Mortgage InformationA mortgage is borrowing money using property as a security, a type of secured loan in other words. Primarily, the purpose in borrowing the money is to purchase a property. A mortgage is really another word for a property loan - a loan that allows you to borrow a large amount of money in order to buy a home or property which is secured on the value of that property, and which you pay back over an agreed period of time. The term 'secured' means that if you default on payments and can't keep up with the payments schedule as agreed, the lender has the right to sell your property in order to recover their money. A mortgage can be broken down into four main parts: Capital - This is the amount of money that you borrow to buy the house. Interest - This is the charge for borrowing money. Worked out as a percentage of the capital. Term - This is the fixed period of time that the money is borrowed over. Repayments - These are the regular payments you make throughout the term of the mortgage. The mortgage is created by a legal charge on the property and, significantly, does not involve the transfer of land. The charge confirms that the property has been pledged to the lender as security for the mortgage loan. Mortgages are usually repaid over 25 years, but depending on your situation and earnings it can be arranged over either a longer or shorter period of time. The amount you borrow is called the 'capital', and you will also have to pay back the interest charged to you by the lender. The title deeds are held by the lender but when the purchase monies are paid over to the vendor, usually through a solicitor, the mortgagor becomes the owner of the property. The legal charge is supported by a loan agreement between the two parties which sets out the terms of the loan, the responsibilities and undertakings. You have two options - repay the capital and the interest together - this is a 'repayment' mortgage, or repay the interest only, and organise another investment to cover the capital at the end of the term. This is known as an 'interest only' mortgage. When looking at how much money a lender is willing to let you borrow, there are two factors that they will want to consider. First of all, they will want to know how much you earn. Usually you will only be able to borrow around three times your salary. If you are looking to purchase a joint mortgage with a partner or friend, then the income multiplier may be worked out differently. Some lenders will offer two-and-a-half times the joint salaries, or three times the higher salary, and one times the lower salary, whichever is higher. Most lenders will also take into account the amount that you are looking to borrow, and the total value of the property. Although some lenders will allow you to borrow the full value of the property, most will only lend a certain percentage, say 95%. When applying for a mortgage, there are certain points that you will need to consider before you sign on the dotted line. First of all you need to consider how much you can afford. You should complete a budget, and work out how much money you have coming in, and how much money you spend each month. This should then give you an idea to how much you can afford to pay a lender each month for your mortgage. You should also consider whether your income would allow you to afford the property you are after. You also need to think about how long you will need to borrow the money for. A mortgage is a major financial commitment and will require that you can keep up the repayments for the full term. If you repay your mortgage before the end of the designated term you may well be charged a penalty. Penalties are particularly common in the first few years of a loan or if you are taking advantage of a fixed rate or a discounted rate and can be very significant in size. Sometimes it is possible to serve notice to avoid these penalties. Furthermore, some lenders will charge interest until the end of the month in which redemption occurs so it may pay you to time the redemption of your mortgage to avoid this charge. Some lenders also make additional charges such as vacating fees, deed release fees or other administration charges. All of these costs should be highlighted in the mortgage offer or in the standard Terms and Conditions provided with that offer. Before committing to your mortgage, please check the redemption penalties which will be mentioned in the mortgage offer. Getting a mortgage can be very complicated. If you are unsure about which mortgage to go for, then you should seek some financial advice. You may freely reprint this article provided the author's biography remains intact: About The Author
MORE RESOURCES updated Wed. October / 09 / 2024 Today's Refinance Rates by State – Oct. 7, 2024 Investopedia Mortgage and refinance rates today, October 6, 2024: Rates increase in response to jobs report Yahoo Finance The Top 10 States Looking To Refinance—for Lower Rates, HELOCs, and Other Reasons - Realtor.com News Rate-And-Term Refinance Locks Surge 700% Over Previous Year National Mortgage Professional Mortgage Interest Rates Today, October 6, 2024 | Rates up As Big Fed Cuts Become Less Likely Business Insider Rate-and-Term Refinance Locks Surge 700% Over Previous Year Following the FOMC’s September Interest Rate Reduction The Janesville Gazette Mortgage Refinance Rates Climb to Two-Month High Investopedia Column | You don’t have to refinance your mortgage to cut your interest The Washington Post These Are the Pros and Cons of a Cash-Out Mortgage Refinance U.S News & World Report Money Today's Refinance Rates by State – Oct. 8, 2024 Investopedia What are today's mortgage refinance rates? Yahoo Finance Mortgage Refinance Rates Rise to 7-Week High Investopedia Best Mortgage Refinance Lenders of October 2024 Business Insider Mortgage and refinance rates today, October 5, 2024: Rates surpass 6% for the first time in weeks Yahoo Finance Refinance Rates Today: Compare Mortgage Refinance Offers Business Insider Housing market update: More than 4 million homeowners could refinance their mortgages - Fast Company 15-Year Mortgage Refinance Rates: Compare Current Rates Business Insider Mortgage Interest Rates Today, October 4, 2024 | Rates Up Following Strong Jobs Report Business Insider 30-Year Mortgage Refinance Rates Business Insider Best mortgage refinance lenders of October 2024 Yahoo Finance Should You Refinance Your Mortgage After the Fed’s Interest Rate Cut? The New York Times Should You Refinance Your Mortgage In 2024? Bankrate.com Mortgage Interest Rates Today, October 7, 2024 | Why Are Rates Higher This Month? Blame the Strong Economy Business Insider Today's Refinance Rates by State – Oct. 3, 2024 Investopedia Mortgage Refinance Rates Drop Back Investopedia How to Decide If a Mortgage Refinance Is Right for You U.S News & World Report Money Data Spotlight: The Impact of Changing Mortgage Interest Rates Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Mortgage Refinance Rates Dip Lower - Sep 30, 2024 Investopedia Mortgage Refinance Rates Hold Near 19-Month Low Investopedia Mortgage Refinance Rates Keep Moving Higher Investopedia Mortgage Interest Rates Today, October 5, 2024 | Rates Tick up Near 6% in Response to Labor Market Strength Business Insider Mortgage Refinance Rates Are Down, But Should You Refi to a 30-, 20-, or 15-Year Mortgage? Investopedia Should You Refinance Your Mortgage Now That the Fed Just Cut Rates? Kiplinger's Personal Finance Mortgage Refinance Rates Shoot Up from 19-Month Low Investopedia What current mortgage refinance rates mean for your situation CNN Underscored Rates remain elevated ahead of jobs report - Current mortgage rates for October 2, 2024 Bankrate.com Will Mortgage Rates Fall More In October? Bankrate.com Laurel Road Student Loan Refinancing Review | U.S. News U.S News & World Report Money Is Now the Right Time to Refinance Your Mortgage? Investopedia Today's Refinance Rates by State – Oct. 2, 2024 Investopedia FHA Streamline Refinance | Rates & Requirements for 2024 The Mortgage Reports Best Refinance Lenders of October 2024: Refinance Your Mortgage The Motley Fool The Feds Just Lowered Interest Rates! So Should You Refinance Your Mortgage Now? Philadelphia magazine Experts urge due diligence before mortgage refinance Live 5 News WCSC Today's Refinance Rates by State – Sept. 19, 2024 Investopedia The Mortgage Refinance Window Finally Cracks Open Bankrate.com Mortgage Refinance Rates Drop – Sept. 5, 2024 Investopedia Refinancing Medical Student Loans: Best Lenders of October 2024 The Wall Street Journal Mortgage Interest Rates Today, September 30, 2024 | Rates Are Low. Will They Go Lower This Year? Business Insider Mortgage Interest Rates Today, October 3, 2024 | Rates Stay Put as Labor Market Continues to Show Strength Business Insider 30-Year Mortgage Refinance Rates Sink to Cheapest Level Since Early 2023 – Sept. 12, 2024 Investopedia
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