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Is It Getting Any Easier To Qualify For Mortgage Loans?

Rob — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 23:26:31 +0000

Anyone who has been around in the last two to three years understands exactly what the market is going through. If you are a first time home buyer and you have had trouble getting mortgage loans to purchase that house, then you feel the pain of many others who are in the same boat. The real estate market is in a down time, as lenders just aren’t nearly as willing to give out mortgage loans as they used to. In the past, practically any person with a form of identification could go up to a bank and get a mortgage loan. That has changed, though. Now, lenders are being more careful with whom they lend and it doesn’t look like this is changing anytime soon.
Because lenders were busy handing out loans to people who shouldn’t have had them, there became a huge problem. The borrowers, who became known as “sub prime” home buyers, quickly became a larger risk than the bank had anticipated. Their past credit problems reared their ugly head and bit the banks squarely in the rear end. After a while, those mortgage loans which the bank was so excited to hand out had quickly turned into a foreclosure for people with less than stellar credit. They didn’t have the money, desire, or capability to make any of the payments on their brand new house. That left the lenders with only one choice. They had to tighten up their standards for mortgage loans.
Making that decision was prudent and smart by the lenders, as they had to begin to protect themselves from huge losses. The problem is that they have tightened up their regulations a bit too much. Now, instead of locking out those people who would be considered “risky”, they are locking out everyone with a minor blemish on the credit report. In reality, banks have no choice, though. When foreclosure occurs, they take a big loss. After a while, those losses really add up.
The question that many mortgage loans seekers want to know is whether or not this is going to stop any time soon? Are people going to be able to get a loan when they search for a new home? More importantly for some folks, are interest rates going to drop to a level where it makes sense to refinance or take out mortgage loans? This is important information for not only home buyers, but also home sellers, who are in a bind because of the lack of eligible buyers.
Though there is no clear answer in sight, there are some indications that a little bit of change may be coming. Last week, the Federal Reserve Board announced that it would be cutting Federal interest rates by a half of a point. Though this does not have a direct impact on mortgage loans, it is a pretty good indicator of which way the market might head. By making that decision the government is deciding that they need lenders to hop off of the high horse. They are interested in making it easier for banks to secure funding, so that they might pass that along to consumers. Though the idea behind this move makes plenty of sense, there are some indications that lenders might not be so quick to follow.
Having already been burned once by subprime lenders who had no business getting loans, banks have made widespread policy changes in regards to who is allowed to borrow money. Even with these changes, they won’t be giving out mortgage loans to just anyone with a pen and piece of paper. On the contrary, their rigid standards are likely to stay in place for the next couple of years, regardless of what direction the market takes. If lenders are smart, they will never repeat their actions of giving loans to the unworthy. Those actions played a major role in putting the market where it is today.
For those looking for relief from high interest rates, some help might be on the way, though. Since earlier this summer, mortgage loans have already seen an interest rate decrease. Though it has not been radical, the small change may be an indication that lenders are loosening up a little bit. That is going to be absolutely critical if the real estate market is to pick itself up off of the floor and return to prominence like it was on a few short years ago.
The best advice for home buyers and mortgage loans seekers is to keep your credit rating high and your history clear. This way, you won’t have any trouble qualifying, no matter what moves the market makes. You can’t depend upon lenders to make a choice when they are so clearly in a bind.

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Cheap Mortgage Loans Present More Problems For Market

Rob — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 23:43:17 +0000

With the real estate market in a real funk, there have been many short term solutions attempted by lenders to gain more business. In short, banks are tightening up their standards and are having trouble finding lenders to take on the high payments associated with top notch interest rates. What has their solution of choice been? They want to entice people to get a mortgage loan with a significantly lower payment. Though this might sound like a good solution on the surface, it has created problems for borrowers and the entire market. Cheap mortgage loan offers are hurting people financially for the long term and they don’t even realize it.
What are these cheap mortgage loans that have become so popular? They are presented in nice names that make people believe that they are getting a deal. If you ever hear any lender discussing an “interest only” loan or a loan with no down payment, then you can bet that something is up. There are a number of different names given to these mortgage loans and each one has its own ups and downs. You can bet that the ups are the aspects of the loans that are being presented to potential borrowers at the onset of the process.
The problem with these loans is that they get people no closer to owning a home as they would be if they were renting a home. Unlike with renting, they have a huge loan on their back, though. That huge loan is just sitting there and all the person is paying is the interest. It might sound good on the surface by decreasing the payment substantially, but it weakens a person’s long term financial prospectus a great deal. The only person who benefits from such a deal is the banker.
With these mortgage loans, a person can put themselves in significant danger and at great risk. What happens if you lose your job or something unexpected happens? Then, you are saddled with a loan that is too big for your bank account. In this case, foreclosure is eminent and your family will be left without a home. Beyond that, your credit will be wrecked to a point where it is nearly beyond repair. All of this is done while you aren’t even earning a bit of equity on the home.
That is another problem with cheap mortgage loans like the interest only loan. A person ends up missing out on the inherent benefits of accrued equity in the home. Since the value of your home is also certainly going to increase over time, it makes plenty of sense to put your money into it. After all, this is basically a can’t miss investment. With a bit of equity built into the home, you also have a personal insurance policy should something terrible happen. You could always borrow money against your equity to pay off a large bill or make another investment.
Other types of dangerous loans are longer term loans. These are gimmick mortgage loans which allow the home buyer to stretch his or her term over 40 or 50 years instead of the standard 30 year term. This makes the payment somewhat more affordable, but it costs a ton in interest payments. When you make a half century commitment, you are really just committing to paying a ton of interest to the bank. It makes no sense to put yourself in that situation, especially with the amount of uncertainty in today’s world. Most home buyers don’t know what they are doing tomorrow, much less 50 years down the road.
How do these things impact the market on the whole? It simply weakens the borrowing base. When that happens, just about everyone suffers. People looking to sell their homes are left out to dry because there aren’t enough worthy buyers. Home builders hurt because people can’t afford the inflated interest rates. The market will ultimately suffer when these people can no longer afford to keep up their cheap mortgage loans. When that happens, banks and lenders lose their profits, interest rates begin to rise, and the entire system collapses upon itself. Though there are checks and balances in place to avoid a complete collapse, the slight loss of market productivity has long term negative consequences.
Smart borrowers will stick to the standard mortgage loans and leave the gimmicks at home. There is nothing good about paying a ton of interest to the bank when that money could be put to a much better use. Instead of sacrificing your long term financial foundation for smaller payments, try to think about your situation with a broader scope. Securing a mortgage loan is part of securing your future. Don’t waste it by falling for cheap offers.

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More Canadians Purchasing Second Homes

Rob — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:24:55 +0000

More Canadians than ever are purchasing second homes. No longer the purview of the wealthy, second home ownership has gone mainstream. For many Canadians, it’s the dream of a summer cottage, golf retreat or a winter chalet.
For others, career or family demands fuel the desire for a second home: for business stays, or to shelter the university student studying in a distant community.
Now that the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation(CMHC) has introduced a Second Home program – helping Canadians borrow up to 95% of the home’s value – the purchase of a second home is easier than ever. And the attraction of the real estate investment is just as compelling with your second home as it is with your first. Not only can it be a good financial investment, but it’s an important
emotional investment too. Here are some things to keep in mind when you finance a second home: Can You Afford It?
This is the most important question you have to ask yourself. If you are planning to purchase a second home, you’ll want the best possible financing for your new real estate investment. There’s no question that financing is easier than ever. But a mortgage broker can help you figure out exactly how much second home you can
comfortably afford. It’s a great time to begin that conversation;
market conditions are in your favour, and mortgage interest rates are still at a near all time historical low.What Are Your Financing Options?
The CMHC Second Home program has been the big breakthrough for Canadian second-home buyers CMHC will insure a property purchased
for a family member attending college or university away from home. And the program is very popular as a means of purchasing a vacation property. There are a few provisos here: either the borrower must occupy the property for at least some part of the year, or a family member must occupy the property on a rent-free basis. The property must be winterized, and be accessible for year-round occupancy.
And it must be located in Canada. Be careful with island properties; they should have year-round bridge or ferry access. Note, too, that program can’t be used to purchase time-shares or similar rental pools.What Do The Mortgages Look Like?
By far your best bet here is to talk to an independent Ontario mortgage broker with access to a wide range of lenders. The mortgages for second homes can vary widely in the rates and requirements. Can I Leverage My Existing Equity In My Primary Home?
This is an option that your mortgage broker can help you look at. This involves a cash-out refinancing of your existing primary home mortgage with a higher borrowed amount. Instead of waiting and saving years for a second home, you can access money based on the value of your primary residence and your present financial profile to help you finance a second property.A Second Mortgage For A Second Home?
Is this the right option for you? A second mortgage is the most common way to use your home equity. No need to wait until you’ve saved a down payment for a second home investment, but you must
have the funds and cash flow to comfortably make both mortgage payments. Your broker will work out the best terms for you.
It’s your second home. That means that it’s primarily for your own or your family’s use (although you may rent it out casually and temporarily). If you’re looking to purchase an investment property, your mortgage broker can help with that too… but it’s not the same as purchasing a second home.
If there’s a family cottage in your dreams or a student condo in your plans, this is the time to get serious about a mortgage plan to make it happen. Check out your options.

The House Team is commited to providing quality information to help people like you make informed decisions about their mortgage financing needs. The source for your Ontario Mortgage. Looking for a free mortgage calculator? Click HereMortgage Calculator Ontario
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