Conflicting credit scores cause confusion

When you buy your credit score, it's almost certainly not the same number your mortgage lender will see.

Your lender might see a lower score, or even one calculated on a different scale. It means you could apply for a loan thinking you deserve a low interest rate, but end up paying a higher one because your score wasn't as good as you assumed.

Confusion arises because consumers and lenders often see different credit scores. As if that didn't create enough of a misunderstanding, customers, lenders and credit bureaus each view credit scores from their own perspectives.

When these viewpoints clash, consumers get frustrated. One Bankrate reader complained to financial advice columnist Dr. Don Taylor that she bought her credit scores from two of the big three credit bureaus as part of her search for a mortgage, only to discover that the scores were based on a scale that, from her standpoint, misleadingly pumped up her creditworthiness.

She thought she was buying a FICO score, developed by Fair Isaac Corp., and used by almost every lender in the mortgage business. Savvy consumers know that the FICO score is on a scale of 300 to 850 -- the higher the better -- and that certain scores serve as dividing lines between subprime (high-rate) borrowers and prime (lower-rate) borrowers.

She had really bought her VantageScore, which was jointly introduced this year by the three big national credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. The VantageScore is based on a scale of 501 to 990. If any mortgage lenders use it, they don't talk about it. The woman had a VantageScore of 668, which made her think she was a prime mortgage customer. But it turned out that her FICO score was 574, casting her into the subprime category.

It's as if she turned on the radio, heard it was 32 degrees outside, put on a coat and stepped out, only to find that the temperature was 32 degrees Celsius -- about 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

Bad news for others
She wasn't the only person who got a nasty surprise. Another Bankrate reader, who asks to be called "Bob from New Hampshire" because he doesn't want everyone to know his credit score, says he recently bought a VantageScore and it was 754. Soon after, he discovered that his FICO score was 681 -- a most unwelcome surprise. (He says he quickly boosted the FICO score 20 points after paying off a credit card.)

Bob feels that the credit bureaus are bilking consumers by selling the VantageScore. "If the score they're giving you here, you're paying hard money for, and it's not being used, what is the point?" he fumes. "If it doesn't have any practical value, they should disclose that upfront: 'This is not the widely used FICO score.'"
If you know where to look for them, you can buy the equivalent of FICO scores on the three bureaus' Web sites. TransUnion calls it a credit score, Equifax calls it a FICO score and Experian calls it a Plus Score.


By Holden Lewis • Bankrate.com http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/mortgages

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No Closing Home Equity Loan

by: Adam Jackson




One new innovative product in the home equity loan market is the "No Closing" home equity loan. These loans are a little different from traditional home equity loans, in the fact that they allow you to draw funds against the equity amount of your home. For example, you may be provided with a credit card or check book. The way to look at them is as a line of credit, you can use the line of credit when ever you need to, and in return for this the banks will charge you a little more interest than a traditional home equity loan.


One of the great things about a no closing home equity loan is that you only pay interest on the funds that you have used. So if you never use the line of credit, there is nothing to pay. Should you make a payment, you can decide to pay this back monthly (plus interest) or in one lump sum, similar to a credit card.


No closing home equity loans are becoming very popular loan products, mostly because of the flexibility they offer. There's also the added piece of mind, that should there be an emergency, that cash is available quickly to cover most eventualities.


Other popular reasons for a no closing home equity loan are for things that may involve random or unexpected costs such as home improvement projects or a student loan. Both of these activities require different levels of investment at different times, by being able to draw down the exact amount at exactly the time you need it, you will save money over the more traditional way of having all cash up front.

By Adam Jackson of http://www.besthomeequity.net is a home repair expert striving to bring you the best free home repair and improvement information on the web.

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The Pros And Cons Related With Home Equity Loans

By Petra Amelia

The Pros of Home Equity Loans

1. The advantage with a home equity loan is the ability to use the loan amount any way you want, such as funding emergency, paying off debt, college, a vacation, or home renovation.

2. Interest rates for a home equity loan tend to be lower than credit card rates or consumer loans. Another advantage associated with home equity loan interest rates is that it is tax deductible up to the equity value in your home or up to $100,000 - whichever is less. (note - the tax-deductible portion is based on a percentage)

3. Home equity loans are also quite flexible, in the sense that it allows you to choose when to use the money, and you may be able to decide when to repay the principal.

The Cons of Home Equity Loans

1. You may risk losing your home with a home equity loan if you can't repay or refinance the loan, since your home is the collateral for the home equity loan, similar to an additional mortgage on your home. Foreclosure can happen within 60 to 90 days of late/missed payments.

2. For people experiencing career changes, home equity loan can also been an advantage, putting your home at risk. If the value of your home falls, it is probable that you might be left with more debt on your property than it's worth.

3. Home equity loan interest rate is dependent on the change in economy, causing your monthly payments to rise or fall. So, it's important to know the cap on the home equity loan's interest rate, which determines how high your interest rate can increase each year, or over the whole loan time period.

4. Home equity loan lenders can charge several types of fees such as application, origination, and withdrawal fees.

Things to remember when getting Home Equity loans:

1. Home equity loans are ideal for people who want to borrow a lump sum amount and reap long-term rewards.

2. Home equity lines of credit, on the other hand, are more suitable for those focusing on the short-term.

3. When considering home equity loans as means to consolidate debt, pan on the long-term effects.

4. Consider your financial situation before applying for any type of home equity loan, and weigh down all the pros and cons.

5. Compare interest rates, fees, repayment conditions, loan amount, and additional costs between several lenders.

6. Read all the fine print

7. Do not accept offer for a credit card to access your credit line, which makes using your loan too easy.

8. Set up a systematic repayment schedule, and remember that it's best to pay more than the minimum required.


About the Author: Apply for home equity loan refinancing>and read reviews on the top lenders plus find more articles on home equity loans pros and cons on our site.

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Home Equity Loans – A Great Source To Explore

By Joseph Kenny

Investing in a home of your own is a sound decision and can turn out to be your most valuable asset. It creates equity on your home, which gradually increases as payments are made against the mortgage. For example, if you have a loan of $200000 against your home, and in course of time the balance on the mortgage stands at $140000, the equity on the home is $60000.This will keep growing as continued payments are made against the mortgage. This equity can then be used as collateral for getting a home equity loan.

When money is required for special needs like education, to pay off debts, or for home improvement, a home equity loan might be an excellent way to cover the costs involved. However, it is generally best when you know exactly how much it is going to cost you. It can help you by providing capital in the form of a loan against the accrued value of your equity in your home while allowing you several years to pay it off. The period of repayment can be from 5 to 30 years, though usually it is for 15 years.

On the other hand, Home Equity Lines of Credit may be a better option for taking advantage of your home equity for short-term borrowing. This allows access to funds as and when needed, without the necessity of borrowing anything extra. It suits anyone requiring a large sum of money to take care of some immediate expense, like repairs to plumbing in the house, or some other expensive eventuality. You may need the money urgently, if you have the means to pay it off in a shorter period it will allow you access to further credit in the future, if required. However, it should be understood that Home Equity Lines Of Credit are usually close ended, which allow you to use the credit limit for just about 10 years. After which, any debt in the account is amortized and treated like a term debt, which then ends up as regular repayments of principal and interest to retire the debt.

The approval for lending is usually easy as the lender has collateral to cover the loan amount. Moreover, the value of the collateral keeps increasing with the efflux of time. Even then, a bad credit rating would have a negative impact upon the approval of the loan application. A good credit rating, in contrast, would allow qualification for a low rate home equity loan that can give you substantial saving over the life of the loan. Therefore, one of the things lenders look into, and rely heavily upon, is the credit history of the borrower, to determine the appropriate rate of interest.

The most important decision for the borrower in the whole process of getting a loan would be the selection of the best lender. Various lenders have different terms, and a careful selection of a lender who has terms that offer a low fee, low interest rates, along with other incentives, would help save thousands of dollars. Contacting various traditional banks, credit card unions and online companies would be a great way to start. You could also use the Internet to search for information about various home equity lenders available.

Once you've selected a few home equity lenders, it is advisable getting at least three different quotes, which would allow you to compare the different terms and conditions, interest rates and fees each one has on offer. Choosing the best one that suits your needs then becomes pretty straightforward.

So go ahead, explore the possibilities offered by obtaining a Home Equity Loan to take care of your money supply needs.

Happy hunting!


About the Author: Joseph Kenny writes for the Personal Loans Store which offers information on loans and other loan types including home loans, secured loans and others. Visit Today: http://www.ukpersonalloanstore.co.uk

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Home Equity Loans ? A Method to Unearth the Hidden Equity

You never thought that your home can be worth anything except for living purposes. Yes, a real estate broker would have offered a large sum on this house. But you never planned to sell the house because of an emotional attachment with it.


One of the prime customer bases for home equity loan crops from this kind of people. These are people who have been living in the house for years, or it might be their first home. Having seen the joys and sorrows in the home together slowly converted the house from a brick and mortar structure to ones prized home.


You get the necessary cash through the sale of house. But, you lose your home for ever. If you are looking for a middle path whereby you can evade losing on your home and get the cash at the same time, then you would surely like the deal offered by home equity loans. Under a home equity loan, the loan provider agrees to lend to the borrower against his home. This amount will be returned with a certain interest after a certain time period.


This arrangement suits the residents of the UK the most. Every month the borrower makes a small payment towards the amortisation of the amount lent. It is the borrower who decides the monthly repayments. The logic behind this discretion lies in the inequality in the income levels of borrowers. While a monthly repayment of ₤1000 will suit some borrowers, other may not be able to make such high payments through their monthly salary, which has to pay off the other routine expenses too.


How does the loan provider ensure that he will safely receive the amount at the end of the term of home equity loan? It is by retaining the property papers with him. A borrower will not be able to sell home in the absence of the property papers. With the property papers in their possession, the loan provider is the legal owner of the house.


But, the loan provider does not exercise this right according to an agreement with the borrower. The agreement is for the return of home equity loan at the end of a stated term with an interest calculated according to a certain rate of interest.


During the period of the loan, it is not the home but the equity inherent in it that is being consumed. This explains the reason why the borrower of home equity loan continues living in the house even after pledging it. Home equity loans get the name from the equity consumption in the process. Equity is the value that one gets on selling home. For the calculations of equity, the valuer will undertake a survey to check the amount that will be received on selling it. Deductions for the mortgages already held against home will be made to get an exact figure for home equity.


It is a percentage of the home equity that is convertible into cash. The percentage hovers around 80-125% for borrowers with a good credit history. The borrowers who do not have as good a credit history and have undergone bankruptcy any time in the past years are sure to get a much lower equity conversion rate. When changed into currency, the equity in home will fetch anywhere between ₤5000- ₤500000.


Home equity loan is a secured loan. All secured loans are cheaper in terms of the rate of interest. Those secured loans, where home guarantees repayment are the cheapest. Sometimes, borrowers can hope to get an APR equivalent to that of mortgage. Some borrowers never relax on the APR front. Their worst fears are of the times when interest rates would rise unexpectedly. Rate locks on home equity loans have been especially designed for this kind of borrowers. A rate lock stabilises the APR at a particular level. However, borrowers who do not want to lose on the further fall in interest rate would continue using the variable rate method.


Is the equity in home completely consumed in the process? This is the question that most people ask while drawing home equity loans. Equity is only consumed temporarily. As the borrower makes repayments towards the home equity loan, equity in home gets replenished - readying the home for a new home equity loan.


by: Steve Clark Steve Clark can tell you how to look better, live better and breathe better by giving you tips to improve your finances. visit http://www.easyremortgageuk.co.uk.

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The Basics Of A Home Equity Loan

In general, the basics of a home equity loan are quite simple. A home equity loan is a loan secured against the equity of your home. The lenders will measure the equity amount of your home, by looking at how much of the mortgage remains (if any) and what the current value of the property is. Most high street lenders are happy to lend money of up to 75% of your home's equity. Similar to a mortgage, the loan will usually run for 10 to 25 years and have a rate of interest applied.


In most cases, a home equity loan is seen as a second mortgage. It will run along side your original mortgage and be paid in the same way. The more common reasons for taking out a home equity loan include home improvements, purchasing a second home or debt consolidation.


In fact, most lenders are now aggressively pushing their debt consolidation products. This has become a growth area in recent years, mainly due to people over spending on their credit cards. A home equity loan will allow the borrower to pay off all existing debts and loans and spread the low monthly payment across a number of years. Most banks are very happy with this situation as they are exchanging unsecured debt for secured debt. The security of course is the equity in your home.


If you're considering a home equity loan, there is one very important point that you should be aware of. The loan is secured against your property, if you fail to make repayments there is a very real chance of you losing your property.

by Adam Jackson of http://www.besthomeequity.net is a home repair expert striving to bring you the best free home repair and improvement information on the web.

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A Second Mortgage Vs. A Home Equity Loan

If you own your home and need a loan for whatever reason you have probably considered a second mortgage or a home equity loan to help you pay your bills, buy a new car, or pay for some other investment. However, you probably don't know whether a second mortgage is better or worse than a home equity loan for your particular situation. However, don't despair because there are some tips that will help you decide whether a second mortgage or home equity loan is for you.


Second Mortgage Tip #1 One Time Expenses


A second mortgage is the preferred option if you have a one time big expense you need to cover. Examples of this include remodeling your kitchen, paying for a wedding, or buying a new car. In these instances a second mortgage will probably work best for you; however this will depend on the equity in your home and your credit score.


Second Mortgage Tip #2 Recurring Expenses


If you are going to have recurring expenses then you might not want a second mortgage because a home equity loan will work out better for you. The second mortgage is best for large amounts of money at once while recurring expenses like tuition are better paid for with a home equity line of credit.


Second Mortgage Tip #3 Repayment


You will also need to consider your ability to repay and which option will suit you best. A second mortgage can be financed similarly to your first mortgage, while the home equity loan can be paid back more like a credit card. Consider your financial position and ability to make monthly payments before applying for either a second mortgage or a home equity loan.


If you still don't know whether a second mortgage or home equity line of credit is for you, then talk with your lender and see what is recommended for your equity, credit, and ability to repay the loan.

by Jay Moncliff is the founder of http://www.new-mortgage-center.info a website specialized on Mortgage, resources and articles.

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Home Equity Loans - Friend Or Foe?

Home equity loans are advertised on the airways, newspapers, magazines and just about anywhere else a homeowner may see or hear the advertisement. Some people feel that home equity loans are trouble waiting to happen. Others feel that home equity loans are a key to opening a stronger financial picture and better home.


There is no simple answer to this question. The truth of the matter is that it will depend on you specifically. There are many financial advisors who believe having equity built in your home is equivalent to keeping your money under a mattress. The mattress, however, is non-liquid which means you cannot necessarily get at the money as soon as you need it. They believe that keeping money under a mattress results in your inability to make your money work for you, though they do acknowledge the minimal risk in keeping your equity in such a safe place.


These same advisors would have you consider taking out a home equity loan in order to invest the income. If, for example, you can find a relatively safe investment at a greater interest rate than you are paying on your loan than you will have your money working for you. If, obviously, the interest rate you are paying on your home equity loan is greater than the interest you are earning on the money in the investment than it does not make financial sense.


Another time financial advisors would consider it smart business sense to take out a home equity loan is to pay off higher interest rate loans and credit cards. If your home equity loan is at 8% and you are paying off credit cards at 18% and other loans at 10% or more than clearly it makes economic sense to consolidate your debt through a home equity loan. It is important, however, to factor in closing costs in the decision making process. The closing costs may eat up a great deal of the savings, if not all of it.


There is a risk, however, for some homeowners. For example, there are some home equity loans that give you a checkbook. As you write checks the money is a loan against the equity in your home. This may cause people to overextend themselves unknowingly. Without a definitive plan in mind, a home owner with this type of loan may use the funds for items that do not necessarily make the best financial sense. They may exhaust all of the equity in their home and not have the ability to use the funds for consolidating their debts or making financial investments.


The personality of the home owner is key to making the right decision when it comes to home equity loans. It is also a good idea to speak to a financial professional in order to get a full understanding of your overall financial goals prior to making this important decision.


The structure of the home equity loan is important to. Make sure you pay careful attention to the interest rates and the closing costs. When applying for the loan request a full breakdown of any and all costs associated with the loan. Depending on how old your documentation is (title search, appraisal, etc) you may save money by using them again for the home equity loan. A title search needs to only be updated rather than started from scratch. If, however, a considerable period of time has passed since you first received your home loan than all documentation may have to be obtained from scratch.


It is also advisable to give your home loan officer a strong understanding of what your intent is with the funds. If you want to pay off other debts you can request that the bank prepares checks directly to the lenders you wish to pay off. This will minimize any temptation to then use the funds for other purposes. Some loan packages will require you to do precisely this.


As you enter the wonderful world of home equity loans it is important to have a clear understanding of what you want and expect out of the loan. It is important to do your homework and select the right loan package and understand how it works and its costs and obligations, then you can decide if you wish to home equity or not to home equity.

About The Author Max Hunter is the author of many credit related articles. If you are looking for help with Home Loans or any type of credit issue please visit us at http://www.homeloanave.com.

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Home Equity Loans ? A Method to Unearth the Hidden Equity

You never thought that your home can be worth anything except for living purposes. Yes, a real estate broker would have offered a large sum on this house. But you never planned to sell the house because of an emotional attachment with it.


One of the prime customer bases for home equity loan crops from this kind of people. These are people who have been living in the house for years, or it might be their first home. Having seen the joys and sorrows in the home together slowly converted the house from a brick and mortar structure to ones prized home.


You get the necessary cash through the sale of house. But, you lose your home for ever. If you are looking for a middle path whereby you can evade losing on your home and get the cash at the same time, then you would surely like the deal offered by home equity loans. Under a home equity loan, the loan provider agrees to lend to the borrower against his home. This amount will be returned with a certain interest after a certain time period.


This arrangement suits the residents of the UK the most. Every month the borrower makes a small payment towards the amortisation of the amount lent. It is the borrower who decides the monthly repayments. The logic behind this discretion lies in the inequality in the income levels of borrowers. While a monthly repayment of ₤1000 will suit some borrowers, other may not be able to make such high payments through their monthly salary, which has to pay off the other routine expenses too.


How does the loan provider ensure that he will safely receive the amount at the end of the term of home equity loan? It is by retaining the property papers with him. A borrower will not be able to sell home in the absence of the property papers. With the property papers in their possession, the loan provider is the legal owner of the house.


But, the loan provider does not exercise this right according to an agreement with the borrower. The agreement is for the return of home equity loan at the end of a stated term with an interest calculated according to a certain rate of interest.


During the period of the loan, it is not the home but the equity inherent in it that is being consumed. This explains the reason why the borrower of home equity loan continues living in the house even after pledging it. Home equity loans get the name from the equity consumption in the process. Equity is the value that one gets on selling home. For the calculations of equity, the valuer will undertake a survey to check the amount that will be received on selling it. Deductions for the mortgages already held against home will be made to get an exact figure for home equity.


It is a percentage of the home equity that is convertible into cash. The percentage hovers around 80-125% for borrowers with a good credit history. The borrowers who do not have as good a credit history and have undergone bankruptcy any time in the past years are sure to get a much lower equity conversion rate. When changed into currency, the equity in home will fetch anywhere between ₤5000- ₤500000.


Home equity loan is a secured loan. All secured loans are cheaper in terms of the rate of interest. Those secured loans, where home guarantees repayment are the cheapest. Sometimes, borrowers can hope to get an APR equivalent to that of mortgage. Some borrowers never relax on the APR front. Their worst fears are of the times when interest rates would rise unexpectedly. Rate locks on home equity loans have been especially designed for this kind of borrowers. A rate lock stabilises the APR at a particular level. However, borrowers who do not want to lose on the further fall in interest rate would continue using the variable rate method.


Is the equity in home completely consumed in the process? This is the question that most people ask while drawing home equity loans. Equity is only consumed temporarily. As the borrower makes repayments towards the home equity loan, equity in home gets replenished - readying the home for a new home equity loan.

by: Steve Clark can tell you how to look better ,home equity loans visit http://www.easyremortgageuk.co.uk.

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Banks Just Love Those Home Equity Loans

There are a number of great benefits to taking out a home equity loan; not least the opportunity to open a line of credit, pay existing debts or put your children through college, the list is endless. There are also positive tax benefits, if you're unsure about this you should speak to your accountant before taking out a home equity loan. So in a world of greedy banks making billions of dollars a year, why do they like it when we take out a home equity loan?


The simply reason is that home equity loans are the "loan of the day", they are very popular and as a result they make banks a lot of money. Another reason, and one that is perhaps more important, is that home equity loans are secured loans, secured on a tangible asset, your home. Therefore, there is less risk to the bank for lending you the money. This is great news for banks and its shareholders as they are making record profits with less risk. It's a simple formula to the banks; they'll lend you the money in return for an interest rate payment. If you fail to pay, they will take your property from under you and sell it, whatever happens they can not lose.


So as long as borrowers pay their home equity loan bills on time and they got what they wanted out of it, surely everyone is a winner, right? On paper, this certainly appears to be the case; however there is a growing concern that many people view the equity in their home as their spending money and are starting to fritter away, what in many cases is their only form of assets or savings. Experts argue that there needs to be more control on home equity loans and the reason for the loans.






About The Author




Adam Jackson of http://www.besthomeequity.net is a home repair expert striving to bring you the best free home repair and improvement information on the web.


info@besthomeequity.net

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Home Equity loans; don't put your Home or Condo at risk!!

Debt Consolidation may be a better alternative


Have you seen those bank and mortgage ads on TV and newspapers telling you to pay off those pesky high interest credit card bills by tapping into the equity of your home? They make it sound real simple, apply on-line, call-us toll free, answers within hours, etc. They almost sound too good to be true. We all know about the dangers of things that are too good to be true. So, what are the dangers of using your equity to pay off your credit card debt? A minor detail they forget to mention in those ads; while banks frequently advertise home equity loans as a way to consolidate other high-interest debt, these loans don't wipe the slate clean. You still owe the money, and now it's linked to your homeownership.


Before we start, let's understand some important financial terms: Unsecured debt is not guaranteed by the pledge of collateral. Most credit cards are an example of unsecured debt, which is why their interest rates are higher than other forms of lending, such as mortgages, which employ property as collateral.


Secured debt is secured by a lien on debtor's property which may be taken by the creditor in case of nonpayment by the debtor. A common example is a mortgage loan.


Equity is how much of the house you actually own. In other words, it is the price of your house on today's market minus the amount of any loans secured on the property. For example, if your house is worth $170,000 and your mortgage balance is $115,000, then your equity is the difference -- $55,000. This value can go up or down depending on economic conditions.


You can't sell that portion of the house that you own outright. It's a package deal with the part that you're still paying on. However, you can get a hold of some of that money through a home equity loan (also known as a second mortgage).


Lately, many of us have experienced an increase in the equity of our homes or condos because of an unprecedented increase in our home values. This is mostly fueled by the abnormally low interest rates. These low interest rates created a home buying frenzy since the monthly cost of ownership was so cheap. For the past year though, interest rates have been steadily climbing and the monthly cost of home ownership has been steadily increasing making it more difficult to purchase a home. This has resulted in a glut of homes on the market for sale. Remember the old supply and demand theory? More supply than demand for homes means the price of homes will fall and so will the amount of equity in the home.


Using our initial example, if you went to the bank and took a home equity loan for the $55,000 to pay off your credit cards, you have now secured all of this (unsecured) debt to your home. Taking this one step further, as interest rates go up, your home could go down. So, in theory you could owe more than the actual value of your home. This means if you wanted to sell your home and it was now worth $150,000 you would have to come up with an extra $20,000 just to be able to satisfy your financial obligation. In 1988, homes throughout the country were at their highest value. Then in 1989, due to economic conditions, many companies had laid off employees and the housing bubble burst causing homes in some parts of the country a loss of up to 50 percent of their value overnight! There is no reason why this could not happen again. This is not a healthy scenario. The good news about equity loans is that they have lower interest rates than credit cards because they are secured against your house. The bad news is these loans are secured against your house. If you miss a payment then you risk losing your home. Miss a credit card payment by itself and initially you will only have to listen to debt collectors, but you will still have your home.


The disadvantages of using a home equity loan to pay off your credit cards:


? By pulling money (equity) out of your home to feed your spending habits, you may end up homeless.


? If you use your home to pay off credit card debt you lose your safety net.


? Taking out more debt to pay off current debt is a loser's game.


Please note: If you borrow more than 100 percent of the value of your home, or if the home equity loan is more than $100,000.00, some of the interest will not be deductible.


According to Bankrate.com, the worst possible long-term cost of a home equity loan is foreclosure. If you cannot afford two mortgages on your house, especially if other debts pile up again, you can lose your home to the bank. Defaulting on only one of the mortgages can lead to this expensive conclusion.


Contact a reputable Debt Consolidation Company There is little or no cost for the services. Most of the agencies are called Debt Management Credit Counseling Service and they:


? Work with lenders to negotiate a repayment schedule you can afford -- including making efforts to get finance charges reduced or waived.


? Develop a payment plan you can afford.


?Help you re-establish credit when your current debts are paid off.


If you participate in a Debt Management Program (DMP) program, it will show up on your credit report. However, your credit is already blemished, your financial life is a mess, and you need to take drastic measures to get back on track. Since the bankruptcy laws have recently changed, the bankruptcy option may no longer be an option.


Copyright 2006 Debt Management Credit Counseling Corp.







About The Author




Pete Glocker is employed in the Education and Charitable Services Department at Debt Management Credit Counseling Corp. ("DMCC"), a 501c(3) non-profit charitable organization located in Boca Raton, Florida. Pete graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a BA in Multimedia Journalism and was a web producer Intern for Tribune Interactive products Sun-Sentinel.com and SouthFlorida.com. DMCC provides free financial education, personal budget counseling, and debt management plans to consumers across the United States. Debt management plans offered by DMCC help consumers relieve the stress of excessive debt by reducing credit card interest rates, consolidating and lowering monthly payments, and stopping collection calls and late fees. DMCC financial counselors can be reached for free education materials, budget counseling and debt management plan quotes by calling 800-863-9011 or by visiting http://www.dmcccorp.org . Pete Glocker can be reached by email at pete@dmcccorp.org.

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Home Equity Loans - The 3 Deadly Sins of Bad Lenders

You've heard of ?The 7 Deadly Sins', well here's a bit of a spin, but the consequences can be severe if you don't take these into consideration, or keep your eyes open for lenders who could possibly be doing this.


Now, there are other more varied approaches that lenders can take, but I'd like to make you aware of the 3 more common ones.


1. When NOT To Sign Over Your Deed


Ok, here's the situation, you're having trouble paying your monthly payments with your current lender. They've stepped up the game and have gone as far as to threaten foreclosure on your home.


Worried, and not sure what to do, another lender approaches you, and offers to help you out by refinancing and helping you out in your ?predicament'. But, because he can help you, he say's as part of the formality, he needs you to assign your deed over to him, saying something like it will mean that your current lender will not be able to foreclose.


DO NOT DO THIS! Once the lender has your deed, the financing will likely not come through, and you'll be left in a home you no longer own. The lender can then almost do whatever he wants, and will treat you as a tenant, not as an owner.


2. When NOT To Draw Down On Your Equity


You're in need of some money? maybe you've hit some medical bills that weren't expected. You've successfully built up a considerable amount of equity in your home over the years, and think that you'd like to use that.


A lender approaches you, and says they can do it, but even though you won't be able to afford the higher monthly payments, they tell you to "just bump up your income a little" to make it get through, then worry about it after.


The problem with this is that you'll likely lose your home. I'm not kidding, lenders like this don't care if you can't make the monthly payments, if you default, then they'll just take your home and sell it and pocket the difference. Stay CLEAR of these people.


3. The Hidden Balloon Payment Clause


If you're pressed for payments, and want to refinance, make sure you read the fine print of the contract. A lender might come to you and say that they can reduce your monthly payments and save you from foreclosure. That might be well and good, but in the fine print, you might find something that says that the balance of the principal amount is due at the END of the loan in one lump some payment.


If this is the case, be VERY careful, and don't do this, you'll likely face foreclosure anyway at the end of that loan.


I hope that this guide has been helpful for you, and opened your eyes to some possibilities that are out there.






About The Author




Ron Treveli


Thanks for taking the time to read this article. For more quality articles by Ron Treveli on Home Equity Loans be sure to visit www.home-equity-loan-guides.com where i'm constantly adding more content specifically on home equity loans.

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Home Equity Loans - Are They Right For You?

The bills are out of control and you need a new car. "Maybe we can get a new carpet and paint the house", you say to yourself. These are just a few reasons why home equity loans can seem like the solution to all your problems and are so popular.


Home equity loans can be a fantastic way to start your own business or to take advantage of an investment opportunity. They can also make your situation worse than it was before you got the home equity loan.


The reason's for taking advantage of home equity loans are the most important part of the process. Take the time to sit down and ask yourself, "Do I really need a home equity loan? Do I want to go on a spending spree or am I really trying to improve my life?"


A home equity loan is like having a second mortgage on your home. Suppose your home is worth $200,000 and you have a mortgage against it at $150,000, you will have $50,000 of equity available. Home equity loans allow you to borrow up to 80%, and sometimes more in certain situations, of your home value. In this situation you could borrow $80,000 as a home equity loan and still have only borrowed 80%.


This is why it is so important to take a good look at your situation before making a decision. You can see how easy it could be to get carried away with home equity loans.


Let's say you only need $20,000 for that new car and some home improvements. You decide to borrow another $15,000 of equity for that vacation to Hawaii you have been dreaming about. First of all, a vacation to Hawaii would not cost $15,000 unless you went on a first class, spare no expense vacation.


Using a home equity loan to buy a car may not be a great idea with today's 0% interest rates and no money down loans. There is no sense in risking losing your home to buy a new car with these type of loan programs that are available in todays market.


On the other hand, a home equity loan for home improvements may be a great idea. This will add value to your home as long as you can afford the higher loan payments.


A business that's doing great that you want to expand may be another good use of a home equity loan. As long as the business is already in profit and is not losing money.


Some solid investments can be a good idea if you have done your research before hand. The latest IPO may or may not be a great idea.


Consolidating high interest credit cards may be a great idea as long as you close the accounts and don't run them back up. You really only need one or two credit cards in case of an emergency.


Educational expenses may be a good reason to take a home equity loan to get your children started in the right direction. Someday this type of an investment can pay off.


These are just a few things you can do with home equity loans. It's very easy to borrow too much, only to find yourself having a tough time making the new payments.


The important thing to remember with home equity loans is to be logical and don't let your emotions get the best of you. Again, take the time to sit down and research all your options. This way you can rest well at night and not have to be concerned about losing your home. You can enjoy the things you do with your home equity loan knowing you've made a wise decision.


Copyright 2005 Dean Shainin







About The Author




Dean Shainin is a consultant specializing in home equity loan strategies and home mortgage loan information. To see a list of recommended home equity loans, advice and information, visit this site: http://www.homemortgageloantips.com.

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Financial Advantages Of Home Equity Loans

You may be fortunate enough to already own your dream home. From time to time though you may wish that you have additional funds on hand to help you attain your other dreams and goals. Owning a house may be the answer to your prayers in that it can provide you the basis for borrowing more funds to help you achieve your goals. This can be done simply by making a home equity loan.

But why is home equity loan the best option for getting additional funds? To understand the answer to this question it will help to first learn how it works. Even as you repay the mortgage amount for your house, your home builds up its asset value. This is the "equity" of the home. The equity refers to the difference between the current market value of the home and the outstanding mortgage amount. Even if your home is mortgaged to any financial institution, you are eligible to use this home equity as collateral to obtain a large amount of credit.

There are several reasons why you should consider home equity loan as the best option for getting additional funds. Firstly, you can get a loan at a reasonable home equity loan rate even though the interest rate may seem a bit higher than that of your first mortgage. This is because the bank providing the home equity loan would only have second claim on the property in case of default, and this is why the home equity loan providers charge a risk premium. This appears as the additional interest in your home equity loan agreement.

Secondly, a home equity loan allows you a significant tax deduction. As opposed to consumer loan interest, home equity loan interest is tax-deductible. For this reason, it makes more financial sense to use home equity loan to consolidate your loan rather than taking out a consumer loan.

You may also have others debts which involve paying off huge amount of interests. It will be much wiser to take out a home equity loan to consolidate these debts, such as credit card debt or debts incurred for expenses like paying off medical bills or paying off for your child's higher education.

There are a number of financial institutions that offer home equity loans and to get the best home equity loan rate, it is a good idea to shop around first. Various kinds of repayment methods are available depending on your financial situation and the type of interest rate you seek, namely variable or fixed rates.

Before taking out a home equity loan make sure that you have all the means at your disposal to repay the loan off as quickly as possible. Do not unnecessarily risk losing your home, unless you feel that this financial burden is surely going to add some long-term value to your life.

About the Author: If you are considering using your Home Equity to take out a Home Equity Loan then visit ezHomeEquityLoan.info.

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Home Equity Loan Rates Guide

Do you need to pay your college tuition fee? Does your home need massive repairing? Did the addition of a new baby in the family lead you to think of getting a bigger family car? Taking out a home equity loan may be the quickest and most practical solution to your sudden financial needs. However, you need to know that while taking out a loan with your home as collateral is not as simple as it looks.

A home equity loan does not come for free. You will have to pass certain documents, get through credit rating standards, and pay a variety of fees to get started.

What fees are these?

A home equity loan's costs consist of interest rates and transaction expenses, also called closing costs, or the rates linked with the successful closing of a home equity loan deal. These include lawyers fees, application fees, credit reports, title search fees, notary fees, insurance fees, property appraisal fees, loan document preparation fees, and other closing expenses.

Normally, closing expenses average at between 2% and 5% of the amount you loaned, so you should expect not to get everything you borrowed initially. Be careful of mortgage lenders that advertise no closing cost deals, because there is definitely no truth to this.

Whenever you take out a home equity loan, there is a price you will need to pay for the convenience of getting money at once. If the company says it offers no closing costs deals, it is likely that it has already factored the fees into the interest rate. If you're thinking of borrowing a huge amount, don't go into these kinds of deals. However, it should be relatively harmless if you're only planning to take out a small value.

In addition to the abovementioned fees, you will also have to pay so-called points on closing. Points are service fees you pay at only one time when the deal is sealed. They are related to interest rates, so the more points you pay, the lower your interest rates will become, which is not really a bad thing, when you think about it.

To be able to understand and appreciate the presence of points, mention it in dollar terms. For example, instead of saying you are paying three points on your $20,000 home equity loan, you can say you are paying $600 in points. This way, you will have a better grasp of the amount you're shelling out, and you can more effectively keep track of your cash outlay. Simply referring to your costs in terms of small value 'points' can cause you to lose track.

In sum, taking out a home equity loan is not really expensive, but you have to realize that it does not come for free. Whether you choose to take out a standard home equity loan or a home equity line of credit (the two types of home equity loans), you should expect to face significant costs.

About the Author: Home Equity Loan Rates are extremely important for home owners that wish to get a large loan, there are many different kinds of Home Equity Loan Rates, and there is sense in learning all the different risks involved.

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