Interest Only Mortgage News

Citi Mortgage, a part of the conglomerate Citigroups Financial is one of the largest mortgage lenders in the United States. It offers competitive products and many useful tools to first time home buyers. Their website offers mortgage and interest calculators as well as side by side comparisons of loans and rates from a variety of companies.

Citi Mortgage gives helpful advice to first time buyers on what to do to prepare for that first mortgage. Understanding the risks and the benefits of owning a home is an important part of the process. Many people go into the process not knowing what to expect and end up getting less bang for their buck.

Equity Products

In addition to first time mortgages, Citi Mortgage offers a variety of home equity products from lines of credit to full second mortgages. These are offered at competitive interest rates and with a variety of payback options. Citi Mortgage offers fixed and variable rate loans and caps the variable rate at about 7.25%.

Possible Pitfalls

Like any other company, Citi Mortgage is out to make a profit. Avarice is always a possibility. Numerous complaints have been filed against Citi Mortgage and reported widely. Complaints range from forgotten payments, false default and also taking extra payments designated toward the principle and applying them to the regular monthly mortgage payment. This charge is probably the most serious.

What happens is almost like embezzlement. Citi Mortgage offers a form that has to be sent in with extra payments. On that form, the client can clearly mark whether the payment is against interest or principle. There have been several instances where Citi Mortgage goes against the wishes of its client. Interest is money in their pocket. Payments against the principle reduce interest payments.

Quite often lending institutions can get away with such practices because their clients don’t read their bills closely. It behooves home owners to read their bills and lending agreements carefully, including fine print. After all, the smaller the print, the larger the importance.

While most large lenders have complaints lodged against them, it is important that one investigate the lender carefully. If the complaints seem to be along the line of persons simply mad because they owe money, then one can proceed with a measure of certainty. If there are legitimate issues, particularly issues like class action law suits, it may be best to shop elsewhere.

Overall, Citi Mortgage receives no more complaints than any large lender and as of this writing there are no major lawsuits pending. But one must always be vigilant and monitor statements, court actions, changes in interest rate, and whether complaints are handled with seriousness and are the complaints resolved. Being aware of what is happening with one’s money is not only the responsible thing to do, it is one of the best ways one can save money.

There is not really a lot of difference in obtaining a commercial mortgage than a residential loan, except the lender will requires additional assurances of being repaid. Typically, the company applying for a commercial loan will be required to offer collateral for the property they are buying above the amount of the property itself.

When applying for a commercial mortgage many lenders will require the person or persons responsible for the business to include their personal information on the loan application and their individual credit history will be used to process the application. Essentially, the person is agreeing to use their personal assets as collateral for the commercial mortgage. In cases where the applicant is a corporation, principals of the corporation will be securing the loan with their personal assets.

Of course, a well-established business can possibly receive a commercial mortgage based on the financial health of the company, but there will still need to be a person agreeing to be responsible for repayment of the loan as well as being the one the lender can go to if the business fails. Additionally, further inspections of the property will be required on top of the building’s usability and expected life span before any commercial mortgage is written.

Loans For Expansion Easier Than Startup Funds

In most cases, seeking a commercial mortgage to expand a business is much easier than finding a source of funds to open a new business. Even one that has outgrown the garage of the owner, may have several more hoops to jump through than the owner of an established company. Since established businesses have a reputation with their financial institution, the odds of obtaining additional loans are increased.

In some cases of business expansion obtaining a commercial mortgage can be made easier with back from the Small Business Administration. Although the SBA does not make direct loans for business purposes, once the application process is successfully completed it will guarantee funds given by a lender, assuring them of repayment. This makes securing commercial mortgage money that much simpler.

When starting a new business that has no financial history a business plan will be needed to not only show how the money will be repaid but also to show the potential of the new business will be in creating additional resources. Without any type of plan, receiving a commercial mortgage based solely on the owner’s financial and credit history may not be possible, especially if the owner’s sole income will be from the new business.

Commercial mortgage loans are different from residential mortgage loans mainly because they are used to finance commercial property. The property can still be residential in nature, but it can be used for a commercial venture such as an apartment building rented out for income potential. Commercial loans grew 16 percent in 2005 as business loans began to be offered for various ventures, developments, investments and construction projects.

Successfully Getting Business

The credit history of the business and the directors is taken into consideration when lenders quality customers and determine commercial mortgage rates. The lenders will also carefully evaluate the risk of the commercial venture when deciding commercial mortgage rates. If individuals can better present a successful business plan they will more likely get favorable loan terms and commercial mortgage rates. Lenders are more inclined to pay out more money and give better commercial mortgage rates if there is a positive, profitable track record with the business.

Commercial mortgage rates have either fixed or adjustable interest and many have penalties against prepayment. Many commercial loans have a balloon payment that is due after five, ten or fifteen years although you can find some with a fixed thirty year schedule. Commercial mortgage rates are often used as bridge loans and to help finance projects. For a shopping center a developer might use a two or three year bridge loan and then end up refinancing to a longer loan after a steady cash flow is coming from the rents of the shops to the developer.

Second Mortgages

Commercial borrowers will use second mortgages similar to homeowners. Homeowners often use a home equity loan in order to raise the necessary cash for household purchases, improvements or expenses. However, commercial borrowers will use them for equity loans or refinancing strategies in order to raise capital for such things as equipment, inventory or business expansion. Commercial mortgages and commercial mortgage rates are specifically tailored to meet the needs of a business community and for those who need to finance commercial real estate ventures these loans are the best option.

How The Rate Works

Your monthly commercial mortgage rates help to build equity instead of just giving your office space for a business. The interest from the commercial mortgage rates is also tax-deductible which helps to lower the overall gross taxable income of your business. The cash flow management of a business can also improve if you come in term with fixed-rate commercial mortgage with a rate that doesn’t change every month. This mean you can predict your monthly expense. Although commercial mortgage lenders don’t provide for startup businesses.