Optimize Your Mortgage Possibilities: Manage your loan-to-value (LTV) ratio with our expert tips for reducing risk, lowering interest rates, and building equity in your property. 

girl on computer studying LTV

Effectively managing your loan-to-value (LTV) ratio is crucial for homeowners who manage their mortgages successfully. A higher LTV ratio can increase interest rates and make qualifying for a mortgage difficult. Luckily, borrowers can use strategies to decrease their LTV ratio, such as making extra mortgage payments, increasing their down payment, or opting for a smaller mortgage loan. These strategies highlight the advantages of lowering your LTV ratio.

Strategies for Reducing Your LTV

Properly managing your loan-to-value (LTV) ratio is vital for your mortgage success. A lower LTV ratio reduces interest rates and monthly payments and decreases risk for the lender, making mortgage qualification easier.

Here are some approaches to decrease your LTV ratio:

Make Extra Mortgage Payments: By making additional mortgage payments towards the principal, you can reduce the outstanding loan balance and increase your property equity. This ultimately lowers your LTV ratio and may lead to reduced interest rates.

Increase Down Payment: Making a larger down payment when purchasing a property is another method for lowering your LTV ratio. A more substantial down payment boosts your property equity, decreasing the amount you need to borrow. This leads to a lower LTV ratio and potentially reduced interest rates.

Opt for a Smaller Mortgage Loan: If a larger down payment isn’t feasible, consider decreasing your LTV ratio by applying for a smaller mortgage loan. This may involve exploring less expensive properties or saving for a larger down payment before seeking a mortgage. By borrowing less, you can reduce your LTV ratio and qualify for better mortgage terms.

Benefits of Lowering Your LTV

Reducing your LTV ratio offers several benefits when managing your mortgage. For instance, a lower LTV ratio generally means decreased interest rates, which can help save on monthly payments and over the loan’s life.

A lower LTV ratio can also make mortgage acquisition easier, as it minimizes lender risk. This may result in improved loan terms, such as reduced fees and more favourable repayment schedules.

Lastly, lowering your LTV ratio can help you build equity in your property more rapidly. Decreasing the amount you need to borrow can increase your property equity and potentially accumulate wealth over time.

Your LTV ratio is a critical aspect of managing your mortgage. By employing strategies like making extra mortgage payments, increasing your down payment, or opting for a smaller mortgage loan, you can reduce your LTV ratio and enjoy the benefits of lower interest rates, better loan terms, and accelerated equity building.

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Home Loans for Self-Employed

Buying a home is a significant acquisition that can be more challenging for self-employed individuals and business owners to secure a home loan. Fortunately, several loan products are available to help them navigate the mortgage process and achieve their dream of home ownership.

Types of Home Loans for Self-Employed Individuals and Business Owners

Self-Employed Borrower Home Loan

A Self-Employed Borrower Home Loan is a home loan designed for self-employed individuals who need help meeting traditional loan income verification requirements. This loan product requires documentation such as tax returns and financial statements to verify the borrower’s income. The loan amount that can be borrowed will depend on the borrower’s income, credit score, and other economic factors. Self-Employed Borrower Home Loans typically have more flexible income verification requirements, lower credit score requirements, and lower down payment options than traditional loans, making it easier for self-employed individuals to qualify for a home loan.

No Income Verification Loan

A No Income Verification Loan is a type of home loan that does not require income documentation to be provided by the borrower. Instead, the loan approval is based on the borrower’s credit score and the value of the property being purchased. This loan product is typically used by self-employed individuals or those with irregular income who find it challenging to provide sufficient income documentation to qualify for a traditional loan. No Income Verification Loans may have higher interest rates and stricter qualifications than conventional loans due to the lack of income documentation. However, they offer a more straightforward application process and a faster approval time.

Stated Income Loan

A Stated Income Loan is a type of home loan that allows the borrower to state their income on the loan application without providing any income documentation to verify it. The loan approval is based on the borrower’s credit score and the value of the property being purchased. Stated Income Loans are typically used by self-employed individuals or those with irregular income who have difficulty providing sufficient documentation to qualify for a traditional loan. These loans are also known as “liar loans” since borrowers could overstate their income, making them riskier for lenders. Due to this higher risk, Stated Income Loans may have higher interest rates and stricter qualifications than traditional loans. However, they offer a more straightforward application process and a faster approval time.

Business for Self Loan

A Business Self Loan is a home loan designed for small business owners. This loan product is based on the borrower’s credit score and personal and business income. It allows self-employed individuals to use their business income as a source of income to qualify for the loan. The loan amount that can be borrowed will depend on the borrower’s business income, personal income, and credit score. Businesses for Self Loans typically have more flexible income verification requirements, lower credit score requirements, and lower down payment options than traditional loans, making it easier for small business owners to qualify for a home loan.

No Doc Loan

A No Doc Loan is a home loan that does not require any income or asset documentation from the borrower. The loan approval is based solely on the borrower’s credit score and the value of the property being purchased. No Doc Loans are typically used by self-employed individuals or those with irregular income who have difficulty providing sufficient documentation to qualify for a traditional loan. These loans are considered high-risk due to the lack of income documentation and contributed to the 2008 financial crisis. As a result, No Doc Loans are now more prevalent than they once were and may be harder to find. They may have higher interest rates and stricter qualifications than traditional loans if available due to their higher-risk nature.

Benefits of These Loan Products

One of the key features of these loan products is that they have more flexible income verification requirements, lower credit score requirements, and lower down payment options. These features make it easier for self-employed individuals and business owners to qualify for a home loan.

Consult a Financial Adviser or Mortgage Broker

Notably, these loans may have higher interest rates and stricter qualifications than traditional ones. Therefore, it is always good to consult a financial advisor or mortgage broker before making decisions.

Self-employed individuals and business owners have several loan products available to help them navigate the mortgage process and secure financing. These loan products include self-employed borrower home loans, no income verification loan

Are you curious about how super jumbo mortgages work? They’re not as scary as they sound! Let’s dive into the details and make sense of it all.

People who want to buy a home in Los Angeles can need a super jumbo mortgage to finance their home purchase. “Jumbo” says “large,” but how large are super jumbo mortgages and how do they work?

We’ve put together some of the basics about jumbo mortgages and how they work.

What Are Super Jumbo Mortgages?

Jumbo mortgages are home loans in amounts that exceed the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) limits for government-backed loans. For 2023, the conforming loan limits for Los Angeles County are $1,089,300 for a single family home, ranging up to 2,095,200 for a four-unit property.

Mortgages for more than these amounts are considered “jumbo” mortgages. A loan becomes a “super jumbo” mortgage when it exceeds $650,000, although you will find some lenders who use $1 million as the base for a super jumbo mortgage. 

In Los Angeles County, with a median home sales price of over $1 million, many jumbo mortgages are also automatically “super jumbo” mortgages.

How Do Jumbo Loans Work?

Jumbo mortgages aren’t guaranteed by home loan agencies like Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. As a result, they operate under a different set of criteria.

Whether they are a regular jumbo or a super jumbo mortgage, these loans usually require better credit than smaller mortgages. The reason? Conforming or conventional mortgages can be backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, reducing the lender’s risk. In addition, the larger mortgage amounts also carry additional lending risk.

You will also find that jumbo mortgages require a debt-to-income (DTI) ratio lower than 43%. These mortgages also typically, but not always, require good credit scores.

Do Jumbo Mortgages Have High Interest Rates?

In the past, many jumbo mortgages had higher interest rates than non-jumbo mortgages. However, Investopedia reported that in 2022, some 30-year fixed rate jumbo mortgages had lower interest rates than 30-year fixed-rate conforming mortgages.

Do You Need A High Down Payment For A Jumbo Mortgage?

In previous years, many jumbo mortgage issuers required a 30% down payment for a jumbo loan. This high level of down payment is no longer required. 

Working with an expert mortgage broker, you can determine which jumbo mortgage is right for you. Each borrower’s situation is unique. Contact California Platinum Loans today to learn which super jumbo home loan is right for you.

Sources:

Investopedia Team, “Jumbo Loan,” 21 December 2022

U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, “Maximum Mortgage Limits 2023”