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how to refinance private student loans
The True Cost Of Bad Credit I am often asked the question; What does bad credit cost me?
It is a hard question to answer because of the individuals circumstances and the fact that lenders are competing fiercely for customers.
But I will give it my best shot.
Mortgages
If you know your credit score you will be in a position to make a pretty good guess at what interest you will be charged on a mortgage. In todays (March 2006) market, mortgage rates for those in the top or prime category, with a score above 720, will pay around 6.25%.
As your score declines your rates will increase.
For those in the second tier, with a score between 700 and 720, rates will go up to around 6.38%; for those in the third tier, with a score between 675 and 699, rates will be about 6.91%; for those in the fourth tier, with a score of 620-674, rates will be about 8%; in the fifth tier, with scores in the area of 560 to 619, the rates increase to 9%; finally for those with the lowest scores, 500 to 559, the rate jumps to 9.82%.
On a $150,000 mortgage, your payments will be between $926 and $1411, a $485 difference per month.
Additionally, those in the lowest tiers will face higher loan origination fees.
Most bankrupts will be in the 650 area if they behave themselves within two years of bankruptcy. You will save a lot of money if you push your score above 675 before trying for a mortgage.
These numbers are not written in stone and vary from lender to lender. According to some news accounts, you can qualify for the lowest rates with a score of 620, but proof of that is hard to find.
Auto Loans
You will not qualify for zero or low APR financing offered by manufacturers. You will have to deal with a sub prime lender and will be charged rates in the 21 to 24% area.
Again, loan origination fees may be high.
Credit Cards
Interest rates will be high up in the 30% area. If that was not bad enough, bad credit risks face fees that can choke an elephant.
Fees commonly charged to those with poor credit include the following:
Setup fee - while you can find some lenders that may not charge a setup fee, fees between $29 and $49 are not uncommon.
One time fees these can be as much as $100
Account maintenance fees - $6 or $7 a month
Annual fees - $35 to $150
Bad credit credit card fees can easily run over $250 the first year, a little bit less after that, if you are not careful.
Other Hidden Costs
Bad credit can ruin your chances of getting a new job if you employer checks your credit report, which many do.
Some auto insurance companies will charge you higher premiums if you have bad credit.
Your utility deposit may be higher than for those with good credit.
You may not be able to rent an apartment, if the landlord doesnt like your credit.
Even though just about anybody can find credit, no matter how bad their credit score, that doesnt mean it will be inexpensive, or even affordable. It pays to shop around and read the terms of any offer of credit very carefully.
Rebuild your credit. Pay all your bills promptly and without fail. Only use a portion of your available credit, 20 to 25%. Avoid applying for new credit.
Within two years or so, if all goes well, you may qualify for better credit terms.
About the Author :
Chris Cooper, a retired attorney, and his wife Aileen, who has an MBA in Finance, provide personal financial planning advice at Credit Yourself http://www.credit-yourself.com
More Useful Resource and Updates on how to refinance private student loans
- Response slow to mortgage swap program (The Kansas City Star)
WASHINGTON | The government expects only 20,000 troubled borrowers to apply to refinance into more affordable home loans by next fall under a mortgage aid program approved over the summer.
- US mortgage applications slump to 8-yr low (The Economic Times)
US mortgage application demand skidded last week to an eight-year low, driven by a nearly 30 per cent slump in demand to refinance home loans as borrowing costs rose.
- U.S. home-loan applications fall 20.3% (Providence Business News)
APPLICATIONS TO REFINANCE fell 27.8% last week, to 42.9% of applications, as interest rates on fixed-rate loans crept skyward, the MBA found.
- Low hopes for new mortgage program (Standard-Examiner)
WASHINGTON -- The government expects only 20,000 troubled borrowers will apply to refinance into more affordable home loans by next fall under a new mortgage aid program passed by lawmakers over the summer.
- Slow response for new mortgage aid program (Austin American-Statesman)
The government expects that only 20,000 troubled borrowers will be able to refinance into more affordable home loans by next fall under a new mortgage aid program passed by lawmakers over the summer.
- Mortgage applications fell 20.3% last week: MBA (Market Watch)
Mortgage applications filed last week fall a seasonally adjusted 20.3% compared with the previous week, as rates on fixed-rate mortgages increase, the Mortgage Bankers Association reports on Wednesday.
- (AFX UK Focus) 2008-11-05 12:15 US mortgage applications slump, costs increase-MBA (Interactive Investor)
NEW YORK, Nov 5 (Reuters) - U.S. mortgage application demand skidded last week, driven by a nearly 30 percent slump in demand to refinance home loans as borrowing costs rose, a trade group said on Wednesday. The Mortgage Bankers Association's seasonally adjusted mortgage applications index, which includes both purchase and refinance loans, slid 20.3 percent to 379.9 in the week ended Oct. 31. ...
- UPDATE: Mortgage Applications Fell 20.3% Last Week: MBA (Nasdaq)
CHICAGO (Dow Jones) -- Mortgage applications filed last week fell a seasonally adjusted 20.3% compared with the previous week, as rates on fixed-rate mortgages increased, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported on Wednesday.
- Expert: Don Taylor, Ph.D., CFA, CFP (Bankrate.com)
Dear Dr. Don, We bought a home in California four years ago at $450,000. Our only option at the time was a five-year adjustable-rate mortgage. I would like to refinance to a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, but am unable to do so because we are now upside down on the loan.
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