va home loans, NY New Yorkva home loans - 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. What should I be looking for? Youve finally found a place you like. Ask to see it again, and go round with someone you trust. Most people only take in a small amount of the property first time they see it. On the second visit be methodical and take notes if you like. Dont be sidetracked by colour schemes or furnishings - these are superficial and can be changed. Instead check what state the kitchen and bathroom are in - a new kitchen or bathroom suite can cost thousands - and if there is central heating. Be aware that a house with no furniture can look deceptively large. Ask the seller how much council tax bills are, and if there are any service charges. The practice of borrowing against the value of a home has skyrocketed in popularity. There are two key reasons for this surge: Low interest rates Tax deductibility Owning a home is part of the American dream. From carrying the wife (or, if youre suitably muscled, your husband) over the threshold, to notches on the door jamb marking the childrens growth spurts, to the kids frolicking in dreamy red-and-amber leaf piles in the autumn, to car washes in the driveway and shoveling snow in the winter, owning a home is part of the iconography of America. From Leave it to Beaver through Archie Bunker and The Cosby Show, we are treated to scenes from family life in the American home. 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). Adjustment Periods The Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) will adjust at pre-determined times. If, for example, you have a 1 Year ARM ( the most common) the interest rate will adjust on the 1 Year anniversary of the loan. Other common ARMs adjust in 6 month, or 3 year increments. Another form of ARM is the Fixed/Adjustable Mortgage. Most Fixed/Adjustable Mortgages become 1 year ARMs after the initial fixed rate period ( usually 3,5, or 7 years). Reduce your term and pay off your mortgage years sooner. Whatever you do, dont bank on starting with a home-equity loan and taking out a mortgage at a later date. A little-known IRS rule states that you have just 90 days from purchase to secure a mortgage against a principal or vacation residence, notes New York CPA Paul Kamke. Do it later and you cant deduct it at all. Save cash with a no origination fee loan Some lenders charge an origination fee to cover the administrative costs of processing a loan. If you havent much available cash beyond the down payment, you might want to look into a no origination fee loan. In order to get the cash necessary to consolidate your debts you can either use a cash out refinance of your current first mortgage or take out a second mortgage. Generally the interest rate and monthly payment that you pay on your consolidation loan will be lower if you refinance the first mortgage and take cash out. However, If the interest rate on your first mortgage is already low, then you would probably come out better with a second mortgage. Consumer Confidence A lower than expected consumer confidence report can weaken equity markets, strengthen the bond market and thus cause rates to drop. CONSUMERS ARE TAKING BACK INVESTMENT LOSSES As activity builds in the Treasury corner the impact is affecting the housing industry for the better. Record mortgage applications, home sales, construction and home refinancing is being reported. In addition to this consumers are seeing ways to recoup market losses. WHICH TYPE OF LOAN is best? That depends several factors: how long you plan to stay in your home, your interest-rate outlook, your budget, and your tolerance for risk.Adjustable-rate mortgages are initially cheaper than fixed-rate loans. And they can be a good deal if you know youre going to stay in your home for a relatively short period of time. But you run the very real risk that interest rates could rise sharply and drive up your monthly payments. Fixed-loans, on the other hand, cost more but offer no surprises. And for many, that comfort is worth the added price. However, this is not always practical. Its for that reason that most of us go to retail stores and not wholesalers -- wed rather buy that pen at Wal-Mart than go to Bics manufacturing plant and ask if we can buy them direct. The retailer is providing a service (convenience, chiefly) and, for that, we are prepared to pay the markup. Repayment Mortgages Becoming more popular, this type of mortgage gives you the certainty that at the end of your mortgage term all of the mortgage debt will be repaid. This is because each monthly payment consists of the full amount of interest due plus a proportionate amount of the capital debt. Alternatives to outright transfers of capital to the business may be secured loans or straw man transactions you loan money to a thirdparty relative or friend who then loans the funds to the corporation. With a 15-year mortgage you could get an interest rate that is typically one-quarter to one-half percent lower than a 30-year mortgage. The shorter the term, generally the lower the interest. Yet, the main advantage is the fortune in interest you will be saving during the life of the loan. Check out the latest bankrate.com survey of interest rates on 15-year fixed mortgages. Other Financial Resources Refinance Cananda Mortgage Rate Watch Network Refinance Loan Rates Cash Out Refinancing Refinance Resource Financing Guide Debt Consolidation Financial Circuit 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 |