 |
 |
 |
           |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
Home Loans - Lenders Continue to Offer High-Risk Loans
Home prices in the Untied States continue to soar, and the remarkable run of real estate as the "must have" investment continues. The median price of a new home, which only recently crossed the $200,000 barrier, is now $215,000. The high prices of homes haven't deterred buyers; sales in June reached a record number of units. There is some concern in Washington about the explosive real estate market, and Federal banking regulators issued lending guidelines in May that urged lenders to be more cautious when lending money for home purchases. How have lenders responded to these guidelines? They have made it even easier to borrow money. It seems rather odd for lenders to make it easier to lend money after having been warned that they've been lending money too easily, but that's exactly what has happened. Some banks have lowered the minimum credit score necessary to obtain a home loan or increased the percentage of income that may be spent on a mortgage. Others have introduced loans that require no proof of income. Still others have begun offering a wider variety of no-interest loans and dangerous Option ARM loans, which can actually raise the principal of a loan after a buyer makes a payment. Why are lenders easing loan restrictions after being warned that they are too lenient? The primary reason is competition. The market is red hot right now, and due to the fluctuations in the stock market in the last five years, everyone wants to invest money in real estate. With so many people flocking to borrow money, lenders want to do as much business as possible. They also want to do more business than their competitors. By lowering qualifying standards, lenders can lend more money. It's that simple. There are several problems with this scenario. Some percentage of buyers will always default on their mortgages. When the standards for obtaining a loan are lowered, that percentage will certainly increase. While foreclosures currently remain low, they combination of lowered standards and rising prices will certainly contribute to an increase. An expected increase in interest rates would make the situation worse. The effects of these changes in lending can be felt by most anyone. If you are considering buying a home with a mortgage, be careful. Don't automatically assume that you will be comfortable making a $3000 house payment just because the lender tells you that you "qualify" for it. You must still leave within your own means, and the mortgage broker isn't really concerned about that. He or she just wants to sell the loan, and doing so may not be in your best interest. If you are going to take out a home loan, create a budget and determine how much you can comfortably pay each month. That figure will undoubtedly be less than what your broker is willing to offer. Stick with your own figure, and don't let the fever of the marketplace sway you. After all, you are the one who has to make the payment each month. ©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including End-Your-Debt.com, a site devoted to personal bankruptcy, debt consolidation and credit counseling, and HomeEquityHelp.com, a site devoted to information regarding mortgages and home equity loans.
MORE RESOURCES:
Mortgage-Refinance - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Refinancing and Car Finance - Is it worth it? Refinancing and Car Finance - Is it Worth It?No doubt you have heard of refinancing your mortgage. It has become all the rage, but now you can also refinance your car loan. Home Equity Loan Information - How to Use One Wisely Using a home equity loan to get out of debt or make improvements to your home is usually a smart move. You have earned the equity, so it only makes sense that you put it to good use. Home Mortgage Loan Pre-Approval Online - Keys When Applying For A Mortgage Online Applying online for a mortgage is very fast and easy. Just make sure of a few things before you start to look for places to apply to. Real Estate Tip: Escrow Accounts -- Do You Really Need Them? If you have a mortgage on your property, whether it's for your personal residence or a real estate investment, chances are you have an escrow account. But if you are working on building wealth through real estate, you may want to take a hard look at your escrow account (or accounts, if you own more than one piece of real estate) and decide if you really need it. Mortgage Information A mortgage is borrowing money using property as a security, a type of secured loan in other words. Primarily, the purpose in borrowing the money is to purchase a property. Interest-only Equity Loans Create Amazing Power and are Quite Easy to Get The power of home equity and interest-only payments, provided from most home equity loans is amazing. You can get a home equity loan, with no closing costs and pay as little as $30. Consolidate Debt With A Home Equity Loan If you are a home owner who is having to borrow from Peter to pay Paul due to a mounting debt load, a debt consolidation home equity loan may be the answer. A debt consolidation loan will allow you to consolidate your high interest credit card and consumer loans into one low rate, affordable monthly payment. Sorting through mortgage elimination programs Mortgage elimination programs are all the rage these days. In the event that you don't know what they are, it's a really basic concept. Bad Credit Mortgage Loans Online - How Your FICO Credit Score Can Affect Your Loan Approval When applying for a mortgage loan when you have a bad credit history. There are a few things you should know about your FICO score that will help you know what to expect from mortgage lenders. What is a Current Account Mortgage? Current account mortgages are fairly new to the sector. They are quite different to other types of mortgage as they enable you to set off all your savings and debts in one single account. Reverse Mortgage Providing Peace of Mind Without Sacrificing Safety or Security For many seniors one of their greatest sources of security is their home. It not only provides a comfortable and familiar environment, but it provides a sense of independence and a source of many fond memories. When is the Right Time to Refinance Your Mortgage? You've heard that interest rates are down and you think it could be time to refinance your existing mortgage, but the entire loan application process was so exhausting during the initial loan that you aren't sure it's worth the hassle. You could very well be right, but there are some things you can do to help decide whether it's time to refinance your mortgage. Mortgage Reduction Solutions USA ECONOMIC CONDITIONSToday's sluggish economy has left millions of people struggling to financially make ends meet. Lou Dobb's coined phrase "Assault on the Middle Class" continues. What is an Offset Mortgage? An offset mortgage is very similar to a current account mortgage - but instead of having everything all in one account, all accounts are held separately.The offset mortgage concept treats your money as one giant pot, with each element (mortgage, savings, current account etc) separate to the rest. California Bad Credit Mortgage California is a beautiful place to live There is no doubt about that. But, to live in California you must pay the price, which is sky high real estate prices. Mortgage Information for the First Time Homebuyer Inflation in the United States is increasing rapidly and home prices are soaring! There are millions of american families that are unaware of the many mortgage programs that are available for first time homebuyers.There are many types of mortgage finance programs available to first time homebuyers. Option ARM - The World's Most Dangerous Mortgage Home prices have reached record levels, and in many parts of the country, homes have become nearly unaffordable. Real estate has replaced the tech stocks of the late 1990's as the hot investment, and everyone has sold their stocks and jumped into investment property. Multi Family Property Living While most multi family properties are designed to allow the peaceful coexistence of many families within their separate units, some apartments and houses give you the feeling that you're actually living in one big family. Things like sharing one washer and dryer between five families means you never know whose underwear you'll have to fish out of the washer before you start your own laundry. Online Mortgage Loan Companies Are Convenient There are many reasons to use the internet to take care of your mortgage loan needs. Online mortgage companies can give you quick answers to your mortgage application and can often times give you an answer of whether or not you have been pre-approved within 24-48 hours after you submit your mortgage application. Mortgage Tips For The Frantic It is a curious fact of human nature that people will haggle over the price of an umbrella, but buy a house on impulse.We understand small amounts of money; we know what they can buy.
|
 |