by: Fabio Marcell
When you're self employed you have numerous advantages. As you are a free agent, you will write off every deduction you can on your tax return. You acquire the potential to earn extra income much more so than someone who is employed by someone else. The best part is that you are the gaffer, the boss! On rare occasions, being freelance has some drawbacks. One is when you go to get finance for a property or a large purchase. However, here are some items to know that could help you prepare for the mortgage loan process. A self-employed mortgage loan survival guide, if you will.
While confirming your income - the average lender will need to be made aware of at least 2 years of self employment history, occasionally they will request 3 years. They will ask to see this history verified in tax returns, generally. Occasionally the lenders may figure your income as being the average income you claimed on your income taxes as profits, not your gross business income. Another time the lender may figure your income as the lowest of the two years and every now and again as the highest of the two years. Talk to your mortgage professional or lender and find out their verification criteria. For instance, some lenders may calculate a part of your write-offs or deductions and work it back into your income. There are ideas of additional ways that a lender may be able to verify your income and if you are a free agent it may help you to be able to show a supplementary of your income.
If you can, compile a profit & loss statement , accurately quoting your expenses & profits for the last couple of years. You may find this tedious, but it could be used as proof of income for a mortgage provider. If you can get it signed or verified by your accountant, more's the better.
If you can, it's always best to provide your bank statements to prove your income - search for a lender who might accept as little as 2 years of statements as sufficient proof. These days, you'll find that many lenders confirm your income in this fashion. This is normally a more favourable method of proving your income than lifting the figures from your tax returns. The reason being that you can, more often than not, show that you have a lot more additional cash flow than your tax returns might indicate. When completing your tax returns you generally subtract every single business expense prior to your claim of any profits. By employing bank statements, you are still proving income, this reduces the importance of your credit score or deposit during the application process - while a "self-cert" or "self-certification" mortgage will place more emphasis on your credit score.
If you cannot provide statements, apply for a "self cert", or "stated income" mortgage. This type of loan is very common these days. You actually need no proof of income, you simply state on the application form, the level of your income. It doesn't require verification on your part! This might help if you are freelance and need to specify your income as it currently stands. This method means that you don't have to worry about having the lender take your last two years worth of income and average them out. Whilst many people do abuse this feature, it's best to be accurate when self-certifying your income. Sometimes the lender will be able to obtain proof from your tax office to confirm your self-cert amount. Whenever you choose a self-cert loan, this will put more weight on the importance of your deposit and/or credit score. So, you might normally need one or both of these elements to be strong if you want to pursue this avenue. More often than not, when you do a self-cert, you could well be charged a marginally higher rate of interest because the lender will see this as more "high-risk".
Lenders make money by lending it to so they are always looking for ways to make it easier for you. There are several ways that lenders may work with you if you are freelance. The advice of a good, independent financial advisor is recommended and there are a proliferation of programs available to help you. If you can lay your hands on a deposit or you have good credit, you are halfway there! You're almost guaranteed to find a lender somewhere so don't despair!
About The Author
Fabio Marcell is a seasoned contributor to many online and offline journals specialising in the financial sector. He has many years experience in the loans industry and is currently sponsoring the following website:
http://www.a1-low-interest-loans.info
(c) 2005 Fabio Marcell - All Rights Reserved
A Second Mortgage Vs. A Home Equity Loan
by: Jay Moncliff
If you own your home and need a loan for whatever reason you have probably considered a second mortgage or a home equity loan to help you pay your bills, buy a new car, or pay for some other investment. However, you probably don’t know whether a second mortgage is better or worse than a home equity loan for your particular situation. However, don’t despair because there are some tips that will help you decide whether a second mortgage or home equity loan is for you.
Second Mortgage Tip #1 One Time Expenses
A second mortgage is the preferred option if you have a one time big expense you need to cover. Examples of this include remodeling your kitchen, paying for a wedding, or buying a new car. In these instances a second mortgage will probably work best for you; however this will depend on the equity in your home and your credit score.
Second Mortgage Tip #2 Recurring Expenses
If you are going to have recurring expenses then you might not want a second mortgage because a home equity loan will work out better for you. The second mortgage is best for large amounts of money at once while recurring expenses like tuition are better paid for with a home equity line of credit.
Second Mortgage Tip #3 Repayment
You will also need to consider your ability to repay and which option will suit you best. A second mortgage can be financed similarly to your first mortgage, while the home equity loan can be paid back more like a credit card. Consider your financial position and ability to make monthly payments before applying for either a second mortgage or a home equity loan.
If you still don’t know whether a second mortgage or home equity line of credit is for you, then talk with your lender and see what is recommended for your equity, credit, and ability to repay the loan.
About The Author
Jay Moncliff is the founder of http://www.new-mortgage-center.info a website specialized on Mortgage, resources and articles. This site provides updated information on Mortgage. For more info on Mortgage visit: http://www.new-mortgage-center.info.
If you own your home and need a loan for whatever reason you have probably considered a second mortgage or a home equity loan to help you pay your bills, buy a new car, or pay for some other investment. However, you probably don’t know whether a second mortgage is better or worse than a home equity loan for your particular situation. However, don’t despair because there are some tips that will help you decide whether a second mortgage or home equity loan is for you.
Second Mortgage Tip #1 One Time Expenses
A second mortgage is the preferred option if you have a one time big expense you need to cover. Examples of this include remodeling your kitchen, paying for a wedding, or buying a new car. In these instances a second mortgage will probably work best for you; however this will depend on the equity in your home and your credit score.
Second Mortgage Tip #2 Recurring Expenses
If you are going to have recurring expenses then you might not want a second mortgage because a home equity loan will work out better for you. The second mortgage is best for large amounts of money at once while recurring expenses like tuition are better paid for with a home equity line of credit.
Second Mortgage Tip #3 Repayment
You will also need to consider your ability to repay and which option will suit you best. A second mortgage can be financed similarly to your first mortgage, while the home equity loan can be paid back more like a credit card. Consider your financial position and ability to make monthly payments before applying for either a second mortgage or a home equity loan.
If you still don’t know whether a second mortgage or home equity line of credit is for you, then talk with your lender and see what is recommended for your equity, credit, and ability to repay the loan.
About The Author
Jay Moncliff is the founder of http://www.new-mortgage-center.info a website specialized on Mortgage, resources and articles. This site provides updated information on Mortgage. For more info on Mortgage visit: http://www.new-mortgage-center.info.
Home Loans and Mortgages – Time to Consolidate Loans?
by: Charlie Essmeier
Home equity loans and lines of credit are useful tools for homeowners. They allow the homeowner to borrow against the value of his or her home for all kinds of purposes – home improvement, debt consolidation, vacations, and more. The loans, backed by the value of the house itself, come with attractive interest rates and the added bonus of tax deductible interest. That interest, however, is often variable, adjusting up and down with changes in market conditions. At the moment, conditions are such that interest rates for adjustable rate loans are increasing while rates for fixed-rate loans are still fairly stable. This is probably a good time for homeowners with variable rate equity loans to consider consolidating their primary mortgage and home equity loan into a single entity.
The ideal candidate for such a consolidation would be a homeowner who has a variable rate home equity loan, rather than a line of credit or an equity loan at a fixed rate. A line of credit is sort of a revolving loan, with an amount that may be drawn, as needed, time and again, much like a credit card loan. A home equity loan would represent a fixed amount of money borrowed for a specific length of time. To consolidate a home equity loan and a primary mortgage, the home would have to be refinanced with a new mortgage issued for the combined amounts of both loans. There are costs associated with this, so homeowners should consider the following:
# Refinancing costs – It may cost several thousand dollars to combine two loans into one. A home appraisal will be required, along with paperwork fees, filing fees, and possible points paid at closing. A homeowner should make sure that he or she will remain in the home long enough to offset the additional costs of refinancing, otherwise the savings of consolidation are lost.
# Interest rate on the primary mortgage – If you have financed or refinanced your home during the last three years, your primary mortgage rate may already be lower than the rate you could get today. You don’t want to raise your overall interest rate just to consolidate the smaller amount of money from a home equity loan.
# The amount of money owed on the home equity loan – The larger the amount of money owed on the equity loan, the greater the benefit of consolidation. You wouldn’t want to refinance your home over an equity loan balance of $1000, but you might want to do so if the balance is $50,000.
Market conditions change regularly, but now is a good time for anyone with a variable rate home equity loan with a considerable balance to consider consolidating the equity loan and the primary mortgage into a single loan. If you aren’t sure if you can benefit from this, you may wish to consult with your lender.
About The Author
Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including HomeEquityHelp.com, a site devoted to information regarding mortgages and home equity loans .
Home equity loans and lines of credit are useful tools for homeowners. They allow the homeowner to borrow against the value of his or her home for all kinds of purposes – home improvement, debt consolidation, vacations, and more. The loans, backed by the value of the house itself, come with attractive interest rates and the added bonus of tax deductible interest. That interest, however, is often variable, adjusting up and down with changes in market conditions. At the moment, conditions are such that interest rates for adjustable rate loans are increasing while rates for fixed-rate loans are still fairly stable. This is probably a good time for homeowners with variable rate equity loans to consider consolidating their primary mortgage and home equity loan into a single entity.
The ideal candidate for such a consolidation would be a homeowner who has a variable rate home equity loan, rather than a line of credit or an equity loan at a fixed rate. A line of credit is sort of a revolving loan, with an amount that may be drawn, as needed, time and again, much like a credit card loan. A home equity loan would represent a fixed amount of money borrowed for a specific length of time. To consolidate a home equity loan and a primary mortgage, the home would have to be refinanced with a new mortgage issued for the combined amounts of both loans. There are costs associated with this, so homeowners should consider the following:
# Refinancing costs – It may cost several thousand dollars to combine two loans into one. A home appraisal will be required, along with paperwork fees, filing fees, and possible points paid at closing. A homeowner should make sure that he or she will remain in the home long enough to offset the additional costs of refinancing, otherwise the savings of consolidation are lost.
# Interest rate on the primary mortgage – If you have financed or refinanced your home during the last three years, your primary mortgage rate may already be lower than the rate you could get today. You don’t want to raise your overall interest rate just to consolidate the smaller amount of money from a home equity loan.
# The amount of money owed on the home equity loan – The larger the amount of money owed on the equity loan, the greater the benefit of consolidation. You wouldn’t want to refinance your home over an equity loan balance of $1000, but you might want to do so if the balance is $50,000.
Market conditions change regularly, but now is a good time for anyone with a variable rate home equity loan with a considerable balance to consider consolidating the equity loan and the primary mortgage into a single loan. If you aren’t sure if you can benefit from this, you may wish to consult with your lender.
About The Author
Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including HomeEquityHelp.com, a site devoted to information regarding mortgages and home equity loans .
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