| |
| |
|
Mortgage & Refinancing Information |
|
|
|
Real Estate Tip: Escrow Accounts -- Do You Really Need Them?
If you have a mortgage on your property, whether it's for your personal residence or a real estate investment, chances are you have an escrow account. But if you are working on building wealth through real estate, you may want to take a hard look at your escrow account (or accounts, if you own more than one piece of real estate) and decide if you really need it. Escrow accounts, also known as impound or reserve accounts, are often maintained by mortgage lenders on behalf of their borrowers. They typically work like this: the borrower's monthly payment covers the loan principal and interest, as well as a prorated amount that is deposited into the escrow account. The lender holds those funds and uses them to pay taxes and insurance for the property when those bills come due on an annual or semiannual basis. There are a number of benefits to both lenders and borrowers. Serious problems can arise when taxes and insurance bills are not paid, so having that money in escrow helps reduce the lender's risk. The lender also benefits by having funds on deposit; most states don't require lenders to pay interest on escrow accounts, but they can certainly earn money on them. And secondary market buyers who purchase mortgage notes generally pay more for loans that have escrow accounts. Many borrowers prefer the convenience of spreading the payment of a big bill over 12 months instead of having to make it at one time. Also, the lenders take care of tracking tax and insurance bills, so the borrower doesn't have to. However, if the value of the property is high--creating correspondingly high tax and insurance bills--the borrower is losing interest. Or, if you are a real estate investor with multiple properties, the total of your escrow accounts could be substantial. For example, if your taxes and insurance run a total of $12,000 a year and you have an escrow account, you're losing hundreds of dollars in simple interest and even more if you were to put that money in a higher-yield investment. And when you own several properties, the cost of the convenience of an escrow account increases accordingly. As part of your overall wealth-building strategy, you could put that money in a short-term investment (perhaps a property you intend to quick-turn) and let it work for you until you have to pay your taxes and insurance. Policies on escrow accounts vary by lender and according to state law. Generally, escrow accounts are required when the loan-to-value ratio is 80 percent or higher. Some lenders charge a fee to waive the escrow account; before accepting such terms, be sure the cost of waiving escrow is less than the potential earnings from the interest. Finally, be sure you have the discipline and resources to pay your property taxes and insurance on time before you take the step of eliminating your escrow account. Jordan Taylor is the editor of Millionaire Mentor? Newsletter, which is published by Whitney Education Group, Inc.? To sign up for a free subscription, visit http://russwhitney.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
What is a Self-Certification Mortgage? A Self-Certification mortgage is a mortgage designed for people who are unable to provide proof of income. This type of mortgage was originally designed for the self employed who historically experienced difficulty obtaining a loan with 'high street' lenders due to not having audited accounts available. Reverse Mortgage - Be Sure You Need It Before Applying For One Reverse mortgages used to be considered the last resort of desperate retirees who needed to borrow against their home equity in order to pay for medical expenses. With home prices across the country rising at astonishing rates, more and more retirees, aged 62 and over, are taking out reverse mortgages to fund better retirement living. Getting The Best Rates On Mortgages And Loans With an impending up-grade to the family due in a few months it soon became clear that our two-bedroom home would need an addition. We loved our house too much to consider moving. Mortgage Pre Approval - Getting Pre Approved For a Home Loan Online A pre-approved mortgage is a must in a competitive housing market. It also gives you an idea of what you can afford to buy as you look at houses. Secured Homeowner Loans to Reiterate that a Home Provides More than a Roof Over Your Head "The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned."It is a challenge to find a place like that. Reverse Mortgages - a Reversal of the Mortgage Process Mortgages have assumed a number of characters from the time of their inception. The traditional mortgages used to be of the repayment type. How Much Interest is Your Home Equity Earning? How much interest are you earning on your home equity? If you answered nothing, zero, zilch, zip you are correct. What would you do if you could get triple compounding on your equity? Would you take action and build a fortune that would allow you to pay off the mortgage and create a retirement fund?We use a strategy called Early Mortgage Pay Off System or EMPOS?. Mortgage: Effective Household Investment for Financial Autonomy If finances had a copyright, we would have bought it by now. But it is hardly sold anywhere near the place we live. Bankruptcy and Buying a Home Filing bankruptcy is a stressful time in a person's life. Along with discharging your debts and gaining a fresh start, you may wonder if you will be able to buy a home after a bankruptcy. Refinancing vs Line of Credit Refinancing vs line of credit are two popular options you have when deciding the best way to take equity out of your home. Sometimes it makes sense to establish a line of credit. A Qualified Mortgage Consultant Can Help Boost Credit Scores Consumers interested in purchasing or refinancing a home will pay an interest rate based on current market conditions and their ability to pay back the loan. The borrower's income and debt ratios are taken into consideration by the lender, as well as the predictability factor provided by credit scoring. Home Construction Loans You can maximize your savings by shopping for a lender that can provide you with a combination loan. The combination loan starts as a construction loan. A Home Equity Loan - Is It For You? Home equity loans are often touted as being the solution to so many things - giving you access to money for home repairs or improvements, a way to consolidate debt, finance a sudden family emergency, or even as a way to start an investment portfolio. There's a lot to think about, though, before you go and sign up for the first home equity loan you see. 40-Year Mortgages: An Alternative to Interest-only Loans? Interest-only loans are quickly becoming a mainstream loan product. Borrowers who were initially turned-off by the perceived risk associated with an "interest-only" loan are now starting to see the benefits: Lower payments, less money tied up in equity, more flexibility, etc. Bad Credit History? How Financing and Buying a Home Can Help You Improve Your Financial Situation Financing and buying a home can help improve your financial situations, especially if you have a bad credit history. Adding a mortgage payment to your monthly expenses seems like a mistake if you are having financial difficulties, but in the long run a mortgage can save you money on your living expenses. Renters Have Much to Gain by Pursuing Home Ownership Buying a home vs. renting is a big decision that takes careful consideration, as most mortgage consultants will agree. Subprime Mortgage Lenders - Helpful Tips When Getting a Subprime Mortgage Loan If you have bad credit history, no down payment or difficult to prove income and are looking to get approved for a home mortgage loan, you will probably need to look at subprime mortgage lenders to help you. To see a list of our recommended subprime mortgage lenders you can click on the link below. A Simple Way to Save Thousands on Your Mortgage Charges How many times do you check you restaurant bill? If not often, I would advise you to do it more, especially when dining on your overseas vacations. Still, much more Americans check their restaurants bill, than the number of homebuyers, who check the charges for their mortgages. Do Your Homework - Find the Mortgage That Fits Your Lifestyle and Your Budget You've been looking at houses for months, and finally you've found it--the house that's just right. So now, all you have to do is to purchase your new home, move in, and get settled, right? Not quite. How To Get a Mortgage If Youre Self-Employed If you are self-employed, work on a contract basis, or have an income that is irregular or comes from multiple sources, it will generally be harder for you to get a mortgage than it is for someone who is an employee and can easily prove their income.A self-employed person is someone who runs their own business and works for themselves without an employer.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2007 |
