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Packing Tips - Moving to Las Vegas

As you navigate your way through the process of purchasing your Las Vegas home, we offer definitions to the following terms: Bi-weekly Mortgage, FHA Loans, Foreclosures, Guaranteed Replacement Insurance, Impound Accounts, Lock-In Loans, Mortgage Credit Certificate Program, PMI and Title Report and VA Loan.

Bi-weekly Mortgage. Monthly payments are divided in half, payable every two weeks. Because there are 52 weeks in a year, the program results in 26 half-payments, or the equivalent of 13 monthly payments per year instead of 12. Using the biweekly payment system, a homeowner with a $70,000, 30-year biweekly mortgage at 10 percent interest could save $60,000 in interest and pay off the balance in less than 21 years.

FHA Loans. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development offers a variety of loan insurance programs through the Federal Housing Administration which require approximately 3 to 5 percent cash down. FHA loan limits vary depending on the county where the property is located. FHA loans administered by HUD are originated by private lenders. For more information, contact lenders who offer FHA loans or a regional HUD office.

Foreclosures. Lenders will initiate foreclosure proceedings when homeowners become delinquent in their mortgage obligations, usually after three payments are missed. The lender will then notify the buyer in writing that he or she is in default. The lender can request a trustee's sale or a judicial foreclosure, in which the property is sold at public auction. A borrower can cure the default by paying the overdue amount and the pending payment after the notice of default is recorded, usually no later than a few days before the property's sale. Some sales allow the successful bidder to take possession immediately. If the former owner refuses to vacate the premises, the court can issue an unlawful detainer that allows the sheriff to come out and evict them. Borrowers should do everything they can to avoid foreclosure, which is one of the most damaging events that can occur in an individual's credit history.

Guaranteed Replacement Insurance. Guaranteed replacement insurance is a more comprehensive policy. It tends to cost more, but it promises to cover the complete costs -- less deductible -- of replacing a destroyed house. With these sorts of policies, limits on the policies are not as common, because complete coverage is more explicit.

Impound Account. An impound account is a trust account established by the lender to hold money to pay for real estate taxes, and mortgage and homeowners insurance premiums as they are received each month.

Lock In Loans. Locking in a mortgage rate with a lender is one way to ensure that same rate still will be available when you need it. Lock-ins make sense when borrowers expect rates to rise during the next 30 to 60 days, which is the usual length of time lock-ins are available. A lock-in given at the time of application is useful because it may take the lender several weeks or longer to prepare a loan application (though automated loan practices are cutting this time dramatically). However, some lenders require borrowers to pay lock-in fees to assure particular rates and terms. Be sure to check that the rates and points are guaranteed and that your lock-in period is long enough. If your lock-in expires, most lenders will offer the loan based on the prevailing interest rate and points. Lenders may have preprinted forms that set out the exact terms of the lock-in agreement. Others may only make an oral lock-in promise on the telephone or at the time of application

Mortgage Credit Certificate Program. The Mortgage Credit Certificate program allows first-time home buyers to take advantage of a special federal income tax credit. This program allows buyers credit in qualifying for the tax advantage they'll receive after they purchase the home. The amount of the credit is tied to a local formula that every city with an MCC program must follow. A MCC credit, which can total $2,000 or more, reduces the borrower's federal tax liability by an amount tied to how much one pays in annual mortgage interest. Both the borrower's income and the purchase price of the home must fall within established guidelines. To see if your community has an MCC program, call your local housing or redevelopment agency. You also may inquire with your real estate broker or the local association of Realtors.

PMI. Private mortgage insurance, or PMI, insures the lender against a default. It is required when the borrower is making a cash down payment of less than 20 percent of the purchase price. PMI costs vary from one mortgage insurance firm to another, but premiums usually run about 0.50 percent of the loan amount for the first year of the loan. Most PMI premiums are a bit lower for subsequent years. The first year's mortgage insurance premium is usually paid in advance at the close of escrow, and there is usually a separate PMI approval process. Lenders generally turn to a list of companies with whom they regularly work when lining up private mortgage insurance. In most cases, PMI can be dropped after the loan to value ration drops below 80 percent. The Homeowners Protection Act requires PMI to be dropped when the loan-to-value ratio reaches 78 percent of the home's original value AND the loan closed after July 29, 1999. For other loans, find out from your lender what procedure to follow to have PMI removed when your equity reaches 20 percent. For homeowners who have improved their properties and believe that their equity has increased as a result of these improvements, refinancing the property at a loan-to-value ratio of 80 percent or less is another possible way of eliminating PMI payments.

Title Report. As much as you as a buyer may want to believe that the home you have found is perfect, a clear title report ensures there are no liens placed against the prior owners or any documents that will restrict your use of the property. A preliminary title report provides you with an opportunity to review any impediment that would prevent clear title from passing to you. When reading a preliminary report, it is important to check the extent of your ownership rights or interest. The most common form of interest is "fee simple" or "fee," which is the highest type of interest an owner can have in land. Liens, restrictions and interests of others excluded from title coverage will be listed numerically as exceptions in the report. You also may have to consider interests of any third parties, such as easements granted by prior owners that limit use of the property. Some buyers attempt to clear these unwanted items prior to purchase. A list of standard exceptions and exclusions not covered by the title insurance policy may be attached. This section includes items the buyer may want to investigate further, such as any laws governing building and zoning.

VA Loans. Veterans Administration loans, which are available to veterans, reservists and military personnel, are attractive because the buyer is not required to make a down payment. The maximum loan amount the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will insure varies by region. There is no restriction on the purchase price as long as you have the cash to make up the difference between the loan amount and the purchase price. For the nearest regional office of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, call (800) 827-1000.

Contact us if we can offer further information on the real estate process. And for a listing of all available homes in the Las Vegas Valley, use the Free Las Vegas Homes MLS Search.