Mortgage Management – Essential Refinance Considerations

January 24, 2011 by Editor
Filed under About Mortgages

Leave a Comment

Free Online Articles Directory

Why Submit Articles?
Top Authors
Top Articles
FAQ
AB Answers

Publish Article

0 && $. browser. msie ) {
var ie_version = parseInt($. browser. version);
if(ie_version Hello Guest
Login

Email
Password

Remember me?Lost Password?

Home Page > Finance > Mortgage > Mortgage Management – Essential Refinance Considerations

Mortgage Management – Essential Refinance Considerations

Edit Article |

Posted: Feb 03, 2007 |Comments: 0
| Views: 152 |

]]>

The Single Largest Financial Obligation

Your mortgage is probably the single largest financial obligation that you will have in your life. The investment that you have in your home can have great long term value, but on a month by month basis it represents a significant expense. The math for most people is simple, the more you pay on your mortgage, the less you have to spend on other things.

To underline this point it might be of interest to note that in 1980 the average person spent 25% of their gross monthly income on housing expenses. By 2005 that percentage had risen to over 43%. This is not really a surprise. We are all aware that home prices have risen significantly during this period of time. Income levels have not kept up with home prices and as a result home buyers are finding more of their paycheck going towards their mortgage payment.

Florida mortgage holders have acutely felt the impact as home prices in recent years have rivaled those of California. Your mortgage may consume more or less than the average 43% of your gross monthly income, but it is probably safe to say that it deserves to be intelligently managed. Mortgage Management

I’ve been a licensed Florida mortgage broker since 1989. My company Power Mortgage Corp. a Florida Mortgage Company is also licensed in Georgia, Massachusetts, and Virginia. Over the years I have originated, refinanced, and analyzed countless mortgages. I’m always happy when we can help a customer make an intelligent decision about their mortgage. Active, regular mortgage management can make a big difference in your life. The right choices will save you money. Sometimes lots of money. To Refinance or Not to Refinance

Active mortgage management does not always mean taking action. Active mortgage management means an intelligent periodic review of available options. Call your friendly mortgage broker from time to time! We like to hear from you. We will always take the time to help you understand your options. And always make sure that you know all of the costs involved.

Request a Good Faith Estimate. Make sure that your mortgage broker includes all third party charges and statutory costs along with the lender fees. It is equally important to consider your personal goals; how long will be in the home? Do you plan to retire soon? What type of personal saving plans do you have? What is your aversion to risk? Is an adjustable rate mortgage suitable?Fixed or Adjustable

Fixed rate mortgages are pretty easy to understand. Adjustable rate mortgages on the other hand can be surprisingly complex. And there are literally thousands of variations of adjustable rate mortgages. Over the last five years negative amortization adjustable rate mortgages have become popular. Florida mortgage borrowers have embraced these programs for the advertised low payment rates. But these loans are complex; I believe that very few people that get this type of mortgage understand them. I also believe that there are mortgage brokers actively selling these programs that do not understand them.

Please take your time. Ask lots of questions. Take notes. Ask more questions. Make sure you understand the index, the margin, the adjustment period for both the note and the payment. It wouldn’t hurt to look at the worst case scenario. Can you live with it? If your mortgage broker can’t answer your questions find a new mortgage broker. Your financial life may depend on it. How About a 15 Year Fixed?

There was a time when the interest rate on a 15 year fixed rate mortgage was consistently and significantly lower than the rate on a 30 year fixed rate mortgage. Between June of 2004 and June of 2006 the Federal Reserve increased the Federal Funds rate 17 times. This rate directly impacts all short term interest rates such as the Prime Rate. During the same period of time the long term rates remained more or less steady. The net effect was to close the gap between rates on shorter term mortgages like the 15 year fixed and longer term mortgages like the 30 year fixed.

At the time of this writing the rates on these two loan products happen to be exactly the same. But this should not take the 15 year fixed rate mortgage out of contention. For many people it is an excellent option. And it can still save lots of money.

For example, the payment on a 30 year fixed rate mortgage for $100,000 at 6% is $599. 55. The payment on a 15 year fixed rate mortgage for $100,000 at 6% is $843. 85. That is an extra $244. 30 per month on the 15 year mortgage. But consider that the total payments made on the 30 year loan would be $215,838, versus $151,893 on the 15 year mortgage. By choosing the 15 year mortgage you would save $63,945. And you get to stop making mortgage payment in 15 years!Interest Only

Given the high cost of homes it is no surprise that interest only programs have become so popular. Florida mortgage customers have flocked to these programs to make increasingly expensive homes affordable. An interest only mortgage can be appropriate if your sole concern is cash flow. During the interest only period you will not be paying any principle off. There are many types of interest only mortgage programs. The majority of interest only mortgage programs are “fixed period adjustable rate mortgages”. This means that they are fixed for a limited period of time; typically 3, 5, 7, or 10 years.

The interest only period usually corresponds to the fixed rate period. Once the fixed rate period ends the mortgage becomes adjustable. A new version of the interest only mortgage worth considering is the 30 year fixed rate mortgage with a 10 year interest only period. You get the benefits of the low interest only payment for 10 years – but with no adjustable rate risk waiting for you at the end of the interest only period. It’s Your Money

How often do you balance your checkbook, get a physical exam, go to the dentist? Your mortgage can have a huge impact on the quality of your life. Think of your mortgage from time to time. Call your friendly mortgage broker. Have a chat. Ask questions. It’s your money.

Retrieved from “http://www. articlesbase. com/mortgage-articles/mortgage-management-essential-refinance-considerations-100330. html”

(ArticlesBase SC #100330)

Liked this article? Click here to publish it on your website or blog, it’s free and easy!

Jim Kemish –
About the Author:Florida mortgage broker, Jim Kemish is the president and founder of Power Mortgage, a Florida mortgage company based in Delray Beach, Florida. Power Mortgage Corp was established in 1989 and serves the states of Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, and Virginia. Jim is also the President of Sky Blue Credit, a national credit repair business.

]]>

Questions and Answers

Ask our experts your Mortgage related questions here. . . 200 Characters left

I’m currently in a chapter 13 payback program. I strugglle to pay monthly bills as well as my mortgage payment each month. Would I be eligible for a bk buyout and mortgage refinance
Our loan was modified and it was only about $160 less than our mortgage and the term is extended to 40 yrs we took it anyways as we were desperate that time, but can we still apply for refinance this
My husband and i have been trying to refinance our loan and have been having extreme difficulties trying to find someone who will do it

Rate this Article

1
2
3
4
5

vote(s)
3 vote(s)

Feedback
RSS
Print
Email
Re-Publish

Source: http://www. articlesbase. com/mortgage-articles/mortgage-management-essential-refinance-considerations-100330. html

Article Tags:
florida mortgage, florida mortgage company, florida mortgage broker, florida mortgage lending, florida refinance, florida interest only

Real Estate Guideline

Mortgage Management – Essential Refinance Considerations

eNews & Updates

Recent Comments

Categories

Archives

Blogroll

Admin

Real Estate Guideline

Mortgage Management – Essential Refinance Considerations

Related posts:

eNews & Updates

Recent Comments

Categories

Archives

Blogroll

Admin