Gene's Bit of Blogging
Refinance
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Gene Mundt, Mortgage Lender: Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2012 12:40 PM
It is said ...
Times change, people change, situations change, relationships change ...
The only thing constant is change.
Author unknown
Yes, change is inevitable. That is true ... but I personally believe, that HOW you react to that inevitable change is what is important. It can be your defining factor moving forward.
And if any business industry has seen and had to endure change over the past few years, it's certainly been the real estate industry. Change has been radical and constant.
More change is coming. We have to look no further than April 9th, 2012 to experience that change too. That's the day that upfront costs for FHA Mortgage Insurance will go from 1.0% to 1.75% (on most all scenarios).
Buyers/Borrowers and Real Estate Professionals alike can be upset or complain about this upcoming change, but it won't stop it from happening. Perhaps then a positive outlook ... a "lemon into lemonade" outlook ... is the one we should tackle this change with? What I mean is this ...
Good news can still be found, even taking this upcoming change into consideration. It's not the end of the world. Rates have remained low for a long time and it appears that they will remain low a good while longer.
Now that is NOT to say that we won't see some increase, but rates should remain advantageous. And don't overlook that there IS still time for action prior to this FHA Mortgage Insurance change coming.
A Buyer still has time to find a property, get it under contract, APPLY FOR MORTGAGE through April 8th and avoid the higher fees. That means if you're a Buyer that has already begun the home buying process, this post serves as an "Alert to Action". Get Moving!!
If you're an Agent, you've still got the time and opportunity to communicate with Buyers in your pipeline that are close to taking some action. Let this news serve as a catalyst. All is not lost!
I've put together an illustration (below) of the realities, pros, and cons regarding the upcoming FHA Mortgage Insurance changes coming on April 9th. Utilizing real numbers, I hope to clearly demonstrate what a Buyer's mortgage payment will be PRIOR to the upcoming changes .. and then after them.
| Current | Proposed | Loan Amount = $200,000 |
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| Interest Rate = 3.75% |
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| Current Cost of Upfront Mortgage Insurance * | $2,000.00 | $3,500.00 | Current Monthly Payment for Mortgage Insurance * | $193.58 | $211.98 | Total Payment (Excluding Taxes/Hazard Insurance) | $1,129.07 | $1,154.42 | Change (Increase) in Payments | $25.35 |
| LOSS of Buying Power | $5,500.00 |
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In most cases, a $5,500 reduction in a Buyer's approval price CAN be overcome. And consider this ...
In the scope of things, THIS change ... an increase in FHA Mortgage Insurance costs ... still remains a better option than no FHA-insured loans at all. April 9th will come and go ... and it will not be the end of the world. Working together, we'll overcome it.
* Work with a professional mortgage lender with 35 years of successful lending experience from which to draw upon to benefit you and your finances. Contact me today, so YOU can take advantage of every financing and financial option available to you. I'll be glad to hear from you ... and have the opportunity to earn your business. I can be contacted through any of the following: Direct: 815.277.4036 Cell/Text: 708.921.6331 Skype: 630.219.1316
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Financing, Mortgages, Refinance, Announcements and News, First-Time HomeBuyers, Obtaining Mortgage Quotes, Pre-Approvals, & Info, Mortgage Closing Costs, home buying, Right Time to Buy a Home, Clients, Mortgage Costs, Closing Costs, Interest Rates, Pre-Qualification/Pre-Approval, FHA Mortgage Insurance
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Gene Mundt, Mortgage Lender: Posted on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 10:45 AM
Timely and Important Mortgage Information for Those Wanting to Buy a Home
Carra Riley was such a great hostess during this interview. She knew exactly what home buyers want and need to know when entering the housing market and asked great questions.
She guided us through important details and timely financing topics ... topics and info that will help listeners navigate ... or "connect the dots" when buying a home and obtaining a mortgage.
I think you will find the information available of great assistance ... whether you are a first-time home buyer, someone refinancing, a move-up buyer, investor ... or an agent hoping to pass-on something of informational value to your clients.
If a question you have is not covered within this interview ... or if you are in need of mortgage guidance or assistance ... please do not hesitate to contact me. I'll be happy to hear from you, answer your questions, and assist you with your needs.
Thanks for listening. I look forward to connecting with you soon ...
Gene
Just "click" and listen!
I can be contacted through any of the following: Direct: 815.277.4036 Cell/Text: 708.921.6331 Email: gmundt@thefederalsavingsbank.com Skype: 630.219.1316
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Buying a Home, Credit Reports/Fico Scores, Importance of Credit, Mortgages, Refinance, Working with a Mortgage Professional, Condos and Townhomes, Gene Mundt's Client Services, First-Time HomeBuyers, Buying or Renting, Debt, Mortgage Closing Costs, Asking credit and mortgage questions, home buying, FHA Approval for Mortgage Lending, FHA Financing for Condominiums, FHA Mortgage Lending, Down Payment, Mortgage Costs, Closing Costs, Interest Rates, Pre-Qualification/Pre-Approval, Interest Rate Lock-In, Co-Signing Mortgages
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Gene Mundt, Mortgage Lender - The Federal Savings Bank: Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 3:49 PM
"Connecting the Mortgage Dots in Today's
Real Estate Market"
Carra Riley, Cosmic Cow Pie, and
Gene Mundt, Mortgage Lender Answer
YOUR Mortgage/Credit Questions
Looking for answers to your mortgage/credit questions?
Together, Carra and I will be discussing and answering mortgage questions, such as:
As someone with 35 years of mortgage experience, an
in-depth, multi-decades background as a licensed real estate appraiser, and as
a Certified Financial Planner, I have the extensive knowledge and expertise
needed to answer the questions you have ... and also provide the services you
need in Chicagoland and across the entire U.S.
It's easy to take part in this Cosmic Cow Pie session. Just dial (347) 994.1903 and ask us your
questions! If you can't join us during
the live blogtalkradio program, you can listen to a replay of this program at
any time. Just go to Carra Riley's
Cosmic Cow Pie blogtalkradio site and "click" to listen at your
convenience.
I can always answer your mortgage and credit questions at a
more convenient time for you through any of the following means: Direct: 815.277.4036 Cell/Text:
708.921.6331 Skype: 630.219.1316
See you then!
For more Cosmic Cow Pie and Carra Riley's insights ...
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Credit, Credit Repair, Buying a Home, Credit Reports/Fico Scores, Mortgages, Refinance, Working with a Mortgage Professional, Appraisals, Condos and Townhomes, Announcements and News, Gene Mundt's Client Services, First-Time HomeBuyers, Obtaining Mortgage Quotes, Pre-Approvals, & Info, Asset-Based Lending Program, Mortgage Closing Costs, home buying, Right Time to Buy a Home, Investors and Investments, HARP 2.0, FHA Approval for Mortgage Lending, FHA Mortgage Lending, Down Payment, Mortgage Costs, Closing Costs, Interest Rates, The Federal Savings Bank
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Gene Mundt, Mortgage Lender - Chicago Bancorp: Posted on Friday, February 17, 2012 11:35 AM
What's Your Point?? Nawwwww ... Not THAT Point!
A great scene, isn't it? But it's not those "points" I'm going to talk about in this blog. No, I'm talking the "points" referred to when discussing mortgage costs and options.
I've had several discussions as of late, with some pretty confused borrowers regarding these "points". They've had no real grasp of exactly what a "point" is prior to our discussion. What it can equate to in cost to them. How the cost of a "point" is figured. This is especially true with first-time home buyers.
Here's what I tell my clients when starting this discussion ...
The best way to think of a "point" cost, is to remember a percentage point equaling the number 1 ...
One percent (1%) = 1 point One percent (1%) = .01
Then the cost of the "point" should be thought of this way: Cost of Point = .01 X Your Loan Amount
Okay, let's put some actual dollar amounts into the equation. It will make better sense to you.
Let's say you are borrowing $200,000 for your mortgage. One (1) "point" then costs you an additional $2,000 at Closing. Here's the math equation for that: .01 X $200,000 = $2,000
The question I typically hear during these conversations is this ... If these "points" COST me as a borrower ... why would, or should, I even think of buying them? What does buying a "point" accomplish for me
Think of "points" (and the dollars associated with them) as interest earned or paid to the bank. The "reward" for you as the Borrower when buying that "point" is the lower interest rate received for the life of their loan at that bank.
Alot to digest, isn't it? It must be remembered too, that as the markets fluctuate, so does the benefit of paying a "point" ... and the resulting reduction in interest rate earned for doing so.
As a rule ...1 point paid = 1/8% lower interest rate
Again, let's revisit the math we did above for that: $200,000 Mortgage Paying 1 "point" Cost of "point" equals $2,000
Let's say, on the day this "point" and mortgage costs are being quoted to you, the interest rate is lowered by 1/4%. We'll say from 4% interest rate to 3.75% interest rate. The savings realized by the borrower each month (for buying a "point") is then $28.60.
Now, there is one more very important thing to figure into considering a "point" purchase ... and whether it makes sense for you to buy the "point" for your mortgage. And that's, how long you expect to be in the property you are buying or refinancing.
Why does that matter? Again, the numbers tell the story ...
We now know that the amount you save in interest monthly for buying your "point" was figured at $28.60 above ... and that you will pay $2,000 at your closing to receive that monthly savings. So to figure what your "break even" time is ... meaning the point where the savings in interest would equal the dollar amount paid on the "point" ... you do the following:
Amount paid for "point" ... $2,000 divided by:
Amount saved in interest each month ... $28.60 Equals:
70 payments
Knowing how long it takes to payback the savings realized by paying a "point" is absolutely essential when making your decision to buy that "point" ... or not. Then you simply need to consider if you plan on being in the property you are buying long enough to reach that "break even" time.
Helping you understand HOW the savings on "points" are figured ... and HOW buying "points" can affect your bottomline ... is an important part of my job, as your mortgage lender.
But the answer and decision is one that only you, the borrower can ultimately make. I hope that this blog helped you do that ...
* Having an experienced, knowledgeable mortgage lender at your side during the many decisions your are called upon to make during your home buying is crucial. Contact me today. I'll put my 35 years of mortgage experience, knowledge, and expertise to work on your behalf. I'll be very glad to hear from you. I can be contacted through any of the following means: Direct: 815.277.4036 Cell/Text: 708.921.6331 Skype: 630.219.1316
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Buying a Home, Financing, Mortgages, Refinance, First-Time HomeBuyers, Obtaining Mortgage Quotes, Pre-Approvals, & Info, Money-saving Strategies, Mortgage Closing Costs, Asking credit and mortgage questions, home buying, Mortgage Costs, Closing Costs
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Gene Mundt, Mortgage Lender: Posted on Sunday, February 12, 2012 1:12 PM
The "Big Bank" Says You Can Wait for 60 to 90 Days to Start Your Refinance. What do YOU Say? Over the last couple of days, there's been more than a few articles showing-up online, on social media, and in the papers about the extremely long period of time that a "big bank" is guesstimating that some potential clients will have to wait, should they hope to refinance their present loan. Seems that they can't keep-up with the workload and large number of those contacting them for this service. The numbers of 60 to 90 days is the waiting period being mentioned frequently within these articles. Yep, you read that right ... 60 to 90 days! That's before they can even begin to get back to you or talk to you ... start your mortgage application ... begin the mortgage process. Don't even bother them before that. Now granted, this is for those that are NON-"big bank" clients ... and those calling them on the phone only. But I still raise the question ... WHY would anyone that didn't strictly HAVE to deal with this "big bank", wait 60 to 90 days to start being serviced for their mortgage refinance? The "big bank" has been inundated with requests for service from those home owners looking for relief through the HARP 2.0 program. (Please keep in mind that only the "big banks" that currently service those same loans, have been given the technology/info to perform these new HARP 2.0 services. Smaller lenders, of which there are many, haven't been supplied that technology yet from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac ... or the supporting partners (mortgage insurance companies, Servicing Lenders, etc.) and won't receive it until sometime in March). But the "big bank" says they are trying to add new staff and recall laid-off staff to better handle the volume of applicants they are seeing. NEW staff completely unfamiliar with their procedures and new rules/regulations. Laid-off staff members that have been out-of-the-loop are now going to work on your loan and get it done right. Doesn't that make you feel better? No? You say you don't want to wait that long. You say you want to talk to a mortgage lender NOW? Contact me! I'll be more than happy to talk to you NOW ... and get started on assisting you with the refinance or credit repair you want and need. No waiting 60 to 90 days ... and an experienced, knowledgeable, professional mortgage lender and his staff at your service. Aaaahhhh ... MUCH better! * Contact me NOW to receive professional mortgage advice and service. I'll put my 35 years of mortgage experience, expertise, and knowledge to work on your behalf. I can be contacted through any of the following: Direct: 815.277.4036 Cell/Text: 708.921.6331 Skype: 630.219.1316
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Financing, Mortgage Lender, Mortgages, Refinance, Announcements and News, Conducting Business, Obtaining Mortgage Quotes, Pre-Approvals, & Info, Choosing a Mortgage Lender, Asking credit and mortgage questions, Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan Update, 2011, HARP 2.0, Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac
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