August 27, 2005

Home Loans

Buying a home remains the great American dream. Home ownership rates have been exploding in recent years, spurred on by the historically low interest rates in the home mortgage market. Home prices have been rising at far faster than inflation, especially in major urban areas such as San Francisco, San Diego and Chicago. This means that not only can that home you’ve always wanted put a roof over your head, but it can provide you with a great investment as well. For people new to the mortgage market, buying their first home starts with finding the best home loans.

All potential homeowners should take some time to research home loans before calling their local realtor. There are a dazzling array of choices available when it comes to home loans, and finding the right mortgage for your needs can be difficult. Approach your upcoming home purchase with the same seriousness you apply to other major purchases. Your home will most likely be the biggest single investment you ever make. Take the time at the beginning to educate yourself about home loans. It will be time well spent.

Home loans are available from a wide variety of sources. These sources include banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions and mortgage brokers. Shop around at all of these sources to find the home loans with the lowest interest rate and lowest costs.

You will also have to decide between fixed rate home loans and variable rate home loans. Variable rate home loans are often advertised with extremely low “teaser rates”. These rates are used by lenders to get your attention and lure you in.

Before signing up for a variable rate mortgage, make sure you find out what the interest rate cap is. Variable rate home loans are usually based on an underlying interest rate, like the prime rate. The interest rate you pay will typically be the prime rate plus or minus a certain percentage. The variable rate mortgage will have a cap above which the interest rate cannot rise. Find out what that cap is, then use a mortgage payment calculator to see what your monthly mortgage payment will be at that rate. If you cannot afford the monthly payments at the maximum interest rate, you may not want to take the mortgage loan. While it is unlikely that interest rates will rise sufficiently to make the maximum interest rate kick in, it is always a possibility.

Variable rate home loans can be a good choice if you believe interest rates are likely to fall. In an environment where interest rates are steady or rising, they may not be so good a choice. You may also want to consider a variable rate mortgage if you do not plan to stay in your home more than five years. For instance, if your job transfers you every couple of years, you could probably get away with a variable rate mortgage and take advantage of the lower interest rate. When you move and sell your home, you will probably realize a gain due to rising home prices.

On the other hand, fixed rate home loans have a set interest rate for a set period of time, generally either 15 or 30 years. The interest rate does not change, therefore you will always know what your monthly mortgage payment will be. You are protected from rising interest rates with a fixed rate mortgage. If rates fall significantly, you can always refinance your mortgage loan to take advantage of the lower rates.

If you can afford the payments, 15-year home loans can substantially lower the amount of money you will ultimately pay for your home. When you run the numbers on a 15-year versus a 30-year home mortgage loan, you may be surprised at how affordable the 15-year home loan can be. Your mortgage payment will not double if you go with a 15-year mortgage versus a 30-year. This has to do with the affect of compound interest. You are paying far less interest in the long run on a 15-year mortgage.

Whatever type of home loan you decide on, the most important thing is to take that step which transforms you from a mere renter to a home owner and builder of equity. There are a great many home loans out there, but once you find the right one, you will find the rewards of home ownership well worth the time and effort put forth.

Barry Stein is the owner of aWebBiz.com where he offers cutting-edge tips on all aspects of business. To find more advice, tools and resources to help you succeed in your business, visit: http://www.aWebBiz.com. Barry’s Internet Marketing Blog: http://awebbiz.com/blog

August 25, 2005

Top 10 Things to Consider on Home Loans

Here are our Top 10 most important things to consider when shopping for a Home Loan, Equity Line of Credit, or Refinance, courtesy of Loans-Directory.Org:

Down-Payment

Fixed Versus Adjustable Rate

APR

Loan Types

Loan Amount Qualification, Income

Loan Amount Qualification, Expenses

Employment and Credit History

Points

Sub-Prime Loans

Short-Forms

1. Down-Payment - As a general rule of thumb, lenders will be seeking contribution from you of around 3% to 6% of the total loan value. This can be negotiable, and there are many loan packages available.

2. Fixed versus Adjustable – The two most common loan products available for home mortgages are fixed rate versus adjustable rate.

Fixed rate means that you agree on an APR (annual percentage rate) that does not change through the life of the loan, whereas, an Adjustable Rate Mortgage, better known as an ARM, means that rates and monthly payments can change, often tied to the U.S. Government Treasury Bills or some other form of “index”, with the frequency of change dependent upon the terms of the loan.

Deciding on which way to go involves many variables. We suggest that you start by examining the fixed rate products available on the market. They are by far the most popular, and arguably with the least amount of risk. After evaluating several preliminary loan offers (quotes) for fixed rate mortgages, you can then venture into the world of ARM’s to see if one of these products may be right for you. But, proceed with caution, and understand all the risks, alongside any potential benefits.

3. APR – APR, better known as the annual percentage rate, aka: “rate”, is arguably the most important consideration you must examine when looking for a loan. The APR includes principle, interest, “points”, fees, PMI (Mortgage insurance), and other costs associated with the loan. While all costs and terms are significant and affect the bottom line, we suggest that shopping rate is a very good starting point.

4. Loan Types: There are several standard loan products to look for, including 30 year fixed, 15 year fixed, bi-weekly mortgages, 1 month ARM’s, 5 year fixed ARM’s, 2nd Fixed, ARM’s with a provision to convert after 5 years, lender buydowns, and discounted mortgages.

We think the best place to start, is to obtain quotes for a 30 year fixed rate loan, and then go from there. 30 year fixed rate loans generally produce the lowest monthly payments for fixed rate products, and they are relatively safe. Once you know where you stand with a 30 year fixed, after obtaining quotes from several lending institutions, then you can consider the possibility of exploring more exotic loan products. At this juncture, you will want to consult with those you trust, for good, solid advice and feedback on risk versus reward.

5. Loan Amount Qualification, Income: This can vary widely depending on you, your lender, and many other variables. However, as a rule of thumb, look at 2 to 2 ½ times your current household income, as a baseline to determine how much you can afford to borrow.

6. Loan Amount Qualification, Expenses: This is another broad category that varies from one lending institution to the next. However, there are two general factors to look at, and they are Housing Expenses (such as mortgage, property taxes, and insurance), and long-term debt (which can include credit cards, auto loans, etc.).

First, add all your expenses together. As a rule of thumb, you will want your expenses to not exceed 33% to 36% of your gross household income.

Second, examine your housing expenses only. As a rule of thumb, you’ll want these expenses to not exceed 25% to 28% of your gross household income.

7. Employment and Credit History: Lenders generally want to take a look at your employment history so that they can see a pattern of stability and income. Lenders generally also want to take a look at your credit history, so that they can see a pattern of borrowing and repayment in your past. Lenders cannot discriminate and must use this information solely for the purpose of considering your ability to repay a loan. Also, many loan products are available for all kinds of customers, with varied financial backgrounds and histories.

8. Points: Points are one of the primary fees charged on the loan, and they represent the profit earned by the lending institution. One point represents one percent of the total loan amount, and points are usually tax-deductible (along with the interest paid on the loan). They are broken down into two basic types:

Origination Points – Origination Points are the fees charged by the lender, and represents their gross profit.

Discount Points – Discount Points are most often charged in association with a lowered interest rate. In other words, the Discount Points represents a dollar amount, as a fee for giving the borrower a lowered APR (lower than what the lender might otherwise charge).

9. Sub-Prime Loans: Sub-Prime Loans consist of loan products designed for customers with challenging credit and financial backgrounds, or, customers that are looking to re-establish credit. They can be significantly higher then the prime lending rate, with less favorable terms (Often times, the loans are for the short-term, such as 2 to 3 years). However, they do offer a venue for certain individuals, and they can allow customers to re-establish credit, or buy new homes prior to cleaning up a credit history, etc.

For some of you, this avenue may offer exactly what you’re looking for. It’s important to know that lenders who specialize in sub-prime loans are out there and want to earn your business. However, we advise that you proceed with caution. Be sure to gather sound advice from trusted friends and professionals, and understand all the risks versus rewards, prior to signing on the dotted line.

10. Short-Forms: The most important thing you can do as a consumer of loan products is to shop around and get several preliminary loan quotes for your consideration.

These are no risk, no obligation, preliminary loan offers. They take 30 seconds to 2 minutes to complete, they require no personal or confidential disclosure on your part, and they require no commitment from you.

We suggest that you obtain 3 or 4 offers. You can then examine and compare the terms, rate, fees, and all other pertinent information about the loan product, and the lender, at your leisure and in the comfort of your own home.

Loans-Directory.Org has categorized hundreds of online services that you can explore. You can also go to any search engine and find them from there. Look for a “privacy policy” on their website, as well as short, simple application forms that make sense and are relatively easy and quick for you to complete.

Also, take a quick look at the current interest rate for 30 year fixed loans, as well as the 6 month trend graph. We have set up a free webpage with this information, or you can find many graphs and charts via your favorite search engine.

We’ve enjoyed providing this information to you, and we wish you the best of luck in your pursuits. Remember to always seek out good advice from those you trust, but never turn your back on your own common sense.

Publishers: This article may be freely distributed so long as the copyright, author’s information and an active link (where possible) are included.

Disclaimer: Statements and opinions expressed in the articles, reviews and other materials herein are those of the authors. While every care has been taken in the compilation of this information and every attempt made to present up-to-date and accurate information, we cannot guarantee that inaccuracies will not occur. The author will not be held responsible for any claim, loss, damage or inconvenience caused as a result of any information within these pages or any information accessed through this site.

Copyright 2005, by Loans-Directory.Org , This article is available in full format at: Home Loans, Tom Levine provides a solid, common sense approach to solving problems and answering questions relating to consumer loan products. His website seeks to provide free online resources for the consumer, including rate-watch, tips and articles, financial communication, news, and links to products and services.

August 23, 2005

125% Equity Home Loans

If you are a homeowner in need of a home equity loan but you have not yet built up any equity in your home, don’t despair. A 125 percent equity home loan may be the answer.

A 125 percent equity home loan is a second mortgage loan that allows you to borrow up to 25% more than the value of your home. For example, if your home is worth $100,000 and you owe $100,000 on the mortgage, this loan program would allow you to still borrow up to $25,000.

The 125 percent equity home loan is offered by various online lenders. Each lender has their own qualification and loan term guidelines but generally this is a credit score driven loan program. Credit score driven means that you have to have a certain credit score to qualify for the loan. In addition, your credit score usually determines the maximum loan amount you may qualify for and the maximum cash in hand you may receive. Also, some 125 percent equity home loan lenders may require seasoning on the length of time you have lived in your home. Three months is normally the minimum.

When it comes to a property appraisal, most 125 percent home equity loan lenders do not require you to obtain one. They generally will use the purchase price of your home as the value if you have lived in your residence for 12 months or less. If you have lived in your home over 12 months, a recent tax assessment, simple drive-by appraisal, or automated value model (avm) can be used. An avm is a computer generated assessment of your home’s value which is based on recent home sales of comparable houses in your neighborhood.

For more information on 125% home equity loans, or to compare rates and programs of 125% home equity loan lenders visit http://www.equityloansource.com. Levetta Rivera is a successful mortgage broker and publisher of the following financial websites: http://www.equityloansource.com and http://www.militaryvaloan.com

August 21, 2005

Secured Loans For Home Improvement – When You Can’t Buy A Luxury Home

A house is just perfect with chipped walls and broken taps. Is it? If you don’t think so, then home improvement loans is what you should be looking for. Home improvement is the resort for you, if your home is your personal hideout. Home improvement loans can aid you realize this plan. Home improvement usually takes a back seat due to lack of finances. If finances are an impediment, get secured home improvement loans. Secured loans for home improvement are a way of increasing home equity which is one of the most important added benefits. This implies not only your home will be comfortable but also its market cost is increased.

The thought process while taking loans is almost always diverted towards lower interest rates. Lower interest rates are very often the prime criteria of settling on a loan. But you must know that lower interest rates are not offered to anyone and everyone. The most obvious reason for lower interest rate being offered to you will be the fact that you are the homeowner. Secured home improvement loans are protected on borrower’s property and are dependent on the equity of the property. The property or home acts as the security for the loan and will therefore mean you have to give lower interest rates.

APR is the one that gives you a general idea of what your secured home improvement loan will cost. Go to the local bank and building society to get a general idea of the loans rates. You can also get an idea of loan rates on Google. Type “home improvement loans comparison” and it will provide you with the best deals immediately. Your loan lender is the one who will give you a good idea about what will be the total cost of repayment. Look out for hidden costs while settling down on secured loans for home improvement.

The secured home improvement loan rate is usually fixed and would vary from lender to lender. So browsing through the net would perhaps lead you to the better loan rate than the ones you closed on. Interest rates are negotiable for they are quite dependent on individual circumstances. The actual deal on secured loans for home improvement depend upon credit history, salary, age, joint or single application, collateral, amount to be borrowed and length of payback period.

The loan amount on secured home improvement loans vary according to the property type. A single family house would guarantee maximum £25,000 to £75,000 as loan amount. Don’t take more than you require on a secured home improvement loan. Don’t over improve your home for it might be difficult to recover the cost of improvement if the price tag of your house shows more than other houses in the locality. The loan term on secured loans for home improvement are very easily anywhere between 2 to 25 years.

Secured loans for home improvement can be made available at the time you are buying the house. This will work very smoothly in case your mortgage and home improvement loan do not overflow your available equity mark. Any kind of big or small improvements can be financed. Secured home improvement loans can be used for repairs, home extensions like, new conservatory, heating system, new kitchen and site improvements.

A secured loan for home improvement that is less than £25,000 can be called off within a week with no obligation under the 1974 Consumer Credit Act. You can take payment protection to protect your payment against any change of circumstance. If you do not opt for payment protection and find you can’t pay your monthly payments then discuss your situation with your lender. However, a secured home improvement loan does put your property at risk in situation of non repayment.

Home décor are oft quoted with high rates. This is usually the reason for putting off home improvement. Living in a house that needs repairs is not always a pleasant situation. You can’t be put them off and financial aid required is difficult to unearth. So, home improvement becomes a very irresolute condition. Make home improvement a win-win situation. How? - By taking secured home improvement loans. Chipped walls are falling and broken taps are leaking. They are doing this for a purpose – they want to be repaired. Repair them with secured home improvement loans.

Few identifiers are necessary to identify your kind of loan. An unprepared borrower might find it very confusing to get out of the jargon of loans in UK. A loans borrower/user demands for timely, reliable, accessible, comprehensive, relevant and consistent loan service.

Pamella Scott is constantly trying to help you find such a loan service online. To find secured loans,secured personal loans,secured debt consolidation loans in uk that best suits your need visit http://www.easyfinance4u.com.

August 15, 2005

5 Tips To Get Yourself Ready For A Home Loan Application

So you need to get a home loan to finance that new house? There are some things you must know to prepare yourself adequately for a favorable application.

1) Know your state of finance. Tabulating the numbers is the key to avoid future disappointment. Is the price of the new house within the range you can afford? How much you can afford will also be influenced by home-related cost like furniture, home accessories and gadgets, insurance, utility bills etc. Self-awareness through budget planning–a few months beforehand–enables you to anticipate for the amount of loan required so that you can repay it promptly.

2) Know your credit report is in good stead. Your credibility is what the lending company looks for in your financial background before it can approve a loan. You can find out your credit score through reports generated from Equifax Score Power, True Credit, or Consumerinfo. A low score almost always leads to high interest rates. Many factors determine your score, including length of history, income, a profiling of your debt and credit obligations etc. If there are areas in your report which can be improved, like closing unnecessary accounts, take the necessary actions and wait around 60 days for the latest status to take effect, then get another copy of your credit report.

3) Know all that you need about the fees and interest rates. Do a comparison of all the lending companies before settling down on the suitable one. Check that all terms and conditions are understood, and there are no other hidden cost. If you have questions, simply ask to clear the air.

4) Know what’s the repayment method is like. Depending on the company’s policy, you may pay back a portion of the loan plus interest, just the interest for the whole length of the loan plan or the complete sum including interest after the plan is completed. Discuss with the loan officer about your personal repayment capability to reach a mutual agreement.

5) Know what documents are needed for the application. Again check with the loan officer early to give yourself time to prepare them, which are likely to be your pay slip, home insurance policy, driver’s licence and social security information.

Finally, if you can apply for a loan online, you are most encouraged to do so. Instant Internet access gives you convenience and cuts short the time instead of you having to wait in the office for the paperwork to be done.

Nelson Tan is the original contributor of this article for http://www.homeloanscenter.info.

August 13, 2005

Reasons To Get A Home Loan Before You Start Shopping For A Home

Reasons To Get A Home Loan Before You Start Shopping For A Home

You do NOT have to have a home under contract to obtain a home loan. The lender is looking at your credit history and income when considering a loan application.

Some potential home buyers think they will have no problem qualifying for a loan only to be disappointed when they find out they don’t. Others may afraid they won’t qualify so they don’t apply. We often see people who don’t think they qualify for a home loan but don’t know that many lenders offer loan programs for all types of borrowers.

Avoid disappointment resulting from looking at homes that are out of your price range. Looking at homes in a price range you can afford will keep you from being disappointed if you fall in love with a home only to find out that it is beyond your financial abilities.

Insure that you will meet your moving dead line. Knowing you must move by a certain date and still working on proving you are qualified for a loan can be a stressful experience. The two most common problems are resolving credit issues and proving you have the cash for your down payment and closing costs.

Applying for a loan as soon as possible will insure that any incorrect information in your credit history can be corrected before the closing date. It often takes 60 days or more to have information corrected in your credit files.

Having a Loan Commitment in your hand is like being a cash buyer. Every seller wants to work with cash buyers. It gives you leverage when presenting an offer and negotiating a counter offer. It will insure that the closing process goes smoothly when you do find your new home. Do not mistake a Loan Commitment with a pre-approval or pre-qualification, a pre-approval does not carry much weight with a seller since a pre-approval is only a cursory look at your credit history.

Applying for a home loan online can be a real convenience. You can apply for a mortgage online 24 hours a day 7 days a week. You can apply from your home, office, local library or any location that offers Internet access. No need to take time off work or away from play. Avoids feeling pressured by sitting in a lenders office and allows you ample time to collect all the necessary information.

Be sure you check the rates and fees for several lenders before you decide which one to use. Compare the lender fees, not just the interest rate. Ask each lender to provide you with a “Good Faith Estimate” of closing costs and carefully review it. If you see a fee you don’t understand ask the lender to provide a clear explanation of the item. Then ask your real estate Agent to review the Good Faith Estimate. Being more familiar with the forms the Agent can spot any hidden “junk” fees.

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© 1997-2005 This site is owned by A Buyer’s Realty, a licensed Texas real estate brokerage.
Bill Tolle, Owner/Agent, Thomas A. Benbrook, Broker.
Phone: 1-866-378-8525
Email Bill Tolle

August 11, 2005

Be Prepared With Your Home Equity Loan Checklist

A home equity loan can be an excellent way to obtain money in order to pay off high interest bills or consolidate your current debt into one monthly payment. A home equity line of credit is a form of revolving credit in which your home serves as collateral. Because the home is likely to be a consumer’s largest asset, many homeowners use their credit lines only for major items such as education, home improvements, or medical bills and not for day-to-day expenses. Additional benefits include a nice tax advantage and the possibility of an overall lower monthly payment. However before you decide that a home equity loan is right for you make sure you do your homework.

Not all online lenders of home equity loans are the same which means there are ample opportunities to save a few more of your hard earned dollars.

The biggest obstacle to overcome is deciding on the appropriate online loan lender. Make the wrong choice here and it could come back to haunt you in the form of higher payments. I have compiled a small list of items to check for when searching for the best online loan lender. One item to be on the look out for is the annual percentage rate or (APR) as it’s commonly known. This is the cost of credit on a yearly basis expressed as a percentage. This cost is based on the interest rate alone and will not take into effect other fees and charges such as closing costs.

Most home equity loans or lines of credit revolve around variable interest rates. In many cases lenders entice consumers with an offer to temporarily discount interest rate for home equity lines. This rate is unusually low and may last for only an introductory period, such as 6 months.

Typical information that a loan officer will ask you to provide include a checklist for “Full Document” loan approvals, 1 month of pay stubs from your employer, the previous 2 years worth of W2 forms, a mortgage coupon or copy of your monthly mortgage statement, your homeowners insurance policy information, the mortgage note on your current mortgage, your drivers license and social security card. Having these items handy will help speed up the loan approval process.

Remember those pesky closing costs when you first bought your house? Well there back in force when you apply for a home equity loan. They include but are not limited to the following: Up-front charges, such as one or more points (one point equals 1 percent of the credit limit), application fees, appraisal fees and closing costs, including fees for attorneys, title search, and mortgage preparation and filing; property and title insurance; and taxes.

Once recommendation before applying for a loan would be to have a plan in place describing how you intend to pay the loan back. Some plans set minimum payments that cover a portion of the principal plus accrued interest. Other plans may allow payment of interest alone during the life of the plan, which means that you pay nothing toward the principal. If you borrow $10,000, you will owe that amount when the plan ends. You’ll need to be aware of the possibility of a balloon payment. This means whatever your payment arrangements during the life of the plan–whether you pay some, a little, or none of the principal amount of the loan–when the plan ends you may have to pay the entire balance owed, all at once. Failure to complete the loan arrangement by making the balloon payment could result in the forfeiture of your house.

Finally the federal Truth in Lending Act requires lenders to disclose the important terms and costs of their home equity plans, including the APR, miscellaneous charges, the payment terms, and information about any variable-rate feature. You usually get these disclosures when you receive an application form, and you will get additional disclosures before the plan is opened.

These simple guidelines were meant to provide you some additional information with the hopes of making you more comfortable and aware of the issues involved when applying for a home equity loan.

Timothy Gorman is a successful webmaster and publisher of Military-Loans-Online.com. He provides more free loan information that you can research in your pajamas and money saving loan quotes on all of your loan needs to include home equity loan information.

August 10, 2005

Loans Guide

Many people are confused by the different types of loans available.Here is a helpful summary of the most common loans available today.

Bad Credit Personal Loan

A Bad Credit Personal Loan is a loan designed for the many people with a bad credit rating. However created, your past record of County Court Judgements, mortgage or other loan arrears can live on to deny you access to finance that other people regard as normal. If you are a home owner with equity in your property, a Bad Credit Personal Loan can bring that normality back to your life. Secured on your home, a Bad Credit Personal Loan can give you the freedom, for example, to do the home improvements or buy the new car you really wanted. With a Bad Credit Personal Loan you can borrow from £5,000 to £75,000 and up to 125% of your property value in some cases.

Bridging Loan

A bridging loan as the name implies is a loan used to “bridge” the financial gap between monies required for your new property completion prior to your existing property having been sold.

Bridging loans are short term loans arranged when you need to purchase a house but are unable to arrange the mortgage for some reason, such as there is a delay in selling your existing property.

The beauty of bridging loans is that a bridging loan can be used to cover the financial gap when buying one property before the existing one is sold A bridging loan can also be used to raise capital pending the sale of a property.

Bridging loans can be arranged for any sum between £25000 to a few million pounds and can be borrowed for periods from a week to up to six months. A bridging loan is similar to a mortgage where the amount borrowed is secured on your home but the advantage of a mortgage is that it attracts a much lower interest rate. While bridging loans are convenient the interest rates can be very high.

Business Loan

A business loan is designed for a wide range of small, medium and startup business needs including the purchase, refinance, expansion of a business, development loans or any type of commercial investment. Business loans are generally available from £50,000 to £1,000,000 at highly competitive interest rates from leading commercial loan lenders. A business loan can be secured by all types of UK business property, commercial and residential properties. Business Loans can offer up to 79% LTV (Loan to Valuation) with variable rates, depending on status and length of term. Business loans are normally offered on Freehold and long Leasehold properties with Bricks and Mortar valuations required. Legal and valuation fees are payable by the client.

Car Loan

The main types of car loans available are Hire Purchase and Manufacturer’s schemes. Hire purchase car finance is arranged by car dealerships, and effectively means that you are hiring the car from the dealer until the final payment on the loan has been paid, when ownership of the vehicle is transferred to you. A Manufacturers’ scheme is a type of loan that is put together and advertised by the car manufacturer and can be arranged directly with them or through a local car dealership. You will not be the owner of the vehicle until you have repaid the loan in full, and the car will be repossessed if you default on repayments.

Cash Loan

Cash Loans also known as Payday Loans are arranged for people in employment who find themselves in a situation where they are short of immediate funds. A Cash Loan can assist you in this situation with short term loans of between £80 and £400. Loans are repayable on your next payday, although it is possible to renew your loan until subsequent paydays. To apply for a Cash Loan you must be in employment and have a bank account with a cheque book. A poor credit rating or debt history is initially not a problem.

Debt Consolidation Loan

Debt consolidation loans can give you a fresh start, allowing you to consolidate all of your loans into one - giving you one easy to manage payment, and in most cases, at a lower rate of interest. Secured on your home debt consolidation loans can sweep away the pile of repayments to your credit and store cards, HP, loans and replace them with one, low cost, monthly payment – one calculated to be well within your means.

With a Debt Consolidation Loan you can borrow from £5,000 to £75,000 and up to 125% of your property value in some cases. It can reduce BOTH your interest costs AND your monthly repayments, putting you back in control of your life.

Home Loan

A Home Loan is a loan secured on your home. You can unlock the value tied up in your property with a secured Home loan. The loan can be used for any purpose, and is available to anyone who owns their home. Home loans can be used for any purpose such as, home improvements, new car, luxury holiday, pay of store card or credit card debt and debt consolidation. With a Home Loan you can borrow from £5,000 to £75,000.

Home Improvement Loan

A Home Improvement Loan is a low interest loan secured on your property. With a Home Improvement Loan you can borrow from £5,000 to £75,000 with low monthly repayments.

The loan can be repaid over any term between 5 and 25 years, depending on your available income and the amount of equity in the property that is to provide the security for the loan.

A Home Improvement Loan can help you with a new kitchen, bathroom, extension, loft conversion, conservatory, landscaping your garden or new furniture. You can even use it on non-house expenditure like a new car or repaying credit card or other debts.

Home Owner Loan

A Home Owner Loan is a loan secured on your home. You can unlock the value tied up in your property with a secured Home Owner loan. The loan can be used for any purpose, and is available to anyone who owns their home. Home owner loans can be used for any purpose such as, home improvements, new car, luxury holiday, pay of store card or credit card debt and debt consolidation. With a Home Owner Loan you can borrow from £5,000 to £75,000.

Payday Loan

Payday Loans also known as Cash Loans are arranged for people in employment who find themselves in a situation where they are short of immediate funds. A Payday Loan can assist you in this situation with short term loans of between £80 and £400. Loans are repayable on your next payday, although it is possible to renew your loan until subsequent paydays. To apply for a loan you must be in employment and have a bank account with a cheque book. A poor credit rating or debt history is initially not a problem.

Personal Loan

There are two categories of personal loans: secured personal loans and unsecured personal loans – See individual titles below. Homeowners can apply for a Secured personal loan (using their property as security), whereas tenants only have the option of an unsecured personal loan.

Remortgage Loan

A remortgage is changing your mortgage without moving your home. Remortgaging is the process of switching your mortgage to another lender that is offering a better deal than your current lender thereby saving money. A remortgage can also be used to raise additional finances by releasing equity in your property.

You can borrow from £25,000 up to £500,000. Rates are variable, depending on status.

Secured Loan

A secured loan is simply a loan that uses your home as security against the loan. Secured loans are suitable for when you are trying to raise a large amount; are having difficulty getting an unsecured loan; or, have a poor credit history. Lenders can be more flexible when it comes to secured loans, making a secured loan possible when you may have been turned down for an unsecured loan. Secured loans are also worth considering if you need a new car, or need to make home improvements, or take that luxury holiday of a lifetime. You can borrow any amount from £5,000 to £75,000 and repay it over any period from 5 to 25 years. You simply select a monthly payment that fits in your current circumstances.

Secured Personal Loan

A Secured Personal Loan is simply a loan that is secured against property. Secured personal loans are suitable for when you are trying to raise a large amount; are having difficulty getting an unsecured personal loan; or, have a poor credit history.

Lenders can be more flexible when it comes to Secured personal loans, making a Secured personal loan possible when you may have been turned down for an unsecured personal loan.

Secured personal loans are also worth considering if you need a new car, or need to make home improvements, or take that luxury holiday of a lifetime. You can borrow any amount from £5,000 to £75,000 and repay it over any period from 5 to 25 years.

Student Loan

A student loan is way of borrowing money to help with the cost of your higher education. Applications are made through your Local Education Authority A student loan is a way of receiving money to help with your living costs when you’re in higher education. You start paying back the loan once you have finished studying, provided your income has reached a certain level.

Tenant Loan

A tenant loan is an unsecured loan granted to those that do not own their own property. A tenant loan is always unsecured because in most cases, if you are renting your accommodation, you do not have an asset against which you can secure your loan. Tenants sometimes find that some loan companies will only lend money to homeowners. If you are a tenant you need to look for a company, bank or building society willing to give you an unsecured loan.

Unsecured Loan

An unsecured loan is a personal loan where the lender has no claim on a homeowner’s property should they fail to repay. Instead, the lender is relying solely on the ability of a borrower to meet their loan borrowing repayments.

The amount you are able to borrow can start from as little as £500 and go up to £25,000. Because you not securing the money you are borrowing, lenders tend to limit the value of unsecured loans to £25,000. The repayment period will range from anywhere between six months and ten years. Unsecured loans are offered by traditional financial institutions like building societies and banks but also recently by the larger supermarkets chains.

An unsecured loan can be used for almost anything - a luxury holiday, a new car, a wedding, or home improvements.

An unsecured loan is good for people who are not homeowners and cannot obtain a secured loan for example; a tenant living in rented accommodation.

Unsecured Personal Loan

An Unsecured personal loan is a personal loan where the lender has no claim on a homeowner’s property should they fail to repay. Instead, the lender is relying solely on the ability of a borrower to meet their loan borrowing repayments. The amount you are able to borrow can start from as little as £500 and go up to £25,000. The repayment period will range from anywhere between six months and ten years. An Unsecured personal loan can be used for almost anything - a luxury holiday, a new car, a wedding, or home improvements. An Unsecured personal loan is good for people who are not homeowners and cannot obtain a secured loan for example; a tenant living in rented accommodation.

John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help UK homeowners find the best available loans via the http://www.directonlineloans.co.uk website.

August 1, 2005

Getting a Home Improvement Loan: What Your Bank Needs

The popularity of stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s show how many homeowners are jumping on the home improvement bandwagon. Maybe you’re thinking of redoing part of your house as well. Perhaps you want the kitchen of your dreams or an extra bathroom. You know you’ll have to take out a loan to finance the project, but if you’re just in the beginning stages of the planning, you may not know exactly how to go about it. Whether you’re refinancing or taking out a home-equity loan, here’s some information on what your bank needs:

As with any loan, your bank will want to review your financial history before approving you for a home-equity loan. While different banks will have different loan criteria, there are a few things you can expect each institution to require:

-Your address and how long you’ve lived there
-Your employment history and current employer
-Your annual income and assets
-Your total debt and monthly obligations

For home-equity loans, the bank will also need information on your house such as its age and current property value. Save time by bringing the current tax assessment for your property with you. For smaller loans (usually $2000 or less), this may be enough information to indicate the home’s market value to the bank’s satisfaction. However, for larger loans, banks will require professional appraisals. Home appraisals typically cost $200-$300.

Above, I mentioned that banks want to know your total debt and monthly obligations. Specifically, they want to know your debt-to-income ratio. If your debt is greater than 30%-40% of your monthly income, the bank may be unwilling to offer a loan out of fear that you will not be able to make payments.

To further protect their assets, the bank will require a copy of your credit history to make sure you’re not a bad risk. A few months before you decide to take out a home-equity loan, it’s a good idea to get a copy of your credit report and check it for errors. Contact the credit bureau and correct any errors ahead of time. This will save time later and help you get the right loan for your home improvement needs.

TC Thorn writes for http://www.luxuryhousingtrends.com

July 28, 2005

Bad Credit Home Loan - How To Get A Good One?

Getting a home loan with a bad credit has never been easier. Here are some of the tips recommended by experts to improve your chances of getting a home loan:

1) Find a good deal on your home: If you can snap up a home as cheaper rates compared to the local market, you may have an easier time getting financing on that property. To the lender or financial institution, it is as good as having a down payment on your home. There are some lenders who consider loan to value ratio before approving a home loan. Ask your mortgage lender if this factor can help you get qualified for your home loan.

2) Creative financing: If the seller is motivated, ask if they are willing to carry back a second mortgage on the home. On approval, you can set up a contract or agreement with the seller that you agree to pay monthly payments on the property, as a second mortgage. To make it easy on the seller, it is best recommended to have an end date by which you intend to pay back the amount owed. On an average, 2 years are enough for you to refinance the second mortgage and the seller does not feel permanently locked into the agreement.

3) Make a downpayment: You may be able to qualify for a 100% financing even with a bad credit. However, if you pay a 5-10% down, your interest payments will be much lower. Try to save as much as you can for your down-payment. At times, it is best advised to wait for a few months to be able to make a down payment. If you cannot afford to have a down-payment, you may always refinance your loan later for a lower interest rate.

4) Comparison shopping does help: It is important to do a comparison shopping and get loan quotes from multiple lenders. If you have a bad credit, you will be surprised how much the interest rate varies. Let the loan lender know that you are getting multiple offers and you are considering the lowest rates. Lenders will squeeze their margins to win your business.

5) Work on improving your credit score: Request a free credit report from any of the credit bureaus. If you were denied credit recently, you can get a free report. Report any inaccuracies as soon as possible. Now it is easier to report inaccuracies on the websites for each of the three credit bureaus. Too many credit cards can negatively affect your credit score. Close the accounts that you no longer need.

Don’t let bad credit stop you from owning a home. There are plenty of lenders out there to get a piece of your business.
Apply with multiple lenders and compare their offers.

Bill A Smith is a credit counselor for Ameri credit counseling and credit management agency. Visit us at http://www.americreditservices.com/ for credit counseling.

July 27, 2005

Refinance Your Home Equity Loan

Refinancing your home equity loan is an excellent way to save money. By refinancing your home equity loan you can lower your interest rate and finance for a longer or shorter term. Some things to consider before refinancing your home equity loan are the possible tax benefits, how long you intend to stay in your home, what your long term financial goals are, and how could you use the money to benefit your family. Refinancing your home equity loan is a great way to save money each month.

A home equity loan is a great way to get the cash you need and lower your monthly payments at the same time. If you already have a home equity loan you may be able to refinance at a lower interest rate and save money. With one short application you can get several quotes and be pre-qualified by multiple lenders. The quotes are free and there will be no credit check until you
select the lender that will offer you the best terms. Refinancing your home equity loan could give you extra cash each month and drop your interest rate dramatically. Bad credit, past bankruptcy, and foreclosures are all considered. There are numerous options available in refinancing your home equity loan.

One simple online quote request will give you several quotes from lenders who can design a loan package especially for your situation. If you are a homeowner with an existing home equity loan, consider refinancing to take advantage of the many loan options offered by mortgage lenders. Your quick online quote request will give you quotes from several lenders who can refinance your home equity loan even if you have poor credit. There is no mandatory credit check so you will only have one
inquiry on your credit report after you have selected the lender that is right for you.

Refinancing your home equity loan is a smart way to save money and lower your monthly payments. Find the best lender for you with a fast, no-obligation application that you can complete online in just minutes. Even a small decrease in your interest rate can save you thousands of dollars over the length of your loan. Contact a mortgage broker or lender today and find out how much money you can save with one short application. You can be pre-qualified in just minutes. Refinancing your home equity loan makes perfect sense for those who want to lower their monthly payments and save money each month. Your online application will put you in touch with lenders who are able to offer you great terms and low interest rates, even if your credit is less than perfect.

To see a list of recommended home equity loan companies online, visit this page: http://www.abcloanguide.com/homeequityloan.shtml. Carrie Reeder is the owner of ABC Loan Guide, an informational website with articles and more about various types of loans.

July 23, 2005

Home Equity Loan or a Home Equity Line of Credit?

A home equity loan is good for items that require one large payment. This is why so many consumers use it for debt consolidation. The interest rates on home equity loans are low enough to be beat out the prevailing rates on almost every other type of consumer debt. In this era of teaser rates, it is safe to say that no one is safe when it comes to long term debt.

Financial institutions are constantly updating their rules to penalize customers based on their behavior even if they have great credit. One late payment or an over-the-limit fee can take you from a 3.9% interest rate to over 19%. It is no wonder that more consumers are willing to use a home equity loan to manage their finances. It is an easy, accessible, low cost option.

However, usually, once you get a home equity loan, you must pay off the amount before you bank will consider you for another loan. It is easy to see why this would be the case. A home equity loan decreases your available equity, increases your debt obligation to your lender, and is usually a sign that your monthly bills are getting beyond your control. Once you’ve been approved for your loan, it puts you in a less than ideal position as a potential borrower.

Home Equity Line of Credit is revolving so it can cover expenses over and over again.

A home equity line of credit functions as a revolving credit line that is always open in case you need fast access to some cash. It operates just like a credit card in the sense that the limit is finite, interest rate is applied only when you have an unpaid balance, and any amount you take out reduces the total remaining balance.

If you have a credit line of $30,000 and you use $12,000, then you pay interest on the $12,000 and you have a remaining balance of $18,000 available at any time.

Home Equity Line of credit is great for emergencies. If you should experience a sudden job loss, an accident, or any other type of emergency where your salary is in jeopardy but you will need a loan, you can still have access to your home equity line of credit. It does not require a new loan application and can give you the same great rates as a home equity loan.

The interest rate on your credit line will vary based on the amount that you have used and the credit terms established by your lender.

So how do you decide which one is better?

Take an objective look at your finances. If it looks like you need a one time loan to reduce your debt, then a home equity loan is a good choice. If it looks like your will have periods where you will need more cash that you an get on your credit card, then a home equity line of credit might be your best option.

Syd Johnson is the webmaster of http://www.rapidlingo.com.

July 12, 2005

Reverse Mortgages: Learn The Facts First!

Many offer special appeal to older adults because the loan advances, which are not taxable, generally do not affect Social Security or Medicare benefits.

Depending on the plan, reverse mortgages generally allow homeowners to retain title to their homes until they permanently move, sell their home, die, or reach the end of a pre-selected loan term.

Generally, a move is considered permanent when the homeowner has not lived in the home for 12 consecutive months. So, for example, a person could live in a nursing home or other medical facility for up to 12 months before the reverse mortgage would be due.

However, be aware that:

Reverse mortgages tend to be more costly than traditional loans because they are rising-debt loans.

The interest is added to the principal loan balance each month. So, the total amount of interest owed increases significantly with time as the interest compounds.

Reverse mortgages use up all or some of the equity in a home. That leaves fewer assets for the homeowner and his or her heirs.

Lenders generally charge origination fees and closing costs; some charge servicing fees. How much is up to the lender.

Interest on reverse mortgages is not deductible on income tax returns until the loan is paid off in part or whole.

Because homeowners retain title to their home, they remain responsible for taxes, insurance, fuel, maintenance, and other housing expenses.

Getting a Good Deal.

If you decide to consider a reverse mortgage, shop around and compare terms.

Look at the:

Annual percentage rate (APR), which is the yearly cost of credit. type of interest rate. Some plans provide for fixed rate interest; others involve adjustable rates that change over the loan term based on market conditions, number of points (fees paid to the lender for the loan) and other closing costs.

Some lenders may charge steep costs, which your lender may offer to finance. However, if you agree to this, you’ll take out fewer proceeds from the loan or you’ll borrow an extra amount, which will be added to your loan balance and you’ll owe more interest at the end of the loan. Total Amount Loan Cost (TALC) rates.

The TALC rate is the projected annual average cost of a reverse mortgage, including all itemized costs.

It shows what the single all-inclusive interest rate would be if the lender could charge only interest and no fees or other costs. payment terms, including acceleration clauses.

They state when the lender can declare the entire loan due immediately. Under the federal Truth in Lending Act, lenders must disclose these terms and other information before you sign the loan.

On plans with adjustable rates, they must provide specific information about the variable rate feature.

On plans with credit lines, they must inform the applicant about appraisal or credit report charges, attorney’s fees, or other costs associated with opening and using the account.

Be sure you understand these terms and costs.

For More Infomation On Reverse Mortgages Visit: http://www.debt-elimination-program-reviews.com They review and then list some of the best debt elimination, programs, software and books available online in 2005, Including Free Articles, Special Reports and More!

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