Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Buying A Home After Bankruptcy - Get A Mortgage Loan After Bankruptcy Article Source

If you have a recent bankruptcy on your credit and are looking to get financing for a home, there is hope. Buying a home with bad credit will just put more emphasis on the other two factors needed to get a mortgage loan, which are; income verification and a down payment.
After bankruptcy most lenders want you to wait at least 2 years from the time of the bankruptcy discharge before they will consider you for a mortgage loan. After the two year waiting period is over, you should be able to get financing easily. You should also be able to get 100% financing as well. You can usually achieve this as long as at least most of your payments have been reported to the credit bureau as having been paid on time since the discharge of your bankruptcy.
If you are looking to get a mortgage loan after bankruptcy sooner than the 2 years from the time of discharge, you will need to have almost flawless payment history since your bankruptcy discharge. Also, you may need to have a down payment. If you have even 3-5% to use as a down payment, that may be enough to help you get approved.
There are ways to get a down payment for your mortgage besides having the money saved in the bank. Here are some ideas of ways to do that:
1. Borrow or ask for a gift from relatives. After you have financed the house, you can usually go and take out a 2nd or 3rd mortgage up to the full value of your house, and then you could repay the relatives. Keep in mind that if you intend the money to be as a loan only from the relatives, you would need to disclose that to the lender before you close. Lenders usually have regulations about where the down payment is coming from and if you are not honest, it could be considered defrauding a lender.
2. There are down payment assistance programs like Neighborhood Gold or the Nehemiah program. These programs basically aid the seller in helping you with a down payment. Receiving a down payment from the seller of the property is illegal, but through these programs, it is legal. There are also other down payment assistance programs which are grants and do not need to be repaid or paid for by anyone. To find out about these, do a search on "down payment assistance" with your favorite search engine.
3. You could cash out a 401K or another investment and like in the first example, repay yourself with a 2nd or 3rd mortgage after the loan has closed.
Mortgage loans after bankruptcy are getting to be much easier to obtain these days. If you would like to see a list of our preferred bad credit mortgage lenders, visit this page: After
Bankruptcy Mortgage Lenders.
Carrie Reeder is the owner of ABC Loan Guide. ABC Loan Guide is an informational loan website with informative articles and helpful lists of recommended lenders for bad credit mortgage loans.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carrie_Reeder

Mortgage Protection Life Insurance - Understanding The Basics

Your house is a big investment - probably one of the
biggest you're every likely to make. It is also the place
that you and your loved ones call home; a shelter and haven
from the outside world. That's why it is so important to
ensure that your home and family are protected in the event
of your death. It's not a topic that any of us like to
dwell on, but the sad fact is that should you die and the
family are no longer able to afford repayments on the
house, they will lose the property and the roof from over
their heads.
Having a good life insurance policy in place to protect
your property in the event of your death is vital. When you
die, your family will have enough to worry about without
the added stress of how they are going to hold on to the
family home. Your life insurance policy will ensure that
this problem is eliminated, with the mortgage balance being
paid in full upon your death.
The main types of mortgage life cover
The type of mortgage life insurance cover that you require
will depend upon what type of mortgage you have, a
repayment or an interest only mortgage. There are two main
types of mortgage life insurance cover, which are:
§ Decreasing Term Insurance
§ Level Term Insurance
Decreasing term insurance
This type of mortgage life insurance is designed for those
with a repayment mortgage. With a repayment mortgage, the
balance of the loan decreases over the term of the
mortgage. Therefore, the sum of cover with a decreasing
term insurance policy will also go down in line with the
mortgage balance. So, the amount for which your life is
insured should match the balance outstanding on your
mortgage, which means that if you die your policy will hold
sufficient funds to pay off the remainder of the mortgage
and alleviate any additional worry to your family.
With the decreasing term insurance, the cover is usually
taken out over the term of the mortgage, and payment is
made should you die during the term of the policy. Once the
policy has expired, it becomes null and void, so you will
receive nothing at the end of your policy if you are still
living. There is no surrender value on this type of cover,
but it does provide a cost effective means of protecting
your home and family during the life of your mortgage.
Level term insurance
This type of mortgage life insurance cover is for those
that have a repayment mortgage, where the principle balance
remains the same throughout the term of the mortgage and
the repayments made by the property owner cover the
interest payments on the mortgage only.
The sum for which the insured is covered remains the same
throughout the term of this policy, and this is because the
principle balance on the mortgage also remains the same.
Therefore the sum assured is a fixed amount, which is paid
should the insured party die within the term of the policy.
As with decreasing term insurance, there is no surrender
value, and should the policy end before the insured dies no
payout will be awarded and the policy becomes null and void.
Terminal illness benefit
Both of the above types of cover normally include terminal
illness cover, which means that the mortgage is cleared
should you be diagnosed with a terminal illness rather than
waiting until you actually die. This helps to ensure that
you do not have the additional worry of trying to meet
repayments when a terminal illness takes away your ability
to work and earn money, and at a time when the whole family
has enough to worry about without having to stress about
meeting mortgage repayments.
Critical illness cover
Critical illness cover is another type of insurance policy
that can be added on to either of the above mortgage life
insurance polices and provides an extra element of
protection and peace of mind. This type of cover can also
be taken out as a stand-alone policy, but usually proves
much better value if simply added on to a main insurance
policy.
With critical illness cover you will be eligible for a
payout in the event that you are diagnosed with a critical
illness. If you then go on to recover from the critical
illness, the payout is yours to keep but the policy becomes
null and void following your claim. The illnesses that are
covered by this type of policy are defined by the insurer
so you should ensure that you check the terms when taking
out critical illness cover.
Adding critical illness cover to your policy will only
increase your repayments by a small amount, but can provide
valuable protection if you are diagnosed as critically ill
and are therefore unable to work. With your mortgage repaid
from the payout of this policy, you will not have the
additional worry of trying to keep a roof over your head at
a time when you should be concentrating on trying to make a
recovery.
Summary
As indicated by the features of the two main types of
mortgage life insurance cover, the policy you go for will
depend largely upon the type of mortgage you have. Both
types of cover offer value for money, with some really low
cost deals available. Of course, the amount that you pay
will ultimately depend upon the level of cover you require.
For total peace of mind it is always advisable to go for a
policy with critical illness cover incorporated into it.
Having some form of mortgage life cover is essential to
protect your home and your family. After working hard to
buy your own property, the prospect of it being repossessed
in the event of your death can be worrying both for you and
for your family. A mortgage life cover policy will ensure
that this does not happen, and will give your family the
security of knowing that whatever happens they will still
have a roof over their heads.
Claire Bowes is a successful freelance writer and owner of [http://www.a1-life-insurance-quotes.co.uk] where you will find further advice and information on life insurance, critical illness cover, income protection and mortgage protection cover.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Claire_Bowes

The Easy Mortgage For Bad Credit Solution Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1529504

When you need to obtain a mortgage for bad credit, there are a couple options you have to choose from. Before you commit to anything, it is crucial that you know your options and spend some time thinking about this important decision. Whatever you decide is something you may be stuck facing and paying off for the next 30 years, so do not take this decision lightly.
Your mortgage for bad credit options are basically the following:
1. Search for and try to find the best offer with your current credit situation
2. Focus on credit restoration to qualify for preferred treatment
There are a number of companies and organizations that will approve you for a home loan no matter what your credit score, but that comes with major consequences. You're likely to pay outrageous fees and the interest you'll pay on the loan will be two to three times the average rate.
As a result, not only will it cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars more to live in your home every month, but by the time you pay off your mortgage it could cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars more. That's because each month you pay your mortgage, more money is sent to the bank to pay interest than to actually owning your home. You're simply paying a fee.
Whether you need a mortgage for bad credit to purchase a new home, refinance your current home, or buy a second home, you'll end up paying more with these plans - and not just in mortgage payments. Because of your bad credit, your closing costs could be higher and you may end up paying private mortgage insurance (PMI), which is nothing more than a fee because of your bad credit score.
This can all be entirely eliminated by simply planning 30 - 90 days before you purchase your home. By putting a little effort in restoring your credit, you can erase any worries about getting approved for a mortgage. In doing so you'll save thousands of dollars in the process and reduce your closing costs.
Take the first and easiest step in repairing your credit right now. Get your credit fix in less than 45 seconds and watch your future start to change today. Discover how to rebuild credit
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ryan_J._Taylor

Five Reverse Home Mortgage Scams to Watch Out For Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/273604

By all accounts, reverse home mortgage growth is set to explode. Baby boomers are reaching retirement and, for most, home equity makes up the largest part of their nest egg. Reverse mortgages will be the tools that many of these retirees will use to tap into this nest egg for retirement living expenses. The number of new HUD Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECM) already has increased more than percent in the first nine months of 2006 over the same period one year ago.
But along with reverse home mortgage growth come increased opportunities for fraud and scams. Reverse mortgages are different from traditional mortgages in ways that make them attractive vehicles for scam artists:
  • reverse mortgages are products specifically designed for and targeted to senior citizens, the population group most vulnerable to fraud;
  • scam artists know that a reverse mortgages provide the senior homeowner with relatively easy access to a sizeable pool of cash; and,
  • reverse mortgages are harder to understand than traditional mortgages making it easier for the scam artist to confuse and take advantage of victims.
In this article we look at some of the tactics scam artists are using and the precautions reverse mortgage borrowers can take to protect themselves.
Scam Tactic One - Downplay Pre-Loan Counseling
An educated borrower is the scam artist's worst enemy - but it's up to the borrower to educate themselves and take advantage of counseling and other opportunities to learn about reverse mortgages.
All three major reverse mortgage programs - HUD HECM, Fannie Mae's Home Keeper and Financial Freedom - require potential borrowers to have counseling with an independent counselor specially trained in reverse mortgages before taking out a loan.
In a recent Detroit-area fraud case, a corrupt lender was able to keep the borrower in the dark about the amount she was eligible to borrow. She thought her loan would be for $61,000 when in fact she was borrowing $103,000. Guess who pocketed the $42,000 difference? A thorough counseling session would have given the homeowner an accurate idea of the true amount she was eligible for. Unfortunately for the victim, the prosecutor in the case says this never happened:
"A counseling meeting explaining the reverse mortgage process was required by Financial Freedom before the loan could be processed. Mr. James allegedly informed Ms. Schultz that he would be able to waive the counseling meeting by just asking a few questions over the phone."
Precaution: Although counseling by telephone is allowed, it is always best to meet face-to-face with the counselor. If you find that anyone you're working with in the process suggests that counseling can be done quickly over the phone or otherwise downplays the importance of pre-loan counseling, be highly suspicious.
Scam Tactic Two - Forgery
Forgery is a key part of many scams. In the Detroit case cited above, the lender requested the title company to prepare two checks payable to the homeowner: one for $61,000 which the homeowner received and a second one for $42,000 which the corrupt lender endorsed with a forged signature and deposited into his own account.
In one California case, two con artists - one working as a financial advisor the other a handyman - convinced an elderly homeowner to take out a reverse mortgage to pay for home repairs. The financial advisor opened an account for the proceeds of the loan and forged the victim's name to gain access to funds.
Another California case reported in the Santa Cruz Sentinel shows how dangerous it can be to sign "unfinished" documents:
Mrs. Sally Scott is 66 years old. While she receives Social Security and pension checks, she still can't make ends meet. She saw an ad for a "reverse" mortgage - a loan that allows seniors age 62 or older to receive cash by borrowing against their homes and does not require repayment as long as they live there. Seeking a little financial cushion, she spoke to a mortgage broker about a $10,000 reverse mortgage.
When she received the loan papers, she noticed that the loan amount was $200,000. The broker promised that he'd change the figure, but insisted that she sign the paperwork first. Trusting the broker, Mrs. Scott signed.
A week later, she received a check for $200,000. She immediately notified the broker, who apologized for the mistake and instructed her to wire the money back. As it turned out, the account that Mrs. Scott returned the money to belonged to the broker. He disappeared, leaving her with a mortgage in default and no way to repay the loan.
Precaution: Never sign documents with blanks to be filled in or corrections to be made later. Carefully protect access to your checking and other accounts. Review and reconcile checking account and loan statements regularly. If you find something awry, contact your financial institution immediately.
In the Detroit case cited above, the victim caught on to the scam when she received a loan statement indicating the balance of her reverse mortgage (including interest) totaled $131,000.
Also, take advantage of the free credit reports available to you under federal law. Reviewing your credit report each year is also a good way to catch unauthorized financial activities under your name.
Scam Tactic Three - Charging for Free Reverse Mortgage Information
The complexity of reverse mortgages means that it is natural for borrowers to seek assistance and guidance to help them understand the loan process, find a lender or, generally, better understand what they are getting into. Some scammers have seized on this to offer - for a fee - reverse mortgage information and services that are available to consumers at no charge.
For example, some senior homeowners have been contacted by firms offering to assist them in finding a reverse mortgage lender, in exchange for a percentage of the loan. This type of arrangement should always be avoided. According to HUD's website:
HUD does NOT recommend using an estate planning service, or any service that charges a fee just for referring a borrower to a lender! HUD provides this information without cost, and HUD-approved housing counseling agencies are available for free, or at minimal cost, to provide information, counseling, and free referral to a list of HUD-approved lenders. Call 1-800-569-4287, toll-free, for the name and location of a HUD-approved housing counseling agency near you.
Precaution: Walk away from anyone who offers to find a reverse mortgage lender for a fee. Use the internet to find free information about reverse mortgages or, read one of the several excellent books that have been published in recent years.
If you feel you have need for a professional financial planner to assess your overall situation - including the reverse mortgage decision - find a certified financial planner (CFP) who works on a fee-only basis and who is knowledgeable of reverse mortgages (many aren't).
Scam Tactic Four - Posing as a Government or Non-Profit Representative
The most popular form of reverse mortgage - the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) - is an official program of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). However, neither the HECM program nor other reverse mortgage programs are marketed directly to senior homeowners by government employees.
Unscrupulous reverse mortgage salesmen have been known to represent themselves to elderly homeowners as government representatives or volunteers for non-profit organizations.
Precaution: Be sure you know who you are dealing with and what organization they represent. Do not be timid about asking for information such as their home office location and phone number. Use resources like HUD and the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA) to check out the company.
Scam Tactic Five - Bundling Things with Reverse Mortgage Financing
Smart consumers know that the best way to shop for a car is to separate the parts of the transaction - purchase, financing and trade-in - from each another. With a bundled transaction, it's easy for the consumer to be befuddled and not understand the true cost of the overall deal. What appears to be a "great price" on the car may mask exorbitant finance charges or a low trade-in value.
Similarly, a common tactic of scam artists is to bundle reverse mortgage financing with something else such as home improvements, annuities, risky investments, living trusts or other estate planning products.
In one Seattle-area case, elderly consumers were told that living trusts must be purchased in order to obtain a reverse mortgage. In another case, seniors were encouraged to take out a reverse mortgage and use the proceeds to "invest" in truck-mounted billboards.
Frequently, two or more scammers work as a team. For example, in the California case cited earlier, an unscrupulous financial advisor steered the homeowner to a home repair contractor who was party to the scam and who grossly overcharged the victim for repair work.
If you find yourself dealing with someone who attempts to bundle a reverse mortgage with another product or service or steer you to a particular contractor/lender, be highly suspicious. If you feel at all uncomfortable or that the person is using high-pressure sales tactics, walk away.
Precaution: When home improvements or estate planning services are needed, shop for the best deal. It's best for you to find what you're looking for rather than them finding you. Homeowners should avoid doing business with anyone who comes uninvited to the door, makes an unsolicited phone call or whose name is found randomly on a flier.
When you've found the best deal, then weigh your financing options - including a reverse mortgage. Keeping these decisions separate will protect you from possible fraud and help ensure you get the most for your money.
Tim Paul is a financial management executive with more than 25 years experience. His websites focus on personal finance issues including 401k Planning and college savings through credit cards: 529 Reward Credit Cards
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Paul