home equity to pay

MSN Money - The hazards of some home-equity loans MSN Home Hotmail My MSN Sign In Money S earch MSN Money: Help Home News Banking Investing Planning Taxes My Money Portfolio Loans Insurance Banking Home My Accounts Bill Pay Mortgages/Loans Services Credit Reports Financial Tools Track your bills Resources Decision Centers Home Buying Guide Home Financing Your Credit Rating Financial Privacy Better Banking Credit Card Smarts Bankruptcy Guide Commentary Index Related Links Manage Debt More on Budgeting Print-friendly version Send this to a friend See where rates stand Calculate your debt burden here Find a home-equity loan Find books on home buying Find It! Article Index Finance Q&A Tools Index Site Map Don't get fooled by the "special programs" offer mentioned in advertisements. Today's homeowners have forgotten -- or never learned -- the lessons of their grandparents. Recent articles by Terry Savage: • How to limit divorce's financial sting , 1/5/2003 • 5 financial steps to help your aging parents , 1/5/2003 • Prepare for the unthinkable: long-term care , 1/5/2003 More... The Basics The hazards of some home-equity loans advertisement What looks like an easy way out of debt could one day put your family out on the street. Get the facts behind those enticing ads for 125% home-equity loans before you put your home on the line. By Terry Savage What looks like a great deal, but could turn out to be the most devastating financial decision of your life? It's when you consolidate credit-card debt by taking out home-equity loans for more than the value of your house, sometimes for up to 125% of the home's value. Unlike traditional home-equity loans that rely on the equity you've built up in your home, these loans aren't tax deductible and usually carry higher interest rates. Find a loan that's right for you at the Loan Center By television, direct mail and now by e-mail, lenders are pushing you to consolidate your credit-card debt by borrowing on your home. Here's the text of an actual e-mail I received recently: Consolidate Debt, Refinance Your Home or Put Cash In Your Pocket! We Have Special Programs with rates starting as low as 2.5% APR 7.22% Special Programs for Self-Employed Borrowers Previous Bankruptcies or Foreclosures OK!! Debt Consolidation - pay off high-interest debts and get the cash you need Second Mortgages - get 125% of your home's value. The television commercials make it look easy and enticing. A top athlete, like quarterback Dan Marino, offers you the chance to cut your monthly payments, pay off your credit cards and take out extra cash to remodel your kitchen or go on a vacation. But think twice. It's important to understand the risks, as well as the attraction, of those lower monthly payments. For some, this is the way to go For many people, a home-equity loan is indeed the smart way to borrow. The interest rate is typically lower, and the interest is tax deductible. Plus, home-equity loans are amortized over about 15 years vs. about four years for credit cards. That means the monthly payment on a home-equity loan is far lower than a minimum required credit-card payment. For example, if you owe $10,000 on your credit card at 15%, you'll probably have a monthly payment of $278. But the same amount owed at 15% on a home-equity loan that's amortized over 15 years results in a monthly payment of only $140. The more you owe, the more enticing a home-equity loan looks. At $20,000 in debt in the same scenario, the home-equity loan costs $280 a month, while the credit card and/or auto debt requires a $557 monthly payment. The trouble comes when people borrow all their home equity to pay off their debts, but they haven't learned how to manage their money well enough to avoid running up credit-card debts and auto-loan debts again. In fact, the lenders have a name for this process: It's called "reloading." Then, if the economy slows or one of the breadwinners loses a job, the next time you get into credit-card trouble, you could actually lose your house. Statistics from the Mortgage Bankers Association underscore the problem. The percentage of homes foreclosed in 1998 was 1.16%, about double the rate of the terrible recession years of the early 1980s, when 0.59% of homes were in foreclosure. The rising foreclosure rate comes even as bankruptcy rates remain high, with 1.2 million filings in 1999. But as people try to avoid bankruptcy, they're increasingly taking out home-equity loans to pay off their other bills. As a result of those home-equity loans (and new mortgage programs designed to help people buy homes with down payments of less than 5%), Americans have a lower percentage of equity in their homes than at any time in history. Essentially, an unsecured loan The real kicker comes if you borrow past the value of your home. Unlike home-equity loans, these loans usually are not considered tax deductible. The law says that all interest on a first mortgage (of up to $1 million) is deductible. And interest on up to $100,000 of a second mortgage or home-equity loan also is deductible. By law, interest on any part of a loan that exceeds 100% of the value of your home is not deductible. In addition, lenders typically charge higher rates, because you've essentially taken out an unsecured loan. An unsecured loan means there is no collateral in case you default on the loan. A mortgage for up to the value of your home is "secured" by the home itself. Many lenders charge interest rates seven or eight percentage points higher than traditional mortgages. In some cases, that's twice what you'd pay for a regular mortgage or home-equity loan. Don't get fooled by the "special programs" offer mentioned in advertisements like the one I mentioned earlier, either. They're either introductory loans, which require large "balloon payments" several years later, or adjustable rate loans in which the rates -- and the payments -- can increase every year. As long as the loan is repaid, it's very profitable. And the lenders know that paying off mortgage or home-equity loans takes a high priority in a consumer's mind, so the default rate is far lower than on unsecured credit-card lending. SMR Research, a financial industry market-research firm, reports that about 30% of all home-equity loans are sub-prime. That is, these are loans made to borrowers who are considered a poor credit risk -- the very people most likely to be caught in the crunch when the economy turns down. Bankruptcy: the only escape The greatest danger for those who fall for this pitch is the fact that they've put their home on the line. If they fail to make the payments, the lender can force the home to be sold in a foreclosure proceeding. The grantor of the original mortgage must be paid off first; then the home equity lender collects what's left from the sale price. And if there's not enough equity to repay the home equity lender, a default judgment will be entered against the borrower for the difference. The only escape is bankruptcy. The generation that went through the Great Depression of the 1930s learned the hard way not to borrow against the family home. So many people lost their homes that by 1935, banks categorized 20% of all mortgages as "real-estate owned" -- that is, foreclosed. But today's homeowners have forgotten -- or never learned -- the lessons of their grandparents. Rising home prices have tempted homeowners to count home equity as a source of ready cash. But that kind of home equity borrowing should only be done as part of an overall financial plan and a disciplined approach to money management. Otherwise, today's easy way out of debt could one day put your family out on the street. Editors' choice Don't get scammed by your mover Safeguard your Social Security number 5 ways to tap into the onshore drilling boom Your checkbook just became obsolete Turn $1 a day into $67,815 Readers' choice Ratings Top 5 Articles 9.30 Zombie debt collectors dig up your old mistakes 9.24 Keep thieves out of your bank account 9.22 Credit reports now free for entire U.S. 9.19 10 ways to avoid outrageous hospital overcharges 9.17 Tax breaks for Katrina victims -- and all of us View all top rated articles More Resources · E-mail us your comments on this article · Post on the Your Money message board · Get a daily dose of market news S earch MSN Money tips advertisement MSN Money's editorial goal is to provide a forum for personal finance and investment ideas. Our articles, columns, message board posts and other features should not be construed as investment advice, nor does their appearance imply an endorsement by Microsoft of any specific security or trading strategy. 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Sell House

Boston.com / Real estate Buying Renting Recent sales Place an ad Luxury Living Community data Financing Commercial Moving Guides How to solve appraisal problems By Inman news MORE Having an appraisal done on your home is essential, whether or not you plan on selling. Loan calculators NEWS LINK NEWS LINK RESOURCES For Sale: Homes | Condos | Open Houses For Rent: Apartments | Houses | Roommates Vacation rentals Place an ad: On Boston.com | In the Globe Commercial: Search listings for sale or rent An appraisal is a dispassionate, third-party estimate of the value of a piece of property. It can either give you peace of mind by affirming your offering price or it can put the kibosh on a transaction entirely. As part of your loan application, you will pay for your lender (typically $200 to $400) to order an appraisal to estimate the current market value of the home you want to buy. You may also opt to hire an appraiser yourself before you make an offer to help you determine the price you bid on a house. Lenders require appraisals before they will approve and fund a loan in order to ensure that the home is worth the amount of money you are asking for. While most appraisals match up with what buyers want to borrow, some do not, which can send a lender backing out of your loan commitment. Understanding how real estate appraisals and appraisers work can help you deal with the consequences. Why do appraisals go awry? Most appraisal problems boil down to two things: incomplete information on the property or incompetence of the appraiser. Incomplete information often comes with the appraisal territory. All appraisals must conform to guidelines set by the Federal Reserve, but ultimately every appraisal is a subjective analysis of a property's current market value. To arrive at that number on your house, an appraiser will compare your house with that of three comparable homes in the area that have sold within the past six months and adjust for differences in the properties. They will photograph, measure and inspect the home (do NOT consider this your home inspection, however) to help them make their comparisons. But true market value can be difficult to ascertain in markets where prices are volatile and properties widely vary. Incompetence in the field can cause appraisal problems, too. Not all real estate appraisers are created equal in terms of licensing and education. While federal licensing requirements for everyone are being phased in, only about half the states currently require appraisers to be licensed, though most states do require appraisers to pass a written examination and have 75 hours of continuing education and 2,000 hours of direct experience. Inexperience can be a big culprit in a problem appraisal, so can downright incompetence. Boosting the appraisal A lender probably will reject your loan application if the appraisal of the property comes back lower than the asking price. But you can fight a low-ball appraisal. Here's how: Get a copy of the appraisers report. You can successfully argue to raise the estimated value if you show that the report overlooks a valuable feature of the home or failed to consider the recent sale of comparable property for a higher price. Take your case to your loan representative. The lender can override the estimate or order a new report from a different appraiser. Try to renegotiate with the seller. The seller may be willing to accept less than you originally agreed to pay in order to avoid the time and cost required to cancel the sale and put the house back on the market. Increase your down payment. The lender may be willing to overlook a low appraisal if you put more money down. Find a good appraiser Ask your lender for the names of appraisers they know, trust and have on their list of approved appraisers. You also can check with one of several national appraisal organizations for names of local appraisers who are members in good standing. Look for an appraiser who can do your appraisal in a timely manner and who has experience in the area you want to buy. This can help speed things along, and assure you of an accurate appraisal. TIP: If you do choose an appraiser from your lender's list to check out a house, and you end up making an offer, you may not have to pay again for the required loan-application appraisal. Quick Take If you have any question about the value of the house you are bidding on, add an appraisal contingency to your purchase offer. This provision stipulates that the property must appraise for at least the purchase price you're offering. If the appraisal comes in lower, you can back out of the deal or renegotiate price. feedback | help | site map | advertising | globe archives | rss © 2006 The New York Times Company Real Estate Guide - Massachusetts Home Builder - New Home Construction

investment property mortgage for

investment property mortgages lenders rates properties Let -a- Property .info The Home for Landlords, Tenants and Letting Agents investment property mortgage for uk investors Add a Site Investment Property Mortgages UK Buy to Let Mortgages | UK Limited Companies | Commercial Mortgages | Property Development Loan | Business Mortgages | Investment Mortgages For an Instant, No Obligation Quote : >> PLEASE CLICK HERE << For Mortgages UNDER 50k please click here We have teamed up with 'The Money Centre' - one of the UK's largest independent finance brokers . As the Money Centre are a 'Buying Group' they are able to secure mortgages from specialist funding institutions on far more competitive terms than are available to the public direct! For the purchase or refinance of commercial or semi-commercial property for letting on commercial terms Typical terms for this type of loan are as follows: Amount - minimum 100,000 - no maximum Loan to Value - up to 75% Open Market Value of property to be mortgaged. (Experienced Landlords may be able to obtain up to 85%) Term - up to 25 years Repayment - regular instalments of capital and interest. An "Interest Only" option may be available on part of the loan Interest rates - fixed or variable rates are available. Margins on variable rates are usually between 1.5% and 3% above Base Rate or LIBOR Lenders Fees - an Arrangement Fee (usually 1% of loan amount) is payable on acceptance of the lender's formal offer. It may be possible to add this amount to the loan. Other Costs - borrowers are responsible for legal and valuation costs Brokerage Fees - Our standard charge is 1% of loan amount Lenders endeavour to be flexible to meet your needs, but their prime consideration will always be based upon proven ability to service loan repayments. Site Terms and Conditions Back Top all of these retirement uncertainties mean more and more people are turning to Buy-to-Let as a flexible, controlled means of long term saving for early retirement. Once the mortgage is paid off you have an income to live off (or own an asset outright that you can sell) in your retirement. Unlike a pension (you cannot access until you are at least 50 and that is controlled by a faceless fund manager); with Property you can see it, control it, generate an income from it, sell it (usually within a few months). Property is a flexible form of investment where you can easily control and minimise the risks of failure. The most basic idea that someone else is going to pay your mortgage off for you is very appealing for an increasing number of people. Advertising Accommodation Credit Cards General Home Insurance Income Protection Unemployment Insurance Landlords Tenants Insurance Mortgage Insurance Protection Professional Advice Property Finance & Mortgages Property to Buy or Sell Savings Secured Loans Unsecured Personal Loans

Florida Real Estate Florida

South Florida Real Estate - Property for Sale in Broward and Palm Beach Counties including new construction and preconstuction homes and condos Select One... Featured Homes Communities Country Clubs Equestrian Pre-Construction Condominiums Complete Property Search Rentals Waterfront Coming Soon... to Florida luxury living. From family communities to beachfront condominiums; from tree-lined fairways to waterfront estates; from active, amenity rich developments to quiet neighborhood homes; Florida Homes Online will find your special home in the sun. We invite you to search for your dream or investment home right here or call us Toll Free at 800-330-1924 or email: info@floridahomesonline.com for personal service. South Florida Real Estate Florida Homes Online 4613 University Dr. #355 Coral Springs, FL 33067 phone: (800) 330-1924 phone 2: (954) 344-6799 fax: (954) 344-8012 mobile: (954) 263-6080 info@floridahomesonline.com At floridahomesonline.com you can search all preconstruction condos and homes and multiple listings for all of Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami Dade Counties. You will find Home Buyer info, Home Seller info, Free Relocation information, South Florida Links to entertainment, government, and all important websites Search the South Florida MLS - Multiple Listing Service, E Trade Mortgage, Search East Coast Florida Family Communities, Search Golf and Country Club Communities and more! Florida homes online.com is a South Florida real estate web site offering Florida real estate, condominium, and home listings, Information on South Florida homes in the cities of Coral Springs, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Parkland, Weston, Wellington, Caloosa, Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Loxahatchee, Miami Beach, Port St Lucie. Extensive Buyer and Seller Information Guides, Complete Guide to mortgages along with mortgage calculators, Free Relocation information with Links to Florida Schools, South Florida community guides, Free Market analysis, the ability to Search for Properties in Palm Beach County and Broward County, search Equestrian properties, search mortgage information, credit information, a complete guide to Golf in Broward County and more!

Real Estate License Forms

TREC - Home Page -- Licensee Info Search Quick Links -- To Popular Pages -- Licensee Info Search R. E. Contract Forms Renew or Apply Online Salesperson Application Real Estate License Forms Education Providers Core R.E. Course List Freq. Asked Questions Real Estate License Act TREC Rules Data File Downloads HOME Area TREC Home Page Licensee Info Search Meetings & Agenda What's New Archive What Does TREC Do? Freq. Asked Questions Email Notification List Related Web Site Links Topics of Special Interest Mission Statement Compact with Texans Customer Service Survey Link Your Site to TREC Site Map KEY To Symbols =Page is in area (folder tab) of this color = Adobe PDF file format = Web site external to TREC About This Web Site: Get Help Navigating the TREC Web Site Comment on the TREC Web Site here Web Site Wins 2005 Award The November 2005 issue of the TREC Advisor is available in both printable PDF and HTML formats. Licensees and other subscribers can access the TREC Advisor here . Commission Enacts Temporary License for Evacuees from Katrina Click here for details for prospective temporary licensees , including a special application form, the press release and the new rules pertaining to those affected by Hurricane Katrina. Our mission is to assist and protect consumers of real estate services, thereby fostering economic growth in Texas. What's New? The Texas Real Estate Commission proposed revisions to 6 contract forms and 4 addenda at it regular meeting on December 5, 2005. View the proposed forms and summaries here . A periodic Sunset Review of the Texas Real Estate Commission is currently underway, as required by the Texas Sunset Act. Broker Minimum Services Requirements . . . read the latest updates . 2005 Legislative Report - Two new bills to affect the Real Estate License Act; one new bill to affect the Texas Timeshare Act . . . read more Inspectors! We now publish the Minutes of recent Inspector Committee Meetings. Also, see the new, searchable Inspector Questions & Answers page. List of Providers for the new Legal Update and Legal Ethics courses. Please see our updated MCE FAQs page , covering the new Legal Update course and Legal Ethics course. Most Recent Enforcement Questions and Answers (past 6 months) -- Find former "new" items in the What's New Archive Important Information! TREC Redesigns Licenses The Real Estate License Act is now codified at Ch. 1101, Tex. Occ. Code File and Pay Online! Broker & Salesperson Applications; Broker & Salesperson Renewals; All Inspector & ERW Renewals All Licensees! Easily update your permanent mailing address online free. Look up MCE courses completed in the Quick Links' Licensee Info Search . Page last modified: 12/18/2005 Site Map Privacy & Security Policy Open Records Accessibility Texas Online Statewide Search TX Homeland Security