All About Mortgage Insurance

Monday, July 12, 2010

Update July 13 - 2010 All About "Mortgage Insurance" By Insurance Experts

Mortgage insurance is defined as a decreasing term life insurance depending to the amortization of the mortgage period while the premium remains the same over that period. You can purchase the mortgage insurance from the bank, trust or life insurance companies.
1. If you purchase your mortgage insurance from the bank or trust
a) No medical exam is required
b) The beneficiary of the policy is the bank or trust
2. if you purchase your mortgage insurance from the life insurance companies
a) medical exam is required for any sum insured over $100,000
b) The beneficiary of the policy is designated by you ( Kyle J. Norton)

The FHA 203(k) Rehabilitation Mortgage Insurance Program - The "Fixer-Upper" Loan

By Jim Hodson

Under Section 203(k) of the National Housing Act, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) offers mortgage insurance on loans issued by approved FHA lenders to help borrowers purchase and rehabilitate a home. The home should be one that the borrower plans to use as their primary residence. This same insurance program also covers cash-out refinance mortgage loans whose proceeds will be used by the borrower to rehabilitate their current home.

Why the "Fuss" About FHA 203(k) Loans?

Trying to buy a "fixer-upper" home and rehabilitate it can be a very complicated process for borrowers. It typically requires taking out multiple short-term loans with high interest rates. These loans often require a balloon payment when they become due.

The FHA created Section 203(k)-insured loans to address the needs of such borrowers wanting to rehabilitate new or existing homes. This program makes the process of buying and fixing up a new home much simpler by providing the borrower with one long-term mortgage loan that covers everything.

How Do Section 203(k) Loans Work?

There are several basic requirements for a home loan to be covered under Section 203(k). The home must be at least one year old, and the planned rehabilitation must cost a minimum of $5000. The property value of the home must fall within the FHA loan limits for that area of the country. FHA maximum loan limits differ for each county, borough, or county in the state where the property is located..

When a 203(k) loan is closed, some of the money goes to pay for the purchase or refinancing of the home. The remaining money is placed in an escrow account to pay for the work on the home. Funds from the escrow account are paid out as rehabilitation work is completed.

Work Covered By Section 203(k)

Many types of improvements can be covered under this program. They include but are not limited to:

modernization of the home
correcting health or safety hazards
repairing or replacing plumbing
repairing or replacing electrical
repairing or replacing roofing
repairing or replacing floors and floor treatments
landscaping and other work to improve the appearance of the property
energy efficiency improvements

Other types of home improvements are covered. You will want to consult your lender to find out if your particular rehabilitation needs can be covered under the program.

Who Can Apply?

Anyone can apply for an FHA 203(k)-insured mortgage as long as they can afford the monthly house payment based on their debt-to-income (DTI) ratio. To apply simply contact and FHA-approved lender. Many services are available online where you can fill out a single form and get referred to multiple lenders allowing you to compare multiple rates and loan offers.

J Hodson operates FHA-Loan.org, an online resource for borrowers seeking information about FHA loans. There you can find more information on FHA 203(k) loans including the specific FHA maximum loan limits that apply to the particular county, borough, or parish where your property is located.

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Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Update June 23 - 2010 All About "Mortgage Insurance" By Insurance Experts

Considering Long-term Mortgage Insurance

By James P White

Taking out life insurance that includes critical illness cover was the sole method of gaining long-term mortgage protection until recently. There are now options available to provide long-term payment protection as a substitute to short-term payment cover.

The traditional method of gaining long-term mortgage insurance was to include critical illness insurance with mortgage life cover. This form of protection would payout a lump-sum should the policyholder suffer a 'critical illness' condition specified in their policy document. The most common types of illnesses covered include heart attack, stroke and cancer. The payout from the policy could be used to repay the loan in full if the amount of cover was set equal to the amount of debt outstanding at the start of the policy.

In addition to the cover mentioned above, many households would also take out mortgage payment protection to cover monthly loan repayments should the policyholder have to cease working due to short-term accident, sickness or unemployment. One of the greatest issues with these policies is that they will only ever payout for a maximum period of 24 months.

If serious illness insurance is added to mortgage life cover then one would hope that any illness that lasts more than 24 months would be covered, however, there is a risk that the illness is not specified in the policy. New long-term payment protection plans avoid this issue as they can payout until the end of the mortgage loan for nearly any medical condition that prevents the policyholder from working. Thus, this new form of protection provides both an increased length of cover and an increased scope of protection. The main downside is that it can cost considerably more, especially for older individuals.

Article produced by James White of Drewberry Mortgage Insurance, specialist providers of information, advice and broking services in the mortgage protection insurance market.

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Thursday, June 3, 2010

Update June 03 - 2010 All About Mortgage Insurance By Insurance Experts

Disadvantages of Mortgage Life Insurance - Why Term Life is Better

By Denise M

If you are in the market to buy a home or already have a mortgage account, you are probably looking for ways to protect your loved ones from future mortgage debt, in the event of your death. The most common options are mortgage life policy and term insurance.

Term life insurance
A term life policy is an insurance policy that you independently take out with a insurance company, with the idea that a part or all of the proceeds be used to pay off your mortgage. You name a beneficiary, usually your dependants, who are instructed to use the money to settle your mortgage account. Your beneficiaries can retain any left over amounts.

Mortgage life insurance
A mortgage life insurance policy is not offered by a insurance company, but by banks and other financial institutions that have your mortgage. The financial institution is the beneficiary, and the product is designed to have level premiums with decreasing death benefits. Usually mortgage life insurance doesn't require a medical exam.

Disadvantages of mortgage life insurance

Mortgage life insurance coverage decreases with time: The amount of cover decreases in parallel with the amount outstanding on your mortgage. However, your premiums remain level, and you end up paying more for less coverage over the years. Of course, the way it is designed, you don't receive any benefits on it if you outlive the term. The bank retains any left over amount.
A minimum stipulated time period to qualify for a payout: Usually, mortgage insurance doesn't payout in the first six months of the policy. That exposes the mortgagor to a lot of risk.
Excludes pre-existing medical conditions: Though mortgage insurance doesn't require a medical exam to determine premium rates, any pre-existing medical conditions are excluded from the policy.
If you wish to refinance, you need to take out a fresh mortgage policy If you decide to refinance, your existing mortgage life policy ceases, you will have to take out a fresh policy. This can prove to be quite a bit of extra trouble.

Why term life insurance is better

Term life is more affordable: Because the underwriting process in mortgage term life is not as precise as that of a term insurance policy, the premiums can be quite high for mortgage life insurance. Term life is generally more affordable, with its economical premiums.
Death benefits in term life go to the insured's beneficiaries: When you use a term life policy to cover your mortgage dues, your beneficiaries are in total control of the money. If you die many years into your term policy, your mortgage dues would have gone down considerably, which means that your beneficiaries get to retain any leftover cash.
Term offers a choice of policy formats: While mortgage life insurance has a decreasing term format, with term life you can opt for either decreasing term insurance or level term insurance. A decreasing term insurance policy will provide your beneficiaries with only enough money to clear your mortgage. A level term insurance policy on the other hand has a fixed death benefit amount, and therefore can be used to clear off more than just your mortgage amounts. For higher premiums you can also add more protection for other reasons, such as to replace your income, take care of your kids' college fees, etc.
Doesn't require a fresh policy if you decide to change As mentioned earlier, if you decide to refinance, your mortgage life policy ceases. However, with term, even if the underwriting process requires your mortgage documents, the life insurance can't be revoked each time the structure of your finances change.

Make sure you are covered adequately
When you use a term life policy to cover your mortgage, remember that you need to take out additional term insurance to cover your other financial obligations in the event of your death. Look at riders such as critical illness and disability to cover every possibility.

Life is uncertain. With the right mortgage life cover coupled with comprehensive life insurance planning, you can be sure that your loved ones are taken care of when you are no longer around to provide for them.

About AccuQuote:
AccuQuote is a leader in providing term insurance quotes to people across the United States. In 1986 it began operating with a single goal: to make the process of buying term life insurance as easy as possible for its customers. Their experienced professionals consistently deliver the most affordable term life insurance rates by comparing thousands of life insurance policies from dozens of top-rated carriers.

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Monday, May 17, 2010

Update May 17 - 2010 All About Mortgage Insurance By Insurance Experts

Useful Information on Mortgage Insurance Rates

By Ryan Trimble

A lender likes when the buyer puts down at least 20% towards the price of the home. They do not appreciate a high loan to value (LTV) ratio, certainly not one greater than 80%. This means that on a house appraised at $200,000, $40,000 is needed to put down before closing. If this is not possible, either the home cannot be purchased or mortgage insurance (PMI) needs to be purchased.

The purpose of mortgage insurance is to insure the bank or lender against the buyer not paying and perhaps going into foreclosure. The buyer is paying to insure the bank's risk in making the loan to someone who did not put down 20% of the purchase price of the home. If the buyer puts down at least 20%, the purchaser is said to have "skin in the game."

Mortgage insurance rates can run as high as 3%. That would entail a payment of $1,500 for a $200,000 home. In the past the entire PMI was paid at closing. It has since changed and the insurance will run for the length of the loan. This gives the homeowner an incentive to end the payments.

The PMI will be held in escrow. The amount will be added to other escrow items such as home insurance and taxes. when purchasing a home, these added costs must be considered along with the specific monthly mortgage payments.

If the homeowner puts more money into the home each month, the PMI can be stopped, when the equity in the home reaches 20%. If the house appreciates in price and the Loan to Value Ratio has gone down, the mortgage insurance can also be ended.

The buyer will have to take the initiative in ending the mortgage insurance. There is no incentive for the bank to remind you that the insurance can be ended. After all, they are still getting additional insurance that the homeowner is paying for.

Ryan writes numerous articles on obtaining mortgage protection cover and about the facts behind mortgage protection and its importance.

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Monday, April 26, 2010

Update April 26 - 2010 All About "Mortgage Insurance" Information By Insurance Experts

10 Benefits of Mortgage Insurance

By Arjun Rudra

1. Take it with you when you move. If you have a mortgage that's portable, you can transfer its terms to a new property in the future. This same option is available when you buy mortgage insurance, which can save you premiums when you move.

2. Be eligible for a better interest rate. Mortgage insurance provides a lender with the flexibility to offer you the same competitive mortgage interest rates available to home buyers with a larger down payment.

3. More down payment options. Don't let the down payment be the barrier to your home ownership dreams. There are many mortgage insurance products that will help you to achieve home ownership. Let's discuss the options that suit your situation best.

4. Buy, instead of renting. If you're paying rent right now, it can be a good move to consider buying a home that has similar monthly carrying costs. You'll enjoy the freedom of making your living space into your own home with your personal touch.

5. Overcome traditional barriers to financing. More and more homebuyers who may not have qualified for a mortgage are benefiting from mortgage insurance - for example, those who are self-employed or work on commission. With mortgage insurance, people who have good credit but might not meet conventional lending criteria can qualify for the financing they need.

6. Own and enjoy a vacation property. If your financial situation is in good standing and you are thinking about buying a vacation property, there are mortgage insurance options that will allow you to do so. Be sure to ask us about what will work best for you.

7. Get money back on an energy-efficient home. If you purchase an energy efficient home or refinance an existing home to make energy-saving renovations, you could be eligible to receive a 10% refund on your mortgage insurance premium if your mortgage is insured with Genworth Financial Canada.

8. Save on household purchases. When buying your first home, you'll find expenses can add up quickly.

9. Home ownership on your terms. With the right preparation and resources, you can buy a home that best suits your lifestyle. Mortgage insurance provides you with innovative options to help get you into home ownership.

10. Get help when you need it. Whether from a job loss, a serious illness, or a marriage breakup, financial difficulties can arise when you least expect them.

In 2005, Arjun read his first book on investing. For Arjun, that experience sparked a long, extremely exciting and fulfilling journey towards achieving financial freedom at, what some might consider a very young age. While that journey is ongoing and has taken countless hours till date, the elation of finding a truly undervalued stock or discovering a special situation in the capital markets wields a reaction that is probably akin to a prospector discovering a nugget of gold. Arjun founded Investing Thesis to chronicle his journey in the hopes that his successes and failures might work to the benefit of someone else.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Update Mar. 17 - 2010 All About "Mortgage Insurance" Information By Insurance Experts

Everything You Need to Know About a Negative Amortization Mortgage

By Mike Makler

Most Property Owners are conditioned to believe that a Negative Amortization Mortgage is a Bad thing. Before you get that next mortgage shouldn't you get the facts so you can decide for yourself what is best.

The First Question many people have is what is a negative Amortization Mortgage. A Negative Amortization mortgage is an Adjustable Rate Mortgage with predictable payments over the life of the mortgage. On an Adjustable rate mortgage you can have interest rate caps and/ or payment caps. A Payment Cap says your payment can never increase by some cap usually every year. So if you have a $500 Month Payment on an Adjustable Rate Mortgage with a payment cap of 7.5 Percent per year your monthly payment cannot be higher then 537.50 the following year.

Now if your interest rate were to rise enough to force the needed payment to be $540.00 a month you would be in a negative Amortization situation.
The Additional $2.50 a month would be added to your principle. You can think of a Negative Amortization as an automatic loan from your bank. Every month when you get your statement from the bank you will see at least your payment options. Option 1 is the Minimum payment. If option 1 would force a negative Amortization you will also see an Option 2 which would be the interest only payment. You may also see an Option 3 which would be the payment needed to pay off your loan in 30 Years. Some banks will give you additional options like 15 Year pay outs.

The Downside of a Negative Amortization Mortgage is that in areas where real estate values don't rise or even fall you could end up owing the bank more then your home is worth if you only make the Minimum payment each and every month.

The Pros of a Negative Amortization is that is very easy to create a annual budget since you know that your mortgage payment will never exceed the payment cap. The flexibility to pay more is should you be able to is also a nice plus

Another Pro of a Negative Amortization Mortgage is that it offers very low introductory rates with payments fixed for the first 5 or 10 years. This means anyone can buy a home and know that for the next 5 or even 10 years their monthly payment will be the same.

Here is an Example of 2 different Loans. A Negative ARM loan with a fixed payment for 5 years based on an interest rate of 1.95 Percent or a 30 year Fixed Rate of 5.5 Percent, A 250,000 Loan at 5.5 percent would run about $1420.00. A 380,000 Loan at 1.95 percent would run about $1395.00 a month. For $25 a Month lower payment you are controlling $130,000 more property. That extra $130,000 would grow by $35,000 in the first 5 year at a modest 5% appreciation Rate ($52,000 at 7 Percent, $79,000 at 10 Percent) At the end of 30 Years at 5 Percent that $130,000 would grow to over $560,000. (Over $989,000 at 7 Percent, Over 2.2 Million Dollars at 10 Percent)

When one considers the payment flexibility, the low starting introductory rates, a Negative Amortization Mortgage will allow most homeowners to control more real estate for the same or less money. The Negative Amortization Mortgage is certainly something to be considered by most homeowners or prospective homeowners.

About the Author

Mike Makler Offers Financial Services (Mortgages,Life Insurance, Annuity) in Florissant Missouri which is in North St. Louis County Missouri Just Across the Bridge from St. Charles Missouri

Call Mike at 314 398-5547

Visit Mike's Web Page:

[http://ewguru.com/finance]

For Missouri Specific Insurance and Loan Questions:

[http://ewguru.com/Mo-Finance]

Get Mike's Newsletter Here [http://ewguru.com/fin-news]

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Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Update Mar. 09 - 2010 All About "Mortgage Insurance" Information By Insurance Experts

The One Product Better Than Mortgage Insurance? Term Insurance

By B. F. Khan

Now that you have read "10 Reasons MORTGAGE INSURANCE is not a good investment" and if you missed it, check out the investigation that was done by CBC Marketplace titled "In Denial"

Lets continue on what is considered the one product to protect your family!

TERM INSURANCE! YES! TERM INSURANCE!

All the experts agree that TERM INSURANCE is a better product than mortgage insurance.

Ask Suze Ormond or check MSN money and of course check Personal Finance for Canadians.. Dummies book. Here are the reasons why:

1.You are the policy owner and choose the beneficiary. You choose who should get the money because you are in control and not the institution.

2.Death benefits go to your designated beneficiary who can use the funds as needed.Your survivor gets to choose how the money is spent. i.e. pay off the mortgage, pay off debts, invest etc.

3.Coverage amount is determined by you based on a complete needs analysis. Your coverage will take into account, mortgage, debts, survivor income, children's education etc.

4.Coverage remains the same for the duration of policy. Regardless if the mortgage goes down or you have paid off all your debts, the amount you are covered for remains the same for the same price.

5.Policy in good standing remains in force for duration of policy term chosen. Pay your premiums and you are covered for the term that you choose.

6.Policy is portable and remains with you. If you move to another home, your policy remains the same. You do not need to renegotiate for a new policy. Add a rider if you need more coverage.

7.Underwriting and evaluation of medical history is done prior to policy being issued and won't be cancelled later if health issues arise. That explains itself. At least you will know if there are any medical issues up front.

8.Monthly premiums do not start until after you have been approved for a policy.

9.Preferred rates are available for individuals with excellent health. Great health... lower premiums.

Now go back and rethink that mortgage insurance... read previous article to really understand the difference.You need to make sure you are making an informed decision about protecting your future. Now which one will you choose?

B. F. Khan is a new entrepreneur who has found out how to minimize her time and maximize her profits from using the internet to talk about her business.

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All About Mortgage Insurance

Monday, July 12, 2010

Update July 13 - 2010 All About "Mortgage Insurance" By Insurance Experts

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Update June 23 - 2010 All About "Mortgage Insurance" By Insurance Experts

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Update June 03 - 2010 All About Mortgage Insurance By Insurance Experts

Monday, May 17, 2010

Update May 17 - 2010 All About Mortgage Insurance By Insurance Experts

Monday, April 26, 2010

Update April 26 - 2010 All About "Mortgage Insurance" Information By Insurance Experts

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Update Mar. 17 - 2010 All About "Mortgage Insurance" Information By Insurance Experts

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Update Mar. 09 - 2010 All About "Mortgage Insurance" Information By Insurance Experts

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