February 25, 2009

How Can a Bad Credit History Affect You?

What does bad credit actually imply? Well, it is a situation where you have not complied with the terms and conditions of the loan agreement regarding repayment of the loan. Bad credit generally takes place when you have a County Court Judgement (CCJ) against you or you have defaulted in the repayment of loan or you have some arrears or pending instalments. Bad credit can also be a result of bankruptcy.

Now, what happens if a person who is suffering from bad credit record wants to take a loan? Such a person is usually in the records of credit reference agencies either because he has a CCJ against him or he may have missed some repayments. Such a person is put into a separate category of borrowers called ‘Borrowers with Bad Credit’. A borrower having a bad credit record can apply for Bad credit loans.

There are many lenders who provide bad credit secured loans as well as bad credit unsecured loans. Lenders do not give a regular loan to the borrower who has a bad credit record because he has earlier defaulted and there is a probability that he may do it again. Such a borrower is also charged a higher rate of interest.

However, the interest rate and the loan amount depend on the gravity of your bad credit history. If you are a homeowner you can assure the lender by providing your home as a security against the loan amount, then you can get competitive bad credit secured loans deal. It becomes difficult to get bad credit loans if you are a tenant.

Bad credit secured loans help you in borrowing money despite your imperfect credit history. You can also use this opportunity to improve your credit record. If you pay your instalments regularly, the credit reference agencies will surely take a note of it and update your credit record for the better.

The author is a business writer specializing in finance and credit products and has written authoritative articles on the finance industry. He has done her masters in Business Administration and is currently assisting Chance4finance as a finance specialist. To find a secured loans, that best suits your needs, visit http://www.chance4finance.co.uk.

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October 20, 2007

Loans - Secured or Unsecured - Which One is Right for Me?

Thousands of borrowers are forced to make difficult choices about the loans they take out.Among them is that of whether to opt for a so-called ’secured’ or an ‘unsecured’ loan.

Secured loans are described as such because when you take one out you are offering one of your possessions, usually your home, as security on the loan. Pay off the loan and nothing happens. If you don’t pay the loan, the lender can take your home away.

Secured loans are generally only available to homeowners, regardless of whether or not they own their home outright or are still repaying a mortgage. With unsecured loans lenders only have the borrowers ‘promise’ that they will repay the loan, and this is reflected in a number of ways.

On a secured loan, the amount still owed compared to its current value will be a big deciding factor into how much the lender will be willing to borrow.

Basically, the more equity you have in your home, the larger the loan you are likely to get. The majority of secured loans are for ?5,000 to ?50,000; in some circumstances up to ?100,000 can be borrowed.

The main worry associated with secured loans is the prospect of losing one’s home. However, this isn’t something that ‘just happens’ if you fail to make a single payment. Before action is taken to repossess a home, a lender will often send a series of increasingly strongly-worded letters to the borrower as payments are missed.

If non-payment continues, the lender has the legal right to foreclose and sell the property, and this is becoming increasingly more common.

Any decision between a secured and unsecured loan depends on a number of factors. One of them is the amount required and whether or not you have any collateral. Each type of loan comes with their own set of advantages and disadvantages.

First, the maximum amount for unsecured loans is generally around ?25,000, compared to the ?100,000 for a secured loan. Higher interest rates are also a big factor as lenders have to compensate for losses from defaults, which are higher on unsecured loans.

The other big difference is seen within the repayment period, with a maximum of around 25 years for secured loans and just seven years for unsecured loans.

This longer repayment term results in lower monthly repayments, and therefore may make it a more suitable option for applicants that think they will not be able to keep up with the higher monthly repayments of an unsecured loan. But it also means you may end up paying more interest on the loan over the longer period of time.

Finally, as with any line of credit an applicant’s credit rating will play a role in deciding whether they will actually get the loan and at what rate of interest.

Again, because of the lack of security, lenders will place more weight on an applicant’s credit rating when considering an unsecured loan than they would with a secured loan.

Liam G is a UK based financial author currently specialising in loans, in particular unsecured personal loans and secured loans.

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October 17, 2007

Remortgages Vs Homeowner Loans

Everyone knows exactly what an unsecured loan is because of the fact that the majority of people prefer to have a loan that does not put their home in jeopardy. However, many individuals that do have to offer their home as security when taking out a loan have no idea what kind of homeowner loans are out there. In fact, a good number of people think that there is only one, when in fact there are several types that can be taken.

There is very little difference between a remortgage and a secured loan in terms of the security offered, but the differences that do exist can make quite a big impact on a homeowners decision as to which type of the available homeowner loans to take out.

A remortgage can be characterised by an entirely new mortgage being taken out or a further advance. The latter is simply a release of equity by the mortgage provider on top of the original mortgage. A new mortgage account is actually a brand new mortgage that actually pays off the original mortgage but allows further borrowing as well, with the two equaling up to the total amount of the value of the house. Both are effective homeowner loans, but have a major downside.

If you do take out a remortgage then you will be placed on current interest rates and have to pay the fees associated with it. On the other hand, homeowner loans have no associated fees and do not require all of the paperwork that goes along with a remortgage.

Homeowner loans operate under the same principle as remortgages, but are slightly different in that they are actually separate from the mortgage. If there is a chance that you may be able to pay back the loan early then it is perhaps better to keep the two separate or risk incurring charges upon redemption. Homeowner loans are also better for smaller amounts, up to approximately £25,000.

Depending on requirements, remortgages and homeowner loans tend to suit different situations. You would need to assess your wants and needs before deciding either way.

Jason Hulott is Business Development Director at Debt Consolidation Loans service, PolarLoans. Visit Polar Loans now for more information about Homeowner and Secured Loans.

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Quick and Easy Secured Loan Guide

Secured loans are one of the best ways to obtain large amounts of money quickly.
They’re backed by personal property, usually a home and are therefore available
to homeowners, with lenders offering the loan on a secured basis against the
property.

Loan Security

Secured loans are typically easier to obtain than an unsecured loan because of the collateral involved. Collateral does come in various forms but the most common is your home, or other property you own.

Loans secured against property that is already mortgaged are known as second charges, where as loans secured against a property owned outright with no existing mortgage in place is known as a first charge. Loans are available for almost any purpose including debt consolidation, home improvements, holidays and car purchases.

Credit Scoring

Lenders frequently use credit scoring facilities and credit reference agencies to assess your suitability. If you are refused a loan or wish to make inquiries concerning your own credit file you can apply to the credit reference agencies for a copy of your credit file.

Credit reference agencies provide a detailed analysis of your financial position as they hold information relating to your credit history, any adverse credit and any existing commitments. They will look at your past credit history and take into consideration any adverse credit such as mortgage arrears, defaults or county court judgements. Bad Credit doesn’t mean you can’t get a loan.

Bad Credit

Loans are available at reasonable rates even with a bad credit history, which means that you can enjoy lower repayment terms even if your have a tarnished credit history. CCJs and bad credit history need not be a problem when applying. Many Lenders are sympathetic to personal loan requirements whatever they may be, good or bad credit history, employed or self employed.

It’s a competitive market and Lenders need to stay in business, so they’re open to considering a broader spectrum of personal circumstances.

Loan Amounts And Interest Rates
The main advantage of taking out a secured loan is that the interest rates are much lower than most other types of loan and the repayment scan be spread over an amount of time that suit’s the borrower rather than the Lender.

If a Lender knows that the loan amount is tied into the borrower’s property then he knows that the borrower has an extra commitment to keep a roof over his or her head. This security covers the risk factor that is attached to the loan amount.

The Lender will also need to know the value of your home and details of your outstanding mortgage and any other loans secured on the property, as already mentioned the amount that you can borrow is based on the amount of equity in
your home. Equity is your current mortgage balance taken away from the current value of your house.

It is not necessary for you to own your home or property outright to secure the loan, although you must have sufficient equity in the property to cover the amount borrowed. The actual rate available to you will depend upon your circumstances and the loan amount.

Conclusion
Secured loans offer a flexibility generally not seen with other lending methods, for example loan amounts equivalent to 125% of your property value can be arranged. Typically a remortgage will offer only 90% or thereabouts. 100% self certification is also a possibility. Loan turn around time is also very quick when compared to mortgages, loan deals can be completed within as little as 10-14 days.

Are you considering a secured loan in the uk? Quick and Easy Loans can offer you the lowest rates available.

This article comes with reprint rights. Feel free to reprint and distribute as you like. All that we ask is that you do not make any changes, that this resource text is include, and that the links above are intact.

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October 15, 2007

Homeowners Face Chellenging Situation

Homeowners are coming under increased financial pressure, new figures indicate.

In research released by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML), both those making their initial steps on the housing ladder and existing property owners are seeing their mortgage costs account for an ever larger proportion of their expenditure, which may consequently impact upon their ability to service other constraints on their spending - such as tax bills and home loans.

As ‘affordability has continued to worsen’ for consumers, the CML revealed that the typical first-time buyer is currently borrowing at 3.38 times their income - a figure unchanged from July. However, as the proportion of income being put towards interest payments by such people has surged to 20 per cent from the 19.7 per cent recorded three months ago, they could be struggling more to meet loans costs and other demands of payment.

Meanwhile, existing homeowners are shown to be taking out a loan worth 3.03 times their income, with just over a sixth (17.2 per cent) of their annual income going towards repayments. The council also showed that debt servicing burdens are at their worst for both first-time buyers and movers for some 16 and 15 years respectively. And with the CML stating that such affordability pressures could be set to worsen within the coming months, Britons may struggle even more in paying off loans.

Commenting on the study, Michael Coogan, director general for the CML, said: ‘Affordability clearly remains challenging but there may be some relief for borrowers with expectations of an interest rate cut, perhaps as early as November. We are set to have a very segmented market for some months to come. The sub-prime sector is still facing funding constraints, while mainstream fixed-rate deals have begun to get cheaper.’

However, Mr Coogan suggested that those with adverse credit histories, including those who may have taken out bad credit loans, are set for a surge in financial difficulties as mortgages for such consumers become more expensive. He also urged those who are concerned that they will be unable to make a loan payment to get in touch with their credit provider.

‘As lenders move to price for the risk they are taking on, mortgages are set to become more expensive for customers who have poorer credit histories. Now is the time for consumers to look to improve their credit status to keep their borrowing costs as low as possible. If you face payment difficulties, please speak to your lender before you miss a payment,’ he added.

For those concerned that they will be unable to meet mortgage costs, opting for a low-rate loan as a means of consolidating various debts accrued may well be an advisable option. Earlier this year, James Ketchell, from the Consumer Credit Counselling Service, revealed that evermore people are willing to apply for borrowing, through secured loans for instance, as they have lost the stigma of getting into debt while at university.

Mark Dawson writes for the Loan Arrangers. Where visitors can compare secured loans online, and apply for the best rate secured loans available to them. To read more articles from Mark go to http://news.loan-arrangers.co.uk

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October 11, 2007

Remortgage or Second Mortgage, Which Should I Choose?

A second mortgage is not the same as a remortgage. There is a lot of confusion about this. Second mortgage and remortgage are different ways of getting hold of the equity in your property.

If you have had your mortgage for a fair length of time, you have probably noticed that the value of your property has increased. The most likely way to find this out is if a neighbours house similar to yours goes on the market, and you get a surprise when you see how much it is going for.

If this increase has in fact taken place, the difference between the amount of the outstanding mortgage (plus any other loans secured on your property) and the current value of your house is the equity. Using this equity is one of the most sensible ways of raiising extra cash if you need it for any reason.

Basically there are three ways of using your equity:

  1. Refinance your mortgage with your existing lender.
  2. Remortgage with a new lender, for a larger loan.
  3. Keep your existing mortgage as it is and take out a further loan secured on the equity in the property. This is what is called a ’second mortgage’.

Each of these methods has its pros and cons. The advantage of staying with your existing lenders is that they are familiar with you and your payment record, and also with the property. So there should be fewer checks and formalities to go through, to refinance the loan. However, if its a long time since you took out the first mortgage, they may still need a new valuation. They may also need a check on your finances - they know whether youve kept up your mortgage payments or not, but they dont know what other fonancial commitments you may have.

Sometimes you can actually do much better by switching to a new lender - you may get better rates, as lenders often reserve their best rates for new customers! It quite often happens that people remortgage with a new lender for a much bigger loan, and actually end up with lower monthly payments than before. The lenders will of course need surveys, valuations, credit checks, etc.

If you take out a second mortgage, this becomes a ’second charge’ on the property, with the lenders of the original mortgage keeping the deeds. This means that if the house is sold or repossessed, the lenders of the first mortgage have first claim to repayment. The holders of the second charge then have the next claim to recover what is owed to them. The lenders of the second mortgage thus have a higher level of risk, and so their interest rates may be higher than those for the first mortgage. However, they are still competing for your business, so you can still get very good deals on your second mortgage if you shop around. And the rates will certainly be better than for an unsecured loan.

Whichever of these methods of utilising your equity you choose, lenders are very unlikely to release the full value of the equity. They will always wish to retain some equity in the property in case of a fall in value or other emergency. However, if you are looking for a second mortgage, it is possible in some cases to find a lender who will go up to 100 per cent - at much higher rates, to reflect the higher risk.

Whether a second mortgage or a remortgage is better for you will depend on your individual circumstances. A broker or financial adviser will help you decide whats best for you.

Sean Horton is a Director of Enhanced Wealth Limited who are a specialist mortgage broker offering second mortgages

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October 10, 2007

Is Consolidation a Good Choice for Borrowers?

Many debt consolidation companies are interested in binding you with loan deals rather than solving your financial problems. In such a scenario, some critics say that debt consolidation process has lost its utility and sheen. However, if you use this process judiciously and take care of your finances, you can very well derive benefits out of it.

If you have multiple debts and too many pending credit card bills, you need a big loan amount to consolidate them. Obviously, this may require you to pledge your home because lenders do not provide more than £20-25,000 without your home being put forward as a security. It is easy for the homeowners to take out secured loans and consolidate their debts. Just take care that you do not borrow further until you completely recover out of your financial problems.

Secured loans are available in the UK with many lenders. You can compare loans available with building societies, high street lenders, private online lenders, etc. These loans create a second charge against your home. You can avail them for long periods depending upon your requirements. Those borrowers who have several pending loans prefer to take out secured loans for consolidating their debts.

If you take out secured loans for debt consolidation purpose, you can save some money also. Generally, these loans have a low rate of interest. And, if you use these loans to repay your credit card bills and other high interest debts, it would be beneficial for you. It might result in some savings. Anyhow, you should compare loans before finalising the deal. Just make it sure that you are taking a loan at competitive rate of interest with flexible terms and conditions. You can also use secured loans for many other purposes. These loans are suitable for long term borrowing and big occasions requiring big loan amount.

For more information about Compare loan, Secured Homeowner Loans and Debt Consolidation Loans, Please visit our Website: http://www.longdogfinance.co.uk/

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