One Additional Mortgage Payment a Year There's a simple trick to significantly reduce the length of your mortgage and save you thousands of dollars. The trick is to make one extra mortgage payment a year and apply that payment toward your loan's principal. This is the method being used by "Bi-Weekly Mortgage Reduction Services" and "Bi-Weekly [...]
Things to avoid before buying a home Many new homebuyers make the mistake of rushing out to buy things to fill their home with as soon as the seller accepts their purchase offer and the lender pre-approves their loan. But there are still a few major hurdles to overcome before the keys are handed out. [...]
Should you talk to a mortgage professional before house hunting? Absolutely! Even if you haven't so much as picked out houses to visit yet, it's important to see your mortgage professional first. Why? What can we do for you if you haven't negotiated a price, and don't know yet how much you want to borrow? [...]
Do you plan on keeping your loan for a while? Then it may make sense to "buy" a lower interest rate by paying one or more "points." Even if you're unsure of how long you plan to keep your mortgage before you move or refinance, paying points now for a lower rate may make sense. [...]
What is the difference between the interest rate and the A.P.R.?You'll see an interest rate and an Annual Percentage Rate (A.P.R.) for each mortgage loan you see advertised. The easy answer to "why" is that federal law requires the lender to tell you both.The A.P.R. is a tool for comparing different loans, which will include [...]