What Are VA Loans?

As the video says, the name is misleading – they’re not loans FROM the VA.

The VA – short for “US Department of Veterans Affairs” – is the Federal military veteran benefit system.

The VA administers benefits and services for Servicemembers, Veterans their dependents and survivors.

Programs related to home loans are one of their key services.

The VA is not a bank; they do not provide home loans themselves.

But they do guarantee a portion of home loans provided to veterans and other eligible people by banks and mortgage companies.

These guarantees enable lenders to provide more favorable terms.

They are are commonly called “VA Loans”.

They cover buying, building, repairing, retaining and adapting homes for personal occupancy by eligible Veterans and survivors.

The post What Are VA Home Loans? appeared first on Metairie, Madisonville, Chalmette, LA | Authentic Title & Law Practice.

What Are The Major Types Of VA Loans?

Major Veterans Affairs loan programs described in this video include:

1) Purchase Loans.

These help eligible parties buy a home at competitive interest rates with little to no down payment and little or no private mortgage insurance.

2) Cash Out Refinance Loans which enable taking cash out of home equity to pay off debt, fund school or make home improvements.

3) Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loans also called Streamline Refinance Loans can help veterans obtain lower interest by refinancing existing VA loans

Other programs include:

4) Native American Direct Loans to help eligible Native American veterans finance homes on Federal Trust land.

And

5) Adapted Housing Grants to help veterans with service-connected disabilities buy, build or modify a home suited to their disabilities.

Many states offer additional resources to veterans, too.

Talk to your home lender about your situation.

The post What Are The Major Types Of VA Loans? appeared first on Metairie, Madisonville, Chalmette, LA | Authentic Title & Law Practice.

What Is A Certificate of Eligibility, or COE?

The COE is the key document that verifies to lenders that someone is eligible for a VA-backed loan.

Servicemembers, Veterans and National Guard and Reserve members may apply online or through their lender; most lenders have access to the system and can verify eligibility IF the VA has records on file.

The VA also maintains a hotline for assistance.

Surviving Spouses can use VA Form 26-1817 to request determination of their eligibility for VA Loan Guarantees.

Your lender may be able to assist with processing or contact the VA for information this video did not address.

The post What Is A Certificate of Eligibility, or COE? appeared first on Metairie, Madisonville, Chalmette, LA | Authentic Title & Law Practice.

What Are VA Loans?

As the video says, the name is misleading – they’re not loans FROM the VA.

The VA – short for “US Department of Veterans Affairs” – is the Federal military veteran benefit system.

The VA administers benefits and services for Servicemembers, Veterans their dependents and survivors.

Programs related to home loans are one of their key services.

The VA is not a bank; they do not provide home loans themselves.

But they do guarantee a portion of home loans provided to veterans and other eligible people by banks and mortgage companies.

These guarantees enable lenders to provide more favorable terms.

They are are commonly called “VA Loans”.

They cover buying, building, repairing, retaining and adapting homes for personal occupancy by eligible Veterans and survivors.

The post What Are VA Home Loans? appeared first on Metairie, Madisonville, Chalmette, LA | Authentic Title & Law Practice.

What Are The Major Types Of VA Loans?

Major Veterans Affairs loan programs described in this video include:

1) Purchase Loans.

These help eligible parties buy a home at competitive interest rates with little to no down payment and little or no private mortgage insurance.

2) Cash Out Refinance Loans which enable taking cash out of home equity to pay off debt, fund school or make home improvements.

3) Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loans also called Streamline Refinance Loans can help veterans obtain lower interest by refinancing existing VA loans

Other programs include:

4) Native American Direct Loans to help eligible Native American veterans finance homes on Federal Trust land.

And

5) Adapted Housing Grants to help veterans with service-connected disabilities buy, build or modify a home suited to their disabilities.

Many states offer additional resources to veterans, too.

Talk to your home lender about your situation.

The post What Are The Major Types Of VA Loans? appeared first on Metairie, Madisonville, Chalmette, LA | Authentic Title & Law Practice.

What Is A Certificate of Eligibility, or COE?
The COE is the key document that verifies to lenders that someone is eligible for a VA-backed loan.
Servicemembers, Veterans and National Guard and Reserve members may apply online or through their lender; most lenders have access to the system and can verify eligibility IF the VA has records on file.
The VA also maintains a hotline for assistance.
Surviving Spouses can use VA Form 26-1817 to request determination of their eligibility for VA Loan Guarantees.
Your lender may be able to assist with processing or contact the VA for information this video did not address.

The post What Is A Certificate of Eligibility, or COE? appeared first on Metairie, Madisonville, Chalmette, LA | Authentic Title & Law Practice.

Equity is the value YOU own in property such as a house. It’s the difference between what’s OWED and what the property is WORTH in the current market.

The example this video shows – you have a house worth $300,000 today and you owe the bank $200,000.  Your equity would be $100,000.

If the house is valued at $500,000 in five years, and you still owe $150,000 your equity will be $350,000.

Equity grows if the property value goes up or if the amount owed goes down.  The key thing to remember, simple as it sounds, is that you “own” increases in value. The bank’s loan doesn’t go up if the home’s value goes up.

Equity in a home can be used as collateral for loans but a house is not a piggy bank. Home equity can become a key financial asset over time; treat it wisely.

The post What Is Equity? appeared first on Metairie, Madisonville, Chalmette, LA | Authentic Title & Law Practice.

Like the video says – real estate agents aren’t paid by the hour!They’re paid a percentage of the purchase price in a successful real estate transaction.

When one agent represents the sellers and another represents the buyers the commission is typically split between them.
In the US, real estate commissions are commonly 6% of the transaction usually 3%/3% when split.

No government or industry body sets commission rates.  Legally, commission rates ARE negotiable.  However, remember that agents only earn their commission on successful sales.

Consider the work you want them to do for you to evaluate the value you should put on the commission they earn.

The post What Are Real Estate Commissions? appeared first on Metairie, Madisonville, Chalmette, LA | Authentic Title & Law Practice.

The Prime Lending Rate – sometimes just called “Prime”  – is the interest rate that banks charge each other for overnight loans. Some consumer rates – like ARMs – are set in relation to Prime.

In the US, Prime is affected by the Federal Reserve lending rate to banks; historically, Prime is about 3 percent above the Fed rate.

The video shows  an example.

• The Federal Reserve loans to Bank A at 1%
• Bank A loans to Bank B at 4%
• Both banks – A & B – will recalculate variable-rate loans like ARMs on that 4% Prime figure.

ARM rates are frequently defined as “% above Prime” – that gap is usually called the “margin” or “spread.” Just remember those 3 layers in Prime: Federal Reserve Bank A Bank B And finally, YOUR rate.

The post What Is “Prime”? appeared first on Metairie, Madisonville, Chalmette, LA | Authentic Title & Law Practice.

The Prime Lending Rate – sometimes just called “Prime”  - is the interest rate that banks charge each other for overnight loans. Some consumer rates – like ARMs – are set in relation to Prime.
In the US, Prime is affected by the Federal Reserve lending rate to banks; historically, Prime is about 3 percent above the Fed rate.
The video shows  an example.

• The Federal Reserve loans to Bank A at 1%
• Bank A loans to Bank B at 4%
• Both banks – A & B – will recalculate variable-rate loans like ARMs on that 4% Prime figure.

ARM rates are frequently defined as “% above Prime” – that gap is usually called the “margin” or “spread.” Just remember those 3 layers in Prime: Federal Reserve Bank A Bank B And finally, YOUR rate.

The post What Is "Prime"? appeared first on Metairie, Madisonville, Chalmette, LA | Authentic Title & Law Practice.