Yes, an appraisal is the only way to determine what your home is worth if your loan is not owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac eligible for Harp 2 Refinance. Rewind the clock a couple of years, Sonoma County homeowners had very little equity many were even upside down as real estate sales were…
For consumers purchasing or refinancing a home with less than 20% equity, little-known fee inflates the monthly outlay. Mortgage insurance is paid by the the homeowner for the benefit of the lender to ensure the lender against future payment default. Mortgage insurance, also dubbed as PMI (an acronym for private mortgage insurance), can be easily…
Getting a mortgage loan is challenging enough, with strict underwriting, providing detailed explanations, sourcing of monies and debt ratios, adding a divorce into the mix makes things even more technical for the divorced borrower. The good news is despite most divorce circumstances, many can still successfully obtain financing. Here’s what to know and do when…
Homeowners who went through difficult financial times in recent years, actually can still refinance their homes so long as their situations have changed for the better. Many banks offered loan modifications to homeowners who otherwise couldn’t refinance due to equity position or repayment ability. Two government programs have helped homeowners stay in their home and/or…
Obtaining a home loan requires careful consideration of not only the costs involved, but where your loan is being originated. When people think “mortgages”, they usually think of their local bank or a mortgage broker. Internet only lenders are also in the competitive mix, aggressively promoting ultra-low rates aimed at the masses. Because an internet…
You are in luck! A middle 620 credit score or higher is needed for a conventional loan with at least 20% down. This could be your own funds or the funds can come in the form of a gift from family or close friends. This would typically be a non-mortgage insurance loan such as a…
As consumer taking out a mortgage loan, computing a house payment can be a time-consuming process running calculations, let alone qualifying these days. What consumers don’t oftentimes realize, there’s a much easier way to calculate a house payment. Some terms to become familiar with: House Payment or rather PITI Principal-represents principal balance being paid down…
Mortgage Insurance is like the plague to a monthly mortgage payment. It makes the cost of homeownership rise over time, only benefits one party… the lender. Mortgage insurance also known as private mortgage insurance (PMI) is an intergal component of many popular loan programs today; FHA Mortgages, USDA Mortgages and yes even standard Conventional Mortgages.…