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Mortgage News Matters

What is a Short Sale?

for sale short sale sign in from of home

A short sale is when a financially distressed homeowner sells their home for less than the amount that they owe on the mortgage. In this case, all the proceeds from the sale go directly to the lender, and they either (1) forgive the remaining balance or (2) get a deficiency judgment, which requires the homeowner to pay the lender all or part of the difference between the sale price and mortgage amount. In certain states, the difference must legally be forgiven in the case of a short sale.

Key points of a Short Sale

  • A lender must approve a short sale before it takes place.
  • The lender, or bank, requires documentation explaining reasons for the short sale.
  • Short sales typically take up to one full year to process due to a laborious paperwork process.
  • Are not as detrimental to a homeowner’s credit rating, as a foreclosure.

When does a home go into a short sale?

A property will go into a short sale (pending the lender’s approval) when the homeowner can no longer afford to make the mortgage payments. Rather than go into foreclosure, which is more damaging to one’s credit, the homeowner can initiate a short sale process by submitting an application to the lender.

When determining whether to approve a short sale, the lender will look at the following factors:

  1. The home must be worth less than the amount that the homeowner currently owes on it. The lender will often review sales of comparable properties, to make sure that the decision is sound.

  2. The seller must be able to prove they are financially distressed. This requires the seller to show the lender proof of insufficient income or assets to pay the outstanding loan amount.

    It is important to note that the source of the homeowner’s financial trouble must be new and not something they were previously withholding.

To learn more about short sales, contact a VanDyk Loan Originator today!

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Mortgage News Matters

What’s the Difference Between Refinancing & Home Equity Loan?

house made of dollar bills

One of the major benefits of owning your own home is that it can often be a major financial investment. In the long-term, real estate tends to increase in value over time due to the appreciation of the land it sits on and by building equity.

To determine the value of your property, let’s take a closer look at appreciation, how to build equity, and different ways to obtain a mortgage loan refinance.

What is Appreciation?

Appreciation represents the change in the value of your home over time. This change is typically due to the piece of land that the home sits on, rather than the structure itself which tends to lessen in value, due to typical wear and tear.

What is Equity?

A home’s equity represents the difference between the current market price of the home and the amount that is still owed on the mortgage. Equity grows as you pay down your mortgage. It is important to note that building equity takes time, as it takes a while to lower the principal balance owed on the mortgage loan.

Both appreciation and equity grow over time. This means the longer you own your home, the more valuable it becomes.

With this, homeowners who take out a mortgage to pay for their home can choose to access cash to cover events like unplanned emergencies, necessary repairs, and important updates by choosing to refinance their current mortgage loan.

Why would you want to Refinance?

The main reason homeowners choose to refinance is to lower the overall cost of their mortgage or obtain equity that has been built over time.

Borrowers can lower the overall cost of the mortgage loan by refinancing during a period of lower interest rates. Or, they can choose to access the equity they’ve built in their home get cash out to pay for upgrades, remodels, or other life expenses.

What types of Mortgage Loan Refinances are there?

The two most common forms of mortgage loan refinancing are rate-and-term refinancing, which is when a borrower exchanges their current loan for a new one, or by accessing equity in their home, which can be done by obtaining a cash-out refinance or home equity loan. Though these are the most popular forms of refinancing, there are many methods out there and it is important to understand each to assure that you are selecting the right one for your unique situation.

What is a rate-and-term refinance?

A rate-and-term refinance is when a borrower replaces their current mortgage with a new one, typically with a better interest rate. No money is exchanged in this type of refinancing, other than any costs associated with closing or funds from the new loan to pay off the existing one.

What is the difference between a cash-out refinance and a home equity loan?

A cash-out refinance pays the homeowner a portion of their home’s equity in cash. This method results in a new mortgage loan for the homeowner at a larger amount than was owed on the previous loan, giving owners cash in hand. Compared to a rate-and-term refinance, a cash-out refinance will typically result in borrowers paying a higher interest rate or more points.

A home equity loan gives homeowner’s cash in exchange for the equity they’ve built up in their property as a separate loan. They typically carry a lower interest rate than personal loans because, when you get

Home equity loans are often structured as lines of credit with variable interest rates and payments which make them less predictable. Borrowers should consider obtaining a copy of their credit report before going through the process of applying for either loan, to be sure it is the right decision for them.

What are the benefits of refinancing?

Refinancing can be beneficial to homeowners in many ways. Whether you are looking to lower your mortgage payments or access equity in your home to pay for necessary upgrades, a child’s education, or collect some extra cash for the upcoming holiday season, a refinance can help you access cash quickly.

Visit our blog post on the Top 5 Reasons to Refinance here.

To learn more about the different methods of mortgage loan refinancing and to determine which one is right for you, contact a VanDyk Loan Originator today!

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Mortgage News Matters

4 Benefits of Downsizing to a Condo

condominium building set on a bright blue sky

Downsizing from a home to a condominium is a great option for homeowners who find themselves using less of their space, looking to downsize, or simply interested in a home that requires much less maintenance to take care of.

Significantly smaller than a typical home, a condo can be a townhouse, loft, or high rise, and often includes additional costs, like homeowner’s association fees and homeowner’s insurance.

To help you decide whether this choice is right for you, we’ve decided to share four of the major benefits of downsizing to a condo.

What is a Condo?

A condo, or condominium, is a privately owned unit within a community of other units. Like an apartment complex, a condo is part of a larger building. However, unlike an apartment, residents are the owners of their own unit, rather than merely renters.

What are the Benefits of Downsizing to a Condo?

  1. Pricing. Depending on your market, owning a condo can often be more cost-efficient than owning a home. It is said that in rural areas, single-family homes appreciate at a greater rate compared to a condo of the same size. However, in cities, condos rise in value quicker than single-family homes located further from the city center. It is important to keep location in mind when looking for the best pricing.
  • Less Maintenance. Significantly smaller in size, condos require relatively less maintainance to take care of than a home. This gives residents more time to spend doing the things they enjoy.
  • Onsite Amenities. Like an apartment complex, condos often have onsite amenities like pools, gyms, and community areas – to name a few. Residents pay HOA fees that cover costs like maintenance of these common areas, so they can enjoy these amenities without having to worry about upkeep. 
  • Sense of Community. Condos are set up like little neighborhoods. They often become close knit communities where everyone feels a sense of trust and belonging. This can be a relief for many who like their independence but also want to feel a sense of community.

Considering downsizing, but aren’t sure if a Condo is the right choice for you? Check out our upcoming blog on the benefits of downsizing to a townhome.

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Mortgage News Matters

What Does a Lender Look for When Approving My Loan?

business professional holding clipboard that says 'contract'

When beginning the pre-approval process, most lenders are looking for a few major things: Credit History, Capital, Employment, and Collateral.

  1. Credit & Credit History. Lenders will use your current credit and past credit history as an indicator of your ability to repay your debt. They will look at how much you currently owe, how often you borrow, how often you pay your bills – and if you often pay them on time, as well as how well you live within your means. To check your credit score, visit annualcreditreport.com.


  2. Capital. Capital tells the lender how much money you have, to put towards your down payment, as well as funds that will remain in your accounts after closing to be used for reserves. This includes such things as moving expenses, money required to turn on utilities, emergency repairs, or cost of ongoing maintenance. This is crucial information as you begin your home buying journey and apply for a loan.


  3. Employment. Employment tells the lender approximately how long it will take you to pay back your debt. They will check things like your previous employment history, as well as your current employment situation. Lenders are looking for stability in your income earnings trend to help determine its likelihood of continuance.


  4. Collateral. Collateral protects the lenders in the case that borrowers are unable to repay their loan. This is equally important to lenders as credit, income, and employment, as it acts as a safety net in the unfortunate circumstance that the loan is unable to be paid.

For more information on the Loan Application and Loan Process, contact your local VanDyk Loan Originator today!