Sunday, June 17, 2012

Know Why You Need Lenders Mortgage Insurance

One of the things borrowers need to be aware of when obtaining a mortgage is the presence of  lenders mortgage insurance or LMI.

This insures or protects lenders from suffering a loss in case you default or fail to repay your loan. This premium is added on the things you need to pay, so you have to make sure you know everything about it.

If you are a first-time homebuyer, it is critical that you have a good understanding of what lenders mortgage insurance is so you won't be surprised if your lender informs you that you need to pay a premium. It will also keep you from being shocked in case the loan amount you receive is lower than you expect. It could be possible that the lender has taken the amount of the insurance from the loan. 

Lenders require borrowers to pay for insurance to protect them from losses in case they fail to pay off the loan. Home loans that are valued 80% or more of the property value will definitely require LMI payment. For those who are applying for low doc loans, borrowing more than 60% of the property value, a premium also has to be paid.

This is a one-time payment. Do not be fooled by some lenders who will attempt to include this in your monthly payment. It should never affect your interest rate.

Each lender has a particular insurer that they work with. When someone applies for a loan and it is already gets advanced, the insurer will determine how much insurance you need to pay.

This is typically determined by allotting a certain percentage of the amount you are borrowing. Because lenders and insurers work together, insurers will also need to approve mortgage applications. In some cases where both parties work closely together, the lender can approve the loan applications in behalf of the insurer.

If you plan to apply for a loan, remember that you cannot choose the mortgage insurer the way you can with a lender. That means the only way to find a great deal on your premium is to carefully choose your lender.

Given the fact that lenders and mortgage insurers determine how much lenders mortgage insurance you are going to pay, you won't be able to control how much you are going to be charged. The main rule here is the lower the amount you're borrowing, the lower your LMI is.

It's also in your best interest to estimate how much insurance you are going to pay. You can do this by using a mortgage insurance calculator. There are lots of these available online. These are going to be extremely useful when you shop around for lenders and mortgage insurance companies. If you do your homework properly, you will be able to find the best rates.
Lenders mortgage insurance is designed to protect only the lenders. This is meant to keep them from suffering a loss in case borrowers fail to repay the loan. By insuring the loan, lenders would be able to help more people to get the opportunity to become homeowners.

But it does not mean borrowers cannot benefit from this. Although some people may think that this is just another expense, it is actually a way to help borrowers get qualified for mortgage loans since lenders are not going to be as strict as they were without a lenders mortgage insurance.

Are Fixed Home Loans Perfect for You?

Anyone who wishes to own a house will need to take out a mortgage. Lenders (bank and non-bank) offer mortgages to borrowers. All one needs to do is fill out an application form and submit the requirements that would prove financial ability to repay the loan.

There are two basic types of home loans: fixedhomeloans and variable home loans.
                                                                                                    
Before buying a house, you need to decide which loan type suits you best. Fixed and variable home loans are different in several aspects and it would be in your best interest to find out which one is most suitable for you. It’s better in the long run to think carefully which loan will give you the least probability of experiencing problems in the future.

Fixed home loans have fixed rates. The amount you are going to pay throughout the term of the loan is constant. The rates are not going to rise. They’ll remain the same even when the interest rates in the market rise.

The main benefit of having a fixed rate is it gives homeowners the ability to plan accordingly. They can set aside a certain amount each month to cover the mortgage payments. They will be able to budget their money a lot more efficiently.

This is great especially for households who have a limited budget. By knowing how much they need to pay, they will be able to make the necessary adjustments. They do not have to come to the point where they do not know how they are going to pay for the mortgage because their money is not enough.

Variable home loans have fluctuating rates. Borrowers who have variable-rate mortgages will have payments that may change depending on how the market does. The rates fluctuate based on what the current interest rate is. If things go well, then homeowners will pay a lower amount. But if the rates rise, their payment will also increase.

These loans are ideal if the market is doing well. However, a lot of people think that getting a variable-rate mortgage is risky, so they opt for the other type.

Fixed home loans offer more security. The fact that the payments remain unchanged throughout the loan term is a huge deal. This assures homeowners that things are going to go well. Though this won’t make their monthly payments go down, it is guaranteed to not go up, which is better for homeowners most of the time.

Ideally, home loans that have fixed rates are perfect for homeowners because they assure that the monthly payment is affordable. Homeowners won’t have to worry about getting a mortgage that they cannot afford.

There are lots of places where borrowers can get fixed home loans. With the help of the best mortgage broker, it’s easy to locate lenders who are willing to give borrowers a mortgage that best suits them.

Although you can get help from mortgage brokers, it is still better if you take the initiative to learn more about loans and how they work. Join a home loan forum to gain opportunities to learn more from other people. This will help you better understand how the whole process works. When you know what occurs during the home buying process, there is fewer chances of making a mistake.

You can even have an idea as to how much you can borrow. Using a home loan calculator will allow you to see how much lenders are going to lend you.

Fixed home loans are most suitable loan for borrowers especially during time of uncertainty. The security these loans offer is enough to help anyone steer clear of foreclosure.