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Top 5 Refinance Tips Your Loan Officer Doesn't Want You To Know (Page 1 of 2)
Yes! Getting a loan these days can be scary. Even experienced borrowers have been taken advantage of by unscrupulous loan officers. Don’t let it happen to you. I have five must read tips to fend off a potential loan disaster.
Before reading the tips, keep in mind there are credible, ethical, good guy (and gal) loan officers across America and they’re just as mad as you are about the rats that feed off of unsuspecting people. Make no mistake; great loan officers know it is in their best interest to make sure you are an informed borrower.
Here are some things BAD loan officers do:
· Manipulate borrowers to take loans and rates that pay the loan officer more than what is agreed upon.
· Charge much more in origination using random excuses (your credit’s not good enough, you can’t verify your income, you’re getting cash out, etc.)
· Convince people to do a loan when it’s not in their best interest.
Let’s weed out the bad guys! Here are the five tips…
Tip 1: Interview your loan officer
Ask for more than just rates. Bad loan officers will tell you anything to keep you on the phone — then change the details to suit them later. Instead, make them get real with you! Ask how long they’ve been in the industry. Probe them about their experience in the industry. Also, ask what their opinion is on the current market and where it’s going.
Listen closely. Do they have the patience to answer your questions or do they seem annoyed. Is their voice hesitant? Unsure? Pay attention to your instincts. If you have a “funny” feeling in the pit of your stomach, chances are you should move on. (More questions to ask while interviewing located in the free eBook)
Tip 2: Make sure the loan is in your best interest
Here’s the deal… most loan officers are paid on commission (many on commission only). That means they don’t get paid unless they complete a loan with you. The problem is “their loan” may not be in your best interest. You need to look at what’s being presented and decide if it meets your needs. Some things you should consider: How much is the loan costing you? Is there a term reduction? Are you adding too much to your balance?
You should do a cost-to-savings benefit analysis. This is where you take the total cost of the loan and compare it to the benefits of the loan (monthly savings, cash out, term reduction, etc). This will help you determine if the loan is worth it to you. (See examples of cost-to-savings benefit analysis in the free e-Book)
Tip 3: Consider your loan options carefully
You may be saying, “Yikes! There are so many to sort out!” True… there are many different loans out there to consider: 5/1, 7/1, 10/1 ARMs (Adjustable Rate Mortgages)… 30Yr, 20Yr and 15Yr Fixed rates… Neg Ams, Hybrid Option Arms, Helocs, etc. But, keep in mind that each loan has its own unique purpose and function. Choice is good and it’s the loan officer’s job to help you find the best loan for your purpose. That’s why it’s important that your loan officer explains the loans they are presenting in FULL detail. Again, take notes. Ask questions until you feel comfortable with the options presented.
Futureproofing Your Finances: A Graduate's Guide (Page 1 of 2)
With every passing year, employers place more and more importance on the ‘right’ degree, even for entry-level positions, so it is little wonder that more school leavers than ever before are choosing to continue with Higher Education.
Since the UK government abolished means-tested maintenance grants in 1998 and introduced tuition fees soon afterwards, the cost of getting a degree has increased exponentially, with an alarming proportion of new graduates leaving university tens of thousands of pounds in debt. The future looks bleak for the current generation of graduates. The ‘job for life’ has become the stuff of legend, and state pensions are at risk of being phased out.
It’s easy to put off getting your finances properly on track, especially if you’re working full-time and managing to keep your head above water, but those loans and overdrafts that were so easy to get when you were a fresh-faced eighteen-year-old need to be dealt with now if you want to enjoy a decent lifestyle by the time you are middle-aged.
We’ve identified some of the key things you can do to get on the road to financial freedom as soon as possible.
Make a plan
List your short-term and long term life goals. Do you want to be able to afford a new car or invest in property? Start a business? Get married or have children? Having a rough idea of the direction you want your future to take will provide the framework on which to base many important decisions.
Kill your debts
This one is vital! As long as you owe people money, you will feel like they own you. If you have outstanding student loans, bad credit cards, unpaid bills or similar debts, ignoring them will only make them grow bigger, and if all you can afford to pay is the minimum charge every month, all you will be doing is paying off interest without ever repaying the original loan. It’s important to break out of the cycle of debt, but it can also be a very daunting prospect, especially if you are being harassed by many creditors. If you can’t find enough hours in the day to organise repaying your debts properly, or simply feel you don’t know where to start, it’s worth finding a personal debt management firm to help you get back into the black. As long as you are in debt you will not be able to save any money, which brings us to:
Start Saving Now
We’re not saying that you shouldn’t spend money on consoles, new stereos and so on but at least make sure you put aside 10% of your salary in a savings account for use in future emergencies. We don’t want to sound fatalistic, but there will always be future emergencies!
Cut Day to Day Expenditure
The internet offers hundreds of ways to save on all manner of products and services. There are price comparison websites, sites that collect discount voucher codes that you can use when ordering all manner of things online, from new PCs to take-away pizza. If you find a voucher online that saves you some money, put that money into your savings fund as well. Sites like MoneySavingExpert are dedicated to helping consumers claw back as much money as possible from the corporations.