Tag Archive for: Mortgages

The Seesaw World of Mortgage Rates, Stocks and Bonds

If you’re like most people, you really don’t pay much attention to Wall Street on a daily basis. Sure, you’ll check your 401(k) when you statement comes in and peek at your IRA but in general, Wall Street is left for the so-called “experts” who buy and sell stocks every single day. But as you’re […]

Can I Really Skip Two Mortgage Payments by Refinancing

You may have heard this before. That when you refinance you get to skip two mortgage payments. In fact, it’s not uncommon to hear a lender actually promote this notion. If so, I think it’s a bit misleading. There’s no such thing as skipping mortgage payments during a refinance, the payments are made just in […]

Getting Your VA Entitlement Back

If you’re one of the fortunate who has access to the VA home loan program, first, thank you for your service. Second, the VA loan program is without a doubt the most competitive home financing option in today’s marketplace for those seeking to purchase a home with as little cash to close as possible. When […]

The VA Cash Out Loan

Surely the ideal loan program for those looking to come to their closing with as little cash as possible is the VA loan. There are only a couple of government-backed mortgages that do not require a down payment and the VA program is one of them. The other is the USDA mortgage but that is […]

What Is a Flood Certificate and Do You Need One?

If you’re going to buy a home and get a mortgage, you’ll need a flood certificate, often referred to in the mortgage biz as a flood cert. You won’t be able to get financing without one. A flood cert isn’t very expensive at all, probably the least expensive items borrowers are expected to pay. Even […]

Conventional Loan Approval: Basic Guidelines

Conventional loans are by far the most popular choice among home buyers. Conventional loans are those underwritten to standards set forth by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. When a loan is approved using these guidelines it is then eligible for sale in the secondary markets. Selling a loan allows the lender to continue making mortgages. […]

Mortgage Rate Forecast: Should You buy Now or Wait?

It’s now closer to the time when holidays and days off are further in the rear view mirror and it’s back to the standard routine. Investors are back in the markets packing their portfolios with stocks, mutual funds and bonds and analysts are moving back in the guessing game as to the state of the […]

Bank Statement Loans Explained

Bank Statement Loan Explained   Have you heard of a Bank Statement Mortgage? Most mortgage loans require bank statements to verify sufficient funds to close on a transaction. A complete bank statement provides third-party verification that the applicant has enough funds for a down payment, related closing costs and cash reserves all belonging to the […]

Down Payment Assistance is Here

Saving up enough money for a down payment and closing costs is typically the single biggest challenge when buying real estate, especially so for those buying their very first home. There are low down payment programs which can ask for as little as 3.5 percent down, such as the FHA program, as well as zero […]

Why a Mortgage Lender Asks for Documentation

Whether it’s applying online, meeting a loan officer face-to-face, or having a conversation over the phone about a new home loan application, your mortgage lender will ask for documentation before underwriting the file. Because mortgage lenders follow the same basic lending guidelines they all ask for the same basic set of information. Sometimes though you […]