Three Uses For Your Home Equity Loan

The home equity loan has become one of the most popular lending choices available to consumers. Remember that equity refers to the difference between what is owed in on the property and its value. If you’ve made a good investment, you could have a boatload of equity in your home but the question is how to wisely use that home equity loan.

Use #1 – Consolidate Debt

Probably the most common way to use a home equity loan is for debt consolidation. Most of the time, these loans have lower interest rates than other types of debt. For example, the average credit card interest rate is around 16%. If you are struggling to pay back all of those smaller examples of debt, you can use the funds from home equity loans to pay them all off and free up some cash. You’ll end up with a lower interest rate and a better debt to income ratio in some cases.

The biggest problem with taking this route is that if you’re the type of person who runs up a lot of debt, you may end up repeating the process once your credit cards are freed up thanks to the home equity loan. These actions could lead you down a financially disastrous road.

Use #2 – Children’s Education

If you have kids going to college, you may also consider using a home equity loan to pay for that education. College costs are increasing every year so this could be a wise choice and could help prevent your child from starting out in life with too much debt. While this is an idea worth considering, there are some drawbacks.

First, you also have to consider whether or not you’ll need to access your home’s equity during your own retirement. These two life milestones tend to go hand in hand and this might be a good time to put your own needs first, especially if your child has other funding options. Be sure that he or she explores all options, including federal grants, federal student loans, and scholarships. Another idea is for you to take out a federal PLUS loan using your home as collateral.

Use #3 – Fixing Up the Home

The second most common use for a home equity loan is repairs and improvements to the property. The basic idea is that the changes will actually improve the value of the home which means more equity. Plus, if there are major repairs needed and you can’t afford them in any other way, this is definitely a resort you can choose.

Be aware though that not all of the changes you add are going to boost the value of your home. You also need to realize that your home’s value is also closely tied to the neighborhood in which you live. If you are going to do repairs, consider focusing on the kitchens and bathrooms because these changes are the most likely to increase value.


Do you need additional good ideas on how to use the funds from a Home Equity Loan? You’ll find more ideas by visiting http://www.homemortgageloan-refinance.com/Home-Equity-Loan-Best-Deals.php.

Loan Modification (For those still current with their payments)

These days, loan modification is a popular topic. Everyone is talking about loan modification programs and most are interested to find out if loan modification is a possibility for them.

Are you wondering if loan modification is for you and if you qualify for it?

If you have suffered a hardship that has reduced your income, you very likely could qualify for a loan modification. Having a source of stable monthly income, is a huge aid in getting a loan modification. Occupying your home as a permanent residence is also another issue that can help you to get a loan modification.

Many people think that loan modification only works for those that are behind with their house payments. In fact, many people that are current with their home mortgages can benefit with mortgage modification. If you are current on your home mortgage but having a hard time keeping up with the payments, a loan modification might work for you. If your house value has dropped and you're one of the many homeowners that owe more on the house than it is worth, a loan modification might work for you. If you're having financial difficulties due to a cut in pay from your job or almost any other reason, a loan modification might work for you. If your mortgage is adjustable, modification might help by getting the mortgage changed to a fixed rate. If your mortgage is already a fixed rate, a modification could result in lowering your existing rate and thus lowering the payments too.

If you're current with your mortgage right now but worried about the next payment or if you're simply worried about the negative equity of your home, you need to find out if loan modification can help. Most lenders today only want to help those that are already late with their home mortgage payments. In fact, even if you are only ONE day late, the mortgage lender is more inclined to provide modification assistance faster than someone that is 100% current. Lenders these days are overwhelmed with applications for loan modification and they are most interested in helping those that are late and already in foreclosure.

Even if you're current right now with your home mortgage payment it might be too much to add the expense of getting an attorney to represent you with a loan modification. There is assistance available for help with loan modification. Free help programs are available and it is possible to do it yourself. The best results for loan modification will usually come from good representation by an attorney. Many things in life we can do on our own but that doesn't mean we can do them better than professionals. With loan modification, banks and lenders are willing to make the modifications and in fact they are getting incentives from the government for modifying home loans. The trouble is, when an individual goes to a lender on their own, the results are usually much less than if they had an attorney to present their case. Many homeowners in need of modification go to the lender directly and they are happy when the lender adjusts their loan and gives them a lower payment. After all, isn't that what it's all about….to get a lower house payment? Yes, it's true BUT, if the individual had hired an attorney to represent them, maybe they would have had the payment lowered for a longer length of time and they might even get some principal reduction on the loan. Most definitely an attorney can bring the best results for loan modification just as having an attorney in court usually increases your chances of success. Attorneys know the ins and outs of the lenders and they know the full benefits available. Attorneys can get better results and when you're talking about a 30 year mortgage the additional savings you can get by having proper representation can make a huge difference in the results.

Most people know that hiring an attorney is the best way for good results with loan modification. For many people, the additional cost to hire an attorney makes it prohibitive. So you say, what IS the answer? The answer to many people has become very simple.....instead of paying the home mortgage payment, they are paying the attorney to represent them. This isn't the answer for everyone but for many people this is working. It is working for people that can show that the bills they have are high in relationship to their home mortgage. At the same time, the lender needs to see that if the payment is modified that you will be able to make the new payment. When the people can't pay for the home mortgage payment AND an attorney, they are sometimes choosing to pay the attorney instead. This works because once the attorney has received the payment and the necessary documentation for loan modification, they contact the mortgage lender. Once the lender has been notified that the attorney is representing the case, the lender doesn't call about any late payment on the loan. Additionally, the lender is more responsive to the attorney in getting the modification done because they want to minimize the number of missed payments that can occur during the modification process. This means, the faster they work the faster that the loan is reinstated to current. Usually it still takes a little time and when it does, the homeowners get added benefits of missing another payment or two which gives a little financial relief right away. These missed payments are then made part of the negotiation done by the attorney for the loan modification. Find out about help for homeowners here. National Debt Solution Center


We never want to be part of your problem. NDSC will always give you the right advice so you can make the right decision about if modification could work for you. We have the solutions you need.
National Debt Solution Center

Mortgage Rates Spike Up Rapidly

Mortgage Rates spiked up this week. The 30 year rate jumped from 4.91 to 5.29. This is the highest we have seen mortgage rates all year. Last week mortgage rates moved from 4.82 to 4.91 last week. What is interesting is that in two weeks mortgage rates have moved from near all time lows (the all time low was 4.78) to the highest point of the year. The 15 year rate moved up from 4.53 to 4.79. We did not see as much movement in the arms. The 5 year arm rose from 4.82 to 4.85 and the 1 year arm moved from 4.69 to 4.81.

Two weeks ago 30 year rates and 1 and 5 year arms were all hovering around 4.8 making the arms somewhat pointless. There is no reason to get an ARM when one can get a 30 year fixed mortgage for the same rate. With the sudden rise in the 30 year rate the arms have become relevant again. I still think the 30 year mortgage product is preferable over the arms even at current rates. Although 30 year mortgage rates have risen the expectation is that they will continue to rise for the rest of the year. Below are rates for the last few weeks as well as from 6 months ago.

Jun 04, 2009

30-yr 5.29 15-yr 4.79 5-yr ARM 4.85 1-yr ARM 4.81

May 28, 2009

30-yr 4.91 15-yr 4.53 5-yr ARM 4.82 1-yr ARM 4.69

May 21, 2009

30-yr 4.82 15-yr 4.50 5-yr ARM 4.79 1-yr ARM 4.82

May 14, 2009

30-yr 4.86 15-yr 4.52 5-yr ARM 4.82 1-yr ARM 4.71

May 07, 2009

30-yr 4.84 15-yr 4.51 5-yr ARM 4.90 1-yr ARM 4.78

Dec 04, 2008

30-yr 5.53 15-yr 5.33 5-yr ARM 5.77 1-yr ARM 5.02

In addition to mortgage rates we also like to look at mortgage payments. Using our mortgage calculator we translated today's mortgage rates into a monthly payment on a 200k loan. We did the same thing with rates from last week and rates from December 4, 2008 (6 months ago).

Jun 04

30-yr $1109.36

15-yr $1559.79

5-yr ARM $1055.38

1-yr ARM $1050.53

May 28

30-yr $1062.66

15-yr $1533.05

5-yr ARM $1051.74

1-yr ARM $1036.07

Dec 04

30-yr $1139.34

15-yr $1616.18

5-yr ARM $1169.68

1-yr ARM $1076.08

Usually there is not too much difference from week to week. That is not true this week. The payment on a 200k loan has risen 46.7 or about 4.4 percent. Payments are down 2.63 percent from what they would have been 6 months ago.

So what is our advice to people looking for a home? Unfortunately I think mortgage rates will continue to rise so it's probably best to lock in rates now. Second although arms are a viable option I would still take the 30 year rate over the 1 or 5 year arm. There are some expectations this recent rise is just the tip of the iceberg and we could see rates above 12 percent before this is over with.


Ki maintains a website about Austin Texas. His site also provides information on mortgage rates along with a free mortgage calculator.

How To Repair Your Credit?

These days its not hard find ourselves a little over our heads when it comes to debt. This can lower our credit score and cause our credit reports to be filled by creditors with late and past-due payment notices. When you find yourself in such a situation, a credit repair company can work to lower your payments and rebuild your good credit rating.

First you have to provide a copy of your credit report. The federal government provides a complimentary credit report to each person who requests one yearly via their FTC. In order to determine what steps you need to take, you must check out your credit report.

After you see your report you will see where your score fits in with financial institutions. Banks and other creditors look at scores this way: 500-600 is considered a low score, 601-750 is an average score, and 751-800 plus is an excellent score. You should next check your credit report for anything that is not accurate or if you are making timely payments and your report continues to say "past-due" or "not current" you can then work with a credit repair company.

Lexington Law is one of the companies that can help you fix your credit report. They offer programs where you give them your initial credit report with a list of what is inaccurate and they work with credit companies, financial institutions, and credit bureaus to make sure your payments are reported correctly.

They can assist consumers in clearing up inaccuracies found in their credit reports. One of the biggest factors in obtaining new credit is showing that you are credit-worthy. An accurate and up-to-date credit report is essential. A credit company or bank may not approve you for a new credit card or automobile loan-even a mortgage, if there are errors on your credit report.

Having a difficult time paying off debt? Lexington Law and their associates have a consolidation process that is very user-friendly. These associates will work with creditors for you on your behalf, and ask for a decrease in the interest rate. They also negotiate with your creditors to see if they will accept part of the entire amount due instead of the full amount due.

Another route is a debt consolidation loan, where one umbrella loan pays off all of your debt and you make one payment to the debt consolidation loan company. These typically can take years to pay off if your debt is high, so it's best to start with the debt consolidation process to see how well that works for you. As your debt is reduced, Lexington Law fights to get your debtors to report the payments correctly.

Acquiring debt may be simple to do. Getting out of debt without ruining your FICO score can be a challenge. If you find you are unable to manage your debt or need help in working to improve your credit report, why not contact a credit repair company like Lexington Law? The combination of Lexington Laws help and your commitment to pay off your debt you can be free and have your credit restored quickly.


C.Stewart works for credit counseling company. If you need an advice on your credit report or credit repair read his articles.

The Foreclosure Crisis Hits US Tenants

Boise real estate professionals have been surprised to learn that the wave of foreclosure-related incidents, which have been sweeping across the US are not only affecting homeowners but renters as well. Recently everyone has become aware of how the mortgage and housing crisis is affecting mortgage companies and homeowners, not many people realize that renters are being evicted in record numbers due to the fact their landlords have fallen behind on their monthly mortgage payments.

Landlords and banks have no legal obligation to notify tenants when leased or rented properties enter foreclosure. Often times they are unaware that there is a problem until it is to late. Many come home to discover an official eviction notice from the bank posted on the front door.

To make things worse, many of these displaced renters lose out on cash security deposits because some desperate landlords have pocketed the money and vanished. Now the tenants have to come up with extra cash to start over again, which means money for deposits, first months rent, and moving expenses. How many of you have enough money saved to move if you were suddenly evicted?

Those reentering the rental market find that due to a shortage of available rental units, finding comparable housing in the same price range is a challenge. Millions of homeowners have moved from homes because they sold them to avoid foreclosure or lost them to repossession. Those former homeowners are now renting or leasing, adding significantly to the number of renters in the USA. But during the 2000s, as home prices surged, builders and developers focused on single-family construction and shifted away from the creation of rental units. So the rental market is experiencing a sudden spike in demand at a time when the supply is inadequate. That bodes well for investors who are landlords, but puts additional obstacles in the path of evicted tenants quickly and urgently seeking affordable housing options.


BoiseRealEstateInfo.net provides resources, statistics, and information for home buyers looking to Buy Boise Homes.

SVR -v- Fixed Rate Mortgages - Is it Time to Switch?

If you're currently better off thanks to your mortgage provider's low standard variable rate (SVR), you probably won't be considering a switch to a new mortgage deal. However, with fixed rate deals currently at a low level, and the possibility that interest rates will start going up, you may want to think again.

What's next for rates?

No-one knows when - and how quickly - the base rate will rise, but it is quite possible that the next move will be upwards.

In fact, while the Base Rate looks set to remain at its current level for some months yet, it is widely anticipated that inflationary pressures will ignite a series of hikes potentially later this year - and on into 2010.

If rates do move up rapidly, this could prove very uncomfortable for anyone still on a variable rate - and particularly for those who have got used to making reduced monthly repayments.

Negative Equity

House prices are low at the moment, and are likely to still be low when rates do start to rise, which means that many homeowners will be at the mercy of higher interest rates without being able to remortgage, because of insufficient equity, or negative equity.

Negative equity is where the amount you have borrowed from your mortgage lender exceeds the value of your property - and can make it very difficult to remortgage. This is one reason why you might want to consider taking action before you find yourself in this situation.

Benefits of an SVR

As SVRs are typically around 2% above the Base Rate, this historically meant an expensive hike in mortgage repayments at the end of a mortgage deal period, which also meant you could usually save money by switching to a new deal. However, with the base rate on hold at an all-time low of just 0.5%, some lenders' SVRs have decreased dramatically - prompting many borrowers to delay tying into a new deal.

Nonetheless, while cheap SVR deals can be favourable for the short term - as this means low monthly repayments - these deals could become unaffordable very quickly if interest rates start to go up again, as your monthly repayments could rapidly rise.

Benefits of a Fixed Rate Deal

As it's unlikely that longer-term fixed rates are going to get much lower, homeowners might want to consider locking into a fixed product. A fixed rate mortgage lets you know exactly what your monthly repayments will be for the length of the deal, and allows you the peace of mind that repayments won't rise during that time.

Given that fixed rates have fallen quite a lot in the past year (five-year fixes at less than 5% are currently available), if you are interested, make sure you shop around for mortgage deals to find the right one for you.

And finally-

Before taking the plunge, make sure you do the maths to work out how much you could be paying on your SVR if rates start to climb, and then compare this with any potential savings you could make by remortgaging to a fixed rate deal.


Find out more about SVR vs Fixed Rate mortgages at http://www.confused.com/mortgages

Real Estate Auctions: Find Great Deals On New Homes

There are innumerous cities in the U.S. where builders are holding new home auctions ... and not on the courthouse steps! If you want to find some good ones, just do a simple search on the Internet. You may also check with local builders, or call some of the real estate agencies in your area. Builders will sometimes use incentives to entice real estate agents to bring potential buyers. Typically builders will give real estate agents a percentage of the sale price when they bring in a closing buyer.

Another good place to check for new home auctions is through your county sheriff's office. Many new homes have been repossessed either from the builder or from the homeowner and are scheduled to be auctioned off on the courthouse steps ... really. Some counties have websites that specify homes that will be going up for auction by the sheriff's department, including the status of the sale, scheduled sale date, time of sale, case number, lien holder, attorney for the lien holder, phone number for attorney for the lien holder, homeowner's name and other information.

Determining whether the home is new will take a little bit of digging, however. You'll need to find out the case number, since the address of the home is recorded under the case number filed in the courthouse. Note the case number and call the civil division of the courthouse. A clerk in the civil division will be able to tell you the address of the property. Now, you need to contact the Registrar of Deeds and talk to a clerk there. The clerk will be able to tell you the details about the home, including the date it was built.

Although, you may be able to get a better deal through a foreclosure auctioned on the courthouse steps, some states allow the homeowner redemption rights for a period of time after the auction. Just because you are the winning bidder, doesn't mean you can take immediate possession of the home. You may still have to wait for the redemption period to end before you can take possession. If the homeowner is able to redeem the home, then you've wasted time, effort and maybe even money in the process.

Another option is foreclosures auctioned off by the lender. Lenders have been known to hire auction companies to conduct auctions of several homes they hold in the area. Real estate agencies may be privy to this information, so you may want to contact a few in the area for this information. The local major city newspaper is a great source for this information, too.

If you decide to go to a builder-held auction (or any home auction, for that matter), you'll need to be prepared. Oftentimes, the builder will schedule a date(s) for potential homeowners to preview the home. They typically require notification and details by a certain date of those who will be viewing the home during the scheduled preview. Once the auction date arrives, in order to bid you will need a notarized note from your lending institution or bank stating that you are financially capable of purchasing the home.


Jill works at Inside Fort Worth. Their site provides information about Fort Worth. They provide a free search of the Fort Worth MLS along with updated market stats on their Fort Worth blog.