Home Mortgage Insurance Home
Looking for the Best Mortgage ESPAÑOL Shopping around for a home loan or mortgage will help you to get the best financing deal. A mortgage--whether its a home purchase, a refinancing, or a home equity loan--is a product, just like a car, so the price and terms may be negotiable. Youll want to compare all the costs involved in obtaining a mortgage. Shopping, comparing, and negotiating may save you thousands of dollars. Skip to content Obtain information from several lenders Obtain all important cost information Obtain the best deal that you can Remember: Shop, compare, negotiate Fair lending is required by law Credit problems? Glossary Mortgage shopping worksheet For more information Obtain Information from Several Lenders Home loans are available from several types of lenders-- thrift institutions , commercial banks, mortgage companies, and credit unions. Different lenders may quote you different prices, so you should contact several lenders to make sure youre getting the best price. You can also get a home loan through a mortgage broker . Brokers arrange transactions rather than lending money directly; in other words, they find a lender for you. A brokers access to several lenders can mean a wider selection of loan products and terms from which you can choose. Brokers will generally contact several lenders regarding your application, but they are not obligated to find the best deal for you unless they have contracted with you to act as your agent. Consequently, you should consider contacting more than one broker, just as you should with banks or thrift institutions. Whether you are dealing with a lender or a broker may not always be clear. Some financial institutions operate as both lenders and brokers. And most brokers advertisements do not use the word "broker." Therefore, be sure to ask whether a broker is involved. This information is important because brokers are usually paid a fee for their services that may be separate from and in addition to the lenders origination or other fees. A brokers compensation may be in the form of "points" paid at closing or as an add-on to your interest rate , or both. You should ask each broker you work with how he or she will be compensated so that you can compare the different fees. Be prepared to negotiate with the brokers as well as the lenders. Obtain All Important Cost Information Be sure to get information about mortgages from several lenders or brokers. Know how much of a down payment you can afford, and find out all the costs involved in the loan. Knowing just the amount of the monthly payment or the interest rate is not enough. Ask for information about the same loan amount, loan term, and type of loan so that you can compare the information. The following information is important to get from each lender and broker: Rates Ask each lender and broker for a list of its current mortgage interest rates and whether the rates being quoted are the lowest for that day or week. Ask whether the rate is fixed or adjustable . Keep in mind that when interest rates for adjustable-rate loans go up, generally so does the monthly payment. If the rate quoted is for an adjustable-rate loan, ask how your rate and loan payment will vary, including whether your loan payment will be reduced when rates go down. Ask about the loans annual percentage rate (APR) . The APR takes into account not only the interest rate but also points, broker fees, and certain other credit charges that you may be required to pay, expressed as a yearly rate. Points Points are fees paid to the lender or broker for the loan and are often linked to the interest rate; usually the more points you pay, the lower the rate. Check your local newspaper for information about rates and points currently being offered. Ask for points to be quoted to you as a dollar amount--rather than just as the number of points--so that you will actually know how much you will have to pay. Fees A home loan often involves many fees, such as loan origination or underwriting fees , broker fees, and transaction, settlement, and closing costs . Every lender or broker should be able to give you an estimate of its fees. Many of these fees are negotiable. Some fees are paid when you apply for a loan (such as application and appraisal fees), and others are paid at closing. In some cases, you can borrow the money needed to pay these fees, but doing so will increase your loan amount and total costs. "No cost" loans are sometimes available, but they usually involve higher rates. Ask what each fee includes. Several items may be lumped into one fee. Ask for an explanation of any fee you do not understand. Some common fees associated with a home loan closing are listed on the Mortgage Shopping Worksheet in this brochure. Down Payments and Private Mortgage Insurance Some lenders require 20 percent of the homes purchase price as a down payment. However, many lenders now offer loans that require less than 20 percent down--sometimes as little as 5 percent on conventional loans . If a 20 percent down payment is not made, lenders usually require the home buyer to purchase private mortgage insurance (PMI) to protect the lender in case the home buyer fails to pay. When government-assisted programs such as FHA (Federal Housing Administration), VA (Veterans Administration), or Rural Development Services are available, the down payment requirements may be substantially smaller. Ask about the lenders requirements for a down payment, including what you need to do to verify that funds for your down payment are available. Ask your lender about special programs it may offer. If PMI is required for your loan, Ask what the total cost of the insurance will be. Ask how much your monthly payment will be when including the PMI premium. Ask how long you will be required to carry PMI. Obtain the Best Deal That You Can Once you know what each lender has to offer, negotiate for the best deal that you can. On any given day, lenders and brokers may offer different prices for the same loan terms to different consumers, even if those consumers have the same loan qualifications. The most likely reason for this difference in price is that loan officers and brokers are often allowed to keep some or all of this difference as extra compensation. Generally, the difference between the lowest available price for a loan product and any higher price that the borrower agrees to pay is an overage . When overages occur, they are built into the prices quoted to consumers. They can occur in both fixed and variable-rate loans and can be in the form of points, fees, or the interest rate. Whether quoted to you by a loan officer or a broker, the price of any loan may contain overages. Have the lender or broker write down all the costs associated with the loan. Then ask if the lender or broker will waive or reduce one or more of its fees or agree to a lower rate or fewer points. Youll want to make sure that the lender or broker is not agreeing to lower one fee while raising another or to lower the rate while raising points. Theres no harm in asking lenders or brokers if they can give better terms than the original ones they quoted or than those you have found elsewhere. Once you are satisfied with the terms you have negotiated, you may want to obtain a written lock-in from the lender or broker. The lock-in should include the rate that you have agreed upon, the period the lock-in lasts, and the number of points to be paid. A fee may be charged for locking in the loan rate. This fee may be refundable at closing. Lock-ins can protect you from rate increases while your loan is being processed; if rates fall, however, you could end up with a less favorable rate. Should that happen, try to negotiate a compromise with the lender or broker. Remember: Shop, Compare, Negotiate When buying a home, remember to shop around, to compare costs and terms, and to negotiate for the best deal. Your local newspaper and the Internet are good places to start shopping for a loan. You can usually find information both on interest rates and on points for several lenders. Since rates and points can change daily, youll want to check your newspaper often when shopping for a home loan. But the newspaper does not list the fees, so be sure to ask the lenders about them. The Mortgage Shopping Worksheet that follows may also help you. Take it with you when you speak to each lender or broker and write down the information you obtain. Dont be afraid to make lenders and brokers compete with each other for your business by letting them know that you are shopping for the best deal. Fair Lending Is Required by Law The Equal Credit Opportunity Act prohibits lenders from discriminating against credit applicants in any aspect of a credit transaction on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age, whether all or part of the applicants income comes from a public assistance program, or whether the applicant has in good faith exercised a right under the Consumer Credit Protection Act. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in residential real estate transactions on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. Under these laws, a consumer cannot be refused a loan based on these characteristics nor be charged more for a loan or offered less favorable terms based on such characteristics. Credit Problems? Still Shop, Compare, and Negotiate Dont assume that minor credit problems or difficulties stemming from unique circumstances, such as illness or temporary loss of income, will limit your loan choices to only high-cost lenders.If your credit report contains negative information that is accurate, but there are good reasons for trusting you to repay a loan, be sure to explain your situation to the lender or broker. If your credit problems cannot be explained, you will probably have to pay more than borrowers who have good credit histories. But dont assume that the only way to get credit is to pay a high price. Ask how your past credit history affects the price of your loan and what you would need to do to get a better price. Take the time to shop around and negotiate the best deal that you can. Whether you have credit problems or not, its a good idea to review your credit report for accuracy and completeness before you apply for a loan. To order a copy of your credit report, contact: Equifax: (800) 685-1111 TransUnion: (800) 888-4213 Experian: (888) 397-3742 Glossary Adjustable-rate loans , also known as variable-rate loans, usually offer a lower initial interest rate than fixed-rate loans. The interest rate fluctuates over the life of the loan based on market conditions, but the loan agreement generally sets maximum and minimum rates. When interest rates rise, generally so do your loan payments; and when interest rates fall, your monthly payments may be lowered. Annual percentage rate (APR) is the cost of credit expressed as a yearly rate. The APR includes the interest rate, points, broker fees, and certain other credit charges that the borrower is required to pay. Conventional loans are mortgage loans other than those insured or guaranteed by a government agency such as the FHA (Federal Housing Administration), the VA (Veterans Administration), or the Rural Development Services (formerly know as Farmers Home Administration, or FmHA). Escrow is the holding of money or documents by a neutral third party prior to closing. It can also be an account held by the lender (or servicer) into which a homeowner pays money for taxes and insurance. Fixed-rate loans generally have repayment terms of 15, 20, or 30 years. Both the interest rate and the monthly payments (for principal and interest) stay the same during the life of the loan. The interest rate is the cost of borrowing money expressed as a percentage rate. Interest rates can change because of market conditions. Loan origination fees are fees charged by the lender for processing the loan and are often expressed as a percentage of the loan amount. Lock-in refers to a written agreement guaranteeing a home buyer a specific interest rate on a home loan provided that the loan is closed within a certain period of time, such as 60 or 90 days. Often the agreement also specifies the number of points to be paid at closing. A mortgage is a document signed by a borrower when a home loan is made that gives the lender a right to take possession of the property if the borrower fails to pay off the loan. Overages are the difference between the lowest available price and any higher price that the home buyer agrees to pay for the loan. Loan officers and brokers are often allowed to keep some or all of this difference as extra compensation. Points are fees paid to the lender for the loan. One point equals 1 percent of the loan amount. Points are usually paid in cash at closing. In some cases, the money needed to pay points can be borrowed, but doing so will increase the loan amount and the total costs. Private mortgage insurance (PMI) protects the lender against a loss if a borrower defaults on the loan. It is usually required for loans in which the down payment is less than 20 percent of the sales price or, in a refinancing, when the amount financed is greater than 80 percent of the appraised value. Thrift institution is a general term for savings banks and savings and loan associations. Transaction, settlement, or closing costs may include application fees; title examination, abstract of title, title insurance, and property survey fees; fees for preparing deeds, mortgages, and settlement documents; attorneys fees; recording fees; and notary, appraisal, and credit report fees. Under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the borrower receives a good faith estimate of closing costs at the time of application or within three days of application. The good faith estimate lists each expected cost either as an amount or a range. Mortgage Shopping Worksheet File for Printing Worksheet (12KB PDF) Lender 1 Lender 2 Name of Lender: ___ ___ Name of Contact: ___ ___ Date of Contact: ___ ___ Mortgage Amount: ___ ___ mortgage 1 mortgage 2 mortgage 1 mortgage 2 Basic Information on the Loans Type of Mortgage: fixed rate, adjustable rate, conventional, FHA, other? If adjustable, see below ___ ___ ___ ___ Minimum down payment required ___ ___ ___ ___ Loan term (length of loan) ___ ___ ___ ___ Contract interest rate ___ ___ ___ ___ Annual percentage rate (APR) ___ ___ ___ ___ Points (may be called loan discount points) ___ ___ ___ ___ Monthly Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) premiums ___ ___ ___ ___ How long must you keep PMI? ___ ___ ___ ___ Estimated monthly escrow for taxes and hazard insurance ___ ___ ___ ___ Estimated monthly payment (Principal, Interest, Taxes, Insurance, PMI) ___ ___ ___ ___ Fees Different institutions may have different names for somefees and may charge different fees. We have listed some typical fees you may see on loan documents. Application fee or Loan processing fee ___ ___ ___ ___ Origination fee or Underwriting fee ___ ___ ___ ___ Lender fee or Funding fee ___ ___ ___ ___ Appraisal fee ___ ___ ___ ___ Attorney fees ___ ___ ___ ___ Document preparation and recording fees ___ ___ ___ ___ Broker fees (may be quoted as points, origination fees, or interest rate add-on) ___ ___ ___ ___ Credit report fee ___ ___ ___ ___ Other fees ___ ___ ___ ___ Other Costs at Closing/Settlement Title search/Title insurance For lender ___ ___ ___ ___ For you ___ ___ ___ ___ Estimated prepaid amounts for interest, taxes, hazard insurance, payments to escrow ___ ___ ___ ___ State and local taxes, stamp taxes, transfer taxes ___ ___ ___ ___ Flood determination ___ ___ ___ ___ Prepaid Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) ___ ___ ___ ___ Surveys and home inspections ___ ___ ___ ___ Total Fees and Other Closing/Settlement Cost Estimates ___ ___ ___ ___ Lender 1 Lender 2 Name of Lender: mortgage 1 mortgage 2 mortgage 1 mortgage 2 Other Questions and Considerations about the Loan Are any of the fees or costs waivable? ___ ___ ___ ___ Prepayment penalties Is there a prepayment penalty? ___ ___ ___ ___ If so, how much is it? ___ ___ ___ ___ How long does the penalty period last? (for example, 3 years? 5 years?) ___ ___ ___ ___ Are extra principal payments allowed? ___ ___ ___ ___ Lock-ins Is the lock-in agreement in writing? ___ ___ ___ ___ Is there a fee to lock-in? ___ ___ ___ ___ When does the lock-in occurat application, approval, or another time? ___ ___ ___ ___ How long will the lock-in last? ___ ___ ___ ___ If the rate drops before closing, can you lock-in at a lower rate? ___ ___ ___ ___ If the loan is an adjustable rate mortgage: What is the initial rate? ___ ___ ___ ___ What is the maximum the rate could be next year? ___ ___ ___ ___ What are the rate and payment caps each year and over the life of the loan? ___ ___ ___ ___ What is the frequency of rate change and of any changes to the monthly payment? ___ ___ ___ ___ What is the index that the lender will use? ___ ___ ___ ___ What margin will the lender add to the index? ___ ___ ___ ___ Credit life insurance Does the monthly amount quoted to you include a charge for credit life insurance? ___ ___ ___ ___ If so, does the lender require credit life insurance as a condition of the loan? ___ ___ ___ ___ How much does the credit life insurance cost? ___ ___ ___ ___ How much lower would your monthly payment be without the credit life insurance? ___ ___ ___ ___ If the lender does not require credit life insurance, and you still want to buy it, what rates can you get from other insurance providers? ___ ___ ___ ___ This brochure was prepared by the following agencies: Department of Housing and Urban Development Department of Justice Department of the Treasury Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Federal Housing Finance Board Federal Reserve Board Federal Trade Commission National Credit Union Administration Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Office of Thrift Supervision These agencies (except the Department of the Treasury) enforce compliance with laws that prohibit discrimination in lending. If you feel that you have been discriminated against in the home financing process, you may want to contact one of the agencies listed above about your rights under these laws. For more information on home lending issues, visit ( http://www.consumer.gov ), write to the Federal Citizen Information Center, Pueblo, CO 81009 or visit the Centers Web site at ( http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov ). The following brochures are available from the Center: A Consumers Guide to Mortgage Lock-Ins A Consumers Guide to Mortgage Refinancing Buying Your Home: Settlement Costs and Helpful Information Consumer Handbook on Adjustable Rate Mortgages Guide to Single Family Home Mortgage Insurance Home Buyers Vocabulary Home Mortgages: Understanding the Process and Your Rights to Fair Lending How to Buy a Home with a Low Down Payment How to Dispute Credit Report Errors The HUD Home Buying Guide What You Should Know About Home Equity Lines of Credit Home | Consumer information | Publications | Brochures | Accessibility | Contact Us Last update: January 22, 2004
Colorado Real Estate -
Colorado HomeFinder | ColoradoReal Estate, Search ColoradoHomes for Sale in the MLS Call 800.231.9153 | Contact Us If you already have an account, sign in here Colorado Real Estate - find out first about the newest real estate listings! You learn about homes for sale the day they hit the market - before other buyers. Automated HomeAlert emails you new listings that fit your personal home search criteria and gives you access to all the Colorado real estate listings. It's easy - Just submit your email address and home search criteria. Your email is not shared or sold to anyone. You incur no obligation or cost for this free real estate service. Our Privacy Policy: We respect your privacy. All information provided is strictly confidential and you can unsubscribe at any time. Colorado HomeFinder will never sell or share your information with any outside parties. Click here to review our Privacy Policy . Your Automated HomeAlert Search Criteria * Required information Property Type: * Please select... Single Family Condominium or Townhome Any Property Price Range: * From Price.. 75,000 100,000 125,000 150,000 160,000 170,000 180,000 190,000 200,000 210,000 220,000 230,000 240,000 250,000 275,000 300,000 325,000 350,000 375,000 400,000 425,000 450,000 475,000 500,000 525,000 550,000 575,000 600,000 625,000 650,000 675,000 700,000 750,000 800,000 850,000 900,000 950,000 1,000,000 2,000,000 5,000,000 - To Price.. 100,000 125,000 150,000 175,000 200,000 225,000 250,000 260,000 270,000 280,000 290,000 300,000 310,000 320,000 330,000 340,000 350,000 375,000 400,000 425,000 450,000 475,000 500,000 525,000 550,000 575,000 600,000 625,000 650,000 675,000 700,000 750,000 800,000 850,000 900,000 950,000 1,000,000 2,000,000 5,000,000 10,000,000 Min Bedrooms: 1 2 3 4 5 Min Bathrooms: 1 2 3 4 Min Square Feet: No Preference 500 600 700 800 900 1,000 1,100 1,200 1,300 1,400 1,500 1,600 1,700 1,800 1,900 2,000 2,100 2,200 2,300 2,400 2,500 2,600 2,700 2,800 2,900 3,000 3,250 3,500 3,750 4,000 4,500 5,000 6,000 Age of Home: No Age Preference New Construction Only 5 years or less 10 years or less 20 years or less Older than 50 years City Preferences: * Select at least one city... Arvada Aurora Berthoud Boulder Broomfield Castle Rock Denver Englewood Erie Estes Park Evans Evergreen Firestone Fort Collins Fort Lupton Fort Morgan Frederick Golden Highlands Ranch Johnstown Lakewood Lafayette Littleton Longmont Louisville Loveland Lyons Nederland Niwot Parker Severance Superior Thornton Wellington Westminster Windsor Please select if necessary Arvada Aurora Berthoud Boulder Broomfield Castle Rock Denver Englewood Erie Estes Park Evans Evergreen Firestone Fort Collins Fort Lupton Fort Morgan Frederick Golden Highlands Ranch Johnstown Lakewood Lafayette Littleton Longmont Louisville Loveland Lyons Nederland Niwot Parker Severance Superior Thornton Wellington Westminster Windsor Please select if necessary Arvada Aurora Berthoud Boulder Broomfield Castle Rock Denver Englewood Erie Estes Park Evans Evergreen Firestone Fort Collins Fort Lupton Fort Morgan Frederick Golden Highlands Ranch Johnstown Lakewood Lafayette Littleton Longmont Louisville Loveland Lyons Nederland Niwot Parker Severance Superior Thornton Wellington Westminster Windsor Contact Information Name: * First Name: Last Name: E-mail: * (Valid email address is required to receive listings) Re-enter E-mail: * Phone Contact: * Home Phone: Work Phone: Information that will help us serve you better Your level of Interest: * I have a HIGH interest in buying a home and am ready to start visiting homes now. (Please provide your phone number) I have a MEDIUM interest in buying a home, but I just started my search and need to become more familiar with the market. I do not have any definite plans to move at this time. I am just curious about the listings that are currently on the market. I currently: * live in Colorado plan to move to Colorado Your Comments Any additional information that will help us better understand your needs I agree with Colorado HomeFinder Terms & Conditions Just getting familiar with Colorado real estate? Or, do you know the exact street where you want to live? No matter what stage you are in your home search, Automated HomeAlert is for you! The latest technology makes finding homes for sale easier than ever ! Automatic email notification of new listings and access to all the real estate listings from all the brokerages saves you time - and makes searching for homes fun. You are in control! Colorado HomeFinder lets you search for real estate at your own pace. If you are just thinking about a buying a home, no problem...the Automated HomeAlert System is a great way to get familiar with the Colorado real estate market. If you are ready to start seeing homes in person, just let us know. Our local, licensed REALTORs can show you any property on the market. Get matched with a great REALTOR When you're ready for the assistance of a REALTOR, we will match you with the Colorado HomeFinder REALTOR that knows your target market best. Colorado HomeFinder agents are hand-picked REMAX professionals that average over 15 years of experience. We're a Colorado company, not a national referral service with a "list of agents." Our REALTORs are some of the best in the business and are true Colorado real estate market experts! Colorado HomeFinder, RE/MAX Alliance 4770 Baseline Road, Suite 200 Boulder, CO 80303 Colorado HomeFinder | Buy a Colorado Home | Sell a Colorado Home | Colorado Homes for Sale | Browse Colorado Listings | Colorado Realtors | Colorado Mortgage | Colorado Relocation Call toll free (800) 231-9153 or local (303) 543-3083 to be connected with a local expert Colorado RE/MAX REALTOR. New listing emails: Colorado Real Estate Denver Real Estate | Boulder Real Estate | Fort Collins Real Estate | Colorado Real Estate Broomfield Real Estate | Castle Rock Real Estate | Evergreen Real Estate | Highlands Ranch Real Estate | Littleton Real Estate We're a Colorado company with a network of hand picked RE/MAX REALTORS in 17 local offices across the state. 2005, Colorado HomeFinder , all rights reserved. Each office independently owned and operated. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use
Home Equity Loans -
Home Equity Loans - Agony or Ecstasy You are here: About > Money > Credit / Debt Management > Getting Money and Credit > Mortgage & Equity Loans > Home Equity Loans - Agony or Ecstasy Money Credit / Debt Essentials Credit And Credit File Fundamentals Basics Of Reducing Debt Credit and Debt Workshop Fast Financial Independence Debt Counseling Primer Articles & Resources Bankruptcy & Settlement Budgeting & Frugality Credit Law Credit Reports and Scoring Debt Counseling Debt Reduction Financial Planning Fraud and Protection Getting Money and Credit Learning About Money Smart Shopping Students and Education Tips, Essentials, Archives Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Guide Picks - Top Books On Credit & Debt Compare Insurance Carriers Compare Utility and Loan Providers Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Credit / Debt Management newsletter! See Online Courses Search Credit / Debt Management Stay up to date! Email to a friend Print this page Suggested Reading Biweekly Mortgage Payments The 'How-To' of Home Financing Mortgage Closiong Costs Suggested Reading Predatory Lenders Most Popular WARNING! Rising Minimum Payme Free Annual Credit Report Cleaner Credit Raises Scores Changes to the Bankruptcy Law Debt To Income Ratio What's Hot How To Consolidate Debt Credit / Debt Management - Articles Establishing Credit - Credit/Debt Management PayDay Loans Credit Problems.... Now What? Related Topics Frugal Living Financial Planning Online Shopping Banking / Loans Family Internet Home Equity Loans... Agony or Ecstasy From Apply Now , Your Guide to Credit / Debt Management . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Home Equity Loans - a dream come true or a living nightmare. A Home Equity Loan can be a dream come true or a living nightmare. It all depends on how you approach a home equity loan and for what reason you actually want the home equity in your hand instead of your home. If your intent is to reduce debt so that you have breathing room to pay more on other debts, a home equity loan MAY BE on the right track. However, if your objective is to have more breathing room so that you can add more debt, you are heading for a natural disaster. Basics of a Home Equity Loan - Good and Bad What is a home equity loan? A home equity loan is a second mortgage. It uses the collateral of your home to secure a loan. Good news - Because this is a secured loan, its interest is less than on many loans such as on a credit card. This is very attractive. Equally attractive is the fact that because it is a second mortgage, interest can offer a tax deduction. That's the good news. Bad news - But if a home equity loan is used to pay off unsecured debt such as a credit card, what you have done in essence is convert an unsecured debt into a secured debt with your home as the security. This is not a very sound plan. Not only that but just as when you default on your primary mortgage you could lose your home, so too you can lose your home by defaulting on your home equity loan. More bad news- Another draw back that has developed over the last few years is that often you can borrow more than your house is worth... up to 125% of the value of your home. This is called negative equity and means that if you sell the house because of a job transfer or any other reason, you must either get enough to pay off both loans or you will be paying off the home equity loan when you are trying to buy another home. Still more bad news - There is one other negative side to a home equity loan. You will have points and closing costs to get the loan just as you had when you got your first mortgage. Home Equity Warnings! Okay, so I did not scare you off with the above and you are still determined to get a home equity loan. What are the danger signs and issues to be watchful for? FTC warns: "The lender doesn't care if you can't keep up with the monthly payments. As soon as you don't, the lender will foreclose-taking your home and stripping you of the equity you have spent years building. If you take out a loan but don't have enough income to make the monthly payments, you are being set up. You probably will lose your home." Watch out for lowered payments because there is a balloon payment at the end. Balloon payments are large lump payments due as the last payment. Don't do it! Avoid home improvement cam which begin construction before any financing is settled. See Scams To Help You Lose Your Home . Avoid pre-payment penalties. If you want to pay off your loan ahead of time, you should not pay a fee to do so. A 10% prepayment fee is not uncommon... but is a lot of money. Avoid rate increases by avoiding missed or late payments. FTC Offers These Do's And Don t's: Don't agree to a home equity loan if you don't have enough income to make the monthly payments. Don's sign any document you haven't read or any document that has blank spaces to be filled in after you sign or let anyone pressure you into signing any document. Don't agree to a loan that includes credit insurance or extra products you don't want. Don's let the promise of extra cash or lower monthly payments get in the way of your good judgment about whether the cost you will pay for the loan is really worth it. Don't deed your property to anyone. First consult an attorney, a knowledgeable family member, or someone else you trust. DO ask specifically if credit insurance is required as a condition of the loan. If it isn't, and a charge is included in your loan and you don't want the insurance, ask that the charge be removed from the loan documents. If you want the added security of credit insurance, shop around for the best rates. DO keep careful records of what you've paid, including billing statements and canceled checks. Challenge any charge you think is inaccurate. Do check contractors' references when it is time to have work done in your home. Get more than one estimate. Important disclaimer information about this About site. Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About New Video iPod - Review POLL: Must-Have Gadgets VIDEO: Portable Gaming VIDEO: Choosing a TV Hugh Hefner's Life What's Hot How To Consolidate Debt Credit / Debt Management - Articles Establishing Credit - Credit/Debt Management PayDay Loans Credit Problems.... Now What?
Property Search
Allegheny County Assessment ALLEGHENY COUNTY REAL ESTATE WEB SITE 12/29/2005 3:44:16 PM Help Home Legal Disclaimer The values contained herein have been provided by the Office of Property Assessments and are updated bi-weekly. All values represent the estimated market value of the property as of January 1, 2002, unless otherwise updated due to permits, appeals, corrections, flood loss or catastrophic loss. Annually, in July, the State Tax Equalization Board (STEB) releases a sales ratio study comparing the County assessed values to current sales prices. The most recent STEB ratio, for the year 2004, was 91.3%. That means for 2004, on average countywide, the assessed values were within 91.3% of the sales prices. When released, the STEB ratio for 2005 will be posted on this site. Both the 2005 and 2006 values are subject to ongoing maintenance throughout the course of the year. In accordance with County and State statutes, values may be adjusted in the following ways: The Office of Property Assessments can adjust values by way of the administrative change process for factual, mathematical or clerical errors. Values can also be adjusted due to a change in the physical nature of the property due to building permits for additions or demolitions. In addition, the Board of Property Assessment Appeals and Review and the Board of Viewers are distinct and separate entities from the Office of Property Assessments and have the authority to hear appeals and make decisions that can change assessed values. In these cases, the property owner and the taxing bodies are notified and the appeal decisions are regularly posted on the website. All property data has been provided by the Office of Property Assessments and does not include minor, detached structures such as garages, swimming pools and sheds. Sales prices are for the latest recorded sale and may not reflect invalid sales such as sheriff sales, love and affection sales or multiple parcel transactions. In the case of newly constructed buildings, the amount of the sale may reflect only the purchase of the vacant land. Therefore, sale to assessed value comparisons can be misleading. Local and County values may differ due to various abatement programs. To see information on the abatement programs for which you may qualify, please go to http://www.county.allegheny.pa.us/opa/abate.asp These applications are designed to be viewed using Internet Explorer 6.0. You may experience difficulties when using other browsers. For best printing remove left and right margins (consult help for more details) --
rental property Flats for
Properties to rent in London BUY SELL LET LANDLORDS CORPORATE FOXTONS INFO CONTACT MY NOTEBOOK Foxtons homepage Let Properties to rent in London Viewing 1 to 10 of 2015 0800 138 60 60 Properties to rent in London LET Results: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Next 10 | Next View 3 properties per page View 5 properties per page View 7 properties per page Viewing 10 properties per page View 15 properties per page View 20 properties per page View 30 properties per page Ordered by descending price Order by ascending price Order by area Order by bedrooms Properties to rent in London : Use the page number links above to view more Properties to rent in London. The dropdown boxes allow you to customise your search results. Click an ADD TO NOTEBOOK link to save any Properties to rent in London to your shortlist where you can review them at any time. £20,000 per week ( £86,666 pm ) Contact me | Add to notebook 5 bedrooms Old Church Street, Chelsea, SW3 Kick back and enjoy all that this incredible property has to offer. From state-of-the-art home entertainment system to a heated swimming pool and a gymnasium, ideal for unwinding at the end of a hard day's work. Read more about this property for sale in London . Call: 020 7591 9000 Sloane Square Office £9,000 per week ( £39,000 pm ) Contact me | Add to notebook 6 bedrooms Chester Square, Belgravia, SW1 Am outstanding six bedroomed town house located in one of London's most prestigious locations, benefiting from excellent entertaining space and featuring a fabulous roof terrace. Read more about this property for sale in London . Call: 020 7591 9000 Sloane Square Office £8,000 per week ( £34,666 pm ) Contact me | Add to notebook 6 bedrooms Chester Square, Mayfair, SW1 Combining period features with contemporary elegance this absolutely stunning interior designed townhouse boasts four spacious reception rooms, dining room and balcony overlooking communal gardens. Read more about this property for sale in London . Call: 020 7973 2000 Park Lane Office £7,000 per week ( £30,333 pm ) Contact me | Add to notebook 5 bedrooms Park Square West, Regent's Park, NW1 Enjoying an unrivalled position within the gates of Regent's Park, this simply stunning five bedroomed house offers a beautifully refurbished, elegant interior with three grand reception rooms, dance studio and garage. Read more about this property for sale in London . Call: 020 7973 2000 Park Lane Office £6,500 per week ( £28,166 pm ) Contact me | Add to notebook 3 bedrooms Belgrave Place, Belgravia, SW1 A palatial three bedroomed apartment offering exquisite and luxurious living space endowed with the highest quality technology and decor whilst situated at a highly sought-after address. Read more about this property for sale in London . Call: 020 7973 2000 Park Lane Office £6,500 per week ( £28,166 pm ) Contact me | Add to notebook 7 bedrooms Holland Villas Road, Holland Park, W14 This amazing seven bedroomed detached house boast fantastic entertaining space with two double reception rooms, generous conservatory, 66' garden, garage and gated driveway. Read more about this property for sale in London . Call: 020 7616 7000 Notting Hill Office £6,000 per week ( £26,000 pm ) Contact me | Add to notebook 8 bedrooms * Example image only Gable Lodge, Hampstead, N2 This truly magnificent eight bedroomed house is situated on the sought-after Bishops Avenue and offers extremely spacious and stylish accommodation including 8 en suites, a garden, garage and private swimming pool. Read more about this property for sale in London . Call: 020 7433 6600 Hampstead Office £5,000 per week ( £21,666 pm ) Contact me | Add to notebook 6 bedrooms Abbey Lodge, St John's Wood, NW8 Amazing apartment adjacent to Regents Park boasting six en suite bedrooms, abundant living space with fabulous decor, state of the art kitchen, ideal location and valet parking for two cars. Read more about this property for sale in London . Call: 020 7449 6030 St John's Wood Office £4,616 per week ( £20,002 pm ) Contact me | Add to notebook Studio Lordship Lane, Dulwich Village, SE22 Set on the top floor of a three storey modern brick built office building, on busy Lordship Lane, this office of 1730 square feet is close to the many local amenities of East Dulwich. Read more about this property for sale in London . Call: 020 8772 8000 Balham Office £4,500 per week ( £19,500 pm ) Contact me | Add to notebook 3 bedrooms Eaton Place, Belgravia, SW1 An elegantly presented and well proportioned three bedroomed apartment in this much sought-after terrace in Belgravia benefits from a long lease, and a private terrace. Read more about this property for sale in London . Call: 020 7591 9000 Sloane Square Office 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Next 10 | Next View 3 properties per page View 5 properties per page View 7 properties per page Viewing 10 properties per page View 15 properties per page View 20 properties per page View 30 properties per page Ordered by descending price Order by ascending price Order by area Order by bedrooms Text only sites: Sales | Lettings | New Homes © Foxtons 2005 Terms & Conditions Site Map Help 0800 138 60 60 HOMEPAGE Search for a property Search for an Open House -- Why use Foxtons? The letting process Jargon buster Free valuation request NEW SEARCH Type: Buy Long Let Short Let _______________ Max price: _______________ Bedrooms: All bedrooms Studio 1 2 3 4 5 6 or more _______________ Areas: London OR CHANGE TO: All Areas LONDON: All London - Central - East - North - South - West Surrey USA: - New York - New Jersey - Connecticut _______________ Short Let - from a few weeks ADVANCED AREA SEARCH New search Refine this search Save this search QUICK SEARCHES: Houses for rent Flats to let London rental property Flats for rent in London Houses for rent in London London rental apartments London short lets Surrey rental properties Flats to rent in Surrey Houses to rent in Surrey