Monday, October 09, 2006

UK Commercial Mortgage

In many ways a commercial mortgage is just like a residential mortgage in that you pledge real property as collateral against a loan to either buy or refinance that property. You can also receive a commercial re-mortgage and use it as a line of credit for any business purpose.

When you use a commercial mortgage to buy property, or to raise funds for any other business purpose, the lender retains an interest in that property until the loan has been paid in full. Unlike other types of business loans, which usually have a relatively short repayment period, you can take out a loan for as long as 30 years if you like.

The lender receives repayment of the commercial mortgage principal and interest over the lifetime of the loan. If you default on the loan and go into arrears then the lender can foreclose and take possession of the property that was used as collateral.

Generally speaking, the interest on a commercial mortgage is tax deductible and the net proceeds of the loan are not considered to be taxable income. However, you should always check with your accountant to be sure because the tax consequences can be severe should it be determined that your usage of the funds was not for a qualified business purpose.

Should you be seeking a commercial mortgage for the purposes of operating your business, rather than actually buying property, then the lender will either want to re-finance your current mortgage, and include enough money to provide the amount that you are seeking, or they may arrange an equity line where they lend you the difference between the current value of your commercial property and the amount that you owe on the current mortgage.

There are generally two types of interest schemes available when you are applying for a commercial mortgage.

The fixed rate commercial mortgage establishes an interest rate that is in place either for the life of the loan or for a fixed period of time. If it is for a fixed period of time then it will normally convert over to the second type of rate, which is called a variable interest rate, after the fixed time period expires.

In some cases your lender may add a Early Redemption Charge (ERC) clause to your commercial mortgage contract which states that if you pay off the note prior to the end of the fixed rate period then the lender is entitled to a one-time lump fee to offset their loss of expected income. In some cases this ERC may extend to longer periods possibly up to the entire term of the loan. Be very sure to read your loan contract carefully to make sure that you understand the implications of the ERC if it is present.

With competition from lenders heating up you'll find that many of them are dropping ERC clauses all together. If there is one present in your loan contract you may be able to negotiate it away with little effort. It's worth trying in any case and you can always apply somewhere else if your lender is not willing to negotiate.

In the case of a variable interest rate commercial mortgage the rate is based upon those issued by Bank of England. The lender will usually state that the rate consists of the published rate, which will likely vary up and down over the life of the loan, plus some pre-determined premium that remains the same for the life of the loan. Be sure that you understand how frequently your rate will change and that you are comfortable with the amount that the lender is charging as a premium. As with any terms of your loan you can negotiate both of these factors.

A fixed rate commercial mortgage is a good choice when you feel that interest rates are headed up sharply and you want to lock in the current rates. On the other hand, if interest rates are in flux, and economic indicators point to a downtrend, then a variable rate may be your best choice.

Keep this strategy in mind during the lifetime of your commercial mortgage. If you are locked into a fixed rate, and interest rates have dropped significantly below what you are paying, you should consider applying for a re-mortgage and selecting a variable interest rate to take advantage of the lower rates. On the other hand, if you are in a variable, and all indicators are that interest rates will be skyrocketing soon, then look to move into a fixed rate so you can protect yourself against future increases.








Refinancing Your Home Equity Loan

Refinancing your home equity loan is simple when using online lenders. By comparing loan quotes, you can find the lowest costing refi solution. In addition, you can save time and hassle by completing your application online. In less than two weeks, you can reduce your rates and payments by refinancing your home equity loan.

Refinancing Options For Home Equity Loans

You have a number of options for deciding how to refinance your home equity loan. The simplest method is to just refinance your current home equity loan as a second mortgage.

The other option is to refinance both your first and second mortgages to qualify for lower rates than if you just refinanced your second mortgage. You also save on closing costs by paying lawyer, appraisal, and other fees just once. In addition, the hassle of multiple applications is eliminated.

However, combining mortgages is not always the best financial choice. In some cases, refinancing separately will get you better rates. You may also save money by having different terms on your mortgages. For example, you may want your first mortgage for 30 years, but your second mortgage for five.

Start By Comparing Numbers

To see real savings on your interest and monthly mortgage payments, ask for loan cost estimates from lenders. For a quick search, look at the APR to find the lowest costing refi package.

But to get a real sense of your savings, calculate the interest cost on your current home equity loan and potential refi loan. Remember too that there is flexibility with your refinancing. You can shorten your loan to reduce interest or lengthen terms to reduce monthly payments.

Finishing The Refinancing Process

By looking online for your refinancing quotes, you have practically completed your loan application. When you receive a quote, most lenders provide an option to finish the application. This may mean submitting a request online or completing a form.

Once your refinancing has been approved and loan contract signed, your original loan will be paid off by your lender. You can start enjoying your lower monthly payments in less than two weeks.

Mortgage Loan Information

Mortgage Loan Information - Know The Basics When You Refinance or Purchase a Home

Fixed-rate home loan mortgage -

As the name suggests, this is a plain-vanilla home loan. Basically you borrow a certain amount over a certain period at a fixed rate of interest. You then pay the same monthly installments for the life of the home loan. The benefit of a fixed-rate home loan is that you can easily budget for the repayments. The downfall of a fixed-rate home loan is that you could end up paying a higher rate of interest than everyone else - no one knows what interest rates will be in 15-20 years time!

Adjustable-rate home loan mortgage -

Mirroring the fixed-rate mortgage is the adjustable-rate mortgage. Again, you borrow a certain amount over a certain period, however in this case the interest rate is not fixed, but is adjustable (or 'floating' as you may also hear it called). The upside to adjustable-rate home loans is that the interest rate at the start of the loan period can be lower than the fixed rate would be. The downside is that it is difficult to budget for, as the amount can change, and you are at the mercy of something outside of your control - interest rate fluctuations, which can change quickly.

Hybrid home loan mortgages -

Trying to fill the void left with the downside of the fixed and adjustable/variable-rate home loans, the hybrid home loan lets you fix the interest rate over the first part of the home loan, and then switch to an adjustable/variable rate later. The upside of hybrid home loans is that they allow you to budget for your repayments during the expensive time when you first buy the home. The downside is that if floating rates are much higher than your fixed rate when the switch happens, you could find you are paying a much higher repayment each month.

How To Save On Your Mortgage

Obtaining a home loan is arguably the most expensive transaction you'll experience in your lifetime. Therefore, getting the best home at the greatest value is an endeavor worth pursuing. Whether you're trying to squeeze in to a higher priced home or just trying to shave a couple bucks off of the closing costs, this article will help you explore your options.

Here's a list of our top 7 things you can do to cut corners and save money on your mortgage

  • Shop Rate!
  • Shop Fees!
  • ARMs
  • Balloons
  • Interest Only
  • Incentives
  • PMI
  • Refinancing Your Home

    The first step of refinancing your home is finding a reputable lender that will get the job done right the first time. Think of refinancing similar to purchasing your home, as the same information is necessary in order to get started. You will need to produce the same documentation that verifies who you are, how much you make and what you currently owe. A reputable finance company will shop your loan around to several lenders and get you an acceptance in a matter of days and in some conditions in a matter of hours.

    Once you set the ball in motion, you will have to get your current mortgage holder to provide a statement of payoff that shows how much you owe at this point in time. Your home will need to be appraised in value and an interest rate will be locked in for a period of 60 days. You will be asked to sign several pieces of paper to release this information from the mortgage company. You may also have to turn in the cover page of your homeowner's insurance policy to show the break down of your coverage.

    Thursday, October 05, 2006

    Get The Mortgage You Want Even With Poor Credit

    Here are some things to keep in mind when moving forward in the application process to get your home loan:

    Contact or apply to many different lenders or brokers - Online you can fill out many mortgage applications where the lender or mortgage service company does not pull your credit history. If they don't ask for your social security number, they usually cannot pull your credit. Brokers usually use the initial application or inquiry form and what you tell them about your credit to make a decision about whether they should pursue the application and pull your credit or not. Many lenders will tell you that you are not going to get approved anywhere and that if they can't help you, no one can. That is not true. All mortgage brokers have access to very different mortgage programs and some brokers are more creative in their financing techniques than others.

    Fill out your application or inquiry as accurately as possible - Inflating your income on your application or inquiry form, to be higher than you know you can verify your income to be, will only delay the process of getting pre-approved. The broker will work the fastest for you if he/she is working with the exact information he/she needs to be able to verify. That's the best way to get approved and through the pre-approval process smoothly.

    Be persistent - This is the key when seeking a mortgage loan pre-approval with poor credit, be optimistic. Look for creative ways to get financing and contact as many brokers as possible. There is one or more out there that can help you. The key is to find them.

    Start house hunting - Sometimes the key to getting into a house is finding the right one and a seller that is flexible enough to help you do some creative financing work. For example: the seller carrying back a small percentage of the loan, the seller paying your closing costs or you being able to purchase the house for significantly lower than market value.