How to Consolidate Your Debt

Are you trying to figure out how to consolidate your debt? One of our readers, Ricky, wrote on the Credit.com blog that he is “trying to consolidate bills since divorce to get back on track.” Another reader, Norma, wrote: I have too much credit card debt with high interest. I applied for a loan to consolidate all into one payment, I didn’t get it because of something on my credit report. My payments are always on time by using auto payments. Sears raised the interest to 16.24%, Chase raised theirs to 29.99% and there is no talking them down either. I plan not to use either of the cards again now or after they are paid off. How can they charge such high interest on credit cards when the savings account is paying 1.25%? Once you’ve decided to consolidate your debt, there are several important steps you need to take so that it’s ultimately beneficial for you. 1. Check your credit reports and get your credit score. You can get your credit reports from each of the three major credit reporting agencies for free once a year at AnnualCreditReport.com. It’s a good idea to review them so you don’t end up in the situation Norma found herself in, getting denied due to a mistake or negative items you weren’t aware of on your credit reports. Your credit report should also list most, if not all, of your debts, which will help you with the second step. You can check your credit score for free using Credit.com’s Credit Report Card. It will show you what factors in your credit are strong and what may need some work. You can also find out whether your credit is excellent, good, or not so hot. 2. Take an inventory of your debt. Make a list of the balances you owe on each of the cards or loans you want to consolidate, the interest rates and the monthly payments. This will help you identify the debts that are most important for you to consolidate. For example, in Norma’s case, while both of her interest rates are high, she should try to consolidate the balance at 29.99% first, since it is so high. 3. Research debt consolidation options. You may be able to consolidate with a loan from your local bank or credit union, an online lender that offers personal loans, or by transferring a balance from a high-rate credit card to a low-rate one. If you get a consolidation loan online, be sure to deal with reputable lenders as there are scammers who will take the information consumers submit with applications and use it fraudulently. Before you apply, try to find out if the lender can provide you any information about its credit requirements. Some lenders, for example, may require a minimum credit score or won’t extend credit to those with bankruptcies listed on their credit reports. 4. Apply for a consolidation loan. Once you’ve narrowed down the field of places to get a consolidation loan and learned as much as you can about their lending requirements, it’s time to apply for a consolidation loan. In most cases, you can get an answer almost immediately. If that answer is “yes,” you can move onto the next step. If the answer is “no,” take a careful look at the reasons you were turned down. If you think those answers don’t really apply, try calling the lender and ask to be reconsidered for the account. If you are turned down due to the debt you are carrying, for example, but explain that you are going to use the new loan to consolidate that debt, you may have a shot at getting the loan. It doesn’t hurt to ask! If you can’t get approved for one of these loans after trying a couple of lenders, you may want to talk with a credit counseling agency. These agencies can often help clients lower their interest rates or payments through a Debt Management Plan (DMP). If you enroll in a DMP, you’ll make one payment to the counseling agency which will then pay all your participating creditors, so even though it’s not technically a consolidation loan, it feels like one. 5. Consolidate your debt. If you are approved for a consolidation loan, you can then use that new loan to pay off other debts. If you don’t get a new credit line large enough to consolidate all your debt, focus on paying off your higher rate loans or balances first. 6. Pay your loans off as fast as possible. If you can add a little extra to your monthly payments, you’ll be able to pay off your new loan faster. Even if you don’t, you’ll want to do your best to avoid the temptation of tapping the credit lines you have just paid off. After all, your goal with debt consolidation should be to dig out of debt — not to dig the hole deeper! From Credit.com

More Money for Struggling Homeowners

A new federal program is offering aid with a sweet kicker: It doesn't need to be repaid.


For the roughly four million homeowners who have fallen behind on their mortgage payments, the federal government is offering yet another remedy: free money to catch up on their loans.

The effort, called the Emergency Homeowners Loan Program, is the latest in the federal government's efforts to slow down the flood of foreclosures a necessary step to a meaningful recovery in the housing market, says a Department of Housing and Urban Development official. For people who have lost their jobs, the $1 billion program offers loans of up to $50,000 that don't actually need to be repaid, if applicants meet certain requirements.


The goal, says HUD, is to offer short-term aid to people who look like they'll be back on their feet soon. But critics say the loans may leave homeowners worse off in the long run. "This is a short run band-aid, a modest attempt to grapple with the severity of the situation," says Stuart Gabriel, director of the Ziman Center for Real Estate at the University of California, Los Angeles.


Rolled out by HUD and the nonprofit housing advocacy group NeighborWorks America, the program is making loans with far better terms than anything on offer at a local bank. The loans are interest-free. Payments go directly to the lender for a portion of the borrower's monthly mortgage, including missed payments or past due charges. And when the assistance period -- which runs for up to two years -- ends, 20% of the loan is forgiven with each passing year. In other words, for qualified borrowers who stay in their home for at least five years after the assistance period and who don't fall behind on their mortgage again, this money doesn't have to be paid back.

But some critics say that's where help for consumers ends. By taking this loan, borrowers risk falling further into debt. If they sell their home before the entire loan is forgiven, they'll be on the hook for the remaining amount. The same holds true if they fall behind on their mortgage payments again: they'll need to repay the remaining balance of the loan when they sell or refinance their home. Separately, borrowers aren't required to have equity in their home to receive this money, so someone who has to repay this loan risks owing more on the home later than they do now. For homeowners who are significantly underwater now, the loan may only delay foreclosure, says Gabriel. While the limit each person will get is up to $50,000, loans will average about $35,000 per person, according to NeighborWorks America.

Others say the program doesn't go far enough. The loans will be made available to around 30,000 applicants -- "a drop in the bucket," says Stu Feldstein, president at SMR Research, a housing and mortgage research firm. It's helpful, he says, but it won't be enough to seriously boost the ailing housing market. Roughly 4 to 4.5 million borrowers are behind on their mortgages by at least 90 days or are in foreclosure, accounting for roughly 8% of all mortgages. Housing analysts say the loss of income is the primary reason why borrowers are in danger of losing their homes. Those behind the program counter that the help will be significant for some. "If you are one of those 30,000 people, I think you should be very excited to get this help," says a NeighborWorks America spokesman.

The program started last week and will take applications through July 22. Many experts say it's still too early to say it will be successful, and so far federal assistance programs haven't impacted a significant number of borrowers. The government's Home Affordable Modification Program, which started in 2009 and was projected to help up to 4 million homeowners lower their mortgage payments has so far only permanently helped around 700,000 homeowners. To be eligible, homeowners must have lost income and be at risk of foreclosure due to involuntary job loss, underemployment or a medical or other economic condition; details on the application process are available online through NeighborWorks America.

By: Smart Money

Get Debt Free Faster

Many people worldwide seem to keep having the exact same question when it comes to debt counseling. They keep asking because they are in debt. Wondering what question they ask? They ask the same question time and again, does debt counseling really help? But sincerely, that's not the right question they should be asking. Instead, the question they should be asking is, what can debt counseling hurt?

Whether we want to face it or not, the fact remains - no person likes being in debt and many people dream of being debt free. Nothing feels better than the feeling of being debt free. If you don't understand what I am talking about, wait until you finally get completely debt-free, then it will hit home - you will be able to enjoy true freedom. But right now you are in debt, so let's talk about getting you some counseling.

You see, getting counseling for your debt helps because, instead of filing for bankruptcy and significantly ruining your chances of getting credit in the future, or getting a consolidation loan that only adds to the existing debt one has, debt counseling is certainly a very workable as well as valid way to help you get out of debt.

Debt counseling helps you as a debtor to get your financial issues under control by helping you talk to your creditors and work out a reasonable repayment plan with them. But it doesn't even end there. After getting your bills under control, the harassing phone calls cease and you, the debtor, gain a peace of mind that you did not have while your mounting debt loomed over your live. Meanwhile, debt counseling goes a step beyond what bankruptcy or loans can do: rather than solely helping the individual get out of debt, a debt counselor will train an individual on how to get out of debt and remain debt free forever.

If a person is in debt and they feel like their financial stability is beyond their grasp; if the mounting debt is far too much to handle; if a person sees no way out of their financial situation except for bankruptcy or a consolidation loan, it’s time to seriously consider debt counseling. Individuals with such problems of debt have nothing to lose when they enter into debt counseling except all of the issues associated with debt.

Try it today and you will be pleasantry surprised at how effective it can be. Yes, you can get debt free faster than you ever thought possible - with the peace of mind that can help you get back on your feet and reclaim your life. I know, I have been there and done that, so I know how important debt counseling can be to you or anyone in serious debt like I was in in the past. Imagine life without debt - it can happen if you take the first step to consider debt counseling today.

Article Source:ezinesarticle.com

How do I know if I need help with my debt?

If you currently have more than one credit card and all you can do is make minimum payments on those bills, you should consider consolidating your debt. Other telltale signs: taking regular cash advances from one card to pay another; putting off expenses because you don't have the cash to pay them; and constant worry about debt. In almost all cases, credit-counseling agencies can work with creditors to set up a payment-reduction plan.

What are the benefits of consolidating debt through a bank loan?

Stability, for one. Even though the interest rate on a bank loan might be higher than promotional APRs from a credit card company, receiving a fixed-rate bank loan for debt consolidation means that, provided you make payments on time, you'll be paying the same interest rate for the life of the loan. Remember that replacing short-term high rate debt with long-term lower rate debt may result in you paying the same amount in finance charges on the debt over the life of the longer loan. Borrowing from your bank also strengthens your relationship; if you need another loan and you have a good track record, the bank will be more willing to help.

How should I handle debt after I consolidate?

Unfortunately, many borrowers interpret a payment-reduction plan as a license to take on more non-mortgage debt; a few years after consolidating, these people look to consolidate again. One way to approach debt after consolidation is to use the money saved through payment-reduction to accelerate pay-down on outstanding loans. This will eliminate debt faster and may also work to raise sagging credit scores.

Source: mortgage.com

Refinance Relief for Some Homeowners

There is an estimated 4-5 million homeowners that could benefit from refinancing their mortgage due to historically low interest rates, however, they are unable to because they owe more than 80 percent of what their home is currently worth.

There is good news today for those homeowners - "Making Home Affordable" was announced by the Obama administration.

The goal of the plan is to help responsible homeowners who put money down when they purchased their home but due to falling home prices are now unable to refinance.

In addition to rewarding responsible behavior, there is a concern that if these homeowners are not helped and home prices continue to fall, many may feel less inclined to continue making their payments on time, if at all. Some of these homeowners are also unable to refinance from an adjustable rate mortgage to a fixed rate mortgage right now which may spell trouble once it begins to adjust. This would undermine any efforts of the administration in stemming the wave of foreclosures we've seen.

The details and guidelines related to this program and still not entirely clear - most of the emphasis has been placed on the loan modification portion of the plan. As of right now, all that is known is a homeowner's mortgages must've been financed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac and they'll have until June of 2010 to refinance.

Questions about how the loans will be underwritten or borrowers approved have not yet been answered. Some mortgage brokers also question if many homeowners will be able to refinance given the fees and pricing adjustments both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have implemented. There are also concerns over how borrowers with second mortgages will be handled.Administration officials said homeowners should be patient as lenders put a process in place to implement the program and more information is released.

Author: Chris Rocks

Debt Relief By Debt Consolidation

By: Jakob Jelling from Cashbazar

If you are up to your neck in debt, there may seem like there is no relief in sight. In fact this is not necessarily the truth. There are ways to take all of your stifling bills and roll them up into one neat package by using debt consolidation in two very popular forms Home Equity Loans, Refinancing Loans, and a Consolidation Credit Card. All of these instruments provide the debtor with one thing “relief” from the current debt by shrinking it down to a single manageable debt.

Using home equity to consolidate debts :
One of the popular methods of debt consolidation today is the Home Equity Loan. What happens is that the debt is extinguished using the equity from a homeowner’s home. A loan is created outside of the mortgage in order to satisfy the debts. Should the homeowner default on the loan, their house is in jeopardy of being foreclosed upon if that loan is not satisfied with a specified amount of time.

Refinancing loans:
People often consume the debt by rolling it into a new mortgage. This way the house costs more money to the borrower, but the debt is extinguished at close and the debt is neatly rolled away into the mortgage securely. Upon settlement of the loan, the debts are paid in full and satisfied. The clock on the mortgage is reset to day one.

Credit card consolidation:
A low interest credit card is offered to the borrower to include any outstanding credit and loan balances. The interest rate is a low fixed rate for a period of up to one year, upon the year’s end it will resume at its normal rate. Upon acceptance and terms the account should be closed once paid in full and payments be made directly to the new credit card provider. Some people have been able to master paying off one credit card with another to keep the debt revolving and interest rates low. Some people fail to close out the previous creditors account and run them back up again as well.
All three of these options provide solid relief for the debt and help them reconstruct and manage their debt better.

Runaway Debts - How Debt Consolidation Works

From ezine articles by Chimizirim Odimba
Has the sudden economic downturn left you saddled with unmanageable debts? Is your current income insufficient to keep your debt under control? Are you scared that you may have to declare bankruptcy? Do you want to avoid it?
Why not consolidate your debt first? Understanding how debt consolidation works will help you understand that you can still rein in your runaway debts. Refinancing of many debts into a single manageable debt is the basic idea underlying debt consolidation. The multiple high interest loans owed by the borrower are consolidated into a single low interest loan.
You may owe money on credit cards, auto loans and home mortgages. All these loans are combined into a single loan. The interest differential helps individuals repay their debts without additional stress to their finances. Further, keeping track of details of a single loan is a lot easier than keeping track of multiple loans at once. If you opt for debt consolidation, the specialists enter and begin negotiations with your creditors.
Negotiations focus on reduction or waiver of interest, charges and other penalties. Companies work to convince lenders to settle for repayment of principal amount. These companies convince lenders to accept a lower amount as settlement of the debt owed by the borrower. They lend the money required to settle all debts of the individual. The single debt you now owe must be repaid in full. The company charges moderate interest on the debt. Once your debts are consolidated, you can plan your finances from scratch all over again.
The difference in interest rates ensures that your monthly outflow towards repayments comes down after debt consolidation. If you are planning to consolidate your debt, prefer professional debt consolidation companies over all others. Lenders prefer dealing with professional consolidation companies over individual borrowers. You do not know the complications involved and may end up settling for the second best deal.
Want to pick a reputed company for debt consolidation? It is not as difficult as you think. Log on to the Web (or visit links on this page) and obtain multiple quotes from various companies. Online quotes help you compare the facilities and benefits offered. Take your decision after proper analysis. If you opt for debt consolidation, you acknowledge that you are unable to manage your debts.
This reflects on your credit score and negatively impacts your credit rating. If you are regular in repaying your sole debt, it will reflect favorably on your credit rating.
Now that you have found the answer to 'how does debt consolidation work?', make use of this wonderful solution to bring runaway debt under control.