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...

Turn That Fixed Rate Mortgage Into A Goldmine
When you purchased your home, you most likely got a fixed interest rate mortgage with a 15 or 30 year term. These are the most popular mortgages in the industry. Even in the summer of 2004, when the interest-only or simple interest mortgage loans became popular, the average American stuck to the ... more...

Home Equity Loan Improvements
There's more Regulation Z compliance on the way, courtesy of the Home Equity Loan Consumer Protection Act. This fall banks will have to implement the new home equity loan disclosure rules the Federal Reserve Board was required to issue under the act.The Federal Reserve released the final version of ... more...

Facts You Should Know About Types of Loans
When you set out to borrow, you often come across terms like unsecured loans, revolving loans, adjustable rate loans, etc. While these terms are more or less self-explanatory, it is still useful to be clear on their exact meanings and what they imply before you finalize a loan contract. Unsecured ... more...

How Caps Can Protect You From Paying High Monthly Mortgage Payments
Adjustable rate mortgages can be a great choice for first time home buyers. As opposed to a fixed rate mortgage, which the interest rate remains the same for the entire life of the loan, an adjustable rate mortgage changes according to an index rate, usually chosen by the mortgage lender.This index ... more...

Auto Loans - Get a Low Interest Rate on a New or Used Car
Getting the best interest rate for your automobile loan may require effort on your part. Many car buyers seek a low rate. A low interest rate may conclude whether a particular car is affordable. In fact, an interest rate reduction of 2% - 3% may lower your monthly car payment by $50, which will ... more...

Secrets of the Option ARM Loan
How Does an Option ARM Loan Work?Option ARM (also called Pick A Payment or Pay Option ARM) loans work by providing the borrower with four payment options each month.Before we get into the payment options, let's review some of the important terms and concepts involved with this loan program.ARM - ... more...

What Is An Adjustable Rate Mortgage or ARM?
An adjustable rate mortgage is a mortgage loan that is fixed for a set period of time and then adjusts based on the rates during the adjustment period. Some common adjustable rate mortgage loans terms are 1/1, 3/1, 5/1, 7/1, and 10/1. The first number in what appears to be a fraction is the amount ... more...

Fixed Rate Mortgage vs. Adjustable Rate Mortgage
The most basic distinction between types of mortgages that are available when you're looking to finance the purchase of a new home is how the interest rate is determined. Essentially, there are two types of mortgages - fixed rate mortgage and an adjustable rate mortgage. If you choose a fixed rate ... more...