13 Mar 2019
By noelkelman

6 Ways to Fight Foreclosure

Mortgage, ,
Sometimes, things don't go as planned. Despite the best intentions, there are times when it's impossible for homeowners to fulfill their mortgage obligations. When your misfortune turns into a foreclosure notice, these tips will help you control the situation and realize the best outcome. Work With Your Lender Open the lines of communication with your lender to stall the foreclosure process. Call your lender and explain your predicament. Give them specific details about the nature and estimated length of your circumstances. Many lenders are willing to temporarily modify payment terms to temporarily accommodate certain hardships. Apply for a loan modification.…
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12 Mar 2019
By noelkelman

Is Now a Good Time to Cash Out Your Home Equity?

Mortgage, ,
For many Americans, their home is their primary investment. The equity stored in your residence can be a source of available cash for home repairs, upgrades, or for financing the purchase of investment properties. However, few homeowners really understand the process that results in home equity.  What Is Home Equity? Your monthly mortgage payment goes towards two different amounts. The first is the interest that you pay for the loan. The other is your principal payment or the amount that counts against the initial amount that you borrowed for the purchase. Depending on the details of your loan contract, each…
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08 Mar 2019
By noelkelman

5 Options To Consider When Your Appraisal Comes In Low

Mortgage, ,
Yikes! You are set on buying the home that you picked out and the appraisal comes back at a lower amount than the amount needed for the home loan to be approved. What do you do? After you calm down your significant other and then take three deep breaths, here are some options to consider. Request A New Appraisal Appraisals are only one person's professional opinion. There are rules that must be followed when making an appraisal; however, there is still some flexibility in how to apply the rules. Check the comparables (also called "comps") that the appraiser used as…
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05 Mar 2019
By noelkelman

5 Key Tips To Prepare For A Quick Mortgage Approval

Home Mortgage Tips, ,
Whether you're finally prepared to get into the real estate market or you want to know how you can make a deal quick, there are a few necessary documents you'll need to prove your reliability to a mortgage lender. Here are the documents you'll want to have on hand when the time comes. Previous Tax Returns In order to ensure the earnings information you've provided to the lender, you'll need to have your tax returns for the two years prior to your mortgage application. In addition, you may also be required to provide your W-2s as backup documentation. Bank Statements…
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28 Feb 2019
By noelkelman

8 Ways To Maintain A Great Credit Score

Mortgage, ,
Having an excellent credit score is very useful. The following are some tips on how to maintain a superb credit score. Open Credit Accounts When You Do Not Need Them If you don't have any credit accounts, you will have a low score. The best time to open them is when you do not need them. Keep a small balance on them and pay it all off at the end of each month to avoid paying interest. Charge Up To Half The Credit Limit Then Pay It All Back Within A Few Months If you must use a credit line,…
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26 Feb 2019
By noelkelman

Managing Finances Before Applying For A Mortgage

Real Estate, ,
Are you planning on using a mortgage to help cover the cost of a new home? If so, you will want to prepare your finances and figure out how you will manage all those wallet-draining monthly expenses. Let's take a look at how to run a quick financial health check to ensure you are ready to apply for a mortgage. Update (Or Start) Your Monthly Budget First, it is essential to get the basics out of the way. If you haven't already, it's time to start a monthly budget to keep track of your income and expenses. Once you have…
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30 Jan 2019
By noelkelman

Is a Hard Money Loan the Right Strategy for You?

Mortgage, ,
When used as a part of an effective real estate investment strategy, hard money loans are an excellent tool to quickly increase holdings without risking existing properties. However, these loans aren't for everyone. What investors get the most value from hard money loans? Investors With Less-Than-Stellar Credit Investors with credit challenges can qualify more easily for hard money loans. That's because these loans aren't based on the borrower. While you will have to prove a measure of creditworthiness, hard money lenders are more interested in the property you plan to buy. If you default on your payments, the lending bank…
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10 Jan 2019
By noelkelman

3 Tips To Save For A Down Payment

Mortgage, ,
Saving up for a down payment can feel overwhelming. Most people have never saved up the kind of money it takes for a down payment. It can be done, though. The goal is to put 20% down on a house. This is what it takes if you don't want to have to pay private mortgage insurance every month. However, you don't have to absolutely put 20% down. Some mortgage programs, such as VA and FHA loans, let borrowers put down as little as zero down or about 3.5% down. There are extra requirements with any kind of mortgage you get,…
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