Plow & Hearth



Subprime Mortgages - What Are They?

by Dan Wright

To put it simply, a mortgage is a loan where you are using your house as collateral. The difference between this and a normal loan is that your house becomes your backup just in case something happens and you are unable to continue payments.

Several different types of mortgages are available. Your choice will rely upon your needs and how quickly you can repay. Two common mortgages are known as "fixed rate" and "adjustable". The "sub prime" is also now becoming popular.

The term "subprime mortgage" conjures up some scary thoughts. This kind of loan actually has many benefits that other types of loans don't.

A subprime loan typically has a higher interest rate than other loans because the people who need it usually have a poor credit history or very low credit score.

These high interest loans do make people pay a lot more for a house they want but actually have some benefits.

A lot of financial institutions specialize in, or even work exclusively with, subprime lenders. They have the necessary expertise to assist you with a shaky credit situation.

Some banks also offer prime and subprime mortgages because they know their community well and some areas just don't have the types of jobs that prime mortgages will need to ensure their monthly payments.

Especially if you live in a small town where everyone knows you, it can be a little embarrassing to visit your town's bank. Try a subprime mortgage lender and they can help you feel more comfortable.

With a subprime mortgage, you don't have to wait and wait for your credit score to slowly climb back up again. This process can be drawn out over a long period of time. People can waste years and watch their dream homes be bought and sold as they wait for their credit to rise again.

Of course they recognize that in the past they defaulted on a few payments. However, now they are wiser and more responsible. They are ready to become homeowners. Sometimes it takes more than a few late payments to wind up with bad credit.

Many times, wives and husbands who are irresponsible can annihilate their significant other's credit and even after divorce, it's still bad.

For lots of individuals, a subprime mortgage is just the way to start over again.

Even if you've made mistakes in the past, that doesn't necessarily mean you won't qualify for a mortgage. Regardless of whether you have good credit or need a subprime mortgage, you'll find a variety of mortgage lenders listed at our site that can help.

Published March 31st, 2008

Filed in Real Estate


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