Personal Finance Tips

Introduction

Mortgages are loans that are used to purchase real estate and come in many different forms. The most common types are Conventional, FHA and VA. Other types are Second, Reverse and Balloon Mortgages. These loans often involve the use of Discount Points.

Conventional

The conventional loan is the most common type of mortgage used in the nation today. Conventional mortgages are loans between borrowers and lenders that are not insured or guaranteed by the government. Conventional mortgages are either privately insured through private mortgage insurance companies or not insured at all. Conventional loan guidelines typically require a minimum down payment of five percent on owner-occupied (non-rental) properties; higher for investment/rental properties. For mortgages that have a down payment of less than 20%, private mortgage insurance (PMI) is usually required. Most conventional mortgages have time frames of 15 to 30 years and may be either fixed-rate or adjustable.

Fixed rate mortgages mean that the interest is permanently “fixed” at the rate available when the mortgage was created. The interest rate never changes no matter what interest rates do later. Fixed rate loans provide a level principal and interest payment that a borrower can depend on and are especially attractive when rates are low.

Adjustable rate mortgages mean that during the first few years, the interest rate will be lower than a typical fixed rate loan but will increase (adjust) upward to rates that are prevalent at a later date. Adjustable rate mortgages are normally used only when the borrower cannot currently qualify for the normal fixed rate interest level, but anticipates a larger income in the near future. The risk for the borrower is if that extra income does not materialize or if other expenses occur later on that cause the adjusted rate to not be affordable.

FHA

FHA loans are insured by the Federal Housing Administration, which is a division of HUD. The program was created in 1934 to stimulate the housing market during the Depression. FHA loans are insured by the government against default, but the mortgages themselves are made by major private lenders. FHA loans are often available from the same lenders who offer conventional loans. FHA maximum loan amounts are limited, and the maximum loan amount varies among geographic regions. High cost housing markets will normally have a higher maximum loan amount than lower cost areas. FHA mortgages are usually on a fixed-rate mortgage with terms of up to 30 years. FHA can lend up to 97% of the home value, and can be refinanced any time without a pre-payment penalty, and without having to qualify all over again. FHA insurance makes it possible for private lenders to provide mortgages to lower income families without attaching the rates and fees that sub-prime lenders do. FHA-insured loans have become an important element in the proposed solutions to the subprime mortgage crisis, and an FHA Reform package is making its way through Congress this year (2007) and will probably be a reality by the time you read this. The new package will enable FHA to accept even lower down payments and credit scores than they do now.

VA

VA mortgage loans are loans insured by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The program was created in 1944 during World War 2 to assist returning military personnel in buying a home. VA mortgages are reserved for those who have served in the military or are currently in the military in active or reserve status. They are also available to qualified surviving spouses. VA loan guaranty is only for owner occupied properties, which can include homes, condominiums, townhomes, 2-4 family properties and manufactured homes, as long as it is owner occupied at least in part. By example, the applicant can obtain a mortgage for a duplex, live in one side and rent out the other side. VA mortgages offer the qualified veteran or active duty military person an opportunity to buy a home up to a specified amount with no down payment and do not require Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI). Like FHA mortgages, VA places a limit on the maximum mortgage amount. VA determines your eligibility and, if you are qualified, VA will issue you a certificate of eligibility to be used in applying for a loan.

Balloons

A Balloon mortgage is a loan that is usually a short-term fixed-rate loan with even monthly payments amortized over a stated term, but provides for a lump sum payment to be due at the end of a specified term. These loans can be used as either a first or second mortgage. The nature of balloons are that the principal is not paid off entirely during its term and the monthly payments are often lower than they would be in a fixed rate first mortgage. Balloons are often used as a type of Second mortgage, especially when a borrower is seeking the lowest possible monthly payment in the short run. These loans carry an inherent risk for the borrower because that large lump sum becomes due and payable at the end of the term, so these financing options should be used with extreme caution.

Reverse

Reverse mortgages are becoming popular in America. They were designed only a few years ago and were made to help people who have retired and stopped working, but still have to make monthly payments. They are a special type of financing that lets a homeowner convert the equity in his/her home into cash. Reverse mortgages can be relatively complex, and their use should be considered carefully by the borrower. While they have been around for a long time, but it wasn’t until the early 1990s that they began earning respectability after the FHA began insuring reverse mortgages for repayment to lenders.

Second

These are used when a borrower needs additional financing to buy a home. Second mortgages are subordinate, meaning that in the event of default, the primary, or first lien would get paid off first, and then any funds remaining would be used to pay off any second liens. Second mortgages are also arranged for various purposes, such as financing home improvements, college tuition fees, debt consolidation or other emergency expenses. They are available as either fixed-rate loans, or adjustable-rate home equity lines of credit and are based on the market value of the home minus the balance of the first mortgage. Terms are typically shorter than the primary term and are commonly written at a higher rate of interest, due to the inherent risk of the loan. An advantage for the borrower is that the interest paid on a second mortgage is tax deductable, whereas payments for PMI are not.

Discount Points

Discount Points are used to buy your interest rate lower and are charged as a percentage of the loan amount. Discount points are entirely optional unless they are required for you to qualify for the loan payment, due to a lower than required income or higher than expected expenses. Discount points are paid in cash at closing and are typically charged to the seller. A common arrangement is that when discount points are charged, the seller will want to increase the price of the home to cover this expense. The result is that 80% or more of the discount point cost is actually financed by the buyer. Discount points are not to be confused with an origination or broker fee and are tax deductible only for the year in which they were paid.

An increasingly attractive mortgage option is what is referred to as the combination loan or combo loan. Combination loans have several key advantages over traditional 30-year mortgage loans and there are a wide variety of combinations to suit most financial situations.

By far, the most popular combination mortgage loan is the 80/20 loan. This loan is actually two loans; the first loan is for 80% of the homes value, and the second loan is for the remaining 20%. With the 80/20 mortgage loan, the buyer pays no down payment and is ideal for those without a significant amount of savings. Another key advantage of the 80/20 mortgage loan is that the buyer avoids PMI or private mortgage insurance. PMI is required on all mortgage loans that are greater than 80% of the homes value. A third advantage of the combination mortgage loans is that both loans are tax deductible. By avoiding PMI and increasing their tax deduction, a buyer gains a significant cost savings advantage over traditional mortgage loans.

Combination loans are available in many other ratios as well. The 70/30 mortgage loan is usually preferred to the 80/20 loan for more expensive homes, when 80% of the homes value would be classified as a jumbo loan (above the FNMA/FHLMC limit) and subject to higher interest rates.

Another option is the 80/15/5 mortgage loan, where the buyers makes a down payment of 5%. Other options include the 80/10/10, 75/15/10, etc which are all variants of the same.

In combinations mortgage loans, the primary loan usually has a 30-year amortization term, while the second loan can have 30 or 15 year term. Expect the interest rate to be about 2% higher for the second loan. The buyer can opt for a fixed rate mortgage or an ARM (adjustable rate mortgage) on either or both loans. The ARM will have a lower monthly premium and allow for additional cost savings, but be sure to refinance the ARM loans if interest rates start to rise.

When most consumers think of insurance for their home, they are thinking of 3 traditional types of protection. Homeowners insurance protects the actual building, property, and contents against loss or damage, and may provide some liability protection. A product called private mortgage insurance, or PMI, is usually sold with a home mortgage, and it is used to make mortgage payments to the lender, and so, it protects the lender, and may be required by the loan company. Another product, called mortgage insurance, or mortgage life insurance, is actually a term life policy which is purchased to pay a home off if the borrower should pass away.

However, many consumers want to protect their ability to pay their home mortgage off in case they should lose their job. So when they are looking for mortgage insurance or home insurance they are not looking for the traditional products at all! And some people are wised to be concerned, and to want to protect their homes. After all, US statistics show us that over one third of home foreclosures are caused by a loss of income. Furthermore, the numbers also tell us another thing. Most Americans will be unemployed a couple of times in their working lives. Since the loss of income can cause huge financial products, and since an unemployment period will happen to most of us, it is prudent to protect ourselves.

Many employees do qualify for state unemployment benefits, but the average amount of US state unemployment benefits is less than $400 a week. This is not enough money to keep most families current on their bills, mortgage, and other obligations, like putting groceries on the table.

Some workers plan to save so they can cover themselves during a period of job loss. And of course, we all should have a few months worth of income in the bank so temporary job losses do not ruin us financially. However, months of savings can get wiped out with one car repair or medical bill, and depleted savings do not always get replaced as quickly as they should. On the other hand, having a bill to pay ever month, for the security of knowing that cash will come in during a the time between jobs, works out better for many working people.

A supplemental or private layoff protection plan can provide peace of mind for a few dollars a month. It pays cash to the plan owner, so that person an use the money to pay the most urgent bills and obligations. The plan benefits the consumer, and not just the loan company. Many of the older credit protection plans are designed to only protect the lender by making payments on a loan or bill.

Some plans pay benefits of up to $2,000 a month, so this benefit can actually cover a mortgage, keep the electricity paid, and buy food for many people. If a person has a private layoff protection plan, they can choose to defer bills that are less urgent, and to pay those bills that need to be current every month. It is a consumer driven credit protection plan that pays cash to the plan member.