What You Need To Know About Second Mortgages

So many home owners think about getting a second mortgage. Others don't even know what it means. Today I will raise a few points to explain what second mortgages are and what you need to consider when youre taking that route.

What is a second mortgage?

A second mortgage is basically taking out a second loan on top of the existing loan on your home. This loan is secured with the property for collateral. If for example the value of your home is $200 000, but you still owe $140 000 on the loan, then the $60 000 difference is known as your equity. When borrowing against the $60 000, you would then be taking out a second mortgage.

Why take out a second mortgage?

People take out a second mortgage for various reasons. They want to finance home improvements, purchase a second home, consolidate other debt for a lower interest rate, purchase a new car or pay for university tuition. Whatever the reason may be for taking out a second mortgage, first make sure there is a way of recouping the money. It is especially not wise to spend a vast amount of money on a car when it already starts losing value the moment you drive out of the dealership. It makes more sense investing in a business.

Refinance is an option

Before you decide to apply for a second mortgage, first consider refinancing. Firstly, taking out a second mortgage usually implies a higher interest rate. Rather keep your current rate or try and refinance for a lower one. Secondly, sales people get a lot of commission out of second mortgage transaction. Lastly, when choosing to refinance, you keep some equity in your home. And if there is really an emergency you, still have an exit door. But, if the prices of houses fall the value of your house is down, you could end up with negative equity and even more debt.

What to look out for

The interest rate of a second mortgage tends to be higher than the primary mortgage, due to the fact that if any problems occur, payment would first be made to the first mortgage.

Companies also charge a lending fee, also known as points. One point is equal to one percent. For example, if you are borrowing $500 000 with a lending fee of 10 points, you will pay $50 000 in points. The points differ from one company to another; therefore I recommend shopping around before making a final decision.

Be aware of balloon payments where payment starts low, but increases very quickly. Rather take the fixed rate option.

Lastly, dont forget the additional closing costs such as, appraisal fees, application costs etc. If you arent capable of paying these fees, you may not be able to take out that second mortgage on your property.

If you are considering applying for a second mortgage, please think it through very carefully and consider all your options before making a final decision on taking out a second mortgage application.

Second Mortgages – Caution - How not to Get Taken

Second mortgages are often a financially sound way of handling excess debt, especially in this times of hard credit. Second mortgages can help you pay of expensive credit card debts, consolidate your debt and make payment easier. You can also renegotiate the terms of second mortgages. A few things to watch out for when applying for second mortgages are:

1. Second mortgages lenders may offer you an incredible deal, extremely low interest rates, or a deal which looks to good to be true - if it does then it probably is.
Where rates offered are much lower than current rates then you can be sure that you are dealing with adjustable second mortgages rates and you can be sure that when the rate adjusts you're going to be in for a major shock.

2. Second mortgages lenders may encourages you to exaggerate your income for the application for second mortgages or falsify the loan application
If you need to falsify info chances are you can't really afford the amount you're trying to lend. Remember that most lenders work on a commission basis and they're watching out for their own bottom line first not yours.

3. Never, EVER, sign a blank form when applying for second mortgages A lender should never ask you to sign a blank document.
In fact, never ever sign a blank document, period. A document can be as good as signing a blank cheque on your cheque account. Never do it. There are plenty of lenders out there looking for your business.

4. The second mortgages lender pressures you to sign for second mortgages with bad credit If the lender pressures you to sign even though you've expressed reservations or puts sales pressure on you then back away.
Always take your time to make sure that you are getting the best second mortgages deal for you and never sign a document unless you're one hundred percent sure.

5. Promises not kept. Where a lender makes promises but make excuses where it comes to making those promises in writing then get out.
If they won't put it in writing then you can sure that they won't do what ever they're promising

6. Arbitration
Where contracts for second mortgages has an arbitration clause then know that if you sign that contract you are giving up your legal recourse to the courts. IF you have to sign that can kind of document then make sure the Arbitrator is from an accredited association.

For more information please visit http://www.low-interest-second-mortgage-rates.com for more information

The Importance of Second Home Insurance

If you own a second home then insurance is no less necessary than it is for your primary residence. It is highly likely that your second or holiday home is going to be the second-largest investment you make in your entire life, if we consider this facts then it is clear to see that second home insurance is an absolute necessity. If we further consider the fact that this property, in all likelihood will be used as a commercial venture, to generate income via short-term holiday lettings, which will involve renting your property to complete strangers, then making sure it is protected by second home insurance should be considered absolutely mandatory.

Second home insurance of this type differs from a normal residential buildings and contents policy in several ways. The biggest difference is in the fact that second home insurance used for the protection of vacation property will ensure you are against loss of earnings, should your property become unfit to rent. For many people, the income stream generated by the holiday property is an integral part of their monthly budget, if this income dries up some reason it can cause severe financial problems. Second home insurance goes a long way to avoiding this potential problem.

Another way in which second home insurance differs from a standard building and contents policy, is in the fact that the building itself along with its contents will be protected from loss or damage, at the times in which your property is inhabited by your clients, this means that should one of your customers damage or destroy either the property itself, or part of the contents whilst they are renting it for use as vacation accommodation, your insurers will reimburse you.

A further way in which second home insurance can be used to protect those who are renting their vacation property to holidaymakers, is in the fact that your policy will often contain provision of funds to cover the costs of having to visit your property at short notice, either to assess loss and damage or to arrange for repair or replacement of either the building or some of its contents. For some people, especially those who own second property in a place that is a significant distance from the place of residence, this can represent a major saving.

Finally, many second home insurance providers are fully aware that their clients will be operating their second home as a commercial venture, typically making it available for short-term rental to holidaymakers, and will provide such features as a 24-hour helpline to ensure that all queries and claims are handled quickly and efficiently.

Second home insurance should be deemed to be absolutely necessary for anyone who is using their holiday property as part of a business venture, especially if the income from this business venture is an important and critical percentage of their monthly budget. Contact your insurance broker for more information about second home insurance, and how it can protect you and your property.

What is a Second Mortgage, and How Can I Profit From It?

So what is a second mortgage? A second mortgage is a secured loan (or mortgage) that is subordinate to another loan against the same property. More specifically, the second loan in sequence. In real estate, a property can have multiple loans against it. The loan which is registered with county or city registry first is called the first mortgage. The loan registered second is called the second mortgage. A property can have a third or even fourth mortgage, but those are rarer. Second mortgages are called subordinate because, if the loan goes into default, the first mortgage gets paid off first before the second mortgage gets any money. Thus, second mortgages are riskier for the lender, who generally charges a higher interest rate.
How can you benefit from a second mortgage? Well you can use the money gained from the second mortgage to do any number of things. You can put the money toward paying off various debts including credit cards, car loans, boat loans, school loans, or other types of loans. You can use the money to purchase a new car, boat, go on a vacation. Many people use the money to do home remodels...adding on to the existing house, upgrading the kitchen, put in a pool. All these things are very helpful, and it's up to you to decide what to do with your money.

How do you get a second mortgage? You get a second mortgage first by owning a house. If you don't own a house, you won't be able to get a second mortgage. If you have equity in your house, i.e. your house is worth more than you own on your first mortgage. You can get a second mortgage. In many cases you can get a second mortgage up to the value of the house. The best thing to do when getting a second mortgage is to get quotes. Quotes offer you the ability to "window shop" various rates. With a better rate, you will save more money on your second mortgage. Many quotes are good faith estimates and don't require a credit check. If you like what a lender is offering in terms of rate and packages, you can choose to go with a lender at which time they will run your credit and tailor the loan package specifically for you.

Where can I get a rate quote? There are lots of places to get a rate quote. Local banks, lending companies, even online there are tons of sites that offer rate quotes. Although be warned...some sites out there will sell your information...so be sure to read the privacy policy before you fill in your information. One great place to get information on quotes and second mortgages is www mortgage refinance second.com. They offer some good advice and even offer rate quotes. But by shopping around for rate quotes, you will greatly magnify the possibility of getting a great deal and it will save you tons of money.