mortgages, MD Marylandmortgages - MD Maryland: mortgages, loans of any type, refinancing, quick easy online quotes, home equity loans, See if you could save on your mortgage today. What a mortgage finder can do for you Most real estate companies, lenders and loan search engines provide a mortgage finder. You can browse for a specific lender and review their options or search for multiple lender quotes by filling out a form that indicates what you require; all through a mortgage finder. Refinancing with the cash-out option allows you to finance your spouse or childrens education. Increase appraisal value of home by remodeling your home. Step 1 - Reasons to refinance You may want to refinance your mortgage for a variety of reasons. Many people refinance to lower their interest rate, shorten their term, eliminate PMI or Private Mortgage Insurance, or change from an adjustable rate mortgage to a fixed rate. Other reasons for refinancing can include lengthening the term for lower monthly payments and/or obtaining cash from the available equity.The standard rule used for many years by financial advisors was that a homeowner should look to refinance whenever the current rate available is at least 2% lower than the interest rate on the present mortgage. This is less true today since the average home prices have increased significantly. A 1% or 1.5% decrease in the note rate can mean substantial savings at higher loan amounts. Likewise, it is not uncommon that a borrower can refinance to a rate of less than 2% lower than their current rate and coincidentally eliminate the Private Mortgage Insurance that they are paying. The elimination of PMI can, on average, equate to a .5% decrease in interest rate. The best rule for when to refinance is to calculate the savings versus the costs. If the savings in monthly payments recoup the costs associated with the new loan within approximately two years then it is a good time to refinance. Found your dream home? Just need the right loan? Countrywide gives you a wide range of home loan options on primary residences, second/vacation homes and investment properties. We offer: Loan amounts up to $2 million Fixed or adjustable rate loans Financing for single family residences to 1-4 unit properties Few other lenders offer rate protection while you shop. Of those who do, most charge for it. With Countrywide, its free. The best part? With Lock N Shop, your rate cant go up, but may actually go down. If the rate is lower on the day you return to the branch with the purchase contract, well give you the lower rate. Legal Fees It is necessary to have a solicitor or licensed conveyancer to act on behalf of the mortgage applicant and the lender in the house purchase or remortgage transaction. The costs will be greater for house purchase than for remortgage. It is the role of the solicitor or licensed conveyancer to note ownership of the property on the title deeds; note the lenders interest in the property; register with the Land Registry and conduct searches to identify if there may be factors which could affect the property e.g. coal mining search to check for subsidence; check to see if there are some planned major road developments going through the back garden etc. ARMs are attractive because they offer start rates that are lower than the interest rates of fixed rate home loans. This typically enables you to begin with lower monthly payments and qualify for a larger loan. Booking Fee and Arrangement Fee Both are up-front fees charges levied at the outset of the mortgage. A booking fee will normally be required with the application form. A booking fee is paid to reserve funds on a mortgage product that has limited funds available e.g. a first-come, first-served fixed rate. Booking fees are often non-refundable, so if the mortgage applicant cancels the mortgage application before completion the fee will not be reimbursed. Refinance Questions and AnswersHere are three important questions to answer when deciding whether to choose an ARM or fixed-rate mortgage: How long do you plan on staying in the home? Calculator Armed with the above information, check out the bankrate.com calculator, How much house can you afford? Note: The calculator asks if there is any mortgage insurance. See the section on private mortgage insurance (PMI) for more details. Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARM) Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs) come in all shapes and sizes. The ARM is exactly what its name implies, a mortgage with an adjustable interest rate. Since the interest rate is adjustable the monthly payment will fluctuate from time to time. How often the rate and payment will fluctuate will depend on the terms of the ARM you choose. Also, everything is negotiable. As with all home purchases, dont hesitate to ask your agent to negotiate on price, options, and closing costs. If youre looking to make a deal on your new home, youre in a strong position if the builder has a completed house without a buyer. That vacant house isnt making a dime for him and hes likely to want to unload it as quickly as possible. If youre not in a hurry to move in, some builders will actually sell you their model and then lease it back from you. Usually youll get a great deal on a well-optioned and designed house and a guaranteed return on your investment. For conventional loans, total monthly costs, including PITI and all other long-term debt, should equal no greater than 33% to 36% of your gross monthly income. For FHA the ratio is 41%. Budgeting for Your Home When budgeting to buy a home, it is important to allow enough money for additional expenses such as: Maintenance Utilities Homeowners insurance Property insurance Yahoos mortgage calculator works out for you how much you can borrow. |