments keep payments fixed, translate a higher interest rate into a longer mortgage term. Treasury inflation-protected mortgages these mortgages would have monthly payments that creep up slowly even in times of fast-rising interest rates. This is very similar to TIP bonds. Some states prohibit these mortgages

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Reverse Mortgages For Seniors, Extract Equity From Your Property

A reverse mortgage is a loan against the equity in the home that provides tax-free cash advances, but requires no payments during the term of the loan. Moreover, it doest not require an income or credit qualification. Basically all you need is to own your own home or condominium, and be 62 years of age or older. During the duration of the loan you will not have to make any monthly payments, meaning the balance will grow and equity will get smaller because the interest will accrue to your balance.Now if you decide to move from the property and it is no longer your principal residence, then loan will become due and payable. Other factors that can contribute to this are, the last surviving borrower sells or passes away. A reverse mortgage can used for everyday living expenses, such as home repairs and home improvement; medical bills and prescription drugs; pay-off existing debt; education; travel; long-term health care; retirement and estate tax planning; and other needs you may have. There are advantages and disadvantages of a reverse mortgage. Some advantages include, no qualifying loans, having to make mortgage payments and managing the account, cashing out money upfront. On the other hand you might have to qualify for a loan, slightly higher closing fees and few choices on the terms of the loan. For more details I suggest you consult with a reverse mortgage counselor.


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