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.

Posted by pooch | No Comments »

Most car sales professionals are honest, hard-working people with a job to do. Unfortunately there are a few who fit the bill of the “stereotypical” car salesman and will do everything they can to sell you a car. If you apply for finance through the dealer, this just gives the car salesman another tool to use against you as leverage. Instead, walk onto the lot with online auto loan quotes in your hand and you may be surprised at the difference in how you are treated.

Credit Report Shenanigans

Of course you would never shop for cars without pulling your own credit report, right? Well some people do and that gives the dealer a chance to tell stories.

They’ll tell you how you have a terrible credit score and then act like they are doing you a favor by giving you a loan at all. Of course they will have to charge you a higher APR and possibly additional fees for the terrible risk they are taking.

Understand that they will tell you this even if your credit score is perfectly fine.

Your Loan was Rejected

You sign papers and drive off, thinking you own a new car. Then a couple of weeks later, the dealer says the financing fell through and you have to come back in. They’ll hit you with higher payments, refinancing fees, and all kinds of other nonsense.

Unless you lied on your application, the dealer knows whether you qualify for the loan or not before he lets you off the lot. Do you really think he’s going to let you drive off in a $25,000 piece of merchandise otherwise?

Applying for a Loan by Accident

Even shoppers armed with online auto quotes aren’t immune to loan scams. The car salesman may tell you that he needs to pull a credit report because of Patriot Act reporting requirements. You might even notice the form you are filling out is titled “Application for Credit.”

The Patriot Act does not require a credit report or your Social Security number so don’t be fooled into applying for dealer financing. Your name and driver’s license number should be all they need.

Lies About Online Car Loans

Some car dealers are so threatened by online auto loan quotes that they will tell you anything to get you to abandon them in favor of dealer financing.

One of the common lies is how all online car loans are scams and their checks will bounce. Yes, there are a few bad apples among online lenders, but they are generally easy to spot. Most companies that offer online auto loans have been in business for years and are just as reputable as your bank or credit union.

The best way to protect yourself against these and other loan-related scams is to get your online auto loan quotes before going to the lot. That way you know what you have qualified for and don’t have to worry about the dealer using your loan against you.

Posted by admin | No Comments »

More and more families are relying on credit cards to weather the storm during economic hardships and are being targeted by billion dollar credit card companies and their criminal practices. Recent emphasis on this topic has been making headlines but little has been done to crack down on predatory lending practices.

The most widely spread tactic used by credit card companies is targeting low income, high debt, or minority markets. On top of offering high interest credit to consumers with a higher debt to income ratio, said lenders often times tack on absorbent fees, added-on products or features and charge excessive penalties. So in essence, if you have not-so-great credit you are a credit card companies ideal client. What a great way to kick the hard working American people when they are down. What is worse, is that when offered these lines of credit, more often than not, they do not give you the amount that they offer. As well, they include “acceptance” fees of nearly one-third of the limit that is given, also processing fees, annual fees, etc. So by the time the card reaches the consumer they are nearly maxed out, most of the time not knowing, and as soon as they use the extended credit they go over the limit and are charged costly penalties.

Many companies that use these strategies to fatten their pockets also fail to follow the guidelines set under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Many reports of collection agencies calling numerous times a day, at late hours or extremely early in the morning, using profanity, false titles, and claims and/or threats to extort payment from the targeted consumer. Little is done to protect or educate the nations public about the laws that are set aside to protect them. A large portion of said companies also include “mandatory arbitration” clauses into their contracts which make it very difficult if not impossible to take action against them.

The fact is, what these lenders are doing is deceptive in nature. They justify their fees and rates by targeting “high risk” consumers and then trap them further into the credit trap. Further-more, they justify the rates, fees and penalties they charge because the consumers that they themselves target are “high-risk”. How about them apples?

Additionally, Credit card companies have been adding universal default clauses to the terms of credit card agreements. The universal default clause allows credit card companies to pull your credit report on a regular basis. If you have been late on any payments, a higher interest rate can be added to your credit card or all of your credit cards. This includes even being one day late on your mortgage, car, or utility bill (if it is reported to the credit reporting agencies). This could not only increase the interest rate on future purchases, but also raise the interest rate on the consumers entire outstanding balance. I.E. if you are late even just once on your car payment, your credit card interest rate could jump from 8% to 29% without you ever being notified. This will be very harmful for consumers who are late on even just one payment with a different credit card or payment that is reported to your credit report.

In following articles I will talk more about how to prevent predatory lending, what to do if you feel victimized or targeted, and ways to get out of credit card debt. I will also cover topics dealing with foreclosure, medical bills and the like. If you would like immediate assistance with getting out of the credit card trap visit my website or if you have general questions I will be happy to offer my knowledge and experience.

Posted by admin | No Comments »