OCTOBER 29TH, 2009
By ADMIN
A Complete Guide to Internet Mortgage Leads.
The Internet has revolutionized the way consumer’s evaluate, compare and choose mortgage products and services. Every day more and more mortgage shoppers utilize the Internet to study and purchase home mortgages. As a mortgage broker you must recognize this industry shift and learn to utilize this tool. Each day thousands of mortgage seekers fill out forms on thousands of mortgage leads generation websites requesting more information on mortgage loans or quotes from mortgage lenders. These mortgage leads are made available to you by an array of internet mortgage leads generation brokers. The BIG question is, are these internet mortgage leads worth your effort and money? Will the return on investment be there? In this article we will discuss the in and outs, do and don’ts and questions you should ask when purchasing internet mortgage leads. Careful consideration must be given to purchasing internet mortgage leads. In this mortgage lead guide we will discuss:
What makes a quality Internet Mortgage Leads
What you should expect from an Internet Mortgage Leads
Closing the sell to your Internet Mortgage Leads
Questions to ask before purchasing Internet Mortgage Leads
Quality Internet Mortgage Leads
What makes a quality internet mortgage lead? A lead that CLOSES. Not necessarily. We all know that not all leads will close. In fact if I was able to close between 8% and 14% of the mortgage leads I purchase on the internet, I would be happy. I consider a mortgage lead to be a high quality lead if it meets the following criteria:
-The Lead is Fresh -
It is critical to find out how quickly mortgage lead brokers turns the lead around and delivers it to you. Best case scenario, the lead is delivered instantly (a real-time mortgage lead) and it is an exclusive mortgage lead (only delivered to you). At a minimum you want to make sure the lead is delivered in less than 48 hours. Otherwise, the lead is less valuable and should not be sold at the same premium as a real-time mortgage lead. The more time that passes from the time the user requested information, the less your chances of closing the sale to this lead. I’ve seen many cases where users deny even requesting information. The quicker you contact them, the less likely this is to happen. Hit while the iron is hot.
-The Lead is Accurate
One of the biggest challenges mortgage lead generation companies face is obtaining accurate data from users. No matter what type of technology a mortgage lead company claims to have, no company can completely stop users from entering inaccurate data. A recent example of technology to improve data accuracy is telephone number/location verification. Companies use software to make sure the area code in the phone number matches the state. This is a nice feature because chances are if a user is going to enter a bogus phone number they will not enter the correct area code. What you must do is evaluate mortgage lead generation companies and decide who has the best solution to fit your needs.
-The Lead is a True Lead
What do I mean by a true lead? I consider a true lead to be a lead that was actually generated by someone that is truly interested in obtaining a mortgage. You have to be careful that the lead is not an ‘Incentivized Lead’. For those of you that aren’t familiar with this new term I will explain. Many websites today offer users incentives to fill out forms. In exchange for filling out these forms users are given points towards the purchase of merchandise or even money. Make sure you stay away from companies that have anything to do with incentivized leads. These leads are worthless !!!
What you should expect from an Internet Mortgage Lead?
This is simple. Don’t set your expectations to high. Like I said earlier it would be great to close at a rate 8% - 14%. Remember that you are buying leads, not sales. Expect accurate data 80% of the time and try to close at least 8% of these leads and you should be doing very well for yourself.
Closing the sell to your Internet Mortgage Leads
Again, this is a simple concept. The quicker you contact the lead, the better the chance of closing the sale. The first thing you should do is make contact. Once you have made contact with the lead ask questions and find out what they are looking for. After this initial contact you can follow up with a quote and answers to their questions. Quick response, quick response, quick response !!!!
Questions to ask your Mortgage Lead Generation Company
These are the not so obvious but very important questions to ask.
What is your lead return policy?
It is vital that you find this out before purchasing Internet Mortgage Leads. Bad leads are worthless to you and at approximately $50 each, this can get expensive quick. No batch of leads will be completely accurate, but you want to make sure that the percentage that is bad is not greater than 10% - 15%. Tip:
Ask the company what makes a lead returnable. What makes the lead invalid? Different companies will have different policies on what constitutes a bad lead.
How many times are your leads sold?
When purchasing leads you must make sure those companies aren’t overselling the leads they generate. The best lead is an exclusive mortgage lead, meaning you are the only person the lead was sold to. Exclusive mortgage leads are more expensive but you are ensured that you should be the only person receiving the lead. If the lead isn’t exclusive find out how many other times the lead has been sold. The more mortgage brokers that receive the same lead the less chance you have of closing the sale.
What filters are available for your leads?
Filters allow you to set criteria for the mortgage leads you receive. Example: You could specify that you only want leads for mortgage seekers that have a ‘Good’ credit rating or better or you could specify that you only want leads from ‘Colorado’.
How are the leads delivered?
Find out what format the leads are delivered. Leads may be delivered in text format, Microsoft Excel, email, etc. Make sure it is a format you are able to work with.
How do you generate your leads?
Find out what method the company uses to generate Internet Mortgage Leads. Make absolutely sure there is NO INCENTIVIZING.
-Mortgage Lead Guide-
OCTOBER 29TH, 2009
By ADMIN
Will the second mortgage holders come after you or be able to put something (other than a foreclosure) on your credit like a judgement? Would they be ale to garnish wages or do anything crazy like that in the future? The reason for two loans was a first and second (100% loan) was used to purchase the home. The value dropped and the foreclosure auction will only be enough to cover the first mortgage. BTW this is for a friend so don’t bother asking to buy the property because I am looking into it, thanks!
OCTOBER 29TH, 2009
By ADMIN
Choosing the right mortgage broker is important, as you want to make sure you save as much money as possible on the mortgage loan that you take out. Being picky about your mortgage broker is more than just a matter of trying to save a few dollars, though – the right mortgage broker will also help ensure that you get the best loan terms available to you, and that you will have someone that you can work with should any changes need to be made to your mortgage loan’s terms. Comparing mortgage brokers is not difficult, but it does require that you have a basic knowledge of what to look for in the mortgage loans that the different brokerages offer to you.
It is important that you understand exactly what a mortgage broker is, of course; unlike a traditional bank or mortgage lender who will offer you a mortgage loan directly, a mortgage broker will pair you with a lender that meets your needs and will act as an intermediary between you and the lender. Because of this you can often get a better deal on a mortgage through a broker than you would be able to directly, since they can do the “shopping around” for you. Different mortgage brokers may offer different rates and terms on the loans that they find for you, however, so it is still important to shop around and compare brokerages before choosing the one that is best for you.
Before you start to compare mortgage brokers, take the time to research the basics of mortgage loans online. Not only will this give you some useful information that can be used as a basis for your comparisons, but you may also be able to learn about mortgage options that you did not know about previously. This does not mean that you have to learn everything that there is about mortgage loans, of course; simply try to cover the basics of loan options, opening and closing costs, and interest rate plans. You may also wish to take the time to find out what the average interest rates in your area are as well as nationwide so that you will have a better idea of how good of a deal the rates that you are being offered are.
Once you have a basic grasp of the mortgage lending process, start looking for mortgage brokers who operate in your area. You should be able to find several using your local telephone directory or internet listings. The more mortgage brokerages there are in your area then the greater your chances will be of finding a good deal on the mortgage loan that you take out, since you will have a number of different options to choose from. Begin contacting each of the brokers that you find and request average interest rate and loan term quotes from each.
When you have collected quotes from a number of different mortgage brokers it is time to begin your comparison. Sort the quotes by the interest rate that is being charged, but make sure that interest is not the only factor that you look at. In addition to the interest rate that you have to pay there may be a number of other costs which can affect how good of a deal a particular mortgage is, and the terms of one mortgage offer may not be as flexible as those of another. Sorting quotes based on interest will at least give you an idea of where the various offers stand based on one of the most obvious factors of the mortgage, however, and can also make it easy to eliminate the offerings of any broker whose rates are much higher than the others.
You may also list the points next to each loan’s interest rate. Points are a percentage of the loan you pay either at closing or rolled into the mortgage principal that acts as a “buy down” of the interest rate. For example, a rate that is 1% lower than a comparable loan may have 1 to 3 points attached to it whereas loan number two has zero points. Depending on the amount you are borrowing, one of these loans may be less expensive than the other. Your particular situation will determine which has the lower overall cost.
Begin comparing the quotes that you have received based on the estimated monthly payments you will have to make, opening and closing costs, and any specialized terms or conditions that certain mortgage quotes might have. Read through the quotes of the mortgage brokers several times to make sure that you have all of the information that you need for your comparison, and begin removing quotes from consideration when you find them to be more expensive or to have more strict terms than some of the other quotes. Continue reducing your potential mortgage loan quotes until only two or three remain so that you can compare them more closely before choosing a mortgage broker. Once you have finished the comparison you should have an idea of the broker who will find you the best deal on your mortgage so that you can then begin the process of getting the exact loan that is right for you.
OCTOBER 29TH, 2009
By ADMIN
I pay about 650 a month in interest on my mortgage
OCTOBER 29TH, 2009
By ADMIN
Finding the best offset mortgage deal can be challenging. There is a huge amount of information on the internet and on the high street about offset mortgages, but instead of giving you clarity, it can leave you overwhelmed and confused as to which is the best offset mortgage deal on the market.
What is an offset mortgage?
Offset mortgages link the balances in a borrower’s mortgage account and/or savings account. Interest earnt from the savings and/or current accounts is used against the mortgage debt and in theory; the mortgage can be paid off quicker. An offset mortgage is also flexible and allows overpayments, underpayments, and sometimes payment holidays.
The concept of an offset mortgage is very different from a standard type mortgage and you can’t just compare interest rates to find the best offset mortgage deal. Offset mortgages come in a variety of shapes and sizes that can suit your particular needs and circumstances. Therefore, you need to look at an offset mortgage deal as a whole before you decide which is the best offset mortgage deal for you. The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) said in 2006, approximately 170,000 offset mortgages were sold, which was worth £23.9 billion.
Many households looking for a new mortgage deal would be better off with an offset mortgage, yet they account for a minority of the market – about 7%. Most householders tend to settle with what they know, i.e. a traditional type of mortgage, because many people find it hard to understand the potential benefits that an offset mortgage could offer, such as yearly savings, flexibility, and tax benefits.
An independent mortgage broker
To help you choose the best offset mortgage deal for you, it is advisable to seek assistance from trained personnel who give impartial advice, such as an independent mortgage broker. Like any financial service in the UK, an independent body called the Financial Services Association (FSA) regulates them. The FSA applies the Principles of Business to companies, for example, Principle 6 states all customers must be treated fairly, and Principle 7 states information provided must be clear, fair and not be misleading. Therefore, you can rely on independent mortgage advisors to help you find the best offset mortgage deal.
Research by the CML showed that the majority of offset mortgages are sold through intermediaries. By the end of last year, intermediaries accounted for 60% of all offset mortgages sold, compared to 45% in April 2005.
Different types of offset mortgages
Since the first offset mortgage was introduced into the UK in 1997, the number of offset mortgage lenders has increased five-fold over the last decade, and the number and range of offset mortgages has increased to about 250 offset products. For example, the buy-to-let offset mortgage lets borrowers pay in their rental income into their savings/current accounts to offset the outstanding mortgage balance. There are offset mortgages suitable for people with irregular income, such as the self-employed, commission based employees, and first-time buyers.
Offset products are often associated with people moving home and remortgagers, who are slightly older and higher income individuals. However, offset mortgages are now suitable for some younger first-time homebuyers. These include the ‘family offset’ that allows the borrower’s family and/or friends to use their saving balances to offset the borrower’s mortgage debts.
In conclusion
Offset mortgages are growing in popularity and they are being described as a ‘lifestyle tool’ that can help mortgage borrowers maintain control of their finances. An independent mortgage broker can provide invaluable advice in helping you choose the best offset mortgage deal for you.
OCTOBER 29TH, 2009
By ADMIN
We’re all fully aware of the crisis in the world housing market, especially in the United States, it’s practically impossible to have missed it with all of the coverage on the news. Unfortunately, this situation has affected Canadians as well. It’s more difficult than ever for a person with no down payment to get a mortgage in Canada. With the cancellation of the zero down mortgage programs, many people now believe that if they don’t have 5% down payment to buy a house they won’t be approved for a mortgage. Although it’s a little more stringent, it’s still possible to get zero down mortgages, however it’s in the form of what the banks call cash back mortgages.
Cash back mortgages are a great alternative for someone who wants to take advantage of the low price of housing in Canada right now but doesn’t have 5% down payment to purchase a home. Alternatively, some people have saved for their down payment but don’t quite have enough. A cash back mortgage would be a good option for this situation as well. You’re probably wondering what’s the difference between a cash back mortgage and the zero down mortgage programs? The banks would like you to believe that there is essentially no difference between these two mortgage products, but that is not the case. Although cash back mortgages are a fantastic alternative to the zero down mortgage products, there are significant differences.
The first and most important difference is the interest rate. When the banks were offering zero down mortgages the interest rates were the exact same as if you had 5% down, with a cash back mortgage, the interest rates are usually about 1% higher than a traditional mortgage product. However, this is offset by the fact that the bank is giving you your down payment. That means if you have a cash back mortgage for $100,000 the bank will give you 5% down, and you only have to pay back $95,000. Banks would like you to believe that they are giving you the 5% out of the goodness of their hearts, but the fact is the interest rate is higher on this product so they can recoup that 5%. The good news is, at the end of your 5-year term with that bank, you are free to shop around again for the best rates.
The second difference between cash back mortgages and the zero down mortgage programs is the penalty if you break the mortgage before the 5-year term is up. On a traditional mortgage at 100% financing, if you break the mortgage the penalty is the same as any other mortgage, the standard 3-month interest penalty would apply. With a cash back mortgage they also charge a 3-month interest penalty, in addition to that you have to pay back a portion of the cash the bank “gave” you.
I know it seems like I am trying to deter you from a cash back mortgage but that isn’t the case, I just think it is important to enter into cash back mortgages fully aware of the product. It is important to weigh your options carefully. If you decide to wait and save up a down payment for your house because you don’t want to pay a higher interest rate, one very important point to consider is. Every year on average houses increase in value by approximately 5%, so, if you were to purchase a house for $100 000 today that same house would cost you $110 000 in two years.
If you consider waiting because the interest rate seems a little high you should know that a cash back works out to about a quarter of a percent higher than a traditional mortgage, when you consider that you are not paying back the cash back portion. On a $100 000 mortgage over five years you will pay approximately $4,800 more in a cash back mortgage than if the zero down mortgage program was still available. However, if you consider that waiting two years to save would cost you $10 000, the cash back mortgage would cost less than waiting and would be an excellent option to get into the housing market. Cash back mortgages are excellent options for homebuyers, but you should make certain that you are fully aware of the conditions in your mortgage.
OCTOBER 29TH, 2009
By ADMIN
Little Britain - Carol Beer Bank Mortgage
OCTOBER 29TH, 2009
By ADMIN
It is common practice to apply for a mortgage loan when buying a property; in which a lien on the property is given to the lender as collateral for the loan. Though a property with good value can guarantee you a good mortgage loan, the rate (interest rate) applied on the loan is often dependent on various other factors like your credit ratings, personal assurance, etc.
Mortgage rates also vary depending on the type of loan and the duration of the loan. There are basically three types of mortgage rates:
# Adjustable Rate Mortgage
# Fixed Interest Rate
# Variable Interest Rate
Adjustable Rate Mortgage:
On the basis of an index, the mortgage interest rates of an adjustable rate mortgage are adjusted from time to time. When there is a downward fluctuation in the interest rates, it can be beneficial to get adjustable mortgage rates.
Fixed Mortgage Rates:
In the case of ‘fixed mortgage rates’, the monthly payments and the principal as well as the interest rate do not change throughout the entire tenure of the loan. As long as the borrower is in a fixed rate mortgage, the interest rate remains the same. The advantages of this type of mortgage rate are that a record of the exact amount of payments can be kept by the borrower; and an increase in market interest rates will not affect the borrower’s payments.
Variable Interest Rates:
Being better for higher risk threshold customers, mortgage hunters have been showing a higher interest in this type of mortgage. This type of mortgage requires the bank rate to be stable and when you have this mortgage, you have to hope that it remains stable. Variable rate mortgages can save you a lot in interest, but your payments would vary according to the market.
Factors affecting mortgage rates
Major factors affecting mortgage rates include:
• Income of mortgage borrower
• Credit scores
• Total mortgage loan amount versus value of home
• Consideration of closing costs
• Whether or not the mortgage rate is adjustable
• Amount of down payment on mortgage
• Life of mortgage loan
You need to know the mortgage type that fits your lifestyle and your financial needs the best. By choosing the right kind of mortgage loan, you can actually save thousands.
OCTOBER 29TH, 2009
By ADMIN
In 2006 Peter Schiff tells over 1000 mortgage brokers they are about to be out of jobs. Watch how he completely nails the coming real estate/mortgage debacle before anyone else even realized it was coming.
OCTOBER 28TH, 2009
By ADMIN
You’ve found a beautiful piece of property in one of the upscale areas of Pennsylvania and you’re wondering if you can get the best mortgage loan that’s available in the market.
If you’re new to the area, you might want to study the local market, meet with some real estate agents and mortgage brokers, speak to a few financial institutions and do comparison shopping for mortgage loans in Pennsylvania. Don’t be in a rush to settle for the first mortgage loan that’s offered to you. It pays to do a bit of due diligence and to acquaint yourself with local conditions. Only a reputable real estate expert can clue you into the best type of mortgage loan that will suit your budget and lifestyle.
Types of mortgage loans in Pennsylvania
Like most American states, Pennsylvania offers homebuyers many types of mortgage loans:
ARM (adjustable rate mortgage) - the one thing to remember about ARMs is that they have a low initial rate and a low payment, but they last for one, three or five years. There are different types of ARMs and are usually ideal for people with special circumstances; that is, they have varying income levels during the year and only want to engage in short term borrowing. Pennsylvania borrowers who require low mortgage payments but expect to be able to make larger payments later choose ARMs.
Fixed rate mortgage - unlike adjustable rate mortgages, fixed rate mortgages have a fixed interest rate and can go for as long as 10, 20, 25, 30 and even 40 years. This is the perfect mortgage loan for people who have steady incomes and stable jobs and want to pay a fixed amount every month. They can’t tolerate variable rate mortgages because they want to stick to their budget and want the security of one regular payment either weekly or monthly.
Interest only mortgage - this is a type of mortgage loan that is becoming popular among people who cannot afford to make payments towards the principal and interest of a mortgage loan. As the name suggests, homebuyers pay only the interest on the mortgage. This type of loan, however, cannot go on indefinitely as there is a fixed time period for making interest payments - usually five to ten years. In this type of mortgage loan, the borrowers only pay interest leaving the principal amount unchanged. This means that if you borrow $200,000.00 at 5% for 2 years, you will only pay the interest of $10,000 divided over 12 months, but your mortgage loan remains at $200,000.00, even if you choose to pay more interest than the 5%.
Fixed rate second mortgages - these are also called home equity loans. Borrowers borrow money against the equity of their first home if they have certain expenses to meet such as their children’s university education or a kitchen renovation they’ve been wanting to undertake. An alternative to a home equity loan is a refinanced mortgage, but note that home equity loans may have lower closing costs but higher interest rates.
Mortgage loans: a few pointers
When shopping for the best mortgage loan rates, consider the following:
Study the APR (annual percentage rate). This allows you to compare different mortgage loans in Pennsylvania with different closing costs; Amortization - this is important because it pays to know how the payments are applied to the debt balance over a period of time.
Term - people are tempted to stretch their mortgage loans to 30 or 35 years because monthly payments are lower. Remember, however, that while monthly payments would be lower, you could be paying higher interest rates in the end. Some people like a short mortgage - say 10 years - and while they do end up paying larger monthly amounts, they at least save on interest charges.
Low payments - be wary when a mortgage lender offers you very low payments. Consider it within the context of the amortization. While low payments may be affordable in the next 24, 36 or 48 months, the loan could cost you an arm and a leg in terms of interest. Second mortgages - remember the rule of thumb: second mortgages have higher rates than refinanced mortgages.
Before you make a final decision on the mortgage loan you’re obtaining in Pennsylvania, do some research on local mortgage lenders and compare their rates to national lenders. Find out as much as you can about the Pennsylvania housing market and lastly, compare terms and rates and convince lenders to come up with a better offer.
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