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Can I split my mortgage in two and pay biweekly?

The biweekly mortgage has become increasingly popular as more people favor paying off their home loan early and reducing interest charges. ...


What is an assumable mortgage?

It is a mortgage held by the seller that can be taken over by the buyer when a home is sold. Such loans are hard to find because most lenders stopped voluntarily writing them many years ago. Most new assumable loans today are adjustable rate mortgages. ...


Are there such things as no-cost and no-fee loans?

You see promotions for them all the time. But banking regulators have gone after lenders who misrepresent these loans. The reality is that no-cost and no-fee loans may actually cost the borrower more over the long term because costs are often hidden by rolling them into the new loan through ...


Is it true some lenders grant loans based on very little documentation?

Yes. They offer what are called "easy/no-doc" loans, mortgages that require little or no documentation to verify the borrower's income and assets - that is as long as the borrower makes a big enough down payment, generally 25 percent or more. ...


Should I lock in the mortgage rate?

Because the interest rate market fluctuates constantly and is subject to quick movements without notice, locking in a mortgage rate with a lender certainly protects you from the time your lock is confirmed to the day it expires. ...


Determining if Your Zip Code is Healthy

RISMEDIA, Dec. 6, 2007-Where you live may be as crucial to your well-being as how you live, according to an article published in the December issue of Oprah magazine. Taking steps ranging from investing in a HEPA filter to purify air or selecting a bedroom farthest away from the street ...


6 Steps to Avoid Foreclosure

RISMEDIA, Dec. 6, 2007-The AICPA, one of the nation's largest non-profit professional organization representing more 340,000 CPAs across the country specializing in the area of tax, accounting, auditing and personal finance, suggests the following steps to minimize the risk of foreclosure if they hold sub-prime mortgages: ...


Tips for Renters When a Landlord Forecloses

RISMEDIA, Dec. 5, 2007-Sixty-seven-year old Sharron Shagonaby was looking forward to a quiet Christmas at home - a home she has rented for more than a year, and has never missed a rent payment. Now, thanks to her landlord, she has just five days to get out - a hidden ...


What are conventional loan limits?

These are limits imposed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on the amount of money you can borrow to finance a home purchase. The loan limit generally increases each year and applies to single-family homes in the 48 contiguous states, with higher limits in Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the Virgin ...


What about the difference between a conventional and non-conventional loan?

They are the same as conforming and non-conforming loans. A conventional, or conforming, loan is one not insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) or guaranteed by the Veterans Administration (VA), two federal government agencies that make homeownership possible and generally more affordable for a large segment of the population. ...


What is the difference between a conforming and non-conforming loan?

Conforming loans have terms and conditions that adhere to guidelines established by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two, big quasi-government corporations that purchase mortgage loans from lenders then packages them into securities that are sold to investors. ...


Can I make an all-cash purchase instead of getting a mortgage?

That certainly is an option, although not one most people can afford. The national median home price is well above $170,000 and much more than that in many areas of the country. Unless you're independently wealthy or have hit the jackpot, it may be difficult to make a "no-mortgage" investment. ...


Should I put more or less down, if I can afford it?

Putting down as little as possible lets you take full advantage of the tax benefits of homeownership. Mortgage interest and property taxes are both fully deductible from state and federal income taxes. Also, making a small down payment frees up cash that you can use to meet unexpected home improvements. ...


New Life for Energy Legislation

RISMEDIA, Dec. 4, 2007-The framework for a November 30 deal between Congressional leaders offers new hope for the passage of energy legislation. However differences on some key issues still remain, and it may yet get derailed in Congress or vetoed by President Bush. ...


Is it possible to get a no-down payment loan?

Builders will typically offer no-down-payment loans to sell properties in a slow-moving development or a depressed market. Desperate sellers also may commit to finance the down payment for the buyer to move a hard-to-sell home or to make a quick sale. And veterans may buy a home with nothing down ...


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