Survey Finds Interest in Sophisticated Loans

Homeowners have a strong interest in sophisticated loan products such as loan modification options and assumable and portable mortgages, according to a survey sponsored by Thornburg Mortgage Inc., a Santa Fe, N.M.-based residential lender.The nationwide survey revealed that when asked if they would "ever use a loan product that let them change the terms of their loan without refinancing" -- a loan modification option -- nearly three-quarters of homeowners participating in the survey (74%) indicated that they would. Nearly six in 10 homeowners (59%) said they would use a loan that let them "transfer their current mortgage to a new property" -- a portable mortgage -- and 56% said they would use a loan option that let them transfer their mortgage to a buyer -- an assumable mortgage, Thornburg reported. Thornburg, which focuses mainly on the jumbo segment of the adjustable-rate mortgage market, can be found online at http://www.thornburgmortgage.com.