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	<title>Frugalnomics &#187; Mortgages</title>
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	<description>A Guide to Living Cheap</description>
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		<title>Introduction to Mortgage Reduction</title>
		<link>http://www.guidetolivingcheap.com/introduction-to-mortgage-reduction/</link>
		<comments>http://www.guidetolivingcheap.com/introduction-to-mortgage-reduction/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 11 Aug 2010 22:08:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>GuestPoster</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Mortgages]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[banks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Debt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Loan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mortgage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mortgage reduction]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.guidetolivingcheap.com/?p=363</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Many people find themselves in difficult situations where they have to pay regular monthly utility bills, credit card loans, car loans, telephone bills, satellite TV/cable TV bills and cellular phone bills. Apart from these, there are also the outstanding monthly amortization fees for the house! Banks usually issue a home loan structure for 25 to [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Many people find themselves in difficult situations where they have to pay regular monthly utility bills, credit card loans, car loans, telephone bills, satellite TV/cable TV bills and cellular phone bills. Apart from these, there are also the outstanding monthly amortization fees for the house! Banks usually issue a home loan structure for 25 to 30 years. It is a long shot and it will be less painful to see the <a href="http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/mortgage-reduction/">mortgage reduced</a> in a shorter amount of time.</p>
<p>There are several approaches to mortgage reduction that may be applied in such situations. The most common and longest of them all is to pay your monthly amortizations along with its monthly interest and let your loans reduce over time.  Another way is to eliminate other outstanding loans you may have and avoid acquiring debts. <a href="http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/what-to-watch-out-for-in-home-equity-loans/">Equity loans</a> have lower interest rates than credit card loans so if you use a portion of what you loaned for from your home’s worth and settle your other loan obligations, your monthly expense will only be focused to reducing your equity loans.</p>
<p>Mortgage reduction may require you to separate emotion from finance. Emotional impulses cause people to immediately make a decision according to “spur of the moment” urges of shallow likes and dislikes. Good examples of these would be eating restaurant meals when you could have settled for canteen or home-made cooking and owning a cash-draining car before a house. Following this lifestyle makes you careless and waste money on depreciating assets. The fewer dollars you spend on liabilities, the faster your ability to reduce your mortgage debt.</p>
<p>Positive thinking helps in the process of mortgage reduction. Motivating one’s self provides an outlook in life. It helps one to maintain your direction towards your goal. It prevents self-denying assertions and encourages you to determine how changes must be done to be able to live to your promises. Try to avoid saying the words “I am tired” and convert it to positive energy saying, “I can do more.” You will soon realize the extraordinary capability of a human body to fulfil more duties once driven by a positive mind.</p>
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		<title>Tips in Getting the Best Buy to Let Mortgages</title>
		<link>http://www.guidetolivingcheap.com/tips-in-getting-the-best-buy-to-let-mortgages/</link>
		<comments>http://www.guidetolivingcheap.com/tips-in-getting-the-best-buy-to-let-mortgages/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 11 Aug 2010 18:31:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>GuestPoster</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Mortgages]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[apply for buy to let mortgage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[buy to let mortgage benefits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[buy to let mortgage market]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[buy to let properties]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[rental property income]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.guidetolivingcheap.com/?p=362</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you are searching for the best buy to let mortgages that come with the lowest rates payable, you need to be diligent on your hunt. You should take advantage of the online resources and services to learn how to compute the repayments online and even determine how much money you can actually borrow. Stumbling [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If you are searching for the best <a href="http://www.qwoter.com/college/real-estate/buy-to-let-mortgages.html" target="_blank">buy to let mortgages</a> that come with the lowest rates payable, you need to be diligent on your hunt. You should take advantage of the online resources and services to learn how to compute the repayments online and even determine how much money you can actually borrow.</p>
<p>Stumbling upon the most excellent buy to let mortgage is essential to your profitability as a property investor. Distinct from other kinds of investment, most of the funds that you will place into a buy-to-let real estate property are most likely to be borrowed.</p>
<p>During the last few years, this mortgage market has progressed significantly, and borrowing funds to invest in this asset has become almost effortless. There are several different products that can be procured ranging from discounted variable rates, fixed rates, discounted rates, and many more. Various products fit different real estate investment properties. Note though that getting a hold of the most cost-efficient buy to let property mortgage may not always be the best decision to make. The following are some tips to keep in mind when trying to figure out which buy to let product suits you:</p>
<p>While a lender may proffer you with economical mortgage product coupled with vary attractive interest rate for a short term, always read the fine print. Check if you will be tied for longer term at a much higher interest rate. You must find out if this kind of mortgage will benefit your cash flow as a landlord.</p>
<p>A discounted variable interest rate can be beneficial when the base rate is favorable to the landlord and other buy to let investors. With this option, the monthly repayments will change depending on the increase or decrease in the base rate.</p>
<p>When it comes to <a href="http://www.qwoter.com/college/real-estate/100-mortgages.html" target="_blank">100 mortgages</a> where no down payment is necessary, you will be able to determine the exact amount of your monthly repayments. This will also permit you to calculate your future profit and loss for the established, fixed term.</p>
<p>The most advantageous mortgage products for buy to let properties are at times marketed as discounted variable rate products, which also furnish the option of a droplock facility. This means that for a specific amount of money, you may opt to switch to a fixed rate mortgage with similar lender.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Second mortage Canada</title>
		<link>http://www.guidetolivingcheap.com/second-mortage-canada/</link>
		<comments>http://www.guidetolivingcheap.com/second-mortage-canada/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:55:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>GuestPoster</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Mortgages]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[canada]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[second mortgage]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.guidetolivingcheap.com/?p=326</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Many of us have already made many loans or even at list one. For various reasons we call this kind of financing to be able to cover our costs or to fulfill our old dreams that through our own funding, seem impossible. So we turn to the mortgage loans that are not always enough for [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Many of us have already made many loans or even at list one. For various reasons we call this kind of financing to be able to cover our costs or to fulfill our old dreams that through our own funding, seem impossible. So we turn to the <a href="http://hubpages.com/hub/Second-Mortgage-Canada">mortgage loans</a> that are not always enough for our needs. However we have to take account of the interest of these loans, and our possibility to cover the rates.<br />
It happens sometimes to have events in our lives that cause us to seek to make a new mortgage, besides the already had. For example, we want to continue studies or buy a big boat. As the first mortgage is quite cheaply, with rates low enough, we do not want to spoil things, by refinancing the same loan. Therefore we are trying other options. The reasons why we want to refinance the first loan, and our financial situation can make getting it to be difficult. Therefore, we call on Canada mortgage loan. Why this loan, can you ask? Because it offers advantages that others do not. Such as the loan does not require a stability at work or income stability. Which is pretty convenient, and we could say that we are interested to have access to it.</p>
<p>The only thing important is to have stable home. Another problem that may arise is that this type of mortgage loan usually has higher rates than the first mortgage might have. It is a thing that we can not neglect, that we should think about, even in the last moment, if we can pay rates, both first and second mortgage. The better thing you can do, if you are in this situation, would be to call your mortgage broker with the necessary expertise, who can get the best benefits, if you decide to make the loan. Generally, mortgage brokers are independent and are not loyal to any lending institutions, so their interest is to fight for your interests, the only people who represent their benefit in their career.</p>
<p>What do you know about <a href="http://hubpages.com/hub/Second-Charge-Mortgage">second charge mortgage</a>?</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Tax Credits Expired? You Can Still Save Money.</title>
		<link>http://www.guidetolivingcheap.com/tax-credits-expired-you-can-still-save-money/</link>
		<comments>http://www.guidetolivingcheap.com/tax-credits-expired-you-can-still-save-money/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 11 Jul 2010 14:34:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>GuestPoster</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Mortgages]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[charlotte investment property]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[charlotte real estate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[save money after tax credits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tax credits over and still save money]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.guidetolivingcheap.com/?p=315</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When the real estate market suffered massively, the government took many steps to revive the market, one of which is the offer of federal tax credits. The federal tax credits were provided for the market to recover and encourage more purchases. These credits accounted to $6500 for move-up buyers and about $8000 for first-time ones. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When the real estate market suffered massively, the government took many steps to revive the market, one of which is the offer of federal tax credits. The federal tax credits were provided for the market to recover and encourage more purchases. These credits accounted to $6500 for move-up buyers and about $8000 for first-time ones. The condition for eligibility was that the purchase contract was to be signed on or before April 30, 2009 and the closing was on or before June 30, 2009. These credits had helped the market and brought in several purchasers, who believed this to be a golden opportunity.</p>
<p>Since these credits were provided for a limited time, every individual was unable to take advantage of the situation. These people need not regret and the reason behind this is as follows. An analysis proves that those individuals who waited for purchase later saved far more than those who obtained the tax credits. For better understanding, let us look into an example. If you are a typical home buyer, who took advantage of the tax credits and locations like <a href="http://charlotteinvestmentpropertyguide.com/tag/charlotte-real-estate/">Charlotte real estate</a>, you would have obtained a 30-year fixed rate mortgage. Suppose your home was purchased for $350,000 and the mortgage was obtained for $280,000. You would have probably obtained April’s average rate of 5.34% for your loan, which means a monthly payment of $1561.82.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the interest rates fell sharply only after April 30 and it came to around 4.625% in May. Hence if the same purchase was assumed to have occurred in May with the same type of mortgage being obtained, the monthly payment accounted to just $1439.59, thus resulting in an annual savings of $1467. Over the 30 years, this savings totaled to $44,003, which is a big sum really. Thus the tax credit benefits were nothing comparatively and couldn&#8217;t be used to purchase rentals like <a href="http://charlotteinvestmentpropertyguide.com">Charlotte investment property</a>.</p>
<p>The drop in interest rates was the main advantage in this case, that the home buyers would have profited better if they had purchased in May rather than in April. Hence it is necessary to evaluate things from a different point of view to look into all advantages of a scheme.</p>
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		<title>How to Choose the Best Adjustable Rate Mortgage ARM</title>
		<link>http://www.guidetolivingcheap.com/best-adjustable-rate-mortgage-arm/</link>
		<comments>http://www.guidetolivingcheap.com/best-adjustable-rate-mortgage-arm/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 30 Jun 2010 04:47:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Mortgages]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[adjustable rate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[adjustable rate mortgage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[adjustable rate mortgage arm]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[adjustable rate mortgage calculator]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[adjustable rate mortgages]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[best adjustable rate mortgage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lower monthly payment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[monthly payment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mortgage calculator]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.guidetolivingcheap.com/?p=276</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Taking out an adjustable rate mortgage arm can be a great way to get into a new home with an initial low monthly payment. There are however some risks that people should be aware of before taking out this type of loan. Since this financial information is changing, after the initial fixed time period is [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Taking out an <strong>adjustable rate mortgage arm</strong> can be a great way to get into a new home with an initial low monthly payment.  There are however some risks that people should be aware of before taking out this type of loan.  Since this financial information is changing, after the initial fixed time period is passed, the adjustable rate mortgage arms follow the trend of the overall market.  That means if interest rates are high, then your monthly payments will go up.  Likewise, if interest rates are down, your monthly payment will decrease.  </p>
<p>Here are a few items to consider and steps to take when deciding on the best adjustable rate mortgage arm for you.</p>
<ol>
<li>Write down the length of the initial fixed rate, as well as the amount of time before the first adjustment.  Looking for the best adjustable rate mortgage arm requires proper analysis of multiple loan offers to determine which is the best for you.  Putting this information in front of you is the best way to understand what you are up against.</li>
<li>Figure out the interest rate caps on all of the adjustable rate mortgage arm offers you are comparing.  This data will come in handy if you decide to use an adjustable rate mortgage arm calculator to figure out future monthly payments.  Some loans may very on rate caps based on the term of the loan or other critical factors.</li>
<li>Identify any payment caps when looking for the best adjustable rate mortgage arm on each one you are comparing.  Similar to the interest rate caps on these loans, most come with a monthly payment cap which gives you a good idea of the worst case scenario of each loan.  All of this information combined together helps identify any red flags on loan offers.</li>
<li>Do some investigation and figure out the overall market conditions in your state or county.  Finding the best adjustable rate mortgage arm requires lots of analysis and data gathering.  What are the conditions in your area?  Are you in a housing slump?  What are local interest rates at?  Answering these questions will give you a better picture of the economy and overall housing market.</li>
<li>Talk with family about how long you plan to live in this home.  This piece of information may allow you to make a decision comparing a 3 year ARM versus a 7 year ARM.  It all depends on how long you plan to be living in that location when trying to find the best adjustable rate mortgage arm.</li>
</ol>
<h3>Tips</h3>
<p>ARM loans are a way for people to get into a new home with an initial low monthly payment.</p>
<h3>Warnings</h3>
<p>Adjustable rate mortgage arms can be risky if you don&#8217;t understand them.  You need to realize that after the fixed rate period is over, you monthly payments can adjust according to the overall market and economy.</p>
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		<title>How to Calculate Mortgage Payments</title>
		<link>http://www.guidetolivingcheap.com/calculate-mortgage-payment/</link>
		<comments>http://www.guidetolivingcheap.com/calculate-mortgage-payment/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:41:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Mortgages]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[calculate loan payments]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[calculate monthly mortgage payments]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[calculate mortgage payments]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[current mortgage rates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[monthly mortgage calculator]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mortgage calculator]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.guidetolivingcheap.com/?p=263</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Do you know what mathematical formulas are used to calculate mortgage payments? The internet has provided us with many great tools, including a wide variety of free mortgage calculators. It is no surprise that many homeowners don&#8217;t understand how their monthly mortgage payment is calculated, because you don&#8217;t need to anymore. While using a mortgage [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Do you know what mathematical formulas are used to <strong>calculate mortgage payments</strong>?  The internet has provided us with many great tools, including a wide variety of <strong>free mortgage calculators</strong>.  It is no surprise that many homeowners don&#8217;t understand how their monthly mortgage payment is calculated, because you don&#8217;t need to anymore.</p>
<p>While using a <strong>mortgage calculator</strong> can be very helpful and a huge time saver, it may not help tell where your money is exactly going.  That is why it is important to understand the formulas used to calculate mortage payments so that you know exactly where each penny is being allocated.  Even if you just use the mortgage payments formula one time, it will be worth your effort.</p>
<p>If you want to learn more about how all of your money is allocated, please check out more information below on how to calculate mortgage payments by using a formula instead of a loan calculator.</p>
<h3>Calculate Mortgage Payments Using 3 Variables</h3>
<p>In order to properly <strong>calculate loan payments</strong>, there are a few pieces of data that you need before you can get started.  While some mortgage details vary, there are a few common attributes that are required to calculate mortgage payments.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Mortgage Principal</strong> &#8211; The mortgage principal is simply the total amount of your loan.  If you are looking to refinance your mortgage, then this amount would be the remaining principal on your home.  An important thing to remember is this value is not the price of your home, but the amount you are financing.</li>
<li><strong>Annual Interest Rate</strong> &#8211; What interest rate are you paying on your mortgage?  In order to calculate mortgage payments for a traditional fixed loan, you can simply use the annual percentage rate.  If you have a <strong>variable rate mortgage</strong>, then you cannot use the calculate mortgage payment formula defined below.  In this case, it may be easier to use one the free mortgage calculators online.</li>
<li><strong>Length of the Mortgage</strong> &#8211; This variable refers to the length of your mortgage (usually in months).  For example, if you have taken out a 30 year fixed rate mortgage, then your total number of monthly payments will be 360.  Take the number of years on your loan and multiply by 12!  If you are refinancing, you may need to calculate the remaining full years on your loan and add the rest of the months in the current year to get the total.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Formula Used to Calculate Mortgage Payments</h3>
<p>Now that we have covered the minimum fields required to calculate mortgage payments, it is time to review the actual formula to be used.  It is important to note that you can calculate your mortgage payment the old fashioned way &#8211; by hand, or use a spreadsheet software to run the numbers.</p>
<p>The following mortgage payment formula can be used for most fixed rate loans.<br />
<i><strong>M = P [ i(1 + i)^n ] / [ (1 + i)^n - 1)]</strong></i></p>
<p>The variables in the mortgage payment formula can be represented as follows -</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>M</strong> &#8211; Monthly Payment</li>
<li><strong>P</strong> &#8211; Principal to be paid on the loan</li>
<li><strong>i</strong> &#8211; Annual interest rate divided by 12 (number of months per year)</li>
<li><strong>n</strong> &#8211; Length of mortgage in months</li>
</ul>
<h3>Calculate Mortgage Payment Example</h3>
<p>To make things easier to follow, it helps to see a real example.  Here is the breakdown of a 30 year fixed rate mortgage and the monthly payment that can be expected.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>P</strong> &#8211; $250,000 (Principal)</li>
<li><strong>i</strong> &#8211; .00542 (Annual Interest 6.5% (.065) divided by 12)</li>
<li><strong>n</strong> &#8211; 360 (total months)</li>
</ul>
<p>To Begin, we will plug in the variables into the equation and begin calculating the monthly mortgage payment.</p>
<ul>
<li>M = $250,000 [.00542(1+.00542)^360] / [(1+.00542)^360 - 1]</li>
<li>M = $250,000 [.00542(1.00542)^360] / [(1.00542)^360 - 1]</li>
<li>M = $250,000 [.00542(7.00014)] / [(7.00014) - 1]</li>
<li>M = $250,000 [.03791] / [6.00014]</li>
<li>M = $250,000 [.00632]</li>
<li><strong>M = $1579.53</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>There you have it.  Sure you could have used one of the many available free mortgage calculators, but now you know how to do it manually.  We have successfully calculated our new monthly mortgage payment to be &#8211; <strong>$1,579.53</strong>!</p>
<p>Based on rounding, if you went to an online mortgage calculator, you may find your monthly payments a few cents off.</p>
<h3>Final Thoughts</h3>
<p>The easy thing for many people to do is find a mortgage payment calculator online that will save you time and frustration.  Unfortunately, running one of these calculators doesn&#8217;t provide you with all of the facts and can be an arbitrary number that you truly don&#8217;t understand.  Since a mortgage probably takes up a considerable amount of your monthly income, you should do yourself a favor and calculate your mortgage payment by hand.</p>
<p>Remember to always ask any questions you may have about taking out a mortgage to your lender or financial adviser.  Now that you know where the numbers come from, you can make important decisions on what kind of mortgage you would like or what kind of refinance plan you may be interested in!</p>
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		<title>How to Save Thousands of Dollars Using a Mortgage Prepayment Calculator</title>
		<link>http://www.guidetolivingcheap.com/mortgage-prepayment-calculator/</link>
		<comments>http://www.guidetolivingcheap.com/mortgage-prepayment-calculator/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:45:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Mortgages]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[biweekly mortgage payments]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[loan amortization schedule]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[monthly payment calculator]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mortgage payoff calculator]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mortgage prepayment calculator]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.guidetolivingcheap.com/?p=234</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Using a mortgage prepayment calculator is probably not the first thing on a new homeowners mind. After all, you just moved into your brand new home and are hit with a lot of extra expenses. The last thing you want right now is to come up with another $50, $100, or even $500 per month [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Using a <strong>mortgage prepayment calculator</strong> is probably not the first thing on a new homeowners mind.  After all, you just moved into your brand new home and are hit with a lot of extra expenses.  The last thing you want right now is to come up with another $50, $100, or even $500 per month on your mortgage.</p>
<p>There are however, many reasons why you should at least consider running through a couple scenarios using a mortgage prepayment calculator.  If you are interested in saving tens of thousands of dollars on your home, keep reading for more details!</p>
<h3>Advantages of Using a Mortgage Prepayment Calculator</h3>
<p>Using a <strong>mortgage payoff calculator</strong> can come with plenty of advantages.  Here are a few that may be of interest to you &#8211; </p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Pay Less Interest</strong> &#8211; The amount of interest that you will save is incredible over the course of a loan, and a mortgage prepayment calculator can identify it!  Even adding an additional $50 per month in extra mortgage payments can save you over $10,000 on the total cost of a home.  That savings alone should make you pay attention!</li>
<li><strong>Owning Your Home Sooner</strong> &#8211; With all the financial chaos going on in the world lately, there is something special about owning your home.  By making additional monthly payments on your mortgage, you can take years of off your loan.  Just think, you can own your home outright sooner and enjoy all that extra savings down the road.  All you need to start the process is to use a mortgage prepayment calculator to find out the total savings by making extra monthly payments.</li>
<li><strong>Free Mortgage Calculators</strong> &#8211; There is typically no additional cost in determining your savings as there are plenty of <strong>free mortgage calculators</strong> available today.  Since there are no costs involved, the only thing you are out is a little bit of your time!</li>
</ul>
<p>While there are plenty of advantages in using a mortgage prepayment calculator, there are some possible disadvantages that should be covered.  If you are using your home for tax breaks, paying it off early will eliminate this possibility.  You should always look at the bigger picture when it comes to making these types of decisions.</p>
<p>There is also the possibility that you could be using the money from your extra monthly payments on other investments.  Be sure to calculate the true savings on paying off your mortgage early versus investing in other high yielding assets.</p>
<h3>Mortgage Loan Information</h3>
<p>One of the things required to successfully use a mortgage prepayment calculator is accurate data.  If you are a current homeowner, then you probably already have this information available.  If you don&#8217;t own your home, then you may have to make some estimations on the price of a home, along with several other factors.  Here are some common pieces of data required to use a mortgage prepayment calculator.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Length of Mortgage</strong> &#8211; One of the most critical pieces of data when using any type of <strong>monthly payment calculator</strong> is the length of the loan.  In this case, it is the original number of years (or months) in which the mortgage was taken out.  If you have taken out a traditional fixed mortgage, then you probably have a 15, 30, or 40 year loan.</li>
<li><strong>Original Mortgage Amount</strong> &#8211; Just as knowing the original terms of the loan are important, so is the original mortgage loan amount (this value will be required in all mortgage prepayment calculators).  If you are just purchasing the home or are looking for one, then you should already know this value.  On the other hand, if you are looking to start paying off your mortgage early, then you may need to go back to your records to find the original loan amount.</li>
<li><strong>Annual Interest Rate</strong> &#8211; Unless you are looking to refinance your home, having the original annual interest rate is necessary in order to use any type of monthly payment calculator.  If you are planning on refinancing, then you may need to look for one of the other available <strong>free mortgage calculators</strong> available today.</li>
<li><strong>Remaining Months on the Mortgage</strong> &#8211; If you are running your mortgage prepayment calculator on a home that you have made a least one payment on, then you need to identify the remaining months left on the loan.</li>
<li><strong>Additional Monthly Payments</strong> &#8211; Since the plan is to use a mortgage payoff calculator to determine your total savings, you need to identify how much extra money you plan to contribute.  Check your personal budget (if you don&#8217;t have one, you need to create one) and determine how much extra money you can afford each month.  When you get around to actually using your mortgage prepayment calculator, play around with several different amounts that fit into your budget to see your best option.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Tools</h3>
<p>So now that you know about the data that is required to run a mortgage prepayment calculator, you may be wondering where can you find one?  This is just one type of the many free mortgage calculators you can find today on the internet.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Spreadsheet Software</strong> &#8211; Loan prepayment calculations have long been run in spreadsheet software applications.  If you are looking to run any type of monthly payment calculator using spreadsheets, check to see if there is any kind of macro available on the internet to download to make the work easier.</li>
<li><strong>Online Mortgage Prepayment Calculators</strong> &#8211; As you may have already guess, the internet is full of all types of monthly payment calculators.  Do a little research and find the application that works best for you.</li>
<li><strong>Loan Amortization Schedule</strong> &#8211; Most good online mortgage payoff calculators have a loan amortization schedule already built in.  However, if you are handy with numbers, you should be able to calculate any prepayment savings realized from making extra monthly payments.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Biweekly Mortgage Payments</h3>
<p>One very popular loan options offered by some of the top mortgage lenders involves making <strong>biweekly mortgage payments</strong> in order to reduce the overall costs.  Most of these plans require the borrower to split their monthly payments in half paying one mid month and the other at the end.  Check with your lender if they offer this type of plan.  In this case, you may not be able to use a mortgage prepayment calculator and will need to look for one that calculates bimonthly payments instead.</p>
<p>Setting up a loan to make biweekly mortgage payments is just another opportunity to pay down your principal quicker.  By paying down your principal sooner, you won&#8217;t be required to pay as much interest over the term of the loan.  Those extra payments overtime can save you thousands and thousands of dollars!</p>
<h3>Mortgage Prepayment Calculator Example</h3>
<p>Talking about using a mortgage prepayment calculator sounds good and the savings are nothing to ignore.  However, without actually running a calculation and seeing the results, it can be difficult conceptualizing the true value.</p>
<p>Go and find a free mortgage calculator out on the internet and use the following values to run a calculation.  Run several examples using different additional payment amounts with different interest rates.  Get a good feel for how just a slight change can drastically increase your savings.  As you adjust to using a mortgage prepayment calculator, you can make changes to the data that you decide to input.</p>
<p>Example -</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Length of Mortgage</strong> &#8211; 30 Years (or 360 months)</li>
<li><strong>Original Mortgage Amount</strong> &#8211; $250,000</li>
<li><strong>Annual Interest Rate</strong> &#8211; 6.5%</li>
<li><strong>Remaining Months on the Mortgage</strong> &#8211; 360 months (or 30 years)</li>
<li><strong>Additional Monthly Payments</strong> &#8211; $100</li>
</ul>
<p>In the above example, we are assuming that you are planning to start making additional payments in the first month of the loan.</p>
<p>After running your mortgage prepayment calculator, you would have found the following results by paying an additional $100 per month on your mortgage -</p>
<ul>
<li>Interest Saved &#8211; $58,860.18</li>
<li>Years Saved &#8211; 4 years 8 months</li>
<li>Payments Eliminated &#8211; 56</li>
</ul>
<p>As you can tell, if you can afford an additional $100 each month, you could save over $50,000!</p>
<p>If you want to get really serious, you can pay an additional $200 each month and save over $97,000!  These savings can quickly be identified from a mortgage prepayment calculator.</p>
<h3>Final Thoughts</h3>
<p>As you can tell, there are a ton of advantages to paying off your home early, and a mortgage prepayment calculator is a tool that will help you get there.  You may decide to go down the path of biweekly mortgage payments or choosing to add on extra principal every month.  No matter which option you choose, it is still important that you at least consider reducing the life of your loan.  Using a mortgage prepayment calculator is just one tool that will help you get there.</p>
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		<title>Mortgage Interest Rates &#8211; How to Choose the Right One</title>
		<link>http://www.guidetolivingcheap.com/mortgage-interest-rates-how-to-choose-the-right-one/</link>
		<comments>http://www.guidetolivingcheap.com/mortgage-interest-rates-how-to-choose-the-right-one/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 20 Jan 2010 11:08:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Mortgages]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.guidetolivingcheap.com/?p=229</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The mortgage interest rate is defined in one sentence as &#8211; the rate of interest on a mortgage loan. To be defined in simple terms the mortgage interest rate is that rate of interest which you would need to pay to a person from whom you have taken money from originally. This rate of interest [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The <strong>mortgage interest rate</strong> is defined in one sentence as &#8211; <i>the rate of interest on a mortgage loan</i>.  To be defined in simple terms the mortgage interest rate is that rate of interest which you would need to pay to a person from whom you have taken money from originally.  This rate of interest is calculated on the borrowed sum of money.</p>
<p>This can include:</p>
<ul>
<li>fixed rate mortgage</li>
<li>Or you can opt for a variable mortgage rate</li>
</ul>
<p>Whatever be your choice, get an online mortgage quote and select the best option for you.  This is because it is necessary to get hold of the right lender who charges the right mortgage rate.</p>
<p>News reports show that the interest rate is decreasing slowly in the last few years in United States.  In the present year we see the mortgage interest rate is at the lowest point and top mortgage lenders too are going for low rates.  Economists and financial experts have predicted that in the next two years the rate may increase.</p>
<p>The present condition is suitable for buying a new home.  If anyone wants to go for a second mortgage, the present situation is also ideal for him/her.  So now is the best time to get a loan. </p>
<p>When the variable mortgage rate is low, you can easily secure mortgage loans.  However to get benefit from it, the right opportunity is good market research which is important. You should be aware of the interest rates.  Consulting any mortgage broker is an easily available way for a person who wants to know about the interest rates.  Anyone who wants to secure mortgage loans should do an online research.  Online research helps a lot in acquiring information of different kinds. </p>
<p>You need to be aware about the competition in mortgage market. This makes the atmosphere more favorable for whoever wants to secure any mortgage loans.  Closing cost is important before securing any mortgage loan.  Sometimes a mortgage loan is available with lower interest rates but it has a higher closing cost. </p>
<p>Monthly installments are directly related to the terms of the loan.  If anyone chooses lower monthly installments then he has to pay for a long time.  One should go through the mortgage terms before securing the loan.  If anyone likes to pay a fix amount of installments in each term, then they should select the fixed rated mortgage. In this case the monthly amount of interest does not get affected by the fluctuating mortgage rates.</p>
<p>A mortgage term generally varies between fifteen to thirty years.  The rate depends on the type of the property and the number of occupants of the property.  These two factors are the most important factors.  However, there are several other factors which equally affect the mortgage rate.  So it is always advisable that whoever wants to secure a mortgage should research it before choosing the appropriate term of a mortgage loan.  The thorough research will help the person to move in the right direction and not spend unnecessary money in the payment of the interest rates. </p>
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		<title>How to Buy a House with Bad Credit</title>
		<link>http://www.guidetolivingcheap.com/buy-house-bad-credit/</link>
		<comments>http://www.guidetolivingcheap.com/buy-house-bad-credit/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 19 Jan 2010 01:06:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Mortgages]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.guidetolivingcheap.com/?p=204</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Gone are the days of homeowners-to-be, sitting, wringing their hands, fretting about how to buy a house with bad credit, as the entire landscape of home ownership, has been altered. While it is certainly true that buying a home with fantastic credit is far easier, and less expensive, than attaining a residence, with a less [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Gone are the days of homeowners-to-be, sitting, wringing their hands, fretting about how to buy a house with bad credit, as the entire landscape of home ownership, has been altered.</p>
<p>While it is certainly true that buying a home with fantastic credit is far easier, and less expensive, than attaining a residence, with a less than perfect credit; it is also true that there are so many more avenues, for that home ownership endeavor, than ever before.</p>
<p>Times have changed and changed for the betterment of those with tarnished credit ratings. This makes it a great time to be in the market for any type of home and the opportunities that exist for staking a claim in the ‘American Dream’, are as wide open as the Western skyline!</p>
<p>There are tried-and-true methods and steps that can still be utilized for those with less-than- perfect credit, and are presented below.</p>
<ul>
<li>Research Numerous Lenders / Locating the Qualifications for the Mortgage</li>
<li>Retrieve a Copy of the Three Big Credit Reporting Agencies</li>
<li>Pay-Off  or Negotiate all Negative Reports on Credit Rating</li>
<li>Most Importantly Do Not Finance Anything Else Before Approaching Lenders</li>
</ul>
<h3>Malleable Compilations with Interest Rates</h3>
<p>Many instances of prospective homeowners that stop short of locating the very best mortgage rate for the home are likely due to a lack of researching skills. This does not have to be as the shame and ridicule of the past, when relating to bad credit, has been partially erased and corrected.</p>
<p>With the fall of the mortgage industry, as a whole, and the resurrection of lending institutions that can filter through bad credit risk regardless of what the credit file says, this now makes for a great opportunity to own a home.</p>
<p>One must look past the mistakes that the credit report dictates and demonstrate the lesson-learned attitude that mortgage lenders are in the hunt for. There are great opportunities, to possess that ‘dream home’ financing regardless of a negative credit rating, as this is no longer a barrier to home ownership.</p>
<h3>FICO Score Importance</h3>
<p>Past FICO scores, although important, are ever-changing, in the correlation to what that score will mean, to the interest rate of the mortgage. In short, any FICO score of 600 to 640 will end up adding 1.625% over the prevailing interest rate. What this means, in layman’s terms, is that the standard rate of 5.875, will be 7.5% for the interest rate of the mortgage.</p>
<p>Prospective borrowers with less than perfect credit scores, such as 580 and below, will see that interest rate bumped up to 1.25 or as high as 2.0, for the mortgage. In thinking about, what that means, in the overall picture, for the life and the principle of the home being financed, depends on the amount of the loan itself.</p>
<p>The difference from years ago, in the compilation of how a FICO score relates to the percentage rate of a home mortgage is why the concrete and passed decision-making matrixes, are now more fluctuating and negotiable. There is no reason to be disenchanted with a lower credit score, in the mortgage business, as times have definitely changed, in the home mortgage industry.</p>
<h3>Optimism a Great Benefit for Those with Less Than Perfect Credit</h3>
<p>When learning how to buy a house with bad credit, another important factor to remember, at all times, is an optimistic attitude. Nothing goes further when searching for a financing option for that wonderful and beautiful 4/2 in the Hamptons, with banged up credit, then a big smile and an optimistic outlook on the future.</p>
<p>Suffice to say this is not required to last forever, and in being human, it will not, it is only to say that during the hunt for a house with bad credit, it is advisable to paste a smile on and hit the ground running. </p>
<h3>Smiling All the Way to the Bank</h3>
<p>The reasons why optimism is a requirement for those searching for a home with bad credit, is two- part. The first aspect is that it will make the hunt that much more enjoyable and less frightening. The latter part of that double-edged sword will be that the mortgage lending environment will feed off of that cheerful and optimistic attitude!</p>
<p>During face-to-face or telephone encounters, the other side will definitely feel that, optimism and maybe be affected by it. Think of searching for a mortgage financing home lender just like fishing, thinking that you will get a bite any time, and imagine reeling in a 5 pound Large mouth Bass and bringing him home to the family all smiling and proud! That is a feeling that you get once you achieve your goal of finding a great mortgage, with an adequate and doable rate, and one that manufactures the key to the dream home. </p>
<h3>Closing the Deal and Receiving the Keys</h3>
<p>Summing everything up, in order to achieve the goal of home-ownership, with a tarnished credit file, the prospective home-owner needs to be diligent and intelligent. There are so many lenders out there presently, literally climbing over one another, in order to receive the mortgage loan business. If ever there was a time to get into that home of your dreams, it is now.</p>
<p>With the market coming back, after 12 long months of being tossed through the ringer, the opportunities that exist today have never existed in the past. </p>
<h3>Hungry Brokers Mean Sweeter Deals</h3>
<p>Banks have cleaned up their acts, and in doing so, have opened new doors for those with tarnished credit files and disrupted payment flows. One of the best ways to get into that dream home and quite quickly is to deal directly with a hungry, mortgage broker. In this way, the mortgage broker that has a light list of clients, will have more time to work on getting you into that home and quickly.</p>
<p>Mortgage brokers work on commission, and commissions are paid after the home is closed upon and the keys are handed over to the new homeowner. Suffice to say that a hungry mortgage broker is lean and mean and ready to fight to get you into that house and get paid. </p>
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		<title>The Truth About Refinance Mortgage Calculators</title>
		<link>http://www.guidetolivingcheap.com/refinance-mortgage-calculators/</link>
		<comments>http://www.guidetolivingcheap.com/refinance-mortgage-calculators/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Jan 2010 12:31:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Mortgages]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[adjustable rate mortgage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lowest interest mortgage rates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[refinance mortgage calculators]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.guidetolivingcheap.com/?p=219</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Mortgage payment calculators can be used by an individual to calculate the actual cost of their mortgage. When we get an online mortgage quote we are always eager to get the lowest mortgage interest rates possible. In such a case, refinance mortgage calculators are of good use as it helps us to secure the best [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Mortgage payment calculators</strong> can be used by an individual to calculate the actual cost of their mortgage.  When we get an online mortgage quote we are always eager to get the <a title="lowest mortgage interest rates"  href="http://www.guidetolivingcheap.com/lowest-mortgage-interest-rates/" target="_self">lowest mortgage interest rates</a> possible.  In such a case, <strong>refinance mortgage calculators</strong> are of good use as it helps us to secure the best deal.</p>
<p>So are you interested in learning more about mortgage rate comparison?  If so, then read on … We will tell you more about it.</p>
<p>Most refinance mortgage calculators only work for a specified product, with the majority of them found in financial portal sites or broker sites.  Most of these calculators have a wide range and you can easily calculate your mortgage there.  Most of the mortgage payment calculators are used to check the monthly mortgage that will be owed by the homeowner.</p>
<p>If you like the services of a refinance mortgage calculator, then you will find that it is easier to check the total sum that you are supposed to pay in a month.  It would have been very difficult for you to calculate the exact amount without the mortgage calculator and it is also very time consuming.  This is the common form of repayment and an interest rate is determined for any type of specific mortgage product.  The calculator can also usually be used for comparing all sorts of repayments on various mortgages. </p>
<p>The amount is calculated, so is the time and the mortgage payment calculator will help you do this by saving a lot of time.  Most of the mortgage calculators can also be used for other types of products and services which include stamp duty, buildings and contents insurance, and repayment protection insurance.</p>
<p>All the mortgage payment calculators can also be used for determining the way the payment should be done in a month.  It can check all the necessary details like interest rates, loan costs, and information about the property, insurance costs and loan term/s.</p>
<p>The principal is generally referred to the amount of money that is borrowed.  As for the loan costs, it actually refers to the payment that is done for evaluation, loan instigation fee and other costs related to settlement.  It is the responsibility of the loan calculator to take hold of all sorts of information like relevant information about the property and about the loan.</p>
<p>Some of the mortgages which come under the purview of a mortgage payment calculator are:</p>
<ul>
<li>adjustable rate mortgages</li>
<li>sub-prime mortgages</li>
<li>balloon mortgages</li>
<li>Assumable mortgages</li>
</ul>
<p>Check out the <strong>Adjustable Rate Mortgage</strong> or ARM which has good interest packages and the payment is not fixed.  The monthly payment is done in such a way that the entire thing is paid off and even the balance is paid at the end of the term.  Mostly, the payment is done over a period of 30 years. You will have benefits in case you use the adjustable rate mortgage because the interest rate differs from time to time and the money can be paid by calculating the availability of money. </p>
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