Home Mortgages: Does a No-closing-cost Loan Make Sense for You?

I have heard a number of radio ads and have seen many newspaper ads offering "no closing cost" home mortgages. These ads will tell you that you can get a new mortgage or refinance your existing mortgage at absolutely with absolutely no closing costs.. There are no points, no charges for an appraisal, no charge for title insurance, no costs, period.

On the face of it, this sounds like a great deal and no-cost mortgages are especially popular with people who are refinancing an existing mortgage.

How does this work? Normally, a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage, would have closing costs in the neighborhood of $2,000 to $3,000 or even more, depending on whether or not you pay points upfront. In fact, we talked to one mortgage broker two weeks ago about a mortgage on an investment property we own in another state and the closing costs were quoted as $7,000 ? outrageous but at least not typical.

You've probably heard the old adage, "there is no such thing as a free lunch," and these no-cost mortgages are yet another testimonial to the truth of this.

The way that no closing cost mortgages work is the lender gives the mortgage broker a rebate at closing which the broker then uses to to pay the settlement costs. The way the lender gets its money back is by charging a higher interest rate. For example, for a $230,000, 30-year fixed rate mortgage with no upfront fees, your interest rate would most likely be a least 0.35% higher that if you paid one point and the customary closing costs.

Here's an example of what this means. As of this writing, there were mortgages available at 5.250 %, plus one point. As you probably know, one point equals one percent of the mortgage so one point on a $150,000 mortgage would be $1,500.

The monthly payment fo this loan, excluding taxes and insurance is $826.00. The closing costs would be $1,500 plus the normal settlement costs of, say, $1,500,A for a total of $3,000.

Let's compare this with a no-cost mortgage. Assuming the interest rate is 0.35% higher as quoted earlier, the interest rate on a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage would be 5.725%, yielding a monthly payment of $872.98 or about $46.00 per month vs. the loan where you would pay one point and the normal settlement costs.

Given a savings of $46.00 per month, it would take you about 65 months ? or 5.5 years to make up for the $3,000 you paid in closing costs. This means that you need to determine how long you will stay in that house before deciding on a mortgage loan or a refi. If you intend to stay in that home and not refinance your mortgage for more than six years, it might make sense for you to pay the point and the normal settlement costs. On the other hand, if you believe you will sell that house or refinance it in less than five years, a no-cost mortgage might be better.

Just make sure you look at all the various alternatives and their long-term costs before you leap into a new mortgage.

For FREE help with debt and credit, subscribe today to Douglas Hanna's free email newsletter "8 Simple Steps to Debt Relief" at http://www.all-in-one-info.com

In The News:


Google News
Updated : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:08:18 GMT

Suicide blast kills 35 in Pakistan; Zardari set to take power - International Herald Tribune


Boston Globe
Suicide blast kills 35 in Pakistan; Zardari set to take power
International Herald Tribune - 53 minutes ago
AP, The New York Times PESHAWAR, Pakistan: The death toll in a devastating suicide blast has reached 35, officials said Sunday, as Pakistan prepared for Benazir Bhutto's widower to take over as president.
Pakistan's Zardari urged to change image and focus Reuters
Pakistan's Zardari prepares for presidency AFP
PRESS TV - Los Angeles Times - Monsters and Critics.com - Xinhua
all 3,657 news articles

Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 13:14:31 GMT

Malkovich gets mad in Coens' 'Burn After Reading' - The Associated Press


Canada.com
Malkovich gets mad in Coens' 'Burn After Reading'
The Associated Press - 36 minutes ago
TORONTO (AP) - The Coen brothers' new movie gave John Malkovich a chance to blow off some steam. Malkovich's seething character in "Burn After Reading" bursts out in perpetual tantrums, a nice exercise in anger management, according to the actor.
Toronto Film Festival vs. Brangelina – Who Gets the Spotlight? eFluxMedia
Pitt Rocks to Madonna FOXNews
Newsweek - Dallas Morning News - Los Angeles Times - Reuters
all 331 news articles

Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 13:31:53 GMT

Reuters Entertainment Summary - Washington Post

Reuters Entertainment Summary
Washington Post - 3 hours ago
VENICE (Reuters) - Eleven days of red carpet galas, 21 films in competition and countless interviews, photo calls and parties at the Venice film festival boiled down to just one man in the end -- Mickey Rourke.
Aronofsky Gracefully Wrestles Golden Lion Out Of Venice eFluxMedia
Buyers mixed on Toronto films Hollywood Reporter
San Jose Mercury News - Bloomberg - Variety - Los Angeles Times
all 509 news articles

Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 10:41:41 GMT

Federer is set for his fifth consecutive US Open final (Keystone) - Swissinfo


San Diego Union Tribune
Federer is set for his fifth consecutive US Open final (Keystone)
Swissinfo - 29 minutes ago
Switzerland's Roger Federer has won his semifinal at Flushing Meadows against Novak Djokovic of Serbia in four sets, 6-3, 5-7, 7-5, 6-2.
Video: Federer Beats Djokovic to Reach US Open Final AssociatedPress
Federer Reaches Final Before Rain New York Times
BBC Sport - Los Angeles Times - Fort Worth Star Telegram - Boston Globe
all 2,879 news articles

Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 13:38:36 GMT

Fannie, Freddie Capital Concerns Prompt Paulson Plan (Update1) - Bloomberg


ABC News
Fannie, Freddie Capital Concerns Prompt Paulson Plan (Update1)
Bloomberg - 1 hour ago
By Dawn Kopecki and Alison Vekshin Sept. 7 (Bloomberg) -- Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson decided to take control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac after a review found the beleaguered mortgage-finance companies used accounting methods that inflated their ...
Video: Obama Calls for Changes in Mortgage Giants AssociatedPress
RPT-US Treasury sets news conference;GSE plan expected Reuters
MarketWatch - New York Times - USA Today - Forbes
all 2,446 news articles

Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 12:59:54 GMT

Michigan spared sting of West Nile - Detroit Free Press

Michigan spared sting of West Nile
Detroit Free Press - 6 hours ago
BY SHERI McWHIRTER • RECORD-EAGLE • September 7, 2008 TRAVERSE CITY -- West Nile virus hasn't seriously bitten Michigan this year and seems to have spared the state's northern reaches.
Yes, the mosquitoes were nasty this summer Yakima Herald-Republic
Aerial survey being conducted to find mosquito breeding grounds San Jose Mercury News
Lower Hudson Journal news - San Francisco Chronicle - Shelbyville News - Los Angeles Times
all 362 news articles

Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 07:53:44 GMT

Health Buzz: Immunosuppressive Drug Warning and Other Health News - U.S. News & World Report


dBTechno
Health Buzz: Immunosuppressive Drug Warning and Other Health News
U.S. News & World Report - Sep 5, 2008
The Food and Drug Administration has asked the manufacturers of Humira, Cimzia, Enbrel, and Remicade—which belong to a class of medications known as tumor necrosis factor alpha blockers (TNF-alpha blockers)—to strengthen the warning for risk of fungal ...
FDA urges more caution over TNF blocker infections Reuters
Arthritis Drugs Linked to Risks From Infection New York Times
WebMD - eFluxMedia - Scientific American
all 622 news articles

Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:23:08 GMT

RSS For Web Pages
Increase Traffic


PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

Low Income Home Loans - FHA and VA Mortgage Loans Can Help You Get Approved

If you have low income and are looking to get... Read More

Are You Ready for a Home Mortgage Loan?

Buying a Home and committing to a Mortgage can be... Read More

Adjustable Rate Basics

An adjustable rate loan, most simply stated, means that your... Read More

Reverse Mortgages ? a Reversal of the Mortgage Process

Mortgages have assumed a number of characters from the time... Read More

Council Right To Buy Mortgage ? Transform Your Accommodation Into Home

Homeowner - does this term catch your attention every time... Read More

A Home Equity Loan - What You Should Know?

Asking yourself, "Is a home equity loan right for me?"... Read More

Mortgage Prepayment Penalties - Just Say No

One of the most common terms found in a new... Read More

Basic Tips for First Time Home Buyers

The first time you purchase a home is an exciting... Read More

Sub-Prime Mortgage Loans - Things You Should Know About Sub-Prime Mortgages

Sub-prime mortgages are not that much different from average mortgages.... Read More

Subprime Mortgage Loans Online - What To Expect

Applying for a subprime mortgage loan online can seem intimidating... Read More

Guide to Flexible Mortgages

Outlined below is a useful guide to flexible mortgages. Flexible... Read More

Home Equity Loans - How To Use Your Homes Equity to Consolidate Debt

If you've got a wallet full of credit cards, and... Read More

A New Choice for Home Financing: Correspondent Lenders

When you begin your search for a new home loan,... Read More

Fixed Rate Mortgage vs. Adjustable Rate Mortgage

The most basic distinction between types of mortgages that are... Read More

Home Equity Loans: A Useful Financial Tool

The investment need of an individual varies with time. Thus... Read More

Home Mortgage Loans For People With Bad Credit - 3 Ways To Improve Your Chances For Getting Approved

Finding home mortgage loans are a reality for people with... Read More

Home Mortgage Quotes Online - How Do They Compare To a Quote From a Broker in The Real World?

Online home mortgage quotes are very similar to the quotes... Read More

Home Equity Loan ? Good Choice for Luxury Purchases?

Home equity loans or lines of credit have increased dramatically... Read More

Mortgage Refinancing Companies -- Choosing The Right One

Searching for a mortgage refinance company can be a daunting... Read More

Choosing The Right Mortgage For You

This article will help you understand the differences between a... Read More

Tips for Getting Home Loans from the Right Lenders

Getting home loans is possibly the biggest step in an... Read More

Finding the Best Home Improvement Loan Rate

If you're looking for a good home improvement loan rate,... Read More

FHA Mortgage: When Your Downpayment is a Gift

There has been so much fraud discovered in the FHA... Read More

Choosing The Right Buy-To-Let Mortgage

Buy-to-let took off during the 1990s with the increasing availability... Read More

Making Sense of Mortgage Speak

Applying for a home loan can be overwhelming. You will... Read More