How to Find a Really Good Mortgage Broker

There are hundreds of mortgage brokers in operation, in fact there are actually more brokers than banks in many towns. A mortgage is quite likely the biggest financial commitment you and your family will make, it's important to make sure you are getting the best product to suit your needs. Enlisting the services of a mortgage broker can no only help you find the best deal but also make the process a lot easier for you.



With so many mortgage brokers out there, it's difficult to know who to choose.



There are some industry sharks out there that you definitely need to avoid. The first thing to keep in mind is that mortgage brokers get paid by the bank, not you. Look out for brokers that will stitch you up into a loan that pays them the highest commission. While it is a minority there are some out there that will do it. The accounts are often laden with high fees and interest rates.



Before you make inquiries in person, and hopefully before you purchase property, start doing your own research.



Find out who the local brokers are in your area. Some will be large organisation, usually with a brand name you know and with a office in town. Others may simply be single operators working from a home office. One is not necessarily better than the other.



Have a look at some newspaper ads and check out the web sites. Narrow your choice down to two or three brokers that you feel like you might wish to deal with. Good brokers will offer you a no obligation consultation. Make the time to sit down with the ones that you like.



A one on one meeting with a mortgage broker will give you a good idea of their operation and work ethic. Presentation and professionalism speaks volumes. A good broker, even if a little messy in nature, will always be well presented and have a pleasant area set up for meetings with clients.



Come prepared with a list of questions. Ask about the process and what happens. Find out how long they usually take to get formal approval on a loan. When you sign a contract to purchase property you will usually have a deadline on your finance clause you will need to meet.



Familiarize yourself with the lenders on their panel, they will be able to give you some information on this. Also ask if they have any affiliation with a particular bank as it is likely that they will. Most brokers have a strong relationship with one particular bank, this doesn't mean that you shouldn't use the broker, just that you need to be aware of it.



Once you've found a good broker things will get easier for you. They key is to always know what you are signing up for and make sure that you have read the fine print.



A good broker can definitely help you along the way.

Mortgage Loan - Should You Pay Points?

If you are in the process of shopping for a mortgage you may wonder about paying points. Many people will tell you to avoid paying points at all costs. Are there any advantages to paying points? Here is all you need to know about paying points on your mortgage loan.

Points, often referred to as discount points, are a fee you pay the lender upfront in exchange for a lower interest rate. One point is equal to one percent of the total loan value. Lenders require people to pay points based on their application status.



Mortgage lenders all have different criteria for evaluating your application; however, your loan to value ratio, credit score, and down payment all affect whether or not the lender will require points for your loan.

There are situations where paying points can benefit you. If you have good credit and money in the bank, you can use points to negotiate for better terms on your loan. Most mortgage lenders discount your interest rate in exchange for points. By paying this fee upfront you will pay less in interest over the life of the loan.



If you plan on staying in your home you can recoup this expense over the long run.

When you are shopping for mortgages carefully examine how the points you pay reduce the interest rate, and how much it lowers your monthly payment amount. By plugging this information into a mortgage calculator you can see how much you will save in interest over the life of your loan.

Using points to your advantage is a smart way to buy down the interest rate your lender charges you.



This will save you interest payments over the life of the loan and has a side benefit of being a tax deductible.

To get your free mortgage guidebook visit RefiAdvisor.com using the link below.

St Louis Mortgage Refinance

Louie Latour is a mortgage professional and the owner of RefiAdvisor.com, a mortgage resource site offering a free gift for homeowners: "Mortgage Refinance - What You Need to Know." This guidebook helps homeowners avoid common mortgage mistakes and predatory lending practices.



Claim your free guidebook today at: http://www.refiadvisor.com

The Time Is Right For Investment Property Mortgage Refinance

If you own investment properties, then you may want to consider refinancing them and get a lower interest rate. This may lower your payments, which can mean more money in your pocket. Even though the housing market may be in a slump right now, it is still a good time to refinance while interest rates are still low. Read on to discover how to get the most from your investment property mortgage refinance.



The first thing you should do is to shop around for a good mortgage broker.



They are the professionals when it comes to financing matters. A good mortgage broker can hook you up with the right lender to help you get the best loan for your circumstances.



A very important point to remember is to do your research before you do anything. Learn everything that you can about the loan refinance process and interest rates. Make sure that you check out the mortgage broker thoroughly before committing to anything. Most are honest, but as with any business, there can be a few unsavory characters out there.



If you go into this venture knowledgeable and fully prepared, the process will go a lot smoother and you have less of a chance of being taken advantage of. The goal is to get the best interest rate that you possibly can. Make sure that you are keeping current on the changing interests rates.



Another good idea is to buy down. What this means is that, if the current interest rate on your mortgage is 7%, you could pay a few thousand at closing and end up with a 6.5% interest rate.



This is sometimes known as paying points. It is a good way to save thousands of dollars over the term of your loan and end up with a lower monthly payment to boot.



Never be afraid to walk away from a deal if you can't get the interest rate that you want. If you have studied the market and you know what the current rates are, then you have the ammunition that you need to negotiate a great deal.



There is nothing that says you can't use more than one mortgage broker or more than one lending service.



Don't be shy about using them against each other for competition. If ABC mortgage broker says he can give you a 7% interest rate, call up XYZ mortgage broker and ask them if they can beat it. You may be surprised at the results.



The bottom line is to never go into any type of business deal blind. Research, research, and then research some more. Become familiar with the investment property mortgage refinancing business. Then, negotiate for the best interest rates.



Pay down your points and come out a winner!

Donkers appointed Chairman of the Managing Board of STATER N.V.

Amersfoort, The Netherlands, 26 November 2003 - STATER today announces that Rudolph Donkers will take up his post as Chairman of the Managing Board of STATER N.V. as per 1 December. He replaces Rik Douwes who left STATER at the beginning of July.







Rudolph Donkers, (47) studied law, business economics and an MBA in New York/ Rotterdam after which he gained broad senior experience in a 17 year career within the ABN AMRO Bank. Here he developed his entrepreneurial and commercial skills in positions such as Regional Director and also in the Product Development Division of the Business Unit Nederland in which he ultimately had overall responsibility for the Securities Operations.



Donkers has extensive experience in commerce, operational risk management, operational excellence and insourcing.







Donkers' appointment as the new Chairman of the Managing Board โ€" where he will work closely with Director Harry de Brauw - reinforces and supports the change of direction that was announced earlier this year. STATER has changed its strategy to approach large players in the European and Dutch markets, as well as continuing to enhance and optimize its relationship with its current clients.



Notes to Editors



For more Information, please contact:



STATER, Communications Department



Ingrid Archer-van den Berg



Telephone

+31 (0)33 45 09 611



E-mail



i.archer@stater.com



Website

www.stater.com







About STATER N.V.



STATER is the leading provider of independent, third party residential mortgage servicing in Continental Europe. STATER, known as "The EuroServicer" for its Pan-European expansion strategy, is focused on streamlining the origination, servicing and securitization of mortgage loans in a completely automated and paperless format.



With headquarters in Amersfoort, The Netherlands, STATER currently dominates the Dutch market with a servicing share of 30%. STATER has also set up operations in Bonn to provide servicing for the German market and in Brussels for the Belgian market.







STATER is a rapidly growing international company supporting mortgage providers in selling, processing and financing their mortgage portfolio. In January 1997 STATER began their activities as a provider of mortgages for institutions operating in the Netherlands.



Since then STATER has become the most important player in the Dutch market. More recently Germany and Belgium have also become part of their target market. STATER, headquartered in Amersfoort splits its activities into two areas โ€" support and processing of mortgage and insurance portfolios of major players in the mortgage market and consultancy services to the secondary mortgage market. Among other areas STATER is active in portfolio analysis, due diligence and risk management.