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Can You Have Two Mortgage Loans

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Purpose Of The Property

Can you have two VA loans at the same time?

The purpose of the property can dictate whether you qualify for a second mortgage. If the property is used as a second or vacation home, the same terms and conditions as a first mortgage apply.

However, if the property is a rental, the bank will be more stringent. The repayment is predicated upon successful collection of rent. The lender will want to see a lease agreement and possibly look at the financial capacity of the tenant. Also, because an investment property poses a higher risk, the lender will have a lower loan-to-value limit, usually 70 to 75 percent. That means on a $100,000 investment property, you may be able to borrow $5,000 to $10,000 less than on a similar owner-occupied residence.

Is A Remortgage A Second Mortgage

A remortgage is not a second mortgage. Remortgaging means you are either switching your mortgage deal by moving it to another mortgage – normally cheaper with the same lender or paying off your mortgage by switching to another mortgage lender. Remortgaging is normally done to either save money when your current fixed or discount rate expires or to turn some of the equity in your home into cash you can spend now without moving house.

Research Current Mortgage Rates

Researching mortgage rates, fees, and lenders is an important step in your real estate journey.

While your loan terms and rate will be dependent on qualifying factors including your debttoincome ratio, FICO score, and the type of mortgage understanding the lending landscape before venturing into the home buying process will help you make more informed decisions.

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How To Apply For A Second Mortgage

If you’re planning to apply for a second mortgage, beware that the stricter affordability checks are likely to make it much harder to be approved.

This means you should prepare evidence that your income can cover the cost of paying for two mortgages over a long period of time.

Also, try to reduce any spending well before applying to have a better chance.

Tips on how to get a second mortgage:

  • Reduce your spending and cut back on subscriptions and other bills well before applying

  • Prepare proof that your income can cover two concurrent mortgages

  • Compare mortgages across the market to find the best deal for you

  • Make plans for your second home as this will affect your mortgage will you rent it out, move into it, or use it as a holiday home?

  • Consider trying to repay your first mortgage early

Lien Position Affects Mortgage Approval

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One thing that you may not consider — but is very important to the lender — is lien position. A lender approves a loan based on the idea that the lien it files will be in a specific position. A purchase mortgage is approved with the idea that it will be first position while equity loans are often second position. Often, this process happens organically since you can’t purchase the house without a mortgage, and you can’t get an equity until you purchase the house.

But if you refinance your first mortgage, the new loan will go into second position behind the equity, making it difficult to follow through with a refinance without subordinating or refinancing the equity as well. This is something to consider when carrying two home loans.

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How A Second Mortgage Works

A second mortgage is a loan that’s secured by your home, just as your first mortgage is. But it’s an extra loan you take out on a property that’s already mortgaged. The mortgage is referred to as “second” because it’s in line for payment behind the first lender. This loan will be paid second if you can’t pay your mortgages and your home must be sold to pay off the debts.

Interest rates on second mortgages tend to be a bit higher. The lender involved in the second mortgage will receive money in the event of default only if there’s any left after the first mortgage is paid off. Higher interest makes up for this risk.

A second mortgage carries similar risks as a first mortgage if you fail to make payments on the loan, including the risk of foreclosure.

There are two common types of second mortgages. Home equity loans are “closed-end” second loans. You receive the loan proceeds all at once. You can’t draw from them again after you use them up. Home equity lines of credit are “open-end” loans. You can draw up to certain credit limits, pay down the balance, then draw up to the limits again.

The Advantages Of A Piggyback Mortgage

People often take out piggyback mortgages to avoid private mortgage insurance. Also known as PMI, this is the insurance policy that the lender requires you to have when youre putting less than 20% down on the home. If you were to default on the mortgage, PMI ensures that the lender is able to regain the amount of money that was lost.

The amount you have to pay for PMI varies based on the size of your loan. Typically, its between 0.3% and 1.5% of the loan value. And when you go with a piggyback mortgage, the PMI rules dont apply, so it doesnt factor into your monthly mortgage payment calculation.

This kind of loan can make sense if youre planning to borrow a substantial amount. Jumbo loans are mortgages that exceed the loan limits set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Some jumbo borrowers choose to get two mortgages because they can get a lower interest rate on the first loan. This also gives the option of paying off the second loan quickly and saving on interest payments.

As an added benefit, you can deduct the interest you pay on both the loans from your taxes. Just keep in mind that the mortgage on the second loan is only deductible up to the first $100,000.

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How Do Mortgages Work

Mortgages on your home are usually considered individual loans and analyzed in terms of positions. The position called lien position of each mortgage is the order of priority with which the law will recognize the lenders claims against property in foreclosure.

A lien refers to the lenders right to seize and possess a property when a borrower defaults on their repayment. The lien position of a mortgage determines its priority as well as when it gets paid in a foreclosure.

This means that in a foreclosure, after selling the house, the first-position mortgage gets paid first. Then the remaining money is used to pay the second-position mortgage. Third-position mortgages are rare. But why is it that you cant generally get more than two mortgages on your home?

How Hard Is It To Get A Second Mortgage

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Because your second mortgage will be subordinate to your primary home loan, your lender will likely have stricter requirements than those for your original mortgage. You might need a higher credit score, and your interest rate may be higher than your first loan . You’ll also need to demonstrate that you can handle another loan payment.

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Common Uses Of Second Mortgages

Consider how you plan to use the funds from your loan. Its best to put that money toward something that will improve your net worth in the future. That is because youll need to repay these loans, theyre risky, and they cost a lot of money. Here are a few common ways to use a second mortgage.

  • Home improvements: Renovations are a common use for second mortgage funds because the assumption is that youll repay the loan when you sell your home with a higher sales price.
  • Avoiding private mortgage insurance : It might be possible to avoid PMI with a combination of loans. For example, an 80/10/10 strategy or piggyback loan uses a second mortgage to keep your primary mortgage’s loan-to-value ratio at or below 80%. Just make sure it makes sense, compared to payingand then cancelingPMI.
  • Debt consolidation: You can often get a lower rate with a second mortgage, but you might be switching from unsecured loans to a loan that could cost you your house.
  • Education: You may be able to set yourself up for a higher income. But as with other situations, youre creating a situation where you could face foreclosure. Standard student loans might be a better option.

Beware of risky loan features like balloon payments and prepayment penalties.

Whats Required To Get A Second Mortgage

Remember, second mortgages are risky for lenders because if your home is foreclosed, the lender of your first mortgage gets dibs on your house. So, when it comes to issuing second mortgages, heres what lenders will want to know:

  • You have good credit. If youve had trouble paying off your first mortgage, good luck getting a second one. You must prove to your lender that you consistently pay your mortgage paymentsotherwise, they wont consider your application.
  • You have equity. In most cases, lenders want an appraiser to look at your house and calculate your equity. While you can get a rough estimate based on how much mortgage remains and how many payments youve made, an appraiser will take a closer look at the market value of your home to give an accurate number.
  • You dont have a lot of debt. Just like when you applied for your first mortgage, lenders want to know you have a steady income and youre not up to your neck in debt. Your lender will want to review your pay stubs, tax returns and bank statements.

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Can I Get A Second Mortgage

A second mortgage, despite not being linked to your current home or existing mortgage, still poses an indirect risk to it. If you are unable to repay your second mortgage, then you may decide to use your existing property as a financial backup and sell it to raise the funds you need.

However, this last resort is not as bad as it sounds because your second mortgage means you are the owner of a new property, which you could move into in the event that you had to sell your existing home.

What Are The Barriers To Getting Multiple Equity Loans

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If you have outstanding home equity debt on your property, youll want to note the following restrictions that might prevent you from obtaining another loan:

Loan Caps

Some home equity lenders have maximum loan caps, regardless of your equity position, so it may make sense to borrower from another lender to access your equity. For example, if your bank has a $250,000 limit on their HELOC, but you own the entirety of a $750,000 home, you may need to apply for a second HELOC with another lender if you wish to borrow more than $250,000.

No Expansions on Existing Loans

If youve taken on a fixed-rate home equity loan, but now need additional funding, you may not be able to add onto the original financing. You would have to create a new loan for the additional amount.

Soliciting Multiple Loans

Its very important to make sure youre not “doubledipping” and that each lender knows about all of your outstanding debts. Shopping around for the best offer is a good way to obtain the best home equity rates however, applying for and attempting to close on multiple loans simultaneously while not disclosing this to each lender would be considered mortgage fraud. Obviously, they cant use the same equity stake to secure two different loans.

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Are Second Mortgage Rates Higher Than First Mortgage Rates

Second mortgage rates are likely to be higher than first mortgage rates simply because the lender with the second mortgage will be second in line to be paid should you fall into foreclosure. However, second mortgage rates still may be lower than rates on unsecured debt like personal loans or credit cards.

Using One Mortgage To Get A Second Property

In the event that your first property has equity, but still a mortgage, you might be able to take a cash-out equity loan to use as a down payment on the second property. While this becomes a third mortgage , it can help offset potential monthly expenses if you can put enough money down on the second property to avoid private mortgage insurance. The savings on PMI might help with the DTI ratio and turn the tide to approval.

References

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How We Calculate Our Mortgage Rates

To get an idea of where mortgage rate may move, we rely on information collected by Bankrate, which is owned by the same parent company as NextAdvisor. The daily rates survey focuses on home loans where the borrower has a 740+ FICO score, a LTV of 80% or lower, and lives in the home.

The table below compares todays average rates to what they were a week ago, and is based on information provided to Bankrate by lenders from across the nation:

Average mortgage interest rates

Carrying Two Mortgages At Once

Can you have two VA loans at the same time?

Buyers who have enough income can carry two mortgage payments at once if they still meet the debt-to-income ratios required by their lenders.

For instance, if the total of both of your mortgage payments your current one and estimated new one will come out to $3,000 a month, your other monthly expenses equal $1,000, your lender will consider your monthly debts to be $4,000. If you have a gross monthly income your income before taxes are taken out of $10,000, your debt-to-income ratio will be 40 percent, just under the 43 percent that many lenders use as a guideline today.

You, then, might be able to qualify for two mortgages at once, if your credit score and job status are also strong. But if your income isnt high enough? Then its time to think about a contingency offer.

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How Many Different Lenders Should I Apply To For A Mortgage

While the number of different lenders that borrowers should apply with depends on an individuals home buying process, research conducted by Freddie Mac provides borrowers with some guidance.

Freddie Mac shows that homebuyers who submitted loan applications multiple times reduced their chances of unfavorably high mortgage rates by nearly 5%. While homebuyers who only conducted one search, routinely paid higher mortgage rates than other borrowers.

Furthermore, homebuyers who searched at least five times got lower mortgage rates than borrowers who compared only three quotes.

So aim to apply with at least three mortgage lenders. But if you can, get quotes from five or more. The more lenders you apply with, the better your chances of finding an ultralow rate.

What Do I Need To Qualify For Another Home Equity Loan

Lenders will evaluate the following three factors when considering you for additional home equity financing: your propertys combined loan-to-value ratio, your ability to repay the loan and your credit profile.

While a deficiency in one category wont necessarily preclude you from qualifying for a loan, keep in mind that it may be more difficult to qualify, especially if youre significantly leveraged from your existing debts.

Combined Loan-to-Value Ratio :

All home equity lenders have requirements limiting how much equity you can take out of your home. Many are capped at 90% CLTV, although a few programs offer up to 100% in financing. For a subsequent home equity loan or HELOC, that requirement might drop to an 80% CLTV due to the higher risk the lender would be taking.

Ability to Repay:

Home equity lenders, like traditional mortgage lenders, are interested in ensuring your ability to repay the loan. They will use your income information, debt-to-income ratio, and proof of assets to underwrite your loan. Keep in mind that too much leverage from existing debts and poor credit history may harm your ability to obtain another loan.

Many home equity lenders have minimum credit score requirements that range from 620 to 700. However, the best interest rates and terms are usually reserved for credit scores of 720+. Lenders may also require higher credit scores if you have a higher combined LTV.

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What About The Best Rate

Everyone wants to get the best mortgage rate and terms. That said, a little caution is in order.

The best rate depends on a lot of factors. The best rate for Ms. Green may be different from the best rate for Mr. Johnson. This can happen because Ms. Green has a better credit score, is putting more down, has bigger savings and is financing with a fixed-rate loan instead of an ARM. In addition, mortgage rates are always in flux they change constantly.

Mortgage shoppers need to look for a lender who can deliver the best rate available for the borrower at the time of application. You cant know the best available rate without checking among several lenders.

How Does A Second Mortgage Work

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The equity you have in your home is a valuable asset, but unlike more liquid assets like cash, it isnt typically something that you can utilize.

A second mortgage, however, allows you to use your homes equity and put it to work. Instead of having that money tied up in your home, its available for expenses you have right now. This can be a help or a hindrance, depending on your financial goals.

Specific requirements for getting approved for a second mortgage will depend on the lender you work with. However, the most basic requirement is that you have some equity built up in your home.

Your lender will likely only allow you to take out a portion of this equity, depending on what your home is worth and your remaining loan balance on your first mortgage, so that you still have a certain amount of equity left in your home .

To be approved for a second mortgage, youll likely need a credit score of at least 620, though individual lender requirements may be higher. Plus, remember that higher scores correlate with better rates. Youll also probably need to have a debt-to-income ratio thats lower than 43%.

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