Maybe the correct question is not, When should I refinance my mortgage? but Should I refinance my mortgage while upside down on my home mortgage? What are my real options and can I refinance with negative equity? To keep it simple, all we are trying to do is gain some financial advantage and possibly at the same time resolve some financial difficulty. It could be that all you really need is a little upside down mortgage relief for 5 to 10 years until the housing market reverts.

So How Do I Get Help With Mortgage Payments If My Mortgage Is Upside Down?

Assuming your mortgage is underwater you are probably better off to modify your home loan into a lower monthly mortgage payment without refinancing. There are no closing costs, you keep your same lender, if there is an interest adjustment or balloon coming up it is put off during the 5 to 10 years of mortgage reduction and you may be able to permanently reduce your interest rate or convert it to a fixed rate (if adjustable).

Don’t Hold Your Breath Waiting For Your Lender To Offer You This Option, He Won’t

In fact if you are current on your payments and you asked for a little upside down mortgage relief he probably said you do not qualify. This is not true but it is the most common response when you ask your lender for help. They may even state you have to be two or three months behind before they will “help you”. Not an option if you are trying to maintain good credit. Then when you are behind on payments, less than half the time will your lender offer you more than a 10% payment reduction and more often will modify your home loan into a higher payment because you are behind. What kind of help is that?

You have to know what to ask for, what you can negotiate, what you qualify for and what your lender is authorized to approve. Only then make a written submission with the proper documentation to support your request but only the information and documents you have to supply to be approved. You can disqualify yourself by supplying too much information that is not required or not supplying enough. This is where you may want to get some professional help, but I will offer you a little free help here that will get you started.

Find Out What You Qualify For Under The TARP Mortgage Reduction Program

Oct 2008 while the banks were getting bail out money, US Secretary of the Treasury, Timothy Geithner announced that under the new guide lines 70% of US home owners qualified for help with mortgage payments.

We have compiled a database of the mortgage reductions we have successfully negotiated since Oct 2008 under the TARP Mortgage Reduction Program. Under these guide lines having a mortgage upside down while remaining current on payments actually increases your chances of qualifying. With the data we have complied we know what modifications lenders are approving, the criteria required to qualify, what lenders are authorized to approve and what is negotiable.

By: Dan North

Second mortgages and home equity loans are perfect for homeowners needing money to make home improvements, eliminate debt, and so forth. These loans allow homeowners to obtain loans based on their home’s equity. Home equity loans and second mortgages are better than refinancing because funds are received in a few days and homeowners are not required to paying huge fees.

What are Home Equity Loans and Second Mortgages?

Home equity loans and second mortgages provide homeowners with a lump sum of money. For the most part, homeowners obtain these loans when needing to make a big purchase or wanting to consolidate bills. Credit cards and consumer debts have ridiculously high interest rates. Although second mortgages have interest rates higher than the original mortgage, the rates are much lower than those offered on credit cards. Thus, homeowner may obtain a home equity loan to pay off credit cards. Home equity loans and second mortgages carry a fixed rate and have an average term of three, five, or seven years.

How Do These Loans Work?

In order to obtain a home equity loan, a property must have enough equity. Equity is the difference between a home’s value and the amount owed to the mortgage company. For example, if a home is worth $120,000, and the amount owed to the mortgage lender is $80,000, the property’s equity is $40,000. Therefore, the homeowner is permitted to receive a home equity loan up to $40,000. There are instances when a home equity loan and second mortgage is granted for more than a home’s worth. These are 125% home equity loans. However, these loans carry a very high interest rate and the interest is not tax deductible

Homeowners receiving a home equity loan are required to make two mortgage payments. The first payment pays the balance of the original mortgage, whereas the second payment pays the balance of the home equity loan. Before applying for a second mortgage, homeowners should evaluate their finances and determine whether they can afford an additional monthly payment. Defaulting on a home equity loan or second mortgage could result in a lender foreclosing on a property.

By: Carrie Reeder

Writer Dan Ackman notes in an article at http://www.forbes.com that a recent report by Goldman Sachs shows “in 2004, Americans withdrew $640 billion in equity from their homes–by selling them, taking home equity loans or by refinancing. This was twice the total of 2001, showing that cash-outs have been rising even faster than home prices, which is very fast indeed.” No doubt about it, Americans are using their equity!

The home equity process is streamlined these days as more and more consumers utilize their computers in acquiring loans. Information is limitless on the internet with websites such as http://www.about.com and search engines allowing consumers to answer their questions with a few keystrokes. Gone are the days of going from bank to bank to find the best rate and product. Loan applications now start online. There’s no time better than the present to take a closer look at how equity loans work and how to make your equity work for you.

What is a Home Equity Loan?

Equity loans are 2nd mortgages that are secured by the value of your home. Today you can get a 2nd mortgage without having to refinance your current mortgage. The amount of equity available to you is based on the loan to value ratio, which is the value of the loan against the fair market value of your home. So a loan of $65,000 on a $100,000 home has a loan to value ratio of 65 percent. The standard ratio is 80%, but some lenders have loans with a loan to value of 100% or even 125%.

There are two types of these second mortgages. You can either get a home equity line of credit (HELOC) or a home equity loan. An HELC works much like a credit card. It’s a revolving line of credit that can be paid off and used again. Equity lines of credit however, have a variable interest rate. Home equity loans on the other hand, involve getting all of your cash out at once and have a fixed interest rate. These work more like a standard loan.

Are Second Mortgages Right for you?

Home equity loans are considered as secure as a primary mortgage and usually the home equity rate is lower rate than credit cards and auto loans. This lower rate can make an equity loan a good choice for home improvement financing, loan consolidation and tuition expenses. The lower rate can mean monthly savings if you consolidate your debt. The interest can also be a tax deduction. Depending on your situation, this savings may make a home equity loan a good choice for you.

Home equity terms vary depending on the product. They will also depend on your credit score. Good credit will give you more options than bad credit. Home equity loans also have varying costs. There may be closing costs, appraisals, credit reports and points you will need to factor in to the cost of the loan. You should also be aware that if you refinance your existing first mortgage, the lender that holds the second mortgage must sign a subordination agreement, or the loan must be paid off with your new mortgage. The best loan for you will depend on your situation. If you know how your equity loan works, you can make sure that it works for you.

By: Rebecca Oconnor