Tag Archives: payment
Loan Modification – How To Qualify
A loan modification refers to the process by which your bank grants you a permanent or temporary adjustment to the conditions and terms of your mortgage. These adjustments are aimed at making your payments more affordable in accordance with the regulations of your financial situation, and they can involve longer loan term periods, the reduction of the principal, or the granting of a lower interest rate. These measures can prove instrumental in avoiding foreclosure on your home. In order to apply for this process, you must find out if you qualify for a loan modification.
You need to determine if you meet the required qualifications relevant to a modification. Lenders have their own qualification guidelines. Whilst similar, these guidelines can vary from lender to lender.
The following are guidelines that banks use in evaluating the eligibility of your loan for modification:
Front-end debt-to-income ratio
The front-end debt-to-income ratio is utilized by lenders in determining the amount of your gross income (not net income) that is directed toward your house payment on a monthly basis. They combine the costs of housing expenses, interest, taxes, and other relevant and important factors in determining your debt ratio. The lender calculates the front-end debt-to-income ratio before the modification process is started, along with what it would be after the application has been processed. Before the modification, this ratio needs to be above 31% in order for you to be eligible. As a result of the modification, the ratio needs to be lowered as follows:
1. For private loan modification programs, an acceptable debt-to-income ratio is typically between 31% and 42%.
2. For HAMP loan modifications, the guideline is to lower the debt-to-income ratio between 31% to 38%.
It is important for homeowners to understand that this is an important criteria for approval.
Modification agreement
This agreement provides homeowners with a lower monthly mortgage payment which helps reduce their debt-to-income ratio to an acceptable level, as outlined above. Before you are granted a permanent modification, you will be given a three-month trial loan modification (a.k.a trial payment period, or TPP). During this period, it is critical that you make your payment on time or you won’t be offered a permanent loan modification. You may need to fine-tune your budget and eliminate unnecessary expenses in order to afford your new mortgage payment.
Although you should be well aware of your debts and expenses, you should not need to become a financial analyst in order to understand how all these ratios work together. It’s advisable to seek some expert help in trying to make sense of your budget before and after the modification process.
Do your research
In order to qualify for a loan modification you need to educate yourself about the process. Initially, the process can be intimidating to homeowners, but with some careful research you will discover it to be less daunting than you might expect. Educate yourself regarding the lending requirements of your bank while thoroughly completing all the necessary forms. This will increase your chances of approval.
Seeking outside help while working directly with your lenders
You may choose to work with your bank directly. However, informing yourself about the process may help you avoid unnecessary difficulties along the way. Additionally, if you want to obtain some assistance, secure help that is inexpensive and conflict-free.
Presenting professionally prepared paperwork
Your application package and the associated paperwork must be acceptable to the bank. Ensure that you have filled out all the required forms. Don’t forget to include a letter that describes your financial difficulties in detail. Use language that is grammatically correct in order to convey a respectful and professional attitude.
Conclusion
Take the necessary time to be properly prepared before you begin the loan modification process. After all, this is your precious home that you are trying to save. You will discover that once you become familiar with the ins and outs of this process, you will be able to determine whether or not this program is suited to you.
For more information on loan modification programs, please visit
Cars and Credit Reports
The Problem
I was driving home from the store the other night when I noticed a license plate that made me laugh to myself and then I proceeded to feel sorry for the poor sap driving. The plate read “0 DOWN”. It was a white, shiny, new Ford Explorer (probably an 06′). Here’s what really got me about the caption: Not only did this consumer purchase a brand new vehicle with no money down, but he was proud of it. DUMB! Commercial advertisements and society as a whole embeds the “Buy Now, Pay Later” method into our heads and it works so well that around 90% of all consumers who purchase new cars do not put $5 down on the vehicle before signing the papers. The sad fact is, is that the average new automobile loses $3,000 as soon as it leaves the lot. Technically, you have gone into debt for something that loses value before you even use it. As if this wasn’t depressing enough, the less money you put down on a car and the worse off your credit is, the more you pay for the car. If this isn’t one big sand trap I don’t know what is!
The Role of Your Credit Report
Your online credit report is affected 2 ways when you buy a new car with no money down. First let’s look at the role it plays after you decide you NEED that shiny new sports car. The mass majority of consumers are thinking of one thing when they sit in the ‘sales chair’ to go through the paperwork: driving the car home (man this is bringing back some bad, bad memories). In order to do this you will need to finance the vehicle which requires pulling up your credit history and your credit report. This can easily be done online right in the sales office while you look around to make sure no one else tries to sneak off with your new toy. The worse off your credit report is, the higher interest rate you will pay. (This is fine though as long as you can still afford to buy food every other week and pay a few bills here and there.) The other role that your credit report plays in this game is the after-effect. The average new car buyer’s car payment is 25-30% of their total income. This creates a nice, big road block on your credit report in itself for when you are ready to make another large purchase. Not to mention when you fall behind on even one payment and your credit file takes a hard blow. Try to keep these factors in mind next time the kid in you tries to make a financial decision.
The Solution
Well you’re not going to like the best solution but here it is anyway: PAY FOR THE CAR IN FULL! If you saved the car payment every month in a good money market account; not only would you save time and money, but when you walked into the sales office with piles of hundred dollar bills you would get quite a deal! Okay, so you’re more likely to win the super lotto than do that right? Well here are a few ideas. As long as you practice a few you might get ahead of this nasty game a little bit or at least protect your online credit report. First, consider getting a 2 or 3 year old car. You can still get a shiny one and the previous owner will have taken the major depreciation of the vehicle passing the savings directly to you. Second, if you can, try waiting and searching to find the best deal possible. Trust me, there is more than 1 of those cars in the market. Third, put something down. Anything! For starters you could put down 10 to 15%. This will lower your monthly payment, lower your interest rate and maybe even cut your payoff time down. Lastly, get a bargain. Don’t settle for the asking price by any means. Be patient and keep control of your focus. One definition of maturity is learning to delay pleasure.