Consolidate your credit card debt

With the popularity of plastic money in the present age, credit cards are gaining immense importance. With the growing increase in usage of such cards the credit rates are also reaching the horizon. Debts are thus becoming a common happening in our daily lives. People who are under the claws of credit card debts need to give a serious thought to debt consolidation and lighten their burden. In the US more than half of the population has an average of $8000 debts, only because of the usage of credit cards.

You must be eager to know:

• How does debt consolidation helps in case of credit card debts?
• How consolidating my credit card debts could be beneficial?

A credit card debt consolidation loan can be a resource to consolidate the outstanding balances on your cards into one single loan. They can also be transferred to one single card that has a lower interest rate than the ones you are currently paying. The path to savings should be very cautiously chalked out and one needs to make calculated moves all the time. When you are paying high interest rates on some of your current credit cards then it might be a wise idea to go for a balance transfer onto another credit card or cards that have relatively low interest rate. Know more about balance transfer in the "members only" contents. We offer free membership. Calculate the interest on your credit card debts and transfer it accordingly.

The ideal way to consolidate your credit card debts!

In order to make you understand better we have a small example of how consolidating your credit card debt could be beneficial.

Let's say you have $100 in outstanding credit card debt and the average annual percentage rate (APR) on that card or cards is 18 % ( which is the average). If the outstanding balance remains at $100 then over the course of a year you would pay approximately $18 in interest charges alone. If you consolidate your credit card debt into a single loan with a lower interest rate or if you do a balance transfer onto a credit card or cards with a low interest rate you would save a significant amount of money.

If the new loan or credit card have a 9% APR then you would save roughly $10 in interest charges over the course of that same year. If you save $10 for a debt of $100, then think about a debt of $10,000. This trick will save you $1,000 over the course of that same year. Just think of $1, 00,000 debts; you can save $10,000. And this amount of $10,000 can be used to repay some of your debts. Life becomes easy with simple calculations and cautious moves.

If you are under a mountain of debts our experts will help you to consolidate your debts and help you tread you into a debt free land. Consolidating your debt is perhaps the fastest, safest and best way today to get rid of your financial obligations and we are experts in this field. Fill our free membership form to view all the alternatives. With debt consolidation we are here to consolidate all your financial loans in a single monthly payment. Thus we help you take the first step nearer to freedom. You can take a look at the following articles:

http://www.debtconsolidationcare.com/card-counseling.html
http://www.debtconsolidationcare.com/creditcard-terminology.html
http://www.debtconsolidationcare.com/creditcardfaq.html
http://www.debtconsolidationcare.com/credit-counseling.html

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About The Author -

Author's Name : Janet Williams

bill@debtconsolidationcare.com

Janet Williams is a contributing writer to www.debtconsolidationcare.com and is currently working on a special section in the site called do it yourself where you can eliminate your debts and become debt free.

(July 2005)

Disclosures from lenders

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. And in general, neither the lender nor anyone else may charge a fee until after you have received this information. You usually get these disclosures when you receive an application form, and you will get additional disclosures before the plan is opened. If any term (other than a variable-rate feature) changes before the plan is opened, the lender must return all fees if you decide not to enter into the plan because of the change.

When you open a home equity line, the transaction puts your home at risk. If the home involved is your principal dwelling, the Truth in Lending Act gives you 3 days from the day the account was opened to cancel the credit line. This right allows you to change your mind for any reason. You simply inform the lender in writing within the 3-day period. The lender must then cancel its security interest in your home and return all fees--including any application and appraisal fees--paid to open the account.

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This article is from the Federal Reserve website

(Febuary 2005)

Are There Good Mortgages for Mobile Homes and Manufactured Housing?

Are There Good Mortgages for Mobile Homes and Manufactured Housing?

Why do so many mobile home and manufactured housing buyers settle for what ever mortgage the dealer throws in front of them? Do they really think they deserve to pay 9-12% interest just because they are not buying traditional housing? There is no reason to pay those rates just because you are financing under $100,000.00. Fannie Mae, HUD, and FHA all have programs with rates between 7.125 and 8.5% interest on mortgages below 60,000.00 and 6.125-7.5% on Mortgages below 100,000.00.

They do have common sense conditions as to the construction, anchoring and foundation. Many of these conditions are based on location and safety but again they are common sense and can be rolled into the mortgage as a construction to permanent loan (also known as a C/P). By going with one of these programs you automatically qualify for reduced insurance premiums because your house will conform to Fannie Mae, HUD, or FHA standards. You also have the piece of mind of knowing your home is as safe and weather resistant as possible.

Compare the above rates to what you pay now. And realize that there is no good reason to pay more. If you have a credit rating of over 485 you can qualify for one of the rates above. There are other factors like Loan to Value, Debt to Income Ratio, Primary Residence, that can affect the rate. However there is no reason to pay higher then the highest rate mentioned above.

Let me know if you found this article useful.

Kevin Hidden

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This article is from Kevin Hidden at www.mortgageseeker.biz.

Kevin can be reached at support@mortgageseeker.biz

(April 2005)

Why is a Home Equity Line of Credit good for you?

There are several reasons to a choose a home equity line of credit (also known as a
HELOC) for home financing. There is such a wide variety of reasons that I will
limit my discussion about HELOCs here to just a few.

Investor:

A Home Equity Line of Credit is the perfect tool to reduce risk within an investment
property. If an emergency repair needs to be made, the cash to pay for such a
repair can be made directly through the Heloc. A Heloc may also allow the funds
for future investments or improvements to the property.

Parents:

Helocs are useful becuase they can allow you to pay for medical bills. For example,
a home equity line of credit may assist the preparation for a newborn or for an
older child, it could make braces more affordable. Consolidating debt is also
another benefit listed below. The benefits are endless. Consider financing your
car through a heloc. car loans tend to be outragious.

Home Improvements:

New landscaping, carpets, and paint are the three fastest and low cost ways to
improve the value of your home. Adding more square footage is the number one way
to increase your homes value and what better way to do that than through a home
equity line of credit. Helocs are better than an improvement loan becuase you
are not required to have inspections throughout the improvement process.

College:

Fund your childs college experience with a home equity line of credit. You
will find that a heloc may make the difference in putting your child through college.
College graduates on average make several time that of individuals with only a
highschool diploma.

Medical:

Use a home equity loan to cut the cost of your insurance by having a larger deductible. Becuase of the Heloc, you will
be able to make the deductible if you have a serious medical emergancy. Becuase
you will be paying dramatically less each month on insurance, your savings will be huge!

Retirement:

A heloc is one way to tap the equity that has
been built up in a home. Another loan to use is a reverse mortgage.

Debt Consolidation:

This is probably the number one reason to get a home equity
line of credit. why have hold several different loans that have large interest
rates when you can consolidate them into one loan with a lower rate. Not only
will this reduce your overall interest rate, but becuase a heloc is ammortized
over a large period of time, you will be dramatically decreasing your monthly
payment and improving your cashflow!

Costs of establishing and maintaining a home equity line

Many of the costs of setting up a home equity line of credit are similar to those you pay when you buy a home. For example,

• A fee for a property appraisal to estimate the value of your home
• An application fee, which may not be refunded if you are turned down for credit
• Up-front charges, such as one or more points (one point equals 1 percent of the credit limit)
• Closing costs, including fees for attorneys, title search, and mortgage preparation and filing; property and title insurance; and taxes.

In addition, you may be subject to certain fees during the plan period, such as annual membership or maintenance fees and a transaction fee every time you draw on the credit line.

You could find yourself paying hundreds of dollars to establish the plan. If you were to draw only a small amount against your credit line, those initial charges would substantially increase the cost of the funds borrowed. On the other hand, because the lender's risk is lower than for other forms of credit, as your home serves as collateral, annual percentage rates for home equity lines are generally lower than rates for other types of credit. The interest you save could offset the costs of establishing and maintaining the line. Moreover, some lenders waive some or all of the closing costs.

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This article is from one of
The Federal Reserve Board's webpages

(Febuary 2005)

How will you repay your home equity plan?

Before entering into a plan, consider how you will pay back the money you borrow. Some plans set minimum payments that cover a portion of the principal (the amount you borrow) plus accrued interest. But (unlike with the typical installment loan) the portion that goes toward principal may not be enough to repay the principal by the end of the term. 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.

Regardless of the minimum required payment, you may choose to pay more, and many lenders offer a choice of payment options. Many consumers choose to pay down the principal regularly as they do with other loans. For example, if you use your line to buy a boat, you may want to pay it off as you would a typical boat loan.

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. You must be prepared to make this "balloon payment" by refinancing it with the lender, by obtaining a loan from another lender, or by some other means. If you are unable to make the balloon payment, you could lose your home.

If your plan has a variable interest rate, your monthly payments may change. Assume, for example, that you borrow $10,000 under a plan that calls for interest-only payments. At a 10 percent interest rate, your monthly payments would be $83. If the rate rises over time to 15 percent, your monthly payments will increase to $125. Similarly, if you are making payments that cover interest plus some portion of the principal, your monthly payments may increase, unless your agreement calls for keeping payments the same throughout the plan period.

If you sell your home, you will probably be required to pay off your home equity line in full immediately. If you are likely to sell your home in the near future, consider whether it makes sense to pay the up-front costs of setting up a line of credit. Also keep in mind that renting your home may be prohibited under the terms of your agreement.

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This article is from one of The Federal Reserve Board's webpages

(Febuary 2005)

Is a Home Equity Credit Line Right for you?

If you need to borrow money, home equity lines may be one useful source of credit. Initially at least, they may provide you with large amounts of cash at relatively low interest rates. And they may provide you with certain tax advantages unavailable with other kinds of loans. (Check with your tax adviser for details.)

At the same time, home equity lines of credit require you to use your home as collateral for the loan. This may put your home at risk if you are late or cannot make your monthly payments. In addition, because home equity loans give you relatively easy access to cash, you might find you borrow money more freely.

Remember too, there are other ways to borrow money from a lending institution. For example, you may want to explore second mortgage installment loans. Although these plans also place an additional mortgage on your home, second mortgage money usually is loaned in a lump sum, rather than in a series of advances made available by writing checks on an account. Also, second mortgages usually have fixed interest rates and fixed payment amounts.

You also may want to explore borrowing from credit lines that do not use your home as collateral. These are available with your credit cards or with unsecured credit lines that let you write checks as you need the money. In addition, you may want to ask about loans for specific items, such as cars or tuition.

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This article is from the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions' website

(Febuary 2005)

Protecting Yourself

You can protect yourself against losing your home to inappropriate lending practices. Here's how:

Home Equity Loan Don'ts:

• Agree to a home equity loan if you don't have enough income to make the monthly payments.


• Sign any document you haven't read or any document that has blank spaces to be filled in after you sign.


• Let anyone pressure you into signing any document.


• Agree to a loan that includes credit insurance or extra products you don't want.


• Let the promise of extra cash or lower monthly payments get in the way of your good judgment about whether the cost you will pay for the loan is really worth it.


• Deed your property to anyone. First consult an attorney, a knowledgeable family member, or someone else you trust.
  

Home Equity Loan Do's:

• Ask specifically if credit insurance is required as a condition of the loan. If it isn't, and a charge is included in your loan and you don't want the insurance, ask that the charge be removed from the loan documents. If you want the added security of credit insurance, shop around for the best rates.


• Keep careful records of what you've paid, including billing statements and canceled checks. Challenge any charge you think is inaccurate.


• Check contractors' references when it is time to have work done in your home. Get more than one estimate.


• Read all items carefully. If you need an explanation of any terms or conditions, talk to someone you can trust, such as a knowledgeable family member or an attorney. Consider all the costs of financing before you agree to a loan.

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This article is a segment from the FTC's webpage Home Equity Loans: Borrowers Beware

(Febuary 2005)

Prerequisites While "Qualifying For a Home Loan"

When preparing to lend a mortgage the first thing many lenders do is to make sure about your financial condition. It enables lenders to grant loans that would otherwise be considered too risky. Lenders look at a variety of factors, including your ability and willingness to repay the loan. This mainly is done by the complete verification of borrowers application, which involves various factors.

They are as following:

1. Your identity.


2. Your income- The amount of money you earn will determine the amount of money you can borrow to purchase your home. Normally, 33% of your income is the general rule to be spent on your mortgage, but this can vary depending upon the amount of down payment, your credit history, etc.


3. Your debts- The lender will look at the debt paid monthly by the applicant.


4. Your employment history- Lenders see a steady employment in any occupation held by the applicant.


5. Your credit history- Lenders receive a copy of your credit history in the loan application process in order to determine your willingness to pay as a borrower.


6. The value of the property you want to buy or refinance.


7. Your financial assets and liabilities.

Your willingness to repay is closely related to how you have fulfilled previous financial commitments. This is why lenders also place an emphasis on a pair of numbers called the "housing ratio" and the "total-obligation ratio."

Housing ratio- It is the percentage of your gross monthly income that you will need to spend on housing expenses after you buy the new home. It includes-

• Your mortgage payment
• Taxes
• Insurance and maintenance

Lenders generally want to see a ratio of 28% or lower.

The total-obligation ratio- It is the portion of your income that goes to covering both your housing expenses and any other obligations, such as credit cards, car loans and child support. Your lender will want to see a ratio of 36% or lower.

Other qualifying prerequisite is the down payment. Traditionally, lenders have required a down payment of at least 20% of the purchase price of the home. However, lenders now accept less amount if the borrower takes out private mortgage insurance. The larger the down payment, the less your home costs in the long run. Besides there are many other documents requires by mortgage lenders. They are:

1. Federal tax returns from the previous two years.
2. W-2 forms from the previous two years.
3. A recent paycheck stub that shows your name and Social Security number, the name and address of your employer and your year-to-date earnings.
4. Documents to show other sources of income, which could include a second job, overtime, commissions and bonuses, interest and dividend income, Social Security payments, VA and retirement benefits, alimony, child support.
5. A complete list of your creditors, such as credit cards, student loans, car loans, child support payments, along with the minimum monthly payment and the balances.
6. Investment records including mutual fund statements, real estate and automobile titles, stock certificates and any other investments or assets.
7. Canceled checks that show your rent payments, or mortgage payments if you already own a house and are shopping for a new one.

Thus when all these are approved, you get the green signal from the mortgage lender. Mortgage lender then provides you the mortgage financing for buying the home of your dreams.

If you have any other queries related to mortgage, feel free to visit this site http://www.mortgagefit.com.

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About The Author -

Lance Williams who wrote this article is working as a content developer for www.mortgagefit.com.

He specialises in mortgage and real estate concepts.
He is currently working on www.mortgagefit.com/real-estate.html

This Article was submited by the above author from www.mortgagefit.com/loan-application.html

(June 2005)