Real Estate Tip: Escrow Accounts -- Do You Really Need Them?
If you have a mortgage on your property, whether it's for your personal residence or a real estate investment, chances are you have an escrow account. But if you are working on building wealth through real estate, you may want to take a hard look at your escrow account (or accounts, if you own more ... more...

Mortgage Loans 101: Who or What is Freddie Mac?
Freddie Mac can help you obtain a home mortgage loan.But while Freddie Mac might sound like a generous uncle, its more closely related to Uncle Sam. So what is Freddie Mac, and how does it help you when buying a home?Freddie Mac is the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, a private corporation ... more...

Keep Your Eye Focused On Treasury Bond Rates To Adjust Your Current Mortgage Rates
Mortgage rates typically are based off the current rates of treasury bonds. Most lenders set their long term mortgage rates in line with 10 and 30-year treasury rates. The reason that they do this is quite simple. Treasury rates are the rates that are used as an index to represent what the future ... more...

Eight Common Predatory Lending Schemes
Predatory lending is far more prevalent in refinancing than in the purchase market. One reason is that buyers tend to look for mortgages from established and recognized lenders, many of whom are bound by rules put forth by Fannie Mae, FHA, or the Veterans Administration. If they don't follow the ... more...

Are You Ready for a 40-year Mortgage?
Real estate prices have been increasing steadily over the last five years, particularly on the East and West coasts. In parts of California, homes are selling for 33% more than they were a year ago. This has made it more difficult than ever for first-time homebuyers to purchase a home.Over the ... more...

Do You Qualify for a Loan?
Like most people, you will probably wait until submitting a purchase contract on a home before applying for a mortgage. By then, not only will you know the specific property you want, but also how much you need to borrow. At that point, the lender will require that you fill out a loan application ... more...

Renting Versus Buying A Home
Renters are often in a quandary as to whether it makes sense to continue renting or buy a home. Buying a home makes more sense, particularly when taking a long-term view. Yes, even in the current hot real estate market.Renting AdvantagesRenting can have a few advantages depending on the part of ... more...

How Mortgages Work in the Primary and Secondary Market
There are many institutions that loan money to home buyers. Commercial banks, private lenders, credit unions, mortgage bank companies, insurance companies and pension funds. It can get confusing as things are always changing in the mortgage industry.Policies, interest rates, mortgage programs, ... more...

Need Mortgage? Alternative Finance Often Masks Predators, Who Want to Steal Your House
So, your bank had just turned you down for a mortgage application. The same thing also happened, when you went to other banks in your area. How can those banking people be so blind? Don't they see that you are a hard working person? That you intend to repay them every penny?That blemish on your ... more...