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Getting the Best Mortgage Rate

December 28th, 2006
Getting the Best Mortgage Rate
 
Shopping around is the only way you can be sure you are getting the best mortgage rate. When you have several rates to compare to each other, then you can better determine which of those rates is the best mortgage rate.
 
Mortgages are available from several different sources. Mortgage companies, mortgage brokers, savings and loans associations, and credit unions are all sources of mortgages. Since there is no way of knowing which of these entities will give you the best mortgage rate, the best thing to do is get at least one quote from each of these. Keep in mind that to borrow money from a credit union, you must be a member of that credit union.
 
To ensure you are getting the best mortgage rate, you should ask each lender for a list of current interest rates for mortgage. You also need to know whether those interest rates are quoted for the day or the week. This will give you an indication as to the length of time you have to apply for the mortgage to receive the rates included in the list. It is also important that you know whether the rates you are being shown are fixed or adjustable. Fixed rates will remain the same throughout the life of the loan while adjustable rates can increase or decrease over time.
 
The best mortgage rate is accompanied by the lowest annual percentage rate, or APR. The APR includes more than just the interest rate that applies to the loan. It also includes points, broker fees, and other charges that you are required to pay. The APR is expressed as a yearly rate. The APR is important for determining the best mortgage rate because it is possible for charges other than the interest rate to be higher.
 
Remember that you are not locked into the numbers written on a piece of paper. You have the ability to negotiate with a lender to receive the best mortgage rate. On any given day different customers receive different terms for the same loan. In many cases, the amount quoted to you by the loan officer or broker contains unnecessary overages that can be negotiated. Don’t wait for a loan officer to offer you the best mortgage rate, instead you should ask for it.
 
Once you are given a quote by a lender, have the loan offer break down each of the costs that are associated with the loan. You may notice that some of these costs seem out of the ordinary. Start negotiating the best mortgage rate by asking the lender to waive or lower some of the fees associated with the loan. Alternatively, you can ask for the interest rate or points be reduced. During the process, make sure the lender isn’t reducing one cost or fee and simultaneously increase another.
 
When you feel you have negotiated the best mortgage rate with a lender, you should request a written lock-in from the lender. Included in the lock-in should be the rate and fees that you agreed upon. By doing this you protect yourself from rate increases that can occur while your loan is being processed.

Choosing a Mortgage Lender

December 14th, 2006
Choosing a Mortgage Lender
 
The mortgage lender you choose is just as crucial to the home buying process and the loan itself. Consider that your relationship with a mortgage lender will last anywhere from 15 to 30 years. From that perspective, it only makes sense to shop around for a lender that you can work with for that length of time.
 
Factors to Consider
National mortgage lenders are often better sources of funds than local lenders. With a national lender you often find diversity in the products offered as well as advanced funding capability.
 
While the costs of the loan are important, choosing a mortgage lender is about more than just the money. The lender’s reputation is another factor that you should take into account when choosing a mortgage lender. The length of time the lender has been in business will give you an indication of their reputation. 
 
You should also check with the Better Business Bureau to see if the lender has any complaints against it. If you are considering a national lender that operates in multiple states, make sure to check the status of that lender with the BBB in other states.
 
Asking your family and friends for the name of the mortgage lender they use is another way to find reputable lenders for your mortgage.
 
The financial aspect of your decision for a specific mortgage lender should be based on the closing costs and interest rates. When you speak with a lender, ask for details on the closing costs and rates of the loan. Make sure to find out how many points you are being charged. The points are the amount you pay for the loan and are a percentage of the amount you borrow. Your goal is to minimize the extra costs of the loan as much as possible.
 
Lenders to Avoid
 
  • Those from out of state that you are not familiar with. Unless the mortgage lender is a national lender that operates across several states, you should avoid using that particular lender. With a lender from another state you could be subject to fees that you are completely unfamiliar with.
 
  • Mortgage lenders that are not in good standing with the Better Business Bureau. It almost goes without saying that if other consumers have had trouble with a particular mortgage lender that you are subject to having the same trouble.
 
  • Lenders that are strongly recommended by a real estate agent. Be wary if your real estate agent urges you to choose a particular mortgage lender. Some agents form alliances with mortgage lenders and are compensated when their buyers use a particular mortgage lender. Make the decision about your mortgage lender based on your own qualifications.
 
A mortgage is a significant financial undertaking. It is in your best interest to find a lender that provides you with the service you desire at a cost you can afford. If you are suspicious about a particular lender, go with your gut feeling. In nearly all cases, your instincts are correct in telling you not to trust a specific lender.

Finding Tenants

December 7th, 2006
Finding Tenants
 
Do you want to make money as a landlord? If so, there is only one way that you can do this. You will need to have tenants so that you can make money on a monthly basis. Without them you will not get very far. The fact of the matter is that finding tenants is one of the most important parts of any landlord business. When you become good at finding tenants you will always be able to have a monthly income rolling in. And the great thing about finding tenants is that you usually do not have to do this on a regular basis. If you are lucky the tenants that rent from you will stay for a long time. This way you do not have to go out and find new tenants each and every month.
 
When it comes to finding tenants you need to be proactive. The best way to find tenants is to let them know that you have a place for rent. The fact of the matter is that if nobody knows you exist, you will never be able to get tenants to move into your building. So as you can see, advertising what you have available is quite important. The only question at this point is how you should advertise in order to ensure that you are as successful as possible.
 
The best way of finding tenants is to put an ad in your local newspaper. Obviously, the more people that read the paper the better chance you have of finding tenants this way. For this reason you will want to take out ads in papers that are large. This way you will get your listing in front of as many people as you can.
 
Also, do not overlook placing an ad in a small community paper. Generally speaking this does not cost a lot of money, but it can help you to find tenants in no time at all. For a few bucks it is usually at least worth a try.
 
Another option that you may want to consider is using the internet. There are many websites where you can pay to place an ad, as well as a few that are free. All you have to do is find the ones that get the most traffic and get started.
Finally, do not forget to put a “for rent” sign on your building. This way instead of finding tenants, they will find you.

Downfalls of being a Landlord

December 1st, 2006
Downfalls of being a Landlord
 
Many people are under the impression that it is easy to be a landlord. If you are among these people you should think again. The fact of the matter is that it is not easy to be a landlord. In fact, it can be downright difficult if you do not know what you are doing. But with that being said, you should not give up on being a landlord just because there are going to be some tough times. You should instead become aware of what it takes to be a landlord¸ and then work with these downfalls in order to make sure that you are a success in the long run.
 
Being a landlord is difficult for many different reasons. Some people think that they can become a landlord and in turn not have to do any work at all. Even though you may be able to cut back on the hours that you work on a weekly basis, as a landlord you will still have to put in plenty of time. After all, if you do not take the time to keep your building up to date you are not going to be able to keep the tenants you have, or get new ones when a spot opens up. Being the best landlord that you can is essential if you want to make a lot of money in this industry.
 
As a landlord you will run into problems time and time again. You will have to deal with things breaking in your building, as well as tenants who are going to give you a tough time about their living conditions as well as their payment. If you are not prepared to deal with these problems than being a landlord is probably not right for you. The fact of the matter is that you need to be able to take everything in stride as a landlord. Not to mention the fact that you have to work quick as well.
 
Finally, do not forget that as a landlord you may also have to evict people from time to time. Of course this is not fun to do, but if you want to be a good landlord it is something that you must do.
 
Overall, there are many drawbacks of being a landlord. You should not let this stop you. Instead you should make sure that you work to avoid these downfalls.