EMV technology is just being introduced in the U.S., but the FBI wants to stress that consumers could still be susceptible to criminals.
Chip-enabled cards do offer an edge over older cards, but there are still ways that criminals can access your information and make fraudulent charges.
Last week, the National Retail Federation the new cards to create roadblocks for criminals, but they can’t prevent numbers from being stolen.
Image via Flickr/frankieleon
Luxury real estate developer OQYANA Real Estate and Amillarah Private Islands are collaborating to create 33 floating islands in Dubai.
Paul Van de Camp, the CEO of Dutch Docklands says the project is one of a kind and that they are the only company offering floating private islands in the world.
“Our ‘Amillarah Private Islands’ are completely self-supporting, scarless and all contain the latest state-of-the-art technology,” said Van de Camp. “Each one will be a piece of art that you can live in.”
Image via Facebook/Dutch Docklands International
More and more real estate agents are switching brokerage firms to pursue better deals and commissions.
“There’s not a lot of brand loyalty,” said Billy Rose, an agent and co-founder of the Agency in Beverly Hills, CA. “A lot of times they become mercenaries.”
The Agency is a firm that attracts many real estate agents because of its marketing support. While most firms have one or two marketing people, the Agency has 20 for tasks like posting listing photos. This kind of support gives agents more time to close more deals.
Image via Flickr/Mark Moz
On Thursday, Realtor.com released a new report detailing the top five reasons individuals and families purchased homes in 2015.
According to the site, many homeowners simply grew tired of their current digs and craved a change of scenery. For others, it was a combination of low interest rates, steady asking prices, increased savings and – in some cases – a growing family.
“A change in family circumstance or composition was cited by 18% of this year’s active home shoppers,” noted reporter Jonathan Smoke. “Births increased last year and appear to be poised for another year of growth this year.”
Image via flickr/Daniel Oines
The square-foot price of real estate in Manhattan hit a record high in the third quarter of 2015, rising to $1,497.
According to a report released by Douglas Elliman on Thursday, in addition to rising prices, New York City is also experiencing a tightening inventory as apartments continue to sell faster and with more frequent bidding wars – and there are no signs of letting up.
“Everything is selling fast, I don’t see how there could be a bubble,” said Howard Lorber, chairman of Douglas Elliman. “I think to some degree real estate follows the stock market, but people buy real estate to live in also, not just to invest in.”
Image via flickr/Carlos Adampol Galindo
Perhaps you received an inheritance and want to pay off your mortgage. Or maybe you cleaned up your credit and want to refinance a not-so-favorable loan. These sound like easy adjustments, right? Well, that depends. Prepaying your loan could cost a good deal of money if you have a prepayment penalty in your contract.
Though it seems unfair, mortgage lenders have a reason for imposing prepayment penalties on some loans. Before you sign on the dotted line, find out what you need to know about these clauses and what to do if you have a prepayment penalty on your mortgage.
In a mortgage contract, a prepayment penalty clause says that a financial penalty can be imposed if a mortgage gets paid off within a certain time period. This prepayment could result from a refinance, large principal payment or even the sale of the home (which would pay off the mortgage). The penalty is usually based on a percentage of the balance that remained on the loan or a particular number of interest payments.
Mortgage lenders often talk about “soft” prepayment and “hard” prepayments. A “soft” prepayment penalty refers to a loan that gets paid off through a refinance. A “hard” prepayment penalty involves both a sale and a refinance. Both types of prepayments are subject to penalties According to the mortgage contract, both types of prepayments can incur penalties.
Mortgage lenders impose prepayment penalties because they stand to lose a good deal of interest rate money if a borrower pays the loan off before the agreed-upon time. They may have taken a risk on a borrower with less-than-stellar credit and impose prepayment penalties because sub-prime loans are regularly refinanced within a short time of the loan origination.
While a prepayment penalty is always an option for both parties, lenders have the option to refuse to write the loan without one if they feel they should be compensated for the financial risk.
Many borrowers actually look for loans with prepayment penalties because they often result in a lower interest rate. A loan with a prepayment penalty could work well for a homeowner looking to lower monthly payments and stay in the home for several years without refinancing.
Prepayment penalties usually get smaller as time goes by and often disappear altogether after the loan has been held in good standing for five years. Most of the time, you can prepay up to 20% of the principal in one year without incurring a penalty, but this amount will vary from contract to contract.
Check your loan documents carefully for any prepayment penalties before you sign the agreement. If you find yourself with an unexpected prepayment penalty, grab your calculator and figure out if the payoff or refinance is worth the extra money you will have to pay. In some instances, it may be wise to wait.
Good luck! Refinancing could save you hundreds each month. Start Now!
By Kat DeLong
Are your monthly mortgage payments increasing due to an unconventional loan? Is a job loss or frequent medical bills making it impossible for you to pay your mortgage every month? If so, the first step is to take a deep breath and find out if you qualify for relief with the government’s Making Home Affordable Program.
As part of the stimulus plan, the program was introduced by President Obama on February 18, 2009 to help struggling borrowers keep their payments current and avoid foreclosure. There are two main parts to the Making Home Affordable Program: a modification program and a refinance program. Your circumstances will determine which part of the program is right for you, but let’s take a look at each.
The modification program offers lenders $75 billion in incentives to help borrowers pay current interest rates plus points and fees. If you can no longer afford your Are your monthly mortgage payments increasing due to an unconventional loan? Is a job loss or frequent medical bills making it impossible for you to pay your mortgage every month? If so, the first step is to take a deep breath and find out if you qualify for relief with the government’s Making Home Affordable Program.
As part of the stimulus plan, the program was introduced by President Obama on February 18, 2009 to help struggling borrowers keep their payments current and avoid foreclosure. There are two main parts to the Making Home Affordable Program: a modification program and a refinance program. Your circumstances will determine which part of the program is right for you, but let’s take a look at each. mortgage payments but can answer yes to the following questions, you may qualify for the Making Home Affordable Modification Program:
The refinance program allows borrowers who owe more than their home is worth to refinance to market rates, but it may not be used for a cash-out refinance.
If you can answer yes to the following questions, you may be eligible for this program:
If you think you qualify for one of these programs, contact your loan servicer immediately. In the meantime, gather your tax returns, income statements, mortgage statements, credit card balances, balances you carry on other debts and a hardship affidavit if you apply for the modification program.
Important Notes
By Kat DeLong
When you sign up for a new credit card or buy a house, you are faced with pages and pages of small print – do you really read all of it? The answer is probably “no.” Even though you may not go through the whole stack of paper as you sign here and initial there, some fine print should not get overlooked. Thanks to the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), the loan documents must contain the vital information you need
Originally passed by congress in 1968, the TILA is a uniform way for lenders to present the terms of a consumer loan so that borrowers can make informed choices and compare costs equally between lenders. This act covers both “closed ended” loans, such as a car loan or mortgage that you pay back over a specified period of time, and “open ended” loans, such as credit cards.
While the Truth in Lending Act covers necessary information, these five material disclosures must always be included:
Recent changes to the TILA address some discrepancies found in so-called “higher-priced mortgage loans.” These changes strengthened parts of the TILA relating to practices viewed as unfair or deceptive. They offer key protection for borrowers including ending the practice of lending money without considering the borrower’s income or ability to repay the loan and put conditions on prepayment penalties.
By Kat DeLong
Mortgages, equity lines of credit, second mortgages – these terms are often tossed around by lenders, but do you know what they really mean? It may seem like Homebuying 101, but knowing the difference between these types of loans is a crucial part of making your first home purchase or improving the one you live in right now.
A mortgage is a loan secured by some sort of real estate – it can be your primary residence or a home you purchase for an investment. Once you get the loan from your lender, you pay it off in installments over a set period of time, usually 15, 20 or 30 years. While lenders write all kinds of loans, including reverse mortgages and those that have “balloon” payments, they can be divided into two basic types:
Equity loans (also called second mortgages) are loans secured by the equity, or the amount the property is worth over and above the money owed on the mortgage. If your home is worth $200,000 and you owe $150,000 on your mortgage, you have $50,000 in equity.
You can get an equity loan as a lump-sum amount of money, and then make payments on the principal and interest of the whole amount, or you can get an equity line of credit. A line of credit is an approved amount of money that you can access by writing a check or using a credit card as you need it, so you only pay for that portion of the loan that you actually use. The payments for equity loans are based on the amount owed and the current interest rate, so they can fluctuate as the rates go up and down.
Despite what you might hear in the news, lenders are still writing mortgages and equity loans for borrowers who qualify. If you need money to buy a home or build that kitchen of your dreams, get started. RateMarketplace can help.
By now, it’s no secret that the rental market nationwide is skyrocketing, with more people renting than ever before – and rental prices soaring to new heights.
But despite the rising costs, most tenants are largely satisfied to keep renting and have no plans to buy a home any time soon.
According to a new report released by Freddie Mac late last week, 55 percent of renters plan to continue doing so over the next three years, while the remaining 45 percent would consider buying in that time frame.
Image via flickr/Phil Sexton