My Home About Me

Subprime loans are special types of mortgages made to consumers with less-than-ideal credit. They charge higher interest, but involve less scrutiny of income. Because subprimes make it easier to borrow, many overextended homeowners find themselves in serious financial trouble.

In reaction to unprecedented rates of foreclosures and loan defaults, Congress recently opened hearings into questionable lending practices. Some subprime lenders blamed the problems on their customers: While they agreed that unscrupulous lenders sometimes prey upon consumers, more often than not it’s the borrowers themselves who invite their own financial difficulties by piling on too much debt.

Avoiding the subprime downfall

Consumers can turn the American Dream into a credit nightmare when they fall prey to the dangerous habit of borrowing more money than they can reasonably afford to repay. To avoid this trap, it’s important to have a practical and reliable understanding of how much you can actually handle in monthly payments. Then you can borrow responsibly and enjoy the success and peace of mind that comes from appropriate financial planning.

How much is too much?

Figuring out how much debt you can handle doesn’t require a degree in economics. You can easily determine your mortgage comfort zone by using a simple equation and then applying it to your overall budget. Years ago—before the current era of loose lending practices and high rates of foreclosure—mortgage companies normally let you devote a maximum of 25 percent of your monthly budget to housing expenses. If your monthly income was $4,000, you could reasonably afford to spend $1,000 on your residence, including property taxes, mortgage payment, and homeowners insurance.

In recent years, to keep up with the rising price of homes, lenders have expanded that ratio and will now allow up to 40 percent of a borrower’s gross income for housing. That’s how borrowers get in trouble. If you want to be conservative, use the old rule of thumb and don’t spend more than 25 percent. If that’s too rigid, and you’d like to keep your payments within a manageable range, shoot for somewhere in between—perhaps a moderate 30 to 35 percent—and you should be perfectly safe.

The hidden costs of subprime

When calculating your budget, keep in mind that if you borrow using a subprime versus a conventional loan, you’ll incur a more expensive monthly payment, since interest rates on subprime loans are higher. Avoid the temptation to use a subprime loan because it involves less paperwork or lets you borrow more money. In the past, lenders have allowed unqualified borrowers to state their income without any verification. (Industry research has found that the majority of applicants exaggerated their incomes by at least 50 percent.)

This strategy, which is based more on wishful thinking than reality, will only set you up for a more difficult road ahead. Stay within your comfort zone when you apply for your mortgage, and you’ll be paid back time and again with lower payments, less stress, and an improved credit rating.

22Dollars - Personal Wealth Management
Stock Quotes and Growing Personal Wealth by Managing Your Own Money! 22dollars is your online source for investment ideas, stocks analysis, business and other worldly issues. Geared towards the young professional, this site will be written by successful young professionals who are ambitious and driven to succeed in life, cause in the end - no body cares more about your money than you. This article was written by Tom Kerr - MortgageLoan.com

Biotech HOLDR (BBH)   relative strength trading   Technical chart patterns   support/resistance levels   ETFs (exchange traded funds)   Deron Wagner   Emini's Nas 100   emini's S&P 500   economic data   day trading   gap   climatic   Fixed-income (bond) ETFs   Oil   Inflation   Earnings   Paul Hogan   Crocodile Dundee   ATO   Australian Taxation Office