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Wealthy Americans Are 25% More Likely To Hold Mortgage Debt

April 11, 2007

Interesting fact of the day: 55.5% of “wealthy” Americans have mortgages on their primary homes vs. 44.6% of the overall population. This doesn’t mean that the wealthy are more indebted than the rest of us; it means that the wealthy are maximizing the tax deductions that the IRS makes available to every homeowner in the […]

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Would You Have Answered The Mortgage Type Quiz Correctly?

March 27, 2007

The pie chart at right comes from a Bankrate.com survey, sampling 1,000 adults about their current housing situation. The question asked: What type of mortgage do you currently have? While the 34% “Don’t Know” figure is troubling, even more frightening is the 6% “ARM” figure. The sample size was small, but far more than 6% […]

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The Fed Sets The Fed Funds Rate Sets Prime Rate

March 21, 2007

This afternoon, the Fed adjourns after a two-day meeting and it is widely expected that they will leave the Fed Funds Rate unchanged at 5.250%. So, what is the Fed Funds Rate and why does it matter to everyday people? The Fed Funds Rate matters to you and me because it is used to calculate […]

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Conforming ARMs Are Going Delinquent More Rapidly Than Sub-Prime ARMs

March 14, 2007

The Mortgage Bankers Association released a report yesterday detailing how mortgage-holding homeowners are meeting their obligations. The statistics were a major factor in the Wall Street sell-off yesterday as investors increasingly grow nervous that sub-prime mortgage defaults will spill over into other credit markets and take the economy with it. The report stated that fourth […]

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Sub-Prime Changes Freeze Out Homeowners

March 8, 2007

The snowballing in sub-prime lending is becoming an avalanche. Effective today, many lenders have discontinued 100% financing programs and other “piggyback” scenarios.  These types of loans represented the widest doors to homeownership for Americans in recent years. There are several reasons why a home loan applicant may be considered “sub-prime”, but the most common reason […]

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Like Me And You, Sub-Prime Lenders Have Credit Limits

March 7, 2007

Turbulence in the sub-prime lending market forced several big name lenders to shut their doors to business in recent weeks. In a healthy sub-prime environment, institutional investors buy mortgages in large bundles called “pools” from sub-prime lenders. The current environment is not healthy, however.  Loans are defaulting more quickly than in the past and investors are […]

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Two Extra Days To File Taxes Means Two Extra Days To Find Deductions

March 6, 2007

Many of us are knee-deep in paperwork from our banks, our advisors and lenders as we prepare for the April 17, 2007 tax deadline. Yes, I said April 17, 2007. April 15 is a Sunday and April 16 is Emancipation Day, a legal holiday in the District of Columbia.  So, this year, we all have […]

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Sharing Your Credit Card Balances Can Lower Your Mortgage Rates

March 1, 2007

Typically, higher credit scores get lower mortgage rates and access to a wider array of mortgage products. Extent of Indebtedness comprises 30% of a credit score and is the second largest component in the credit scoring model.  In plain-speak, Extent of Indebtedness is: “How close is this person to maxing out his cards?” The ideal […]

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Mortgage Insurance Is Tax Deductible in 2007, But With A Catch

January 23, 2007

Adding complexity to the home financing process, The Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 includes new tax code for homeowners.  The act grants itemized deductions for private mortgage insurance (PMI) and government mortgage insurance (MIP) expense premiums paid in 2007. For all loans originated in the 2007 calendar year, mortgage insurance is tax-deductible […]

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Sub-Prime Lenders Eliminate Loans To Riskiest Borrowers

January 3, 2007

Washington Mutual-owned Long Beach Mortgage announced yesterday that its underwriting guidelines are changing, effective Monday, January 8. Following the lead of a host of other sub-prime lenders including large-players Fremont and New Century, Long Beach is hoping to avoid the fate of sub-prime lenders Ownit, Sebring Capital, and Mortgage Lenders Network. All three closed their […]

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Principal Payback On Long-Term Loans

December 27, 2006

Did you know: After 30 years, a 30-year mortgage term is paid in full. After 30 years, a 40-year mortgage term has 57% of the original borrowed amount remaining. After 30 years, a 50-year mortgage term has 81% of the original borrowed amount remaining. Of course, it’s not all bad for the holders of longer-term […]

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