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Are you looking for certain inside information on
capital one debt consolidation loans for non homeowners
Home Equity Loans Research Your Lender Carefully
Real estate prices are rising across the country, and Americans are tapping into their home equity like never before. Americans took out $431 billion in home equity loans in 2004, and that amount may increase in 2005. The reasons vary; some are using the money for home improvement, others are using the money to buy real estate, and some are taking reverse mortgages in order to enjoy a better retirement. With interest rates still near historic lows and the bull real estate market continuing, more and more predatory lenders are entering the lending profession.
Most lenders are honest, and prospective borrowers will probably not have any problems resulting from taking out a loan with a national bank. On the other hand, newer, smaller, and less honest lenders are advertising aggressively and may grab your attention by offering terms that seem more favorable than those offered by the larger banks. Sometimes, these terms sound too good to be true, and they often are. Here are a few things to watch out for when taking out a home loan:
A promised low interest rate disappears, only to be replaced with a higher figure on the contract at closing time. The borrowers, who expected to close right then and there, feel pressured to sign and often accept the higher interest rate.
Previously unmentioned fees turn up on the application at closing. Again, by presenting these previously undisclosed fees at closing time, the borrower is pressured to sign.
Blanks on the application form. Its hard to believe that a lender would present a blank form and assure the borrower that the blanks will be filled in later, but this actually happens, and borrowers actually sign such deals. Remember, your signature on the form constitutes your agreement to the terms, even if the terms are filled in later.
These problems can be avoided by taking a few simple precautionary steps. Ask about the total fees and interest rates ahead of time. Inform your lender that you fully expect to see those same figures on the documents at closing, and make it clear that you will not sign documents that state otherwise. Make certain that you have provided honest information to the lender. Refuse to sign any blank documents. These things may seem obvious, but when closing approaches, borrowers tend to get in a hurry, as they are eager to get the closing out of the way. Borrowing against your home is not something to take lightly; you can lose your home if you unknowingly sign a predatory document. Take your time.
About the Author
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 Website devoted to debt consolidation information and HomeEquityHelp.net, a site devoted to information on home equity loans.
More Useful Resource and Updates on capital one debt consolidation loans for non homeowners
- Are credit cards the next collapse? (Miami Herald)
First came trouble with mortgages, then home equity loans and commercial real estate. Now, banks are starting to worry about credit cards. As the economy slows and unemployment rises, consumers are defaulting on credit-card payments more often. And though that trend is unlikely to create a crisis in line with the mortgage fallout, it's still a headache for banks that are already hurting.
- Cyber-thieves tap Sonoman's line of credit (Sonoma Index-Tribune)
A Valley resident was alerted to the fact that someone was attempting to loot his home equity line of credit when his bank called to confirm a $25,000 transfer on Thursday, Oct. 9.
- Will the next collapse be in credit cards? (Arizona Daily Star)
First came trouble with mortgages, then home-equity loans and commercial real estate. Now, banks are starting to worry about credit cards.
- Real Estate Live (Washington Post)
Welcome to Real Estate Live, an online discussion of the Washington area housing market with Post Real Estate editor Maryann Haggerty and columnist Elizabeth Razzi.
- Opening the Tap on Home Equity (New York Times)
Lenders are cutting back on homeowners? credit lines or freezing them altogether.
- Buying a home? 12 places to find money for a down payment (ABC 2 Baltimore)
The mortgage crisis has made it more difficult for home buyers to get a mortgage, and bigger down payments are becoming the norms. Here are 12 places to look for...
- Your Shrinking Home Equity Line of Credit (News On 6 Tulsa)
Do you know how much you really have available on your home equity line of credit? Increasingly, Americans cannot be sure.
- Interest Rate Drop Good News For Those With Home Equity Loans (KIRO 7 Seattle-Tacoma)
KIRO 7 Consumer Investigator David Quinlan explains what the drop in interest rates to 1.5 percent means to consumers.
- Credit card debt, home equity top call-in topics (Akron Beacon Journal)
High credit card debt and home equity were the themes of phone calls handled by financial counselors during a free program offered Wednesday by the Beacon Journal.
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