7 Key Questions To Ask Your Lender When Getting a Mortgage

Dennis Norman

Before you decide on a mortgage make sure you fully understand all the terms of the loan and make sure you know what you are getting yourself in for. Some home mortgages have features that may be risky and make it difficult for you to make your payments in the future. Be sure that you understand the loan terms, the risks and all the costs of the loan you are getting. To help you, below are 7 key questions to ask your lender about your mortgage BEFORE you accept a loan.

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Almost thirty percent of mortgages in St. Louis are underwater

Dennis Norman
Dennis Norman

According to a report issued by First American CoreLogicmore than 15.2 million U.S. mortgages, or 32.2 percent of all mortgaged properties, are in a negative equity position. In addition, according to the CoreLogic report, there are an additional 2.5 million mortgaged properties that are approaching negative equity. Negative equity and near negative equity mortgages combined account for nearly 38 percent of all residential properties with a mortgage.

firstamerican corelogic
The numbers for St. Louis are a little better than the U.S. numbers. In St. Louis, 170,871, or 29.50 percent of all properties with a mortgage, are in negative equity. A total of 208,259 mortgages, or 35.95 percent, are in near negative equity or negative equity.
The total property value of the property in St. Louis that is at risk of default is over $26.5 billion. By comparison in Chicago there is $134 billion of property at risk of default and $310 billion in Los Angeles.
Negative equity, often referred to as “underwater” or “upside down”, means the borrower owes more on their mortgage than the home is worth. Near negative equity is when mortgages are within five percent of being in a negative equity position. Negative equity can occur because of a decline in value, an increase in mortgage debt or a combination of both.