African-Americans and Latinos are less likely to receive mortgage loans as the housing crisis has deepened, according to a recent report from ComplianceTech, a provider of technology and mortgage data analysis for government agencies, nonprofits and financial institutions. The analysis of data from 2004 to 2009 shows that there are disparities in the availability of mortgage credit to African-Americans and Latinos. Members of these groups have more difficulty financing a home regardless of whether they are new home buyers or homeowners looking to refinance.

The sub-prime mortgage crisis

The analysis also debunks the erroneous notion that mortgage lending to minorities was at the root of the sub-prime mortgage crisis. Data in the report show that whites actually received the highest number and dollar volume of sub-prime mortgage loans, and are likely to have more mortgage loans in foreclosure. Whites received 4.1 million sub-prime mortgages between 2004 and 2009, Latinos 1.3 million, African-Americans 1.2 million and Asians 179,000.

The report states:

As the foreclosure crisis threatens the financial stability and mobility of families across the country, it will be particularly devastating to African American and Latino families, who already lag behind their white counterparts in terms of income, wealth and educational attainment. Furthermore, the indirect losses in wealth that result from foreclosures as a result of depreciation to nearby properties will disproportionately impact communities of color.Fewer prime mortgages

African-Americans and Latinos have lower origination rates and higher costs when they are approved for mortgages. Between 2004 and 2009 the market share of prime rate mortgage loans for African-Americans fell 62.67 percent and 61.62 percent for Latinos. The market share of prime rate mortgages grew 12.54 percent for whites and 19.6 percent for Asians.

All racial groups experienced a decline in the volume of prime mortgage loans. African-American prime loan volume plunged to $19.5 billion in 2008 from $82 billion in 2004. Latino prime mortgage loan volume fell to $40.2 billion in 2009 from $171 billion in 2004. Prime mortgage loan volume for whites fell to $876 billion in 2009 from $1.2 trillion in 2004, while Asians saw loan volume decline to $90.6 billion in 2009 from $121 billion in 2004. However, white and Asian borrowers saw increases in prime loan volume between 2008 and 2009, while African-Americans and Latinos experienced declines.

Are you desperate to get rid of your mortgage problems? You are not alone. Zillow recently reported that 27 percent of U.S. homeowners are underwater on mortgage loans. There also were 261,333 foreclosure filings in January, according to RealtyTrac.

But homeowners dealing with foreclosure and underwater home loans aren’t the only one struggling. Some borrowers are struggling to make monthly mortgage payments due to a drop in income, job layoff, illness or some other factor beyond their control. There is no easy solution to dealing with mortgage problems, but there are several options to consider.

Sell your home

Getting rid of a mortgage loan is the best option if you really can’t afford to make the payments. Just because you sell the property you currently live in doesn’t mean you won’t be able to purchase another home in the future. Find out what’s going on in your neighborhood in terms of home sales. If there have been a lot of foreclosures, the value of your home is likely to be affected. But even if you are underwater on a mortgage loan that doesn’t mean you have to give up the idea of selling. But you may have to consider a short sale.

A short sale occurs when the mortgage lender agrees to accept a lower payoff that what you owe on a home loan. The advantage to doing a short sale is that the lender can recover some of what’s owed. You would be able to get out from under a troubled loan and avoid foreclosure. Keep in mind that any mortgage debt that is forgiven by the mortgage lender in such a deal may be taxable, so it’s important to consult with a tax advisor.

Mortgage refinancing

Maybe you are feeling pinched by monthly mortgage payments, but things haven’t gotten so serious that you are about to lose you home. If you still have some home equity and good credit, you might qualify for a mortgage refinance. The more equity you have and the higher your credit score the better. Refinancing could be the right move it you are paying interest that is much higher than current mortgage rates. A mortgage payment calculator can help determine how much money you could actually save by refinancing.

These are just a few ways to get out from under expensive mortgage payments. There may be other solutions that suit your financial needs. Talk with your mortgage lender or a housing counselor to learn more about your options.

More homeowners than ever paid down mortgage loan balances while refinancing their homes in the fourth-quarter of 2010, according to Freddie Mac. During the period, 46 percent of homeowners who refinanced mortgages brought cash to closing to lower their principal balance. That is the highest “cash-in” share since Freddie Mac began tracking refinance activity in 1985.

Paying down mortgages and other debt

Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist, said in a statement:

Consumers are generally shedding debt, and mortgages are just another way they’re doing it. Between 2007 and the third quarter of 2010, mortgage debt declined more than $400 billion, according to the Fed. The estimated volume of net equity cashed out in our report do not account for the homeowners who have paid off their mortgages in their entirety.

Cash-out refinancing

Freddie Mac also reported that the percent of cash-out refinances, in which homeowners cashed out some home equity, fell to a record low. Borrowers who increased their mortgage loan balance by at least 5 percent accounted for 16 percent of mortgage refinancing. The cash-out refinance share has averaged 62 percent over the past 25 years.

Getting a cash-out refinance deal has gotten tougher for many borrowers as the housing crisis has dragged on. Lower home values, high unemployment and tougher lending standards all have put the brakes on the my-house-is-a-piggy-bank mentality that swept America before the housing downturn.

Taking advantage of low mortgage rates

Some savvy homeowners who still have good credit have can use current market conditions to their advantage. Instead of using low mortgage rates to simply lower monthly payments, you can choose to also reduce the amount of principal being refinanced by bringing cash to closing. This strategy can give you a choice of making the new lower payments or continuing to pay down your mortgage faster by sticking with the higher payments you made before refinancing. Either way you end up paying out less interest over the life of the mortgage loan.

When shopping around to compare mortgage loans, let lenders know that you are interest in bring cash to closing to pay down the principal. This could work in your favor and allow you to get a better mortgage rate. Bring cash to closing also could push up your home equity enough to get rid of monthly mortgage insurance (MI) payments.

Current mortgage rates are super low, and many homeowners are rushing to refinance before they begin to rise again. If you’re thinking of refinancing, remember the following things.

• Shop around to compare mortgage rates from several lenders. Not all mortgage lenders offer the same type of deals. Among the differences in refinance programs you may find are deals that offer low closing costs and bonuses or other incentives for closing on time. Some mortgage lenders may even be willing to waive certain fees or closing costs.
• Your credit score does matter. The key to being offered the best mortgage rates lies in your credit score. Mortgage lenders want to see a strong credit report that includes a history of paying bills on time, a low debt-to-income ratio, and no judgments or liens. If you have a spotty credit history, take time to repair your credit before going to a lender to apply for a refinance.
• A refinance could actually increase your monthly payments. That would be the case if you were to choose a 15-year mortgage loan. A 15-year home loan is going to have a lower interest rate than a 30-year loan, but you’re likely to have significantly higher monthly payments with the shorter term.
• Refinancing into a 15-year mortgage can help pay off your home faster. If you can afford the monthly payments without it being a financial hardship, this could be the way to own your home free and clear of debt sooner.
• Refinancing can get you out of an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM). Many homeowners with ARMs fear the day mortgage rates begin to rise because that means they would end up with a higher monthly payment when their loan resets.
• Be ready to provide documentation for everything. Mortgage lenders want to know how much you earn each month and will ask you for recent pay stubs and your most recent tax return. If you are self-employed, expect to provide an income statement or other information about your business. You also may be asked for proof of assets in savings or investment accounts.
• Make sure you have enough home equity to avoid mortgage insurance (MI) payments. MI is required when you have less than 20% equity in a property.

Depending upon your situation a refinance could allow you to keep a lot more money in your pocket each month. Refinancing also can shave thousands of dollars off the amount of interest paid over the life of a mortgage loan.

Buying a home is probably the biggest purchase you’ll ever make. Like most people you probably don’t have enough cash on hand to buy a property outright and need to obtain a mortgage loan, which means you are committing to many years of loan payments.

Most mortgage loans are set up to be paid out over a long period of time, such as 30 years, and the interest payments result in paying a whole lot more than the actual purchase price of a property. For instance, if you use a mortgage payment calculator to determine the amount of interest paid on a 30-year fixed mortgage loan for $200,000 at 4.5% interest, you’d pay $164,813.42 in interest over the life of the loan.

Cut Mortgage Costs

So what can you do to decrease the amount of money paid out of your pocket over the life of a home mortgage?

1. Save up a larger down payment. This probably isn’t the first time you’ve heard this piece of advice, but you really can’t afford to ignore it. Using the scenario described above, assume that the down payment on the mortgage is 20%, or $40,0000. The total amount of interest paid out over the 30 years would be $131,850.74. Boost the down payment to 30% ($60,000) and the amount of interest paid would be $115,369.40. The more you put down the less interest you pay and the smaller the monthly payments are going to be.
2. Property taxes and homeowners insurance add to monthly mortgage costs. Shop around for the best homeowners insurance policy you can find. Mortgage lenders require insurance premiums to be paid into an escrow account each month. Take time to compare different policies to find the best one for your situation. It may make sense to increase the deductible to have smaller monthly payments. You also may get discounts for being a long-time customer, having multiple policies, or not filing any claims over a certain period of time.
3. Pay extra toward the principal. Even if you can only spare $50 extra to put toward a mortgage loan each month, do it. Paying down principal faster than the term of the loan can significantly cut your total mortgage bill. If owning your home free and clear of mortgage debt is important, focusing on reducing principal can help.

Refinance to lower payments

Also consider taking advantage of current mortgage rates to refinance out of a high-interest home loan. Decreasing your monthly payments could save hundreds of dollars a month, allowing you to keep more of your take-home pay. You also could refinance and continue paying the same amount each month to reduce principal quicker and cut the total amount of interest paid out over the life of the loan.

Do you need to improve your credit score to qualify for a mortgage loan? Whether you want a mortgage to refinance or purchase a home, it’s important to straighten out your finances before filling out a loan application. Here’s what you need to do.

• Ditch credit card debt. This is one of the smartest things you can do to boost your credit score. Mortgage lenders won’t approve you for a home loan if your debt-to-income ratio is too high. Debt payments should account for no more than 36% of your income, and mortgage debt shouldn’t be any higher than 28% if you expect to qualify for the best mortgage rates.
• Pay your bills on time every month. Consistently being late with bill payments lowers your credit score. Read your monthly statements carefully so that you are aware of the date and time that payments are due. Payment history accounts for 35% of a FICO score.
• Avoid running up balances on existing credit cards or lines of credit. Even if you have enough income to pay off your debts at the end of the money, running up credit lines may mark you as a credit risk with mortgage lenders. Put the kibosh on new purchases at least until after you get approved for a mortgage.
• Check your credit report for errors. It’s not uncommon to find inaccurate or outdated information on credit reports. Dispute any problems that you find with the credit agency by calling and following up with a letter. If necessary, contact creditors to straighten out problems. Review your report again after your dispute has been settled to make sure everything has been updated.
• Keep your oldest credit lines open to show that you have an established credit history. While it makes sense to close unused credit lines if you don’t want to be tempted by them because of a history of overspending, wait to do so until after you get a mortgage. If you’ve had a long history of managing credit well, it can help lift your credit score.

Free Credit Reports

Request a free copy of your credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com. You can get one free copy every 12 months from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Review it carefully and take time to fix any problems in order to qualify for the best possible deal on a home loan.

Hundreds of people are expected to be arrested next week in a nationwide crackdown on mortgage fraud. The Financial Times reported that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) plans to make the arrests next week.

Lying on Mortgage Loan Applications

Among those expected to be arrested are people who encourage borrowers to lie about income on home loan applications, mislead homeowners about mortgage rescue programs, and inflate home appraisals. A spokesperson for the FBI would not comment to the Financial Times about the expected arrests.

Rampant mortgage fraud helped contribute to the housing crisis. The FBI has opened 23 mortgage fraud tasks forces around the U.S. since 2008.

Signs of Mortgage Fraud 

So what are some of the signs that you might be a target of mortgage fraud?

• Do not trust mortgage brokers who use high-pressure sales tactics. You should never be forced to sign papers for a home loan. A reputable mortgage broker should encourage you to take  time to fully understand different offers from mortgage lenders.
• If you are asked to lie on a mortgage loan application, find a different broker. You should never exaggerate income or assets to qualify for a home loan. If you know that you cannot afford a particular mortgage but your broker manipulates the numbers to make it look like you can, it’s probably a scam.
• Do not trust strangers who promise to save your home from foreclosure. Among the red flags is being asked to sign over the deed to you home. Never believe promises that sound too good to be true, especially if you don’t know the individual making them.
• Some scam artists try to inflate home appraisals to get approved for a refinance or new home mortgage. You can get a comparative analysis of homes from a reputable real estate agent to get an idea of what properties are worth in your area. If an appraisal comes in significantly higher than that, there may be a scam brewing.

Choose Reputable People 

Mortgage fraud is often perpetrated by people who work in the housing industry. That’s why it is important to thoroughly check out any professionals you are considering working with. Ask people you trust to recommend real estate agents, mortgage brokers, mortgage lenders, home appraisers, inspectors, and attorneys.

If you were expecting mortgage rates to begin rising this year, you may have to wait a while longer. Current mortgage rates are surprisingly low, with 30-year fixed-rate home loans averaging 4.86% and 15-year rates averaging 4.24%. Many economists had expected mortgage rates to rise to around 6% this year, but the European debt crisis has resulted in investors pouring money into American bonds, which has helped lower mortgage rates.

Time for a Home Refinance?

The lower mortgage rates mean you can still get a good deal on a refinance. “It’s another very good opportunity for anyone who hasn’t yet been able to refinance — or has missed other chances,” Keith Gumbinger, vice president of HSH Associates, told MarketWatch. “Rates have unexpectedly returned to near 50-year lows due to the overseas mess, but it’s worth noting that such sudden declines have proven fleeting in the past, with rates bouncing higher just as soon as a permanent (or potentially permanent) solution has been identified.”

Get a Mortgage to Buy a Home

Current mortgage rates are also good news for people applying for a loan to purchase a home. Getting pre-approved for a mortgage loan can improve your chances of having an offer for a house accepted by the sellers. Some real estate agents won’t even work with you unless you have a letter from a mortgage lender that shows you have been preapproved for a home loan.

You can search for mortgage rateshere to get started on the process of getting preapproved. Getting a preapproval letter doesn’t mean you have to actually apply for a home loan with a particular mortgage lender when you are ready to buy. Any preapproval you get probably expires in about three months time, but you may be able to get an extension if necessary.

Documentation Is Important

 Whether you want to do a home refinance or buy a house, you need to provide documentation of your income to mortgage lenders. You need to show proof that you are employed or have a steady income. Mortgage lenders also want to know that you aren’t carrying too much debt relative to your income. Among the financial documents you might have to provide are tax returns, W-2 statements, bank account statements, and recent pay stubs.

Don’t Waith Too Long

Current mortgage rates are very attractive if you want to refinance or buy a home. But don’t expect mortgage rates to remain at such low levels for the long-term. Get moving if you want to lock in a mortgage deal before interest rates begin rising.

Current mortgage rates are low and it seems like it might be a good time to refinance your home loan. You’ve even begun to gather quotes from several local mortgage lenders advertising competitive mortgage rates. But does it make sense to do a mortgage refinance at this time?

Use a Loan Calculator

It is important to determine the amount of time it’s going to take to recoup any money you put out to refinance. Use the “Is it time to refi?” loan calculator to compare several mortgage quotes. The following example walks you through the steps of using the loan calculator.

Existing Home Mortgage

First, the loan calculator asks for information about your existing mortgage.

• What is the original term of your home mortgage? For this example let’s use 30 years.
• What is the original amount of your mortgage loan? Our example uses $250,000.
• What is the current balance of your home loan?  ($175,000)
• How long have you had the mortgage? (8 years)
• What is your current interest rate? (7%)

New Home Loan 

Next, the loan calculator needs information about the new mortgage.

• What is the amount of the new loan? ($175,000)
• What is the new mortgage term? (15 years)
• What is the interest rate on the new loan? (5%)
• How much are the estimated closing costs? (2%)
• How long do you plan to remain in the home after doing a mortgage refinance? (10 years)

How Much Would You Save?

When you run the numbers in the loan calculator, you get a report detailing your potential savings. Using the numbers in this example you would go from having a monthly mortgage payment of $1,663 to paying $1,384. Over the 10-year period that you plan to remain in the home you would save $33,524 due to the decreased monthly mortgage payment.

Reducing Mortgage Loan Principal

The loan calculator also gives an analysis of the reduction of loan principal. In this scenario if you refinanced and stayed in the home for 10 years the principal would be reduced by $101,667. However, if you did not refinance your mortgage, the principal would be reduced by $111,194 over the 10-year period.

Total Savings

The last part of the report shows that the estimated cost of refinancing is $3,500, which is based on the 2% closing costs. It also shows that the total amout that would be saved by refinancing would be $20,497.

Are you unemployed and need help with a mortgage loan? Get in line. Many homeowners have been frustrated with unsuccessful attempts to get help with troubled home loans.

Recent changes in the government’s Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) are aimed at allowing borrowers who have been laid off and are underwater on mortgage loans to receive modifications.

Help with Mortgage Loans

The Obama administration’s plan includes local housing agency intiatives, homebuyer tax credits, mortgage loan modifications, refinancing, and community development programs. Depending upon a borrowers situation, they may receive assistance with remaining in a home or relocating to more affordable housing.

HAMP has helped more than 4 million homeowners refinance mortgage loans. Another million are saving an average of $500 a month due to mortgage modifications.

Help for Unemployed

So exactly how can the changes to the program help if you are unemployed?

1. Depending upon your situation you may qualify to have mortgage payments reduced for three to six months while you hunt for a new job.
2. If you don’t find employment or find a job with less income, you could be considered for a permanent mortgage loan modification or HAMP’s alternatives to foreclosure program.
3. Mortgage loan servicers may receive incentives for writing down your principal. They also are being encouraged to extinguish second liens, which could help borrowers who want to complete short sales.
4. Mortgage servicers may receive incentives for improving communication with borrowers.

Is It Enough?

The government’s mortgage loan modification program has hit snags along the way. Critics say mortgage loan servicers were slow to respond and not enough people have been helped, something the Obama administration has acknowledged.

Others say the recent changes in HAMP are only a stopgap since unemployment benefits are no longer going to be factored into income when deciding if a borrower qualifies for a having mortgage loan payments reduced. So far unemployment benefits could be factored into income as long as borrowers could prove the payments would last for nine months. 

Mortgages and Long Term Unemployment

“Any programs that give people breathing space while they’re out looking for work … are a positive thing,” Mark Pearce, the top N.C. mortgage regulator and a leader in national foreclosure-prevention efforts, said in the Miami Herald. However, ”This program doesn’t address the folks that are unemployed for a longer period of time.”