Mortgage StrategyMay 8, 2012FHA Mortgage Rates Vs Conforming Mortgage Rates : Which Is Better For You?Is an FHA mortgage better for you than a conventional one? A quick rundown of each product and a comparison chart.
Mortgage StrategyMarch 30, 2012Mortgage Trends : Homeowners Flock To 15-Year Mortgages Over 30-Year MortgagesLast quarter, 1 in 4 conforming mortgage applicants ditched their 30-year mortgage for a 15-year fixed. There are good reasons why, too.
Mortgage StrategyJanuary 10, 2012No More No Fee? “Zero-Closing-Cost Mortgages” Face ExtinctionA pending mortgage policy change threatens to end zero closing costs mortgages for good. The end of "no fee" mortgages may be here sooner than you think.
Mortgage StrategyDecember 29, 2011Save $45,000 Per $100,000 Borrowed With A 15-Year Fixed Rate MortgageRecord-low mortgage rates draw refinancing households away from 30-year fixed-rate mortgages into shorter-term products such as the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage.
Mortgage StrategyNovember 1, 2011Credit Score Under 740? Prepare To Overpay On Your Mortgage.Most people know that low FICO scores influence the mortgage rates for which they're eligible. For the past 3 years, though, they've raised closing costs, too.
Mortgage StrategyAugust 8, 2011Zero-Cost Mortgage Rates More Popular In 2011It appears that lower mortgage rates come with a price. Closing costs rising in most states. Look zero-cost instead.
Mortgage StrategyJune 9, 2011Don’t Pay Closing Costs When Mortgage Rates Are FallingZero-cost mortgages are terrific in a falling interest rate environment, like the one we're in now. They eliminate sunk costs completely and offer an immediate refinance payback.
Mortgage StrategyOctober 12, 2010In Charts : The Falling, Long-Term Cost Of A 30-Year Fixed Rate MortgageAs compared to the day *after* the expiration of the $8,000 home buyer tax credit, today's cost of carrying a 30-year fixed rate mortgage to term is lower by $51,000. Mortgage rates are on a 6-month rally.
Mortgage StrategyApril 14, 2008It Takes 18.5 Years To Pay More Principal Than Interest With An Amortizing MortgageDuring the first few years with an amortizing home loan (i.e. principal + interest), homeowners often feel like their entire monthly payment is going towards interest. Well, not all of it goes towards interest, the graph tells us. Just most of it. If you're in the early years of mortgage,...
Mortgage StrategyFebruary 4, 2008“Low Mortgage Rates” Is Not A Selling Feature, It’s A Planning StandardWhen mortgage rates fell in early-January, it breathed life into a huge swath of loan officers that were getting ready to leave the business. It's a terrible turn of events for homeowners and homebuyers. With everyone focused on rate, rate, rate, the lowest-of-the-low loan officers are in their natural habitat....
Mortgage StrategyJanuary 13, 2006The Origin of the 20 Percent Downpayment MythA favorite mortgage myth of mine is some variation of: You can't buy a home without a 20 percent downpayment. Let's address why this is false, using history as a guide. It all started 50 years ago when real estate information didn't move as freely as it does today. There...
