In any investment strategy the ultimate goal is to increase your net worth.
In order to understand the investment strategy that uses an accelerated mortgage reduction plan you must first understand some basic concepts about debt.
For every dollar you pay in principal toward a loan say at 8% is like investing that dollar at 10 to 14% depending on your tax bracket. Of course investing the dollar carries more risk than paying down the principal on a mortgage that has no tax consequences.
Taking this concept one step further with a credit card that is charging 22% per year in interest one would have to invest the same amount owed at 30% because one would have to pay taxes on the investment. These results would be to just break even on an asset vs liabilities balance sheet. The risk of an investment earning 30% would be extremely high while paying down the principal on a loan would carry no risk.
Next you need to understand the significance of paying a loan payment and knowing how paying the loan at a specific time of the month will effectively start to save interest on the loan paid. Knowing when is the optimum time of the month to pay a loan payment is crucial on how that will affect the interest paid on the loan. Paying close attention to payment timing will go along way towards allowing one to pay the same amount per month but actually provide more 'bang for your buck' and pay off the loan quicker. Having the knowledge of the best time to pay a loan payment and repeating this payment at the same time of the month begins to accelerate the reduction even though it seems like an insignificant amount. The dynamics of the paying off a loan changes with different loan sizes, payment due dates, interest paid and when your income is paid and how many times per month.
Having a budget and continually viewing your monthly expenses you can see what variations can do to the acceleration of the debt pay off time. By making changes in your spending habits you can observe some drastic changes to your pay off time. This instant feedback motivates the participant keeping the participants on track. Making early partial payments but making a second payment later in the month will equal the total amount due for the month and equal the same cash flow but will significantly affect the total interest paid that month.
The knowledge required to make these kinds of decisions could be more work than most people have time for. Just because it might seem to be logical to pay off a loan with a higher interest rate it might be more important to pay down the loan with a smaller interest rate because the total amount owed times the smaller interest equals a larger amount of interest paid than the smaller loan with the higher interest amount. A bimonthly payment plan has some significant results even though the total payment may be exactly the same because part of the payment is paid early in the month. It is important to understand that if you are paid biweekly or bimonthly than you should change the way you pay bills.
Most acceleration reduction programs have built in algorithms that make decisions on how your bills are paid. To decide on which program works best for you will require looking at the bullet points of each program. Some programs are free but have no support and make no guarantees as to results, some programs have a small initial setup fee but require a monthly fee, and then some programs require a large fee up front but will promise support for the entire loan period. The best way to decide is to do a Google search on line for the phrase 'accelerated mortgage reduction' and then decide which program meets your needs the best.
To further validate the importance of this investment strategy one only has to see that at the end of the accelerated mortgage reduction plan you will have increased your net worth by the value of the mortgage you started with. If you started with a 0,000 mortgage you will have increased your net worth by 0,000 in lets say a period of 12 years. To duplicate this increase in net worth outside of this investment strategy one would have to save 00 per month above your monthly cash flow for the same 12 years. The return needed between 5 and 8% would depend on your particular tax bracket. For most families invesing an extra 00 per month would be a daunting task and requiring more risk than paying down the mortgage through an accelerated mortgage reduction plan.
Although the results will vary for any acceleratd mortgage reduction plan and some programs are better than others the total effect will be pretty much the same. So increasing your net worth and using an accelerated mortgage reduction plan is a financial plan that can open future financial doors and improve your quality of life. Of course by paying off your debt early will also allow you to take the original mortgage payment and put it into a conservative savings program which will significantly increase your net worth even further.
Showing posts with label Mortgage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mortgage. Show all posts
Monday, September 10, 2012
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Mortgage Loans For People With Bad Credit Have Higher Approval Rates
Applying for loans used to come down to a simple case of having a good enough income to make the repayments. Bad credit was something that damaged approval chances due to the increase of risk applicants with bad credit posed. But now, bad credit does not have such a negative impact, with mortgage loans for people with bad credit commonly available.
Despite the increased risk, applying for bad credit mortgage loans is possible because there are lenders who specialize in such financial issues and offset risks these loans come with. This may mean higher interest rates being paid, but crucially bad credit history does not leave the applicant hopeless.
Then reality is that credit ratings relate to past facts and not to the current situation that a borrower may be in. So, mortgage approval with bad credit is available, despite the perceived risks that are associated with such large loans granted to bad credit borrowers.
The Significance of the Debt-To-Income Ratio
An application for mortgage loans for people with bad credit is not necessarily based on bad credit history, but is mostly based on the debt-to-income ratio. The ratio is a summary of the amount of debts the applicant has accumulated before making the application. So, even if applicants are carrying the burden of bad credit, their mortgage is still possible because of the dept-to-income ratio is at a health level - usually lower than 40:60.
Take for example two applicants - the first with good credit and the second with bad credit - who apply for a bad credit mortgage loan. The first has good credit but may have too many debts to be comfortably able to handle any more. Lenders will reject his application. The second, on the other hand, has a bad credit score but little existing debt. Lenders approve his application because he has sufficient excess income to cover the repayments comfortably.
The debt-to-income ratio is the key element when seeking mortgage approval with bad credit. A person looking who cannot deal with the financial responsibility, regardless of their credit rating, will lose out.
The Advantages of Bad Credit Mortgages
Although these loans come with high interest rated and other poor terms, mortgage loans for people with bad credit have their advantages. One of the chief advantages is that it provides the borrower with a chance to improve their financial status and credit rating - as long as they make repayments for the bad credit mortgage loan consistently and on time.
As a result, getting approval on loans with bad credit in the future will be less difficult. Not only that, but the interest rate applied and general terms improve as the credit score improves, as well as the ability to negotiate with the lender for more flexible special terms when seeking mortgage approval with bad credit.
Online vs Traditional Lenders
When finding a lender, the first target for a mortgage loan for people with bad credit are usually traditional lenders, like banks. But though they are easy to access, they are the least accommodating, with the strictest terms and conditions anyone can expect. The fact is that approvals of bad credit mortgage loans are quite low, making it not the ideal option.
However, online lenders are much more accommodating to bad credit applicants, and provide mortgage approval with bad credit more readily than traditional banks. In fact, these types of loans are a specialty of lenders online, so the interest rate is extremely competitive.
Though getting a mortgage loan for people with bad credit is generally more difficult that getting a loan with excellent credit ratings, approval is certainly possible if aspects other than the credit score are favorable.
Despite the increased risk, applying for bad credit mortgage loans is possible because there are lenders who specialize in such financial issues and offset risks these loans come with. This may mean higher interest rates being paid, but crucially bad credit history does not leave the applicant hopeless.
Then reality is that credit ratings relate to past facts and not to the current situation that a borrower may be in. So, mortgage approval with bad credit is available, despite the perceived risks that are associated with such large loans granted to bad credit borrowers.
The Significance of the Debt-To-Income Ratio
An application for mortgage loans for people with bad credit is not necessarily based on bad credit history, but is mostly based on the debt-to-income ratio. The ratio is a summary of the amount of debts the applicant has accumulated before making the application. So, even if applicants are carrying the burden of bad credit, their mortgage is still possible because of the dept-to-income ratio is at a health level - usually lower than 40:60.
Take for example two applicants - the first with good credit and the second with bad credit - who apply for a bad credit mortgage loan. The first has good credit but may have too many debts to be comfortably able to handle any more. Lenders will reject his application. The second, on the other hand, has a bad credit score but little existing debt. Lenders approve his application because he has sufficient excess income to cover the repayments comfortably.
The debt-to-income ratio is the key element when seeking mortgage approval with bad credit. A person looking who cannot deal with the financial responsibility, regardless of their credit rating, will lose out.
The Advantages of Bad Credit Mortgages
Although these loans come with high interest rated and other poor terms, mortgage loans for people with bad credit have their advantages. One of the chief advantages is that it provides the borrower with a chance to improve their financial status and credit rating - as long as they make repayments for the bad credit mortgage loan consistently and on time.
As a result, getting approval on loans with bad credit in the future will be less difficult. Not only that, but the interest rate applied and general terms improve as the credit score improves, as well as the ability to negotiate with the lender for more flexible special terms when seeking mortgage approval with bad credit.
Online vs Traditional Lenders
When finding a lender, the first target for a mortgage loan for people with bad credit are usually traditional lenders, like banks. But though they are easy to access, they are the least accommodating, with the strictest terms and conditions anyone can expect. The fact is that approvals of bad credit mortgage loans are quite low, making it not the ideal option.
However, online lenders are much more accommodating to bad credit applicants, and provide mortgage approval with bad credit more readily than traditional banks. In fact, these types of loans are a specialty of lenders online, so the interest rate is extremely competitive.
Though getting a mortgage loan for people with bad credit is generally more difficult that getting a loan with excellent credit ratings, approval is certainly possible if aspects other than the credit score are favorable.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Non-recourse Mortgage States And Anti-deficiency Statutes And How It Affects You As A Property Owner
If your property is located in a non-recourse mortgage state, and if you default on the mortgage, the lender may not sue you for the deficiency if the foreclosure does not generate enough proceeds to repay the loan.
Non-Recourse States include:
Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut,
Idaho, Minnesota, North Carolina,
North Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington
However, each non-recourse state has its own anti-deficiency laws that prohibit lenders from seeking deficiency judgments. In some states, the statues only apply to certain loan types. For instance, in California, the laws only protect the borrowers with the "purchase money" loans. This means that the loan must be used to purchase the property. Therefore, mortgage refinances does not meet the requirement.
Most states' anti-deficiency statutes also protects only homeowners, which generally mean the properties were occupied as primary residence at least six months prior to foreclosure proceedings. Better news for Investors or second home owners - some lenders don't pursue judgments all together in non-recourse states. It does not worth the resources (attorneys, staff, offices, etc) for lenders to take few investors and second home owners to the court.
Foreclosure or a trustee sale, as compare to short sale, may also reduce your chance of being sued in non-recourse states. This is especially true in "One Action States" (or "Single Action States") which will be discussed in more details later.
In summary, you are best protected when your property:
- was located in one of the non-recourse states
- was a primary residence
- loan was the original purchase loan (not refinanced)
- was foreclosed (trustee sale)
The best advice we can give now is to seek professional legal help that is specific to your state and your situation; And always negotiate away deficiency judgment with your lender before proceeding.
Non-Recourse States include:
Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut,
Idaho, Minnesota, North Carolina,
North Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington
However, each non-recourse state has its own anti-deficiency laws that prohibit lenders from seeking deficiency judgments. In some states, the statues only apply to certain loan types. For instance, in California, the laws only protect the borrowers with the "purchase money" loans. This means that the loan must be used to purchase the property. Therefore, mortgage refinances does not meet the requirement.
Most states' anti-deficiency statutes also protects only homeowners, which generally mean the properties were occupied as primary residence at least six months prior to foreclosure proceedings. Better news for Investors or second home owners - some lenders don't pursue judgments all together in non-recourse states. It does not worth the resources (attorneys, staff, offices, etc) for lenders to take few investors and second home owners to the court.
Foreclosure or a trustee sale, as compare to short sale, may also reduce your chance of being sued in non-recourse states. This is especially true in "One Action States" (or "Single Action States") which will be discussed in more details later.
In summary, you are best protected when your property:
- was located in one of the non-recourse states
- was a primary residence
- loan was the original purchase loan (not refinanced)
- was foreclosed (trustee sale)
The best advice we can give now is to seek professional legal help that is specific to your state and your situation; And always negotiate away deficiency judgment with your lender before proceeding.
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