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MLS Reverse Mortgage asked:


Seniors today often live with a great deal of financial uncertainty. The retirement they imagined may not be consistent with the reality they face.

Incomes are flat or declining, living and medical expenses are higher than ever and few income boosting alternatives exist.  Even those who have heard about Reverse Mortgages may be unsure about how they work or what questions to ask. As they search for information, they often turn to their financial institution for guidance and information. By becoming familiar with the product, you can be an even more valuable resource to your clients providing them with income supplementing alternatives to drawing down assets.  

 

What is a Reverse Mortgage?

 

A Reverse Mortgage is a special type of loan that allows a homeowner to convert a portion of the equity in their home into cash they can access. The funds are not taxable to the homeowner and typically don’t interfere with eligibility for Social Security or Medicare benefits. (However, in the federal Supplemental Security Income program, beneficiaries must keep their liquid resources under certain limits.) The customer retains title to the home as well as right to any appreciation in home value when the loan terminates after it is paid off. The loan remains in force until the last titleholder dies, permanently leaves the home or sells the property; the borrower can’t be forced to sell or move by the lender. The loan may be repaid at any time. But unlike a traditional home equity loan or second mortgage, no monthly payments are required. Instead of putting further pressure on an already stretched budget, a Reverse Mortgage can free a senior homeowner of monthly debt obligations.

 

Most Reverse Mortgages today are Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) and are FHA-insured and guaranteed. Because HECMs are subject to FHA lending limits, proprietary products have also been developed to help homeowners with properties in excess of the FHA lending limits.  

 

Who qualifies for a Reverse Mortgage?

 

All titleholders must be 62 or older and own a home with some equity. There are no income or credit qualifications. Existing mortgages or liens must be paid off, but are often paid with proceeds from the Reverse. The homeowner must also remain current on insurance and property taxes, but these can also be paid with proceeds from the Reverse.

 

How can a borrower use the money?

 

The funds can be used for any purpose from making ends meet to living retirement dreams.  The top reasons for funds used given typically by borrowers are:

 



Paying off debts, primarily mortgage and credit cards

Home repairs and remodeling

Living expenses

Travel

Health care or long-term care

Easing the financial burden on children

Education

Hobbies

Escalating property taxes



 

The amount available depends on the borrower’s age, the value of the home, interest rates and local FHA lending limits. Older borrowers can receive a higher percentage of their equity than younger borrowers. Funds can be received in a lump sum, a monthly payment or a line of credit.

 

What are the costs?

 

As with most any loan product, there are origination fees and closing costs, but they can be paid from the proceeds of the Reverse Mortgage. HECM loans also have a charge for the FHA’s Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP). There are usually no out-of-pocket costs to the borrower.

 

What consumer protections are in place?

 

Reverse Mortgages are non-recourse consumer loans – the loan payoff can never exceed the value of the home. To get a Reverse Mortgage, the customer must attend a mandatory counseling session and review their financial situation with a trained, professional Reverse Mortgage counselor. Many of the counselors are certified by the AARP. The counselor ensures that they understand the transaction, the costs and their other alternatives.

 

If you have questions regarding Reverse Mortgages or how they may provide life-changing benefits to your clients, contact MLS Reverse Mortgage at 1-888-888-4834 or www.mlsreversemortgage.com.

 

Fixed Rate Reverse Mortgage

 

MLS Reverse Mortgage

 

MLS Reverse Mortgage asked:


Foreclosure filings were reported on 2.3 million U.S. properties in 2008, an increase of 81 percent from 2007 and up 225 percent from 2006, according to the RealtyTrac U.S. Foreclosure Market Report released January 15, 2009. The soaring number of forclosures have sent ripples through the housing and banking industry with the affects being felt by millions.

According to RealtyTrac, California, Florida, Arizona posted the highest 2008 foreclosure totals. A total of 523,624 California properties received a foreclosure filing in 2008, the nation’s highest state total. Foreclosure activity in the state increased nearly 110 percent from 2007 and nearly 498 percent from 2006. With 385,309 properties receiving a foreclosure filing in 2008, Florida documented the second highest state total. Florida foreclosure activity increased 133 percent from 2007 and nearly 412 percent from 2006. Arizona’s 2008 total of 116,911 properties receiving a foreclosure filing was third highest among the states. Foreclosure activity in Arizona increased 203 percent from 2007 and 655 percent from 2006. Other states with Top 10 totals for 2008 were Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Texas, Georgia, Nevada and New Jersey.

With mounting job losses and a weakening economy, forclosures and mortgage delinquencies are expected to continue to rise. The nation’s unemployment rate shot up at the end of the year, reaching 7.2 percent in December — its highest level since early 1993, according to a Labor Department report release January 9, 2009. That puts U.S. job losses at 2.6 million for 2008.

However, with all this doom and gloom in the housing market, there is a glimmer of hope for senior homeowners 62 years of age and older. That hope comes in the form of a HUD Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) or Reverse Mortgage. Those who have obtained a reverse mortgage need not be concerned with the increasing forclosure rates and whether or not they can make their mortgage payments. With a HECM reverse mortgage, there are no monthly payments required. 

Borrowers remain in their homes for life and never have to worry about making a mortgage payment again. All they need to do is keep the property in good repair, pay their property taxes and keep their homeowners insurance current and paid. 

For seniors who currently do not have a reverse mortgage, now may be the time to explore the option. It does not matter if a senior is currently late on their mortgage. They may still qualify for a reverse mortgage. To qualify all borrowers on title must be 62 years or older, occupy the property as their primary residence and not currently be in a bankruptcy. That’s it! 

MLS Reverse Mortgage has helped save several seniors who were months away from losing their homes. 

So, in these tough economic times, there is still hope for seniors looking for mortgage payment relief or cash out to enjoy life’s pleasures.

Learn more online: http://www.mlsreversemortgage.com

1st American Mortgage asked:


How to Find Honest Advice About Colorado Mortgages

It’s safe to say there are many places to find a deal for a Denver mortgage or Colorado mortgages these days. But the mortgage crisis has made things a little more complex. It’s not just about finding the best deal, but finding someone to work with who will give you honest advice and help you get into a mortgage that you can afford. But are there experts out there you can give you that sort of Colorado mortgage advice? Is there someone who will get you into the best Denver mortgage product, while still remaining ethical? The answer is yes.

Watch Out When Colorado Mortgage Experts Offer The World

One of the problems that got so many people into a mortgage mess is that their Denver mortgage expert or Colorado mortgage expert made them an offer that would fix all of their problems. These mortgage experts put customers into deals that just didn’t work out and now people are liable to lose their homes. If you want to get into the right mortgage product now, then you need to look for someone who will look at the Colorado home loans available and tell you the ones you can’t have.

Sounds strange, doesn’t it? But that’s the way you can tell a Denver mortgage lender with credibility from one who is more unethical.

In the recent past, when it seemed like everyone was buying a home, too many Colorado mortgage professionals weren’t being honest with their clients and the result was bad loans that have turned into foreclosures. The lenders involved weren’t looking out for their clients, instead they were just interested in getting them started on a loan which may have been low at first, but now has turned into trouble. Instead, a mortgage pro has to look at what will happen to a customer now and in the future.

How do Ethical Denver Mortgage Professionals Work?

In the midst of this crisis, ethical Denver mortgage professionals are working hard to gain back the reputation lost by bad lenders. Unfortunately, the names of everyone working in the business were hurt by the people who worked on bad loans. It will take hard (and ethical) work to repair that.

If you are a potential customer, then you need to be looking out for the professionals who are out there, coming up Colorado mortgages while fighting to be ethical. They have good products that will help a homeowner and they are working in that person’s best interest. Seek out the Colorado mortgage experts who are client-focused and who have been in business for a long time thanks to that philosophy. You want an expert whose business focuses on:

• Selling reasonably priced Denver mortgage products

• Finding many good options in Colorado mortgages for customers that will last throughout the years

• Making sure the clients remain credit-worthy homeowners

• Putting customer service first, so their business grows thanks to referred and repeat customers

The mortgage crisis may have knocked some bad mortgage providers out of the business, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t still traps for customers. They need to keep looking for reliable home loan experts. The key is the kind of Denver mortgage advice you get and whether it’s honest enough to really tell you what kind of program you can get into. If an offer is too good to be true, it probably is.

This article is written by J.B. of 1st American Mortgage and Loan, LLC, a Colorado mortgage lender who offers access to information on obtaining a Colorado mortgage loan as well as other information on loans in Colorado online mortgage quotes, and rates through his website TrueMortgageQuote.com http://www.truemortgagequote.com).

1st American Mortgage asked:


Colorado mortgage shopper may wonder, while they are shopping around for a loan, if there are different mortgage rates in the state? —? higher or lower than the rest of the nation. The basic answer is no, when you compare rates for mortgages in Colorado to elsewhere.

Mortgage rates in Colorado and other states are based on federal standards. But there will be the perception that the rates are higher in areas where the cost of living is higher. For Colorado mortgage rates, this is often the case.

Impact of Jumbo Mortgages on Mortgage Rates in Colorado

Why are there higher mortgage rates in Colorado? Mostly because of the jumbo mortgage. Mortgages in Colorado very often go over the threshold of $417,000 that qualifies ‘conforming’ Colorado mortgage loans. Any Colorado mortgage above $417,000 is considered a jumbo mortgage loan. This is because there are such great homes and properties in Colorado. Better homes mean higher mortgages in Colorado, often necessitating a jumbo mortgage.

Jumbo mortgage rates are above those of standard mortgage rates in Colorado by about a quarter to a half of a percentage. Why? Because there is a higher risk because of a lack of federal backing and the investment’s large size. But this is true not just in Colorado, but of all jumbo mortgages.

The bottom line is that the mortgage rates in Colorado are not higher than normal, but it is the mortgages in Colorado that are higher, because there are more jumbo mortgages in the state, which pairs more Colorado mortgages into slightly higher interest rates.

Impact of Jumbo Mortgages on the Mortgage Buyers in Colorado

For mortgage buyers in Colorado, this means that finding a good Colorado mortgage broker is crucial when you search for a deal.

No matter the size or the classification of the loan, rates will differ between Colorado mortgage brokers. You may be able to obtain a loan from an out-of-state lender instead of an in-state Colorado mortgage broker, but that may be a mistake.

Consider this: Who knows more about Colorado home financing than an in-state Colorado mortgage broker? A broker in another place in the nation will not be as informed about the unique housing market. A Colorado mortgage broker understands the different types of properties and mortgage loans in Colorado. A Colorado mortgage broker offer many types of loans for many different types of homes, from small family homes to large homes requiring a jumbo mortgage, and property uses from investment, vacation, luxury or permanent homes.

Smart shopping is key in the search for a qualified and helpful Colorado mortgage broker. The small differences in loan fees and mortgage rates in Colorado can mean big differences in payments and interest paid during the term of the loan. Choosing a broker for the mortgage in Colorado, though, is not just about rate. Fees and closing costs should be a big factor when deciding on a loan product. An informed borrower ought to have all of this knowledge in their mind when they find a honest and trusted Colorado mortgage broker who can explain to a borrower the different parts of the process, from rates to fees to other options. It’s best that a borrower chooses a Colorado mortgage broker that is the best fits for their finances.

1st American Mortgage asked:


If you are in Denver or Colorado and looking for a home loan there are many options for you, thanks to technology. You can look for a loan from anywhere in the country, but that doesn’t mean you should if you are looking to buy a refinance a Denver or Colorado mortgage.

No one has the knowledge of Denver or Colorado home loans like local Denver mortgage lenders, despite the fact you can shop for a Colorado or Denver mortgage online or fill out a Colorado and Denver application with the press of a button. Those far removed from the unique housing market of the area can really give you the understanding you need for a Denver and Colorado mortgage.

Colorado and Denver Mortgage lenders and their knowledge

The real estate market in Colorado is its own animal. It’s unique and a Colorado mortgage company will know that. Denver mortgage lenders understand that you can find modest single family homes, investment properties, luxury homes and vacation

properties all in the same market. Other markets are very different, with not as many kinds of properties available, so lenders outside the market may try to fit only one type of Denver and Colorado home loans to a lender — without success. Those seeking Denver Colorado home loans and properties will be more successful if they find a Denver mortgage lender who can offer more products specifically targeted to the individual’s needs.

The unique nature of the market means you must have someone working for you with a good knowledge base of Denver and Colorado home loans and a Denver or Colorado mortgage company that can get to a variety of products.

The best Denver mortgage lenders should be able to access many different funding sources for Denver Colorado home loans, jumbo loan products for those seeking larger Denver Colorado home loan and standard Denver Colorado home loans for conforming loans under $417,000.

With these products, Denver mortgage lenders can also provide program flexibility, with the ability to access both fixed and variable rate products for Denver mortgage lenders serving short- and long-term home seekers.

Different buyers have different Denver Colorado home loan needs, including those who want to sell after a few years, those who are looking to refinance and those who want to stay in their homes for a long time and want stable Denver Colorado home loan payments (and preferred fixed rate loans from Denver mortgage lenders).

The bottom line for those looking for a loan is that the needs will differ depending on what kind of loan you want and need. Finding the best rates for your needs means finding a good Denver and Colorado mortgage company which is flexible and experienced enough to provide a good Denver and olorado home loan. Consumer watch groups like the Tom Martino mortgage referral system can help those shopping for Denver Colorado home loans. The system makes looking for a good Denver mortgage lender that much easier. Plus, the added security of a good consumer advocate can be a big boost in finding reliable Denver mortgage lenders.

The House Team Of Mortgage Intellingence asked:


“A penny saved is a penny earned”… or so the old proverb goes. Of course, the value of a penny has changed somewhat from the time when your mother offered her wisdom on the value of keeping what you earn. Today, you could save thousands of dollars by simply making the right mortgage decision. If you’re like most Canadian homeowners, your mortgage is a goldmine of potential savings.

In the past few articles, we’ve talked about the importance of your mortgage as one of your most significant financial decisions. We’ve explored the value of seeking the advice of a mortgage professional -whether you’re buying a home or renewing an existing mortgage.

Today, let’s take a look at the bottom line: the savings you can enjoy by making the right mortgage decisions.

It is the primary role of a mortgage broker to find you the right product for your personal situation. A mortgage broker is a financial professional and - like your investment advisor - he or she will want to understand your personal situation and payment preferences. Your mortgage broker has access to a broad spectrum of lending institutions, so you can do some valuable comparison shopping for the right combination of features, rates and mortgage options.

All these choices offer you substantial opportunities to save money over the life of your mortgage.

If you are like most homeowners, you are focused -for good reason - on finding the best possible rate for your mortgage. Your mortgage broker can offer you the best range of rate options and terms. If a mortgage broker can get you one per cent off the posted rate, that could translate into more than $13,000 in interest per $100,000 borrowed over a 25-year amortization schedule. If, however, you believe that most mortgage rates are basically the same from one institution to the next, then consider the fact that even an eighth of a point difference in the rate can offer significant savings over the duration of your mortgage.

But it’s also important to look beyond the rate. There are other ways to find savings in your mortgage. Your mortgage broker is up-to-date on market trends and new opportunities… as well as some of the tried-and-true ways to save money in a mortgage.

Do you get an annual bonus in your job? You may want to use that bonus to pay down the principal of your mortgage. If you pursue this strategy consistently over the life of your mortgage, you could save thousands of dollars in interest by paying your mortgage off sooner.

Are you paid bi-weekly or bi-monthly? Consider a change from the usual monthly mortgage payment. Set up your mortgage payment schedule to coincide with your pay period. Again, you can shave years off your mortgage, and enjoy thousands of dollars in savings.

In the coming weeks, we’ll look at some of these savings opportunities in more detail. In the meantime, consider the old penny proverb again. How much is your time worth? Time savings is one of the key, unexpected benefits that clients say they have enjoyed when they choose to work with a mortgage broker. Above all, a mortgage broker is an expert in customer service, and that means that your broker looks after every detail of your mortgage research and negotiations on your behalf.