Leverage - Margin Debt
What is leverage?Here is a definition of leverage from an online dictionary "leverage - The use of credit or borrowed funds to improve one's speculative capacity and increase the rate of return from an investment, as in buying securities on margin."Essentially, the core idea of leverage is that ... more...

When is a Commercial Lender not a Commercial Lender?
A Commercial Lender is Not a Commercial Lender When it is a BankA commercial lender offers loans backed by hard collateral, usually real estate. Usually a commercial lenders lending criteria will be less stringent than at the local bank. This is because most banks focus on providing private ... more...

Bad Credit Loans and Lender Questions & Answers
Q: What is a private investor and how do they differ from a hard money lender or a subprime lender?A: A private investor is an individual who lends out their own funds to borrowers who are unable to obtain a loan from a traditional lender such as a bank. It is also possible for private investors to ... more...

Learn the Difference Between a Mortgage Inquiry and Mortgage Application
Mortgage lenders are allowed to make there own application processes, so sometimes if not done with a formal written document, and with the use of employees and other loan officers or brokers, it can be unclear on whether or not the applicant is simply an inquiry or an applicant.When the loan ... more...

Margin Benefits are Marginal at Best
Margin is one of those things that novices find puzzling about the stock market, but the concept is really quite simple. Still, with understanding the basics of using margin accounts, determining the wisdom of using margin can be quite a conundrum.A margin account is a traditional investment ... more...

What Homeowners Should Know to Stop Foreclosure- Speaking Your Lender's Language
Financial literacy is the means of empowering consumers to make informed financial decisions through exposure to accurate and timely information. In no other area is the void of accurate information more evident that in the area of foreclosure.The national foreclosure rate is at the highest level ... more...

RESPA: The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act
The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) is a consumer protection statute, first passed in 1974. One of its purposes is to help consumers become better shoppers for settlement services. Another purpose is to eliminate kickbacks and referral fees that increase unnecessarily the costs of ... more...

Glossary of Common Terms Used During the Mortgage Process
APR - This stands for Annual Percentage Rate. It enables you to compare the full cost of the mortgage. Rather than just being an interest rate, it includes up front and ongoing costs of taking out a mortgage. The formula for calculating APR is set by Government Regulations and therefore enables ... more...

Escrow Accounts Are You Paying Too Much?
Money in escrow is "dead money". It doesnt earn interest for you and it doesnt reduce your mortgage interest payments. Therefore every cent in your escrow account is costing you money. Make sure there is no more tied up in escrow than there needs to be!Here is a brief summary of what lenders can ... more...