mortgage application, NY New Yorkmortgage application - NY New York: mortgages, loans of any type, refinancing, quick easy online quotes, home equity loans, See if you could save on your mortgage today. Q. What are points? A. Points are costs that need to be paid to a lender in order to receive mortgage financing under specified terms. A point is a percentage of the loan amount (one point = one percent of the loan). One point on a $100,000 loan would be $1,000. Discount points are fees that are used to lower the interest rate on a mortgage loan (you are discounting the interest rate by paying some of this interest up-front). Lenders may express other loan-related fees in terms of points. Some lenders may express their costs in terms of basis points (hundredths of a percent). 100 basis points = 1 point (or 1 percent of the loan amount). Some ARMs offer a conversion feature that allows you to convert to a fixed rate loan at certain times during your loan. Use the equity in your home to add living space in your home as your family grows 2. Ladder CDs to boost savings. Once youve got a few extra bucks, put it to work making more money for you. Many investors prefer certificates of deposit. They are low risk and relatively accessible. But when interest rates are low, the return isnt always what a saver hopes for. You can maximize the earning power of CDs by buying different certificates at varying maturity dates, For example, instead of buying one big CD, parcel out your money into three-month, six-month and one-year certificates. Known as laddering, this gives you flexibility to adjust your savings as rates change. Laddering allows you to lock in when rates are high or, when rates are not so good, the process keeps you from being stuck for too long with low earnings. Mortgage rates |