If you are refinancing your mortgage there are a number of mistakes that will cause you to overpay for your new mortgage loan. Doing your homework and researching mortgage lenders will help you avoid making these mistakes. Here are three things to watch for when refinancing your home loan.
I. Watch Out for Balloon Payments
If you accept a mortgage with a balloon payment you will be required to pay the amount due on a date specified in your loan contract. If you are unable to make this payment you will have to refinance the loan or sell your property to avoid foreclosure. Mortgages with balloon payments are typically used by real estate investors as a source of short term financing; however, predatory mortgage lenders use them as part of a ploy to take your home. Unless you know exactly what you are getting yourself into avoid any home loan with a balloon payment.
II. Watch Out for Excessive Fees & Rates
If you are a homeowner with poor credit you can expect to pay more for your new mortgage. There are lenders that will take advantage of your credit and charge you excessive fees and rates. Some Predatory lenders try and sell bad credit loans to homeowners with good credit in order to charge higher rates. The only way to know what fair rates and fees are for a homeowner in your financial situation is comparison shop from a variety of mortgage lenders. When you comparison shop the right way it is easy to spot mortgage lenders that are trying to take advantage of you. You can learn more about comparison shopping for the best mortgage by registering for a free mortgage guidebook.
III. Be Careful With Adjustable Rate Mortgages
Adjustable rate mortgages have more risk than traditional fixed rate mortgages. Many homeowners are enticed by the introductory rates and low payment amounts; these homeowners often don’t realize their payments will go up significantly at the end of the introductory period. In addition to this payment increase, the mortgage lender will adjust your interest rate periodically and change your monthly payment depending on prevailing interest rates.
You can learn more about your home loan options by registering for a free mortgage guidebook.
By: Louie Latour
Posts Tagged ‘Introductory Rates’
Refinance Home Loan: 3 Costly Home Loan Mistakes
February 4th, 2010Kansas Refinance Loans – Kansas Refinance Rates
November 25th, 2009
Like interest rates everywhere, the mortgage interest rates in Kansas are constantly on the move. If you have a Kansas mortgage loan and you are thinking about refinancing, learning everything you can about Kansas refinance rates will be to your benefit.
Adjustable Rates
Approximately half of the new mortgage loans in Kansas are adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs). This financing option is very popular because it allows borrowers to take advantage of low introductory rates, and in turn, lower monthly mortgage payments. When average interest rates drop, the rates on your mortgage follow suit. The bad part about ARMs is that average rates are constantly fluctuating. While payments may be low in the beginning, they can easily rise out of control within a few years. Current 5/1 ARM rates in Kansas average 5.67 percent.
Fixed Rates
If an adjustable rate mortgage sounds too risky to you, you also have the option of refinancing to a more dependable fixed rate mortgage. Fixed rates are normally a little higher than adjustable rates, but they are beneficial because the rate remains steady through the life of your loan. Regardless of what average rates are doing, your mortgage rate will never change and neither will your monthly payments. Current fixed rates on 30 year Kansas mortgage loans average 5.94 percent.
Getting a Good Refinance Rate
One of the main reasons to take out a Kansas refinance loan is to get a low interest rate. If you want to get the best deal and the best rates on your refinance, you will need to do some comparison shopping. Try to get quotes from several different lenders before making any refinance decisions. Whenever possible, compare ARM rates with other ARM rates and fixed rates with other fixed rates.
By: Jane A. Hale
California Refinance Loans – Refinancing Tips to Help You Save
November 5th, 2009
Many homeowners in California are scrambling to refinance their current home loan before interest rates get too high. Some are hoping that a California refinance loan will help them get rid of their adjustable rate or interest only loan. Others are hoping to move from a high fixed rate into a low adjustable rate or hybrid loan. If you are considering a California refinance loan, here are several refinancing tips to help you save:
Refinancing to a Fixed Rate Mortgage
California refinance loans with fixed interest rates can be very beneficial to homeowners who have found themselves in trouble due to a hike in the rates of their adjustable rate mortgage or interest only loan. Refinancing is also beneficial for those who got their current fixed rate loan when interest rates were high due to bad timing or credit problems.
Refinancing to an Adjustable Rate Mortgage
Fixed rate loans are great for those who like consistent payments, but for California homeowners who don’t plan to stay in their home for much longer or for those who need an instant drop in their payments, an adjustable rate California refinance loan may be the best option. This type of refinance loan allows you to take advantage of low introductory rates. If you have fair to good credit, you could get an interest rate as low as 5 percent on a California refinance loan.
Refinancing to a Hybrid Mortgage
A hybrid loan offers the best of both worlds. With this type of California refinance loan, you can take advantage of low adjustable rates during the first five to ten years of your loan before moving to a more consistent fixed rate. You will want to be careful though, not every hybrid loan has the same terms.
By: J. Hale