The year was built the home is useful in determining the date of maturity of the loan. The idea is that the length of the mortgage should not survive the remaining economic life of the structure that serves as collateral. Note, however, age is just a part of this decision because the age should be considered in light of the maintenance and repair of the structure and quality of its construction.

Loan-value ratios

The mortgage lender reviews the next payment amount the borrower intends to make the size of the loan requested and the amount of financing the borrower plans to use. This information is then converted into loan-to-value ratios. In general, the more money the borrower puts in the deal, the loan insurance is that the mortgage lender. In an unsecured home loan, the ideal of value-loan from a lender in owner-occupied residential property is 70% or less. This means that property values would fall more than 30% before the debt would exceed the value of the property, thereby encouraging the borrower to stop making mortgage payments. Due to the almost constant inflation in housing prices since the 40s, very few residential properties have been reduced by 30% or more of its value.

Loan-value ratios of 70% to 80% are considered acceptable, but to present the highest risk mortgage lender. Lenders sometimes compensate by charging slightly higher interest rates. Loan-value ratios above 80% at a higher risk of default to the lender and the lender or to increase the interest rate charged on these loans or housing that would require an insurer, such as FHA or a private insurer mortgage, is provided by the borrower.

Funds for closing mortgage payment

The lender will then want to know if the borrower has sufficient funds for the settlement (closing). These funds are currently in a checking or savings account, or from the sale of the borrower’s current property? In the latter case, the mortgage lender knows this loan depends on the other end. If the payment and liquidation of the loan funds, the lender will have to be more cautious because experience has shown that the smaller of their own money a borrower makes a purchase, the greater the probability of failure and exclusion.

Purpose of mortgage

The lender is also interested in the proposed use of the property. Mortgage lenders feel more comfortable when a mortgage loan for the purchase or improvement of property of a loan applicant actually occupy. This is because owner-occupants usually have the pride of ownership in maintaining their property and even in poor economic conditions will continue to make monthly payments. An owner-occupier also realizes that if he / she stops paying, they will have to leave and pay for housing elsewhere.

If the applicant’s home loan to buy a house for rent as an investment, the lender will be more cautious. This is because during periods of high vacancy, the property can not generate sufficient income to meet loan payments. At that time, a bundle of cash by the borrower is likely to default. Also note that lenders generally avoid loans secured by real estate purely speculative. If the property value falls below the amount owed, the borrower can not see the logic in making loan payments.

Finally, the mortgage lender evaluates the borrower’s attitude toward the proposed loan. An informal, like “I’m buying real estate because it always goes up”, or an applicant who does not seem to understand the obligation being undertaken would score low here. Much more welcome is the home loan applicant to show a mature attitude and understanding of the mortgage obligation and which demonstrates a strong desire and sense of ownership.

Borrower Analysis

The next step is the mortgage lender to begin an analysis of the borrower, and if there is one, the co-borrower. At one time, age, sex and marital status played an important role in the decision of the lender to lend or not lend. Often, young and old had trouble getting housing loans, as well as women and people who were single, divorced or widowed. Today, the Federal Equal Credit Opportunity Act prohibits discrimination based on age, sex, race and marital status. Mortgage lenders are no longer allowed to offset income earned by women, even if it is from part-time jobs or because they are women of childbearing age. The house applicant decides disclose it, alimony, separate maintenance and child support must be counted in full. Young adults and single persons can not be rejected because the lender does not feel “put down roots.” Seniors may not be rejected, if life expectancy exceeds the early period of the loan and risk guarantee is sufficient. In other words, the emphasis on analyzing the borrower is now in stable employment, adequate income, net worth and credit rating.

Mortgage lenders will ask questions to the duration of the plaintiffs have maintained their current jobs and the stability of the jobs themselves. Lender acknowledges that the loan will be required monthly and want to make sure the applicants have a regular monthly income of cash in an amount large enough to meet the payment of the mortgage loan and the rest of their expenses subsistence. Therefore, an applicant possesses the skills and the labor market has been employed with a stable employer is considered the ideal risk. People whose incomes go up and down erratically as in charge of sales, this increased risk. People whose skills (or lack of skills) or lack of job seniority in unemployment are often more likely to have difficulty paying a mortgage. The mortgage lender also investigates the number of dependents, the applicant must support their income. This information provides an idea of how much is left to the monthly payments for the house.

Home loan applicants monthly income

The lender is the amount and sources of income of applicants. Quantity alone is not enough loan approval for home, sources of income must also be stable. Therefore, a lender will pay for overtime, bonuses and commissions, to estimate the levels at which they can reasonably expect to continue. Interest, dividends and rental income is considered in light of the stability of their sources. Under the heading “other income” category, income from alimony, child support, social security, pensions, public assistance, etc. is introduced and added to the total applicants.

The lender will then compare what the plaintiffs have been paid for housing which will be paying if the loan is approved. Included in the total project cost of housing are the main interest, taxes and insurance, together with any assessments or home association fees (as in a condominium or townhomes). Some mortgage lenders add the monthly cost of utilities to this list.

A proposed monthly housing expenses compared to gross monthly income. A general rule is that monthly housing costs (PITI) should not exceed 25% to 30% of gross monthly income. A second guideline is that total fixed monthly expenses should not exceed 33% to 38% of revenues. This includes housing payments, over payments car loan payments for installation, maintenance, child support, and investments with negative cash flows. These are general guidelines, but mortgage lenders recognize that food, medical care, clothing, transportation, entertainment and income taxes must also be the applicants’ income.

Liabilities and Assets

The lender is interested in the application of the sources of funds for closure and if, once the loan is granted, applicants have to use the assets in the event of a decline in revenue (a job lay-off ) or unexpected expenses, such as hospital bills. Of particular interest is the portion of the assets that are cash or easily convertible into cash within a few days. These are called liquid assets. If income drops, they are much more useful in meeting the costs of mortgage payments and that the assets that may require months to sell and convert into cash, ie, the assets are liquid.

A mortgage lender also considers two values for the holders of life insurance. Cash value is the amount of money that the insured would receive if you surrendered your policy or, alternatively, the amount he / she can borrow against the policy. The nominal amount is the amount to be paid in case of death of the insured. Mortgage lenders are more comfortable if the nominal amount of the policy equals or exceeds the amount of the proposed mortgage. Amounts are less satisfactory than the proposed loan or none at all. Obviously the death of a borrower is not expected before the loan is repaid, but the lenders to recognize that increases the probability of default. The risk of foreclosure is considerably reduced if the survivors receive the benefits of life insurance.

A lender is interested in the application of existing liabilities and debts for two reasons. First, these issues are going to compete against each month living expenses for the monthly disposable income. Therefore the high monthly payments can reduce the size of the loan to the lender calculates that applicants can pay. The presence of negative monthly liabilities is not all: You can also show the mortgage lender that plaintiffs are able to pay its debts. Second, applicants of the total mortgage debt is subtracted from the total of their assets for their net worth. If the result is negative (owe more than property), mortgage loan application will probably be rejected as too risky. In contrast, a substantial net worth can often compensate for deficiencies elsewhere in the application, as very little monthly income in relation to the monthly cost of housing.

Records of past credit

Lenders consider the request of the history of debt repayment as an indicator of the future. A credit report shows that no derogatory information is most desirable. Applicants without prior experience of credit will carry more weight on earnings and employment history. Applicants with a history of collections, judgments or adverse bankruptcy in the last three years will have to convince the mortgage lender that the loan will be repaid on time. In addition, applicants may be considered poor if the risks are guaranteed the repayment of the debt of another person, acting as a co-maker or endorser. Finally, the lender may take into consideration whether the applicants have adequate insurance protection in case of major medical expenses or a disability that prevents return to work.

When a mortgage lender will not provide a loan on a property, one must seek alternative sources of funding or lose the right to buy the house.

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The worker shortage

Fewer employees might translate to more profit for some industries, but this is not the case for the construction industry. According to James R. Bogonet of Bogonet Construction Associates Inc., a D.C. firm that specializes in building and renovating interior office space:

“I’ve had to go out and work weekends to keep a project on schedule. The construction industry is suffering a severe worker shortage that is helping drive up the cost of development, including wages and office rental rates.”

The trend is continuous, because as early as year 2000 more than 240,000 jobs related to the construction industry are glossed over for higher-paying jobs. It’s a case of double jeopardy- if the firms do not pay enough, they don’t get staffed. But they lose immense profit when they do pay higher salaries to construction workers. The problem is cyclical.

Prices are going up, up, up…

According to Engineering News-Record, an industry publication: “National construction costs are up 2.3 percent this year.”

The problem calls for more capital outlay on the part of the clients, because to handle for the backlog due to shortage of workers and even tighter deadlines because of being understaffed, it takes $125-$150 to construct a single square foot of office space in the prime areas of United States.

This figure exponentially rises when we’re talking about the largest buildings and skyscrapers that are either leased or rented out to individual office-space holders.

Subcontractors decline

Smaller outfits are being more selective because of the relative shortage of manpower in the construction business. According to David Dempsey, a senior vice president for Spaulding & Slye Colliers, a development and construction group in the District:

“Ten years ago, if you put out a bid for masonry work, you might get twenty some responses. Today, you’re lucky if you get six.”

As we can see here, the construction industry is experiencing a very tight labor market. In the event that such labor conditions exists, every cost rises to match the unceasing demand. On the other hand, when labor is plenty, the prices drop because of the distributive quality of supply and demand scales.

According to Andrew Craig, vice president of construction and design for Staubach Co., an international commercial real estate brokerage:

“There is so much demand for development in this area that the problem takes on more urgency. We have to be more strategic, more nimble. They (the clients) want to know, `Why am I paying $50,000 for something I paid $30,000 for last year?’ You have to help them understand what’s happening in the marketplace.”

Craig’s analysis is quite dynamic because it highlights a basic truth about all industries- that in the end, if the market is sluggish, everything topples to the ground.

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