The Fundamentals Of Mortgage Rates

The Fundamentals Of Mortgage Rates
by

What makes mortgage rates fluctuate? They are talked about so often that you would think this is common knowledge. But the simple truth of the matter is, most people do not even know how these rates work! Among the many entities that people think are the cause of their movement are the Fed, the economy, inflation, the President, etc., etc. The real answer is that rates are moved by a number of factors, one of them being, well, you!



The Money Tree



Money for mortgages comes from a variety of different sources. Some of it comes from banks and brokerages, but a lot of it comes from investors in the capital markets. Bonds buyers come to these markets looking for good buys. Sellers of these bonds must compete with each other to get the money of these buyers. They do this by offering varieties of the investment instrument which differ with regard to risk structures and returns over time. These products also compete with other investment instruments like U.S Treasuries, corporate bonds, foreign bonds, etc.



Investor demand moves mortgage rates. They have plenty of places to put their money. Their choices directly affect the movement of rates. In a crowded marketplace, mortgages must be considered attractive enough to invest in. Of course, it is not really as one-dimensional as it may seem. Mortgage rates are affected by any number of factors in the capital markets alone.



The Other Things



Other investments also affect mortgage rates. For example, there is a very direct relationship between mortgages and U.S. Treasuries. Another factor includes "volume" available. Unlike other investments, no one can really tell how many mortgages will be on the market at any given time. Drops in interest rates produce large buildups of loans. This means that the supply of bonds goes up in a relatively short period of time. Investors cannot absorb this at once. Oversupply with little demand devalues the investment instrument.



There are also time problems when it comes to mortgage pricing. It takes hours or days for prices changes in capital markets to get to wholesalers or retailers. Also, not all of the changes are fully reflected in street prices. Depending on the fluctuation, rates may remain static. Another example is when a minor increase in bond yields is followed by a reduction later in the day and does affect the mortgage rates at all. Inflation also plays a large role in fluctuations.



All this is an obvious oversimplification of a very deep topic. You would do well to read up some more on this. This is especially true if you are thinking of obtaining one or getting a new one. You must be armed with the right knowledge to make wise business decisions. That is the only way you will ever show a profit in the end. Wise business decisions are based on what you know. So improve what you know by reading and consulting people. In the end, your bank account will thank you for it.


Get the latest mortgage rates when thinking about a home loan loan refinance. Use a refinance calculator to find out if a refinance is good for you at this time. Visit WhatAboutLoans.com today and keep yourself informed.


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Do Not Ignore Your Phone Calls When Facing Foreclosure

Do Not Ignore Your Phone Calls When Facing Foreclosure
by Chris Simpson


When many people start to become aware that they may be at risk of foreclosure their natural reaction is to panic and start screening their phone calls. They do this in an attempt to avoid having to speak to their lender. Even worse, some people decide to go into hiding to avoid the situation. This is absolutely the very last thing you should do as you still have many options open to you and it is better to find out what you should be doing rather than ignoring it.



It is important that you learn some valuable advice that will help you to sort out this dreadful situation that you have found yourself in. Running away from your debts is only putting things off and while it may seem like the easy way out it really won't help you at all in the long run.



What that you should actually be doing is to get in touch with your mortgage lender at the earlier possible opportunity. This will give you the chance to work out an agreeable payment arrangement with them. In many cases the lender will work out a feasible payment plan to give you plenty of chance to catch up with your monthly mortgage payments. This is definitely the recommended way forward when you find yourself at risk of foreclosure.



If you are really worried that you may be facing foreclosure it is in your best interests to be proactive and do something before the mortgage company commences any legal proceedings. If you delay you could find that you have left things too late and they may not be as willing to compromise with you and find a way forward to help you keep on paying your monthly payments. Of course people like creditors, lenders can be intimidating when you phone them but don't be afraid of them. As an adult having to pay bills is something we all have to deal with throughout our lives and you cannot shake off this responsibility however you might like to.



It might surprise you that even people who usually have no trouble paying their bills can occasionally run into some financial hardship. It might feel at times that you are the only person that this happens to but that is well away from the truth. Many people actually have it a lot worse than you could ever imagine.



Many times foreclosure could have been prevented by the home owner picking up the phone and speaking to people in order to try and plan a way forward. Foreclosures do happen regularly so the people at the mortgages companies are used to dealing with people having financial problems. Make sure that you stand up and fight your corner as going into hiding is only going to make matters much worse.


To find out how more about stop foreclosure help check out http://www.stopbankforeclosurenow.org


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Home Mortgage Problems

Homes For Sale: Mortgage Problems
by Peter Shukla

Want extra money? Are you searching for ways to make ends meet through medical bills, retirement plans, unemployment, or tuition bills? You might have researched a second mortgage on your house, but have decided that it does not offer enough money. Or, you might not qualify for a mortgage, or you might be finding it difficult to pay for your existing mortgage.



You may want to look into the "rent back" option. Rent back means you sell your home to a specialized real estate agency, and over time, you pay a low monthly rental fee. This is so you can continue living in your home, and over time you will buy your home back, returning the ownership to you.



A "sell and rent back" plan is a great idea for people unable to qualify for a regular second mortgage. Just as is the case with a regular mortgage, your home serves as the collateral. However, unlike the a regular second mortgage, payments are not added to existing mortgage payments and are also very low.



It doesn't matter the size of the property - whether an apartment, house, condo, or manufactured home - any house can become homes for sale in a rent back plan. Studio apartments for rent back can even be placed on the market. Whether your home is big or small, real estate agents can work with you to find a monthly payment that is reasonable.



Rent back plans place homes for sale briefly, but since the home owner signs a document stating that the real estate company cannot sell the home to anyone else for a predetermined length of time, the home owner will definitely be allowed to continue to live in the home. No rental rules will apply, so the home owner will still have the legal right to reside in his or her home.



If you have worried and wondered whether you will have to leave your current home for a smaller and more inexpensive one, and therefore have started searching for homes for sale, you shouldn't worry. You can stay in your current home forever, if you take advantage of rent back plans.


Are your pockets nearly empty? Are you drowning in a sea of debt? Perhaps you have decided against the idea of taking a second mortgage on your house since you're concerned about qualifying, or you're daunted by the difficulty of paying off your first mortgage. You should know that all homes, regardless of size, become homes for sale with a rent back plan.


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Tips for First-Time Home Buyers

Tips for First-Time Home Buyers

Buying a home for the first time can be a very overwhelming experience. After all, we were once first-time home buyers, and we remember buying our first home. Add our personal experiences to the experience we’ve had helping first-time buyers, and you’ve got quite a bit of useful information. So, we’ve made a list of tips for those of you considering buying your first home.

1) Weigh the pros and cons of renting versus buying a home. Since there is a ton of information available on this point alone, we’ll only do a quick run through of things to consider. Remember that when you rent, you typically only pay the bills, the rent, and maybe renters’ insurance. When you buy a home you can expect to pay the bills, the “permanent rent” (A.K.A. “mortgage”), homeowners’ insurance (and, depending on where you live, you may need to get additional insurance policies for your home), and property taxes. Also, you’ll have closing costs to pay when you buy the home, and these costs will be at least four or five thousand dollars (even if you have a $0 down payment). Plus, you’ll need to pay for the upkeep of the home and any needed repairs.

2) A non-financial point to consider is how long you plan to live in the area. If you plan on moving in the next couple of years, you should probably think about renting. If you plan to stay for three or more years, you may want to consider buying.

3) Use your current budget to determine how much you think you can pay for the mortgage every month. If you know that the amount you pay for rent now is about as much as you feel comfortable paying, then make a note of that. When you talk with a home loan officer, he or she will probably ask how much you want to pay every month for your mortgage.

4) Talk with home loan officers to find out what size loan you’ll be able to get. There is no way to know what price range you’ll be qualified for until you talk with lenders. And, be sure to talk with several loan officers (we recommend talking to at least three). Since you’ll be a first-time home buyer, you’ll find a range of possibilities for financing. Some home loan officers even specialize in helping first-time home buyers. Sometimes first-time home buyers are pleasantly surprised at how much a lender is willing to lend. This is why I said for you to find an amount you’re comfortable with before talking with the lender. If you’re not comfortable with the monthly payment you’ve received, be sure to talk with your loan officer so that you don’t spread yourself too thin!

5) Be sure to get a “good faith estimate” from the loan officers that breaks down all of the costs of your mortgage. Looking at these estimates can help you to compare loans. You can also use the estimates to work in the estimated mortgage payment into your budget. Would you be able to comfortably afford your mortgage payment?

6) Be sure to think about your needs versus your wants. Although you may want a house with three bedrooms, two baths, 1800 square feet, and stainless steel appliances, remember that this is going to be a first-time home. Depending on where you live, you may not be able to afford everything that you want. So, don’t get discouraged if you can’t find the home of your dreams – you can work up to that home in the coming years. For now, you may find a two bedroom townhouse in a great neighborhood with other first-time home buyers like yourself.


About the Author: Lee Keadle is a full-time real estate agent in Charleston, SC. He works with a team of three agents to give buyers and sellers the best services possible. They specialize in Mt. Pleasant real estate ( http://www.searchforcharlestonrealestate.com/mt-pleasant-real-estate.php ) and James Island real estate ( http://www.searchforcharlestonrealestate.com/james-island-real-estate.php ). Their website is http://www.SearchForCharlestonRealEstate.com