Should I Choose a Cash-Out Refi or HELOC?
When you need a chunk of cash for a project, your home may be the best source of funding. Fortunately, you do not need to sell your home to take advantage of your equity. There are two popular and practical ways to pull cash out of your home: a cash-out refinance mortgage and a home equity line of credit (HELOC). Cash-Out Refi’s A cash-out refinance loan replaces your existing mortgage with a new, larger loan, allowing you to take out cash in exchange for some of your existing equity. Lenders typically cap your cash-out refi at 80% of the home’s value. For example, let’...
February 20th, 2019 | Refinancing a Home, HELOC, Should I Choose a Cash-Out Refi or HELOC?
What is the Right Mortgage for Buying a Fixer-Upper?
You have found your dream house but it will take significant work to make it a home. You do not have cash in savings to pay for both a down payment and the repair costs. Not to worry - this is not a hopeless situation. Fortunately, there are two types of mortgage loans available for just this scenario: The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) 203(k) rehabilitation loan or Fannie Mae HomeStyle Renovation Mortgage. FHA 203(k) Mortgage The Federal Housing administration has provided a home loan that allows buyers to borrow enough money to cover the price of the home plus the estimated...
February 13th, 2019 | FHA Loans, Purchasing a Home, What is the Right Mortgage for Buying a Fixer-Upper?
What Are Mortgage Points?
If you have ever checked out the current status of mortgage interest rates, you may have seen the average points listed next to the rates. What are these points and how do they affect your interest rate? Points Defined Mortgage points, or discount points, are upfront fees paid to your lender that allow you to “buy down” your interest rate on your home loan. The idea is that you are prepaying some of the interest on the mortgage, which gives you a lower rate. The more points you pay, the lower your interest rate will be. One point is equal to 1% of the total mortgage loan amou...
February 6th, 2019 | Interest Rates, Conventional Loans, Fixed Rate Mortgages, What Are Mortgage Points?
Why Do Mortgage Rates Go Up and Down?
Mortgage interest rates fluctuate from week to week and they can make huge swings from decade to decade. In the early 1980s, for example, mortgage rates were as high as 18% while roughly 30 years later they are less than a third of that rate. What causes they changes in mortgage rates? What factors affect the direction of rates? The Fed The Federal Reserve is tasked with keeping balance between inflation and the national unemployment rate. One of the ways it influences this balance is with it federal funds rate – the interest rate that banks charge each other for overnight loans. T...
January 30th, 2019 | Interest Rates, Why Do Mortgage Rates Go Up and Down?
3 Things You Need to Know About ARM Loans
Adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) loans always grow in popularity when interest rates are on the rise. Some borrowers think ARMs are the best way to save money on their mortgage in a higher rate climate. ARM loans can also be helpful for those who do not plan to stay in their home more than a few years. Whatever the reason, if you are considering an adjustable rate mortgage here are three things you need to know before signing. 1. What type of ARM are you getting? Of course, you already know that an adjustable rate mortgage means that eventually your loan interest rate can adjust higher or ...
January 23rd, 2019 | Adjustable Rate Mortgages, Interest Rates, 3 Things You Need to Know About ARM Loans
First-time Homebuyers should avoid these 5 Mistakes
Buying a home for the first time is a very exciting adventure, but as with any new experience it can be easy to make plenty of mistakes. In order to make a satisfying purchase, try to avoid these 5 big first-timer blunders. 1. Get Pre-Approved before looking for a home If you are truly ready to make a home purchase, start with first things first. Contact Benchmark Mortgage Companies to get pre-approved for a mortgage. This will give you a good idea of how much home you can afford and it will make you a viable buyer when you find the right house. Otherwise, you run the risk of falling in love with...
January 16th, 2019 | Purchasing a Home, First-time Homebuyers, Preapproval, First-time Homebuyers should avoid these 5 Mistakes