The Internet has opened new perspectives for the potential homeowner. Person-to-person/peer-to-peer (P2P) lending has become the latest acquisition in cash and investment trends. But is reliable, safe, and what are the consequences of default on a loan obtained in cyberspace?

One of the big movers in the P2P world, Prosper Marketplace (prosper.com), opened its virtual doors on February 5, 2006. A little more than 2 years later, which are the largest U.S. P2P lending market, with loan applications throughout the country. The loans are requested for a wide variety of reasons: the consolidation of the mortgage just to send Johnny to college.

Prosper began with a simple premise: Connecting people with the funds and the willingness to invest with people who need money and were willing to pay interest on them. Add to the area to enable people to explain why it should be the person you invest and you have a system that is, in ideal circumstances, both profit and strangely intimate.

However, Prosper.com currently only allows a spending cap of $ 25,000. For many home buyers, this will not be enough. Therefore, the credit agencies to make P2P lending support to the amount needed for a down payment have emerged to be … or are seeking.

Home Equity Share (homeequityshare.com) is one of those. The idea is that you, the buyer wants to put 20% down on the house of your choice. The problem is that currently have 0%. Or the 5% or 10%, but nowhere near the magic 20%.

Home Enter the capital, which happens to have a person who wants to invest in real estate, but do not want to face the house. They give you the amount you need (via HES), and both agree on how the money is going to return. You could end up buying a share of the investor or the division of profits from a sale.

That is the ideal scenario. In reality, things could be more complicated. P2P online lending remains eliminated. In Canada, EU firms such as Dar (communitylend.com) are being hampered by difficulties regulation. The problem is that we are still waiting to see what is keeping Canadians from the use of P2P networks.

Back in the United States, we are still waiting to see what the ultimate risk factor. Prosper the level of arrears has been as high as 20%. Home equity is still in its infancy and some blogs, as thebankwatch.com have indicated that it is still a large high-risk investment.

However, the risk seems to be all on the side of the lender when it comes to real money. The only risk that borrowers appear to be defaulting on the loan is and the resulting success to the credit score and the kind attention of collection agencies.