Finding the Perfect Bad Credit Mortgage Company

by: Talbert Williams

If you have a bad credit score, then you need to choose the best bad credit mortgage company if you want to get a mortgage loan. Since a mortgage is a very large investment, you need to choose the best company.

The most important factor to be considered is the interest rate. Thus you need to choose the bad credit mortgage company that provides you the most favorable rate of interest.

You must also check that there are no hidden fees included in the plans of the bad credit mortgage companies that offer very low rates of interest. Thus, you need to understand all the terms of the rate of interest.

Another thing to check is the quality of the service provided by the bad credit mortgage company. You should not choose a company that offers extremely low rates of interest, but provides a horrible service.

Instead, you should choose a bad credit mortgage company that offers a slightly higher rate of interest, but also cares for your needs and formulates its policies according to your interests.

Building societies are very efficient bad credit mortgage companies. They offer very favorable rates of interest, and also provide expert advice. High street banks are also a good option for a bad credit mortgage company because they have a greater coverage due to a number of branches.

Though they may charge a higher rate of interest than the building societies, their introductory offers for mortgage deals are very favorable.

There are also the specialized bad credit mortgage companies that provide mortgages to people in special circumstances--i.e. when the people are not offered a mortgage by their building society or high street bank. This includes the people with a bad credit history.

If you can't find a favorable bad credit mortgage anywhere else, you may want to consult one of these companies.

Talbert Williams 2000-2006 All Rights Reserved

About The Author
Talbert Williams is the owner of http://www.debt-free-america.com View his recommended source for consolidating debt online. Visit this site: http://www.debt-free-america.com debtleads@debt-free-america.com

FICO Scores: Are They So Important for Getting a Mortgage?

by: Joy Cagil

During the last few decades, we moved many times from place to place, buying and selling houses and other property. To my knowledge, not even the most respectable bank that carried our mortgage ever had anything to do with any FICO score. I first heard “FICO score” mentioned, about six or seven years ago, when one of my children worked for a mortgage company, and I found out from him that FICO score has been around since the 1950s, after Fair, Isaac and Co. (therefore the acronym FICO) developed a certain method to determine the credit risks of borrowers.

FICO scores range from 300 to 850, the higher the better. The majority of scores are in the levels of 600-700. The desirable ones are 720 and higher. FICO scores are designed to measure the risk of delinquency by considering several past and present issues, such as the length of credit history, punctuality of payment, current debt including tax liens and money owed as a result of a court judgment, recent searches by the consumer to obtain credit, and the amount of credit received up to date. The exact formula for obtaining the FICO scores, however, is held secret and--it beats me, but--this conduct is accepted by the Federal Trade Commission.

Three nationwide companies, Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion, use the FICO scores for credit reporting. All three of these companies are required by law to provide the consumer-you-with a free credit report every twelve months.

You might ask: “If we have the FICO scores, then why do we have a credit report? Aren’t FICO scores enough?” A credit report is more than a FICO score. A credit report gives extra information on you, as to where you live and have lived, whether you had a run-in with the law, and if you were sued or filed for bankruptcy. The FICO score, as a general rule, is attached to the end of a credit report.

Your credit report is important. The information in it has to be up to date and correct, because it will be used not only for the purchases you make, but also when you are applying for a job. You need to get your credit score and take measures if the information in it is not correct or has become stale. Consumer reporting companies are required by law to correct anything wrong or inconsistent after they investigate your claims.

To obtain your free credit report, you might consider writing to each one of the three companies (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) and getting a separate credit report from each one. Don’t be surprised if you find small differences among these reports because each company does its own calculating in its own way. Getting all three reports is especially necessary if you find something inconsistent in your credit history and you need to correct it with all three of them.

If you feel your credit history is good, the best way to get your free credit report is getting a form from Annual Credit Report Request Service (http://ftc.gov/credit), and filling and sending it to P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281; or if you wish, you can get it online from annualcreditreport.com

Do not, at any time, believe in the companies or online sites that promise to get you your free credit report. Most of them eventually ask for fees and start charging your credit cards, because you have accepted their services and they have your data in their hands.

Does every lender pay attention to the FICO score? Luckily, not all; although most may. In the beginning, FICO scores had little or nothing to do with mortgage lending. About five or six years ago, however, mortgage lenders realized that there was a certain connection between the negligent behaviors of borrowers and their credit scores.

After a couple of years of heavily relying on the FICO scores, mortgage companies are beginning to change their attitudes on the subject again. Lenders like Fannie Mae and some private mortgage companies do their own investigations as well as taking into account your credit report as a whole.

A few tips before applying for a mortgage:

* Do not leave or change your job, especially if you have worked there for some time and you are not replacing it with a more secure and better paying job.
* Make sure your credit cards are not charged to the max.
* Do not ever be late in paying your existing mortgage. At least, don’t be late for more than a month.
* Discuss and bargain with small lenders (Dept. Stores etc.), businesses, and collection agencies to remove any late payments.
* If you have a federal student loan, seek to remove “default” or “collection” labels from the loan’s history.
* Get into the habit of paying your bills on time.

About The Author
Joy Cagil is an author on a site for writers. (www.Writing.Com) Her education is in foreign languages and linguistics. In her background are varied subjects such as psychology, mental health, and visual arts. She has been taking courses on money and finance matters during the last couple of years. Her portfolio can be found at http://www.Writing.Com/authors/joycag

Types Of Mortgage

by: Michael Aldridge

Buying a home is one of the biggest commitments you will ever undertake. So choosing your mortgage does take thought. Take some time to consider what mortgage is right for you. After all it’s your money you will be spending so, I would recommend utilizing it in the best way possible.

The kinds of mortgage available to you:

There are thousands of different mortgages on the market at the moment, all offering something different, something similar but essentially offering one of two types:

• Repayment and Interest, with a repayment and interest mortgage you (the lender) you will have to payback the specified mortgage amount plus the interest in a specified time. For example if you borrowed £100,000 over 25 years, the total plus interest is £190,000 over 25 years, this is what you will repay. You will see the balance becoming increasingly smaller over the term of the loan.

• Interest only, with an interest only mortgage you only pay the interest on you mortgage, however when the term of your mortgage is over you are still left with the initial buying fee of your house. Using the above example this would be £100,000 still left to pay. When you take an interest only mortgage you will need to take out an alternate savings plan, in the form of a pension, I.S.A, or an endowment. These alternate plans run alongside your mortgage to accumulate the final sum to zero your balance after the term is over.

Advantages of a repayment and interest mortgage

• It is possible for you to pay off lump sums of your mortgage to minimize the balance and make term shorter. However do be careful as some lenders do charge for a early settlement. If you do decide to repay early it is better to do upon the changing period of your mortgage i.e. when you are eligible to start another discounted term with another lender.

• You do not always have to take out life insurance with a repayment mortgage. Some pension plans that are in place do cover for unfortunate events such as death.

• You know the full balance of your mortgage and also the term of the repayment, so you always know when your mortgage will be paid in full.

Disadvantages of a repayment and interest mortgage

• In the early years of a repaying your mortgage the majority of the monthly repayment is interest rather than capital. For lenders who move house regularly, this can mean that little of the capital is paid off.

• If no life insurance, pensions or assets are in place to cover the repayment of the house. In the unfortunate event of a death the house will still have to be repaid. If payments are not kept up to date then the house will be sold.

• There may be financial penalties for making additional payment into your mortgage account.

Interest only mortgage

With this type of mortgage, only the interest is paid off with each mortgage payment. After the term of the mortgage elapses e.g. 25 year period, the lender is left with the full balance for the initial purchase of the house. To combat this problem (if you do not have the money to repay after the term is over) you the lender can take out another policy to run along side the mortgage payment? These policies are an ISA, pension plan or endowment policy. When you find a policy to suit you? The policy will grow along with your mortgage to accumulate the balance of you initial payment over the same term as your current mortgage. So at the end of the specified lending term you have the correct amount of funds to pay your balance.

Pension Plan

Using a pension plan to accumulate the balance of your mortgage is a tax free saving scheme. The balance of your house will be saved over a period of time until you can pay your final balance. If you do intend to use a pension fund to save for the balance of your house, consideration should be taken into account to open another pension fund for retirement purposes too.

ISA Plan

With an ISA plan you invest in stocks and shares via an Individual Savings Account (ISA) - which is a tax-free method of saving. This method of saving may not be suitable for most borrowers. Before considering this option you should consult with an independent financial adviser.

Endowment

An endowment is still the most common type of interest only mortgage which also provides life assurance cover and a fixed payment for investment. The endowment policy along with the interest only mortgage should in effect end at the same time, leaving you with the ownership of your home and nothing to pay. Endowments have undergone much criticism; this is due to investors being promised high returns from their investments. However lately this has not been the case, borrowers have found their investments have been as good as expected and a shortfall in the end amount of invested cash will not match the amount owed on the current property.

Taking into account the recent problems that have arisen regarding endowment policies it is worth remembering that returns on endowment policies have been pretty good, however you do need to see the term out in full. Also endowments do provide life assurance as part of the actual policy, so in the unfortunate event of a death the mortgage balance is paid in full.

Advantages of an interest only mortgage

• Your investments and savings could accumulate more than the required amount to cover the final payment; this could leave you more cash for your own personal use.

• Some plans have good tax benefits and help reach the required amount it a quicker and cheaper rate.

Disadvantages of an interest only mortgage

• In the unfortunate event of your investments not acquiring the designated amount of cash to cover the loan repayment, the investor could face a shortfall which they will then need to pay. If you are worried about a shortfall on your investment, you should keep in touch with your investor and request regular updates on the situation of your endowment. If the worst comes to the worst, you can increase payments to compensate for the loss of investment.

• Cashing in your endowment, ISA or pension could have adverse effects on the amount of money you have saved over the past however many years. If you do decide to cash in any existing policies you may be subjected to a penalty, this could be a cash amount specified by the investment company/lender. Please seek professional advice if you are worried about the end results of your finances, don’t be too hasty as most policies accumulate more of the cash in the final year.

About The Author
Article supplied by Michael Aldridge. For a complete and extensive guide to mortgages, please visit our web site at http://www.completeguidetomortgages.com

Costs Of Settlement - Title Insurance

by: Thomas Keenan

Home Sale Services, Inc. (http://www.homesaleserviceinc.com) has launched a series of articles addressing the costs of real estate settlement. The second article in the series pertains to Title Insurance.

One of the costs of a real estate purchase is title insurance. Title insurance is required by all lenders in Pennsylvania when providing funds (mortgages) to purchase real estate. It insures that the title to the real estate is free from any claims affecting the purchaser’s ownership. It protects the owner, and the lender, from losses incurred by past mortgages and debts, judgments, mechanics liens, divorces, defects in title, documents misplaced in courthouses, boundary line disputes, unpaid taxes, and other concealed problems, like forgery or other frauds.

WHAT IS THE COST?

In Pennsylvania title insurance rates have been set by the state legislature. The premium is generally calculated on the value of the interest, which you are purchasing. An owner’s policy is issued at the time of the purchase of the property and is based upon the full consideration, including the aggregate unpaid principal sum of any mortgages or other liens, claims, taxes and any other municipal charges not being paid. A policy may be issued in an amount in excess of the full consideration where agreed to by the insurer and the insured.

The title insurance rate comes in three varieties. If a property has not had title insurance within the past ten years, the title insurance rate is the “Basic Rate.” A purchaser of a title insurance policy shall be entitled to a less expensive rate, called the “Reissue Rate” if the property to be insured is identical to or is part of property which had obtained title insurance within the past ten years immediately prior to the date of the insured transaction.

There is a third, and lower rate and that is applicable to subdivision or condominium regimes. This rate is employed when title insurance has been issued to a builder within ten years of the title insurance being applied for and the builder sells completed units out of the subdivision or the planned unit development, cooperative or condominium. In this instance, the charge is 90% of the reissue rate. Attached to this article are examples of title insurance rates for properties valued between $250,000.00 and $500,000.00. Home Sale Services would be happy to provide information as to charges below $250,000.00 and above $500,000.00 or any other questions concerning rates. Call 610-489-3656.

SPECIAL TITLE INSURANCE RATES

There are a number of other, less frequently, used rates which apply in particular circumstances. One of those is when a loan policy is to be issued within four years of the date of the previously insured mortgage or fee interest and the premises to be insured are identical to, are part of, the real property previously insured, and there has been no change in the fee simple ownership. If all those criteria are met, and the new loan policy is within two years of the original title insurance issue date, the new policy is 70% of the reissue rate and if it is between two and four years of the original title insurance issue date, it is 80% of the reissue rate.

When a policy has been issued on a construction loan mortgage and within six months from completion of the building, the same mortgagor executes a new mortgage, the charge shall be 50% of the reissue rate, provided that the new policy is being issued by the same insurer which issued the previous construction loan policy.

Title insurance may be issued for a leasehold estate and in that instance, the amount of the insurance must be equal to:

A. The aggregate of the total rentals payable under the lease; or

B. the aggregate of the total rentals for the six years immediately following the settlement or closing of the lease transaction; or

C. a reasonable statement of estimated rents on percentage leases; or

D. the appraised value at the time of insuring the premises as established by an appraiser acceptable to the insurer; or

E. the land and total projects costs of such proposed improvements in the case of proposed construction; or

F. the purchase price of the estate when insuring an assignment of a leasehold estate, including all obligations assumed.

In addition to the basic title insurance rates, all title insurance companies issue endorsements that provide coverage for specialized property issues such as survey exceptions and condominium concerns and most lending institutions require two or three endorsements at every settlement. The endorsements are subject to additional charges to the title insurance applicant (Buyer). Those charges will be the subject of the next article in this series of memos addressing the costs of a real estate settlement.

Home Sale Services, Inc., (http://www.homesaleserviceinc.com), is a company which writes Agreements of Sale for clients who are not utilizing real estate brokers to handle their sale or purchase of a home. The company specializes in assisting you with the sale or purchase of your home. We charge a flat fee for services rendered. We are not real estate brokers. We are staffed by attorneys and personnel experienced in the home sale industry. We limit our services to Pennsylvania and further to the following counties in Pennsylvania: Montgomery, Chester, Berks, Bucks and Delaware Counties. Home Sale Services provides a professionally drawn Agreement of Sale and the mandatory Seller’s Property Disclosure Statement required by Pennsylvania. The flat fee for this service is $750.00.

About The Author
Thomas Keenan's educational background includes a J.D. from Temple University School of Law in 1975 and a B.A. from Dickinson College in 1964 and graduate work in English Literature at Villanova University from 1965 to 1966. Mr. Keenan was the Director of the Montgomery Bar Association, term of office 1996-1999 and was an elected member of the Judiciary Committee. He is a member of the Pennsylvania and American Bar Associations and the Municipal Law Section of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. His areas of expertise include corporate, banking, real estate and municipal law.

Comparing Fixed Rate, Hybrid Arm, Pay Option Arm And Hybrid Option Arm Mortgages

by: Tristan Hunt

With all of the options available to homeowners today, adjustable rate financing is a common topic of discussion at our offices. The 3 most popular Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) types today are Hybrid ARMs, Option ARMs, and Hybrid Option ARMs. Sound pretty similar don't they? There are similarities, that's for sure, but there are differences as well.

Hybrid ARMs

Hybrid ARMs are a cross between a traditional fixed rate mortgage and a classic ARM. They generally come in varieties indicating how long they are fixed for, and how often they adjust thereafter. For example, a 3/1 ARM will have a fixed rate for the first 3 years, and can then adjust once every year thereafter. A 2/1 would be fixed for years and adjust every year thereafter, a 5/1 fixed for five years, 7/1 for seven and a 10/1 for ten.

All adjustable rate mortgages are calculated using an index, such as the MTA, the COFI, the COSI or the LIBOR. MTA and LIBOR are most popular. These rates indicate a basic borrowing cost of capital for the lender, this is how much it costs them to lend money in a perfect world. They also have a margin, which is like a risk premium, their profit for making the loan.

Hybrid ARMs have basic characteristics including:

1. Start Rate which remains fixed for X amount of time, so a 3/1 lasts 3 years and adjusts every year thereafter

2. Adjustment Cap Structure which dictates how much the rate can change when the loan begins adjusting. A 5/1/5 adj. cap structure means that the 1st time the rate adjusts it can go up or down 5 points max, any subsequent adjustments are limited to 1 point up or down, and the rate can never go up or down more than five points.

3. Floor: a rate which the note rate or fully indexed rate can never be lower than. (usually the initial fully indexed rate)

4. Ceiling: a rate which the note rate or fully indexed rate can never go higher than (usually 9.95 to 11.95 depending on lender and index)

The minimum payment on a 100,000 dollar regular Hybrid ARM with a 7% rate would be a bit over 665 dollars, and borrowers of all credit levels qualify for Hybrid ARM type mortgages.

One Month Option ARM

Option ARMs are one of the most popular loan types in today's market, and for good reason. Option ARMs are like regular ARMs, but they have 4 payment options instead of just the one fully amortized payment option on a regular mortgage. The minimum payment option is the main point of attraction for majority of the Option ARM customers in the USA today, because it allows them to make smaller payments when cash is tight. The minimum payment for the initial period of the loan for 100,000 dollars would be 322 dollars, versus 665 dollars for the full payment on a conventional mortgage. A great option for the self employed, the small business owner.

On 1 month option arms, they adjust every month after the initial period, so if the initial period is 6 months or 1 year, then every month therafter the rate adjusts. There are 6 month and 1 year option arms wherein the payment adjusts every 6 months or 1 year thereafter as well, however 1 mo arms are most popular. They have additional features in addition to standard Hybrid ARMs:

6. A Minimum Payment: a payment which like a credit card allows you to stay current on the mortgage without paying the full amount of interest due, referred to as deferring interest

7. A Minimum Payment Adjustment Cap: the maximum amount that the minimum payment AMOUNT can increase or decrease in a given period. Typically 7.5%. So if your minimum payment is 1000 dollars, then in the next period it can not go higher than 1075 dollars.

8. a Negative Amortization Cap: This is the maximum the loan balance is allowed to increase due to deferral of interest (making the minimum payment only) before the loan is re-cast and the minimum payment option goes away. Depending on state and LTV this is 110% to 120% of the loan amount.

Option ARM Example: On a $100,000 Option ARM with a 1% start rate, a base or index rate of 4% and a margin of 4%,

- Minimum Payment = 322
- Interest Only = 667
- Deferred Int. = 345 (IO minus Min Pay)
- 1 Year Neg. Am. = 4140
- Recast Balance = 115000 (assuming 115% neg-am cap)
- Months to Recast= 43 (assuming you only make the minimum payment)

When a regular option arm exceeds its negative amortization cap and recasts (typically in 3 and half to 4 years if you're only making the minimum payment) the minimum payment option goes away, and you are left with the fully amortizing payment, although some products are beginning to extend the availability of the interest only option for up to 10 years. Because of the incredible flexibility of these loans, they are limited to higher credit borrowers (generally a FICO score of 660 is required, however certain programs are available for borrowers with FICOs of 600 or better).

Hybrid Option ARMs or Fixed Rate Option ARMs

Hybrid Option ARMs combine some the best features of Hybrid ARMs, such as medium term fixed rates, with the best aspects of Option ARMs, such as low minimum payments, while solving a lot of the problems with both for the average borrower. They are most popular with homeowners who want the stability of a fixed rate mortgage but the option to make very, very low minimum payments, and are considered an ideal compromise between "safety" and "flexibility" in the mortgage world.

Hybrid Option ARMs are generally based on normal Hybrid ARMs, in that their initial period is usually 3/1, 5/1, 7/1 or 10/1 meaning 3, 5, 7 or 10 years where the rate and minimum payment stays fixed, and 1 adjustment per year afterwards.

However they have Option ARM like features such as a minimum payment, minimum payment adjustment cap, and neg am cap.

Using the above example the same loan amount in a typical hybrid option arm package

- Minimum Payment = 449 (assuming 3.5%)
- Interest Only = 583
- Deferred Int. = 134 (1/3 of regular option arm)
- 1 Year Neg. Am. = 1608
- Recast Balance = 115000 (assuming 115% neg-am cap)
- Months to Recast= 112 (assuming you only make the minimum payment)

Also, when hybrid option arms recast, most of them allow for an Interest Only option instead of forcing the borrower into a fully amortized payment they might not be able to afford. Along with the long recast timeframes and the fixed rates for the initial period, this substantially reduces payment shock on recast.

Wrapping Up

So we've discussed Hybrid ARMS, Option ARMs, and Hybrid Option ARMs, and will provide a variety of real world examples and detailed treatment of relevant topics in other articles in this series. And as always we welcome your questions and calls.

About The Author
Tristan Hunt is a seasoned financial professional with a wealth of experience in the mortgage industry, advising clients on debt consolidation, refinancing & investor loans. Phone: 800-515-8443 Website: http://www.RefinanceOne.net

Mortgage After Bankruptcy: These Steps Could Help

by: R. Lawrence Anderson

If you want to increase your chances of qualifying for a mortgage after bankruptcy, here are some steps you can take:

First, if you plan to apply for a mortgage after bankruptcy, you will want to have any inaccurate or obsolete negative information on your credit reports corrected or removed. This can help increase your credit score.

Also, you will want to establish some new accounts, and pay them in a timely manner over time. If you've paid the accounts on time for about 18-24 months since your bankruptcy, this should help rebuild your credit - which can be a plus when applying for a mortgage after bankruptcy.

Next, you will want to work with an experienced mortgage broker. Why? Because buying a home is probably going to be one of the biggest investments you'll make. You will want to have an experienced professional guiding you through the lending process - especially when it comes to applying for a mortgage after bankruptcy.

A mortgage broker typically has access to dozens of lenders and will probably have a good idea of which ones will (and will not) approve you for a mortgage after bankruptcy. In addition, they will be able to tell you what to expect in terms of the financing process.

So how do you find a mortgage broker? One way is to to ask friends or real estate agents for a referral. Once you have a few names, set up an appointment to interview each mortgage broker.

Among other questions, you will want to know if they have successfully been able to get other individuals a mortgage after bankruptcy. You also want to make sure they are licensed.

Another question you will want to ask is what type mortgage loan (A, B, C, or D) the mortgage broker thinks you can qualify for. Why? The lower the grade of the loan, the higher the interest rate. This is an important consideration when applying for a mortgage after bankruptcy.

In addition, there are other important questions you will want to ask a potential mortgage brokers - ones that could help you save money and/or increase your chances of qualifying for a mortgage after bankruptcy. While there isn't enough room to cover them here, I go into detail on them in After Bankruptcy Credit Solutions.

Also make a point to bring your financial information with you when you meet with a mortgage broker. For example, you should have your income and expenses available as this will help the broker determine the loan amount you may be able to qualify for when it comes to a mortgage after bankruptcy.

Generally speaking, most lenders will allow you to get a home loan with a payment of up to 28% of your gross income. So if you make $4,000 per month, that would be $1,120. But keep in mind that this just an example. Again, a good mortgage broker can explain the criteria that each lender has.

If you have copies of your credit reports from each of the major credit reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax, and Trans Union) this will help also. Your credit report will play a major role when it comes to qualifying for mortgage after bankruptcy.

On that note, if you want to increase your chances of qualifying for a mortgage after bankruptcy, make sure that any inaccurate or obsolete negative information is removed from your credit report. This is important for two reasons: (1) It can mean the difference between qualifying or not qualifying for a mortgage after bankruptcy, and (2) if you end up qualifying for mortgage after bankruptcy, any inaccurate or obsolete negative information on your credit report could cost you up to $1,000s or even $10,000s in additional interest.

How do remove any inaccurate or negative information from your credit report, so you can improve your chances of qualifying for a mortgage after bankruptcy? There are specific steps you need to take. While I cover them in After Bankruptcy Credit Solutions, there is not enough room to go into detail here. Just remember that ideally you want rebuild your credit history before applying for a mortgage after bankruptcy.

By the way if you think that removing inaccurate or negative information from your credit reports takes a long time, I have good news. There is a way to have it removed in as little as 72 hours - the service is typically not available directly to consumers. In After Bankruptcy Credit Solutions I show you how to find this type service if you are trying to qualify for a mortgage after bankruptcy.

In this article we touched on two important steps you can take if you plan on applying for a mortgage after bankruptcy: Correcting or removing any inaccurate or obsolete negative information from your credit reports, and finding a mortgage broker to guide you through the lending process.

Copyright © 2006 Innovative Solutions Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.

The company and product/service names referenced in this article are the trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. None of the owners have sponsored or endorsed this article.

DISCLAIMER:

This information is designed to provide only a general overview of the subject matter herein.

This information is provided with the understanding that neither the publisher nor author is engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional advice. If legal or other expert assistance is required, the services of a professional should be sought.

Neither the publisher nor author shall be liable for any loss or damages, including but not limited to special, consequential, incidental or other damages, caused by the information contained herein.

About The Author
R. Lawrence Anderson is the author of After Bankruptcy Credit Solutions which shows individuals how to qualify for credit & loans after bankruptcy. For more information visit: http://www.bankruptcy-credit-solutions.com

An Introduction To Homeowner Loans: The Key To Cash In Your House

by: Benedict Rohan

These days it’s difficult to get by without some form of financial assistance - most of us have loans, mortgages, credit cards, store cards or other types of debt. Taking out a personal loan is one of the most common and convenient ways in which to borrow money. There are two main types - unsecured or secured. Unsecured loans are loans without any form of security tied to them as a guarantee of repayment, whereas secured loans are guaranteed by some form of security to safeguard the lender in case of non repayment. Normally the security used in such loans is your house - whether you own it outright or have a mortgage on it. (Loans secured against a house that already has a mortgage tied to it are known as second charges, and loans secured against a house that is fully owned are known as first charges.)

Homeowners therefore have a real advantage when it comes to borrowing money, as owning property provides great potential for freeing up capital for personal use. Homeowner loans, as they are often known, allow you to use the equity available in your house to borrow money.

(Equity means the value of your home minus any outstanding debts secured on it, such as a mortgage.) They have many benefits:

Equity is the key to unlocking large sums of cash from the value of your property. Homeowner loans allow a much higher amount of lending over a longer period than unsecured loans, as they are guaranteed against the value of your property and are therefore considered less of a risk to the lender than an unsecured loan. Even if you have negative equity (i.e. your mortgage or debt is higher than the value of your home) it’s often possible to get a homeowner loan, as many lenders will lend up to 120% of the value of the property.

For the same reason, homeowner loans tend to have a lower rate of interest than unsecured loans. This means lower, more affordable monthly repayments than an unsecured loan.

As with any other personal loan, the money is yours to spend in whichever way you want. You might want to make some home improvements, purchase land, use the capital to start up a business, buy a car, go on holiday or consolidate debts or loans.

Some people have problems, often because of poor credit history. However, as homeowner loans are secured and provide a guarantee to the lender, people who have previously been unable to qualify for an often find it much easier to get a secured loan, thereby giving them access to borrowing that they could not otherwise have obtained.

Homeowner loans can also be as flexible as you want them to be. At the outset you’ll discuss and agree with the lender what terms and conditions best suit your needs.

Typical repayment terms may be anything from three to 25 years, normally paid in monthly instalments, and loan amounts tend to range from £2,000 to £60,000. Interest will be charged on the amount that you borrow, which is known as the APR or annual percentage rate. The specific details of your loan - the amount, interest rate and repayment term - will be calculated based on the equity available in your property (which will need to be valued), your personal financial status and credit history and the lender’s confidence in your ability to repay.

Research the cost of your loan carefully before you sign up to anything. As with any other purchase, it’s essential to do a bit of research and shop around until you get the best deal. You may find that the interest rates seem to vary considerably from lender to lender.

However, beware of how the APR is advertised - different companies calculate their APR in different ways, and often display their monthly rates more prominently than the APR, so it’s not always easy to compare. (Monthly rates can be cheaper than the APR, which is very misleading.) For each product, find out what the APR is and how it is calculated so that you understand exactly how much the monthly repayments will be and how much you’ll be repaying in total. This will enable you to compare like for like between products.

Charges and penalties can make a big difference to the cost of the loan. Many policies penalise early repayment, and others contain hidden fees and charges. Always read the small print and ensure that you understand the terms and conditions exactly. Ask the lender to explain any areas that you’re unsure about before you commit to anything.

Another useful tip to bear in mind is that the shorter the repayment term, the less interest you’ll be paying and therefore the lower the total cost will be to you. It’s therefore best to find the shortest term that you can manage.

Remember that it’s not just traditional banks, building societies and mortgage lenders who sell financial products.

Nowadays there are many other types of lender in the market providing competitive deals at competitive prices. You’ll probably find that supermarkets and online providers offer the best value for money.

Most importantly, weigh up the risks and benefits of using your home as security for a loan to ensure it’s the right thing for you. On the whole, homeowner loans offer much better value for money than unsecured loans and are very convenient for people who are unable to qualify for an unsecured loan. However, before you proceed, you should analyse your personal finances, work out your budget and be confident that you’ll be able to keep up the repayments, otherwise you could end up losing your home.- your property is the key to When you’ve considered all these important factors relating to homeowner loans and looked around for a suitable product, you can be sure that you’ll be getting a better deal with a homeowner loan than you would be with an unsecured personal loanraising the cash you need in an affordable way.

About The Author
Benedict Rohan works as a freelance finance writer. Commercial Mortgage, Homeowner Loans, Remortgages Website: http://www.mortgagenation.co.uk