An introduction to mortgage loans

Mortgage loans are financial loans taken for real estate properties that the borrower has to repay with interest within a fixed period of time. A mortgage loan requires some sort of security for the lender. This security is called the collateral and in most cases, it is the real estate property itself for which the mortgage loan has been taken. Since the property itself is kept as the collateral, no further security is needed.

The person who lends the mortgage loan is called the mortgagee, while the person who borrows the loan is called the mortgagor. The mortgagee and mortgagor are bound by the mortgage loan agreement. The agreement entitles the mortgagor to receive a financial loan from the mortgagee. The promissory note in the agreement secures the mortgagee, which entitles them to the collateral and a promise made by the mortgagor to repay the mortgage loan in due time. In the USA, the typical period for a mortgage loan may be 10, 15, 20 or 30 years.

There are two fundamental types of mortgage loans in the USA – fixed-rate mortgages and adjustable-rate mortgages. Fixed-rate mortgages have interest rates that are locked for the life of the mortgage, while adjustable-rate mortgages have interest rates that may go up or down according to some market index. Hence, fixed-rate mortgages provide security to the mortgagor, while adjustable-rate mortgages provide security to the mortgagee. If there are dues on monthly payments, then they are added together and constitute a balloon mortgage loan.

The process of buying a loan is called originating the loan. This is done between the mortgagor and the mortgagee, sometimes involving a mortgage broker. The broker charges a commission on every loan originated, which is collected from either the mortgagor or the mortgagee. A broker’s involvement increases the cost of the entire mortgage.

Mortgage loans below 80% of the entire property value need added security for the mortgagee. This is done in the form of insurance policies, called mortgage insurance. The premiums of mortgage insurance policies are passed on to the borrower in their monthly payments. However, if the mortgagor makes at least 20% of the down payment, then the mortgage insurance may be waived.

In the US, there are several types of mortgages available. The most important mortgages are those which are originated by the Federal Housing Administration. These very popular loans are called Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae loans. Fannie Mae mortgages are the most popular types of mortgage loans in the USA.

The decision to rent or buy a home

The pace of life can be so quick that we have a tendency to blow by important decisions. One such decision is the decision to rent or buy a home.

The Decision to Rent or Buy A Home

One of the biggest decisions people come to is the issue of renting versus buying. Really, it is an extremely tough choice to choose between the two. However, I once had an economics teacher who put it extremely well and puts the whole thing in perspective. His motto was, “Rent when you have to, buy when you can.” This statement is only too true, and here is why.

Renting can be a big plus for certain people. People who are on the move, people who get relocated with their jobs and need to stay mobile, and also for people who just moved out of the house and have low income and no credit. In any of these situations, renting is definitely a good choice. Renting allows people who need to stay mobile the opportunity to do just that. They go month by month and aren’t committed anywhere. Also, the paperwork required for renting is minute in comparison to that of buying and selling. In addition, those with low income and credit scores should also consider renting. Looking for a mortgage with low credit scores will be very difficult and even if you find one the interest will be unreasonable, not to mention the fact that even making the monthly payments can be unmanageable.

However, the benefits of buying, when able to, far outweigh those of renting. Sure, buying a house takes tons of paperwork and involves commitment to that house. But in the long run, owning a home is extremely important since your home is one of the biggest investments you can make. The key to this is home equity. Equity is essentially the value of the home. This equity almost always increases over time and can sometimes take huge leaps such as the recent price hikes of homes in California. These huge spikes drastically increase the price of the home and leave the homeowners with a lot of money right beneath their feet that is always available. Also, equity enables homeowners to pull out home equity loans that are based on the value of their homes and generally have reasonable interest rates.

Of course, this all depends on ability to buy. Having a good credit score, a good amount of money put away, and a good income are all incredibly important. A good credit score allows the person to obtain lower interest rates on mortgages, a good amount of savings allows a higher down payment, and a good income allows the person to make the payments. When this can be done, buying is definitely advised. Renting has its benefits, but buying is always better.