Saturday, March 14, 2009 

No Equity Home Loans

A no equity home loan is simply a loan where some or all of it is unsecured by the equity of the borrower's home. The value of the loan may be as much as 25% more than the value of the property. Obviously, this is a risky proposition for both the lender and the borrower.

In the past, many people have borrowed money against there homes to take advantage of low interest rates and tax savings. They then use this money to pay down other high interest loans and debt. If managed properly, this can make sense. But the no equity home loan, just like title loans on cars, have become ways for people who are already in financial trouble to increase their risk and get deeper in the hole.

Just like any unsecured loan, the no equity home loan typically comes with a very high interest rate - as much as 6% higher than conventional loans. On top of that the fees associated with these types of loans are considerably higher. Finally, the lender would have to purchase Private Mortgage Insurance to increase the cost even further.

You also lose the tax benefits of a conventional loan. Interest paid on loans that are higher than the value of the home are not tax deductible. And finally, there is the downside if you need or want to sell your home before you pay down the loan. The seller could easily owe more on the home than the sale price leaving them in a bind if they can't come up with the cash. The lender could foreclose on the loan or the seller end up in bankruptcy.

All in all, the risks of the no equity home loan far outweigh the possible benefits and should be avoided rather than put your home at risk.

You can learn more about how to forfeit a home loan, and also get much more information, articles and resources regarding home loans at Home Loan Archive

 

Mortgage Refinance and Credit Repair

Million of Americans have credit problems. Those who own homes can use a mortgage refinance to help with credit repair. Mortgage refinance involves taking out a new mortgage to pay off the original loan. Depending on your equity, the new mortgage can be for more than the amount of the old loan. This money can then be used to for debt consolidation, which can improve your credit rating.

The mortgage refinance business is very competitive. Make sure you dont get conned by unscrupulous lenders. Jack Guttentag, the Mortgage Professor, cautions, The refinancing market is something of a jungle, but you are safe if you observe one basic principle: You cannot save money on a refinance unless the interest rate on the new mortgage is below the rate on the existing one.

Some con artists will show you that your total interest payments will decline if you refinance into their higher-rate loan. However, they get that result by assuming that you will repay your new mortgage (but not your old one) on an accelerated (biweekly) schedule.

Some others get (a lower) result by extending the term. If your current mortgage does not have many more years to run, an extension of the term can reduce the payment by more than the higher rate increases it. If you do it, you pay for it big time in the form of a higher loan balance in future years.

To learn about two other steps you can take to help with mortgage refinance credit repair or to receive a free mortgage quote, visit Bad Credit Mortgage Refinancing Now, a site that can help you determine if refinancing makes sense for you.

Mike Hamel is the author of three business books and several articles about mortgage financing. His material is featured on sites like Bad Credit Mortgage Refinancing Now.