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What Is A Reverse Mortgage?

Can't remember how many times I've been asked "What is a reverse mortgage"? Reverse mortgages are a great way to get a loan using your primary asset. As in all cases of financial lending, the flexibility comes at a price. A reverse mortgage is a loan using your house and is referred to as a "rising debt, falling equity" kind of deal.

To compare reverse mortgage to a more traditional one, the type of mortgage commonly used when buying a house can be classed as a "forward mortgage". To qualify for forward mortgage, you must have a steady source of income. Because the mortgage is secured by the asset, if you default on the payments, your house can be taken from you. As you pay off the house, your equity is the difference between the mortgage amount and how much you've paid. When the last mortgage payment is made, the house belongs to you.

On the other hand a reverse mortgage process doesn't require that the applicant have great credit, or even that they have a steady source of income. The major stipulation is that the house is owned by the applicant. Generally, there is also a minimum age required as well, the older the applicant, the higher the loan amount can be. As well, reverse mortgages must be the only debt against your house.

Differing from a conventional "forward mortgage", your debt increases along with your equity. Instead of making any monthly payments, the amount loaned has interest added to it - which eats away at your equity. If the loan is over a long period of time, when the mortgage comes due, there may be a large amount owed. Furthermore, if the price of your home decreased, there may not be any equity left over. On the flip side, if it was to increase, this could allow for an equity gain, but this isn't typical of the marketplace.

When deciding how to draw money from the reverse mortgage, there are a few options; a single lump sum, regular monthly advances, or a credit account. There are conditions in this kind of mortgage that would warrant the immediate repayment of the loan; the mortgage will be due when the borrower dies, sells the house, or moves out.

Failure to pay your property taxes or insurance on the home will undoubtedly lead to a default as well. The lender also has the option of paying for these obligations by reducing your advances to cover the expense. Make sure you read the loan documents carefully to make sure you understand all the conditions that can cause your loan to become due.

Hope this helps clear up the term reverse mortgages.

Ken Charnely

About the Author:

Ken Charnely is a personal finance enthusiast with http://www.online-loans-pro.com/ dedicated to quality information on online loans. For all your online loan needs please visit and apply for loans online

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Student Loan Consolidation Repayment Plans Available For Your Federal Direct Loans

Here are 4 student loan consolidation repayment plans that are available to you for your federal direct student loans.

Consolidating your student loans lowers your monthly payments so they fit your budget. You can choose the option from these 4 that best suits your situation so that your student loan repayment doesn't become a serious financial burden.

The equal payment option allows you to consolidate your federal direct student loans using equal monthly payments. You receive a fixed interest rate on your loan and then make equal payments until your loan is paid off. The main benefit to you is this is the least expensive option since you pay both interest and principal. The consistency of this option helps - you know how much you pay each month and it won't change.

If you anticipate needing lower monthly payments for the first couple of years, then a graduated repayment plan may be right for you. You begin by paying lower monthly payments (usually interest only). After a specified period of time (usually 2 to 5 years), your monthly payments are increased to include both interest and principal.

This option is more expensive than the equal payment method because the initial period only covers interest so it takes longer for you to pay off the principal. As a result, you get charged interest for a longer period of time.

If you have an equal payment or graduated repayment plan, you can extend your repayment to 15 years if you qualify. In order to qualify, you need to have an FFEL loan that was disbursed on or after October 7, 1998 and the total amount of FFEL debt you have must be greater than $30,000. By extending your loan repayment, you lower your monthly payments so they can better fit your financial situation.

You need to keep in mind that by extending your repayment, it becomes a more expensive option since you get charged interest for a longer period of time.

If your financial situation just can't handle the repayment requirements of these options, then another of the student loan consolidation repayment plans is called income sensitive repayment. Your monthly payments are adjusted each year based on your gross annual income. It takes into account your total debts and the size of your family. Your lender requires documentation about your income and debts in order to properly assess your monthly payment level.

No matter what your financial situation is, there is an option for you. These 4 student loan consolidation repayment plans provide you with a wide range of options so you can repay your student loans and have those monthly payments fit your budget.

About the Author:

Thomas Erikson is co-founder of http://www.your-debt-consolidation-loan.com which provides student loan consolidation information and solutions.

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Taking Advantage Of A Federal Student Loan Consolidation Program

Earning a college degree is one of the most important - and expensive - things you will do in your life. If you are able to attend college without having to take out any student loans, you are one of the lucky few. Most individuals have to borrow at least some of the money they need for tuition, books, and living expenses. And upon graduation, you are faced with the challenge of repaying all of those loans after the grace period ends, whether you are employed or not. That can be a hard dose of reality when you realize that not paying your loan payments on time, or not paying them at all can have grave consequences where your credit rating is concerned. That is why it is smart to consider a federal student loan consolidation program.

Loan consolidation entails taking out a single loan in order to pay off several others. This is done for convenience, as you can often get a lower interest rate, and you only have 1 monthly loan payment to keep track of. It is also good for your credit history. Often, student loans are guaranteed by the United States government. With a federal student loan consolidation program, currently held loans are purchased and closed either by a loan consolidation company or by the U.S. government. Who handles the loans depends upon what type of federal loans the borrower has.

The interest rates for Federal student loan consolidation programs are very reasonable. They are lower than your average bank loan. They are calculated based on the current year's student loan interest rate, and in turn calculated based on the 91-day Treasury bill (a government bond used as a debt-financing vehicle of the U.S. Federal government) rate at the previous auction (held every year in may) of the year. The interest of student loans are variable, but can not go over the maximum of 8.25% for Stafford Loans and 9% for PLUS loans (Federal parent loans).

Student loan consolidation programs are available to former students who have more than a minimum amount of federal student loan debt (usually more than about $10,000). Parents with more than a minimum amount in PLUS loan debt are also eligible to consolidate.

If an individual chooses to consolidate his or her federal student loans, the loans can be consolidated through a private lender, and the borrower can only consolidate again through the U.S. Department of Education. Upon consolidation, the loan is charged a fixed interest rate that does not change even if the loan is reconsolidated. And, with a federal student loan consolidation program, there are no fees applied or closing costs to be paid. This differs from private lender debt consolidation.

Taking advantage of a federal student loan consolidation program can be beneficial to your credit history, by helping it stay clean. It is easier to keep track of and remit 1 monthly loan payment than to keep track of 2 or more student loan debts, especially if you move frequently. And losing track of a federal loan is never a good idea.

Loan consolidation is especially good if you are having trouble making all of your scheduled loan payments on time. Defaulting on your student loans is a very unfortunate situation to be in, and can lead to having property and possessions taken from you in order to pay the debt. You can also consider requesting loan forbearance from your lender, which allows you to take a break from your payments, or make interest-only payments. However, the longer you wait to pay your debt, the longer it will be hanging over your head. With consolidation, repayment is extended over a longer period of time which, in addition to the single lower interest rate you will have on your loan, they payment are lower and more manageable within your budget.

If you are interested in a student loan consolidation program, you can consult the U.S. Department of Education, or one of the lenders with whom you currently have a student loan for information. During the application process, you can learn exactly which of your loans qualify for consolidation (hopefully they all do!), and be on your way to more manageable student loan payments.

About the Author:

Learn the essential information for picking the right consolidation service at Student Loan Consolidation Program

Read more articles by: Mark Woodcock

Getting a Mortgage After Bankruptcy

It is unfortunate that many bankruptcy attorneys do not give their clients more direction with regard to restoring themselves after their bankruptcy.

There are some simple steps that anyone who files a bankruptcy needs to take in order to restore themselves financially.

Using these steps below, you can restore your credit and prepare yourself to become a homeowner.

1. Get a copy of your credit report.

Many times (most times) the credit accounts that are absolved with your bankruptcy are not removed from your credit report immediately. You can contact each credit reporting agency (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) directly to get a copy.

2. Have derogatory credit items that were charged off in your bankruptcy removed from your credit report.

You will need to send a copy (not the original) of your bankruptcy discharge papers to all 3 of the credit bureaus asking them to remove these inaccuracies. This process can be done by mail for free, or online for a small charge by the agencies.

3. Pay all of your bills on time.

Bankruptcy is a means to financial recovery. It is intended to allow you to "start over" financially. After your bankruptcy, you need to make sure that all of your bills are paid on time. If you are having trouble with an upcoming bill, DO NOT IGNORE IT. This is where most people go wrong. Call your creditors before they call you and let them know what your challenges are. If you can't get a reasonable rep on the line, ask for a supervisor, but again, do this as early as possible, not the day the bill is due or after it is late. If you are having trouble with your bills, you may need to solicit some help.

4. Have a strong documented rental history.

This is critical as it is most likely the largest monthly expense that you have. Underwriters (the people that actually sign off on your loan's approval) will look very hard at how you have paid your rent as they are going to replace it with a mortgage payment of equal or greater size. It is very important to be able to document your rent payment history very specifically. If you rent from an apartment community, then all the bank will have to do is request a Verification of Rent (a.k.a. VOR). If you have a private landlord, then the BEST way to document this is with cancelled checks for the last 12 months rent. Banks can do VOR's for private landlords, but rarely do because they feel that a landlord may have a relationship with the borrower and say what the bank wants to hear to help them get a loan. If you pay with cash or money orders, please stop doing this immediately and start paying with checks. Simply put, this is hurting you because by filing a bankruptcy you have already shown some financial instability. Paying your rent with cash or money order shows further financial instability and will not give you the positive rent history that the underwriter is looking for to give them the confidence in approving your loan.

5. Apply for a secured credit card.

A secured credit card allows you to make a deposit into an account to secure a credit card and then borrow against it to establish a new positive payment history. As time progresses, the bank may increase your credit line to an amount greater than your deposit, and then eventually return your deposit to you. (They will also often pay you interest on your deposit.) Be very cautious of companies that charge excessive fees or interest rates for their secured cards.

6. Prepare "non traditional" trade references These are accounts that you pay on such as cell phones, car insurance, and store accounts which can be used to document a positive payment history, but would not be traditionally reported to a credit bureau. Ideally, if you can provide 3 of these accounts with a 12-month payment history, this will help your loan officer in convincing the banks underwriter that you are a good credit risk. The best way to document this is with a letter from the company stating that you have had a positive payment history with them for the past 12 months. Alternatively, you can provide 12 months of cancelled checks showing 12 months of timely payments.

7. Resist the urge (or encouragement) to buy a car.

Some may tell you that this is the best way to rebuild your credit. The problem is that your interest rate will be so high, that your payments will make your debt ratios higher than normal, making it harder to qualify for a mortgage. Do you remember the figure of 45-50% of your monthly income that the bank will allow you to use towards your debts? This will quickly be absorbed by a car payment.

Only buy a car if a) you NEED (not want) a car, and b) you have the income to cover the car payment, any of your current debts, and your proposed new car payment.

We have seen SEVERAL people that have cars rather than homes because they went out and bought a car that they could not sell and their debt ratios were too high to qualify for a mortgage. It would be a shame to have a nice car (that depreciates daily), as opposed to a more humble car along with a mortgage on a home that gives you a tax break, and increases in value over time.

I hope this is helpful and helps get you on your way to financial recovery and on to finding the home of your dreams.

About The Author Anthony Kirlew is founder of BankruptcyLoans.info (http://www.bankruptcyloans.info), a company specialising in after bankruptcy mortgage services and the author of The Bankruptcy Mortgage Book (http://www.thebankruptcymortgagebook.com) . He has been a featured mortgage columnist on several consumer and finance Web sites including All Experts and SideRoad. Anthony can be reached at http://www.AnthonyKirlew.com.

What you Need to Know about Consolidating Student Loans

Chances are if you’ve taken out student loans in order to finance your education you have been, or at least will be, receiving calls and offers in the mail to consolidate your student loans. There are actually numerous advantages to consolidating your student loans. In addition to gaining a fixed interest rate you can also potentially lower your monthly payments. In the event that you begin to experience financial difficulties, you may also be able to take advantage of flexible payment options with a consolidated student loan.

Unlike other types of debt consolidation programs a student loan consolidation gives you the opportunity to combine your loans into one package with more attractive terms. You also don’t have to worry about being turned down because of a bad credit score and the interest on the loan may be tax deductible. In addition, in the event of your death your survivors won’t have to worry about paying it back because the debt will be discharged.

If you have a variable interest rate student loan, consolidating the loan can also help you to lock in a lower rate before the rates increase the next year. Over the length of the loan, this one step can actually help to save you a tremendous amount of money.

Of course, in addition to the advantages there are also some disadvantages of which you should be aware. One of the most important is that if you end up lowering your monthly payment you are actually extending the length of the loan and that means you’ll pay more over the life of the loan due to increased interest. You can still take advantage of the other benefits of a student loan consolidation without this disadvantage; however. Just don’t lower your payments unless it is really necessary.

When considering lenders for a student loan consolidation it is important that you always compare the terms of each offer made to you. Consider the interest rate and length of the repayment terms to be sure you are getting the best deal possible.

If you have a mix of both federal and private student loans, you should also be aware that while both types of loans are available to be consolidated it may not be a good idea to consolidate your federal loans and private loans together in the same package. There are stipulations on private loans that are not required on federal student loans, such as no deferments, no tax deductions on the interest, no forgiveness of the debt in the event of death and no forgiveness of the loan for working in certain fields. In the event of a mix of private and federal, it’s usually best to go ahead and consolidate the private loans separately from the federal loans so that you can retain those advantages for the federal loans.

By understanding all of the factors related to student loan consolidation you will be in a better position to make a more informed decision regarding your finances.

Joe Kenny writes for the UK Loans Store where you will find information and reviews of the latest loans and offer more information on personal loans and other loan topics available on site.
Visit Today: http://www.ukpersonalloanstore.co.uk

Student Loan Consolidation – How Does It Work?

Student loans are a great source of financial aid for students who need help paying for their education. Unfortunately, students often leave college with burdensome debt. In addition, they often have multiple loans from different lenders, meaning they are writing more than one loan repayment check each month. The solution to this problem is loan consolidation.

What is loan consolidation?
Loan consolidation means bundling all your student loans into a single loan with one lender and one repayment plan. You can think of loan consolidation as akin to refinancing a home mortgage. When you consolidate your student loans, the balances of your existing student loans are paid off, with the total balance rolling over into one consolidated loan. The end result is that you have only one student loan to pay on.

Both students and their parents can consolidate loans.

Should I consolidate my loans?
Loan consolidation offers many benefits:

- Locks in a fixed, usually lower, interest rate for the term of your loan, potentially saving you thousands of dollars (depending on the interest rates of your original loans)
- Lowers your monthly payment
- Combines your student loan payments into one monthly bill

In addition, consolidated loans have flexible repayment options and no fees, charges, or prepayment penalties. There are also no credit checks or co-signers required.

You should consider consolidating your loans if the consolidation loan would have a lower interest rate than your current loans, particularly if you are having trouble making you monthly payments. However, if you are close to paying off your existing loans, consolidation may not be worth it.

How will the interest rate for the consolidated loan be?
The interest rate for your consolidated loan is calculated by averaging the interest rate of all the loans being consolidated and then rounding up to the next one-eighth of one percent. The maximum interest rate is 8.25 percent.

To figure your interest rate, visit loanconsolidation.ed.gov for an online calculator that will do the math for you.

How much can I save?
How much you save by consolidating loans depends on what interest rate you get and whether you choose to extend your repayment plan. According to Sallie Mae, the leading provider of student loans in the United States, consolidating student loans can reduce monthly payments by up to 54 percent. However, the only way to reduce your payment this much is to extend your repayment plan. You typically have 10 years to repay student loans, but, depending on the amount you're consolidating, you can extend your repayment plan all the way up to 30 years. Remember that if you choose to extend your repayment term, it will take longer to pay off your overall debt and you'll pay more in interest. There are no preypayment penalties, so you can always choose to pay off the loan early.

Am I eligible to consolidate my loans?
In order to consolidate your loans, you must meet the following criteria:

- You are in your six-month grace period following graduation or you have started repaying your loans
- You have eligible loans totaling over $7,500
- You have more than one lender
- You have not already consolidated your student loans, or since consolidation you have gone back to school and acquired new student loans

The following types of loans can be consolidated:

- Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans
- Federal Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans
- Direct PLUS Loans and Federal PLUS Loans
- Direct Consolidation Loans and Federal Consolidation Loans
- Guaranteed Student Loans
- Federal Insured Student Loans
- Federal Supplemental Loans for Students
- Auxiliary Loans to Assist Students
- Federal Perkins Loans
- National Direct Student Loans
- National Defense Student Loans
- Health Education Assistance Loans
- Health Professions Student Loans
- Loans for Disadvantaged Students
- Nursing Student Loans

Where can I get a consolidation loan?
You can consolidate your loans through any bank or credit union that participates in the Federal Family Education Loan Program, or directly from the U.S. Department of Education. The loan terms and conditions are generally the same, regardless of where you consolidate. You may want to check first with the lenders that hold your current loans.

If all your loans are with one lender, you must consolidate with that lender.

If you decide to consolidate your student loans, remember that you can only do so once unless you go back to school and take out more loans. Therefore, you will want to make sure you get the best deal the first time. The interest rate will be the same from all lenders, but some lenders may offer future rate discounts for prompt payment and a discount for having monthly payments directly debited from your account.

Can my spouse and I consolidate our loans together?
You can consolidate your loans together, but it is not a good idea for a couple reasons:

- Both of you will always be responsible to repay the loan, even if you later separate or divorce
- If you need to defer payment on the loan, both of you will have to meet the deferment criteria

When should I consolidate my loans?
You can consolidate your loans any time during your six-month grace period or after you have started repaying your loans. If you consolidate during your grace period, you may be able to get a lower interest rate. However, since you will lose the rest of the grace period, it is a good idea to wait until the fifth month of the grace period before consolidating. The consolidation process usually takes 30-45 days.

This article is distributed by NextStudent. At NextStudent, we believe that getting an education is the best investment you can make, and we're dedicated to helping you pursue your education dreams by making college funding as easy as possible. We invite you to learn more about how to get Student Loan Consolidation at http://www.NextStudent.com .

About the Author:

My goal is to help every student succeed - education is one of the most important things a person can have, so I have made it my personal mission to help every student pay for their education. Aside from that, I am just a pretty average girl from SD. http://www.nextstudent.com/

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