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real estate broker license.

California Department of Real Estate: FAQs - Mortgage Loan Brokering in California California Home DRE Home Contact Us What's new About DRE Careers at DRE DRE Records Consumers Escrow Violations eLicensing Examinees Licensees Subdivisions Real Estate Law Regulations Publications Forms FAQs Links Index Department of Real Estate My CA FAQs: Mortgage Loan Brokering in California indicates an item is in Portable Document Format (PDF). You will need Adobe Reader (or an Adobe Acrobat product) to view it. Click on the icon below to download a free copy of Adobe Reader. Click here for information about using Adobe Reader. Provided below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding licensing and other related issues for those who are interested in some aspect of the mortgage business in California. Questions come from both licensees and non-licensees from other states and California expressing an interest in California licensing requirements to engage in mortgage activity. The following questions and answers are intended to answer many, but by no means all, of these inquiries from the standpoint of the Department of Real Estate requirements. Q . - As a mortgage broker in Kansas (or any other state), my plan is to move to California and pursue this same business. Does California issue mortgage broker licenses and is there any reciprocity in licensing with other states? A . - California does not issue a "mortgage broker" license. A majority of those engaged in mortgage loan brokering do so with a real estate broker license. To the surprise of some, the license that allows the listing and sale of real property (the traditional activities associated with a real estate broker license) is the same license that allows the solicitation of borrowers or lenders, the negotiation of loans secured by real property and the collection of payments on notes secured by real property. For further details concerning the definition of licensed activity, review Business and Professions Code Sections 10130 and 10131. It should be noted there are other licenses that allow mortgage loan brokering under a limited set of circumstances, such as the California finance license and the residential mortgage lending license. For information about these licenses contact the California Department of Corporations. (See addresses at end of pamphlet.) California does not have reciprocity with any other state as far as a real estate license is concerned. Information regarding obtaining either an individual or corporation real estate broker license is explained in Instructions to License Applicants . Q . - As a mortgage broker working outside of California, I occasionally have clients who are moving to California and have asked me to broker a loan for them to be secured by their new home. Although I am not licensed in California, can I broker a loan secured by California real estate? Does California have a rule that allows me to broker a small number of loans in California before I would have to be licensed? A . - No. To broker even one loan in California you need to be licensed here. However, California Real Estate Law does allow a California broker to share a commission with a broker from another state. Therefore, it may be possible to co-broker the loan with a licensed California broker. Q . - I am a licensed California real estate broker and I specialize in the sale of real property, primarily residential homes. I would like to branch out and engage in mortgage brokering. What additional licensing must be obtained? A . - As a licensed real estate broker, you may engage in mortgage brokering without any additional license. A real estate broker may engage in a variety of real estate related activities including residential home sales, mortgage brokerage, and property management, among others. You may, however, wish to consult with the Department of Housing and Urban Development to determine their rules regarding real estate sales and the arranging of FHA loans. Additionally, if you represent a buyer or seller in a real estate transaction, and will also be compensated for obtaining the loan for the buyer, Commissioners Regulation 2904 requires you to disclose, to all parties in the transaction, the form, amount, and source of the compensation received or expected for the loan. Go to Top of Page Q . - Another broker told me that the kind and volume of mortgage brokerage activity I engage in makes me a "threshold" broker. What does that mean? A . - Determining whether a broker meets the "threshold" criteria takes a careful reading of Section 10232 of the Business and Professions Code. Generally, the criteria is met by brokers who arrange, sell, or service "private investor" or "private lender" loans, sometimes referred to as "hard money" loans. The "threshold" criteria is satisfied by negotiating 10 or more loans or sales of notes or real property sales contracts in any 12-month period in an aggregate amount of more than $1,000,000 (all of which were funded or purchased by private investors or small pension trusts). A broker can also meet the "threshold" criteria by servicing loans on behalf of investors or on behalf of obligors. If the aggregate amount of payments collected is $250,000 in any 12-month period, the "threshold" criteria has been met. Included in the $250,000 aggregate is any amount the broker collects on loan payoffs. Brokers who collect payments on behalf of obligors are typically those who collect payments from homeowners on a bi-weekly mortgage payment plan. Within 30 days of meeting the "threshold" criteria, a broker is required to submit a Threshold Notification (RE 853)   to the Department. The notification form is available at any DRE office or may be downloaded from the DRE Web site at http://www.dre.ca.gov . Q . - Once Ive submitted a Threshold Notification (RE 853) to the Department advising of my "threshold status," what happens next? A . - After receipt of the "threshold" notification, the Department sends the broker information and necessary documents for required quarterly and annual reporting to the Department and adds the broker to the "threshold" list. The Department then tracks and records each required report from the broker. Q . - What kind of reporting requirements are necessary if I satisfy the "threshold" criteria? A . - "Threshold" brokers make quarterly and annual reports to the Department on their trust fund bank accounts and an annual report on their business activities. Except for the annual trust fund report (which is done by a public accountant per instructions from the Department), the Department provides the necessary forms for the quarterly trust account and annual business activity reports. These are provided to the broker upon receipt of the "threshold" notification form. Go to Top of Page Q . - I am a broker who arranges loans for, and sells notes to, private investors and small pension trusts. May I also borrow personally from any of these investors? A . - Yes. However, these "self-dealing" loans are highly scrutinized and require notice to DRE before the transaction is completed. Before a broker, or salesperson acting on behalf of a broker, solicits and accepts funds for the direct or indirect use or benefit of the broker, the broker must submit to DRE a true copy of the Lender/Purchaser Disclosure Statement prior to obtaining the signature of the investor/purchaser. The Lender/Purchaser Disclosure Statement must be accompanied by the brokers statement that the submittal is being made pursuant to Business and Professions Code Section 10231.2. While the broker need not wait for DREs approval of the transaction, the Lender/Purchaser Disclosure Statement must be presented to the investor/lender not less than 24 hours prior to that person becoming obligated to make the loan or purchase the note. The Lender/Purchaser Disclosure Statement must also give a detailed explanation of the intended use of the funds, including an explanation of the nature and extent of the benefits to be derived directly or indirectly by the broker. It is very important to understand that "self-dealing" is not permitted in multiple investor (fractionalized) transactions except under the limited circumstances set forth in Business and Professions Code Section 10229(d)(1). Q . - When engaged in mortgage loan brokering, are there any special trust fund record keeping requirements? A . - Yes. In addition to the trust fund record keeping requirements of the Business and Professions Code that apply to all real estate brokers, mortgage brokers must also maintain quarterly trust fund reconciliations of their trust account on special forms available from the Department. These forms are completed, maintained in the brokers office, and made available upon request to a Department representative for review. The quarterly reconciliation forms are, Trust Fund Status Report ( RE 855)   and Trust Fund Bank Account Reconciliation (RE 856)   . Q . - Are there specific disclosure statements that must be used by a real estate broker in the mortgage business? A . - Every real estate broker who negotiates a loan to be secured directly or collaterally by a lien on real property shall, within three business days after receipt of a completed written loan application or before the borrower becomes obligated on the note, whichever is earlier, cause to be delivered to the borrower a statement in writing (borrowers disclosure statement), containing all the salient features of the loan to be negotiated by the broker. The statement must be personally signed by the borrower and by the real estate broker negotiating the loan or by a real estate licensee acting for the broker in negotiating the loan. When so executed, an exact copy thereof shall be delivered to the borrower at the time of its execution. A federal Good Faith Estimate (GFE) may also be required in a loan transaction under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA). The GFE may contain some similar disclosures but it cannot, without modification pursuant to Business and Professions Code Section 10240(c), be a substitute for the disclosure statement required by state law. The state disclosure statement is called the Mortgage Loan Disclosure Statement (MLDS). If a GFE is necessary in the loan transaction, the Department has available a Mortgage Loan Disclosure Statement/Good Faith Estimate (MLDS/GFE). The MLDS/GFE satisfies the state disclosure requirement and the federal GFE requirement. In addition to a disclosure statement for the borrower in a loan transaction, there are lender disclosure statements that a broker may be required to use. Unlike the MLDS or MLDS/GFE which must be provided to a borrower in virtually every loan transaction, the disclosure statement for a lender/investor is limited to private and small pension trust lenders/investors. Lenders/investors such as banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions, and a variety of others need not receive the lender/investor disclosure statement which is called the Lender/Purchaser Disclosure Statement (LPDS). Every real estate broker, in making a solicitation to a private investor and in negotiating with that investor to make a loan secured by real property or to purchase a real property sales contract or a note secured by a deed of trust, is required to deliver to the investor solicited the applicable completed statement as early as practicable before he or she becomes obligated to purchase or make the loan. The statement shall be signed by the prospective lender or purchaser and by the real estate broker, or by a real estate salesperson licensed to the broker, on the brokers behalf. When so executed, an exact copy shall be given to the prospective lender or purchaser. The Department has available three versions of the LPDS, depending on the type of transaction. There are statements for loan origination, sale of an existing note and one for a collateralized loan. Please note that collateralized loans are not permitted in multi-lender transactions. Go to Top of Page Q . - Are there specific rules or laws that pertain to advertising by real estate brokers engaging in mortgage activity? A . - Yes. The law states, in part, that: "No real estate licensee shall knowingly advertise, print, display, publish, distribute, telecast or broadcast, or cause or permit to be advertised, printed, displayed, published, distributed, televised or broadcast, in any manner any statement or representation with regard to the rates, terms, or conditions for making, purchasing or negotiating loans or real property sales contracts which is false, misleading or deceptive." To assist licensees in complying with the law, Commissioners Regulation 2848 sets forth sixteen (16) subsections of "donts" of mortgage loan advertising. Q . - What about those who advertise from outside of California via the Internet? A . - Advertising real estate services on the Internet, including mortgage loan services, is considered solicitation of a California resident when read by a resident of California. Either the out-of-state advertiser on the Internet must be properly licensed in California or the ad must contain a disclaimer to the effect that the ad is not valid in California. The Department has prepared information regarding Internet advertising which is available from any Department district office and is partially reproduced here: Internet Advertising These guidelines have been prepared by the California Department of Real Estate to assist real estate brokers and businesses that are not licensed in California who are considering advertising real estate services on the Internet. If you are not properly licensed in California, you may not solicit California residents. To do so would be considered conducting activity for which a real estate license is required. Because the Internet can be read by anyone in any location, advertising your services on the Internet would be considered soliciting a California resident when read by a resident of this state. If you conduct activity which requires a California real estate license, but you are not a California licensee, you could be subject to administrative sanction such as a Desist and Refrain Order. If you are now conducting, or plan to conduct, the above activity in California, you need to apply for a real estate broker license . If you dont plan to become licensed in California, you should make sure your Internet advertising contains a disclaimer such as the following: "Notice: This offer is valid only in State 1, State 2..." (states wherein you are licensed or authorized to do business). If you are licensed in numerous states, you may want the disclaimer to read: "Notice: This offer is not valid in State 1, State 2..." (states in which you are not licensed or authorized to do business). Q . - Are there some advertising violations that are more often encountered than others? Yes. Some of the more common advertising violations are: Using terms in a comparative or superlative degree to describe any aspect of the business or any terms applicable to loans negotiated by the broker, without setting forth in the ad additional information to render the superlative or comparative terms unambiguous in the context in which they are used. For example, a broker who advertises "FAST LOANS" must also set forth in the ad how "fast is fast" (e.g. "most loans closed in 90 days from application"). A broker who advertises "LOW RATES" should also set forth in the ad what rates are available so that the term "LOW" is actually defined. It should be noted that the Department may require the broker to substantiate any claims made in an ad or require additional qualifiers in the ad to ensure the ad is not misleading to the public. Advertising a specific payment for a loan without including in the ad an equally prominent disclosure of the loans interest rate, APR, principal amount, number, amount and period of payments scheduled to maturity and the balance due at maturity if not a fully amortized loan. Advertising an interest rate without disclosing whether the rate is for first mortgages, junior loans or both. Advertising a loan program with special qualifying restrictions or special requirements without setting forth those requirements or restrictions in the ad. Advertising an interest rate without an equally prominent disclosure of the APR. It should be noted that if a rate appears in an ad without an APR, a disclosure of "APR NOT CALCULATED" is not sufficient. An APR must be disclosed if a rate appears in the ad. In addition to the above examples, which are based on specific subsections of the regulation, phrases and words used in advertising can be misleading in themselves. "No Cost" loans and "No Fee" loans are such words. All real property secured loans have certain inherent costs, such as title insurance, escrow, appraisal, recording fees, etc. These services are bought and paid for by the borrower in all loan transactions. In the cases where a broker arranges a premium priced loan where a lender rebate is used to pay for these services, the services are still performed and the costs incurred. The borrower pays the costs of the services via a higher interest rate than would be available if the borrower paid for the services out-of-pocket. In effect, the borrower finances the closing costs over the entire life of the loan. Although there may be no out-of-pocket costs to the borrower, clearly there are fees and costs involved, contrary to the claims in these ads. Go to Top of Page Q . - I understand something called the "multi-lender rule" was transferred from the California Department of Corporations to the Department of Real Estate. What is this and how may I as a mortgage broker be affected? A . - The Department of Corporations enforces the state securities laws which require that any security in an issuer transaction be qualified prior to sale with certain exemptions. Such an exemption was the "multi-lender rule" (Section 260.105.30) which permitted the sale of interests in notes secured by real property to not more than 10 persons as defined. This "rule" was legislatively transferred by Assembly Bill 754 (Kuykendall) to the Department of Real Estate as Section 10229 of the Business and Professions Code. Any real estate broker (mortgage broker) involved in loan transactions secured by real property where the investors number 10 or less, but more than one, known as fractionalized notes, must notify the Department of Real Estate of the engagement in "multi-lender" activity. Any broker who arranges, sells or services such fractionalized notes must file a Multi-Lender Transaction Notice (RE 860)   with the Department within 30 days of the first such transaction. Quarterly, CPA-prepared reports must be filed by any broker who acts as the servicing agent for such notes where the payments due during any period of three consecutive months exceeds $125,000, or the number of persons entitled to payments exceeds 120. The quarterly reports are in addition to the "threshold reports" previously discussed. Section 10229 is very detailed and should be carefully reviewed before becoming involved in multi-lender transactions. Q . - As a mortgage broker, can I collect fees from a borrower to cover certain costs in a loan transaction when a loan application is taken, such as a fee to cover my expenses in processing the application or fees for credit report and appraisal? A . - Fees that are collected by the broker from a borrower prior to the services being rendered are defined as "advance fees." To preclude the inappropriate use of such fees, a broker can only collect "advance fees" if the contract or agreement to do so has been submitted to and approved by the Department in advance of use. This agreement specifically tells a borrower how the "advance fees" are to be used by the broker. The broker must also maintain all "advance fees" in a trust fund bank account and they must be expended only on behalf of the borrower. In addition, whatever other materials the broker might use in collecting "advance fees" must also be submitted to the Department, prior to use, for review and approval. Credit report and appraisal fees, although technically "advance fees" are not considered as such and may be collected without adhering to the prescribed advance fee procedures. These fees are invariably passed to third parties performing the services. They must, however, be maintained in a trust fund bank account and expended appropriately. A broker may not profit from the collection of credit report and appraisal fees. If actual costs are less than collected, the excess must be refunded to the borrower. Q . - I am not licensed as a real estate broker or real estate salesperson and I am only going to assist private parties who wish to sell their notes (secured by real property) for cash to another party (investor), perhaps in another state. Is a real estate license required if I conduct this activity in California? A . - The activity described, so-called note brokering , requires a real estate license if performed in California. This includes the solicitation of California note owners, whether in person, by mail, telephone, or other means of communication. One of the definitions of a real estate broker is: "...a person who, for a compensation or in expectation of a compensation, regardless of the form or time of payment, does or negotiates to do one or more of the following acts for another or others: (e) Sells or offers to sell, buys or offers to buy, or exchanges or offers to exchange a real property sales contract, or a promissory note secured directly or collaterally by a lien on real property or on a business opportunity, and performs services for the holders thereof." There are companies engaged in the discounted purchase of certain mortgages, primarily those carried back by residential sellers and secured by the transferred real property. The companies hold seminars to recruit people to solicit and negotiate the sale of these mortgages. Seminar attendees are informed that they do not need a real estate license to engage in this activity. In California, this is wrong because the activity fits the definition quoted above. Go to Top of Page Q . - Is a real estate licensee in the mortgage business required to show any specific disclosure of his or her license status in an ad? A . - All California real estate licensees, when acting as such, must disclose licensure in advertising. For a broker engaged in mortgage loan activity, the following also applies: "No real estate licensee shall place an advertisement disseminated primarily in this state for a loan unless there is disclosed within the printed text of that advertisement, or the oral text in the case of a radio or television advertisement, the license under which the loan would be made or arranged." A real estate broker must include one of the following disclosures in any mortgage loan advertising: "Real estate broker, California Department of Real Estate" or "California Department of Real Estate, real estate broker." The words "California" and "Department" may be abbreviated as "CA", "CAL" or "CALIF" and "DEPT." In addition to the license and licensing department identifiers, mortgage brokers must include their 8 digit broker license identification number in the ad. In the borrower and lender/purchaser disclosure statements (MLDS and LPDS), a broker must disclose the license identification number and the information telephone number established by the Department that a consumer can call to inquire about the license status of the broker. Q . - Has there been a change in the retention period that brokers are required to keep records? A . - The general rule is that brokers are required to keep records for a three-year period. However, pursuant to Business and Professions Code 10229(e)(1), the investor qualification statement required on a multi-lender loan has a four-year retention period requirement. Also, self-dealing statements, pursuant to Business and Professions Code 10231.2(b), must be retained for four years by the broker. Real estate brokers are not only affected by laws and regulations enforced by the Department of Real Estate, but also many others at both the state and federal level. The foregoing questions and answers are based on the California Business and Professions Code and the Regulations of the Real Estate Commissioner. Real estate brokers should be familiar with the other laws affecting their business. In this regard, they may receive assistance from other enforcement agencies, private legal advisors, and/or professional trade organizations. Office Locations Department of Real Estate Sacramento District Office 2201 Broadway P.O. Box 187000 (mailing address) Sacramento, CA 95818-7000 (916) 227-0770 (Mortgage Loan Section) Fresno District Office 2550 Mariposa Mall, Suite 3070 Fresno, CA 93721-2273 (559) 445-5009 Los Angeles District Office 320 W. 4th Street, Suite 350 Los Angeles, CA 90013-1105 (213) 620-2072 Oakland District Office 1515 Clay Street, Suite 702 Oakland, CA 94612-1462 (510) 622-2552 San Diego District Office 1350 Front Street, Suite 3064 San Diego, CA 92101-3687 (619) 525-4192 Department of Corporations: Sacramento 1515 K Street, Suite 200 Sacramento, CA 95817 (866) ASK-CORP - (866) 275-2677 US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Regional Office: San Francisco P.O. Box 36003 450 Golden Gate Avenue San Francisco, CA 94102-3448 (415) 436-6550 Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Regional Offices: San Francisco 901 Market Street, #570 San Francisco, CA 94103 (415) 356-5270 Los Angeles 10877 Wilshire Blvd., #700 Los Angeles, CA 90024 (310) 824-4343 Back to Top of Page Conditions of Use | Privacy Policy | Tech Problems 2003 State of California This page last modified on Tuesday, August 31, 2004

home equity lines of

What You Should Know About Home Equity Lines of Credit ESPAÑOL More and more lenders are offering home equity lines of credit. By using the equity in your home, you may qualify for a sizable amount of credit, available for use when and how you please, at an interest rate that is relatively low. Furthermore, under the tax lawdepending on your specific situationyou may be allowed to deduct the interest because the debt is secured by your home. If you are in the market for credit, a home equity plan may be right for you. Or perhaps another form of credit would be better. Before making a decision, you should weigh carefully the costs of a home equity line against the benefits. Shop for the credit terms that best meet your borrowing needs without posing undue financial risk. And remember, failure to repay the amounts youve borrowed, plus interest, could mean the loss of your home. What is a home equity line of credit? What should you look for when shopping for a plan? Costs of establishing and maintaining a home equity line How will you repay your home equity plan? Lines of credit vs. traditional second morgage loans What is a home equity line of credit? A home equity line of credit is a form of revolving credit in which your home serves as collateral. Because the home is likely to be a consumers largest asset, many homeowners use their credit lines only for major items such as education, home improvements, or medical bills and not for day-to-day expenses. With a home equity line, you will be approved for a specific amount of credityour credit limit , the maximum amount you may borrow at any one time under the plan. Many lenders set the credit limit on a home equity line by taking a percentage (say, 75 percent) of the homes appraised value and subtracting from that the balance owed on the existing mortgage. For example: Appraised value of home $100,000 Percentage x 75% Percentage of appraised value = $ 75,000 Less balance owed on mortgage - $ 40,000 Potential credit $ 35,000 In determining your actual credit limit, the lender will also consider your ability to repay, by looking at your income, debts, and other financial obligations as well as your credit history. Many home equity plans set a fixed period during which you can borrow money, such as 10 years. At the end of this draw period, you may be allowed to renew the credit line. If your plan does not allow renewals, you will not be able to borrow additional money once the period has ended. Some plans may call for payment in full of any outstanding balance at the end of the period. Others may allow repayment over a fixed period (the repayment period), for example, 10 years. Once approved for a home equity line of credit, you will most likely be able to borrow up to your credit limit whenever you want. Typically, you will use special checks to draw on your line. Under some plans, borrowers can use a credit card or other means to draw on the line. There may be limitations on how you use the line. Some plans may require you to borrow a minimum amount each time you draw on the line (for example, $300) and to keep a minimum amount outstanding. Some plans may also require that you take an initial advance when the line is set up. What should you look for when shopping for a plan? If you decide to apply for a home equity line of credit, look for the plan that best meets your particular needs. Read the credit agreement carefully, and examine the terms and conditions of various plans, including the annual percentage rate (APR) and the costs of establishing the plan. The APR for a home equity line is based on the interest rate alone and will not reflect the closing costs and other fees and charges, so youll need to compare these costs, as well as the APRs, among lenders. Interest rate charges and related plan features Home equity lines of credit typically involve variable rather than fixed interest rates. The variable rate must be based on a publicly available index (such as the prime rate published in some major daily newspapers or a U.S. Treasury bill rate); the interest rate for borrowing under the home equity line changes, mirroring fluctuations in the value of the index. Most lenders cite the interest rate you will pay as the value of the index at a particular time plus a margin, such as 2 percentage points. Because the cost of borrowing is tied directly to the value of the index, it is important to find out which index is used, how often the value of the index changes, and how high it has risen in the past as well as the amount of the margin. Lenders sometimes offer a temporarily discounted interest rate for home equity linesa rate that is unusually low and may last for only an introductory period, such as 6 months. Variable-rate plans secured by a dwelling must, by law, have a ceiling (or cap ) on how much your interest rate may increase over the life of the plan. Some variable-rate plans limit how much your payment may increase and how low your interest rate may fall if interest rates drop. Some lenders allow you to convert from a variable interest rate to a fixed rate during the life of the plan, or to convert all or a portion of your line to a fixed-term installment loan. Plans generally permit the lender to freeze or reduce your credit line under certain circumstances. For example, some variable-rate plans may not allow you to draw additional funds during a period in which the interest rate reaches the cap. Costs of establishing and maintaining a home equity line Many of the costs of setting up a home equity line of credit are similar to those you paywhen you buy a home. For example: A fee for a property appraisal to estimate the value of your home An application fee , which may not be refunded if you are turned down for credit Up-front charges, such as one or more points (one point equals 1 percent of the credit limit) Closing costs, including fees for attorneys, title search, and mortgage preparation and filing; property and title insurance; and taxes. In addition, you may be subject to certain fees during the plan period, such as annual membership or maintenance fees and a transaction fee every time you draw on the credit line. You could find yourself paying hundreds of dollars to establish the plan. If you were to draw only a small amount against your credit line, those initial charges would substantially increase the cost of the funds borrowed. On the other hand, because the lenders risk is lower than for other forms of credit, as your home serves as collateral, annual percentage rates for home equity lines are generally lower than rates for other types of credit. The interest you save could offset the costs of establishing and maintaining the line. Moreover, some lenders waive some or all of the closing costs. How will you repay your home equity plan? Before entering into a plan, consider how you will pay back the money you borrow. Some plans set minimum payments that cover a portion of the principal (the amount you borrow) plus accrued interest. But (unlike with the typical installment loan) the portion that goes toward principal may not be enough to repay the principal by the end of the term. Other plans may allow payment of interest alone during the life of the plan, which means that you pay nothing toward the principal. If you borrow $10,000, you will owe that amount when the plan ends. Regardless of the minimum required payment, you may choose to pay more, and many lenders offer a choice of payment options. Many consumers choose to pay down the principal regularly as they do with other loans. For example, if you use your line to buy a boat, you may want to pay it off as you would a typical boat loan. Whatever your payment arrangements during the life of the planwhether you pay some, a little, or none of the principal amount of the loanwhen the plan ends you may have to pay the entire balance owed, all at once. You must be prepared to make this balloon payment by refinancing it with the lender, by obtaining a loan from another lender, or by some other means. If you are unable to make the balloon payment, you could lose your home. If your plan has a variable interest rate, your monthly payments may change. Assume, for example, that you borrow $10,000 under a plan that calls for interest-only payments. At a 10 percent interest rate, your monthly payments would be $83. If the rate rises over time to 15 percent, your monthly payments will increase to $125. Similarly, if you are making payments that cover interest plus some portion of the principal, your monthly payments may increase, unless your agreement calls for keeping payments the same throughout the plan period. If you sell your home, you will probably be required to pay off your home equity line in full immediately. If you are likely to sell your home in the near future, consider whether it makes sense to pay the up-front costs of setting up a line of credit. Also keep in mind that renting your home may be prohibited under the terms of your agreement. Lines of credit vs. traditional second morgage loans If you are thinking about a home equity line of credit, you might also want to consider a traditional second mortgage loan. A second mortgage provides you with a fixed amount of money repayable over a fixed period. In most cases the payment schedule calls for equal payments that will pay off the entire loan within the loan period. You might consider a second mortgage instead of a home equity line if, for example, you need a set amount for a specific purpose, such as an addition to your home. In deciding which type of loan best suits your needs, consider the costs under the two alternatives. Look at both the APR and other charges. Do not, however, simply compare the APRs, because the APRs on the two types of loans are figured differently: The APR for a traditional second mortgage loan takes into account the interest rate charged plus points and other finance charges. The APR for a home equity line of credit is based on the periodic interest rate alone. It does not include points or other charges. Disclosures from lenders The federal Truth in Lending Act requires lenders to disclose the important terms and costs of their home equity plans, including the APR, miscellaneous charges, the payment terms, and information about any variable-rate feature. And in general, neither the lender nor anyone else may charge a fee until after you have received this information. You usually get these disclosures when you receive an application form, and you will get additional disclosures before the plan is opened. If any term (other than a variable-rate feature) changes before the plan is opened, the lender must return all fees if you decide not to enter into the plan because of the change. When you open a home equity line, the transaction puts your home at risk. If the home involved is your principal dwelling, the Truth in Lending Act gives you 3 days from the day the account was opened to cancel the credit line. This right allows you to change your mind for any reason. You simply inform the lender in writing within the 3-day period. The lender must then cancel its security interest in your home and return all feesincluding any application and appraisal feespaid to open the account. The information on this site is adapted from the brochure "What You Should Know about Home Equity Lines of Credit." Single or multiple copies of the brochure are available without charge. Order the brochure by telephone, mail, or fax . Order online . Glossary | Where to go for help | Checklist Home | Consumer information | Publications | Brochures Accessibility | Contact us Last update: March 1, 2004

Land Loans R aw

AllOptions.com - Compare Raw Land Loan Quotes Hard Money Options : FREE Quotes Hard Money Loan Types Hard Money Info Acquisition Loans Asset Based Loans Bridge Loans Construction Loans Raw Land Rehab Loan Non-Conforming Business Options: Merchant Accounts Business Debt Relief Collection Services Equipment Leasing Commercial Loans Mailing Lists Factoring Raw Land Loans R aw land is unimproved real property. From lot(s) to acreage. Raw land is usually valued at a 90-120 day "quick sale" price to determine loan-to-value ratios. Nearly all building and development begins with the purchase of raw land. Yet in the current environment, many lending sources will not make loans on raw, undeveloped land. Unimproved land, or raw land, with no plans for improvement is the hardest type of property to secure a loan on because it is in essence a speculative investment. Raw land has no added improvements like sewers, utilities, streets or structures. A raw land loan will have higher down payment requirements and a higher interest rate than an improved property loan. Some lenders require a 50 percent down payment, but you should be able to find a lender that will only require a 20 percent down payment. A local lender that is familiar with the property will be more willing to work with you on the loan than a lender unfamiliar with the area. FREE Quotes | Hard Money Loan Types | Hard Money Info | Acquisition Loans | Asset Based Loans | Bridge Loans | Construction Loans Raw Land | Rehab Loan | Non-Conforming | Lender Sign-up | Affiliate Program | Contact Us | Site Map | Home

Land Loans for Residential

Construction Lot Loans Construction Loans for Custom Residential Properties | 4 Contact Us | 4 About Us | 4 Disclosures | 4 Privacy | 4 Media Kit | 4 Site Map | Tips On Choosing a Contractor Stated Income Program Time Line NEW LOAN Prime Minus One Today's Rate 6.00% * *During Construction Land Loans for Residential Construction Our Lot loan program is one of our more popular products. T hese land loans are designed as purchase money loans for those borrowers who aren’t ready to begin construction at this time, and as such are not ready to obtain a construction loan, but will be ready in the near future. T he lot must be normal for the area and at least one utility must be available from the street. (Septic tanks, propane tanks, are acceptable if these features are normal for the neighborhood.) J ust like in construction loans we can fund this loan both as a Full or Alternate Doc and as a Reduced Doc (Stated income) loan. For Fully Documented Loans we offer 80% LTV/CLTV to a maximum loan amount of $500,000 for credit scores of 620, with 6 months PIT reserves and a maximum back-end debt ratio of 42%. 90% LTV/CLTV to a maximum loan amount of $300,000, for credit scores of 700, with 24 months PIT reserves and a maximum back-end ratio of 42%. 85% LTV/CLTV to a maximum loan amount of $300,000, for credit scores of 700, with 24 months PIT reserves and a maximum back-end debt ratio of 42%. For Reduced Documentation (stated Income, verified assets) loans we offer: 75% LTV/CLTV to a maximum loan amount of $300,000, for credit scores of 680, with 6 months PIT reserves. 70% LTV/CLTV to a maximum loan amount of $500,000 for credit scores of 680+/- with 6 months PIT reserves and maximum back-end debt ratio of 42%. 85% LTV/CLTV to a maximum loan amount of $300,000. for credit scores of 700+ with 24 months PIT reserves and a maximum back-end debt ratio of 42% We offer two repayment options; A 30/2 fixed rate laon. This is amortized over 30 years and all due and payable in two years. A 30/5 adjustable rate loan. This program is amortized over 30 years and all due and payable in five years. We offer two index plans for the 30/5. A 12 MAT product with a start rate that is fixed for the first 3 months and then adjusts monthly; and a 6 month LIBOR with a start rate that is fixed for the first 6 months and then adjusts every 6 months thereafter. We will lend on parcels up to 50 acres at the following LTVs; 0-20- The above guidelines apply. 20.01 – 30 –75% LTV maximum 30.01 – 40- 70% LTV maximum 40.01 – 50 – 65% LTV maximum We do not currently offer a refinance option on lot loans so pick the term that best fits your needs. In fact most lenders do not offer a refinance option and it goes without saying that if you don’t choose the loan carefully you will end up having to refinance using a very expensive loan or rush into a construction loan. Questions? Call us at 1-800-246-2468 , we Love talking construction loans. Or send an email , for a prompt reply. More Information ABOUT Home Equity Line of Credit You can borrow against the equity in your present property and use the proceeds to use for the down payment of your new homes construction loan. We offer home equity lines of credit for up to 100% of the value of your property, including both documented and stated income programs. House Plans B uilder ready house plans or architects. Search sources for professionally designed house plans from the smallest family house to the largest mansion designed by some of North Americas best architects. No Doc Construction Loans W e offer a whole range of no income documentation construction loans . Programs include stated income, limited doc, no doc and no income. Our consultants will help you pick the right one for you. Thinking of building a Modular Home and take advantage of the time saving features of this type of construction? Our construction loans will accommodate up front deposits required. Modular Homes. [ Home | Site Map | Construction | Remodeling | Lot Loans | Equity Based | Spec Loans | Application | Contact Us | Documentation ] [ Mortgage Calculator | Rates & Fees | Let 'em Know | Let Us Know | F.A.Q. | Resources | Prime Construction Loan | About Us ] [ Privacy Policy | Disclosures ] [ Contact Us | Home Plans | Media Kit | Home Equity Line | Construction Loans FAQ Home Page ] 1999-2005, Construction Loans Center at Mark 1 Mortgage. All Rights Reserved. Mark 1 Mortgage Is a California Corporation, Licensed By The Federal Housing Commissioner, and The California Department of Real Estate. For Details Please Go to the About Us Page