Using a Home Equity Line Of Credit To Repay Credit Card Debt

Two financial phenomena have taken place in the UK over the last decade. On the one hand, we have increasing become a nation of debtors, running up trillions of pounds in short-term debt. On the other hand, house value have increased exponentially during this period and many of us now have massive amounts of in-built equity value in our homes. It may seem natural, therefore, to use the proceeds of one to pay off the debts of the other. However, using a home equity line of credit (HELOC) may not be the best method of debt consolidation available to you.



What is a HELOC?



Essentially HELOC is exactly what it says it is. As a homeowner you have an asset, your home. Because housing prices in the UK have increased dramatically in the past decade, many of us have positive equity in our homes. To repay outstanding debt, you can free up some of this equity with a loan, against which you provide security, your home. You have now just completed a HELOC.



Why is this a good way to consolidate my UK credit card debt?



Many see HELOC as a good way to consolidate their UK credit card debt because, as a secured debt, the interest rate on the loan is much lower than the interest rate they're currently paying on their existing outstanding unsecured credit card debt. In addition, the repayment terms of the consolidated debt may be more affordable, i.e. the monthly repayments may be lower.



Why is this a bad way to consolidate my UK credit card debt?



There are essentially two principal reasons why HELOC may be considered a bad way to consolidate your debt. On the one hand, and very importantly, if you elect to consolidate your debt using a HELOC, you need to be aware that you are literally gambling with your home. If you fail to make repayments under the line of credit provided to you, as a secured loan, you stand to lose your home. Consequently, this can be seen as an extremely risky way to pay off unsecured debt, against which a claim against your biggest asset, your home, would be far more remote.



The second reason why HELOC are seen as not being a particularly good way to consolidate credit card debt is because, unlike in the past, there are now other alternative methods that credit card debtors can use to try and consolidate and pay off their credit card debt. Examples of this may be the unsecured personal loan or even the 0% interest offered as a promotional incentive to transfer your credit card balance to another UK credit card provider. In short then, HELOC are seen as an extreme measure to a short-term problem.



Having said there are two principal reasons why HELOC is seen as a bad way to consolidate credit card debt, there is in fact a third reason. In most cases credit card debtors use HELOC as a short-term measure to consolidate their credit card debt. Most credit card debtors who consolidate their debt with HELOC financing do not cut up their credit cards, rather, shortly thereafter, the credit card debtor will have run up another line of credit against their credit card. To repay this line of credit the homeowner will arrange another line of credit against the residual equity in their home. Before long, the home no longer has any residual equity left, the homeowner has a number of loans they need to repay, and another line of credit remains outstanding on their UK credit card. This type of financial mismanagement is all too easy to do today, but it coffin nail to your long-term financial future, so think long and hard before using a HELOC to consolidate your UK credit card debt.

Discover The ADvantages of Fixed Rate Mortgages

There are several types of mortgages offered by lenders in the market. The most common of these types is fixed rate mortgages. Fixed rate mortgage loans are characterized by fixed rates and monthly payments that are generally for a 15-year and 30-year periods.



Fixed rate mortgages are popular in the consumer market because of its stability. Most consumers are hesitant to get house loans where the rates fluctuate with the changing interest rates of the market. Fixed rate mortgages are generally very affordable, especially when rates are low.



Consumers of fixed rate mortgages are faced with having to choose between a 15-year fixed rate mortgage or a 30-year fixed rate mortgage. Some prefer 15-year fixed rate mortgages because of the shorter duration. Other consumers choose 30-year fixed rate mortgages because the payments are considerably lower than the former.



Each type of fixed rate mortgages certainly has its own advantages and disadvantages. Here are some of them.



30-year Fixed Rate Mortgage - Advantages and Disadvantages



A 30-year fixed rate mortgage gives consumers the opportunity to borrow money on a long-term basis. They do this without having to worry about the change that might occur in fixed rate mortgage interest rates or payments of such.



Because the interest of a 30-year fixed rate mortgage is amortized over a longer period, the monthly payments for this are lower than those on 15-year loans. Lower monthly payments on 30-year fixed rate mortgages give consumers an extra resource which they can pour into other worthy investments.



On the other hand, this could also cause a slight disadvantage for 30-year fixed rate mortgage borrowers. The overall interest bill of a 30-year fixed rate mortgage is much higher because of the long amortization period. And because payments for 30-day fixed rate mortgages are usually used to pay up the interest rather than the principal at first, borrowers will be building up their equity at a slower pace.



The high interest rates of 30-day fixed rate mortgage loans do not necessarily stop consumers from taking this type of loan. They reason that higher interest bill for 30-day fixed rate mortgages increases the amount they can deduct at tax time. This could potentially reduce or perhaps, even eliminate their federal income tax liability.



15-year Fixed Rate Mortgage - Advantages and Disadvantages



One of the advantages that attract borrowers into taking a 15-year fixed rate mortgage is the fact that amortization periods for this type of loan are usually shorter. This allows 15-year fixed rate mortgage borrowers to build equity much quicker. And with a 15-year fixed rate mortgage, the overall interest bills are low - at least, considerably lower than those of longer-term loans. Interest rates of a 15-year fixed rate mortgage are also lower than 30-year loans.



The disadvantages however include significantly higher monthly payments, especially when compared with 30-year fixed rate mortgages. This setback of having a 15-year fixed rate mortgage may restrict home buyers to smaller houses than they might be able to afford with longer-term loans.



There are also other factors to consider when choosing which type of fixed rate mortgage you want to take. Keep in mind that you can actually do a prepayment for your fixed rate mortgage, that way, the principal amount may be significantly reduced each month. In this way, fixed rate mortgages may even be paid off sooner than the projected term.

Commercial Endowment - Your Options

Property development is big business. The rash of TV programmes about home makeovers and renovations reflects our current obsession with property as a way to make big bucks, quickly. It may seem a failsafe way to make a killing - buy a shabby house, paint the place magnolia, add laminate flooring, and bingo!



In reality, of course, property development means a lot of hard work, and involves a certain degree of risk. Many developers will have more than one property on the go at once - and to cover repayments can end up being an expensive business. If you factor in the time it takes to renovate a property, then advertise and sell it, it adds up to several months when you will have to be paying out on a mortgage. Not only that, but the fact that rates for commercial property are generally higher than for residential mortgages, and it can be a costly period indeed. Other reasons you may require a commercial mortgage is if you are buying business premises or buy to let property. For all of these needs, you will want to keep your monthly outgoings as low as possible.



One solution is taking out an interest only mortgage, such as an endowment mortgage. This will minimise your monthly repayments, and the extra security provided by the endowment policy could result in the lender offering a better interest rate for your mortgage. You will be paying interest instalments, plus separate amounts into an endowment policy. The payment of the capital, or principal will come from the proceeds of the endowment policy. (Bear in mind that the tax benefits have changed since endowments had their heyday in the 80s and 90s.)



Endowments - The Bad Press



In recent years there have been scandalous reports about endowment policies being mis-sold - thousands of people lost out when their policies failed to produce the lump sum needed to pay off the capital. The FSA, after investigating, reported that the problem had been exaggerated - most people with endowment policies are as well off as those with other types of mortgage. However, endowments are investments linked to the stock market, and as such do represent a financial risk. Insurance companies were forced to pay compensation to some investors who had received bad advice when they took out an endowment policy.



If you end up with an endowment policy that has not produced the money to pay off your capital, you may be entitled to compensation if the advice you received was not sufficient to make you aware of the risk involved. You can also consider selling your endowment in the traded endowments market, which could make you more than surrendering it to the insurance company.

Cash Grants for First Time Home Buyers

When was the last time somebody credible offered you thousands of dollars in free money? For most of us, that just doesn't happen every day, or ever at all, for that matter.



However, if you are considering purchasing your first home, there are very credible sources that genuinely do want to give you thousands of dollars in free money.



Those sources are state and federal agencies, and the thousands of dollars of free money available comes to you in the form of a cash grant to help you buy your first home.



It is no secret that saving for a down payment and closing costs is the largest obstacle that first time home buyers must conquer. For millions of Americans, this obstacle is one that is nearly impossible to over come. After paying monthly rent, utilities, food, insurance, car payments, (as well as the high price of gasoline), clothing, phone bills, day care for the children, and many more recurring monthly bills, there is virtually no money left to set aside to save for a down payment for a future first home.



The federal as well as state governments recognize this situation and have created special programs for the very purpose of giving away money to help people in need buy their first home.



A reasonable person might assume that as soon as the money is available at the respective agencies, it is completely given away within hours, if not, days. It seems entirely logical that on the day the money becomes available hundreds and hundreds of people would line up just as fans do on the day that U2 concert tickets go on sale.



A reasonable person would be wrong.



Each year, the majority of state agencies do not completely exhaust their funding. For fiscal year 2006, only two states had requests in excess of their budget and ran out of money in their programs. For the first time home buyer, this is very good news. It means that there is currently money available to help you buy your first home.



The primary reason that the funding isn't exhausted every year is that the programs are not widely advertised. There are 3 ways you can learn about these programs: you can buy the information, you can contact your state representative, or you can go to a website that provides all the information for free.



Whatever method you choose, you stand to gain thousands of dollars in free cash assistance towards the purchase of your first home. Choose one method and take action. Today could be one of those very rare days that a credible source offers you thousands of dollars in free cash.

Spotting a Bad Mortgage Broker

Seems as of lately, everyone wants to buy a home. And the most convenient way to do this in a “rush, rush world” like today, is by applying for a mortgage loan. Let’s face it: the mortgage business is booming right now. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of brokers trying to lure you in. As a result, you have to keep careful, you have to watch out for crooked mortgage companies. These companies are out there, so don’t fool yourself into thinking otherwise. These companies don’t care if you lose your home, your savings, or even if you go bankrupt. Companies like these especially like to prey on the first time home buyer.



So, be forewarned! These companies are looking out for themselves, not you. When you start your hunt for a mortgage, make sure you don’t fall into their traps, no matter how seductive their deals may sound.



Here are a few tips to help you determine whether the company you are dealing with is legitimate:



1. Beware if the lender doesn’t give you a good faith estimate of what the closing cost will be. Under The Real Estates Settlement Act, a mortgage broker must provide you with this information within three days once you have applied for a loan. An honest lender will give this to you without a problem, as there is nothing to hide. Some of the better brokers will even give you a good faith estimate on your pre–qualifying information. Also, watch out for any company that won’t give you information up front, such as interest rate and other fees.



2. Beware if the lender says it is ok for you to lie about any information, especially about your income, to increase your chances of approval. Any sort of lying on any loan form is classified as fraud and is a criminal act. If a broker is encouraging you to do such a thing, use your common sense. If the broker gives you the leeway to do it, then they will probably have no problem committing fraudulent acts upon you. Of course, there are exceptions to the rule. Just make sure to ask about this should the situation arise.



3. Beware of interest rates that are amazingly low or incredibly high. Low interest rates can be very tempting, especially when they beat everyone else by two or three percent. You may think that this will save you money, but in the long run, it will only cost you more, since most loans with significantly lower interest rates tend to increase dramatically throughout the lifetime of the loan. People with a less than perfect credit rating usually fall victim to high interest rates that range anywhere between two and three percent higher than everyone else. There are many places online that offer to check interest rates against your credit and can give you an accurate estimate of how much you should be paying. Make sure you are doing your homework.



4. Proceed with caution if you feel pressured into applying for a mortgage loan that you don’t understand or can’t financially afford. If you do feel unsure of anything with the loan, ask your broker to explain it to you in detail, or go to someone else who you know can trust. If you are being pressured to go with a certain company for a loan, proceed with caution. Never take a loan because you feel like you are being forced into it.



When searching for a mortgage, make sure the contract does not differ from the original contract. Companies that ask for more signers, credit insurance, or prepayment penalty fees are probably looking for ways to make money off of you, and quite honestly, don’t have your best interest in mind. In this case, you should take your business elsewhere.



These many things you should look for when mortgage loan hunting so you are not caught in a trap by a corrupt company. If you are ever in doubt, don’t use the company, as there are many more to choose from that will be happy to take your business. Not to mention, these other companies will be able to offer you assistance with anything you are unsure of.

Adjustable Rate Mortgages vs. Fixed Rate Mortgages

Buying a home can be an exciting and stressful time for anyone. While you may be excited at the prospect of owning your own home, especially if it is your first home purchase, the idea of choosing between all of the many different types of mortgages may leave you feeling confused and apprehensive.



Two of the most common choices you’ll find in the mortgage market are adjustable rate mortgages and fixed rate mortgages. Fixed rate mortgages are the most traditional type of home mortgage, offering a fixed interest rate that does not change throughout the life of your loan. There are a number of important advantages associated with this type of mortgage. First, if you are budget conscious, this type of mortgage will give you the peace of mind in knowing that your monthly mortgage amount will not change. You can budget the remainder of your financial obligations without worrying about a changing mortgage payment to throw things off.



An adjustable rate mortgage works differently. With this type of mortgage you may be able to obtain a lower interest rate than would normally be available with a fixed rate mortgage; however, the interest rate is not fixed. This means that your monthly mortgage rate may change as interest rates change. With such a mortgage you may not be able to regularly plan your budget due to such fluctuations. While there is usually a cap that will keep the interest rate from fluctuating too much, even a little fluctuation can be too much for some homeowners. Of course, there is also the possibility that interest rates will drop and if that is the case, because your mortgage is adjustable, your monthly payments will drop right along with the interest rate.



When deciding whether a fixed rate or adjustable rate mortgage is your best choice, you need to give thought to several factors. Ask yourself whether it is more important to be able to plan your monthly budget without wondering whether your mortgage will fluctuate or whether you would prefer to receive a lower interest rate in the beginning of your mortgage.



Remember that if you decide you would like to obtain the advantages of both you do have other options available to you. For example, if you feel the interest rate offered to you on a fixed rate mortgage is too high but you want the security of not having to worry about a fluctuating interest rate you can always buy down your interest rate by purchasing points. This will mean more up front costs for your mortgage; however, it may be worth it to decrease the interest rate, especially if interest rates are currently high.



If you do elect to go with an adjustable rate mortgage make sure you understand exactly how high the rates may go as well as ensure you have enough ‘wiggle’ room in your monthly budget to cushion increases if they occur. This may help to keep you out of a tight spot and possibly losing your home due to rising interest rates.

40 Year Mortgage: New Hope For Prospective Home Owners

Think that rising interest rates have priced you out of the home buying market? Think again. There are some new mortgage options that make it easier than ever to buy a home, namely, a 40-year mortgage.



Traditionally, when purchasing a home, most people take out a 30-year mortgage. But recently, the federal government has introduced new loan options that make it possible to extend the loan over an additional 10 years, making the total pay off period 40 years.



If that sounds like a huge amount of time, take a few moments to consider the following facts:



A 40-year loan lets you get into a house now, not wait until your earning potential increases.



Just because you take out a 40-year loan does not mean you have to stay with a 40-year loan. You can easily refinance in a few years.



You may opt to sell the home in a few years. Getting into a home now allows you to begin building wealth in home equity. When you sell your home, you can take the profits and invest in your next home, with a standard mortgage term loan.



What does a 40-year loan offer? Simply put, with a 40-year loan you can afford to buy more home with less income. Using an average home price of $200,000 and interest rates today, a 40-year mortgage means have almost 5% more home buying power with the standard income/debt ratio than they would with a 30-year loan.



This mortgage option also gives buyers a little more flexibility. Many buyers would have had to consider interest only loans or adjustable rate mortgages. As the national interest rates increase, adjustable loans and interest only loans can quickly catch unsuspecting buyers in a position of being forced out of the home. Their monthly payment increases as interest rates increase, increasing over their allotted budget.



If you are confident in your wage earning potential and the possibility that it will increase over time, you may want to consider some of the programs that are combined with the 40-year mortgage. This mortgage option is available as a hybrid loan. Meaning you can combine the 40-year loan with another loan program, like interest-only or adjustable-rate loan.



Owning a home is a dream of many people. It not only makes sense because it gives you an opportunity to stop paying rent to a landlord, but it starts you on the path to investing your money in your home. Owning real estate is the number one way that people save money and it is now possible to save money even if your income is slightly lower than traditional home buying rates.



Talk with a mortgage consultant to day and discuss your options. You may be surprised at just how affordable it is to buy a home.