Sunday, September 1, 2013

Understanding Your Mortgage


Understanding Your Mortgage

Home ownership. An integral component of the American Dream. Whether you are a first time home buyer or have owned a home before, most would agree that it pays to own the place you call home. But what happens when dreaded mortgage terms are thrown around, and you find yourself overwhelmed in a sea of confusing terminology? You are not alone! Most individuals find “mortgage talk” anxiety producing, as mortgage terms are often not explained clearly and thoroughly to potential buyers.

It is not surprising that the average New Hampshire home buyer finds “mortgage talk” completely overwhelming and confusing. The modern mortgage market is full of all different types of mortgage loans meant to cater to the varied needs of home buyers. Since new types of mortgage loans are constantly being introduced to New Hampshire home buyers, how could they not find themselves unsure about which way to turn?

Today’s New Hampshire mortgage market offers varied mortgage loans in an effort to cater to the needs of potential home buyers. In an attempt to provide more options and open doors for a variation of buyer populations, different mortgage plans offer different titles and details. Translation: as more types of mortgage loans are continuously introduced, homebuyers often find the discrimination between available plans both perplexing and unclear.

One of the most important steps that you can take as a home buyer is to choose a real estate agent who is passionate, patient and knowledgeable in terms of the varied details and stipulations associated with the variations of New Hampshire mortgage loans.  Matt Hicks, of Keller Williams Realty in New Hampshire is a real estate agent who prides himself in taking a unique approach to realty. He sympathizes with home owners in that he recognizes how overwhelming mortgage loans can seem and seeks to make genuine connections with customers. He also lives in New Hampshire and enjoys supporting individuals and families in finding their New Hampshire dream home.

 According to Matt Hicks of Keller Williams in regards to the state he has come to love, “As an individual who calls New Hampshire home, I think that this state is a wonderful place to live. It is a great place in terms seeking work and quality education. It is also a great place to raise a family and create life-long memories. Whether you are seeking a location with a commutable distance to the mountains, city or beach, you cannot do much better than New Hampshire.” In reference to the New Hampshire mortgage market, Matt Hicks states, “New Hampshire is the ideal place to buy a home, as the modern mortgage market in New Hampshire offers a variety of mortgage loans in order to cater to the needs of homebuyers. I enjoy summarizing “mortgage talk” into more simple terms for customers, as once they get past the overwhelming aspects of the mortgage market, most recognize that the terms and details of New Hampshire mortgage plans are reasonable and truly make sense.”

All New Hampshire mortgage loans have one of the following features. Some mortgages are fixed rate mortgages, which refers to a fixed payment and fixed interest rate. Some mortgages are graduated payment mortgages with a fixed rate but variable payment and other mortgages are adjustable rate mortgages with a variable rate and variable payment.
There are basic principles common to all mortgage loans. The first principle of a New Hampshire mortgage is that the home is used as security in order to back up the loan; meaning that the lender can force sale of the home if the borrower fails to make scheduled payments. The second principle of a New Hampshire mortgage is that the larger the loan in comparison to the value of the home, the more risk exists for the lender. Often, the larger the loan in comparison to the value of the home, the more expensive the loan will be. The third principle is that the interest earned by the lender is always equal to the periodic interest rate times the outstanding principle balance of the loan. The periodic interest rate, often a confusing term for home buyers, refers to the annual interest rate divided by the number of payments within one year, (usually one per month). The fourth principle refers to the required payment, and states that the required payment is usually larger than the interest due in an effort to ensure that some of the loan principal is paid within each payment. Such a process is referred to as Amortization.

As a real estate agent, Matt Hicks seeks to help clients learn about the types of financing available and recognize that some loans have more favorable terms than others. There are considerations buyers must make in regards to their individual preferences and financial situations.

If you or someone you know is looking to buy or sell a home, please contact Matt Hicks of Keller Williams Realty. Matt can be reached through phone at (603)660-2264 or through email at mhicks1988@hotmail.com.