Mortgages

Where and How to Refinance an ARM into a Fixed Rate Mortgage

February 17, 2012

Welcome to our week-long series on refinancing your mortgage. In this last of five articles, we look at when and how you should refinance from an adjustable rate mortgage into a fixed rate loan. Adjustable rate mortgages are a two-edged sword. You get an initial mortgage rate lower than what you’d find on a fixed [...]

Read the full article →

7 Obstacles to Refinancing Your Mortgage (And How to Overcome Them)

February 16, 2012

Welcome to our week-long series on refinancing your mortgage. In this fourth of five articles, we look at some obstacles to refinancing and how to overcome them. With current mortgage rates at historic lows, refinancing your home loan can be a really easy way to save a bundle of money. Unfortunately, there are a number [...]

Read the full article →

FHA Streamline Refinance

February 15, 2012

Welcome to our week-long series on refinancing your mortgage. In this third of five articles, we look at the FHA Streamline Refinance program. Yesterday we looked at the Home Affordable Refinance Program. Called HARP, this program helps homeowners who have an underwater mortgage lower their interest rates. But it only applies if your mortgage is [...]

Read the full article →

Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) Revamped

February 14, 2012

Welcome to our week-long series on refinancing your mortgage. In this second of five articles, we look at the Home Affordable Refinance Program, better known as HARP. As the real estate market hit bottom, it created a significant hurdle to refinancing–home values. Many homeowners owe more to the bank than the value of their home. [...]

Read the full article →

When to Refinance Your Mortgage

February 13, 2012

Welcome to our week-long series on refinancing your mortgage. In this first of five articles, we look at when you should refinance. As I mentioned yesterday, my wife and I just closed on the refinancing our mortgage. We purchased our current home in 2004 and obtained a 30-year fixed rate mortgage at 5.625%. We are [...]

Read the full article →

A Guide to Refinancing Your Mortgage

February 12, 2012

I‘ve been in the middle of a refinancing frenzy. Last week my wife and I closed on a second refi in under 12 months on our home. We brought our rate down from 5.625% to 3.875% on a 30-year fixed. And my business partner and I are in the middle of refinancing three rental properties. [...]

Read the full article →

Just Locked In a 3.75% Fixed Rate 30-Year Mortgage

September 24, 2011

My wife and I refinanced our mortgage earlier this year. We had a 30-year fixed rate loan at 5.625%. We refinanced with no points to a 30-year fixed rate at 4.875%. I was convinced at the time that we would never refi our mortgage again. Boy was I wrong. In fact, just last week we [...]

Read the full article →

How To Lower the Closing Costs on a Home Purchase or Refinance

August 20, 2011

If you’re new to the home buying process, you may be a little surprised at the fees and costs you pay over and above the cost of the home. Unbeknownst to ill-prepared home-buyers, there’s actually a good amount of money that will be due when you’ve finally “closed” on the home. These fees are aptly [...]

Read the full article →

Which Mortgage is Right for You?

August 10, 2011

Recently, I’ve been spending more time than I care to admit with mortgage brokers. First my wife and I refinanced our home to take advantage of the low mortgage rates (we got 4.825% fixed for 30 years on a super conforming loan). And then I refinanced one of my investment properties. During this refi bonanza, [...]

Read the full article →

← Previous Entries