Home Loan Interest Rate

A home loan is the security for the repayment of a debt, such as the one incurred upon the purchase of that home, whereas mortgage means a loan secured by a real property. In other words it is a loan on a property that has been taken as security by the lender against the loan. Home loan interest rate is the financial charge for availing the authorization of using the future capital. Sometimes this interest rate becomes one of the very important factors that you must think before applying for any loan.


You can get a lower home loan interest rate if you constantly keep an eye on the various updates of the banks. In order to carry on with the market competition and to expand their business, the banks often try to offer the lowest interest rate and hence you will be getting better values. If you go back less than a decade ago, you will find that the bank used to enjoy more benefit over their customers because majority of the clients lacked what we call bargaining power; this is because there was less competition. With the gradual passage of time many banks came into existence that started offering lower home loan interest rate and the previous situation reciprocated and now the customers have started enjoying more power.


The credit card report in certain cases also acts as an important factor in determining your home loan interest rate. A credit card report contains information about the form of credit you have obtained, bankruptcies, history of bill payment, and court history at each and every phase of your life. Not only this, each time a creditor's admittance is also noted down in your credit card report.


The various reasons for which a creditor will access your credit report are for home loans, personal loans or credit cards etc. One thing you must keep in mind that a creditor only will be allowed to access your credit report with permission only. This factor is important because what happens is, if in a short period of time quite a lot of lenders have accessed your credit report then either the lenders will deny your loan applications or you may get a higher interest rate offer.    

       

The type of occupancy determines the home loan interest rate because if the loan is meant for the home, where you will be living in for full time, part time or rent affects. In general those who live in their homes for a longer duration enjoy the best rates. Just like when you buy something in bulk, you get to pay for the reduced price; this same thing also takes place if you borrow larger sums of money. It may help you to land up with a discounted interest rate.

Sometimes the business costs also decides this interest rates. Like different states have different business costs owing to their respective rules and regulations. For the lenders they pass or add this cost to you in the form of interest rates. Hence, fluctuating cost means fluctuating interest rates.

The Important Role Of Brokers

Brokers are professionals who play an important role in mediating between a lender and a borrower. Brokers collect personal information about the client for the lender including employment and medical history. They also provide the clients' financial and credit information to the lender.

There are many different types of brokers. Below are the more sought-after brokers:

Mortgage broker: mortgage brokers guide customers through the process of selecting a suitable mortgage package with competitive package offers. They also offer financial advice on mortgage and property. Their job is to find a mortgage package that meets the borrower's needs, and to help the client process and complete their mortgage application form. In the United States, mortgage brokers negotiate over 80% of home loans issued. Banks go through brokers to effectively outsource the job of finding and qualifying borrowers.

Real estate broker: real estate brokers finds buyers for those wanting to sell real estate and finds sellers for those wanting to buy real estate. Real estate brokers help sellers market their property and sell it for the highest possible price; they also help buyers purchase property for the best possible price. Once the broker successfully finds a buyer, the real estate broker receives a commission for his or her service. In the U.S. a 6% commission is usually the case for residential real estate and is usually paid by the seller. This is generally split 50/50 between the listing agent and the selling agent.

Forex broker: forex brokers are firms or individuals, who assist individuals or firms to trade in the foreign exchange market. Forex brokers make money from pip or "spread." A spread is the minimum price increase in currency. For instance, in Euro/US Dollar, a shift from 0.9007 to 0.9008 is one spread. In US Dollar/Japanese Yen, a shift from 127.40 to 127.41 is one spread.

Stockbroker: a stockbroker is a person or company who buys and sells stocks on behalf of another person or company, and tries to match up buyers and sellers. Many people seek the advice of and pay for the services of a stockbroker to help them in making informed decisions about their finances with the knowledgeable and interactive guidance of a licensed stockbroker.

Insurance broker: insurance brokers source contracts of insurance on behalf of their customers. An insurance broker will help you to choose the best to fit your needs.

An investor looking for an investment avenue will benefit greatly from using a broker, as brokers tend to be more up-to-date with trends and happenings in the market. Also as per law the broker has a fiduciary duty to advise the customer in the customer's best interest.

Secure vs Unsecured Loans

Essentially, there are two types of loans: secured loans and unsecured loans. Secured loans are loans in which you pledge some sort of collateral. The bank may repossess the collateral if you do not repay the loan according to the terms you agreed to when you took out the loan.

Unsecured loans are not backed by any collateral. You borrow money on the strength of your good credit and ability to repay alone.

Revolving vs. Installment Loans

Revolving and installment describe the amount of time you have to pay back a loan. With a revolving loan, you have access to a continuous source of credit, up to your credit limit. You repay only the amount of the credit you use, plus interest on the unpaid amount. You may re-borrow the principal you've repaid. So the loan could remain "open" for years.

With an installment loan, you pay an agreed amount, which includes principal and interest, every month. Each payment reduces the balance of the loan until it is paid off. There is a fixed ending date, known as the term of the loan.

Fixed vs. Adjustable Interest Rate Loans

Fixed interest is just that. You and the bank agree to a certain interest rate and it remains constant throughout the term of the loan. Fixed interest rates give you the stability of always knowing what your payment will be, so you can budget accordingly.

Adjustable or variable rate interest fluctuates. Usually it is pegged to the Prime Rate - the interest the U.S. Treasury charges to its best borrowers. When the Prime Rate is high, such as during a period of inflation, you pay more. When the Prime Rate is low, such as when the government is trying to stimulate the economy during a recession, you save on interest. If you need to borrow during a period of high interest, your payments will drop once the Prime Rate drops.

Types Of Loans

Auto Loans: A secured loan in which the collateral is the vehicle you purchase.

Credit Cards: An unsecured loan which allows you a line of credit against which you may borrow by presenting a plastic card to the merchant from whom you are purchasing the item. You may make more than one purchase, up to your credit limit.

Personal Loans: Secured or unsecured loans made for a fixed purpose.

Mortgages: A secured loan in which the collateral is the real estate you buy.

Home Equity Loan: A secured loan for a fixed amount in which the collateral is your home. In some cases, the interest on this loan may be tax deductible. See your accountant.

Home Equity Credit Line: A secured, revolving line of credit in which the collateral is your home. In some cases, the interest on this loan or a portion of it may be tax deductible. Consult a tax professional or your accountant.

Home Improvement Loan: A secured loan for a lump sum fixed amount in which the collateral is your home. The money may only be spent on home improvements. The interest on this loan may be tax deductible. Consult a tax professional or your accountant. (In some areas of the country, a home improvement loan "secured by the equity in your home" may not be available. In these areas, an unsecured home improvement loan would be available.)

Student Loan (Stafford Loan) A loan for college expenses underwritten by the U.S. Government. The loan is granted to the student. Payment is deferred while the student is still in school.

Personal Line of Credit: Unsecured loans allowing you access to funds up to a fixed credit limit.

Life Insurance Facts

Life insurance guarantees payment of a given amount to the insured person’s beneficiaries when the policy owner dies.  While many people, especially younger people, don’t necessarily want to take the time to think about something as abstract as dying, this form of insurance is particularly important for parents or other persons with dependents.

The basic structure of most life insurance policies is relatively straight-forward: the policy owner pays a premium every month; upon the owner’s death, the insurer issues payment for the policy amount to the spouse, children, or other beneficiary(-ies) named in the policy.  In practice, as with most forms of insurance, specific policies can be much more complicated than this fairly simple model.

For example, the life insurance policy might have riders, or additional clauses, that pay off in the event of a terminal or critical illness or a permanent disability due to physical or mental causes.  Also, there are different varieties of policies, including term life insurance, whole life coverage, universal coverage, and limited-pay policies.  Understanding the difference between the different types of coverage and picking the appropriate one for your situation can be difficult, and professional advice may be necessary to ensure the correct policy is in place.

Term Life Insurance covers the insured for a certain number of years, after which the coverage typically expires.  Because the policy does not build any cash value, and because it is typically based on a low likelihood of death for the covered person, term insurance premiums are usually relatively low.  However, the length of the term, the amount of coverage (and whether it stays constant or decreases over time), and the premium amount (again, fixed or adjustable over time), will all affect the premium amount.  The lower premium is a primary advantage of term life insurance; a drawback is that, at the end of the term, the still-living insured receives no benefit from the coverage.

Whole Life Insurance is permanent life insurance, which means the policy holder can withdraw money paid in or borrow against the cash value.  Whole life has the advantage of a fixed annual premium and guaranteed death benefits.  Premiums are much higher than term life policies at first, but over the life of the policy the two policy types roughly even out in terms of total cost.  While whole life insurance does build value over time, it may not be as strong as other savings options in terms of the rate of returns.  Also, dividends are not guaranteed with whole life. 

Universal life insurance is similar to whole life, but it offers more flexibility in premiums and may offer stronger returns over time.  It also has a cash account and accrues interest. 

The variety of policies available is intimidating enough to many people.  With dozens of optional riders available, and variations even within individual rider classes, competent professional help is definitely recommended when selecting life insurance.  It should be noted that the life insurance policies offered by many employers, while an attractive benefit, are typically not adequate to meet the needs of the insured’s family in the event of an untimely death.  The total amount of life insurance carried should be enough to pay off any mortgages, car payments, credit card debt, and any other major outstanding debt, leaving the survivors in a solid financial situation.

Low Rate Car Insurance

Everyone likes to save money! That fact is not a secret to anyone. When trying to save money on car insurance, a question that should be considered is, “What will be the cost to me for “saving” money?” This question is meant to help people realize that there is a difference between “price” and “cost”. While Company “A” may offer slightly lower or even much lower premiums than Company “B”, Company “B” may offer some services that you prefer, i.e. a local agent, 24 hour service, online service etc. These services may be worth the extra price to some people, and not for others. Thus, it is shown that services received may out-weigh the price paid.

Another factor to take into consideration is the quality of service you receive from an insurance company. While all auto insurance companies want you to believe that they are as good, or even better than the next company; that is simply not true. There are drastic differences in overall service, claim handling, and personality of individual companies. One company may offer exceptional claim’s service, but perhaps it is very difficult to actually get in touch with the company’s claim’s department; while another company may have terrible claim’s service, but their claim department is easy to reach.

One must ask themselves, “Is it worth paying lower premiums to receive a lower quality of service, or am I willing to pay a bit more to ensure that my service is exceptional?” Don’t misunderstand. Just because a company offers lower premiums, does not necessarily mean that company’s level of service will be lacking. Great service can come at any price.

The most important item to remember while searching for lower premiums is to do your homework. Talk to your family, friends, and co-workers. Ask them where they are insured, and if they are pleased with their insurance company. Remember, not all insurance companies are created equally, for instance, a company that runs completely over the phone or internet will have different costs than a company that employs fulltime agents. That is because the cost of doing business is different for each of those companies. This brings the question again, “What services do I value in my insurance company? Do I want the package Company “A” offers or that of Company “B”?”

Low rate car insurance is in the eye of the beholder. Simply put, different services are worth different amounts to different people. So find the company with the services you desire and let the games begin.

Mortgage Insurance explained

Getting a mortgage is bad enough – what with terms like fixed rate, discount, variable etc – so mention mortgage insurance and naturally your eyes will start to glaze over.

However, mortgage insurance is an extremely important insurance to have – in fact, it can the difference between keeping a roof over your head or ending up having your home repossessed.

If you recently took out a mortgage, you may remember the lender asking you whether you wanted mortgage payment protection insurance. It probably sounded expensive and unnecessary. And while, in some cases, there are companies who like to charge you too much for the product, it doesn’t have to be that way.

As for it being unnecessary – get the right policy and at the right price and it will be an invaluable safety net for you. So, what is mortgage insurance? It is a product whereby should you be unable to meet your mortgage repayments due to being made involuntarily redundant or due to being able to work because of sickness or maybe an accident – then it will cover your mortgage repayments.

Your mortgage repayments (and sometimes other mortgage related outgoings too) will be covered for up to a set period of time (typically 12 months but this can vary from provider to provider) to give you enough time to find another job, or get well etc.

Many people may think that mortgage payment protection insurance is a waste of money, using the old adage “It’ll never happen to me”. However, this is not true. Being unable to work – and therefore having to struggle on state benefits – due to involuntary redundancy, accident or sickness can happen to anyone. It does not discriminate and can strike anyone at any time.

Therefore, if you are in full time employment for more than 16 hours a week and you have a mortgage, then taking out insurance against the financial ramifications makes sound sense.

Despite what the press says, it doesn’t have to be expensive to take out this kind of insurance, and nor do you have to take out a policy with your current mortgage lender. This means you are free to shop around to get a policy that offers you comprehensive protection without a high price tag!

If you are looking for mortgage protection insurance, then do not automatically accept the first quotation you get – premiums can vary wildly, as can the terms of the policy and the benefits.

Do your research – the internet is a quick and easy way to compare policies – and then make a decision from there.