Saturday, July 19, 2008

How To Compare Mortgage Loans Efficiently

By Chris Channing

Mortgage loans span many years, so much time should be spent in the planning phase of obtaining the loan. There are four main things to consider when sizing up the competition: term, rate, points, and fees. Borrowers should keep each point in mind for obtaining best results in mortgage loan rates.

When we say term, we mean the amount of time that is going to be observed in paying back the loan. It was common for the mortgage loan to span 30 years on average, but recent years have shown that a 15-year mortgage loan is more popular. This is because consumers like the prospect of being in debt as little time as possible, not to mention that longer mortgage loans are quite costly.

The rate is often expressed as an APR- or annual percentage rate. The APR is comprised of many different charges and discounts, and is applies to the amount owed to figure interest. The APR can be variable or fixed, depending on what the lender is leaning towards or what the borrower needs. Variable APR will change with economic conditions, while a fixed rate will stay the same. Each have their benefits.

Points come in at aspect three, which are simply just used to express 1% of a mortgage loan. Paying more "points" initially will give the borrower a lower interest rate, which means less to pay in the long run of a mortgage loan. Borrowers should try to pay as much of the mortgage loan off as possible initially if they want to better their odds of cutting costs and becoming debt free sooner.

As a last point to make, we have the fees that are so unpopular among borrowers. As a general rule of thumb, fees should always be laid out before the borrower, and should never be hidden in paperwork. Reputable lenders will never hide fees in the fine print, and if hidden fees are indeed found, a borrower should consider switching to a lender that is more trustworthy. It's also a good idea to seek legal or financial counsel for a second opinion in this area.

Each of the four topics described seem easy enough, but rest assured, the mortgage loan industry can cause years of pain for borrowers. Thus, it is highly recommended that borrowers obtain counsel from financial advisors. Only then will they be able to ensure that their long term financial health is going to have a positive outlook.

Closing Comments

As we can see, a mortgage loan has many aspects to consider. Often times it's too much for a single borrower to handle, so never be afraid to ask for help where needed. And if anything is going to be learned, it should be that preventing the need of a mortgage loan or even fixing one's credit history before applying for one. Otherwise, borrowers are more likely to become debt-riddled, and be faced with more problems than what they can deal with.

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