(No longer doing Owner Occupied residential mortgages, only Business  Purpose Loans on Residential Properties and Commercial Loans )

Q. What is a Texas Home Equity Loan?

**** Texas Home Equity Loan Process ****With a Texas home equity loan there is a 12 day waiting period (12 day cooling off period).  Here is a flow chart.1. Application/ Phone consultation (Usually < 5 minutes)(credit is reviewed and  recommend the best loan type for you)

2.Phone consultation to go over your quotes.

3.The loan processor will contact you with a list of needed items and documentation to sign and send back.

4.Order an appraisal, open title and order survey if needed. (Good for 7 years).

5.Close your loan and after the three day cooling off period ( three day right of rescission) you get the money. Usually 17 – 18 days after starting the mortgage application process.

6.Simple?

(No longer doing Owner Occupied residential mortgages, only Business  Purpose Loans on Residential Properties and Commercial Loans )
Top 10 Reasons why you should use us.

1. We know what you want. The lowest interest rate, closing costs and someone that knows what they are doing with a fast closing. We have that. We were the first in Texas to specialize in Texas Home Equity Loans. We know what we are doing and have preferred pricing with the best lenders. We have 100’s of programs and lenders and have closed 1000’s of these loans in Texas.

2. We will not hurt your credit scores shopping for your loan like you can. Your credit scores can drop with too many credit checks. We pull your credit only once. We are not an internet lead company that is going to sell your info over and over as a “lead” causing your Credit FICO scores to drop. (read below)

3. We have streamlined the loan process through technology guaranteeing the best rate, term and product to fit your needs. We have over 40 lenders to choose from, not four (4) Our application is short and secure and we do not ask for SS number over the internet.

4. We have closed many Texas mortgages . We were one of the first Internet mortgage company’s.

5. We are Nationwide and we do Commercial loans.

6. We are VERY experienced with all credit types. Trust me, we have seen the very best and worst.

7. We specialize in tough loans. Jumbo, stated, bad credit, Rural, Ranch, Self employed, Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Buyouts.

8. We handle everything over the phone, fax or email. No time consuming appointments or sales people to deal with. We value your time.

9. We will actually listen to your needs. It is a huge financial decision and we will take our time with you to answer all of your questions. There are no stupid questions.

10. Why would you go anywhere else ? Let us treat you to a low stress, fast, inexpensive Texas commercial mortgage experience handled by experienced professionals. This is the hardest loan in Texas, do you really want a rookie loan officer? After all, this is YOUR loan. We will not waste your time.

(No longer doing Owner Occupied residential mortgages, only Business  Purpose Loans on Residential Properties and Commercial Loans )

We do all Texas commercial loan types including , stated income Commercial loans and Apartment loans. 1031 Exchange financing for income properties and Commercial mortgages.  Interest only “smart loans“, no documentation, Commercial construction loans, Business debt consolidation, Texas refinance, Commercial loans with STATED income and asset. We help people with not-so-perfect credit.

We have loans that are based on property, not credit. Hard money loans available for commercial lending, apartment and multi- family. Construction to perm, One time close and Texas purchase mortgages. Self employed? No problem. You do not have to have a money tree anymore. Low FICO credit scores and bad credit mortgage loans are our specialty. Chapter 13 Bankruptcy buyouts, you name it and we can probably do it. No inexperienced loan officers to deal with. No time consuming appointments or sales people.

FREE Online Quote (short, secure and  no Social Security number requested)

(No longer doing Owner Occupied residential mortgages, only Business  Purpose Loans on Residential Properties and Commercial Loans )

We specialize in stated incomefor Jumbo Loan and hard money loans, Super Jumbo and Commercial mortgages. PICK-A-PAY^sm and PICK-A-PAYMENT^{sm loans. Pick-A-Paysm and Pick-A-Paymentsm are protected service marks of Golden West Financial Corporation.} No need for tax returns, W-2’s or 1099’s needed including Commercial mortgage loans. Houston TX mortgage broker doing Texas lending for homes and commercial mortgage loans worldwide.

We close you not quote you”. (see below)

We have over 50 lenders that we can choose from. We actually close your loan not sell your financial info as a “lead”. We do not sell any information as a lead to anyone so your info is very secure here. We even shred phone messages.

You do not need perfect credit any more.

Self employed? No problem. Low FICO credit scores and bad credit mortgage loans are our specialty. Chapter 13 Bankruptcy buyouts, you name it and we can probably do it.

Commercial loans, wrap financing,any type of Texas mortgage loan, we do it ALL!

Negative Amortization now available too.

It can cut your house payment dramatically. For the lowest possible payment call for a free comparison to what you are paying now. You may save $100’s or $1000’s per month.

**Payment option ARM– You decide how much to pay each month.

** Texas Mortgage Jumbo loans with stated income. You tell us what you make.

** Texas Real Estate Loans of all types Call for instant prequalifications.

** Debt consolidation loans. Write one check per month instead of 10+.

** Commercial lending with stated income. (no tax returns)

tell what you make.

** NO seasoning on commercial loans. (cash out on RECENT purchases)

** No closing cost loans available

** Texas Lending is our specialty but we do commercial mortgages worldwide.

** TX Home improvement loans

** Texas stated income loans For the self employed that write everything off.

** Jumbo loans with stated income (no tax returns) your privacy assured.

** Bad credit financing you do not need perfect credit any more. 1 day out of Bankruptcy is ok.

** H.E.L.O.C Loans available.

** We Co-broker Commercial deals.

** Texas CASH Out Specialist

** Second lien H.E.L.O.C

** National Second lien H.E.L.O.C

** Texas commercial Equity Loan Rate

** Texas commercial loan Refinance with Cash out

(No longer doing Owner Occupied residential mortgages, only Business  Purpose Loans on Residential Properties and Commercial Loans )

We close your commercial loan not quote you

Unlike most internet companies that will get you “quotes from lenders”, we do not sell your private information as a “lead” for$25. This can cause a HUGE drop in FICO credit scores from all of the inquiries. Sadly, this is a common practice in this industry. They will sell this information to “Spammers” and… you know the story.  Google “mortgage lead” if you do not believe us.

Many of the “lenders” are not even licensed to do loans in Texas!

Hard money commercial loans that close FAST.

TX commercial Lending Specialist

We are a full service lender that has been in business closing  commercial loans in Texas since 1998.  We “close you not quote you”. We are NOT an internet lead company that is going to sell your info over and over causing your credit scores to drop. Beware of this with many on-line mortgage “finders”. Your critical financial information is  considered a “lead”. Your info is sold over and over with many people pulling your credit, causing a drop in credit scores. ” We close you, NOT quote you “. Call for more information on this disturbing trend. With identity theft running rampant all things should be considered. We use a secure server to just get contact information. Call us paranoid but safe is better then sorry.

What is a home equity loan?
A home equity loan is a financial product that allows a borrower to use the market value of a home as collateral for a loan. Loans secured by real estate generally are considered safer by lenders, resulting in lower interest rates than for other types of loans.

Equity is easily calculated by subtracting the amount owed on the home from the current market value. For example, if a house with a market value of $100,000 has an outstanding mortgage of $30,000, the homeowner has equity of $70,000. If there were no mortgage or other type of lien on the house, the homeowner would have $100,000 in equity.

How much can I borrow on my Homestead?
Through home equity loans, Texans can borrow money using up to 80% of the value of their homes as collateral. Consider the example of a home valued at $100,000 with an outstanding mortgage debt of $30,000 and $70,000 worth of equity. Because homeowners are limited to borrowing no more than 80% of the home’s value, the homeowner would simply calculate 80% of $100,000 ($80,000) and then subtract $30,000 to arrive at a maximum loan amount of $50,000.

Total mortgage debt, including the amount of any existing mortgages plus the projected home equity lien, cannot exceed 80% of the home’s current fair market value.

Homeowners with 20% or less equity in their homes are not eligible for home equity loans.

Why can’t I borrow against more than 80% of the home’s value?
Texans voted to limit the loan amount to 80% to help prevent over extensions of credit and protect our economy during times of economic slowdown.

How are home equity loan interest rates determined?
Market competition and conditions determine the rates in general; the borrower’s own credit history will further affect the rate offered. Home equity loans usually have lower interest rates than do other types of consumer loans, such as loans secured by personal property or loans secured simply by a borrower’s signature (unsecured loans). First mortgages (the primary loan on a house) generally have the lowest interest rates. As with any financial arrangement, you should shop around to find the best deal. In the Consumer Assistance section of our Web site are links to some handy online calculators that will help you compare loan programs.

What other costs are involved?
Lenders can charge certain fees, usually called closing costs, in addition to interest. On a home equity loan, closing costs cannot exceed three percent (3%) of the principal amount borrowed. Prepaid interest, also known as points, is not subject to the 3% cap.

What if I feel a lender has overcharged me on closing costs?
As a savvy consumer, you should always carefully examine a loan agreement before signing it. Have the lender thoroughly explain the contract’s fee structure; you’ll discover that any points you’ve purchased are not considered part of the fee amount subject to the three percent limitation.

If a lender has overcharged you, you must give the lender a chance to correct the mistake (called curing the loan) before you can take legal action against them. You need to send a written request to the lender specifying the error so that the lender can issue a corrected loan agreement and refund any amounts due.

Are there different kinds of home equity loans?
No, but a home equity loan can hold either first lien or junior lien (often called second) position.
If you own your home outright and take out a home equity loan, it will be considered a first mortgage because it is first in line to receive payment if the home is sold or a borrower defaults. If you refinance an existing first mortgage, and pledge some of your equity to receive cash in hand, you will still have just one-but larger-first mortgage. In this loan, generally called a cash out re-fi, the dollar difference between the original mortgage and the refinanced mortgage is the home equity loan amount.

A secondary mortgage is a loan secured by a house that already has at least one other mortgage or lien. Taking out a home equity loan in addition to a first mortgage places a second lien against the home. The law prohibits a homeowner from having more than one home equity loan at a time, although a home owner may have secondary liens from other sources, such as a home improvement loan or a tax lien.

Can I set up a line of credit with my home equity?
As of September 2003, Texans can establish lines of credit using up to 50% of the value of their homes as collateral (as opposed to the 80% allowed on standard loans).

How can I use the money?
However you choose. There are no legal restrictions regarding how you use your loan proceeds.

What if I change my mind?
The law requires a 12-day waiting period from the time an application is taken AND a legally mandated written consumer rights notice is given to the borrower. For example, if a potential borrower submits an application on Monday, but doesn’t receive a copy of the consumer rights notice until Wednesday, then the 12-day countdown would begin on Wednesday. The 12-day period is measured in calendar days (rather than business days) per the Home Equity Commentary issued by this office. Once the waiting period has passed, the loan can be closed. Further, the homeowner or homeowner’s spouse may still cancel the loan agreement without penalty within three days after closing.

(No longer doing Owner Occupied residential mortgages, only Business  Purpose Loans on Residential Properties and Commercial Loans )

How many home equity loans can I have?
A borrower may have only one equity loan at a time. Furthermore, it cannot be refinanced more frequently than once a year. Because of this limitation, it is crucial to shop for the best terms among lenders. It is also important, as in any credit transaction, to compare the total costs of a home equity loan to other types of credit available to the consumer. For example, a borrower might not face a prepayment penalty for early payoff of a home equity loan. However, if the loan is paid off early, a home equity loan could end up being more expensive than an unsecured loan with a higher interest rate if you paid closing costs and points. To better determine the best solution to your situation, see the financial calculators inthe Consumer Assistance section of our Web site for help crunching the numbers.

Why do I have to wait a year to refinance a home equity loan?
Texas voters placed this provision in the Texas Constitution as a consumer protection. Because closing costs and points are collected each time a mortgage loan is closed, generally it’s not a good idea to refinance often.

Could a lender foreclose on my home if I’m late paying on a car loan or a credit card?
On a standard car loan, the car itself is the collateral, and Texas law prohibits using a person’s homestead as additional collateral on the same loan. However, if a homeowner decides to take out a home equity loan to pay off credit card debts or buy a car, the home is then collateral for the home equity loan and can be foreclosed onif the homeowner does not make payments on time.

What else should I know?
It’s always a sound practice to shop around for a loan, but don’t fill out any applications until you’ve picked the company you definitely want to work with. Filling out too many applications may unduly harm your credit report.

Before you sign on the dotted line, find out what kind of experience other consumers have had with your potential lenders. Check out lenders with the Better Business Bureau.

The Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner regulates certain home equity lenders and offers a Consumer Helpline for credit-related questions at 800.538.1579. We can let you know about consumer complaints we have on file. To get more information about home equity issues or to request lender complaint files, visit our Consumer Assistance page.

(No longer doing Owner Occupied residential mortgages, only Business  Purpose Loans on Residential Properties and Commercial Loans )

*** Texas Home Equity Loan Flow Chart*******

With a Texas home equity loan there is a 12 day waiting period (12 day cooling off period).  Here is a flow chart.

1. Application/ Phone consultation (Usually 5 minutes)

(credit is reviewed and they will recommend the best loan for you)

2. Phone consultation to go over your options, fees and goals.

3. The loan processor will contact you with a list of needed items and documentation to sign and send back.

4.They order an appraisal, open title and order survey if needed. Good for 7 years.

5.We close your loan and after the three day cooling off period (three day right of rescission) you get the money. Usually 17 – 18 days after starting the mortgage application process.

6. Simple? FREE Online Quote Then we can get started. Why would you go anywhere else?

A Fact Sheet on Reverse Mortgages

Until recently, there were two main ways to get cash from your home:

• you could sell your home, but then you would have to move; or
• you could borrow against your home, but then you would have to make monthly loan repayments.

Now reverse mortgages give you a third way of getting money from your home. And you don’t have to leave your home or make regular loan repayments.

A reverse mortgage is a loan against your home that you do not have to pay back for as long as you live there. It can be paid to you all at once, as a regular monthly advance, or at times and in amounts that you choose. You pay the money back plus interest when you die, sell your home, or permanently move out of your home.

Who’s Eligible

All owners of the home must apply for the reverse mortgage and sign the loan papers. All borrowers must be at least 62 years of age for most reverse mortgages. Owners generally must occupy the home as a principal residence (where they live the majority of the year).

Single family one-unit dwellings are eligible properties for all reverse mortgages. Some programs also accept 2-4 unit owner-occupied dwellings, along with some condominiums, planned unit developments, and manufactured homes. Mobile homes and cooperatives are generally not eligible.

How They Work

Reverse mortgage loans typically require no repayment for as long as you live in your home. But they must be repaid in full, including all interest and other charges, when the last living borrower dies, sells the home, or permanently moves away.

Because you make no monthly payments, the amount you owe grows larger over time. As your debt grows larger, the amount of cash you would have left after selling and paying off the loan (your “equity”) generally grows smaller. But you can never owe more than your home’s value at the time the loan is repaid.

Reverse mortgage borrowers continue to own their homes. So you are still responsible for property taxes, insurance, and repairs. If you fail to carry out these responsibilities, your loan could become due and payable in full.

What You Get

These loans can be paid to you all at once in a single lump sum of cash, as a regular monthly loan advance or as a credit line that lets you decide how much cash to use and when to use it. Or you may choose any combination of these payment plans.

Some reverse mortgages are offered by state and local governments. These “public sector” loans generally must be used for specific purposes, such as paying for home repairs or property taxes. Other reverse mortgages are offered by banks, mortgage companies, and savings associations. These “private sector” loans can be used for any purpose.

The amount of cash you can get from a private sector reverse mortgage generally depends on your age, your home’s value and location, and the cost of the loan. The greatest cash amounts typically go to the oldest borrowers living in the most expensive homes on loans with the lowest costs.

The amount of cash you can get also depends on the specific reverse mortgage plan or program you select. The differences in available loan amounts can vary greatly from one plan to another. Most homeowners get the largest cash advances from the federally insured Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM). HECM loans often provide much greater loan advances than other reverse mortgages.

What You Pay

The lowest cost reverse mortgages are offered by state and local governments. They generally have low or no loan fees, and the interest rates are typically low or moderate as well. Private sector reverse mortgages include a variety of costs. An application fee usually includes the cost of an appraisal and a credit report. Other loan costs typically include an origination fee, closing costs, insurance, and a monthly servicing fee. These costs generally can be paid with loan advances, which mean they are added to your loan balance (the amount you owe). Interest is charged on all loan advances.

Reverse mortgages are most expensive in the early years of the loan, and then become less costly over time. The cost can be very high in the short term, and is least costly if you live longer than your life expectancy. The federally insured Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) is almost always the least expensive private sector reverse mortgage.

Consumers considering a private sector reverse mortgage other than a HECM should carefully consider how much more it is likely to cost before applying. Other articles in The Basics section of this web site’s Reverse Mortgages information provide more details on measuring and comparing the total cost of these loans.

Taxes, Estates, and Public Benefits

Reverse mortgages may have tax consequences, affect eligibility for assistance under Federal and State programs, and have an impact on the estate and heirs of the homeowner.

An American Bar Association guide states that generally “the IRS does not consider loan advances to be income.” The guide explains that if you receive SSI, Medicaid, or other public benefits loan advances are counted as “liquid assets” if you keep them in an account past the end of the calendar month in which you receive them. If you do, you could lose your eligibility for these programs if your total liquid assets (for example, money you have in savings and checking accounts) are greater than these programs allow.

Basic Loan Features

Although there are different types of reverse mortgages, all of them are similar in certain ways. Here are the features that most have in common.

(No longer doing Owner Occupied residential mortgages, only Business  Purpose Loans on Residential Properties and Commercial Loans )
Homeownership

With a reverse mortgage, you remain the owner of your home just like when you had a forward mortgage. You are still responsible for paying your property taxes and home-owner insurance and for making property repairs.

When the loan is over, you or your heirs must repay all of your cash advances plus interest. Reputable lenders don’t want your house; they want repayment.

Financing Fees

You can use the money you get from a reverse mortgage to pay the various fees that are charged on the loan. This is called “financing” the loan costs. The costs are added to your loan balance, and you pay them back plus interest when the loan is over.

Loan Amounts

The amount of money you can get depends most on the specific reverse mortgage plan or program you select. It also depends on the kind of cash advances you choose. Some reverse mortgages cost a lot more than others, and this reduces the amount of cash you can get from them.

Within each loan program,the amounts you can get generally depend on your age and your home’s value:

• The older you are, the more cash you can get; and
• The more your home is worth, the more cash you can get.

The specific dollar amount available to you may also depend on interest rates and closing costs on home loans in your area.

Debt Payoff

Reverse mortgages generally must be “first” mortgages, that is, they must be the primary debt against your home. So if you now owe any money on your property, you generally must either :

• pay off the old debt before you get a reverse mortgage; or
• pay off the old debt with the money you get from a reverse mortgage.

Most reverse mortgage borrowers pay off any home debt with a lump sum advance from their reverse mortgage. You may not have to pay off other debt against your home if the prior lender agrees to be repaid after the reverse mortgage is repaid. Generally only state or local government lending agencies are willing to consider “subordinating” their loans in this way.

Debt Limit

The debt you owe on a reverse mortgage equals all the loan advances you receive (including any you used to finance the loan or to pay off prior debt), plus all the interest that is added to your loan balance. If that amount is less than your home is worth when you pay back the loan, then you (or your estate) keep whatever amount is left over.

But if your rising loan balance ever grows to equal the value of your home, then your total debt is limited by the value of your home. Put another way, you can never owe more than what your home is worth at the time the loan is repaid. The lender may not seek repayment from your income, your other assets, or from your heirs.

(The technical term for this cap on your debt is a “non-recourse limit.” It means that the lender does not have legal recourse to anything other than your home’s value when seeking repayment of the loan.)

Repayment

All reverse mortgages are due and payable when the last surviving borrower dies, sells the home, or permanently moves out of the home. (Typically, a “permanent move” means that neither you nor any other co-borrower has lived in your home for one continuous year.)

Reverse mortgage lenders can also require repayment at any time if you:

• fail to pay your property taxes;
• fail to maintain and repair your home; or
• fail to keep your home insured.

These are fairly standard “conditions of default” on any mortgage. On a reverse mortgage, however, lenders generally have the option to pay for these expenses by reducing your loan advances and using the difference to pay these obligations. This is only an option, however, if you have not already used up all your available loan funds.

Other default conditions on most home loans, including reverse mortgages, include:

• your declaration of bankruptcy;
• your donation or abandonment of your home;
• your perpetration of fraud or misrepresentation;
• if a government agency needs your property for public use (for example, to build a highway); or
• if a government agency condemns your property (for example, for health or safety reasons).

Changes that could affect the security of the loan for the lender can also make reverse mortgages payable. For example:

• renting out part or all of your home;
• adding a new owner to your home’s title;
• changing your home’s zoning classification; or
• taking out new debt against your home.

You must read the loan documents carefully to make certain you understand all the conditions that can cause your loan to become due.

Cancellation

After closing a reverse mortgage, you have three days to reconsider your decision. If for any reason you decide you do not want the loan, you can cancel it. But you must do this within three business days after closing. “Business days” include Saturdays, but not Sundays or legal public holidays.

If you decide to cancel, you must do it in writing, using the form provided by the lender, or by letter, fax, or telegram. It must be hand delivered, mailed, faxed, or filed with a telegraph company before midnight of the third business day. You cannot cancel by telephone or in person. It must be written.

(No longer doing Owner Occupied residential mortgages, only Business  Purpose Loans on Residential Properties and Commercial Loans )
H.E.L.O.C (unavailable)

HELOC stands for home equity line of credit, or simply “home equity line.” It is a loan set up as a line of credit for some maximum draw, rather than for a fixed dollar amount. 

For example, using a standard mortgage you might borrow $150,000, which would be paid out in its entirety at closing. Using a HELOC instead, you receive the lender’s promise to advance you up to $150,000, in an amount and at a time of your choosing. You can draw on the line by writing a check, using a special credit card, or in other ways.

HELOCs are convenient for funding intermittent needs, such as paying off credit cards, making home improvements, or paying college tuition. You draw and pay interest on only what you need.

Upfront costs are also relatively low. On a $150,000 standard loan, settlement costs may range from $2-5,000, unless the borrower pays an interest rate high enough for the lender to pay some or all of it. On a $150,000 HELOC, costs seldom exceed $1,000 and in many cases are paid by the lender without a rate adjustment.

Most HELOCs are second mortgages. An increasing number, however, are first mortgages, as yours would be if you used it to refinance your existing first mortgage. Using a HELOC as a substitute for a first mortgage is risky, for reasons discussed in a moment.

Because the balance of a HELOC may change from day to day, depending on draws and repayments, interest on a HELOC is calculated daily rather than monthly. For example, on a standard 6% mortgage, interest for the month is.06 divided by 12 or.005, multiplied by the loan balance at the end of the preceding month. If the balance is $100,000, the interest payment is $500.

On a 6% HELOC, interest for a day is.06 divided by 365 or.000164, which is multiplied by the average daily balance during the month. If this is $100,000, the daily interest is $16.44, and over a 30-day month interest amounts to $493.15; over a 31 day month, it is $509.59.

HELOCs have a draw period, during which the borrower can use the line, and a repayment period during which it must be repaid. Draw periods are usually 5 to 10 years, during which the borrower is only required to pay interest. Repayment periods are usually 10 to 20 years, during which the borrower must make payments to principal equal to the balance at the end of the draw period divided by the number of months in the repayment period. Some HELOCs, however, require that the entire balance be repaid at the end of the draw period, so the borrower must refinance at that point.

The major disadvantage of the HELOC is its exposure to interest rate risk. All HELOCs are adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs), but they are much riskier than standard ARMs. Changes in the market impact a HELOC very quickly. If the prime rate changes on April 30, the HELOC rate will change effective May 1. An exception is HELOCs that have a guaranteed introductory rate, but these hold for only a few months. Standard ARMs, in contrast, are available with initial fixed-rate periods as long as 10 years.

Note: Some HELOCs are convertible into fixed-rate loans at the time of a drawing. This is a useful option for borrowers who draw a large amount at one time.

HELOC rates are tied to the prime rate, which some argue is more stable than the indexes used by standard ARMs. In 2003, this certainly seemed to be the case, since the prime rate changed only once, to 4% on June 27. However, as recently as 2001, the prime rate changed 11 times and ranged between 4.75% and 9%. In 1980, it changed 38 times and ranged between 11.25% and 20%.

In addition, most standard ARMs have rate adjustment caps, which limit the size of any rate change. And they have maximum rates 5-6% above the initial rates, which puts them roughly at 8% to 11%. HELOCs have no adjustment caps, and the maximum rate is 18% except in North Carolina, where it is 16%.

Don’t compare the APR on a HELOC with the APR on a standard loan because they mean different things. The APR on a HELOC is the interest rate, period. Among other things, it does not reflect points or other upfront costs, as the APR on standard loans does. Requiring lenders to show the interest rate on a HELOC twice is a strange way to protect borrowers, but there it is.

***H.E.L.O.C shopping tips **************

Shopping for a HELOC is different from shopping for a standard mortgage. In most respects, it is simpler, if you know what you are doing.

A HELOC is a line of credit, as opposed to a loan for a specified sum, and it is always adjustable rate. The bad news about that, which I discuss in What Is a HELOC,is that HELOCs provide borrowers with much less protection against interest rate increases than standard ARMs.

The good news is that HELOCs are easier to shop for. The major reason is that important features are the same from one lender to another.

*The interest rate on all the HELOCs is tied to the prime rate, as reported in the Wall Street Journal. In contrast, standard ARMs use a number of different indexes (LIBOR, COFI, CODI, and so on) which careful shoppers have to evaluate.

*The interest rate on the HELOCs adjust the first day of the month following a change in the prime rate, which could be just a few days. (Exceptions are those HELOCs with an introductory guaranteed rate, but these hold only for 1 to 6 months). Standard ARMs, in contrast, fix the rate at the beginning for periods ranging from a month to 10 years.

*The HELOCs have no limit on the size of a rate adjustment, and most of them have a maximum rate of 18% except in North Carolina, where it is 16%. Standard ARMs may have different rate adjustment caps and different maximum rates.

The critical feature of a HELOC that is not the same from one lender to another, and which should be the major focus of smart shoppers, is the margin. This is the amount that is added to the prime rate to determine the HELOC rate. Many if not most lenders do not volunteer the margin unless they are asked.

Here is what can happen when you don’t ask. Borrower X, who provided me with his history, was offered an introductory rate of 4.5% for 3 months. He was told that after the three months the rate “would be based on the prime rate.” At the time the loan closed, the prime rate was 4%. Three months later, the prime rate was still 4%, but the rate on his loan was raised to 9.5%. It turned out that the margin, which the borrower never asked about, was 5.5%!

WARNING: Do not assume that the difference between your HELOC start rate and the prime rate is the margin. It may or may not be. Ask. Bear in mind, as well, that the margin varies with credit score, ratio of total mortgage debt to property value, documentation and other factors. You need the margin on your deal, not the margin they are advertising which is their best deal.

Truth in Lending (TIL) on a HELOC is a travesty. It requires that borrowers be given an APR, which is the same as the interest rate. The borrower described above was given an APR of 4.5% early on, and when his rate jumped to 9.5% he was told that his new APR was 9.5%. TIL does not require disclosure of the margin.

If the HELOC will be used to meet future contingencies rather than to refinance an existing mortgage, the shopper needs to know whether thereis a minimum draw at closing, or a minimum average loan balance. Lenders don’t make any money unless the HELOC is used, but they are not always forthcoming about this. Borrowers who are uncertain about future usage don’t want to be forced to borrow money they won’t need.

Last and least important are the fees. Upfront fees are the same types as on standard mortgages, except that HELOC lenders seldom charge points, and third party fees tend to be small and are often paid by the lender. In addition, there are some uniquely HELOC charges that you should factor in. These include an annual fee, usually $25-$75 and often waived the first year; and a cancellation fee, perhaps $350-$500, which is usually waived if the account stays open for 3 years.

Here is your checklist: make sure the figures you get apply to your deal.

1. Introductory rate and period

2. Margin

3. Minimum draw

4. Required average balance

5. Upfront lender fees

6. Upfront third party fees

7. Annual fee

8. Cancellation fee,

A Short History of Texas Home Equity loans.

We were the last State to be able to do these loans. For 150 years, Texas has banned home equity loans. On November 4, 1997, the voters of Texas overturned this ban on home equity loans by approving a Constitutional Amendment to the Texas Constitution. Beginning January 1, 1998, home equity loans were permitted in Texas. Texas is the second-most-populous state and Texans have more than $200 billion of equity in their homes. Many home equity lenders are aggressively entering the Texas home equity loan market. Other than banks, savings and loans, savings banks, credit unions and under certain circumstances HUD approved lenders, home equity loans may only be made by mortgage companies licensed in Texas with a Texas Regulated Lending License. Since Texas is the last state in the Union to offer home equity loans, the potential growth for the second mortgage business is enormous.

For more than 160 years, access to the home equity that owners had built up in their residences was largely untapped. As a direct result of the Panic of 1837, Texas prohibited the forced sale of homesteads for all but a very limited number of reasons. When Texas became a state, these protections became part of the state constitution and effectively barred foreclosing on a person’s residence for reasons other than non-payment of taxes, the original mortgage or a home improvement loan. These same provisions also effectively barred tapping into home equity for purposes other than home improvement.

But on November 4, 1997, Texas voters approved a constitutional amendment allowing more leeway in home equity lending and for reverse mortgages.^[3] These loans became available to Texans in 1998, but some technical issues limited the availability of home equity loans for homesteads larger than one acre and from reverse mortgages. Subsequent amendments addressed these legal concerns.^[4]

Changes in the Texas Constitution expanded the conditions under which homeowners could obtain a traditional home equity loan. These closed-end loans extend for a specified length of time and generally require repayment of interest and principal in equal monthly installments. Interest rates on these loans are ordinarily fixed for the life of the loan.

Home Equity Lending in Texas is huge.

Since changing the Texas constitution to allow wider use of home equity loans, Texans have steadily increased their reliance on these home loans. According to American Housing Survey (AHS) data on nine Texas metropolitan areas that cover 68 percent of Texas’ owner-occupied homes, only 2.5 percent of Texas homeowners had any form of home equity loan in 1997, substantially less than the 14.5 percent for all U.S. homeowners outside of Texas that same year.

By 1999, the proportion of Texas homeowners with a home equity loan had risen to 4.5 percent. While this represents nearly a doubling of home equity loan usage in just two years, this was still slightly less than the estimated 5 percent rate for home equity loan usage in the nation and substantially less than the 12.9 percent estimated by the AHS that year for both home equity loans and lines of credit.

By 2001, the proportion of Texas households with home equity loans had reached 6.4 percent. At this level, the usage in Texas actually exceeded the usage rate of fixed-term closed-end loans in the U.S., indicating that Texans may have reached the saturation point with traditional home equity loans. These loans typically are written for a set amount to be repaid in equal installments over a specified time, just like a traditional mortgage.

Based on a survey conducted for the Comptroller of Public Accounts of home equity lenders in Texas, from 1998 to 2000, the amount of the average home equity loan was about $36,750. In 2001 and 2002, the average home equity loan jumped to more than $47,000.^[5]

Closing the Gap

Although Texans’ reliance on home equity loans has grown substantially since the passage of the constitutional amendment, further gains may be unlikely. Other states’ average usage of 14 percent in 2001 included both traditional home equity loans and home equity lines of credit, financial instruments not now available to Texas homeowners. The possibility that the usage rate of traditional home equity loans in Texas exceeded the usage rate of similar loans in the nation probably indicates that without the home equity line of credit option, more homeowners are opting for the fixed term loans—their only other choice.

We do NOT make 1-4 unit owner occupied home loans.

During much of the 1990s, about 8 percent of U.S. homeowners had a home equity line of credit whereas about 5 percent of homeowners had a traditional loan.^[6] In 2001, AHS data indicated an estimated 8.4 percent of homeowners had a home equity line of credit (HELOC) and 5.7 percent had traditional home equity loans.

This newer form of home equity lending has become the preferred choice by homeowners in other states. A HELOC is a revolving account that permits borrowing from time to time, at the account holder’s discretion, up to a set credit limit. HELOCs also typically have more flexible repayment schedules than traditional home equity loans and have a variable interest rate.

Most consumers think home equity lines of credit are more convenient than traditional home equity loans. While about 40 percent of consumers cited the tax advantages of both types of home equity credit as an important consideration, 43 percent of HELOC users cited convenience of use as an advantage, compared with only 1 percent of those using the traditional home equity loans.^[7]

Many of the major lenders in Texas make HELOC loans to homeowners in other states. Their experiences underscore how attractive this option is to consumers. Figure 2 presents the percentage of the amount of home equity loans and lines of credit written in Georgia, Florida and California by three major Texas lenders.^[8] About 88 percent of the consumers in these states choose HELOCs compared with about 12 percent choosing traditional home equity loans.We are currently not doing residential mortgages only commercial loans.

Daniel Peterson, Mortgage, commercial loans- Houston-Dallas-fort-worth-Austin-san-antonio-Texas Home equity lending INC.

(No longer doing Owner Occupied residential mortgages, only Business  Purpose Loans on Residential Properties and Commercial Loans )