1st American Mortgage asked:


Colorado mortgage shopper may wonder, while they are shopping around for a loan, if there are different mortgage rates in the state? —? higher or lower than the rest of the nation. The basic answer is no, when you compare rates for mortgages in Colorado to elsewhere.

Mortgage rates in Colorado and other states are based on federal standards. But there will be the perception that the rates are higher in areas where the cost of living is higher. For Colorado mortgage rates, this is often the case.

Impact of Jumbo Mortgages on Mortgage Rates in Colorado

Why are there higher mortgage rates in Colorado? Mostly because of the jumbo mortgage. Mortgages in Colorado very often go over the threshold of $417,000 that qualifies ‘conforming’ Colorado mortgage loans. Any Colorado mortgage above $417,000 is considered a jumbo mortgage loan. This is because there are such great homes and properties in Colorado. Better homes mean higher mortgages in Colorado, often necessitating a jumbo mortgage.

Jumbo mortgage rates are above those of standard mortgage rates in Colorado by about a quarter to a half of a percentage. Why? Because there is a higher risk because of a lack of federal backing and the investment’s large size. But this is true not just in Colorado, but of all jumbo mortgages.

The bottom line is that the mortgage rates in Colorado are not higher than normal, but it is the mortgages in Colorado that are higher, because there are more jumbo mortgages in the state, which pairs more Colorado mortgages into slightly higher interest rates.

Impact of Jumbo Mortgages on the Mortgage Buyers in Colorado

For mortgage buyers in Colorado, this means that finding a good Colorado mortgage broker is crucial when you search for a deal.

No matter the size or the classification of the loan, rates will differ between Colorado mortgage brokers. You may be able to obtain a loan from an out-of-state lender instead of an in-state Colorado mortgage broker, but that may be a mistake.

Consider this: Who knows more about Colorado home financing than an in-state Colorado mortgage broker? A broker in another place in the nation will not be as informed about the unique housing market. A Colorado mortgage broker understands the different types of properties and mortgage loans in Colorado. A Colorado mortgage broker offer many types of loans for many different types of homes, from small family homes to large homes requiring a jumbo mortgage, and property uses from investment, vacation, luxury or permanent homes.

Smart shopping is key in the search for a qualified and helpful Colorado mortgage broker. The small differences in loan fees and mortgage rates in Colorado can mean big differences in payments and interest paid during the term of the loan. Choosing a broker for the mortgage in Colorado, though, is not just about rate. Fees and closing costs should be a big factor when deciding on a loan product. An informed borrower ought to have all of this knowledge in their mind when they find a honest and trusted Colorado mortgage broker who can explain to a borrower the different parts of the process, from rates to fees to other options. It’s best that a borrower chooses a Colorado mortgage broker that is the best fits for their finances.



Posted by Nikhil Gupta

The House Team Of Mortgage Intellingence asked:


Forget everything you thought you knew about the benefits of taking a variable-rate mortgage instead of locking in for the long term.

A new study suggests the security of a five-year mortgage costs little or nothing beyond a riskier variable-rate mortgage, providing you get a jumbo-sized rate discount.

“Interest costs on discounted closed five-year mortgages have been close to, and often lower than, those of variable-rate mortgages since late 1996,” senior Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. economist Ali Manouchehri writes in the study.

Homeowners have made variable-rate mortgages hugely popular in the past few years in the belief that you can save on interest costs by pegging your mortgage rate to your lender’s prime lending rate. As the prime rises, or as has generally happened in the past few years, fallen, so goes your mortgage rate.

The prime rate at the major banks is now 4.5 per cent, while the posted five-year rate at the big banks is 6.15 per cent. In just one year, the variable-rate choice would save you about $1,700 on monthly payments toward a $150,000 mortgage amortized over 25 years (assuming a level prime rate).

Historically, you would also have saved a lot. The CMHC study shows that five-year mortgages taken out from 1993 through 1998 would have cost anywhere from $50,000 to $5,000 in additional interest paid over the term of the loan (the example is based on a $100,000 mortgage amortized over 25 years).

The flaw with this analysis is that it doesn’t reflect real-world mortgage pricing. These days, very few people take out a mortgage without a sizable discount off the posted rates at major banks.

For that reason, the CMHC’s Mr. Manouchehri decided to compare discounted five-year mortgages with discounted variable-rate mortgages. Incidentally, five years is the most popular term by far for fixed-rate mortgages at about 59 per cent of the total.

The size of the discounts Mr. Manouchehri applied was based on the difference between posted major bank rates and the best deals available from other lenders. For five-year mortgages, he used a discount of 1.25 of a percentage point; for variable-rate mortgages, it was 0.4 of a point off prime.

For five-year mortgages taken out between 1993 and mid-1996, the five-year mortgage was costlier in terms of interest costs. Since then, however, variable-rate mortgages have generally been a little bit more expensive.

Obviously, there’s nothing in this study that decides the fixed-rate versus variable-rate debate once and for all.

In fact, the CMHC study may just confuse anyone who recalls some research done for Manulife Financial back in 2000 by York University finance professor Moshe Milevsky. His research found that the extra interest charged on a five-year mortgage would have cost $20,000 on average between 1950 and 2000 for a $100,000 mortgage amortized over 15 years.

To make some sense of the variable-rate versus five-year question, let’s go back to the CMHC study.

It shows that five-year mortgages, discounted or otherwise, were especially bad choices for a three-year period starting in mid-1993. Rates were high for a while back then, but they subsequently fell.

You were a spectator to these rate declines if you were stuck in a five-year mortgage, while people in variable-rate mortgages would have benefited almost immediately.

It’s a different world now, though. Five-year mortgage rates are close to a 50-year low, which suggests they’re far more likely to rise over their term than fall.

So what’s the best choice here, variable-rate or five-year fixed rate? People who want to pay rock-bottom mortgage rates for as long as possible will probably still want a variable-rate mortgage. Remember, you can lock this sort of mortgage into a fixed term without penalty in most cases.

The case for the five-year term looks almost as strong, though. First, the CMHC study tells us there may not be a significant cost to locking your mortgage in for five years, and you might even save a little over a variable-rate mortgage.

Second, the likelihood of higher rates in the years to come would suggest that this is a good time to lock in.

If you had a variable-rate mortgage discounted to 4 per cent, the prime would have to go up by 0.85 of a percentage point to equal the current five-year rate. That’s not a lot of ground to cover in the span of 12 to 18 months when the economy is doing well.

Arguably, the variable-rate versus fixed-rate debate is all about risks and rewards. Right now, the five-year option offers much less risk, and almost as much reward.



Posted by Nikhil Gupta

Escapeso Austin Real Estate asked:


Most real estate purchases are bought with loans so getting a good faith estimate and pre-approval letter from your lender helps the process start off on the right foot. The good faith estimate, or GFE for short, is required by law to be provided by lenders when you are seeking a loan. It lists out the estimated closing costs, monthly payments, and interest rates for the loan program you are looking at getting. The pre-approval letter is provided by lenders once they have run your credit and get your income / debt information. By getting the GFE and pre-approval letter, you can be confident that the loan will get processed with no surprises. There are also additional benefits to getting pre-approval and GFE before you even begin the property search. For one, by discussing your debt to income ratio with your lender and obtaining the GFE, you can determine your maximum price. It helps to know the maximum sales price when shopping around so that you do not waste time and energy looking a over-priced properties, and also vice verse, you do not waste time and energy looking at under-priced properties. You can find an area in your price range that fits your needs and narrow down your search. You also will determine your monthly payments with the GFE. The monthly payments should include the property taxes, insurance, principle, and interest plus any private mortgage insurance (PMI). If the monthly payments are higher than you wanted, then you can adjust your sales price to be lower. Another reason to get your pre-approval and GFE before starting your home search is that you may find out some issues with your credit or financial situation that you could clean up before moving forward with a purchase. For example, the first time I bought a house, I found out that I had a $50 charge on my credit report from 3 years ago, which brought my credit score down. And with a lower credit score, I would have gotten a worse interest rate on the loan. I say ‘would have’ because I was able to pay off this collection and clear up the ding on my credit before going into the loan underwriting process. Finally, by getting a pre-approval letter, you have proof for a seller that a lender has confidence in being able to fund the purchase on your behalf. This helps with presenting offers and negotiating. Many sellers will not even accept an offer unless it is accompanied by a lender’s letter. Furthermore, if you do not have a letter, the seller may counter higher given that he feels he is taking on more risk that you may not be qualified for the loan amount. Also, if you happen to get into a multiple offer situation, your offer will be much stronger with a pre-approval letter.



Posted by Nikhil Gupta

1st American Mortgage asked:


If you are looking for a Colorado mortgage rate quote for a Colorado mortgage loan, then there are many places to go. Of course there are many ads for different Colorado mortgage lenders that are based in the state and around the country. But for a better, more personal Colorado mortgage, it is best to go with an in-state Colorado mortgage lending professional.

Getting a Colorado mortgage loan from an in-state Colorado mortgage lending company has advantages, the key being that Colorado mortgage lending institutions know Colorado the best.

Colorado is unique, with a particular mix of modest private homes, second homes, luxury homes and other types. Because of this, the needs of would-be borrowers who are looking for a Colorado mortgage quote are unique as well. That necessitates a knowledgeable Colorado lender who can work with a borrower and fir their needs with the best type of Colorado mortgage loan.

Looking For a Colorado Mortgage Quote Provider

While shopping for a Colorado mortgage quote, a borrower will hope for a Colorado mortgage lender with a low rate. But that shouldn’t be the only determining factor to be considered than that part of the Colorado mortgage rate quote. The lowest bidder is not always the best place to get a Colorado mortgage loan. When deciding on the best Colorado mortgage quote, consider these other factors:

•The fees for Colorado mortgage loans

•The closing costs, which can range widely between Colorado mortgage lending companies

•Product diversity in the Colorado mortgage loans.

There are many different kinds of loan programs to choose from for borrowers and it is best to look around before a borrower decides on their Colorado mortgage quote. Aside from the Colorado mortgage rate quote itself, its best to consider fixed vs. variable loans and the different lengths of terms

•The Colorado mortgage lending companies with the best customer service. When borrowers are looking for a Colorado mortgage quote, there should be an expectation that the company will have excellent customer service, answering calls and returning them

•A Colorado mortgage lending company with experienced and informed associates. The broker working up your Colorado mortgage quote ought to be able to explain all parts of the different types of Colorado mortgage loans. They need to be able to search and return with any questions you have about your Colorado mortgage rate quote

Finding a Colorado Mortgage Loan

There are brokers nationwide you want to give a borrower a Colorado mortgage quote. Borrowers see their ads all over the place — in the yellow pages or newspaper; radio or TV. There are also many lenders who can provide Colorado mortgage rate quotes online who can also be a great resource.

Online Colorado mortgage quote providers can help you if you are looking to get many quotes with limited effort and be able to make a choice between the many Colorado mortgage quotes available. But that should not come as a replacement from real people. A borrower needs to do research; search for referrals online, check on the company to find the best Colorado mortgage quote that best suits their needs.



Posted by Nikhil Gupta

The House Team Of Mortgage Intellingence asked:


Question: “What’s the biggest financial investment most Canadians will ever make?”

Okay, that may have been an easy one if you read the headline of this column. For most Canadians, their home is their biggest investment - and their most powerful financial tool.

It’s odd - given the importance of the mortgage decision - that many homebuyers will spend much more time deciding on which mutual funds they should invest in… or even which sofa to buy… than on which mortgage will best meet their needs.

Times are changing though. Mortgage options are exploding, and Canadians have begun to demand - and receive - better rates, more flexible products and more personal service than ever before. And to get a better look at their growing range of options, more homebuyers than ever are going to a mortgage “store” - and to the professional mortgage brokers who run them.

The Ontario mortgage store is a symbol of just how much the mortgage industry has changed since those days when you simply walked into your local bank to apply for a mortgage. Today, one in three first-time Canadian homebuyers choose to work with a mortgage broker, and those numbers are climbing. It’s estimated that in the not-so-distant future, up to 50% of all Canadian mortgages may go through a mortgage broker for their financing needs. Our American neighbours are far ahead of us; almost 70% of all U.S. residential mortgages are now arranged through a mortgage broker.

Here in Canada, homebuyers are demanding choice - and they’ve been beating a path to the door of independent mortgage brokers to get it. Happily, that path is becoming shorter and more traveled; with attractive and inviting storefront offices, many independent mortgage brokers are now setting up “Main Street” offices… just like the banks.

It’s hard not to get excited about the options available through a mortgage store. To begin, consider that many different institutions lend money for mortgages: banks, trust companies, credit unions, pension funds, insurance companies, finance companies, etc. At a mortgage store - like those run by many independent consultants at Mortgage Intelligence, Canada’s premier player in the mortgage broker industry, homebuyers (through their mortgage broker) can access mortgage rates and information from a huge, varied group of lenders, including traditional banks, of course. The mortgage broker doesn’t represent any specific lending institution, but works to find a tailored mortgage solution. And they have information on the growing list of specialized mortgages that now cater to niche markets like the self-employed, or homeowners looking for a recreational or investment properties, for example.

For many Canadians, the family home has been their best-performing investment in the last several years. It’s a reminder that a Ontairo mortgage is an important financial tool - and access to a broad range of lending institutions is a critical advantage. After all, a quarter-point difference on your mortgage rate can add up to many thousands of dollars over the life of your mortgage.

Ontairo mortgage storefront offices are popping up in towns and cities all across Canada. For your own financial well being, they’re definitely worth a browse!



Posted by Nikhil Gupta

The House Team Of Mortgage Intellingence asked:


When it comes to mortgage financing, more and more Canadians are choosing to work with a professional mortgage broker. According to a recent study by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), 23 per cent of mortgages written were arranged through a broker.

Canadians are just catching up with their American neighbors, who are far less likely to simply walk into their home bank for a mortgage. In 2000, almost 70 per cent of all U.S. mortgages were arranged through mortgage brokers.

If we follow the U.S. model - and it seems that we are — then we’re in for a sea of change in the way Canadians manage their most significant personal asset. It makes sense. After all, investment returns aren’t as lucrative as they were five years ago, and investors are seeking out ways to make financial gains through avenues they may have overlooked.

There are some significant benefits to working with an independent mortgage broker. Firstly, let’s compare mortgage expertise: Most banks have one or more representatives who are specifically assigned to assist with mortgages. Their role is to develop mortgage business for the banks. A ontario mortgage broker, on the other hand, is a trained mortgage professional who has met standards for education. The comprehensive training of an independent mortgage broker may exceed the training of their counterparts at the bank. More importantly, the mortgage broker is independent. He or she is not an employee of a lending institution, but has access to rate and option information for a full spectrum of chartered banks and other lending institutions. Their role is to find the best possible mortgage rates and options for you.

Let’s also look at choice: A mortgage broker offers you access to many competitive lenders, each with a range of mortgage options. It would take weeks of research, telephoning and personal visits to recreate the range of features and options that a mortgage broker has at his or her fingertips. Rate information, mortgage options and payment schedules are up-to-the-moment, so you and your broker can make valid comparisons of the options available. The result of all this choice is a mortgage which is customized to meet your needs and to save you money.

Also consider accessibility. Your mortgage broker will be available to you before and after your mortgage closes, which will be good news for those who have spent long hours on hold or in a telephone voice answering loop.

Above all, clients have turned to mortgage brokers for better rates. Access to a broad range of lending institutions is a critical advantage for mortgage shoppers. A quarter-point difference on your mortgage rate can add up to thousands of dollars over the life of your mortgage. Many mortgage brokers work inside a brokerage organization with sufficient mortgage volumes that they can negotiate the best possible rates for your situation. Canadian homeowners who have experienced the benefits of a mortgage broker are unlikely to ever return to a world in which they simply accept the best posted rate at their local bank.



Posted by Nikhil Gupta

The House Team Of Mortgage Intellingence asked:


Mortgage brokers are blossoming in the current environment and are gaining an increasing share of the mortgage market. This is great news because you should consult with a mortgage professional when you’re making one of the most important financial decisions of your life. But, keep in mind, that not all mortgage brokers have the same level of training and experience.

That’s why it’s such great news for Canadians that the mortgage industry now has national accreditation: the Accredited Mortgage Professional (AMP). When you meet with a mortgage broker with an AMP, you’ll be assured that your business is in the hands of a professional.

Canadians are accustomed to purchasing financial products like investments and insurance from an accredited professional. Now they can look for a similar professional designation from their mortgage expert.

Like similar accreditation programs for mutual fund sales people, or stock brokers, the AMP is designed to ensure an appropriate level of training and experience. Mortgage professionals from every field are eligible to acquire the accreditation: from mortgage brokers on the front lines to those who specialize in lending or mortgage insurance, for example.

While the vast majority of Ontario mortgage brokers take seriously the important responsibility that they have to their clients, the designation provides mortgage customers with a tool to help select their mortgage expert. This kind of designation is especially valuable in an industry where provincial regulations vary - and so a variety of practice standards are in place. A single national proficiency standard brings mortgage brokers in line with other financial professionals.

The AMP designation can now offer you confidence that your mortgage broker has industry experience, has taken ethics and industry training, and is committed to a program of ongoing education to retain their designation. In order to qualify for the designation, mortgage professionals must have at least five years experience or successfully complete a recognized mortgage professional proficiency course, and take an ethics training course. They must also commit to a minimum 10 hours of continuing education each year, and agree to be governed by the professional code of the national CIMBL organization.

With a growing number of Canadians now seeking the services of independent mortgage brokers to help them assess their mortgage options - in a $600 billion industry - the timing is perfect. It’s your money, after all, and you should have the tools to make the best possible decision. An independent mortgage broker can offer you the broadest range of mortgage rates and options. Now they can also offer you the added assurance of their newly minted designation: the AMP.



Posted by Nikhil Gupta