e rapid growth of population in Seattle, both temporary and permanent, Seattle real estate prices are soaring up. In the last five years, the cost of Seattle real estate has increased 12 percent. Thankfully along with the increase of property prices and cost of Seattle homes, Seattle Mortgage plans have also expanded offering many flexible and customer friendly options to choose from.

There are many Seattle mortgage loan plans to choose from. There are fixed rate mortgages, adjustable rate mortgages, second mortgages, and reverse mortgages. Before choosing any mortgage loan plan, you should always keep in mind the amount of the down payment you can afford to pay out. There are more loan options available if you can pay about 20 percent on your down payment. Although there are mortgage options available even if you do not have the full 20 percent to pay down on your mortgage loan.

A fixed rate mortgage loan is a loan plan in which the interest remains fixed throughout the tenure of the signed loan agreement, and is available for 10, 15, 20 or thirty year mortgage plans. The main advantage of a fixed rate mortgage is that it protects you from economical depressions and interest rate fluctuations. The rate of interest remains fixed so you don’t have to think about paying more than you have planned. However it has one disadvantage, as you will not be able to take advantage of the situation if the interest rates substantially fall down. It is also not suitable for repeat home buyers and investors who generally tend to flip properties. For these types of buyers adjustable rate mortgages and hybrid adjustable rate mortgages are perfect.

Generally you have to pay a higher rate of interest for a long term loan. The current rate for a 30 year mortgage is just over 6 percent. However those who are looking for a 20 year mortgage loan, you will find that the interest rates are very similar to the 15 year loan term. Although your monthly mortgage payments may be higher on the shorter term loans, in the long run you may save thousands on what you are paying out in interest.

If you are buying real estate for business purposes then you can apply for a fixed rate commercial mortgage which generally ranges from five to twenty years in term length. Large industries with a proper business plan can apply for a fixed rate super jumbo loan.

If a fixed mortgage loan is not your cup of tea then you can choose an adjustable rate mortgage. They generally have a period of 30 years. The basic advantage of the adjustable rate Seattle mortgage plan is that the rate of interest is not fixed and goes up and down with the current economic scenario of the country. They are less expensive than the fixed rate mortgages as the lenders provide teaser rates to the party. However, adjustable rate mortgage loans are not suitable if the current economical condition points towards an increase in mortgage loan interest rates.

If you fail to get the loan amount required to purchase your property, you may apply for a Seattle second mortgage option. Many people in the last year have applied successfully to buy a Seattle home with the help of a second mortgage. However there are certain things to consider. If the market rates are lower than your first mortgage rate, then it will be better to refinance your mortgage, but if it is higher then its better to go for the second mortgage option.

The rates of the adjustable mortgage plan also remain generally lower. Where as the 30 year fixed mortgage rate is 6.44 % and 15 year fixed mortgage scheme is 5.96 % the 5 year ARM is 5.90%. You can also take advantage of the fixed rate reverse mortgage loan. They are also available in fixed and adjustable interest rates.

You can also take advantage of the balloon payment. It is particularly helpful if you don’t have enough cash and want the interest rates to remain low. It becomes 100 percent due after a specified time has elapsed. You have to pay off the loan in cash or refinance when it matures. It is suitable for you if you do not want to hold on to the property for a long time and can easily sell it off at the time when the loan matures to pay off the amount.

Before applying for any loan check out the background necessities and choose your home loan plan wisely. There are numerous options and the rates change every day, as well as the loan options that are available.

Applying for a mortgage can be a very stressful time for a person and it is important that you choose the best mortgage deal for you. Without research into what is on offer you could find yourself opting for a deal that is not right for you and your circumstances. Mortgages are a loan that is used in order to buy a house and the borrower makes regular monthly payments to pay off the loan amount, until eventually the full amount is paid and the house belongs outright to the borrower.

If you are looking to apply for a mortgage and are unsure of where to get information on the best mortgage deals around look no further than Go Direct. Here you will find online tools to help you come to an informed decision about the type, size and term of your mortgage.

Many people assume that all mortgage are the same, but they are not and this is why it is so important to find the best mortgage deals. After all why apply for a mortgage that does not suit your financial situation and could leave you out of pocket? If you are unsure as to how to even begin searching for the best mortgage deals then you have come to the right place.

There are so many mortgages available right now all with different repayment terms and conditions, interest rates and offers such as cash back when you apply for them, so you do need to have an overview of what are the best mortgage deals. Here is a brief rundown of the kind of mortgages you can expect to choose from:

• Variable rate mortgages – these are linked to the interest rate and will go up and down as the interest rate does. These are a good idea if you would like to pay less for your mortgage when the interest rate is low – however, be warned if the interest rate goes up so does your mortgage payment and you need to be able to make your repayments or your home could be at risk.

• Fixed rate mortgages – these are the opposite of variable rate mortgages as the repayment amount is fixed. This fixed amount is often higher than the variable rate amount but borrowers have the peace of mind of knowing how much their mortgage payment is every month.

• Interest only mortgage – these are mortgages where the borrow only pays off the interest on the amount borrowed. Although it can seem like a good idea and can be cheaper than some of the other mortgages around in the long run you will only be paying the interest and not the equity in the property.

• 100% mortgages – these are mortgages for 100% of the property’s value and were popular up until recently. However mortgage companies are now cutting down on the number of 100% mortgages that they offer.

• Joint ownership – these are mortgages where a housing company or local council own half of the house and the borrower owns the other half. Then repayments are split between the other owner and the mortgage company. This type of mortgage is good if you can only afford to borrow a small amount.

• Buy to let – these are mortgages on properties that the owner intends to rent out and they work slightly differently to a ‘standard’ mortgage.

If you are looking for the best mortgage deals the best place to check out is Go Direct who have the tools and advisors on hand to steer you through the minefield of choosing a mortgage that is right for you.

TrainingPro, the national leader in mortgage education and preferred online education partner of the Colorado Association of Mortgage Brokers, is now an approved mortgage education provider in Colorado. One of the first online mortgage education providers in the state, TrainingPro offers the required 40 hours of approved curriculum in online and live class format. TrainingPro is approved by the Colorado Division of Private Occupational Schools (DPOS) and PSI, the content approving body.

According to Senate Bill 07-203, all mortgage brokers in Colorado must be licensed with the Division of Real Estate before January 1, 2009. One component of this licensure is the successful completion of a 40-hour mortgage training requirement conducted by a state-approved mortgage education provider. All mortgage brokers who currently maintain a Colorado mortgage broker’s license must complete this licensing education and pass a state exam by January 1, 2009.

According to Part 9, Section 12-61-902 of the Colorado Mortgage Broker Licensing Act, a mortgage broker is defined as: “an individual who negotiates, originates, or offers or attempts to negotiate or originate for a borrower, and for a commission or other thing of value, a residential mortgage loan to be consummated and funded by a mortgage lender.”

TrainingPro’s 40-hour mortgage education course, “Mortgage Basics: Increasing Knowledge, Creating Opportunities,” is a comprehensive pre-licensing training program that addresses the fundamental laws, concepts and practices involved in the mortgage industry. The course includes 19.5 hours of federal and state mortgage laws, 16 hours of mortgage basics and 4.5 hours of business and trade practices.

“TrainingPro is excited to begin offering its proven mortgage training curriculum to the mortgage professionals in Colorado,” said Christopher Nickerson, CEO of TrainingPro. “We are proud to provide two training options for this new mortgage training requirement – online and live – to cater to different learning styles. We fully support the state’s initiative to enrich and elevate the mortgage industry through education and will be available to help and guide Colorado mortgage brokers through the process.”

TrainingPro is the preferred online education partner for the Colorado Association of Mortgage Brokers (CAMB). Together, TrainingPro and CAMB are working to provide the highest quality solution for mortgage training in the state. CAMB members are invited to receive a discount off of the 40-hour online course by visiting www.TrainingPro.com/camb.

Colorado is the 32nd state to approve TrainingPro as a mortgage education provider. TrainingPro is also approved in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Mortgage education courses can be purchased through the TrainingPro web site at www.TrainingPro.com or by calling an account representative at 1-877-878-3600.

About TrainingPro

TrainingPro is the national leader in mortgage education. Its mission is to elevate and enrich the mortgage industry through its innovative compliance solutions and comprehensive educational programs. With extensive experience, a proven training platform, and superior client service as its foundation, TrainingPro is the educational partner for small and large mortgage corporations as well as state industry associations and the National Association of Mortgage Brokers. TrainingPro was listed on the 2006 Inc. 500 list, conducted by Inc. Magazine, as one of the fastest growing companies in the nation. For more information about TrainingPro, please visit www.TrainingPro.com.

As everyone knows, buying a home is stressful and one of the most important decisions that one has to make is what kind of mortgage to get. Choosing the mortgage that works best for you and addresses your specific needs can potentially save -or cost you -thousands of dollars over the length of the mortgage.

Perhaps the biggest decision is whether to take a fixed rate (FRM) or an adjustable (ARM) mortgage. A fixed rate mortgage is just that -the interest rate on your loan will not change even if interest rates go up or down. An adjustable rate mortgage will go up or down, depending on the prevailing interest rate at the time. It all depends on the state of the economy, your personal and financial situation and just how much of a risk you want to take. Around 70% of all mortgages are fixed rate.

A fixed rate mortgage offers stability -you do not need to worry about your monthly payment going up, although you may be missing out on a better rate. An adjustable rate mortgage carries an interest rate that is connected to the prevailing market rate -the monthly mortgage payment will be more or less, depending on what the market rate is doing. An adjustable rate mortgage does offer some safeguard – there may be a limit on the amount the rate can change during a certain period; there may also be a limit on the amount that rates can be increased over the length of the loan.

A change in the interest rate can mean a big difference in how much you pay for your home. An interest rate of just one point less can mean a savings of around $50,000 on the average thirty-year mortgage and around $5,000 on the average 15-year mortgage. In addition, an increase in the interest rate of just one or two percent can mean monthly payments that are between $50 and $250 higher. Another option is to take out the fixed rate mortgage and then re-finance if interest rates go lower.

The length or term of the mortgage is also important. Most home buyers opt for the traditional 15 or 30 year mortgage, but it is also possible to take out a mortgage that is 10, 25 or even 40 years. It all depends on how much you can afford to pay each month and how quickly you want to own your home outright -obviously, the shorter the term of the mortgage, the higher your monthly payments are.

It is also possible to take out a 30-year mortgage and when you can afford it, pay more towards the principal, thus making the term shorter. Simply making an extra payment a month will significantly reduce the term of the mortgage -as well as saving a substantial amount in interest charges. If you pay extra, make sure the payment is going towards the principal, rather than the interest.

There are some other options available. An option adjustable rate loan has an interest rate that adjusts every month -it allows homebuyers to enjoy lower monthly payment amounts at first and then to make higher payments later, when they can better afford it. A so-called balloon mortgage offers a payment schedule similar to the traditional 30 year mortgage -but with a shorter term of up to seven years. At the end of the term, the buyer must pay the outstanding balance.

You may also be eligible for an FHA (Federal Housing Authority) loan -a fixed rate mortgage that is designed for home buyers with a low income or poor credit, who are buying a home for the first time. An FHA loan usually requires less of a down payment and offesr a lower interest rate than a regular mortgage. An FHA mortgage loan is also secured to the lender in the event of default by the purchaser.

Another option is a VA (Veteran’s Affairs) mortgage, which applies to buyers who have experience of serving in the military, as well as a surviving spouse. VA loans have several advantages – it’s possible to get a mortgage with little or no down payment, the loans are assumable and there is no penalty for prepaying the loan. However there is a maximum loan amount – in most states this is $417,000 -and you still have to qualify as far as income and credit are concerned.

Your home is probably the biggest single purchase you will make. It is worth taking the time to find the mortgage option that works best for you. The types of mortgages that are available all affect your payments differently. The type of mortgage chosen mostly depends on personal income and the length of time in which you are looking to pay for the mortgage.

My mortgage broker got a good rate from a mortgage company, but I think that getting a mortgage from a bank is safer. If I go with them, I’d like to be sure that they are ok. Are there resources for finding reviews or opinions about mortgage companies?
My question is geared more towards the actual company lending me money versus the broker. I trust the broker, but I would like some additional edification. The Mortgage lender in question is Provident Funding.

If your credit isn’t the best, you might be familiar with sub-prime loans: they’re the kind with a high rate for people with low credit…

We all know that putting extra payments down on your mortgage is going to pay off your mortgage faster and save you money. But what not everyone knows are the little insider tips that allow you to know to the penny, EXACTLY, when to use them to pay off your mortgage, how much to make them in, and exactly what you’ll save as a result.

See, it’s really NOT about how many you make, or how often, or even how much you make them in. When you’re trying to pay off your mortgage faster their is only one thing that matters.

Timing.

You see mortgages are structured pretty creatively. Mortgage companies tell you that you’re only paying the 5-7% rate, but they never explain what that really means. Our mortgage payments are almost completely wasted on interest at the beginning of our mortgage. This is what makes it so difficult to pay off your mortgage.

What it means is that a $4000 payment may only $250 of principle. The entire rest of that payment goes to PURE INTEREST. It’s basically burning a hole in your pocket when it should go to pay your mortgage off.

Now, here’s how to beat it. If you make a $250 principle payment on its own… right before you make the $4000 payment then guess what? You just completed that entire payment without wasting $3750 on interest. You moves you amortization down the line to pay off your mortgage. Sure, you’ll still have to make a $4000 payment, but you pay your mortgage off $3750 earlier and it only cost you $250! That’s how banks think.

If you could get $3750 for every $250 you put in, how many times would you do it? As many as you good and you wouldn’t just pay your mortgage off, it’d evaporate.

If this doesn’t quite make sense yet then grab a copy of your amortization schedule or The Mortgage Loophole Report and analyze how they’ll pay off your mortgage. You’ll see.

So…

Catch #1 – If you make a small prepayment at the beginning of the term, you’d pay off your mortgage MUCH earlier than you would by making a bigger principle payment at the end of your mortgage.

When you put the money in at the end you don’t even pay your mortgage off as fast or save near the amount of interest because most of your payment is going to principle anyway. As you pay off your mortgage they weaken. Your mortgage pay off time literally depends on this.

So, the secret to pay off your mortgage is to understand the way a mortgage amortization has been structures to accommodate certain methods to pay off your mortgage.

Catch #2 – Although you probably realize that this information is important to pay off your mortgage you probably won’t be able to apply it the the extent that you wish you could. Honestly, if you had all the extra cash to pay off your mortgage with, then you’d have made a bigger down payment on your home. It’s not until most of us have already been trying to pay off our mortgage that we start to get the extra cash to put towards the pay off.

There is a solution.

There is a “mortgage loophole” that home owners are finally realizing and using to pay off their mortgage. It truly is a revolution in the mortgage industry to help people pay off their mortgage. Don’t expect your local bank to tell you about it. They not only don’t want you to pay off your mortgage early but they haven’t been spreading the news among their mortgage brokers.

Anyway, I’d better stop upsetting banks with this insider information. Hopefully you can apply this information to pay off your mortgage immediately before your mortgage begins to amortize.

Also, if you truly want the keys to pay off your mortgage lightening fast and save big bucks, then grab your free copy of The Mortgage Loop Hole Report.

In most cases the senior is looking places to find money to off set the major loses they have felt from the banking and investment crisis. The one place that is still a safe haven in many areas is the home, even with declining values. The main reason is that most seniors purchased their homes when values were mush lower before the great appreciation era. If a seniors still has a mortgage on their home and many do have a current mortgage on their home and have to make payments every month. If a senior has a first mortgage lets say just for $100,000 at a 6% rate they are putting out over $600.00 per month or $7,200 per year. This amount if they did not have to make the payment would be added to their income that they would be able to use to live.

In many cases seniors over the years when the economy was booming many took at 30 year loans and or adjustable rate mortgage and are now faced with higher payments and they are trying to stay afloat.

If a senior is faced with this problem they should really consider a Reverse Mortgage for many reasons not to mention relief from payments. In many cases not only would they be free from mortgage payments, but they would receive additional funds to use as they see fit. Under the Reverse Mortgage program they senior controls how and what they spend the money on once they have closed.

Some things never change when doing a Reverse Mortgage and that is they still must pay the taxes and insurance on their home. If a senior is use to having an escrow of taxes and insurance they maybe able to set aside the monies with the company and have them pay it yearly for them.

One thing that all seniors should be looking at is the availability to access the money that they need from their home that they paid for over the course of their lives. In the years that you will need it the most and not have to worry about paying it back in their lifetime.

Many seniors are now thinking that if they take out a Reverse Mortgage and the bank or Mortgage Company goes out of business they will be out of luck. This is not true it is protected by the FHA mortgage insurance, that if they do go out of business then Federal Government takes over and pays them the money. The Reverse Mortgage is the safest mortgage in the entire mortgage industry. Unlike a typical mortgage where a lender has many options to force your paying of the loan, the Reverse Mortgage has the full protection of the US Government that guarantees that the senior will never have to leave their home for as long as they live. This of course is providing they pay their taxes and Insurance and continue to live in the home as their primary residence.

Now in 2009 a new program is emerging within the Reverse Mortgage and this a great option for many seniors who have one reason or another sold their home or have to move to a newer location. The Reverse Mortgage purchase program is now available to seniors over the age of 62. The program is design to allow seniors to purchase a home without any mortgage payments for life. Now just to make it very clear this does not mean that a senior can purchase with no money down. This is not the same mortgage that got this country in to the financial situation that we are in where people would by a home with zero down or less in some cases.

A senior who is looking to purchase a home will have to have money to purchase a home; it is all based on the age of the person and the appraised value of the home. Let’s say that a person age 62 wants to purchase a home that is appraised at $200,000, they would need approximately 40% down payment on the home. They would in most cases be able to finance all or part of the closing cost within the Reverse Mortgage. But let’s look at it in another way! Remember the older you are the less you will need down!

If that same person wanted to purchase a home using a conventional mortgage, they would need at least 20% down and would have to qualify with at least a 720 credit score and have the income to qualify for the mortgage payment.

So let’s look at the difference!

Conventional Reverse Mortgage



$200,000 Purchase price ………………………$200,000

$40,000 down payment ……………………….$80,000

$160,000 mortgage …………………………….$120,000

$858.00 per month payment……………………Zero per month



Now this is what it looks like on paper for a conventional mortgage verses the Reverse Mortgage the big difference is that a senior for a Reverse Mortgage purchase they will not have to qualify for the loan they already are if they are 62 or older. Also under the conventional mortgage if a senior fails to make a payment on their mortgage they will be foreclosed on just like anyone else.

For the senior who has a mortgage currently and is worried if they are going to be able to make payments on the mortgage Think Reverse Mortgage! No Income or Credit qualifying; if think this isn’t a big deal call your mortgage banker and see what it takes to get a mortgage today.

Also this is very important issue your conventional mortgage is not guaranteed that you will stay in your home for the rest of your life!

Here is what you have to do to get a Reverse Mortgage for your home!



Speak to a Reverse Mortgage Specialist who can educate you on all aspects of the program.

You will be required to have a FHA Approved counseling session and receive your certificate to hand to the mortgage company.

A Fully executed loan application must be signed and submitted.

The FHA appraisal must be completed for value and condition of property.

The title search must be completed and cleared of any and all liens and judgments

All insurances must be changed all endorsements

Closing is scheduled once all final conditions have been cleared.

Closing takes place either in the home or at a title office.

The client must wait three business days for the cancelation period which includes Saturdays.

Money is disbursed and all existing liens are paid off and any additional funds available are sent to the person who closed on the loan.



So if you are thinking of how you are going to make it through these hard times, waiting to see if the market will ever turn around you are loosing money in your home.

Remember this as the stock market, and real estate even stay where it is now you may never see the return of that money.

I am interviewing for a FI position right now with an auto dealership. I don’t have much if any experience with auto sub-prime lenders and lending. However, I have been in the mortgage industry and have worked as both a loan officer, analyzing credit and assets of individuals and shopping sub prime lenders to find the best deal and also worked for a lender and qualified sub prime borrowers to fund their loans.

My question is: are these jobs similar? Is analyzing credit and qualifying borrowers for auto loans the same or similar to qualifying people for mortgage loans? Are a lot of the terminology and concepts the same?

With housing prices stalled, or even having falling in some local markets, Canadian home owners seeking mortgage refinancing and who are looking at a high ratio mortgage – i.e., home owners who are refinancing a mortgage where the mortgage exceeds 80% of a home’s current market value, or those looking at a second mortgage but who lack the requisite 20% down payment – need not be discouraged. Mortgage loan insurance is available, and affordable, commercially through the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), a federal crown corporation, or through private mortgage loan insurers such as Genworth Financial Canada.

Most federally regulated lending institutions in Canada – the banks, credit unions and caisses populaires that compete for the bulk of the Canadian mortgages market – are prohibited by regulations under the Canadian Bank Act from providing mortgages without mortgage loan insurance for amounts that exceed 80% of the value of the home or property purchases with less than a 20% down payment.

Homeowners who initially started out with a high ratio mortgage, or whose home equity is flirting with the 20% equity ratio under the Bank Act can readily access affordable mortgage loan insurance for high ratio mortgages. The CMHC explains that “mortgage loan insurance helps protects lenders against mortgage default, and enables consumers to purchase homes with little or no downpayment – with interest rates comparable to those with a 20% downpayment.” Similarly, mortgage insurance is available for high ratio second mortgages where home owners do not meet the 20% equity threshold and need financing but are unwilling or unable to renegotiate their first mortgage because the interest rate on their first mortgage loan is significantly lower than current interest rates, termination penalties are too high, or they would not re-qualify for the same mortgage amount today.

As with any other form of insurance, there are insurance premiums to be paid, although they need not be prohibitive nor unduly expensive. Insurance premiums for high ratio mortgage loans vary and can range between 0.65% and 2.75% depending upon how much of the home’s value is to be financed.

The structure and costs of a high ratio mortgage will, of course, vary between lenders, as will the price and coverage for mortgage loan insurance. The best step for a homeowner who is looking at his or her refinancing options and is at or past the cusp where mandatory mortgage insurance coverage kicks in, is to comparison shop with the assistance of an experienced mortgage broker. The options that are available when looking at refinancing a high ratio mortgage or financing a high ratio second mortgage can vary significantly between lenders and insurers.

Some options that are available to qualifying home owners who are looking at a high ratio second mortgage include:

- High Ratio, equity based 2nd mortgages up to 85%

- Insured second mortgages that are typically available for up to 95% of the property value;

- High-ratio second mortgages that are usually available for up to 100% of the property value, albeit with limited fees;

- Open 2nd mortgages and Lines of Credit typically available for up to 90% of the property value;

- Mortgage amortizations of up to 35 years, or interest only mortgages; and

- Loan terms ranging from 1 – 5 years.

Those homeowners who are looking at refinancing and are faced with the prospects of refinancing with high ratio mortgages, or who may be seeking second mortgage financing in order to avoid the real and hidden costs of refinancing their first mortgage, should seek the services of an accredited Canadian mortgage broker so that they can investigate the full range of mortgage and insurance options that are available to them.