Nice Home Loan Guide

Maybe you need a little extra cash for a home remodel or college tuition, or perhaps you simply want to save some money. Whatever your reason, refinancing your home loan can be a smart move as long as you get a low rate. Here are some simple tips that can ensure you get the lowest rate possible on your Home Refinance Loan:

Clean up your credit

Lenders use your credit score as one tool for determining your interest rate. In general, the better your score, the lower your rate. Before applying to refinance your mortgage, check your credit report and look for any errors. If you find a mistake that’s negatively affecting your score–such as a payment marked as “late” when you sent it on time, or a line of credit that doesn’t belong to you–be sure to correct those errors.

Shop around

You might not necessarily get the best deal from the same finance company that holds your mortgage loan. Make sure you check out offers from other lenders. You can do this by submitting your application to multiple lending companies, or by hiring a mortgage broker that will check out numerous lenders for you. To get the largest variety of offers, try different types of companies, such as banks, credit unions, online mortgage lenders and local mortgage brokers.

Negotiate

Once you’ve received a few offers, take the time to negotiate with lenders. Let them know that you have other options and that you’re looking for a great deal. Mention their competitors so they know you’re serious about your loan, and be prepared to walk away if the loan company won’t give you the best rate. However, once you find a deal you like, ask the lender to “lock it in.” Interest rates change daily, and locking it in guarantees that you still get a low rate even if rates soar the next week.

Remember: the interest rate is only part of the expense of refinancing. In many cases you’ll have to pay fees, points and other extra charges. You can lower the cost of your loan by asking to have these fees waived or lowered.

If you’re like the average American, chances are you buy a new car every five years or so. Most people need an auto loan when they buy a new vehicle, whether it’s a car, truck, SUV or van and since the interest on auto loans can add up over time–especially on a five or seven year loan!–it’s important to try and get the lowest rate possible on your car loan. So find a low rate car loan by…

Getting your loan before you shop!

If you wait until you get to the car lot to think about financing, the dealer will try and push “dealer financing” on you. That’s because his financing usually comes with extra “padding” to make you pay more–and to boost his bottom line. The interest rate on dealer financing is often 3% higher than financing from a bank, credit union and or online loan company. So get a loan before you shop for a car. Another bonus: you’ll have more negotiating power for the price of the car since the dealer knows you’re a financially stable customer.

Knowing the current rates!

You’ll never know if you’re getting a good deal unless you know the going rates for car loans! Search the web, call around to local banks and ask friends or family what the current interest rates are for car loans. Be sure to compare apples to apples by considering things like loan term, since longer term loans often have lower rates. Your credit history will have an effect on your rate, too.

Comparison shopping!

Get quotes from as many lenders as possible. Check with your current bank, credit unions, online lending services and other loan companies. Get at least 3 or 4 different loan quotes so you can compare rates, terms and fees. Let them know you’re shopping around and that you’ve received better offers. It’s possible they’ll lower your rate or drop your fees to get your business.

You may also want to consider an online lending service that allows you to compare rates between multiple banks and loan companies at one time, since they’re a convenient way to shop around without getting multiple hits on your credit report.

A cash out refinance mortgage loan is a great option if you have accrued a lot of equity in your home. If you owe $75,000 on a home that is worth $125,000, you could refinance the amount you owe and take up to $50,000 in a cash loan against the equity in your house. The money can be used to consolidate debts, do a remodeling project, or even invest. As great as a cash out refinance can be, there are a few things to think about before you decide to take out this type of loan.

How high are the fees to refinance?

Taking out a home equity loan usually costs less in fees than a refinance. Refinancing your home can cost you quite a bit when you consider higher loan fees and the possibility of points. If you already have a good interest rate on your loan, refinancing so that you can get a cash out option, might mean paying a higher interest rate on a new loan. In that situation, you might want to consider taking out a home equity loan instead of a cash out refinance mortgage loan.

How fast do you need the money?

When you take out a home equity loan, it takes less time to see your money. Often, it only takes 5 days to close. Cash out refinance mortgage loans can take a lot longer, so if you need the money immediately, it probably isn’t the best option.

Protect yourself from scam artists.

There are lenders that practice something called loan flipping. They convince you to refinance your house, taking out a bit of equity for a project or two. A few months later they approach you to refinance again, convincing you to take out more cash from the equity in your house. Their scheme is to keep having you refinance, tacking on large fees and possibly increasing your interest rate until you are so far in debt that you end up losing your house. This particular scam has been played against many elderly homeowners with devastating results.

Taking cash against the equity in your house can be a wise move, but always compare taking a cash out refinance mortgage loan against the option of taking out a home equity loan and choose the plan that is best for you.

The internet can be a valuable resource for researching the ins and outs of getting a home equity loan. It can also be a great place to find a reputable mortgage broker, as long as you are careful not to get caught in an online home equity loan scam.

Watch out for subprime lending.

Subprime lending is when a lender offers to give you a lone for an extremely high interest rate and tacks on excessive fees. Usually these loans are given to high risk individuals who are so desperate for a loan that they don’t take the time to shop around for a company that will work with them despite a bad credit rating.

Watch out for equity stripping.

Equity stripping is when a loan is based solely on the value of your home, and doesn’t take into consideration your ability to repay the loan. The usual result of these loans, is the borrower can’t repay it and the lender ends up acquiring the home and all the equity in it.

Watch out for predatory lenders.

Predatory lenders thrive on setting up loan situations in which the borrower is destined to default, consequently losing his home. Some of the signs that you might be dealing with a predatory lender include a broker that requires you to put false information on the loan application, apply for a larger loan than you need, or sign blank loan papers, saying they will be filled in later. You also want to avoid lenders that promise you one set of terms when you first apply and then change the terms when it comes time to sign or refuse to give you copies of the forms once you have signed. Predatory lenders often misrepresent the type of credit you are being given and fail to provide the required loan disclosures.

Unless you have a lot of savings in the bank, chances are you’ll need to borrow some money when you buy a new car. Auto loans are available through a variety of sources, such as banks, credit unions and auto dealer financing. You can also find a great car loan through an Auto Loan Company online, as long as you look for these three things:

A reasonable interest rate

Since you’re borrowing from an Auto Loan Company online, your interest rate should be about 1-2% less than what you’d get through dealer financing. Search the Internet to find out what the current average auto loan interest rate is, and then compare it to the rate you’re being offered. Watch out for any loan company that seems to be charging an exorbitant amount of interest, particularly if you have good credit and a reasonable down payment.

Low fees and extra charges

Some Auto Loan lenders will charge all types of extra fees, like application fees, document prep charges or credit score fees. As you compare various lenders, keep an eye out for outrageous or unusual fees. If one online Auto Loan Company is tacking on an extra cost that no other company is charging, you may want to ask to have it waived or choose a different lender.

No prepayment penalties

Whatever your loan term–three, five or seven years–chances are you’ll want to pay off your Auto Loan as soon as possible. Many folks send in a little extra with their monthly payment, or they send in an extra payment whenever possible. If there’s any chance you’ll be doing this, make sure your online Auto Loan Company charges no prepayment penalties. Otherwise, you’ll be paying an extra fee if you pay off your car loan before the loan term is over.

As you compare different Auto Loan Companies online, remember to choose a lender that makes you feel as if your business is their top priority. Find an Auto Loan Company online that’s willing to work directly with you to help you get the best loan for your vehicle.