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Mortgage Rates
Loan & Credit FactsOne of the most important factors in your home loan is mortgage rates. The interest that homebuyers pay over the course of an advance can be quite substantial. There are some ways to help ensure that you are getting the best interest rate in the current market.
Some established homeowners may want to decide whether or not it is a good time to refinance their home loans. If the mortgage rates are lower than their current interest figures, it may be time to refinance. Getting the best mortgage rates is a crucial money-saving approach to home financing options.
Research
Planning ahead in this type of endeavor is quite important. If you take some time to study interest rate patterns and standard information you will be better able to make a sound decision. Interest charged on home loans has a profound impact on the cost of the total advance.
Part of the research should include the length of the term. Traditionally, a thirty-year mortgage will have a slightly higher interest rate than one that has a fifteen year term. However, many homebuyers opt for the thirty year program in order to secure a lower monthly payment.
There are some benefits to having a thirty year loan with slightly higher mortgage rates. Disciplined homeowners can opt to make installments that are higher than the required amount or they can simply opt to make one or two extra mortgage payments each year.
Paying a little extra each month or throughout the course of the year is a great idea no matter what your interest rate is. The extra money paid on the loan serves to pay off the debt faster. Even relatively small extras can have significant results.
The APR
The Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is a tool that consumers can use to compare various lenders. The APR is designed to help the customer understand the numbers better. The homebuyer has access to the true cost of the loan over the course of its term.
The APR must be presented by the lender by law. The Federal Truth in Lending Law stipulates that lenders share the Annual Percentage Rate whenever they advertise their mortgage rates. The law is designed to protect buyers from hidden costs and fees, especially when faced with misleadingly low interest rates.
Pre-Qualify
Meeting with a choice lender even before you have a property in mind is a great idea. This meeting will allow you to determine how much house and property you can afford and it can help you lock in certain mortgage rates in the process.
A lender can hold an interest rate for you while you shop for the right property. Knowing how much money you can spend is a valuable tool that can save you a lot of time. Learning about mortgage rates is a perfect starting point in the endeavor.
California Mortgage Specific links
California Mortgage News
Foreclosure-prevention efforts bog down - Kansas City Star
 Mortgage Rates & Trends (blog) | Foreclosure-prevention efforts bog down Kansas City Star Jerry Brown is pushing to use some of California's share of the $25 billion national mortgage settlement to plug holes in the state's budget, dismaying housing activists. Since the start of the real estate bust, foreclosures have been a persistent drag ... STATE USES NATL' MORTGAGE SETTLEMENT MONEY TO PLUG BUDGET Attorney General ... Mortgage settlement could go in state's budget hole Deo Buddhu Accused Of Mortgage Scam Promising False Federal Aid |
California Refinancing Expert Explains New Home Affordable Refinance Program - SBWire (press release)
California Refinancing Expert Explains New Home Affordable Refinance Program SBWire (press release) California Refinancing Expert Jason Richardson explains all about the revamped government program that provides refinancing options to homeowners who owe more on their mortgage than their house it worth called HARP 2.0. |
Negative equity remains a drag on housing market - Los Angeles Times
 Los Angeles Times | Negative equity remains a drag on housing market Los Angeles Times In roughly 10% of Southern California cities, 1 of every 5 homeowners with a mortgage owes double the value of the house, according to the data, released Wednesday. As sales and prices improve, some economists expect homeowners who have been stuck in ... |
California's Mortgage Settlement Funds Should Help Homeowners, Not Reduce Deficit - MarketWatch (press release)
 The Real Deal New York | California's Mortgage Settlement Funds Should Help Homeowners, Not Reduce Deficit MarketWatch (press release) OAKLAND, Calif., May 15, 2012 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- California's dire budget situation claimed a new casualty in the governor's May Revise yesterday: $410 million in bank penalty funds from the National Mortgage Settlement intended to assist ... Gov. Brown has his own plans for mortgage settlement cash California Bankers Say Mortgage Proposals Too Strict Regulator balks at California foreclosure fixes |
Firm targets CA homeowners with foreclosed 2nd mortgages - abc7news.com
 abc7news.com | Firm targets CA homeowners with foreclosed 2nd mortgages abc7news.com Those same property owners are now getting demands for payments on their second mortgages. Our media partner California Watch, a part of the non-profit Center for Investigative Reporting, has the details in this exclusive investigation. REAL ESTATE: Texas firm targets homeowners with foreclosed 2nd mortgages Calif. homeowners w/ foreclosed 2nd mortgages targeted |