• Home Equity Loan   • Home Refinance Loan   • Home Purchase Loan   • Second Mortgage Loan   • Debt Consolidation Loan
Home Equity Loan Store «A website where you can find the lowest interest rates on home loans with absolutely free quotes from multiple lenders»
::

Understanding Mortgage Points


When a mortgage broker asks a borrower to pay points, he or she is asking for a lending fee expressed as a percentage of the value of the loan. For example, two points on a deal worth $100,000 works out to $2,000.

Sometimes, a lender may require the borrower to pay "origination points" on a mortgage. This fee allows the lender to recover many of their costs sooner in the deal rather than waiting to recoup them as part of interest payments. Many lenders use origination points to advertise lower interest rates to potential home buyers. Though their interest margin is thinner, these institutions improve their cash flow by pulling in these profits on the front end of the loan.

Along the same lines, a lender may offer a borrower the chance to pay "discount points" to qualify for a greatly reduced interest rate on a new mortgage. In these deals, the customer can pay an extra percentage point or two of the loan's value as an upfront investment. In return, the lender agrees to knock the interest rate down by a quarter of a percent or more. Though the borrower surrenders more cash at closing, they enjoy tremendous savings over the life of the loan.

In this hyper-competitive, internet-fueled mortgage market, a handful of innovative lenders have experimented with "rebate points." They work very much like discount points, but in reverse. Cash-poor borrowers who want to purchase a home with little or no money down can receive a rebate of a percentage of the home's value. In exchange, they agree to accept a higher interest rate or a prepayment penalty. Though these deals work against the customer's long-term interests, they provide a valid solution for many prospective home buyers without the liquid capital needed to close the deal on a conventional mortgage.

Whenever dealing with points, borrowers should weigh all their available options to understand the best long-term deal for their situation. Home buyers with the ability to afford a large down payment and closing costs will usually benefit from paying discount points. Customers with spotty credit histories may have to lump origination points to a lender that's willing to run a manual underwriting review on their case.

Kevin Adelsberg is a writer for FasteMortgage.com. For additional articles and an extensive resource for everything about mortgages, please visit us at http://www.FasteMortgage.com


MORE RESOURCES:

USA TODAY

Pros and Cons of a Mortgage Refinance
FreeRateUpdate.com
Many homeowners are jumping on the opportunity to save money with a mortgage refinance at the current low mortgage rates. With mortgage rates at historically low levels, some homeowners have refinanced more than once in the past several years which is ...
Who Qualifies for the $26 Billion Foreclosure Settlement?TIME
What $25 billion mortgage settlement will and won't do for homeownersThe Seattle Times

all 3,650 news articles »


Lenders say mortgage refinance deal will bolster Manatee market
Bradenton Herald
By JOSH SALMAN - jsalman@bradenton.com MANATEE -- A new refinance program to help underwater homeowners will uplift the local economy by putting extra cash into the pockets of those who will spend it, area lenders predict. The deal struck with five of ...

and more »


Mortgage-refinance bill a dangerous deal
Arizona Republic
by Robert Robb, columnist - Feb. 10, 2012 12:00 AM State Sen. Michele Reagan wants to help out underwater homeowners in the worst way. And she has succeeded with SB 1451 -- it's hard to imagine a worse bill. Reagan proposes to establish a state agency ...

and more »


Housing Wire

Obama pressures Congress on mortgage refinance program
Fox News
WASHINGTON – President Obama is rallying support for his plan to expand government assistance to homeowners, pressuring Congress to help lower lending rates for millions of strapped homeowners. Obama, in his radio and Internet address Saturday, ...
President Obama's Mortgage Refinance Plan Just a Bid for VotesYahoo! Contributors Network
Obama Unveils Mortgage Refinance EndeavorsMortgageorb
New Obama mortgage refinance plan to near $10 billionHousing Wire
Go Banking Rates -CBS Moneywatch -MarketWatch
all 1,239 news articles »


MonitorBankRates.com

Mortgage Refinance Rates: 15 Year Refinance Mortgage Rates at 3.29%
MonitorBankRates.com
Mortgage refinance rates on 30 year conforming home loans are averaging 3.98%, unchanged from yesterday's average 30 year mortgage refinance rate. Mortgage refinance rates today on 15 year home mortgage loans are averaging 3.29%, down from yesterday's ...

and more »


Los Angeles Times

Details emerge on Rep. Buck McKeon's Countrywide loan
Los Angeles Times
Howard “Buck” McKeon received a $315000 mortgage refinance in 1998 on preferential terms, congressional investigators allege. (J. Scott Applewhite, Associated Press / February 3, 2010) By Abby Sewell and Catherine Saillant, Los Angeles Times Four years ...



Fox News

Obama Proposes Mortgage-Refinance Plan
Wall Street Journal
By NICK TIMIRAOS President Barack Obama called on Congress during Tuesday's State of the Union address to approve new legislation that would give all homeowners who are current on their mortgages the opportunity to refinance at record low mortgage ...
Will Obama's Mortgage Refinance Plan Be D.O.A.?U.S. News & World Report
Obama proposes mortgage refinance programPolitico (blog)
Obama proposes new mortgage refinance programHousing Wire
Daily Caller
all 314 news articles »


Harney: Reviewing Obama's mortgage refinance plan
The Seattle Times
Though it was pronounced dead-before-arrival by opponents on Capitol Hill, President Obama's new mortgage-refinancing package contained... By Kenneth R. Harney Mortgage refinancing is an outstanding plan particularly as the home mortgage rates are.

and more »


International Business Times

FOX 11 News Discussion: State of the Union
MyFox Los Angeles
And he aimed a pitch at homeowners, announcing a new mortgage refinance program with "historically low interest rates" that "gives every responsible homeowner the chance to save about $3000 a year on their mortgage." He added, "A small fee on the ...
Winning Words, But Not a WinnerU.S. News & World Report
Obama State of the Union 2012: Mortgage Refinance Changes Face ObstaclesInternational Business Times

all 12,250 news articles »


CBS Local

Six Questions on Obama's Mortgage Refinance Proposal
Wall Street Journal (blog)
By Nick Timiraos President Barack Obama said Tuesday night in his State of the Union address that he would send a plan to Congress to allow all homeowners who are current on their mortgages to refinance. Here's a quick look at the proposal: How is this ...
Obama plan could help refinance Bay Area mortgagesSan Francisco Chronicle

all 19 news articles »

Google News

Home Equity Loan | Home Refinance Loan | Home Purchase Loan | Second Mortgage Loan | Home Improvement Loan | Debt Consolidation Loan | Loans | Leases & Leasing | Personal Finance | Mortgage Refinance | Debt Consolidation | Debt Relief | Finance Resources
© 2006 Home Equity Loan Store | Mortgage Refinance Information | Mortgage Refinance Articles