Is it possible? Something better than getting the best mortgage rates! Yes. I know it's surprising and that it goes against what everyone says but it is true and...
I can prove it.
First let's define what we mean by the "best rates" and the financial value that we can attach to shopping for the best rates. The best rate is the best mortgage rate available for you by any lender.
The advent of super mortgage brokers and the Internet has forced the mortgage industry to become very competitive. Each lender has his best rate and most of the time it's within 0.06% of the rates of major banks. Shopping with a mortgage broker makes this easy.
The financial impact of getting a better rate of 0.06% on a 100,000$ mortgage is 1028$ over 25 years or 41.12$ per year. That is not what I call super savings!
Something better than the Best Rate
Dr. Milevsky at York University (Toronto, Canada) published a stunning report. He compared two mortgage strategies between 1950 and the year 2000 and found that:
* 88% of the time one strategy was better (money saved) * the average savings was 22,000$ on a 100,000$ mortgage amortized over 15 years.
Now we're talking. Saving 22,000$ in 15 years, that's 1466.66$ per year. It's not hard to see that choosing the right mortgage strategy is a LOT more important than simply shopping for a better rate.
The real conclusion of the study is not that one mortgage strategy is always better. It's not! The lesson is that choosing a strategy is very important.
[Note: the conclusion of this study is applicable for Canadians and Americans. The interest rates during 1950 and 2000 are very similar and the different strategies are available in both countries.]
What should you do?
Selecting the best mortgage strategy is not as simple as calling around for the best rate. You need to:
* analyse your situation and your long term objectives
* analyse the current interest rates and where they are likely to go in the next 10 to 15 years.
* choose the best strategies based on that information
I suggest that you take the time to find a mortgage broker that does more than shop the mortgage rates for you, but a broker that will take the time to set up a plan to save you money over the entire life of your mortgage. Once you have found a good broker, ask him to present you with 3-4 strategies and his recommendations.
It could save you a lot of money.
About the Author
Gregory van Duyse, AMP - is an Accredited Mortgage Professional in Canada and has written a series of articles on choosing the best mortgage strategies (hypothèque). Visit: www.informezvous.com
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Need A Debt Consolidation Loan?
For many of us, money can get tight every now and then. We have felt the pinch, and many are feeling it now. If you are in that situation where you now have a lot of debt, and are wondering what you can do about it, there is a possible solution for you with a second mortgage. If you already own a home, have some equity built up in it, have a decent credit rating, then you probably already qualify. Here are some things you need to know about getting a second mortgage for debt consolidation.
First Things First
Before you think about getting a second mortgage, there is the possibility of a more economical way to consolidate some debt. That step would be to refinance your first mortgage. It only makes sense, though, if you can refinance at a lower rate of interest than what you currently have on your existing mortgage and present debts, such as your credit cards, that this would be a good way to go. This should be looked at as your first choice because a second mortgage will have higher rates of interest than a first mortgage.
How It Can Help
If refinancing is not available to you, then consider getting a second mortgage. This type of loan is usually against the equity of the home - often called a home equity line of credit. A second mortgage can save you a considerable amount of money by giving you lower interest rates than credit cards, and by making your payments smaller each month.
Look At Loan Costs
When you are ready to choose which loan is for you, you need to look at more than just the interest rates. One of these would be the length of time for the loan. While it is a good thing to have lower payments, you also need to make sure that the total amount to be paid puts you in a better situation. A longer time period may end up meaning that you are actually paying more over the long run. In addition, you need to consider all other fees (points and closing costs) before you commit yourself for the long haul.
Consider The Type of Loan
Then, you should think about the type of second mortgage you want. A fixed rate mortgage allows you to have a steady payment for the duration of the loan. On the other hand, a variable rate mortgage has flexible payments that are dependent on the economy. This means you could have a real savings some years, and higher payments in the bad times.
Generally, if the economy looks like it will be good for a while, then this would be the best way to go. Be sure, though, that you refinance it before the rates get totally out of hand and you lose your home.
Whenever you deal with loans and second mortgages, be sure to compare it with other lenders. You can do this very easily online and get an online quote very quickly. While a second mortgage can be used for any purpose, you should apply the money you need to pay off all existing debt (debt consolidation is good, but debt removal is better) before you do any thing else with it.
About the Author
Joe Kenny writes for SelectLoans.co.uk, a secured bad credit loans comparison site, visit us today for information on all loan topics including debt consolidation loans and links to leading UK providers.Our Site: http://www.selectloans.co.uk/
First Things First
Before you think about getting a second mortgage, there is the possibility of a more economical way to consolidate some debt. That step would be to refinance your first mortgage. It only makes sense, though, if you can refinance at a lower rate of interest than what you currently have on your existing mortgage and present debts, such as your credit cards, that this would be a good way to go. This should be looked at as your first choice because a second mortgage will have higher rates of interest than a first mortgage.
How It Can Help
If refinancing is not available to you, then consider getting a second mortgage. This type of loan is usually against the equity of the home - often called a home equity line of credit. A second mortgage can save you a considerable amount of money by giving you lower interest rates than credit cards, and by making your payments smaller each month.
Look At Loan Costs
When you are ready to choose which loan is for you, you need to look at more than just the interest rates. One of these would be the length of time for the loan. While it is a good thing to have lower payments, you also need to make sure that the total amount to be paid puts you in a better situation. A longer time period may end up meaning that you are actually paying more over the long run. In addition, you need to consider all other fees (points and closing costs) before you commit yourself for the long haul.
Consider The Type of Loan
Then, you should think about the type of second mortgage you want. A fixed rate mortgage allows you to have a steady payment for the duration of the loan. On the other hand, a variable rate mortgage has flexible payments that are dependent on the economy. This means you could have a real savings some years, and higher payments in the bad times.
Generally, if the economy looks like it will be good for a while, then this would be the best way to go. Be sure, though, that you refinance it before the rates get totally out of hand and you lose your home.
Whenever you deal with loans and second mortgages, be sure to compare it with other lenders. You can do this very easily online and get an online quote very quickly. While a second mortgage can be used for any purpose, you should apply the money you need to pay off all existing debt (debt consolidation is good, but debt removal is better) before you do any thing else with it.
About the Author
Joe Kenny writes for SelectLoans.co.uk, a secured bad credit loans comparison site, visit us today for information on all loan topics including debt consolidation loans and links to leading UK providers.Our Site: http://www.selectloans.co.uk/
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