Archive for Credit and your Mortgage
How Difficult is it to Get a Balance Transfer Credit Card?
Posted by: | CommentsThere is no doubt that the global credit crunch that has seized the UK over the past year has had a profound effect on the financial markets, and getting any sort of finance has become increasingly difficult even for those with pretty decent credit in some cases. All areas of the finance markets have been affected, such as loans, mortgages, and credit cards.
This has put many people into something of a catch 22 situation. Due to rising living costs, soaring bills, and higher borrowing costs many people are looking to switch their existing credit card balances to a 0% balance transfer credit card.
However, due to the global credit crunch getting a credit card has become far more difficult, leaving many people without any other option but to continue making repayments on their high interest cards.
Basically, industry officials are now saying that whilst those with perfect credit are unlikely to experience problems when it comes to getting a balance transfer credit card people who have a bad credit history and low credit rating may find it very hard to get one of these cards. Worse still, if you apply for one of these cards and you are rejected your credit rating will take a further knock, making it even more difficult to get finance in the future.
Although you can save a lot of money in interest by switching to a balance transfer credit card you may find that it can prove helpful to check your credit rating first before you make an application and risk rejection. There are now actually more balance transfer credit cards on the market than there were a couple of years ago, but getting hold of one has become more difficult.
If you have an inkling that you may not have a perfect credit rating then it is worth while getting a copy of your credit report from one of the credit reference agencies, such as Experian, CallCredit, or Equifax. You can do this easily and quickly online, and you can get to see your credit score and what this means.
This will enable you to make a more informed decision with regards to whether you should apply for a balance transfer credit card or whether you should wait a while until your credit improves.
US Govt Unveils New Mortgage Modification Incentives
Posted by: | CommentsIn Washington, the Wall Street Journal reports that the Obama administration has unveiled a fresh set of incentives Tuesday for mortgage servicers to help strapped U.S. homeowners.
Under a new program, the government will pay mortgage servicers $500 up front and $250 a year for three years for successfully modifying a second mortgage, such as a home equity loan.
Second mortgages have complicated government efforts to help borrowers avoid foreclosure. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, up to 50% of at-risk mortgages have second liens and many properties in foreclosure have more than one lien.
Senior administration officials Tuesday told reporters they expect a significant amount of big banks to sign up for the updated federal program to bring relief to troubled homeowners. Once those firms sign necessary contracts, they’ll generally be obligated to modify second liens when they’ve initiated a loan modification on the first, the officials said. They also noted that the second lien program will be funded by the $50 billion in Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP, funds the administration had already projected to use for home affordability efforts.
Additionally, the administration unveiled a schedule of incentives for holders of second mortgages to extinguish those liens voluntarily.
The administration also announced a set of incentives for servicers and lenders participating in the Hope for Homeowners foreclosure prevention program, which aims to restore homeowners’ lost equity by encouraging lenders to write down loan principal. The administration said it will take steps to incorporate Hope for Homeowners into its mortgage loan modification program. Servicers will be required to determine eligibility for a Hope for Homeowners refinancing and where it proves viable, the servicer would need to offer this option to the borrower.
While participation in the Hope for Homeowners program has been dismal, administration officials said they’re expecting strong investor interest as the program is wrapped into the broader federal loan modification program. The administration also said it supports legislation to strengthen the Hope for Homeowners program so that it can function effectively as a key part of the administration’s new housing mortgage mediation efforts.
“With these latest program details, we’re offering even more opportunities for borrowers to make their homes more affordable under the administration’s housing plan,” Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said in a statement Tuesday. “Ensuring that responsible homeowners can afford to stay in their homes is critical to stabilizing the housing market, which is in turn critical to stabilizing our financial system overall.”
During a conference call, senior administration officials said they are continuing to work on key elements of the president’s plan to stem foreclosures and agencies will be developing more details and guidelines going forward.
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Mortgages in Turkey
Posted by: | CommentsWith its wonderful landscapes, inviting climate and historical background, Turkey has long been a popular tourist hotspot. So popular, in fact, that many visitors have enquired about buying property there. Until recently, though, if you were a non-resident then you could only buy a property in Turkey if you paid cash. However, with recent changes in legislation due to the rise in inflation, you can now take out a Turkish mortgage and make your dream of living in the sun a reality.
However, since this is such a new introduction to this part of the world, there are still some changes to the mortgage system that are happening frequently, therefore it’s wise to check with your financial adviser or mortgage broker before committing yourself to this venture.
For instance, when the mortgages first came into effect, you could only take out a fixed rate mortgage, with the same pros and cons that kind of mortgage entails. In February of this year, however, a new law was passed that allowed Turkish mortgages to be variable, or floating, as well.
The responsibility of any problems after the property handover has changed as well. Before the new legislation came in, if there were any defects or problems with the home, there was no limit on the amount of time a new owner could claim against the bank or mortgage provider for any problems. Now, however, this has been limited to just one year.
The area of tax relief has also changed on Turkish mortgages. Previously, to encourage potential buyers, the Turkish government allowed people to claim tax relief on their mortgage or property. Now, however, due to a rise in interest rates, this has been withdrawn. Although lower rates over a longer loan period are available, this has put some possible house buyers off, especially those on a lower wage or income.
However, as long as you’re aware of some of these changes and are willing to work with them, then Turkey offers a fantastic opportunity for both those wishing to buy a home there for themselves, and those looking to use it more as an investment. With the cost of living relatively inexpensive, a Turkish mortgage can allow you far more opportunities than in a more expansive part of the world, like the US or UK.
If you’re looking to use property as an investment such as a holiday home or villa, especially with the high tourism rate in Turkey, then one of the areas you might want to look at is Didim, especially the towns of Altinkum and Akbuk. Located on the east coast, Didim is a wonderful mix of both historic and new Turkey and is very popular with today’s tourist trade.
Altinkum offers the more modern version of Turkey, although that’s not to say it doesn’t enjoy its own part of history; but with the expansive beaches and new jetty’s ideal for sun-seekers, as well as plenty of restaurants and the nightlife available, it’s a livelier spot.
Akbuk offers a more relaxing alternative, and is extremely popular for its sea bass fishing trips. With a wonderful old chapel that is opened to the public, Akbuk attracts the holidaymaker who simply wishes to unwind and relax, and offers summer houses and villas as buying opportunities.
The prices for property itself is highly attractive – in Akbuk, for instance, a two-bedroom apartment costs as little as 38,000 GBP and this includes scenic views over the surrounding hills. Even four-bedroom apartments in Altinkum are as little as 130,000 GBP, often with their own private pool included.
With these types of prices and the new legislation making it easier to buy, you can see why Turkish mortgages are becoming more than just a possible idea. Add in the climate, friendly locals and history of this country, and it really is a wonderful opportunity.
How Credit Scores Affect Your Mortgage
Posted by: | CommentsYour credit score reflects your credit worthiness as it is described by a financing body which would require your credit report to award you with the right credit limit. There are a number of credit reporting agencies in the online world that offer reports from three major bureaus of the United States. These bureaus include Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. Depending upon the outcome of these reports, financial institutions will award you with the ideal credit score that will meet your financial requirements. This entire concept has been approved by the US federal bureau of finances so as to help people with the ideal credit limit and at the same time offer financing institutions with risk free credit limits to be provided as per their operational procedures. It has been noticed throughout the years that the credit report of an individual directly affects the interest rate on ones mortgages. Let us try to understand the possible ways credit score mortgages are affected.
The Fiar Issac Corp (FICO) is the governing body that decodes the credit score to reflect off a mortgage. They are the most influential name in the credit score department where their final report is taken seriously and contributes towards the credit score mortgage scenario. Their scores range from 300 to 850 and have formed the guidelines for all US credit score mortgages. Apart from FICO, VantageScore is another governing body that affects the credit score mortgage. It is available for cheaper rate compared to FICO, however their scores are not direct substitutes for each other. This is the main reason why individuals prefer the FICO credit score mortgages compared to any other. Depending upon the credit score that is obtained from FICO, it directly reflects off the mortgage interest level of an individual. Those individuals that have gained a higher credit score through FICO will find that their interest levels on their mortgages are comparatively lower compared to those with lower interest rates. Here is where individuals will find it important to ensure that they receive the highest possible credit score mortgage.
A FICO score that ranges somewhere between 500 to 540 generally comes as a lower credit score mortgage and can qualify for a mortgage. It may have a higher interest rate compared to any other credit score and will form the base of the credit score mortgage. There are a number of variations when it comes towards getting a credit score which will affect a mortgage interest rate. On an average, a credit score between 750 to 850 has an interest rate of around 5.70% while credit scores between 500 to 570 have an interest rate of around 9.50%. As you can see, the credit score directly affects the mortgage calculation where the interest rate increases with a lower credit score. Hence, it has become important that those individuals that would not want to pay higher interest rates opt for a way in which they can gain the highest possible credit score mortgage. The best way in which this can be achieved would be by electing a credit reporting agency that can formulate a good credit score for you.
There are many online services claiming to offer the best credit report for your money, however, I have found that only one consistently provides the most accurate information at an affordable price.
CreditScoreDirect.com is by far one of the best credit report companies on the web. Find out what your credit score is today.
Finding A Bad Credit Mortgage
Posted by: | CommentsBad credit loan mortgages or non-status mortgages are purposely intended to serve people with a bad credit history. According to a recent survey, one fifth of all adults are not able to qualify for a standard mortgage as a result of a previous or current bad financial situation.
Credit history is based on information retrieved from sources including Public records such as electoral roll information, court judgments and bankruptcies; and Information provided by financial institutions and other lenders such as banks that provide credit accounts and lending facilities.
In order to calculate the potential risk in providing loans to the person, most lenders use independent credit reference agencies to gather and assemble this information since they are permitted by law to review a mortgagee’s credit report before granting approval.
Bad credit rating usually results from failure to pay off outstanding debts or other credit payments on time, due to factors such as outstanding rent or mortgage arrears, county court judgments (CCJ) or bankruptcy. There are also other reasons that can result in a bad credit record which include:
1. Foreclosure
2. Heavy medical bills
3. Settlements arising due to Judgments /divorce
4. Multiple credit cards
5. IRS debt
Bad credit mortgage is designed for people who are unable to take out a mortgage from high-end mortgage providers. However, there are several providers who are willing to take a risk and provide loans for individuals with bad credit ratings, but at a higher rate or lower maximum amount.
Normally, a bad credit mortgage loan has an introductory interest rate that is fixed for 2-3 years, which is substantially higher that the rate pertaining to a conventional 30 year fixed rate loan. This is due to the extra risk the lender has to take, because with a bad credit, the borrower’s probability of default on the home load is higher than someone with good credit. However, after the initial period, the interest rate on a bad credit mortgage will adjust periodically.
There are also a few factors that most lenders of bad credit loan mortgages will look into, before granting the loan mortgage to people with bad credit history. This includes:
1. Employment history and income stability
2. Current monthly debt
3. Value of the property and
4. Down payment
Since loan requests from people with bad credit do not fit under the standard underwriting guidelines, fees charged by lenders on bad credit mortgage loans are also significantly higher than those charged in a conventional or standard home loan. This can range from 1% to 6% of the total loan amount.
Since individuals who get a bad credit mortgage usually do so mainly because they want to put their credit back into good standing, or as an opportunity to clean up credit history, the higher interest rate need not necessarily lasts for 30 years. Additionally, if the monthly loan payments are in time for two consecutive years, the bad credit mortgage can be refinanced with a conventional loan at a much lower interest rate.
Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Big Lots, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Bank of America and Honda
CHICAGO—-Zacks.com Analyst Blog features: Big Lots , Fannie Mae , Freddie Mac , Bank of America and Honda Motor Co. .
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Posted by: | CommentsShow & Tell Real Estate Course For Getting Started In Real Estate Without Good Credit Or A Lot Of Cash.
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CORRECT (6/8): Puerto Rico’s First BanCorp Ordered To Shape Up
Posted by: | CommentsCORRECT (6/8): Puerto Rico’s First BanCorp Ordered To Shape Up
CORRECT (6/8): Puerto Rico’s First BanCorp Ordered To Shape Up
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With real estate prices at their lowest in years and the economy poised for a rebound, it’s an opportune time to invest in commercial real estate. But credit and financing issues can still pose challenges that prospective borrowers must overcome in order to get the money and mortgage terms they need. Commercial Mortgages 101 is a step-by-step guide for both real estate investors and mortgage brokers, offering insight, practical tools and a thorough overview of… More >>
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Paltalk News – Obama’s Mortgage Plan Isn’t Enough
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President Obama’s plan to stimulate the housing market is a good one. But the $75 billion earmarked is not nearly enough money to make a dent. That, at least, is the opinion of Dedrick Muhammad, my guest today on News Talk Online on Paltalk.com. Muhammad, senior organizer and research associate for the Program on Inequality and the Common Good at the Institute for Policy Studies says the mortgage relief program “will help soften the impact” of the recession. But, he adds, “I don’t believe it will stabilize the housing market.” Several callers expressed concern that the plan seems to address, mainly, the middle class. What, they asked, of poor homeowners? Muhammad says, the reality is, with the exception of rural areas, most poor people are renters. He particularly likes the portion of the plan which gives bounties to people who arrange loans between borrowers and lending institutions. “They are giving a profit motive,” he says, “to restructure an affordable loan.”
House passes bill to boost FHA reserves $300 million a month
Posted by: | CommentsHouse passes bill to boost FHA reserves $300 million a month
The U.S. House voted to allow the Federal Housing Administration to raise the fees it charges to borrowers, a move that would add $300 million a month to help the agency rebuild its dwindling reserves.
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