Mortgage Prepay Programs: Don't Get Suckered In

The world is full of people trying to convince us to pay for things we shouldn't. For example, programs that promise to help you pay off your mortgage ahead of schedule. Worth the money? Not according to money reporter Stacy Johnson. In this short (1:33) video, Stacy examines "Matter over Mind". Don't get suckered into this Mortgage Prepayment Program ploy. Take a look…

Have you received offers in the mail for something like this? Did you know you could prepay your mortgage without having to pay your mortgage company for the priveledge of doing so?

Mortgage Foreclosure Looming?

One thing that seems pretty consistent throughout the mortgage industry is, people facing the possibility of losing their home often do little or nothing to prevent it from happening. Many homeowner's don't even seem to be aware that they have options, while other are so distraught by their hardship, it's difficult for them to look for ways to improve their situation.

If you're facing a hardship and there's a chance you could lose your home, it's best to start educating yourself about the options that may be available to you. Homeowners are often able to buy more time in their home by working with their lender to postpone the foreclosure, pending a workout agreement. Many are able to avoid a foreclosure going on their credit. Some are able to work out an agreement with their lender that even makes it possible to keep their home.

You may be able to benefit from one or all of these scenarios; but you must take action to find out if you qualify. Contact your lender and request a workout package. Follow the instructions provided in the package and submit everything the lender requests to help them make an informed decision.

It really is in your lenders best interest to work with you because the cost associated with foreclosing is often much greater than the cost of helping you reaffirm your loan. But it's up to you! If you avoid contact with your lender, they will assume the only option they have is to foreclose.

So take action by following the steps we've outlined here. If foreclosure is looming in your future, don't just sit back and ignore the problem. Contact your lender. You'd be surprised, but they really do want you to keep you home if at all possible, and in most cases, are more than willing to work with you to do so.

Mortgages with Bad Credit History

As home loan guidelines get stiffer and stiffer, more and more people are finding bad credit mortgages as plan A, not plan B as it used to be. But just because you're in the market for a bad credit mortgage loan doesn't mean you shouldn't still look for the best deal possible.

It's best to explore various options when it comes to finding a good rate as these will differ from lender to lender. If you are one with bad credit and looking for a bad credit mortgage loan, know that your rates may depend on your circumstances. This means your flexibility with the mortgage lenders should be at an optimum level. Interest rates may vary according to the circumstances, location, and severity of your bad credit history. Interest rates on bad credit mortgages are likely to be significantly lower than the rates on your existing unsecured debts such as credit cards and personal loans. So this is actually more advantageous than letting such personal debt eat you up.

If you are seeking a bad credit mortgage loan your quest for redemption should start with those mortgage lenders who are more likely to help you. Ideally these lenders should have bad credit mortgage loans within the top tier of their mortgage products. These lenders are happy to help you with a second or third chance. They'll work with you on things such as rate and mortgage insurance.

Above all, do your research. Talk to several lenders. Don't just take one lender's decision as being the only way for you.

Home Loans Without the Big Down Payment

Many people give up on the dream of home ownership before they even get started because they just don’t believe they will ever be able to afford the down payment and closing costs.

A down payment can be as much as 20 percent or more of the purchase price of the house and if you are looking at homes that cost as little as $150,000 you will need to come up with as much as $30,000 just to be approved for the mortgage. Most people don’t have this sort of money sitting in their bank account.

For those thinking these fees would hold them back from home ownership, there is an alternative. There are home loans out there that will help you to get into a home for very little in the way of a down payment and very little in the way of closing costs. Not everyone will qualify for these loan programs, but many people will and many people have been able to buy a home because of them. Why not find out if you qualify?

One of the best home loans for people without a large down payment is an FHA loan. FHA loans are loans provided by a lender but insured by the Federal Housing Administration. These loans allow a lender to provide funding to those who may have less than perfect credit because they are insured against default. These loans are a great option when you don’t have a lot of cash on hand because the down payment can be as little as three percent. When you are buying that same $150,000 home you would be looking at a down payment of $4,500 instead of $30,000. That's a much better deal, and while it still make take some time and effort to come up with the funds, it is much more doable for most people.

In addition to having lower down payment requirements, these loans also have limits as to what can be charged when it comes to closing costs. Many people are not prepared for the cost of closing a loan and they are handed a bill for thousands of dollars and their jaw sort of drops open. It’s hard to come up with these funds and a down payment. When you look at FHA home loans you will find they make closing costs much more affordable. There are also programs out there for you to take advantage of that will help you pay for the closing costs as well as the down payment.

Do your homework when it comes to financing the home of your dreams. You may just find that you can get into that new home for a lot less than you thought.

Mortgage Help: Talk is Cheap

With foreclosures and bankruptcies soaring nationwide, both government and private industry have been promising help to homeowners. But is that help materializing?

Learn more about "Hope Now" from Money Talks correspondent Stacy Johnson in this short (1:38) video…

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