A Critical Guide to Home Loans: Your Options and How They Affect Your Future

There was a time in the not-so-distant past when financing the purchase of a home was relatively uncomplicated. You went to your local savings and loan and signed up for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage loan. Those days are gone, probably forever. Today, you have what seems like an endless array of choicesdifferent rates, terms, down payments, fees, etc. (One lender told me there are literally more than 40,000 available loan options on computer database!) So how do you pick the combination that makes the most sense for you?

More than any other single factor, choosing the right mortgage will influence whether or not your investment is a good one. Let's say you get a great price on a home, but you end up with a mortgage that has high fees and a high interest rate. You could see the money you saved disappear in a very short time.

Keep in mind that a great mortgage for one person may be terrible for you. Each of us has different circumstances that determine whether a particular loan is a good deal or notwhether you're just starting out or nearing retirement, how secure your job is, how long you plan to be in the home, etc. You can be sure that the best loan for a first-time home buyer planning to move up in five years is quite different from the best loan for a couple who's staying for the next 20 years.

You can save yourself a lot of time and trouble if you take a few minutes to figure out the loan amount you can afford. The general guidelines are:

No more than 28 percent of your gross monthly income should be spent on housing expenses (principal, interest, insurance and taxes). This can vary upwards if you have a good credit history, liquid assets, or if you're already spending more than 28 percent on your housing expenses.

Your total debt (mortgage and consumer debt) shouldnt exceed 36 percent of gross monthly income. Again, people with good credit and liquid assets can often creep above this line. As you compare your income to your potential housing expenses, keep in mind that your mortgage principal and interest are not your only costs. You also need to allow for any association fees, property taxes, insurance payments, etc.

Having said this, I should point out that the rules are looser than ever today. The 28 over 36 rule is no longer the ironclad guideline. Both the federal government and mortgage lenders have gotten very creative in their efforts to attract first-time buyers to the market. Today, theres a loan program out there to put all but the worst-risk people into homes. But for your own safety and confidence down the road, your best bet is to adhere as closely as possible to the above guidelines.

Talk to your Realtor or loan officer about checking your credit history prior to applying for a mortgage. There's no reason to waste time and money in the application process if you have credit problems that will cause you to be rejected. Once you know about any potential problems, you can work on clearing them up before you apply. You can save yourself a lot of time and trouble if you take a few minutes to figure out the loan amount you can afford. Once you know about any potential problems, you can work on clearing them up before you apply.

If you're using a Realtor to help you find a home, ask to be put in touch with a lender he or she works with on a regular basis. In most cases your Realtor is not a loan officer, but it is his or her job to help people buy and sell homes. A good real estate professional has long-standing relationships with home mortgage professionals and can point you in the right direction to answer any questions you may have. He or she can also share insights into what they've seen workor not workfor others in situations similar to yours. Something also to remembera mortgage broker is the legal agent of his or her client and does not work for the lending institution.

Adjustable. Fixed. Balloon. It's easy to get lost in mortgage verbiage. Here's a rundown of the most common loans.

ADJUSTABLE-RATE MORTGAGESYour interest rate (and monthly payment) rises and falls with the index to which its tied. Because they start out two to three percentage points below fixed-rate mortgages, theyre particularly popular when fixed rates are high. To protect you against interest rate hikes, the best loans put a cap on annual rate increases of two percentage points a year, with a lifetime increase of no more than five percentage points above where you began.

The most popular arm indexes are those linked to three-month, six-month and one-year Treasury Bills, the 11th District Cost of Funds (cofi), the prime rate and the London Interbank Offer Rate (libor).

As a rule, arms make more sense if you don't plan on staying in your home longer than five years at most. Which index is good for you depends on two things: the economic forecast and your personal comfort level. LIBOR and T-Bill indexes, for example, react more immediately to changes in the economya good thing when interest rates go down, not so good when they rise. Whatever happens, you'll see it pretty quickly in your monthly payment.

More conservative buyers prefer indexes linked to the prime rate or the COFI because they're more stable and move up (and down) more slowly than other indexes. That's good when rates are low and rising, less so when they're high and dropping.

Is an arm a good choice for you? Well, if you need a lower monthly payment to afford the home you want and you're planning to stay there less than three to five years, then yes. But make sure you can handle the higher payments that might come down the road. A prudent approach is to always plan financially for the worst case scenario: Assume that your loan will always rise the maximum amount. If you wouldnʼt be able to afford it, then consider another loan. You know your own personal comfort level. Use it to make your decision.

Lets say youre buying your first home. You have a modest income today but a bright future. Even so, you need to keep your payments low. A long-term arm makes sense even though your interest rate could rise over time. If you move in the next two or three years, you won't be around for any significant rate hikes. If you choose to stay longer, a rise in income will help you keep pace. Or you can always refinance to a fixed-rate mortgage.

FIXED-RATE MORTGAGESPeople usually opt for a fixed-rate loan for the security it offers. You know exactly what youll be paying each month for the life of the loan. If interest rates fall, you can A prudent approach is to always plan financially for the worst case scenario: Assume that your loan will always rise the maximum amount.

INTERMEDIATE FIXED MORTGAGESThese are a family of 20- or 30-year loans that are fixed for a set amount of time, such as 5 to 7 years, then they readjust once for the remainder of the loan. This readjustment is based on a predetermined index. Some may refer to these as balloon mortgages, but this term is falling out of favor because of negative connotations associated with balloon mortgages of the pastwhich were fixed for 5 to 7 years, at which time the entire balance of the loan became due. Fixed-rate mortgages make the most sense when interest rates are low and if youʼre planning to stay put for the next seven or more years. Graduated-payment mortgages are more of a risk. Your early payments are so low that they don't cover the interest due, which results in negative amortization.

Today, they are more commonly known as intermediate fixed loans or extended balloon mortgages. Some of these loans are not for the fainthearted. You enjoy low fixed payments from one to seven years, and then the loan readjustsas long as certain conditions are met, such as interest rates haven't risen more than five percentage points, you haven't made any late payments in the previous 12 months, etc. If conditions aren't met, there are no guarantees, so beware. It's best to consult your Realtor or loan officer if you have questions regarding these loans.

There are various other loan typesincluding roll-overs, wraparounds, zero-interest-rate mortgages and buy-downsbut the ones I've listed here are most common. If you decide to opt for something more exotic, discuss it with your Realtor and loan officer carefully to make sure you know what youre getting yourself into. If you get in over your head and can't meet your obligations, you could end up losing your home and doing serious damage to your credit.

Whatever you decide is the best option for you today may change as economic conditions or your personal circumstances change in the future. So how do you know its time to refinance?

Whether or not you should refinance usually depends on three things: what you think interest rates will do in the near future, how much monthly savings youll enjoy, and how long you expect to be in your home. Refinancing is not something you consider lightly because it can be expensive. The total cost of your loan can rise as much as five percent when you add in the up-front points, fees and costs.

A good rule of thumb is to start looking into refinancing when interest rates drop 1 to 11⁄2 points below what youre currently paying. The reason is that some lenders offer loans that cost little or nothing at all. As soon as interest rates drop below your rate, start talking to your agent or loan broker.

Next, figure out what you'll have to pay up front. Then calculate your monthly savings. With these two numbers, you can figure out how long it will take you to cover the cost of the new loan. For example, if If you're a first-time home buyer who plans to trade up before the loan comes due, you might ask your Realtor about a balloon mortgage. Refinancing costs you $5,000 up front and saves you $200 a month in mortgage payments, it will take 25 months to cover your costs. If you're not planning to move for several years, refinancing makes a lot of sense. But if you're going to look for a new home in two years, you wouldn't really be around long enough to reap the benefits. In fact, you'd lose money in this situation.

If you refinance today and rates drop even further in the next few months, you'll miss out on additional savings. If you refinance to save $10 or $20 off your mortgage payment, then youll have to stay in your home forever to see it pay off.

WARNING: The math is easy for fixed-rate loans, not so easy when you're talking about arms. If you don't feel comfortable running the numbers yourself, ask your lender or Realtor for help.

Before you can effectively compare mortgages, there are a number of questions you'll need to ask the loan officer.

KINDS OF FINANCINGFixed? Adjustable? What about government-backed programs? Any special deals you should be aware of? Make sure youve got a complete picture of the product menu.

INTEREST RATESRates differ not only between different types of loans. The same loan at three different lenders could have three different rates!

TERMSThere are options beyond 15- and 30-year terms. Find out how different terms affect interest rates and how they impact the final cost of your home. This is especially important if you plan to be in the home for a long time.

DOWN PAYMENTWhat's the minimum required for different loans? Todays down payment can range from as high as the old standard 20 percent to nothing at all in certain targeted programs.

LOAN LIMITSMany lenders set limits based on a loan-to-value ratio. For example, with an 80 percent loan-to-value ratio (LTV) you can only borrow $80,000 on a $100,000 home.

LOAN QUALIFICATIONDifferent lenders may qualify you using different formulas. Make sure you understand how youre being evaluated.

POINTSThink of these as prepaid interest charged by the lender. One point equals 1 percent of the face amount of your loan. In some cases points are paid up front; in others, they're bundled into the loan.

A good rule of thumb is to start looking into refinancing when interest rates drop even one point below what you're currently paying because there are some loans that cost little or nothing at all.

The latter saves you money up front but costs you more over the life of the loan. No-point loans also save you money up front, but lenders usually charge one-quarter to one-half point more than in the case of loans with points. Be sure to look at what your total costs will be over the life of the loan.

PREPAYMENT PENALTYIf you decide to pay off your mortgage before the term is up, or refinance when interest rates go down, you may have to pay a prepayment penalty.

SPECIAL DEALSSome lenders reduce interest rates for customers who avail themselves of other services offered. For example, your bank might take a quarter of a percentage point off if you agree to automatic prepayment from your checking account.

TIME TO APPROVALFind out how long it will be before you'll have a decision on whether or not your loan application has been approved by the lender. A week or two is pretty normal.

LOAN COMMITMENT PERIODMake sure you know how long your lender's commitment is good for. The last thing you need is to decide on a loan amount at a certain rate, find the right home and discover your interest rate went up in the meantime.

Many lenders now offer lock-in programs. This means that the lender will guarantee in writing your loan at a certain rate for a certain period of time. Common lock-ins are for 10-, 12-, 21-, 30-, 45- and 60-day periods. The longer the lock-in, the more time you have to shop and iron out hitches in the loan process. But a lender might charge you more in points for longer periods. Then again, a short lock-in period can be next to useless given the amount of time the loan process can take. The lesson here is to be very clear of what a lock-in offersand doesnt offer. Once you have this and other information on various loan programs from different sources, you can make an informed decision as to where to shop for the best mortgage.

One of the most common errors I've seen borrowers make is in not considering the various fees they will end up paying in figuring out the final cost of a home. Lets take a look at what you can expect.

LOAN APPLICATION FEEThis is what the lender charges you for applying. It isn't refundable, even if you're refused.

APPRAISAL FEEThis flat fee is usually charged by the prospective lender to pay an independent appraiser Think of these as prepaid interest charged by the lender. One point equals 1 percent of the face amount of your loan.

The longer the lock-in, the more time you have to shop and iron out hitches in the loan process. But a lender might charge you more in points for longer periods.

LOAN ORIGINATION FEEThis charge, which covers the lender's administration costs, can either be a flat amount or a percentage of the loan amount. It's paid in cash at closing.

Now that you know a little more about mortgages and where they come from, Ill share with you my tips for getting the best deal and saving yourself a lot of headaches in the process.

PREQUALIFY BEFORE YOU SHOP FOR A HOMESmart buyers make sure to know exactly how much they can afford to borrow before beginning to look at homes. You can bet that the sellers agent will ask if youve been prequalified; if you havent, they may decide youre not a serious buyer. Having a deal in your pocket is always good ammunition in negotiations. (However, I generally have my buyers preapprove before they start looking at homes. This is a much more savvy wayyou have it in writing, providing you even more leverage when making offers and during negotiations.)

LOCK IN A RATE (OR NOT)In the time it takes you to find a home and close your mortgage, the interest rate on your loan could fluctuate upward. If it looks like rates are heading up, lock it in. If rates appear to be falling, let it float. If your lender agrees to a lock, make sure you get it in writing. (Get the advice of your Realtor or your mortgage broker. Their knowledge and experience can really help you in this decision.)

NEGOTIATE THE POINTSIf you're considering a large mortgage, your lender may be willing to lower the points charged to get your business. You lose nothing by negotiating. If youre planning to stay in your home for less than five years, lower your points paid by accepting a higher interest rate. If youre sticking around longer, consider more points against a lower mortgage rate. You pay higher costs up front but can save money in the long run. Just remember there are three components to your mortgage loan: the interest rate, the points and the lender's charges.

WATCH OUT FOR PREPAYMENT PENALTIESMake sure you won't be penalized for paying off your mortgage ahead of schedule if you choose to do so. (When making an additional payment above The smart buyer makes sure to know exactly how much he or she can afford to borrow before beginning to look at homes.

PRIVATE MORTGAGE INSURANCE (PMI)Private mortgage insurance is required by the lender on loans with down payments of 10 percent or less. The cost can run from one-third of a percent to 1 percent monthly. Once your equity reaches 20 to 25 percent, you may be able to cancel your insurance. While some look at this required insurance as a nuisance, without it, there wouldnt be loan options with only 3% down or 5% downall loans would probably require the more restrictive 20% down.

In the past few years, lenders have come to realize that they can safely make loans to people who previously didn't believe they could qualify for a home mortgage.

A recent national study by the Consumer Bankers Association showed that 96 percent of the 130 institutions surveyed have cut their down payment requirementthe single biggest obstacle to home ownership for many Americans. Where once a 20 percent down payment was the standard, today 5-, 3- and even zero-percent downs have become commonplace. Loans up to 90, 95 and even 97 percent of the purchase price are quite common today.

Accelerating your monthly payments won't save much if you're in your home for only a few years, but for longer-term situations it makes a lot of sense.

Make sure you won't be penalized for paying off your mortgage ahead of schedule if you choose to do so.

Lenders have also adopted much more lenient standards in terms of debt-to-income ratios. The standard 28 percent has moved up to 33 percent, and even as high as 38 percent in some programs. In addition, lenders are more flexible in their assessments of creditworthiness, employment histories and other factors that used to result in rejection for many. The point is simpletheres never been an easier time to qualify for a mortgage.

There's enough information out there on mortgage loans to fill several books. But I hope this provides you with a good general overview of what to look for and what to expect as you shop for the best home loan. Please feel free to call me or visit me on the web if you would like further explanation on any of these topics, or if you have any questions at all regarding real estate. I simply see my mission as striving to be as helpful as possible to home buyers and sellers.

Sean is always striving to be at the top of his game, whether hes playing golf, being a caring husband and father or especially in his role as a leading real estate professional in the Orlando area. In fact, helping people with one of lifes biggest investments is something Sean loves more than anything. He understands how much is riding on his clients investments. Thats why he focuses 100 percent of his attention and expertise on your transaction, never resting until he helps you reach your specific goals. Thats the dedication that has become Seans trademark, and the reason more and more clients are referring him to their friends and neighbors.

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