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Posts Tagged ‘debt consolidation’

The underwater mortgage

The new chronic problem with about 25% of US homeowners is having an “underwater” mortgage. The term means homeowners who owe more than their houses are worth. Due to declining home values from the recession, homeowners find themselves in just such a position. Recent studies are showing that before the recession makes a marked change for the better, about 50% of homeowners will find themselves with “underwater” mortgages.

The good mortgage news

There is good news though, when it comes to the overall state of mortgages today. Though the number of underwater mortgages is expected to increase, but there are a number of homeowners that are safe. A study by First American CoreLogic, is showing that about 23 million homeowners have 20% or more equity in their properties, and about 1 million more own their houses outright. Owners in this position have to figure out what to do with their equity. Although it’s great to have a good amount of equity in a property, there are two concerns that every homeowner needs to face:

1. If homeowners borrow against their equity and home prices continue to fall, they could end up in the “underwater” position.
2. If homeowners don’t borrow against equity, the cash that could have been taken out may disappear.

The general rule of thumb is to never borrow more than 80% of the value of a house. That way even if there is a decline in value, owners still have some cushion to protect them from losing too much equity.

What to do with equity

When it comes to figuring out what to do with equity, there are some options that homeowners look into. Debt consolidation, home remodeling and car purchasing are three things that many homeowners use home equity funds for. Though this may be a convenient option, looking at each deeper reveals how little advantage there really is to each one of them.

Debt Consolidation. It’s not exactly hidden anymore that a lot of Americans have a lot of debt. Many homeowners move to consolidate when they have high interest credit. This may sound like a good idea, but in reality there is more to the equation. When a consumer turns debt around with their home as security, they’ve secured their debt. It might be better to file bankruptcy as it eliminates debt completely. It’s only a good idea to turn equity into a loan for bills is if the total amount owed is low and the reason for debt is well known. Homeowners should realize what brought about the debt in the first place and commit to changing their spending habits.

Home remodeling. People with high equity might also look into home remodeling. A lot of homeowners think a remodel means added value automatically, that isn’t always the case. There are some changes that will add value, but not all remodeling brings an automatic return. A rule of thumb when it comes to home remodeling is to pay with it for cash, rather than take equity out of the house. Popular renovations are kitchen and bathroom updates. Any could bring a great return on investment if managed with care, kept on a budget, and paid for with cash.

Car purchasing. Some homeowners might use home equity to buy a new car. One-hundred percent of the time this is a bad idea. Why? Largely thanks to cars losing value the second you buy them. A general rule of thumb is to make a purchase funded by home equity only if that purchase appreciates in value. Cars definitely don’t fall under that category. If you need a car, and the only option is a home equity loan, that car needs to get paid off as quickly as possible.

Equity should not be taken lightly

Due to the high number of “underwater” mortgages out there, anyone who has equity in their property should guard it cautiously. Things like debt consolidation, home remodeling and car purchasing may sound like good ideas, but according to experts, they aren’t. It’s better to leave equity where it is than risk losing it with an unwise move.

You can’t get approved for debt management, if you do not already have good credit. If you’ve already defaulted on payments, don’t count on getting the loan. It should be obvious why this is so. Typically, banks and other lenders will consider this type of borrower far too risky, since they could be potentially problematic in future. Because most lenders have already had problems with bad loans, they are far more likely to exercise caution when lending to someone with bad credit.

It’s pretty safe to say that these individuals find themselves in their circumstances because of late payments. But a good portion of these people are actually trying to get new loans to help repay their already existing debts. And by effectively managing a new loan, many of these individuals actually can get out of the debt trap. Having a lot of debt can be very frustrating. But getting a loan with low rates to help pay off your debts is still often possible even with bad credit. And as we all know, not having any debt can help you to start a new life all over again.

If you’re thinking about mortgage rates you obviously also have to have good credit. Someone with poor credit will probably have to take a hard money mortgage loan if they expect a lender to give them money. To avoid that, you can apply for some form of debt consolidation services in plenty of time to clear up your credit before you apply for a mortgage. That will give you the opportunity to clear up any outstanding debts and demonstrate responsible payment practices. This will show lenders that you’re capable of being responsible and paying back your loan within the agreed-upon time. We all deserve second chances, it just takes a little more work and focus than if you have never had financial problems. But don’t worry, using common sense and acting responsibly will restore your credit eventually.