Mortgage InformationA mortgage is borrowing money using property as a security, a type of secured loan in other words. Primarily, the purpose in borrowing the money is to purchase a property. A mortgage is really another word for a property loan - a loan that allows you to borrow a large amount of money in order to buy a home or property which is secured on the value of that property, and which you pay back over an agreed period of time. The term 'secured' means that if you default on payments and can't keep up with the payments schedule as agreed, the lender has the right to sell your property in order to recover their money. A mortgage can be broken down into four main parts: Capital - This is the amount of money that you borrow to buy the house. Interest - This is the charge for borrowing money. Worked out as a percentage of the capital. Term - This is the fixed period of time that the money is borrowed over. Repayments - These are the regular payments you make throughout the term of the mortgage. The mortgage is created by a legal charge on the property and, significantly, does not involve the transfer of land. The charge confirms that the property has been pledged to the lender as security for the mortgage loan. Mortgages are usually repaid over 25 years, but depending on your situation and earnings it can be arranged over either a longer or shorter period of time. The amount you borrow is called the 'capital', and you will also have to pay back the interest charged to you by the lender. The title deeds are held by the lender but when the purchase monies are paid over to the vendor, usually through a solicitor, the mortgagor becomes the owner of the property. The legal charge is supported by a loan agreement between the two parties which sets out the terms of the loan, the responsibilities and undertakings. You have two options - repay the capital and the interest together - this is a 'repayment' mortgage, or repay the interest only, and organise another investment to cover the capital at the end of the term. This is known as an 'interest only' mortgage. When looking at how much money a lender is willing to let you borrow, there are two factors that they will want to consider. First of all, they will want to know how much you earn. Usually you will only be able to borrow around three times your salary. If you are looking to purchase a joint mortgage with a partner or friend, then the income multiplier may be worked out differently. Some lenders will offer two-and-a-half times the joint salaries, or three times the higher salary, and one times the lower salary, whichever is higher. Most lenders will also take into account the amount that you are looking to borrow, and the total value of the property. Although some lenders will allow you to borrow the full value of the property, most will only lend a certain percentage, say 95%. When applying for a mortgage, there are certain points that you will need to consider before you sign on the dotted line. First of all you need to consider how much you can afford. You should complete a budget, and work out how much money you have coming in, and how much money you spend each month. This should then give you an idea to how much you can afford to pay a lender each month for your mortgage. You should also consider whether your income would allow you to afford the property you are after. You also need to think about how long you will need to borrow the money for. A mortgage is a major financial commitment and will require that you can keep up the repayments for the full term. If you repay your mortgage before the end of the designated term you may well be charged a penalty. Penalties are particularly common in the first few years of a loan or if you are taking advantage of a fixed rate or a discounted rate and can be very significant in size. Sometimes it is possible to serve notice to avoid these penalties. Furthermore, some lenders will charge interest until the end of the month in which redemption occurs so it may pay you to time the redemption of your mortgage to avoid this charge. Some lenders also make additional charges such as vacating fees, deed release fees or other administration charges. All of these costs should be highlighted in the mortgage offer or in the standard Terms and Conditions provided with that offer. Before committing to your mortgage, please check the redemption penalties which will be mentioned in the mortgage offer. Getting a mortgage can be very complicated. If you are unsure about which mortgage to go for, then you should seek some financial advice. You may freely reprint this article provided the author's biography remains intact: About The Author
MORE RESOURCES updated Sat. April / 20 / 2024 15-Year Mortgage Refinance Rates: Compare Current Rates Business Insider VA Loans: What They Are And How To Qualify Bankrate.com How to Refinance Your Mortgage NerdWallet 30-Year Mortgage Refinance Rates Business Insider Loan Modification Vs. Refinance Bankrate.com Mortgage Interest Rates Today, April 19, 2024 | High Rates Make for a Challenging Homebuying Season Business Insider Average Mortgage Interest Rates: Mortgage Rates by Credit Score, Year, and Loan Type Business Insider Types of Mortgage Refinance Options Bankrate.com How To Get The Best Refinance Rate Bankrate.com How To Get A Home Equity Loan With Bad Credit Bankrate.com The best mortgage lenders for refinancing in April 2024 CNN Underscored Mortgage Interest Rates Today, April 16, 2024 | Rates Remain Elevated After Last Week's Spike Business Insider Mortgage Interest Rates Today, April 15, 2024 | Rates Are High, But They Still Could Drop This Year Business Insider With property values strong in 2023, many homeowners tapped home equity lines of credit, pushing total HELOC ... Miami Herald Best Mortgage Refinance Lenders of April 2024 Business Insider Best Mortgage Refinance Lenders In 2024 Bankrate.com Current mortgage refinance rates CNN Underscored How To Refinance A Rental House Bankrate.com 280 Park Ave.'s owners refinance mortgage and pay down debt Crain's New York Business Bain Proposes Japan's Kioxia IPO to Clear $5.8 Billion Loan Refinance U.S. News & World Report Mortgage Refinance Rates: Compare Current Rates Business Insider MBA: Mortgage Applications Increased in Weekly Survey Calculated Risk When to Consider Refinancing Your Mortgage Business Insider Mortgage Rates Chart | Historical and Current Rate Trends The Mortgage Reports 30-year refinance rates: What to know CNN Underscored Mortgage Rate Forecast April 2024 Bankrate.com Refinancing a Home Equity Loan (2024 Guide) MarketWatch Refinance Requirements: What You Need to Refinance Your Home in 2024 The Mortgage Reports Cash-Out Refinancing: How It Works, When To Do It Bankrate.com Mortgage Rate History: 1970s to 2024 Bankrate.com Current 15-year refinance rates — and lenders that offer them CNN Underscored How Soon Can You Refinance a Mortgage? NerdWallet Conventional Refinance Rates and Guidelines for 2024 The Mortgage Reports How To Refinance An Underwater Mortgage Bankrate.com Should You Refinance Your Mortgage In 2024? Bankrate.com Mortgage Interest Rates Today, April 14, 2024 | Will Rates Still Go Down This Year? Business Insider When to Refinance Mortgage: Is it Time? - Buy Side from WSJ The Wall Street Journal Will Mortgage Rates Go Down in 2024? What Homebuyers Should Expect Business Insider Best Refinance Lenders of April 2024: Refinance Your Mortgage The Motley Fool Pros and Cons of a Cash-Out Refinance Bankrate.com What Credit Score Do I Need To Refinance? Bankrate.com Should I Refinance My Mortgage Now? When to Refinance As Rates Drop Business Insider Office of Research blog: A look at cash-out refinance mortgages and their borrowers between 2013 to 2023 Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
|