Archive for May, 2009

Mortgage loans & Refinancing: Are “no cost loans” really no cost?

Monday, May 4th, 2009

Buyers are often tempted to jump into refinancing their home loan in order to save a half (or quarter) percent on their existing mortgage. Unfortunately, those “no cost” loans are rarely “no cost”. Here are a few tips to help make sure your loan is a true no cost loan.

Verify how the lender gets paid.

Nine times out of ten, a no cost loan is structured so that a $200,000 loan is refinanced, and the lender gets their pay by inflating the loan. After your “no-cost” refinance, it may seem nice because your payment is $40 or $50 a month cheaper, however, instead of only having 25 years before your loan is paid off, you now are going to take 30 years to pay it off because of the refinance. Not only have you “reset” your amortization schedule, but you now owe $203,000 on the loan you only owed $200,000 on prior to the refinance. Although your monthly payment is lower, and you didn’t pay any money out of pocket (yet) for the loan, it isn’t really a no cost loan. When you go to sell your home you’ll now owe $3000 more than you would have had you not refinanced.

Make sure your loan officer gets paid via the yield spread.

In order to make sure your loan officer gets paid via the yield spread vs. out of your pocket, or by inflating the mortgage loan, ask your loan officer the following question: “If we go through with this refinance, can you please make sure that my loan’s principal balance isn’t a penny more than what it is now, and also make sure that I don’t pay a penny out of my pocket?”

By asking that exact question, you will force your loan officer to make sure they get paid by inflating your interest rate high enough that they get paid via “yield spread” from the loan institution who funds the loan. If they can’t get you such a loan, it is NOT worth refinancing your loan. (For example, if you refinanced a $200,000 loan, you have 3 choices:

(1)Pay about $2000 out of pocket as an “origination fee” to your loan officer and get a 5.5% interest rate.

(2) Pay nothing out of pocket, but get a new loan at $202,000 – $2000 of which will go toward paying your loan officer’s origination fee. (This will also get a 5.5% interest rate)

(3) Refinance your loan at $200,000, pay nothing out of pocket, but take a 5.875% or 6% interest rate. Yes, you’ll have a higher interest rate, but this is the only true “no cost” option. If the interest rate you are given is not better than your existing loan rate, you should NOT refinance your loan.

In a nutshell, option 3 is the only option where your loan officer gets paid without it costing you money out of pocket. If there is a chance you will sell your home within the next couple or few years, you should never refinance with any other option than #3. If you think you will own the home longer than 3 years, options 1 or 2 might be worth your while.

Easy Plans Office Space Venture

Monday, May 4th, 2009

EasyGroup’s innovator, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, is planning to make a return to the industry in the anticipation that the commercial real estate market is reaching the base of its two year decline.

The creator of EasyJet is now looking to take advantage of the current economic situation in London and purchase commercial premises there at depressed prices. With the launch of EasyHotel and EasyOffice, he plans to use these premises for offering a wider array of services for his budget enterprises.

With the property market in London having lost over forty percent of its value since its height back in 2007, Sir Stelios has become interested in the more attractively priced properties now on the market. Even in this climate business are showing an interest in commercial premises in London and there is a demand for office planning advice and services.

Currently, Sir Stelios does not own any real estate in the UK but with prices decreasing for everyone, he can now make a considerably worthwhile investment in the commercial property market for just three-million pounds.

Sir Stelios plans to use these properties as premises for EasyOffice and for converting into hotels in his EasyHotel franchise chain.

Currently, the EasyHotel chain has six branches with four in central London and one each at Luton and Heathrow airports. Now he is looking into developing branches in Gatwick as well as more in central London. He anticipates that the number of branches will double in the next couple of years.

Airsoft Guns – Who Else Wanna Have Fun with Guns?

Sunday, May 3rd, 2009

Invented years ago, Airsoft guns were simply meant for recreational uses. Making use of a small amount of air, Airsoft pistols and rifles shoot abs plastics, paintballs and lightweight BB pellets at low velocities. They are much less destructive, yet still precise enough to have fun with.

As Airsoft guns grow up, more features have been added and they basically have become replicas of famous civilian and military pistols and rifles.

So how can you tell that a certain gun is an Airsoft gun, not a real firearm?

As a federal requirement, all trustworthy Airsoft manufacturers and dealers must use orange barrels or markings for all Airsoft pistols and rifles. This way you can easily identify Airsoft guns from real firearms.

With more up to date and more detailed designs with great durability, Airsoft guns are very appealing for collectors, hobbyists, shooters and all average people who want to work out with their stable eye-hand coordinations.

They have the combination of reality, flexibility and safety. Not to mention that you can purchase Airsoft pistols and rifles at low cost.

Nowadays, Airsoft guns come with many types. You can choose among Airsoft Spring Guns, Airsoft Electric Guns, or Airsoft Gas Guns.

Who else wanna have fun with Airsoft guns?

Which Airsoft guns CAN fulfill your needs? Find cheap Airsoft guns, Airsoft BB guns for sale and Airsoft guns retailers at http://www.AirsoftGunsLover.com