Reuters – Bank of America Corp shares fell as much as 6.6 percent on Monday, reaching their lowest level in two weeks, as investors fretted about the bank facing additional legal liabilities over mortgages.
View full post on Yahoo! News: Stock Markets News
Read More »Reuters – JPMorgan Chase & Co has received a subpoena from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission over failed mortgages, Bloomberg said, citing a person familiar with the investigation.
View full post on Yahoo! News: Stock Markets News
Read More »Next to critiquing the decorating taste of your home’s previous owner, playing the “adjustable mortgage game” may rank as one of the most popular (and least pleasant) pastimes of Canadian homebuyers.
Here’s how it works.
As you’re exploring your mortgage options, you review the long and steady slide of mortgage rates in Canada over the last decade and make the decision to go with an adjustable mortgage when you buy, at renewal or when refinancing. You’re now a player. Then you watch for clues about mortgage rate movement, trying to guess the perfect moment to lock in your mortgage. The objective of the game is to try to guess the bottom… and you won’t know it’s the bottom until it’s too late. In today’s low rate environment, we should acknowledge that most of the players are already winners; but it can still be a stress-inducing game.
One way to remove all of the guesswork is to consider a capped-rate adjustable mortgage, although there are only a few options available in the marketplace.
There is a unique adjustable mortgage that is not based on the Canadian Prime Rate (the usual benchmark) – but on what is known as the Banker’s Acceptance rate: a benchmark that is used for professional money managers. In effect, the BA rate, as its known, is the rate lenders charge one another.
Not surprisingly, it’s typically much lower than prime. In fact, the effective rate of this adjustable mortgage has been consistently lower than competitive variable or adjustable rate products based on Prime. A capped version is now available.
An adjustable rate mortgage with a cap offers unlimited downside rate movement, but also provides a guarantee that the rate will never rise more than a certain percentage higher than the starting base rate – no matter what happens to the lending rates.
The rate cap takes the guesswork out of the adjustable mortgage game. If rates continue to drop, your Mortgage rate also drops accordingly. But if rates begin to rise, you know that your own mortgage rate has a fixed ceiling. Imagine, no more worrying about when to lock in your mortgage, and no more second-guessing your decisions when rates go back down again. Of course, this kind of flexibility comes at a small premium over a regular adjustable-rate mortgage.
In the past several years, more and more Canadians have passed on the security of traditional fixed-rate mortgages for the savings potential of an adjustable rate. And in an environment of dropping rates, the adjustable rate choice has proven its value to homebuyers. With today’s rates among the lowest in memory, many homeowners continue to worry about whether or not they should lock in or not. After all, we don’t want to lose the flexibility of having our rate adjustable downward… but we’d also like to have it fixed upward.
If we had a crystal ball, we could make perfect decisions about our mortgage options, and we’d know how to secure the best rate. But a mortgage that passes on declining rates and has a rate cap on the upside can be the next best thing to seeing into the future. And the result is an adjustable mortgage game that the homebuyer is heavily favoured to win.
The House Team is commited to providing quality information to help people make informed decisions about their mortgage financing needs.
Compare Ontario Mortgage Rates with the traditional banks.
Need a mortgage calculator? Click Here Mortgage Calculator Ontario
There are many different types of mortgages, each with its own advantages and disadvantages, it is very important that you do your research. Understanding these differences will enable you to choose the right mortgage for your financial situation and housing goals. Now what is a mortgage? A mortgage is a loan secured by a property/house and paid in installments over a set period of time. The mortgage secures your promise that the money borrowed will be repaid. For most of us, a mortgage is the largest and most serious financial obligation we ever make.
You can get a mortgage direct from the lender like banks, building societies and specialist mortgage lenders, or you can use a mortgage broker. You can buy based on ‘information’ only or get advice and recommendation on a mortgage that suits your particular needs.
The two main ways to repay your mortgage are ‘repayment’ and ‘interest only’. With a repayment mortgage you make monthly repayments for an agreed period until you’ve paid back the loan and the interest (30 year-fixed rate being a common example). With an interest only mortgage you make monthly repayments for an agreed period but these will only cover the interest on your loan (example 5 year-fixed rate). You’ll normally also have to pay into another savings or investment plan that’ll hopefully pay off the loan at the end of the term.
Now you know what mortgage is, let’s take a moment to understand reverse mortgage. What exactly is a reverse mortgage?
Reverse mortgages are getting to be more and more common these days. Why? Reverse mortgage loan advances are not taxable, and generally don’t affect your Social Security or Medicare benefits. You retain the title to your home, and you don’t have to make monthly repayments. The loan must be repaid when the last surviving borrower dies, sells the home, or no longer lives in the home as a principal residence. Unlike a regular mortgage, the homeowner makes no payments and all interest is added to the lien on the property.
A reversed mortgage is designed specifically for homeowners who are age 62 and older. Through this product, you can receive loan money from your home in the form of a lump sum, regular monthly checks or a line of credit. The money is typically repaid with interest when you sell your house, permanently move away, or pass away.
You may be wondering how you can benefit from getting a reverse mortgage. Many people have found that the money they got from a reverse mortgage benefited them greatly. With a reverse mortgage you continue to get income, and defer repayment, for as long as you live at home – no matter how long that may be. A Reverse Mortgage maybe is exactly what you need!
There are many benefits that a reverse mortgage can give you. However, here are a few of the most significant. You will remain independent, no monthly mortgage payments are required, and you got freedom and flexibility. The money you get from a reverse mortgage is yours to use in any way you choose.
Exciting isn’t? If you don’t know exactly how much you’ll spend or how soon you’ll need it, a line of credit may make sense. Some reverse mortgage lines of credit are “growing” lines of credit meaning you may have more and more money available to you as time goes on. Reverse mortgages have helped hundreds of thousands of homeowners improve their quality of life in retirement. A Reverse Mortgage can help you retire more comfortably. It can provide you with money when you need it most. No Monthly Mortgage Payments, Easy Qualification, Tax-Free Money and No cash needed for closing costs. Can it get any better? If you’d like to find out how much money you qualify for and if you’re eligible, give us a call at (800)630-0650.
Tim Jacobs
Golden Years Mortgage Solutions
Your Money…When You Need It
www.GoldenYearsMortgageSolutions.com
(800)630-0650
tim@goldenyearsmortgagesolutions.com
Tim Jacobs @ Golden Years Mortgage Solutions www.GoldenYearsMortgageSolutions.com (800)630-0650 tim@goldenyearsmortgagesolutions.com Golden Years Mortgage Solutions is a reverse mortgage approved FHA Lender. We’ve helped thousands of senior homeowners solve their financial problems. Our agents and brokers collectively have over 60 years of experience in Reverse Mortgage Loans and general financial services, including managers who are industry pioneers with more than 12 years of reverse mortgage experience. Our dedication to providing financial solutions for seniors is evidenced by the number of referrals that come from our existing clients.
Tim Jacobs @ Golden Years Mortgage Solutions www.GoldenYearsMortgageSolutions.com
Read More »If you’re in the middle of a pending lawsuit you already understand the financial stress than can build during that period. This is especially true for injury or accident related lawsuits. During this period the plaintiff in the case won’t be able to work, and depending on the situation might never able to work again. As with most lawsuits this can be a very trying situation; most lawsuits tend to take many months if not years to complete. During this period the plaintiff in the case can become delinquent with monthly bills, medical payments, car loans and mortgages. In worst cases you can actually lose your home or vehicle during a pending lawsuit; and have adverse effects on your credit history.
Many people in this situation tend to do the worst thing and take out more credit. This can include applying for more credit cards or taking out a home equity loan. This is dangerous, if you lose your pending lawsuit you’ll still be liable for that money that was loaned. A better option in this type of situation is a settlement loan. They are a great way for a plaintiff in a pending lawsuit to take hold of their financial issues, and in the process protect their assets and credit history.
The best part of a settlement loan is it doesn’t have to be paid back until the end of your lawsuit. If you happen to lose your lawsuit you pay nothing back. That means the money you spent and that is left over the settlement loan is yours to keep and will not effect your credit history or any personal property you would other wise take out equity loan on. Settlement loans are based on the merit of your lawsuit, so if it’s a strong lawsuit against the defendant you’ll almost certainly get approved.
Remember, you need to make smart financial moves during your lawsuit. A traditional loan can be damaging if you fail to win your case since you’ll still be responsible for the payments. This is why the settlement loan is a far better option, you’ll be able to secure the financial funds you need to proceed with life and not be in danger of a loan you can’t afford if you lose.
Are you thinking of getting a settlement loan? Legal Settlement Loans is the premier provider of information and educational resources for settlement loans. If your interested in learning more about settlement loans than visit the LegalSettlementLoans.com website today!
Real estate has been an outstanding investment in most parts of Canada in the past few years. Home valuations are continuing to rise and have broken through the peak of their 1989 “bubble” in many areas of the country. That’s good news for Canada’s 7.5 million home owners, who are enjoying an average increase of $43,000 in real estate wealth since the upward trend took hold in 1998.
The hot housing market is being fuelled by mortgage rates which are the lowest they’ve been in almost 50 years. First-time home buyers are finding the rates attractive, and home buyers are lining up to purchase their first home or to upgrade to their dream homes. Housing statistics have been capturing headlines for months and the boom is noticeable on key economic indicators.
But the news isn’t just about rising valuations or Canadians moving into their new homes. Quietly in the background, there is a significant trend to refinancing. Canadians who have built up the equity in their home over the last few years are borrowing against that equity in record numbers. According to a report from a major bank, since 2001, Canadian households have taken out approximately $20 billion in cash out of their homes through mortgage refinancing and home equity loans.
We might thank the Ontario mortgage industry for the surprising resilience of the North American economy. In the past two years, the North American economy has endured numerous economic fallouts but consumer confidence remains reasonably strong – at least partly because homeowners have seen some of their losses offset by an increase in their real estate wealth. We find that we are sitting on (and sleeping in) the best-performing investment we own. And even if they have no plans to sell, homeowners have found that the return on their investment is still as good as cash in the bank.
That cash has been a key economic stimulus both here and in the U.S., where the trend is even more pronounced. As Canadians look beyond the view of a home as primarily shelter, mortgages become a valuable resource – and homeowners aren’t necessarily waiting for renewal time to cash out some of their gains.
So where is the money going? The equity being pulled out is often being used to pay down other more expensive debt. Credit card interest rates are shockingly high and – as a nation – our credit card and other consumer debt is continuing to grow. And much of the money is being used for increased spending. There has never been a better time to borrow against home equity to build the kitchen of your dreams, add a new wing, embark on the landscaping project you’ve wanted for years, enjoy the vacation you’ve always dreamed of, or help with the high cost of post secondary education. However, as always, never let your enthusiasm for the opportunity to spend get in the way of good common sense about debt management.
The House Team is commited to providing quality information to help people make informed decisions about their mortgage financing needs.
Compare Ontario Mortgage Rates with the traditional banks.
Need a mortgage calculator? Click Here Mortgage Calculator Ontario
Refused credit mortgages set to “grow and grow”
14/08/2006 16:25:00
The sub-prime and near-prime mortgage market is tipped to grow and grow following new research.
A survey commissioned by Alliance & Leicester indicates greater demand for refused credit mortgages could be forthcoming, with four in five brokers expecting the market to grow.
The top reasons for borrowers to seek out a sub-prime or near-prime market are defaulting on debts or credit cards payments or simply having a bad credit rating, the research found.
Figures indicate that Britons are increasingly struggling to manager existing debts, suggesting that the potential market for sub-prime mortgages could swell.
Around two lenders in five report that the typical sub-prime customer is likely to be struggling financially, with many on a low income.
More than 85 per cent of brokers also report that customers are now realising that a sub or near prime mortgage can help rebuild a poor credit score.
Mehrdad Yousefi, head of intermediary mortgages at Alliance & Leicester, said: This market is becoming increasingly competitive with more lenders offering these specialised mortgages.
It is encouraging to see that brokers say their clients know the value of these type of mortgages and that it is a good way of getting potential buyers on the housing ladder while enabling them to repair their credit history by maintaining regular payments on their financial commitments.
Datamonitor estimates that 9.1 million people were refused credit by mainstream lenders in 2005, further indicative of potential growth in the refused credit mortgage market.
Personal debt has already crossed the £1 trillion barrier and the rising insolvency rate suggests that borrowers are struggling to cope, indicating a growing demand for refused-credit mortgages in the future.
As traditional lenders were tightening their criteria, the refused credit market could prove ever more attractive and other high street lenders were also likely to start catering for those with a ‘slightly lower credit profile’.
As more lenders capitalise on this growing market, the increased competition could see better deals for mortgage holders.
TML-Mortgages offer Refused Credit Mortgages for people who have been turned down for other remortgages.
Foreclosure filings were reported on 2.3 million U.S. properties in 2008, an increase of 81 percent from 2007 and up 225 percent from 2006, according to the RealtyTrac U.S. Foreclosure Market Report released January 15, 2009. The soaring number of forclosures have sent ripples through the housing and banking industry with the affects being felt by millions.
According to RealtyTrac, California, Florida, Arizona posted the highest 2008 foreclosure totals. A total of 523,624 California properties received a foreclosure filing in 2008, the nation’s highest state total. Foreclosure activity in the state increased nearly 110 percent from 2007 and nearly 498 percent from 2006. With 385,309 properties receiving a foreclosure filing in 2008, Florida documented the second highest state total. Florida foreclosure activity increased 133 percent from 2007 and nearly 412 percent from 2006. Arizona’s 2008 total of 116,911 properties receiving a foreclosure filing was third highest among the states. Foreclosure activity in Arizona increased 203 percent from 2007 and 655 percent from 2006. Other states with Top 10 totals for 2008 were Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Texas, Georgia, Nevada and New Jersey.
With mounting job losses and a weakening economy, forclosures and mortgage delinquencies are expected to continue to rise. The nation’s unemployment rate shot up at the end of the year, reaching 7.2 percent in December — its highest level since early 1993, according to a Labor Department report release January 9, 2009. That puts U.S. job losses at 2.6 million for 2008.
However, with all this doom and gloom in the housing market, there is a glimmer of hope for senior homeowners 62 years of age and older. That hope comes in the form of a HUD Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) or Reverse Mortgage. Those who have obtained a reverse mortgage need not be concerned with the increasing forclosure rates and whether or not they can make their mortgage payments. With a HECM reverse mortgage, there are no monthly payments required.
Borrowers remain in their homes for life and never have to worry about making a mortgage payment again. All they need to do is keep the property in good repair, pay their property taxes and keep their homeowners insurance current and paid.
For seniors who currently do not have a reverse mortgage, now may be the time to explore the option. It does not matter if a senior is currently late on their mortgage. They may still qualify for a reverse mortgage. To qualify all borrowers on title must be 62 years or older, occupy the property as their primary residence and not currently be in a bankruptcy. That’s it!
MLS Reverse Mortgage has helped save several seniors who were months away from losing their homes.
So, in these tough economic times, there is still hope for seniors looking for mortgage payment relief or cash out to enjoy life’s pleasures.
Learn more online: http://www.mlsreversemortgage.com
Josh Borba has been a mortgage professional since graduating from San Francisco State in 2002. He is currently a Senior Reverse Mortgage Advisor at MLS Reverse Mortgage. Toll Free (888) 888-4834. Visit our website. Read more of our articles online. Government Insured Reverse Mortgage Programs.
