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Home Mortgage https://www.compareclosing.com/blog Mon, 30 Jan 2023 18:19:27 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.3 https://www.compareclosing.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/cropped-cropped-Compare-Closing-LLC-Logo-1-32x32.png Home Mortgage https://www.compareclosing.com/blog 32 32 162941087 What Are VA Non-Allowable Fees & Its 8 Different Types? https://www.compareclosing.com/blog/all-about-va-non-allowable-fees/ https://www.compareclosing.com/blog/all-about-va-non-allowable-fees/#respond Fri, 13 Jan 2023 15:29:30 +0000 https://www.compareclosing.com/blog/?p=20683 Continue Reading What Are VA Non-Allowable Fees & Its 8 Different Types?]]>

About VA Non Allowable Fees

If you are planning to buy a home through a mortgage, you would have to pay closing costs as part of your mortgage transaction. 

As a buyer, you would always try to get a mortgage with the lowest closing cost. If you are a veteran or active member you are eligible to take a VA loan to purchase your dream home. 

One of the biggest benefits of a VA loan is that it limits the fees the lender can charge you as your closing cost. 

In this post, we will learn all about VA non-allowable fees and how you can keep your closing costs under control by using them.

What Are VA Non-Allowable Fees?

In simple words, the VA non-allowable fees are the fees that the lender cannot charge a borrower when they are getting a VA loan. VA loans are backed by the US Department of Veterans Affairs. 

The VA home loan program strives to provide an affordable home-buying experience for veterans, so it’s no surprise that the VA controls the amount veterans will pay at the closing of a VA loan.

Non-allowable VA fees are fees that the VA prohibits lenders from charging borrowers during the closing process. 

VA loan borrowers should not have any of the nonallowable VA items in their loan estimates. When you take out a home loan, the list of fees is huge, so it is very important to know what you should and shouldn’t allow for your loan.

What Are The Types Of Fees Included In VA Non-Allowable Fees?

The VA places restraints on VA mortgages to help make home ownership affordable for borrowers that are qualified. 

Many VA loan fees are not allowed, which means that VA borrowers may not have to pay the fees that are commonly paid in conventional mortgages.

Here is a list of VA fees that a borrower cannot pay:

  1. Attorneys’ fees.
  2. Real estate agent commission.
  3. Prepayment penalties.
  4. Inspection fees are charged by HUD or FHA.
  5. An appraisal is ordered by a lender or broker to challenge a lower VA appraisal.
  6. Appraisals requested by parties other than the mortgage lender or VA borrower.
  7. Escrow fees to set up the escrow account.
  8. Rate lock fee to lock the rate.

What Are VA Allowable Fees?

Here is a list of VA loan fees you should know that the lender is allowed to charge:

  • Funding Fee for VA loans: A one-time payment made directly to the VA to fund the VA loan program.
  • VA Certification Fee: Fee for obtaining VA-certified appraisal for the property that you are planning to buy
  • Credit report fee: Fee charged to get a copy of your credit report to verify your creditworthiness.
  • Origination fee: A fee charged by the lender to cover their cost of funding which has to be less than 1%.
  • Title Insurance: Fees for creating a new title document.
  • Recording fee: Fee for the cost of transferring ownership.
  • Buy-down points: You must pay the buy-down points used during the VA loan process to get a better rate.

Who Pays For The VA Non-Allowable Fees?

VA mortgages have strict requirements regarding how much the buyer can pay in fees. If the expense falls into the VA’s non-allowable fees category, someone else will need to cover those expenses. In some cases, the seller pays the VA loan fees. 

In other places, the real estate agent or the lender may cover these costs. Keep in mind that if the seller pays VA non-allowable fees, these fees may be included in the contract in another way. A seller may add these costs to the home’s sales price to cover the difference.

Conclusion

Every situation is different when it comes to closing costs and fees associated with acquiring a VA loan. 

VA nonallowable fees are on set to ensure affordable financing choices for borrowers eligible for VA loans to buy a home. 

This makes the VA loan option one of the best options for VA loan borrowers by saving a good amount of money on their closing costs.

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What Is A Contemporary Style House? – The Pros And Cons https://www.compareclosing.com/blog/what-is-a-contemporary-style-house/ https://www.compareclosing.com/blog/what-is-a-contemporary-style-house/#respond Mon, 05 Dec 2022 14:55:09 +0000 https://www.compareclosing.com/blog/?p=19956 Continue Reading What Is A Contemporary Style House? – The Pros And Cons]]>

About Contemporary Style House

It is important to understand your home’s design when you are planning to buy a new home

The styling and design of your home may have a marvelous impression on people visiting your home. 

In today’s world contemporary-style houses are very common and one of the most popular types of home designs. In this post, we will learn more about what a contemporary-style house is in detail.

What Is A Contemporary Style House?

A contemporary house reflects the latest style which is 21st-century architecture and design. 

It’s evolutionary, meaning it changes and grows just like us, adapting to what’s new, exciting, and trendy in the world of home styling.

As the concept of a contemporary house style is very adaptive, it is often combined with other home interior styles. 

For example, contemporary homes showcase the trendy nature of the styles by combining many similar elements from bohemian modern homes, farmhouses, and mid-century contemporary design homes.

Contemporary homes don’t just adopt the most popular trends in other design styles. Pushing the boundaries to adopt new trends is also an integral part of the contemporary home style. 

Styling a contemporary style home often means a greater focus on sustainability and smart features, including green building materials, smart home products, and energy efficiency.

What Is The Difference Between Modern Style Home And Contemporary Style Home?

Modern home styles have been a popular choice among builders and homebuyers for a very long time. Due to the high demand for modern homes, contemporary home designs also gained popularity. 

Most people assume that the modern and contemporary are the same, well, they have clear differences. 

The word “modern” might lead you to think that these properties encompass the trends of the current trends; however, modern homes incorporate design styles from the turn of the century to the mid-20th century. 

Contemporary home designs, on the other hand, reflect today’s popular styles while incorporating a contemporary aesthetic. Although the designs are different, both combine clean lines and, minimalism.

What Does Contemporary Style House Include?

Contemporary home designs are limited only to the designer’s and homeowner’s creativity and imagination. 

However, below are some basic contemporary elements that are included in a typical contemporary-styled house.

  • Curve Designs
  • Adjustable integrated LED lighting
  • Oblique Designs
  • Free Form Designs
  • Integration with the surrounding landscape
  • Living walls
  • Large and rich windows
  • Distinctive volume
  • Open floor plan
  • Round shape Designs
  • Integrated smart home technology
  • Round shape Designs
  • Green roofs

The Pros And Cons Of Contemporary Style Homes?

Contemporary homes are attractive to homeowners because of the variety and personality that can be incorporated into the design. You need to weigh the pros and cons before deciding if this is the right design style for your home.

Pros:

  • Unique and personalized: Customize your contemporary home to your taste and make it unique compared to other houses in your neighborhood.
  • Low maintenance: The clean lines and minimalist look and design features are easy to maintain for today’s contemporary homeowners.
  • Green Building: Many houses with contemporary designs, especially those built recently, emphasize the use of sustainable building materials and have energy-saving systems.

Cons:

  • High building cost: Materials used in these types of homes are sometimes more expensive because they last longer.
  • Difficult to combine different styles at home: These designs have a unique look depending on the materials and elements used, so it can be more difficult to combine them with other design styles. If you want to change your home design regularly, a contemporary design might not be for you.
  • Difficult to find comparables: Since every contemporary style house is unique in design, it is difficult to compare it with other homes in the neighborhood. Though the home price may be higher due to customized elements, the home price could be lower than what it might be worth.

Conclusion

Contemporary-style houses continue to be a popular option for home buyers and builders alike. Eventually, the style you choose for your home should be based on what brings you joy, not necessarily what’s trending currently. 

While it’s true that some contemporary luxuries come and go quickly, many timeless elements make a contemporary-style house a great choice.

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What Is Shadow Inventory And What Are Its Topmost Benefits? https://www.compareclosing.com/blog/what-is-shadow-inventory/ https://www.compareclosing.com/blog/what-is-shadow-inventory/#respond Fri, 25 Nov 2022 14:58:34 +0000 https://www.compareclosing.com/blog/?p=19758 Continue Reading What Is Shadow Inventory And What Are Its Topmost Benefits?]]>

About Shadow Inventory

There are many terms that an average homebuyer or real estate investor may not be aware of. When you are looking to buy a new property, you generally go through the properties that are listed for sale. 

However, what if there are properties that are not yet up for sale and are going to be on the market for sale in near future? 

One such term that not many are aware of is shadow inventory in real estate. In this post, we will learn what is shadow inventory in detail.

What Is Shadow Inventory In Real Estate?

Shadow inventory is a term commonly used to describe real estate-owned (REO) properties that are either in process of foreclosure or help by the bank yet to be put on the market for sale. 

The “shadow” portion of this term is used because banks and lenders often foreclose houses and keep them out of the market for several years. 

As a result, potential buyers would not be able to buy these properties as they are not listed for sale in the market. 

The banks and the lenders do this to generate new interest and higher selling prices when these properties are listed for sale.

This type of inventory is difficult to access. But according to the National Association of Realtors, as of 2019, bank-owned properties have been waiting at least four years to be listed on the market.

What Are The Effects Of Shadow Inventory On the Real Estate Market?

Though this term is not well known in the real estate industry, its impact on the market and the stakeholders could be substantial. 

Below are a few basic effects on the market related to this type of inventory:

The Impact On the Real Estate Market

This type of real estate inventory can reflect the state of the real estate market. When homeowners decide not to sell a property, it could mean that the housing market is not doing well. 

After all, they are anticipating getting the maximum price for their property. If you choose to hold on to your home and not list it for sale, means that the market is slow. The seller may decide to sell the property once the market starts to recover.

When the market is slow, many homeowners and lenders hold their properties increasing the shadow real estate inventory. 

On the other hand, if the market is strong, the potential home sellers will list maximum properties lowering the shadow inventory as they would get the maximum sales price for their properties.

Impact Of Banks And Lenders Holding Real Estate Inventory

Banks often hope to sell foreclosed houses at a profit. But they don’t always hold the sales of these properties just for gaining profit. In many cases, there are too many houses to be put up for sale. 

If they list all of them in the market for sale, the housing market may eventually change its course. This is good for buyers but bad for banks and other home sellers.

Sometimes banks try to sell some of these bank-owned property pools back to defaulted owners, and investors, or rent the home to release some of their piled-up real estate inventory. 

Of course, the experience of investors in these pools is not always favorable they might be stuck with immovable real estate inventory. 

This might release some of the bank’s real estate inventory but the investors are left with the fallout.

What Are The Benefits Of Shadow Inventory For Real Estate Investors?

Real estate investors can also take advantage of the presence of shadow real estate inventory. Investors who deal in REO units at smaller banks and credit unions can sometimes buy properties in shadow inventory before they even know they’re on the market. 

If an investor has a good relationship with a real estate agent from a major bank or a property manager, they can get easy access to information on this to-be-sold real estate inventory. 

As an investor, you can negotiate the price of these properties based on the current market and make a profit by selling them in a better housing market.

Conclusion

For potential real estate investors, a high shadow inventory could mean better investment opportunities. 

However, if this real estate inventory is significantly higher or lower, it might hurt the housing market. 

If you are looking to buy a property from shadow inventory, get in touch with your trusted real estate agent to find out if they have something in store for you.

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What Is The Right Of Rescission And How Can One Execute It? https://www.compareclosing.com/blog/about-right-of-rescission-in-mortgage/ https://www.compareclosing.com/blog/about-right-of-rescission-in-mortgage/#respond Wed, 26 Oct 2022 15:24:30 +0000 https://www.compareclosing.com/blog/?p=19115 Continue Reading What Is The Right Of Rescission And How Can One Execute It?]]>

About the Right of Rescission in Mortgage

Refinancing your current mortgage or obtaining a home equity loan could be a daunting process. 

As a borrower, it is important to know your rights and privileges when you are refinancing your mortgage or getting a home equity loan or line of credit. 

One such important right that as a borrower you need to know is the right of rescission. In this post, we will understand what is the right of rescission in detail.

What Is The Right Of Rescission?

A right of rescission, also known as a right to cancel, is designed to give a borrower a “cooling off period” that provides time (usually three days) to cancel the loan after it has been accepted by the borrower. 

As an extension of the Truth in Lending Act, this right helps protect borrowers against unfair and unethical lending practices by giving them the right to cancel the loan within the rescission period.

In addition to the right to rescind option, this right allows you to apply for a refinance or home equity loan with a new lender. 

If you find out that the loan provided by your current lender has higher fees or interest rates, you can cancel the loan with the current lender and apply with another lender that can provide better terms for the loan.

According to the CFPB, the three-day rescission period begins on the first business day after signing a loan agreement and all the closing disclosures are submitted. The rescission period is for 3 business days including Saturdays and excludes Sundays and national and public holidays.

For Example, if you have signed the final documents for a mortgage refinance on Friday, you would have until Tuesday midnight to exercise your right to rescind.

How To Execute The Right To Rescission?

TILA does not provide a formal way for consumers to exercise their right to cancel. However, the lender must send the borrower a notice indicating the right of withdrawal, which must include the procedure the borrower will use if the borrower wishes to cancel the transaction.

After receiving this document and signing all other documents, the borrower has three business days to review and change the decision. 

If you decide to withdraw the loan application within the deadline, you must clarify your intention by following the procedure described by the lender.

 The 3-day cancellation policy is not available over the phone or in person. In general, you must complete the process by indicating in writing your intention to terminate the contract. 

In addition, the borrower needs to document the time the notice was sent to prove that the cancellation was made within the rescission period.

What Are The Pros And Cons Of The Right Of Rescission?

Pros:

  • Gives the right to terminate a home loan agreement: The right of rescission can help you get out of a mortgage, HELOC, or a newly refinanced mortgage from a new bank or lender.
  • This also applies to some foreclosures: These rights can be used in foreclosure procedures in a specific way. You have the right to cancel if any mortgage brokerage fees, which should be included in the cost of the loan, are excluded or if the lender was unable to provide the model form properly.
  • The right to rescind can be protected for up to three years: If you do not receive the TILA form, you may have the right to withdraw up to three years afterward.

Cons:

  • Applicable only for some loan types and scenarios: Your right of withdrawal does not apply to mortgages used to finance a new home purchase. Additionally, you can’t use the right to rescind when you transfer or consolidate a mortgage with your current lender, unless the newly refinanced amount exceeds the outstanding principal. If a government entity is a creditor, it also has no right to rescind. This right is also not applicable to the renewal of optional insurance installments.
  • It can take up to 20 days for your lender to get your money back: Even if you only have 3 days to change your mind, it can take up to 20 days for your lender to pay back what you paid during the transaction.

Conclusion

The Right of Rescission is created to protect borrowers from predatory lending practices by some lenders. 

During the rescission period, the borrower can get the deal checked by a trusted financial advisor to ensure everything is right. 

If the borrower is taking a cash-out, in these three days, the borrower can give a second thought to know if the deal is affordable and making good financial sense.

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What Is No Doc Mortgage? – The Benefits And Disadvantages Of It https://www.compareclosing.com/blog/what-is-a-no-doc-mortgage/ https://www.compareclosing.com/blog/what-is-a-no-doc-mortgage/#respond Thu, 08 Sep 2022 15:42:57 +0000 https://www.compareclosing.com/blog/?p=17979 Continue Reading What Is No Doc Mortgage? – The Benefits And Disadvantages Of It]]>

About No Doc Mortgage

If you are thinking of applying for a mortgage to buy a property, you have many loan programs available at your disposal.

Most of these loans would require income documentation as the lender would need to know if the borrower applying for the loan is making enough money to repay the loan. 

However, there is one mortgage loan that does not require income documentation or verification. In this post, we will understand what a no-doc loan is in detail.

What Is A No Doc Mortgage?

No doc mortgage, also known as low doc, no- income-verification, or stated-income mortgage is a type of private money loan program in which the borrower is not required to submit tax returns or verification of income. 

Instead, these loan programs are approved based on an agreement from the lender that the borrower can repay the loan in the future.

Because income is not easily verifiable, it is common for people (including self-employed borrowers) who do not have a regular income to choose to go for this type of mortgage. 

Although this type of mortgage is risky, there are generally no regulations and the borrowers have to pay higher down payments compared to a traditional mortgage.

How Does A No Doc Loan Work?

In a regular mortgage, the borrower needs to provide income documentation for income qualification. 

To prove your income qualification the lender would require your recent paystubs, W2s, and/or tax returns. 

Lenders want borrowers to be able to repay their loans by proving that they have a consistent and dependable income. 

Of course, this is in addition to other parameters that are required for a borrower to qualify such as loan to value, debt-to-income, and decent credit scores.

However, some mortgage loan programs may not require proof of income which is called a no-doc mortgage. In this type of mortgage, the borrower has fewer documents to provide. 

Instead, the lender would request a declaration from the borrower stating that he or she would be able to repay the mortgage. 

These loans are generally given and are best suited to individuals with no source of income, the self-employed, temporary workers, or new immigrants.

No documentation mortgages do not comply with the Consumer Credit Protection Act which states the lender should verify the potential borrower’s finances. 

As there is no income verification required, these types of mortgages are risky for lenders. Since 2010 after the execution of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reforms and Consumer protection act, no doc mortgages have become less popular. 

This is due to the guidelines stating all mortgages are required to have all the documentation.

What Are The Benefits of No Doc Mortgage?

  • They facilitate financial access to real estate investors who wish to invest. It might be difficult to qualify for conventional loans if you have multiple investment properties, not to forget never ending documents. No documentation mortgage can be a way forward in such cases.
  • As this is an asset-based mortgage, and not much documentation is required, the closing time for the loan is faster than any other conventional loan.

What Are The Disadvantages of No Doc Mortgage?

  • These types of loans are difficult to apply for due to their scarcity. There aren’t many banks or lenders that provide such kinds of mortgages. Therefore, it can be difficult to find a lender that offers no income doc loans.
  • Since the lender faces high risk in these mortgages, they would require the borrower to make higher down payments. Also, the interest rates on these loans might be higher compared to other conventional products.

Conclusion

No doc mortgage could be a good option for investors and self-employed individuals; however, it is difficult to find a lender who provides this type of mortgage. 

You can search online for lenders who are providing such kinds of loans or speak to your trusted mortgage advisor for such options.

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What Is A Loan Lock? – The Benefits And Drawbacks One Must Know https://www.compareclosing.com/blog/all-about-mortgage-loan-lock/ https://www.compareclosing.com/blog/all-about-mortgage-loan-lock/#respond Mon, 29 Aug 2022 02:40:55 +0000 https://www.compareclosing.com/blog/?p=17804 Continue Reading What Is A Loan Lock? – The Benefits And Drawbacks One Must Know]]>

About Mortgage Loan Lock

As we all know that in the mortgage industry the interest rates change quite often. 

When you are looking to refinance your current mortgage or buy a new home with a mortgage the lender or the bank will charge you an interest rate for the loan that they provide. 

In a market where the interest rate is rising, you must lock your loan with the lender before you lose on a good interest rate. In this post, we will learn what is a loan lock and how it works.

What Is A Loan Lock?

A loan lock, also known as a mortgage rate lock is a tool that allows borrowers to “lock” an interest rate for a mortgage for a set period usually 15 to 60 days. 

If the loan does not close within the lock-in period, the borrower may extend the period by paying an additional fee.

Let’s say you lock the interest rate at 5% for 15 days and after 10 days the interest rate increases to 5.5%. 

You will still qualify for 5% interest, which will keep your loan lower over the long term. Thus, the rate lock protects the borrower from rising mortgage interest rates.

How Does The Loan Lock Work?

Locking in the loan assures the borrower that the lender will provide a loan at a specified interest rate at the time of closing. In most cases, lenders provide loan estimates that show the interest rate at the time of application rather than at the time of closing. 

The listed interest rate also includes the lender’s profit margin. Interest rates can rise or fall before closing, so a mortgage rate lock protects borrowers against rising interest rates during the lock period. 

Lenders sometimes offer a loan at a certain rate plus a few points. 

The points represent the fees you pay at the start of the loan to get a lower interest rate for the life of the loan.

If the interest rate drops during the lock-in period, the borrower can choose to withdraw the application. 

This type of withdrawal is called the risk of loss for the lender. However, the borrower must be very careful to ensure that the mortgage loan lock agreement allows for cancellation.

In some cases, when the interest rate drops during the lock-in period, the borrower may have the option of adjusting the new lower rate using the float-down facility. 

This option may be an additional cost to the borrower as it has a potential risk for the lender.

Mortgage rate locks usually may last for 15 to 60 days. At the very least, it should include a reasonable amount of time for the borrower to process their loan application. Sometimes this lock-in time can be as short as a few days. 

A borrower can negotiate the terms of a rate lock and often extend the term of the lock for an additional charge or slightly higher interest rate.

What Are The Benefits Of Loan Lock?

Mortgage rate loan locks are popular with borrowers for a reason. Here are some of the benefits of locking your rate before the loan process begins:

  • You are in a better position to anticipate your monthly payments once you lock your loan before the loan processing begins.
  • Fixed interest rates allow you to focus on what is required to complete the closing without worrying about interest rates or being tied to a higher interest rate if there is a delay in closing.
  • If necessary, you can get an extension for the lock-in period for an additional fee.

What Are The Drawbacks Of Loan Lock?

Mortgage rate locks could be a good option, but it’s not perfect. Below are two disadvantages of locking your loan:

  • Rates can change at any time and there is no way of knowing if the interest rate will drop until the loan closes.
  • When the interest rate drops, you’re locked into a fixed rate and you can’t get a lower rate. The exception is when the mortgage rate lock has a “float down” clause written in to cover such circumstances. But getting float down from the lender will come with additional cost.

Conclusion

A loan lock could be one of the best options if you are looking to buy a new home or refinance your current mortgage. 

As a borrower ensure that you check the market condition so that you can anticipate the rate lock and get the most out of the mortgage rate lock. 

Ensure that all the required documents are submitted on time so that the loan is closed before the lock period expires to avoid additional extension charges.

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What is Federal Funds Rate & Its Effect On Interest Rates? https://www.compareclosing.com/blog/what-is-the-federal-funds-rate/ https://www.compareclosing.com/blog/what-is-the-federal-funds-rate/#respond Mon, 22 Aug 2022 03:06:17 +0000 https://www.compareclosing.com/blog/?p=17656 Continue Reading What is Federal Funds Rate & Its Effect On Interest Rates?]]>

About Federal Funds Rate

Just like borrowers borrow money from banks when they require financial assistance, banks might also need financial aid to continue their lending business. 

When you take a loan, the bank will charge you an interest rate according to the current market for providing you with the money you need. 

Similarly, when a bank borrows money from another bank or lending institution, there is an interest rate that is charged based on the federal funds rate. In this post, we will understand what is the feds fund rate in detail.

What Is The Federal Funds Rate?

The federal funds rate is one of the Federal Reserve’s important tools for managing US monetary policy. 

As it affects everything from the annual percentage rate (APR) that individuals earn on savings accounts to the interest rate individuals pay on their credit card balances, the Fed funds rate essentially determines the cost of money in the U.S. economy.

The term Fed funds rate refers to the interest rate index set by the FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee). 

This rate index is the rate at which commercial lenders and banks borrow and lend their excess reserves overnight to each other. 

The FOMC, the Federal Reserve’s policymaking body, meets eight times a year to set the index for the fed funds rate as a part of its monetary policy. This policy is used to encourage economic development.

How Does Federal Funds Rate Work?

This rate refers to the interest that banks charge other financial institutions for lending them excess cash from their reserve balances overnight. 

According to the law, banks must maintain a reserve that is equal to a certain percentage of their deposits in an account with the Federal Reserve Bank. 

The amount of money a bank must keep in its Federal Reserve Bank account is called the minimum reserve requirement and is based on a percentage of the lender’s or the bank’s total deposits.

Banks and lenders are required to maintain money-making accounts with the FED banks to ensure they have enough cash to cover deposits and other liabilities. 

Any money in their reserve that exceeds the required level is available for borrowing from other banks that may be falling short of finances.

The end-of-the-day balances in the lender’s or the bank account averaged over two-week reserve maintenance periods are used to determine whether it meets its minimum reserve requirements. 

If the bank has a balance of more than the minimum required reserves in the account, the additional reserves could be used for lending to other financial institutions that are expecting a shortfall of funds. 

For this overnight transaction between two banks, the lending bank will charge an interest rate based on the Fed funds rate.

The Federal Open Market Committee decides about rate adjustments based on important economic signals that may show signs of recession, inflation, or other problems that can affect sustainable economic development. 

The signals may include factors like the durable goods orders report and the core inflation rate.

The index for the federal funds rate has changed widely over the years in response to the different economic conditions. Due to inflation in the 1980s, the fed fund rate was set as high as 20%. 

While during The Great Recession of 2007 to 2009, the rate dropped to a record low target of 0% to 0.25% in an attempt to motivate economic development.

Conclusion

The federal funds rate doesn’t just affect interest rates for the financial institutions. It also affects the entire country’s economy. The feds funds rate affects the stock market as well. 

For example, when the Fed cuts rates, stock markets typically rise because borrowing costs for public companies must fall, making it cheaper to expand their businesses and increase profits. 

But when rates rise, equity markets can become more difficult as borrowing becomes more expensive and borrowing banks are charged with higher rates.

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What Is The House Price Index (HPI) And Its Way Of Working? – The Best Guide https://www.compareclosing.com/blog/u-s-a-house-price-index-hpi/ https://www.compareclosing.com/blog/u-s-a-house-price-index-hpi/#respond Tue, 16 Aug 2022 03:23:40 +0000 https://www.compareclosing.com/blog/?p=17497 Continue Reading What Is The House Price Index (HPI) And Its Way Of Working? – The Best Guide]]>

About U.S.A House Price Index

If you are looking to buy or sell your property you must have an idea about the property prices in your area. 

Many parameters affect the property prices in an area. These parameters help to determine the house price index in various regions of the country. 

In this post, we will learn what is the house price index is in detail.

What Is HPI?

The HPI is a Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA) index that indicates the prices of single-family homes. 

The HPI measures home prices based on information from home purchases and mortgage refinances in all 50 states and more than 400 US cities since the 1970s. 

In addition to serving as an indicator of housing price developments, it also functions as a tool for understanding estimated changes in mortgage prepayments, housing affordability, and mortgage defaults.

Deeper Definition Of HPI.

The HPI is compiled by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) using data provided by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. (FHLMC), commonly known as Freddie Mac, and the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA), commonly known as Fannie Mae.

HPI is derived from transactions like conforming and conventional mortgages on single-family homes. 

This index is measured based on the resale or refinancing of the same properties by calculating their average price changes after every transaction.

The home price index report is usually issued quarterly, however, since March 2008 a monthly report has also been issued regularly. 

The data for HPI is collected from a review of mortgages purchased or securitized by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

The HPI is a measure of changes in single-family home prices that began in the mid-1970s to the present using complex analysis. It measures the average change of home value during the resale or refinancing transaction of the same property.

The home price index is a “constant quality” index because changes in housing quality are supervised by tracking the same single-family homes over time. The HPI displays nominal gains as it is not adjusted for inflation.

The data represented in HPI includes tens of millions of US home sales. Because the index tracks home sales over time, it provides an overview of changes in home price at the national, state, census, county, metro, and zip code levels.

How Is HPI Utilized?

The HPI is one of several economic indicators that investors use to gain insight into broader economic trends and potential movements in the stock market.

Rising and falling real estate prices can have serious consequences on a country’s economy. 

Rising prices generally create more jobs, boost confidence and encourage higher consumer spending. 

This opens the gates for greater aggregate demand, improving the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and overall economic growth.

However, when real estate prices fall, the opposite happens. Consumer confidence falls and many organizations profiting from the demand for real estate initiate laying off their employees which could sometimes cause an economic recession.         

How Does The HPI Work?

The HPI is a free, publicly available measure of US housing prices. FHFA. The index is calculated based on single-family mortgages purchased or securitized through Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, the largest mortgage GSEs in the United States.

The HPI provides a tool for understanding housing market trends that play an important role in the economy. 

For example, researchers can use the HPI to understand changes in housing affordability, prepayments, and mortgage defaults.

Conclusion

A house price index is a free tool provided by FHFA publicly. This tool is mostly used by researchers to understand the economic trends that help investors to invest their money in the real estate market at the right time to get maximum returns. 

You as a homeowner or home buyer can use this indicator to analyze the property prices in your area if you are looking to buy or sell your real estate property.

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What Are Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities? – Pros & Cons https://www.compareclosing.com/blog/commercial-mortgage-backed-securities/ https://www.compareclosing.com/blog/commercial-mortgage-backed-securities/#respond Tue, 09 Aug 2022 05:50:53 +0000 https://www.compareclosing.com/blog/?p=17391 Continue Reading What Are Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities? – Pros & Cons]]>

About Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities

Just like an individual might require a mortgage to buy a real estate property, a business
or a company might require a mortgage to buy a commercial real estate property. 

We all know that the in residential mortgage industry, the mortgages are
bundled and sold in the secondary market as mortgage-backed securities (MBS). 

Similarly, the commercial mortgage industry also has commercial mortgage-backed
securities (CMBS). In this post, we will learn what are CMBS in detail.

What Are CMBS?

Lenders create CMBS. They take a group of commercial real estate loans, put them into a package, and sell them to investors as a series of bonds. These bonds are usually divided into segments, also known as tranches.

These bonds are sorted based on their ratings and risks. The bonds that have the highest rating have the lowest risk of investment and are known as senior debt

The bonds that have the lowest rating have the highest risk and are known as junior debt.

Senior debt is the first in the queue to receive payment of principal and interest. The junior debts are the first to be affected if the borrower defaults on the mortgage payments. 

You can choose which tranche to invest in depending on the type of return you are looking for and how much risk you are willing to take.

As there are no rules to standardize CMBS structures, pricing them can be difficult. The underlying CMBS securities can include any number of commercial mortgages of varying values, property types, and values – such as commercial real estate and more than four-unit multi-family properties that generate income. 

CMBS carries less prepayment risk than residential mortgage-backed securities (MBS) because the terms of commercial mortgages are usually fixed.

How Does CMBS Work?

Just like collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) and collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs), CMBS are also sold in the form of bonds. Multiple mortgage loans that form the CMBS, act as collateral if the borrowers default on the mortgage payments. 

If everything goes well, the investors receive their returns in form of principal and interest paid by the borrowers

Loans are usually held within a trust and vary widely in terms, types of assets, and amounts. 

The underlying loans collateralized by CMBS include mortgages for real estate such as complexes, factories, office parks, hotels, office buildings, apartment buildings, and shopping centers. These mortgages are often held within the same trust.

A mortgage is generally considered non-recourse debt any consumer or commercial debt that is secured only by collateral. 

This means, that if the borrower defaults on the payments, the lender cannot take any of the borrower’s assets outside of the collateral.

As CMBS are complex investment vehicles, they require a wide variety of market participants. 

These participants may include a credit rating agency, the trustees, investors, the certificate servicer, the lead servicer, the primary servicer, and the special servicer. Each of these participants fulfills specific responsibilities to ensure the proper functioning of CMBS.

Pros Of CMBS:

Term Loans Are Fixed: CMBS-backed loans are often fixed. The borrower cannot repay them early without pre-payment penalties. Because of this, CMBS offers a much lower prepayment risk than residential MBS.

Prudent Underwriting Guidelines: CMBS wrote after the 2008 financial crisis tends to be larger. They have more prudent underwriting guidelines than residential MBS.

Better Returns: CMBS in the bond market typically have higher yields compared to federal or corporate bonds. This means that as an investor you get an opportunity to make higher profits.

Cons Of CMBS:

High Default Risk: Just Like corporate bonds, CMBS are subject to default risk. If borrowers default on monthly mortgage payments, CMBS investors may suffer losses. 

Default risk can vary, and is usually based on the strength of the market in the location and the date when the mortgage was originated.

Real Estate Market Reaction: CMBS issued during peak market periods or when underwriting guidelines are lenient tend to carry higher risk. 

CMBS can also be adversely affected by weakness in the real estate market. This is what happened in 2008 and 2009 when the CMBS loans dried up during the financial crisis of 2008. They gradually recovered as real estate market conditions were getting better.

The rating depends on the bank: The rating a CMBS receives depends on the honesty and integrity of the lender that originated the loan in the first place. 

Investors do not know what they are buying if the CMBS are incorrectly represented or rated. As a result, this could cause the same ripple that ended in the 2008 sub-prime mortgage crisis.

Conclusion

Key things to consider before investing in commercial mortgage-backed securities are that these are backed by commercial real estate and not residential real estate. 

There is a lower risk of pre-payment as CMBS has fixed loan terms. Also as an investor make sure that you assess the risk before you invest in the different tranches based on your evaluation of risk versus the returns.

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What Is Mortgage Impound Account And What Are Its Benefits? https://www.compareclosing.com/blog/about-mortgage-impound-accounts/ https://www.compareclosing.com/blog/about-mortgage-impound-accounts/#respond Mon, 08 Aug 2022 03:06:11 +0000 https://www.compareclosing.com/blog/?p=17364 Continue Reading What Is Mortgage Impound Account And What Are Its Benefits?]]>

About Mortgage Impound Accounts

When you are planning to buy a home, you may come across many mortgage terms that could sometimes be stressful. 

This could lead to confusion and may have you reconsider your decision to buy a new property. 

Once a such term is mortgage impound accounts. In this post, we will understand what is an impound account in a mortgage and how it works.

What Is A Mortgage Impound Account?

Also known as an escrow impound account, a mortgage impound account is a financial account set up by a bank or a lender to collect the cost of property taxes, homeowner’s insurance, and mortgage insurance (if the down payment is less than 20%). 

Borrowers make monthly payments in this account equal to 1/12 of their total annual property tax and homeowner’s insurance costs. 

The lender will then use the funds collected in your impound mortgage account to pay the property taxes and homeowner’s insurance for you as and when they are due.

For example, if your property taxes and homeowner’s insurance are $4,000 annually, you’ll need to add about $333 to your mortgage payments (principal and interest). 

As the tax rates change every year, your monthly impound payment is going to change based on this tax rate.

An impound mortgage account is particularly similar to a savings account but is committed to taxes and insurance. 

Instead of paying a large lump sum every year or every six months, these fees are set up to be rolled into your mortgage payments, so you never have to worry about paying your home insurance and property taxes.

How Does Impound Accounts Work?

Your bank or lender will set up an escrow account for you at closing. You must put down an initial deposit, which consists of part of your insurance and property tax costs. 

Based on which month you are closing on your property purchase transaction, your initial deposit for the property taxes and the home owner’s insurance is determined.

After the initial deposit payment, you must make these payments each month along with your monthly mortgage payment. 

Once they receive the money, your lender will hold the funds in your escrow impound account until they are received by your local council or insurance provider.

It’s important to remember that according to HUD (US Department of Housing and Urban Development) guidelines, your lender is allowed to withhold payments for up to two months and is not required to ask you for additional payments or a “cushion” above that limit.

What Are The Benefits Of Mortgage Impound Accounts?

The biggest benefit of this type of account is the forced savings that will ensure your home insurance and property taxes are paid on time. 

If you keep your savings to yourself and aren’t careful with your budget, you could end up with a huge bill that you won’t be able to pay, ending in losing your home.

What Are The Disadvantages Of Mortgage Impound Accounts?

The biggest disadvantage to having an impound mortgage account is that you can’t earn interest on the money in the account if you reside in a state where mortgage servicers don’t have to pay you interest. 

Another con is that your monthly mortgage payment will change when property taxes and insurance premiums change, but that change in your budget will still happen without having an impound mortgage account. 

If your lender is not being careful about paying the bills on time, you might be left with a huge amount to pay for these housing costs.

Conclusion

In many states, the lenders don’t need to have mortgage impound accounts for you to get a mortgage to buy a home. 

If you are planning to pay your taxes and insurance make sure that you budget them accordingly. 

However, if you are living in a state that requires this mortgage impound, you may need to ensure that you understand its works and keep a close watch to avoid any shortfall.

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