Category Archives: Home Equity

Home Equity

Banks, Debts, Financial, Financial Services, Foreclosure, Home Equity, Loans, Mortgage

Stop Foreclosure On Your Home, Work With A Loan Modification Specialist

The HRP Office, www.hrpoffice.com, is open in Surfside Beach, South Carolina and ready to assist clients with their mortgage needs. The owner, Dr. Michael W. Cantrell, Sr. and his staff are experienced loan modification specialists. Their long time strong relationship with most major banking institutions enable them to work faster, smarter and less expensively than other loan modification companies. Clients of HRP, LLC quickly come to recognize them as the experts in helping them get their loans successfully modified.

What kinds of situations can the HRP Office, www.hrpoffice.com, help their clients with?

Homeowners who are behind on their mortgage payments
Homes currently in foreclosure 
Homeowners have an ARM that has adjusted higher or will adjust higher in another month or two
Homeowners who have a legitimate hardship
Reduced income, reduced hours, pay cut, loss of job, relocation, demotion
Homeowners who went on Disability or Workers Compensation
Divorce/Separation
Excessive medical bills
Back taxes that are currently being paid back 
Death of household provider
Failed business

The staff at HRP, www.hrpoffice.com, guarantees their services 100%; they are an industry leader in loan modifications. With a staff of licensed attorneys as well as experienced processors and negotiators, they work together to handle each and every case with the utmost care and concern. Lenders have very specific guidelines that must be met before they will agree to modify a loan. HRP knows what those guidelines are and how to get their clients the very best possible option available. They work for the homeowner, not the lender, so your best interests are their main concern.

What can the HRP Office, www.hrpoffice.com, do for their clients?

Pre Qualify a case at no cost to the homeowner
Provide the homeowner with access to their account online 24/7
Prepare a comprehensive modification package to best position each case for success
Engage in hard line negotiations with lenders to ensure the best possible outcome for their clients
Stop collection calls on overdue mortgage payments
Postpone imminent sale dates so the homeowner can breathe easier

Custom Analysis for Each Client
The staff of the HRP Office, www.hrpoffice.com, understands that everyone’s financial situation is unique, which is why they offer comprehensive, personalized, and proven modification programs that get results. The legal experts at HRP understand the importance of providing individual services that are tailor made to effectively meet the personal financial needs of their clients.

100% Guarantee
Dr. Michael Cantrell and his staff take pride in their level of service and client support and are committed to providing the most rewarding experience possible. HRP’s, www.hrpoffice.com, web-based software allows their clients to have access to their account 24 hours a day 7 days a week. People can check the status of their loan modification case at any time. Clients can also contact their HRP team members via email, fax or phone at any time. Dr. Cantrell had this to say about HRP “Our specialized attorneys, paralegals, negotiators, processors and customer service professionals are unmatched. We provide customized, personal attention to your individual situation and we emphasize customer support and long term solutions for you. Simply put, we strive to provide the best customer service in the industry, and our results-oriented negotiators take pride in consistently meeting and exceeding our client’s expectations. Ultimately, we provide clients with renewed financial optimism and a valuable savings of time and money. In addition, our company has the resources, banking relationships, ethical standards and legal expertise that other companies cannot offer which can translate into significant benefits for our clients.”

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Debts, Financial, Financial Management, Financial Services, Home Equity, Loans, Money, Mortgage, Personal Finance

Mortgage Debt: Comment On Housing Equity Injection

Responding to news that homeowners had injected a record £8 billion into housing equity in the final quarter of 2008, debt management company Gregory Pennington stressed that this reversal of a long-term trend was due to a combination of factors, rather than any single event.

“Prior to Q2 2008,” said Melanie Taylor, Head of Corporate Relations for Gregory Pennington, “the last time we saw homeowners injecting money into housing equity was in Q2 1998, when they injected £279 million – a mere 3.5% of the amount injected in the final quarter of 2008.”

In the decade following 1998, of course, the average house price virtually tripled, which obviously enabled millions of homeowners to turn many billions of housing equity into cash. The highpoint of this occurred in Q4 of 2003, when £17 billion of equity was withdrawn – a full 8.5% of post-tax income.

A full decade of rapid price rises meant that homeowners were both willing and able to keep on withdrawing equity for some time after the house price boom came to an end in 2007: it wasn’t until the second quarter of 2008 that equity injections began to outweigh withdrawals.

“Standing at £1.8 billion in Q2, quarterly equity injection rapidly soared to the record level of £8 billion by Q4 – thanks to a falling base rate and a faltering housing market, as well as worries about the recession in general.

“Plummeting from 5% to 2% in Q4 alone, the falling base rate had two crucial effects on the way homeowners treated their mortgage debt. First of all, it helped people find new deals with lower monthly payments, and enabled people with existing tracker and SVR mortgages to overpay their mortgages without spending more than they were used to. Second, it led the banks and building societies to drop the rates they were paying on savers’ accounts. Many people looking for the best return on their ‘spare’ money realised that overpaying their mortgage would be much more valuable in the long run than putting their money in a savings account.

“Looking beyond interest rates and house prices, the recession itself has prompted a more conservative attitude, particularly among people who’ve experienced recessions in the past. The news has been full of repossessions, redundancies, ‘awful’ economic conditions – and a succession of dire predictions from a wide range of respected bodies, making it clear that things were expected to get a lot worse before they got better.”

Whatever the reasons, overpaying the mortgage can deliver various benefits: “Aside from reducing the amount of interest they’ll pay over the lifetime of the mortgage, overpayments can also shorten the actual term of the mortgage, meaning the homeowner will own the property outright sooner than initially expected. There’s also the question of reducing their mortgage debt and increasing the equity in the home, which can give homeowners access to mortgage deals with much lower interest rates – something which many will be keen to do as soon as possible, before the base rate has a chance to start rising again.”

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Financial, Financial Services, Home Equity, Loans, Money, Mortgage, Personal Finance

Fixed rate mortgages are low, particularly for those with at least 25% equity, but will they/can they get any cheaper?

Tracker mortgage rates mirror any change in bank rate, but with mortgage lenders increasing tracking margins, and with bank rate at 0.5%, have you missed the boat?

Unusually, standard variable rates may also look attractive, but are lenders passing on any change in interest rates, as they struggle to retain savers?

If you are unsure what to choose, here are some L&C tips on how you could hedge your bets.

A mix and match mortgage is where you take part on a variable rate and part on a fixed rate. This gives you some security but will also mean you don’t completely miss out if rates fall again. The downside is that you’re likely to pay an arrangement fee for both schemes.

Drop lock mortgages, offered by lenders such as Halifax, Nationwide and C&G, allow you to take a tracker deal, but switch to a fixed rate in the future without penalty.

This might seem the perfect solution but timing your switch will be tricky, and is likely to involve your home being revalued. With house prices continuing to fall, a revaluation could see you move into a higher loan to value band with higher rates, so even if fixed rates generally fall, you could end up paying more. Any switch is also likely to mean a new arrangement fee.

You could also consider a capped tracker mortgage. The tracker means you don’t miss out on interest rate cuts, and adding a cap means there is a maximum rate you can pay, so if rates rise above the cap, you don’t need to worry.

The Coventry and Yorkshire Building Societies and Woolwich have all recently launched capped trackers.

To find out more visit the best buy mortgages section of the L&C website.

Whatever you do, L&C’s advice is don’t delay. With lenders reserving their best deals for those with up to 40% equity, and falling house prices eroding your equity, any delay could cost you dear.

For more information and no-fee advice, borrowers should call free on 0800 373300.

 

London & Country (L&C) is the UK’s leading no-fee mortgage broker. Based in Bath, it provides whole of market advice via telephone and post to clients nationwide. As well as residential mortgages, it also specialises in the Buy-to-Let and adverse-credit sectors.

L&C is a Climate Neutral company and for the last seven years has invested in climate friendly projects and tree-planting to help offset its emissions and those of its customers. For more information, go to www.lcplc.co.uk/green

L&C has won numerous awards including:

Best Mortgage IFA/Adviser of the Year – Money Marketing, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008
Best Technology Adviser – Money Marketing 2007
Best Mortgage Broker outside London – Mortgage Strategy, 2004 and 2005
Best National Broker – Mortgage Introducer 2005, 2006 and 2007
Best Overall Broker – Mortgage Introducer 2005
Overall broker of the year – Pink Home Loans, 2006 and 2007
Top 100 company in the Sunday Times Fast Track 100 for 2004 and 2005
Business of the Year – The Bath Business Awards 2005
Growth Strategy of the Year – National Business Awards (Wales and West) 2008
Business Leader (Broker) – British Mortgage Awards – 2008
Online Mortgage IFA of the Year – Financial Adviser – 2008

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Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Home Equity, IRA, Money, Personal Finance, Retirement

Recession Woes Grow For Pensioners

New Prudential Class of 2009 retirement survey reveals the UK’s deepening economic crisis will mean the 3.25 million UK adults who plan to retire in 2009 can expect to receive £2.87 billion* less in their pensions than those who planned to retire in 2008.

The survey found UK workers planning to draw their pension in 2009 expect to get an average income of£17,779 a year, £884 less than those retiring in 2008 who anticipated an average annual income of £18,663. Retirement will mean taking a £7,129 cut in income compared with the national average salary of £24,908** but some believe they will be considerably worse off.

The Prudential survey showed that 11% of people retiring in 2009 expect to receive an income of less than £10,000 a year from their pensions and investments, with 12% of women expecting to manage on this level of income compared to 9% of men.

While 39% said their pension and savings would give them a decent retirement income, 61% were doubtful that they would have enough money to enjoy a comfortable life in retirement. When asked if they thought they were financially well prepared for retirement, only 47% responded positively.

Keith Haggart, Director of Lifetime Mortgages at Prudential said: “The global economic recession is relentless and indiscriminate in its impact and it was only a matter of time before we began to see British pensioners bear the brunt.”

He continued, “Although the results of our survey make unsettling reading, there are ways for pensioners to maximise their incomes during these difficult times. Drawing on some or all of the assets saved throughout their working lives, including releasing value from property through equity release schemes, can boost annual incomes without having a detrimental impact on quality of life or forcing pensioners to downsize or embark on a fire sale of their possessions and assets.”

Keith urged anyone approaching retirement or who has recently retired to talk to a financial adviser to help them review all their assets and savings to see how they could be used to maximise income.

Prudential’s retirement planning website helps consumers and employers tackle retirement issues. The website features a Retirement Planner which has been designed to help determine how much income a customer’s current arrangements might give them in retirement, factoring in current pensions, property, savings and investments. The Planner also shows customers how they might be able to boost retirement income, if there is a gap between what their current arrangements will provide at the point of retirement and what they anticipate they may need.

* Office of National Statistics 2007 show 24,990,500 adults aged 45+ in the UK. Prudential research shows that 13% of UK adults aged 45+ (youngest age stated by individuals planning to retire in 2009) said they planned to retire in 2009 = 3,251,854 people. Multiplied by £884 individual shortfall = £2.87 billion.

** 2008 ASHE survey results show median weekly pay for full-time employees in UK grew by 4.6% in the year to April 2008 to reach £479 (multiplied by 52 weeks =£24,908).

Survey conducted online by Research Plus among 1,000 UK adults aged 45+, during 10–18 November 2008.

About Prudential
“Prudential” is a trading name of The Prudential Assurance Company Limited, which is registered in England and Wales. This name is also used by other companies within the Prudential Group, which between them provide a range of financial products including life assurance, pensions, savings and investment products. Registered Office at Laurence Pountney Hill, London EC4R 0HH. Registered number 15454. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

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Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Financial Solutions, Home Equity, Investment, IRA, Money, Personal Finance

Integrity Financial AZ Opens New Communications Center In The Face Of The Collapse On Wall Street

IFAZ LLC opens a new communications office in the face of the collapse on Wall Street. With the S&P down over 1000 points since Election Day 2008 and with the evaporation of over 12 trillion dollars of private wealth from 401ks / IRAs and from private home equities, there is a bright light emerging within the private financial sector.

According to Stanley Paulic, CEO of Integrity Financial AZ, LLC, “I hear countless stories from across the country, I understand why the majority of people are afraid to do anything, especially involving change; however, if one waits to recoup their investment losses to the 2007 values, sadly they will wait for nearly a decade, according to some economic reports.”

Integrity Financial AZ LLC opens a new communications office even in Wall Street’s darkest hour proving that integrity and service is always in demand and that true communication requires a little listening as well. IFAZ LLC believes that transparency and open communication are the cornerstones of wisely investing in the midst of an economic crisis.

Between 1926 and 2007, the average return for the S&P 500 Index equaled 10.37%. Investment Brokers will soon however, “have to face the music,” states Stanley Paulic. The dogma for years that has been echoing within the halls of most financial brokerages has been to keep your money invested in the market for the long haul because as an aggregate it has always trended upwards. This mantra along with some new advice has many investors scratching their heads in wonderment as advisors are instructing clients not to look at their monthly statements. Others have suggested their clients open a lock box for their statements, leave them unopened and to throw away the key.

Paulic and his firm has a different prospective. Many of the individuals he talks to “can’t afford to wait 10 minutes much less 10 years to make up the short falls as many people who feel stuck in the market are just about ready to hit the retirement rolls in record numbers. Many have watched the decimation of their hard earned portfolios evaporate as if they where watching a Ground Hog Day version of the movie ‘How Enron Was Mismanaged’.” There is no way to sugar coat it with the market down 30-40% many investors need to find alternatives to stimulate their retirement portfolios.

The IFAZ leaders hope to stem the tide of negative growth within investor portfolios by introducing them and setting them on new path light years away from the volatility on Wall Street. They are hoping the new communication’s center can help provide an outlet for investors who need to turn around their financial situation in the short term and help guide them on a long term program as many do not have another viable investment alternative.

IFAZ LLC touts that their clients consistently earn a fixed investment return of 10% APR. “The one thing we want our clients to have is a good investment experience and to have them open their statements on a monthly basis without the fear. There are a lot of people that will never be able recoup their losses of 2008 because of their age. This is exactly the problem that IFAZ has set out to remedy,” concludes Paulic.

About IFAZ LLC
IFAZ LLC is headquartered in Sacramento, CA. They assist families to get out of the “hope mode” and into the “action mode”. The government monitored websites on the IFAZ LLC webpage removes any doubt that “we say what we mean, and mean what we say.” More information about IFAZ LLC can be learned at www.IFAZLLC.com.

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Financial, Financial Services, Home Equity, Loans, Money, Mortgage, Personal Finance

L&C Customers Save £5.9M In Broker Fees

The mortgage market has changed out of all recognition in the last 18 months and borrowers are ever more keen to seek quality advice without incurring a heavy cost for that advice. Mortgage arrangement fees have soared in recent years and with some broker fees amounting to as much as 1% of the mortgage amount on top, borrowers cannot ignore their impact.

“Fee-free, whole of market advice coupled with quality service from application to completion has been central to borrowers choosing L&C. With mortgage availability restricted the last thing our borrowers want to face is another fee. That’s why we are maintaining our commitment to fee-free mortgage advice”, commented David Hollingworth at L&C.

Borrowers seeking fee-free advice should call 0800 373300. Saving in broker fee calculated based on a fee of £250 per mortgage.

London & Country Mortgages Ltd is the country’s leading whole of market no-fee mortgage broker and submitted in excess of £4bn of mortgages to over 70 lenders in 2008.

L&C has won numerous awards including:

Best Mortgage IFA/Adviser of the Year – Money Marketing, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008
Best Technology Adviser – Money Marketing 2007
Best Mortgage Broker outside London – Mortgage Strategy, 2004 and 2005
Best National Broker – Mortgage Introducer 2005, 2006 and 2007
Best Overall Broker – Mortgage Introducer 2005
Overall broker of the year – Pink Home Loans, 2006 and 2007,2008
Top 100 company in the Sunday Times Fast Track 100 for 2004 and 2005
Business of the Year – The Bath Business Awards 2005

Growth Strategy of the Year – National Business Awards (Wales and West) 2008
Business Leader (Broker) – British Mortgage Awards – 2008
Online Mortgage IFA of the Year – Financial Adviser – 2008

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Debts, Financial, Financial Services, Foreclosure, Home Equity, Money, Mortgage

It’s Not Too Late To Save Your Home – Hotline Offers Free Consultation

The Lincoln National Group is pleased to announce the opening of their free foreclosure prevention hotline. The hotline and the assistance it offers is arriving just in time to help US homeowners as the US foreclosure rate has reached alarming proportions. In 2008, 2.3 million American homeowners faced foreclosure proceedings which was an 81 percent increase over 2007. One in 54 housing units received at least one foreclosure notice during the year. Foreclosure filings were reported on 303,410 US properties in December 2008, up nearly 41 percent from December 2007. And the situation doesn’t look like it is getting better any time soon with US homeowners facing layoffs, shrinking investment portfolios and falling home prices.

Last month, 11.6 million people were unemployed and the unemployment rate rose to 7.6%. Over the past 12 months, the number of unemployed has increased by 4.1 million. It doesn’t appear that the foreclosure prevention programs currently implemented nationwide have had any real success in slowing down this foreclosure tidal wave. Recent government legislation appears to have done little more than delay the inevitable foreclosure proceedings for thousands of homeowners.

Lincoln National Group is stepping in at this crucial time to help US homeowners avoid foreclosure and save their homes. The experts at Lincoln National Group, an affiliate of the law firm of Debra Tsadok, have the knowledge and the ability to prevent foreclosure. They have the solutions. With their extensive experience they help homeowners every step of the way and do everything possible to prevent foreclosure. After performing an assessment of the homeowner’s situation and an analysis of the homeowner’s financial situation they negotiate with their lender to achieve the best outcome.

The free foreclosure prevention hotline manned by the experts at the Lincoln National Group can help with a wide range of problems. What preventative steps should be taken if a homeowner loses his job and fears he won’t be able to pay his mortgage on time? What should a single parent do if she falls behind in her mortgage payments? What options are available to those who have already received foreclosure notices? The Lincoln National Group hotline is open from 9:00 am – 7:00 pm at 201-541-6680. It is open from Monday through Friday.

About Lincoln National Group
Lincoln National Group is dedicated to helping US homeowners avoid foreclosure and save their homes. They offer a variety of foreclosure prevention options. For more information please call them at 201-541-6680 or visit their website: Lincoln National Group.

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Financial, Financial Management, Financial Services, Financial Solutions, Home Equity, Loans, Money, Mortgage, Personal Finance

Many Homeowners Stand To Benefit From January’s Base Rate Cut

Following the Bank of England’s latest base rate cut to 1.5%, financial solutions company Think Money have said that many homeowners will benefit from the cut, adding that those who may not receive the benefit of the base rate cut due to mortgage collars could still save money if they remortgage.

The half-point base rate cut brings the base rate down to its lowest level since the Bank of England was established in 1694. It is the fourth cut in as many months, and the seventh consecutive base rate cut since December 2007, shortly after the credit crunch began.

The cut is a further attempt by the Bank of England to revive the market for loans and mortgages, both of which are important to the health of the economy. Despite recent sharp base rate cuts, many lenders have remained cautious with regard to their lending, while many banks have simply been unable to obtain the funds necessary for normal levels of lending.

A mortgage expert at Think Money said that on the whole, the cut is good news for the mortgage market. “In theory, a cut means that lenders can afford to offer mortgages at lower rates, which is good for homeowners. People on tracker mortgages will automatically benefit, unless they have reached their mortgage collar, and lenders may consider reducing their fixed-rate mortgages too.

“However, there is some pressure on mortgage lenders due to the LIBOR rate, which is still higher than the base rate – meaning that some of the funds lenders rely on for mortgages are more expensive than it may first appear. That may explain why a number of lenders raised the interest rate margins on their tracker rates in anticipation of this base rate cut.”

The Think Money spokesperson added that now could be a very good time for existing homeowners to remortgage, as well as a good opportunity for first-time buyers to make their first purchases. “A remortgage could save existing homeowners a lot of money, especially those who started fixed-rate deals in the last two-to-three years. Switching to a tracker deal could greatly reduce homeowners’ monthly payments, until rates begin to rise again, and many fixed-rate mortgages are cheaper than they have been in recent years.

“At the same time, we are in a situation where houses are falling in price, and interest rates are relatively low, both of which mean mortgage payments are likely to be lower than they were, say, two years ago. For that reason, it can be a good time for first-time buyers to make a move.

“Many first-time buyers are put off by the idea that mortgages are difficult to obtain. It’s true that they are more difficult to obtain than at the height of the mortgage market in 2007, but they are still very much available – it can sometimes just take a little longer to find the best mortgage deals.

“Anyone looking for a mortgage should make sure they receive expert mortgage advice beforehand. Speaking to the right people can help homebuyers to find the best rates and the best type of mortgage for their circumstances.”

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Checking & Savings, Financial, Financial Services, Financial Solutions, Home Equity, Loans, Money, Mortgage

Changes To Home Information Packs

The Government has announced changes to Home Information Packs, which will take effect from 6th April next year. The new measures are designed to ensure consumers receive more helpful information at an earlier stage in the home buying and selling process.

A new Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ) will be included in the pack, which will provide a summary of information about the property in one place. The summary, to include flood risk information, gas and electricity safety, details of any structural damage, and parking arrangements, should help buyers decide whether to view and ultimately purchase a property.

The new PIQ will go alongside the existing contents such as energy performance certificates.

From April, HIP’s will have to be made available from the first day of marketing. The current temporary measure allows sellers to market their property for up to 28 days before the pack is available, as long as it has been commissioned, and arrangements have been made to pay for it.

Housing Minister Margaret Beckett said:
“Home Information Packs are potentially a vital aid to consumers who are seeking to purchase a home, and I am firmly committed to ensuring they work as well as possible. That is why the changes made today will make sure consumers are better protected, better informed and better assisted when buying a home.”

A basic HIP is expected to take 3 to 5 days to compile.

For more information and no-fee mortgage advice, borrowers should call L&C free on 0800 373300.

London & Country (L&C) is the UK’s leading no-fee mortgage broker. Based in Bath, it provides whole of market advice via telephone and post to clients nationwide. As well as residential mortgages, it also specialises in the Buy-to-Let and adverse-credit sectors.

L&C is a Climate Neutral company and for the last seven years has invested in climate friendly projects and tree-planting to help offset its emissions and those of its customers. For more information, go to www.lcplc.co.uk/green.

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Banks, Checking & Savings, Financial, Financial Management, Financial Services, Financial Solutions, Home Equity, Loans, Money, Mortgage, Personal Finance

The Bank Of England’s Decision To Cut The Base Rate Could Be Particularly Welcome Among People Looking To Remortgage

Welcoming the Bank of England’s decision to cut the base rate to 2%, financial services provider Think Money (www.thinkmoney.com) highlighted the positive effect this could have on people looking for a remortgage.

“Many people paying – or looking for – a mortgage will welcome the base rate falling to levels we’ve not seen in over 50 years,” said Melanie Taylor, Head of Corporate Relations at Think Money. “However, we anticipate the greatest sense of relief will be among people coming to the end of their mortgage term.

“Primarily, this is because these are the people who are tied to a specific time period. Most people moving house or buying their first home will have a degree of flexibility in the timing of their move, but when a mortgage term expires, it expires. This is an absolute deadline – and before they reach that point, the homeowner should have decided whether they’ll revert to their mortgage provider’s SVR or look for a new mortgage deal altogether.

“To anyone in that situation, the base rate cut will come as a great relief, as it could make either option more appealing. In some cases, it could make all the difference between being able to stay in the house and having to sell it.”

However, as the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has pointed out, lenders don’t necessarily benefit from cuts to the base rate in the way that many people believe. As the CML website states: ‘the cost of funds to lenders depends not on Bank rate, but on a range of other factors, including what they have to pay savers to attract deposits, how much it costs them to borrow in money markets, and the costs of holding capital and sufficient liquidity … Far more important than the Bank rate in determining lenders’ funding costs is the three-month London inter-bank offered rate (libor)’.

Nonetheless, the rate which the Bank of England charges lenders is still an important factor, affecting the entire monetary system: “Many mortgage providers passed the full 1.5% of November’s cut on to borrowers on their SVR deals. Various lenders have already announced they will pass on all or most of this latest reduction too, making the thought of reverting to their SVR much more attractive.

“At the same time, this reduction in the base rate will make it easier for lenders to lower the interest rates they charge for new mortgages of all kinds, helping people remortgage at a more attractive rate.”

But homeowners at the end of their mortgage term won’t be the only ones to benefit from the base rate cut. “According to the Bank of England’s November 2008 Inflation Report, around 7% of mortgagors are spending 35-50% of their pre-tax income on their mortgage payments – and 5% are spending 50%-100%. Given the historically high salary multiples we’re seeing in today’s mortgage markets, the ability to remortgage at a lower rate could make all the difference to the finances of many homeowners.”

“Of course, there’s always the question of Loan-to-Value (LTV), a particularly important ratio in today’s economic environment: with house prices dropping and credit relatively scarce, lenders are reserving the best deals for people with LTV ratios of 60% or less. Even so, a base rate of 2% is indisputably good news for most homeowners with mortgages across the country, whatever their situation.”

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Banks, Financial, Home Equity, Loans, Money, Mortgage

US Mortgage, a diversified mortgage products and services provider that offers net branch affiliate programs, commented today about how mortgage rates held even despite last week’s historic changes, which has resulted in a time for consumers to take advantage of historically low interest rates

In a time of historic changes last week in the US financial markets, mortgage interest rates held pretty much even across the board. With the market making the largest one-day drop in decades and also one of the largest one day gains in a long time to mention nothing of the historic $700 billion bailout package, the country would have expected something to happen with mortgage rates. Instead, the country experienced the smallest changes in mortgage rates it’s seen all year.

US MortgageMany experts think the markets reacted somewhat positively to the bailout but at the same time the economic outlook has soured. Additionally, the initial positive reaction to the bailout has softened as some have started to question whether the bailout will actually work. Subsequently, in a week of unprecedented changes in the mortgage industry, mortgage rates didn’t move an inch.

“Despite all the historic moves economic moves as of late,” added Frank Kuri, Vice President of Net Branch Development at US Mortgage Corp.,“there has never been a better time to take advantage of historically low interest rates. Our net branch affiliates are ready to help our customers leverage these opportune times.”

About US Mortgage
Headquartered in Pine Brook, NJ, US Mortgage is a licensed mortgage banker founded in 1996. US Mortgage’s owners and principals founded West Jersey Community Bank, a de novo corporation, prior to the incorporation of US Mortgage. Sharing the vision of a national, multi-platform, mortgage banking organization, the company subsequently broadened the business with the formation of CU National Mortgage, a national provider of transparent mortgage services for credit unions; US Capital Markets, a secondary market resource to investors and sellers; Icon Residential Capital, a national wholesale lender and BranchLink, the branch affiliate program that is bringing US Mortgage to locations throughout the United States.

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Financial, Financial Services, Financial Solutions, Home Equity, Money, Mortgage

Don’t Let The Banks Threaten You With Foreclosure

Are you behind in your mortgage payments; by how many months? One, three, six or more? Have you been presented with a Forbearance Agreement that just doesn’t feel right? Or is your bank threatening foreclosure? There is help.

Foreclosure may not be the answer. You shouldn’t have to just give up the fight for your home that you worked so hard to purchase and hold on to. There is another option that your bank may not be forthcoming in talking to you about. It’s called Loss Mitigation. The Housing Rescue Plan, LLC specializes in loss mitigation services.

Housing Rescue Plan, LLC offers several loss mitigation options for homeowners facing financial hardships such as unemployment, separation or divorce, medical bills, reduced income, job relocation or others. The loss mitigation options H.R.P., LLC will discuss with you include: loan modifications; VA loan modifications; short payoff (short sale); deed in lieu of foreclosure, repayment plans, partial claims for FHA mortgages and special forbearance agreements. The H.R.P., LLC team will work in conjunction with you and your lender to come up with a plan of action that works for both sides. The best part is you may be able to work out an agreement with your lender that will allow you and your family to stay in your home. The H.R.P., LLC office is operated by Dr. Michael W. Cantrell, Sr. creator of the Federal Housing Recovery Plan and president of H.R.P., LLC. Dr. Cantrell has a 95% success rate negotiating with lenders.

Dr. Cantrell has over 19 years of mortgage experience in various roles. He, together with his team of trained counselors are available now to talk to you about your current housing situation. Your initial consultation is free. Visit www.housingrescueplan.com for more information and an online application to get started today. Housing Rescue Plan, LLC is working with homeowners, keeping the American dream alive.

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Banks, Financial, Financial Services, Home Equity, Interest Rate, Investment, Loans, Money, Mortgage

Despite the economic gloom, Wednesday’s base rate cut could stimulate the economy – and it does hint that the Monetary Policy Committee sees the threat of inflation as lessening, says financial solutions provider Think Money

Responding to the half-point cut to the Bank of England’s base rate, financial solutions company Think Money welcomed its already noticeable impact, and pointed to the implied likelihood of future cuts.

“There’s no question that we’re facing extraordinary issues today, both globally and nationally,” a Think Money spokesperson commented. “As a company, we were pleased to see the Bank of England taking this step – not just dropping the base rate, but dropping it by a substantial amount.

“Furthermore, we’re delighted to see major mortgage providers passing that reduction on to consumers. After so many months of negative news, this could make a big difference to many homeowners’ financial circumstances, as their variable rate mortgages drop from 7% to 6.5%.”

Anyone with a tracker mortgage, meanwhile, is sure to enjoy lower payments at once: The Times predicts immediate benefits for around 4 million people paying home loans that track the Bank’s base rate. ‘Those with a £150,000 mortgage’, it reports, ‘will see their interest-only repayments fall by £63 a month’.

“The same goes for other kinds of credit,” the spokesperson continued, “from secured loans to credit cards: people with tracker deals will certainly profit from the cut, and borrowers with SVR deals will be following their lenders’ reactions closely.”

New fixed-rate loans could also drop in price. “Now that the cost of credit has come down, lenders will be able to pass the savings on, giving their customers a better deal without placing their own profits in jeopardy – something which could have a profound impact on their stability at a time like this.

“Looking beyond the actual cut,” the spokesperson stressed, “it’s equally important to consider the implications – not just what the deal means, but what it says about the Bank of England’s assessment of our economy. First, the cut reveals how seriously it is taking today’s financial troubles. Second, it implies that the Bank is feeling more comfortable about inflation.”

As stated in the Bank’s news release about the rate cut: ‘The recent intensification of the financial crisis has augmented the downside risks to growth and thus has diminished further the upside risks to price stability’.

“In other words, today’s financial crisis has become more of a threat to the nation’s GDP – but on the plus side, slowing growth does tend to slow inflation too. The Bank may well have liked to postpone the base rate cut until inflation came down closer to the 2% target, but given the choice between letting the economy deteriorate and losing some ground in the fight against inflation, it chose the latter.”

As for the months ahead: “The latest BRC-Nielsen Shop Price Index (SPI) for the UK reveals that annual shop price inflation shrank to 3.6% in September, down from 3.8% in August. It’s encouraging to see inflation on the way down, particularly as it gives the MPC more leeway when it comes to future base rate decisions. Various influential bodies are calling for the Bank to make further cuts to the base rate – and there’s reason to hope it’ll be able to do that.”

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Despite The Issues In The Housing And Mortgage Markets, Many Thousands Of People Are Still Going Ahead And Buying Their First Property

As experts name 2010 as the year house prices may start to recover, financial solutions company Think Money points out that buying a home is still widely regarded as a positive move, with 17,300 loans granted to first-time buyers in July, according to Council of Mortgage Lenders figures.

Despite the difficulties in the mortgage market, and despite worries about the future of house prices, recent research carried out by the Co-operative Bank and Places for People revealed that the majority (54%) of first-time buyers questioned felt that renting was ‘throwing money down the drain’.

“Whatever issues the housing and mortgage markets is facing,” said a Think Money spokesperson, “it seems British consumers are still very much aware of the benefits of homeownership – and the drawbacks of the alternatives.”

However worrying the thought of losing money on a property, it’s important to remember that the alternative isn’t free: “While homeowners face a possible (or in today’s market, probable) loss on their property, anyone renting a property can be certain their rent money is gone for good. Plus, the cyclicality of the housing market means a homeowner’s loss is likely to be only temporary, as long as they’re not forced to sell before house prices recover.”

These factors go a long way toward explaining why so many tenants remain determined to become homeowners despite the troubles in the mortgage market.

“Assuming the Nationwide Building Society’s chief executive Graham Beale is right and we see signs of recovery in the housing market in 2010, it clearly makes sense for would-be first-time buyers to keep a close eye on house prices, the mortgage market, and available properties. It’s true that they may be able to buy for a lower price if they wait longer, but it’s also possible that house prices will pick up sooner and faster than anyone expects, in which case they could end up ‘missing the boat’ and paying more.”

Furthermore, recent data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders reveals that the average first-time buyer is laying down a deposit of over £19,000 – 15% of the property’s value. “This is an interesting figure, for two reasons,” the Think Money spokesperson commented. “First, it indicates that the average first-time buyer is buying a property now worth around £125,000. Second, if (as Graham Beale predicts) the peak-to-trough drop turns out to be around 25%, an average ‘first-time buyer’ property could drop further, to around £105,000.

“These are only approximate ‘ball-park’ figures, but that £20,000 drop from today’s prices is only around £5,000 more than the cost of spending £600 per month on rent for the next two years.

“Although £5,000 is a lot of money, it seems many first-time buyers do see this as a price worth paying to own a property which should then start appreciating in value. For thousands of tenants, the problems in today’s housing market clearly represent an opportunity to get a foot on the housing ladder which they don’t feel they can pass up – as long as they can find a mortgage.”

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The Recent Boom In The Rental Market Reflects The Continuing Difficulty For Homeowners Trying To Sell, And May Even Prolong The Problems In The Housing Market, Says Think Money.

Financial solutions company Think Money (thinkmoney.com) have warned that a recent boom in properties put up for rent may indicate further trouble in the housing market towards the end of 2008 and going into 2009.

Recent findings by RICS (the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) have shown a significant surge in the number of homeowners being forced to put their homes up for rent rather than selling, because many homeowners believe that “becoming a landlord is a better option than selling in the current climate”.

Faced with increasing mortgage costs and a very slow housing market, many homeowners are finding it more financially viable to put their own homes up for rent, while at the same time renting cheaper accommodation for themselves – effectively making a ‘profit’ each month, which helps towards their own costs.

The survey also indicated that many would-be homeowners are currently forced to stay in the rental market, as the UK economy experiences 70% fewer mortgage approvals than this time last year.

Melanie Taylor, Head of Corporate Relations for Think Money, commented that the RICS’ findings reflect a continuing downturn in the housing market, despite recent suggestions that mortgages are becoming more freely available.

“The news that several lenders have been dropping their interest rates raised some optimism for the housing market,” she says, “but these statistics from the RICS give a less positive picture.

“It’s true that interest rates are coming down for prime mortgages, but for the majority of consumers, getting onto the housing ladder is still proving difficult.

“For those already on the housing ladder, it’s getting off it that’s proving difficult. The lack of activity in the market continues to be a real problem for those looking to sell – which is forcing many to put their homes up for rent while they wait for the housing market to recover.”

Mrs Taylor also added that the boom in the rental market could have a knock-on effect on the mortgage market. “Even though the number of homes for sale is getting smaller, the decreased demand for mortgages means that the fall in house prices is being sustained,” she says.

“Only when mortgage lenders begin to relax their lending criteria are we likely to see this situation change.”

Mrs Taylor continued that in the current market, renting out your home can be a viable option for freeing up extra funds, but warned that the responsibility of becoming a landlord is not to be taken lightly. “As long as you are willing to make a temporary compromise on your living conditions, you can significantly cut down your outgoings each month, which could help you financially and enable you to save up for when the housing market recovers.

“But it’s important to remember the responsibilities of being a landlord. In particular, if anything goes wrong, you are responsible for the costs,” she says. “So make sure you aware of the risks if you’re considering taking this step.”

Think Money (http://www.thinkmoney.com) are a financial solutions company based in Salford Quays, Manchester. The company specialises in a range of financial services, including mortgages, loans, debt help and advice (including debt management plans, IVAs, and debt consolidation).

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ThinkMoney.com advise homeowners not to become complacent about protecting themselves against the current downturn in the housing market.

Responding to the recent report from the National Housing Federation suggesting house prices will recover and rise by 25% by 2013, financial solutions company ThinkMoney.com advised existing homeowners to remain optimistic, but warned them not to become complacent about protecting themselves against the downturn in the housing market.

The National Housing Federation anticipates further falls in house prices for the next two years – 4.4% in 2008, with a further fall of 2.1% in 2009 – after which prices will begin to recover, rising by 25% by 2013.

However, the report itself acknowledges that the figures depend on a ‘robust employment market’, and warns that if employment and consumer spending levels fall by too much, the housing slump could be more severe than they have predicted.

A spokesperson for ThinkMoney.com said: “We would advise homeowners to continue saving well, spending responsibly, and to remain aware of the potential problems facing the housing market. Your financial planning should, as always, be geared towards making sure you are prepared for any problems that could arise.

“The report is only speculative, and as with anything, it is very hard to predict what will happen in the next five years. The predictions are essentially a best-case scenario,” she said.

“In a sense, it’s healthy to be slightly cautious when it comes to money, especially with an important financial commitment like a mortgage.”

The spokesperson said that there are a number of ways homeowners can protect themselves. “Savings are the key,” she says. “Falling house prices means that equity tied up in the value of your home is decreasing, so it’s wise to try and counteract that by saving money where possible.

“This also acts as a buffer if you find the interest on your mortgage payments going up in the next few years, which is quite possible. Without savings to fall back on, mortgage payments could become simply too expensive for poorer families, and that brings the possibility of falling into debt – especially with other costs of living rising so quickly too.

“Likewise, it’s important to keep an eye on spending and make sure unnecessary purchases are kept to a minimum. Avoid taking out consumer finance loans on expensive goods, as they can become a big financial burden when things get tight,” she continued. “In fact, avoiding any form of personal loans or credit is the best defence against getting into debt.”

The ThinkMoney.com spokesperson advised homeowners to remain positive. “Many homeowners will be relatively unaffected by the problems in the housing market, so long as they are willing to stay put,” she said.

“A loss in the value of your home only affects you if you are looking to sell, but it still pays to save well in case of emergency. And once the market does recover, you may even find yourself in a better financial situation than you were before all the trouble started.”

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Secured consolidation loans are still a viable debt solution

In the midst of the credit crunch, thinkmoney.com reminds existing and potential customers that secured consolidation loans are still a viable debt solution for many homeowners – and that a range of alternative debt solutions are available to borrowers who either can’t secure a loan against their property or prefer not to.

“There’s no question that obtaining secured credit has become harder and, in many cases, more expensive,” a spokesperson for the financial solutions company commented. “As a second charge on a home, a secured loan involves a certain risk from a lender’s perspective, so secured lenders are keeping a very close eye on issues in the housing market. A recent Bank of England survey revealed that default rates on secured lending rose by more than expected in Q2, and lenders expect these rates to rise further in the months ahead.

From the individual borrower’s perspective, equity withdrawal of any kind is clearly a more attractive option when house prices are rising: “Today’s falling prices are reducing the number of homeowners with enough equity to make a secured loan a viable solution – and deterring many who are keen to retain their ‘safety margin’ against negative equity.

“Having said that, it’s important to see recent falls in house prices in their correct context: as relatively small drops following a decade of rapid growth. According to Nationwide’s House Price Index, for example, the ‘average house’ in Q2 2008 was still worth almost £10,000 more than it was in Q2 2006. In just ten years, Nationwide reports, the average house price rose from £60,754 to £184,131 – homeowners may be worried about falling prices, but many are still likely to own significant levels of equity. For them, a secured loan can be an excellent debt solution: a realistic way to consolidate their unsecured debts into one manageable, lower-interest debt which they can arrange to repay at an affordable rate.

“Nonetheless, when major secured loans providers like Firstplus announce they’re ceasing to make new loans, it’s clear that the secured loans market as a whole is suffering under today’s adverse conditions. With lenders tightening their criteria or even turning down new business, it’s more important than ever that borrowers choose a company that works with a wide range of lenders and specialises in finding secured loans for people from all kinds of financial backgrounds. Talking to the right company can make all the difference between being offered credit at a competitive rate and being unable to avail a secured loan at all.”

Concluding, the thinkmoney.com spokesperson stressed that secured consolidation loans are by no mean the only way out of debt. “Depending on the individual’s circumstances, a number of other debt solutions may be more appropriate than a secured loan, such as a debt management plan, an unsecured debt consolidation loan, an IVA (Individual Voluntary Arrangement) or, for residents of Scotland, a Trust Deed. For anyone in debt, the important thing is to seek impartial debt advice from a company that offers a wide range of debt solutions – a company that has an in-depth understanding of each solution’s benefits and drawbacks and can recommend the one that constitutes their optimal route out of debt.”

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Sixty per cent of homeowners not interested in environmental issues

Only one in six home movers believe that the introduction of HIPs (Home Information Packs) will speed up the buying process and just one third believe they are a good idea, according to a new survey by thinkproperty.com, a major new, independent consumer property portal which offers estate agents an online sales and marketing channel to deliver better value, improved lead generation and excellence in customer service.

The survey, which had over 3,100 respondents, revealed that more than one third of home movers are confused about Home Information Packs and one third of home owners were not aware of their introduction in June. A third of respondents believe HIPs will slow down the property market, twenty per cent commented that HIPs will increase property prices (http://www.thinkproperty.com/soldhouseprices.htm), seventeen per cent believe HIPs will lower property prices and thirty per cent believe that the introduction of HIPs will not change how they buy property (http://www.thinkproperty.com/findanagent.htm).

In spite of home movers’ lack of support for HIPs, the vast majority would modify their property to make it ‘green’ if the Government incentivised this with offers of green mortgages and lower council tax. Over two thirds of home movers do not believe the Government is doing enough to build greener homes, and sixty per cent say the same of new home developers.

One hundred per cent of respondents agreed that the Government should help home owners to fund fuel efficient boilers to improve energy efficiency, followed by roof insulation (eighty per cent), double glazing (seventy per cent), solar panels (sixty one per cent) and wall insulation (forty seven per cent). Just seventeen per cent felt that the Government should financially help home owners with energy improving devices.

However, the results highlighted a general lack of interest in green properties, with sixty per cent claiming that they didn’t want more information on green property issues. In fact, less than two thirds of home movers claimed to be interested in the environment, with nearly sixty per cent commenting that ‘there are more important things to be worrying about’. The view from one in five respondents was that it is too expensive to switch to environmentally friendly products, with over one quarter of home movers commenting that ‘the only people that are interested in the environment are sandal-wearing hippies’.

Already, seventy per cent of home movers claim to have double glazing, sixty per cent have roof insulation, fifty seven per cent use low energy light bulbs and forty per cent run a fuel efficient boiler. Over two thirds of home movers claim to recycle and three quarters say they switch off all unused lights.

Low energy lighting should be compulsory for all new home builds according to over seventy per cent of respondents, followed by solar panels (fifty five per cent) and grey water systems (forty two per cent).

Mark Goddard, Managing Director of the property portal (http://www.thinkproperty.com/) comments: “Clearly the introduction of HIPs is not popular with home movers and many think that the Government should be doing more to help home owners improve the energy efficiency of their homes.”

About ThinkProperty
ThinkProperty.com (http://www.thinkproperty.com/) provides an accountable marketing channel to today’s modern property professional and already averages 400,000 property details available from around the UK every day.

ThinkProperty.com is owned by Trader Media Group which has an unrivalled reputation for bringing buyers and sellers together in huge numbers through its dealer software products and market leading consumer websites and magazines.

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Welcome to EPR Financial News

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Welcome to EPR Financial News.

EPR Financial News is a new blog, part of EPR Network, that is going to be focused on and will be covering the financial news and stories from press releases published on EPR Network.

EPR Network (EPR stands for express press release) is one of the nation’s largest press release distribution networks on Web. The EPR’s nationwide network includes 12 State based PR sites, one major PR forum and a number of industry specific PR blogs and what started as a hobby on Internet years ago turned out to be a rapidly growing business today. EPR Network is also known as one of the most trusted (human optimized, published, edited and monitored, spam/scam/low quality PR content free) PR sites on the web with more than 10,000 company and individual press releases distributed per month. EPR Network is putting your press releases on top of all major search engines’ results and is reaching thousands of individuals, companies, PR specialists, media professionals, bloggers and journalists every day.

EPR Network has thousands of clients around the world including global 500 corporations like Hilton Hotels, Barclays Bank, AXA Insurance, Tesco UK, eBay/Skype, Emirates, just to name a few. The network’s PR web sites are currently reaching from 150,000 to sometimes 500,000 unique visitors per month while our viral reach could possibly go to as much as 1M people per month through our presence across various social media sites. EPR Network was established in 2004 and as of May 2008 it had more than 800,000 press releases (pages) published on its network.

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