| |
| |
|
Mortgage & Refinancing Information |
|
|
|
Interest-only Mortgages Have Their Pitfalls
Rising home prices, particularly on the East and West coasts have put the costs of home ownership seemingly beyond the reach of many. And yet, home ownership is up nationwide, and the percentage of Americans who own their homes is the highest it has ever been. How is this possible? There are more different types of mortgages available to home buyers than ever before, and one that is growing in popularity is the interest-only mortgage. With an interest-only mortgage, the buyer pays no principal for the first few years of payments. The period of time varies, and is typically anywhere from one to five years. At that time, the principal is added to the mortgage payments and the amount of the payment increases. By keeping the payments lower for the first few years of the mortgage, the interest-only mortgage allows buyers to obtain a more expensive home than they otherwise might. The buyer's income will probably increase over time, making it possible to afford the higher payments that will come when the principal is finally added to the payments. The downside to an interest-only mortgage is that no equity accrues in the home if the buyer isn't paying any principal. For many Americans, the equity in their home is their single largest financial asset, so taking out a mortgage that doesn't build equity would seem to be a bad idea. Equity has long been used as a last resort source of funding for emergencies. And yet, with the price of homes rising so quickly these days, many buyers don't seem to care. Equity can be built two ways - either through paying down the principal or by an increase in the market value of the home. If the value of your home increases, so does your equity, even if you are only paying interest on the mortgage. This is great, so long as home prices continue to increase. But what if prices fall? There are potential problems with interest-only financing. Interest-only mortgages have variable interest rates. If interest rates rise, mortgage payments will increase. If payments increase beyond the level of affordability, homeowners could be forced to sell their homes. This could lead to a glut in the housing market, causing prices to fall. Owners wishing to sell could find that they owe more money than their home is worth and that they have no equity. The interest-only mortgage is a useful tool to help people buy a home they otherwise might not be able to afford. Prospective home buyers should consider whether taking out such a mortgage is a good idea, or whether they might be better off buying a less expensive home. ©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including End-Your-Debt.com, a Website devoted to debt consolidation information and HomeEquityHelp.net, a site devoted to information on home equity loans.
MORE RESOURCES:
Mortgage-Refinance - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Residential Mortgages - a Step Ahead on the Property Ladder Doesn't Residential mortgage give the impression that they are a different breed of mortgages? They are often thought at the first instance to be a complex term, which they aren't. They are actually the regular mortgages that we hear of so often. Buying a House? How Much Home Can You Afford? Maybe you've heard the expert advice that your debt to income ratio shouldn't be more than 36 percent of your total income. But do you truly know what that means, and how lenders will look at your financial history in order to decide whether or not to extend you a mortgage? If you need help figuring out your debt to income ratio, simply follow the guidelines below and soon you'll know whether or not you're in a position to apply for a mortgage loan. Home or Investment Property Equity: Be Sure the Bank Gives You All that You Deserve Home equity is your own personal money machine. If you want financial freedom, a home equity loan is probably the best way to achieve it. Home Loans For People With Adverse Credit History Whether you are planning to purchase a home for the first time or refinance an existing mortgage, plan on comparing lending companies before you accept a financing offer if you have adverse credit history. Sub prime lenders specialize in offering loans to people who have a high-risk credit history. Should You Get an Interest-only Home Mortgage? Before you consider taking out an interest-only mortgage, you should first understand what they are. Unlike traditional, fixed-rate mortgages, interest-only mortgages allows the borrower to initially pay the interest on the principal for a short period of time, rather than making payments on both the principal and the interest. Using a Calculator to Assess Your Loan Buying a house is a very important step in your life. Every family dreams of having their own home and whether you are looking into your first, or are moving or upgrading your home, you know your mortgage is important. A Guide to Finding Cheap Homeowner Loans If you're actively looking for cheap homeowner loans, there are several things that you should take into consideration to make sure that you get the best loan for your money.Before taking one of the loans offered to you, you should take the time to understand how cheap homeowner loans work, make sure that you've explored all of your loan options, and shop around for the best loan rate that you're eligible for. Applying for a Home Mortgage Loan Online - The Pros and Cons If you have considered applying for a home loan mortgage online, there are a few pros and cons to think about with getting a home mortgage loan online:Pros:1. The process of applying for an online home mortgage loan is very simple, unlike some lenders who operate in the 'real' world and ask for heaps of information. Tips On New York Mortgage Refinance Loan Many homeowners want to know if it worth taking a New York mortgage refinance. How do you know if New York mortgage refinancing makes sense in your case? Read on to understand when you should refinance and how to go about doing it. Need Mortgage? Alternative Finance Often Masks Predators, Who Want to Steal Your House So, your bank had just turned you down for a mortgage application. The same thing also happened, when you went to other banks in your area. Home Equity Loans Can Provide Cash in a Hurry Think About the Long Term. Estimate how long you expect to stay in your current house. Home Equity Loan Tax Deductions Interest - is an amount you pay for the use of borrowed money.Several lenders are currenty offering amazing deals for 125% home equity loans. Guide to Flexible Mortgages Outlined below is a useful guide to flexible mortgages. Flexible mortgages are also known as Australian Mortgages because they usually feature something which is common in Australia - interest recalculation on a daily basis. How Much Home Loan Can I Afford? Have you ever asked yourself how much home loan can I afford? If you know how much of a payment you qualify for before shopping for a home, your purchase will go much smoother and it can save you a lot of headaches.How would you like to find the perfect place to live then not know if you can qualify for the loan? Long before you even start looking for your home, you need to know how much home loan you can afford. The Right Home Loan - Floating or Fixed Rate Loan Choosing a home loan has never been tougher. Yes, with all these cheap interest rates floating around, you as a customer are faced with a happy predicament. Home Equity Loan - Not Just For Home Repairs, And Tax Deductible, Too! Thanks to the combination of low interest rates and skyrocketing property values, home equity loans are more popular than ever. The value of home equity loans taken out by Americans has doubled in the last two years, and the market for them shows no signs of slowing down. A Mortgage Loan For Homes Everybody wants to own a house because it is something that portrays your success in life. Some people make some ways on how to own one by considering a lot of things including borrowing money from banks, lending offices and finance institutions. The Real Truth About Those: Online Get a Better Loan Web Sites - 6 Things to Look For You have seen the Commercials on TV go this or that web Site and Refinance your Home and Save thousands. Tempting isn't it? Do they really save you money?But what if you need help or Advice? What if you have questions? Can an online Internet Robot Design a Mortgage Plan customized for your unique situation. What the Bank Won't Tell You About Mortgage Refinancing So you have a mortgage, and you need to refinance to get your interest rates low. Most people simply walk into their bank, ask to refinance, and then end up paying more money long term than they would have otherwise. Home Mortgages: Does a No-closing-cost Loan Make Sense for You? I have heard a number of radio ads and have seen many newspaper ads offering "no closing cost" home mortgages. These ads will tell you that you can get a new mortgage or refinance your existing mortgage at absolutely with absolutely no closing costs.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |