A secured loan is essentially a loan that is taken out against your home or other collateral. In the context of this guide, when talking about secured loans and secured lending, reference is being made to that of a lender placing a legal charge over a property.

The most common type of secured loan is that of a mortgage. It is not within the financial capability of most people to purchase a property outright so most of us will therefore need to secure a mortgage.

Again, in the context of this guide, when talking about secured loans and secured lending, reference is being made to secondary secured loans, or second charges as they are commonly known within the industry. Borrowers who apply for a secured loan/second charge are doing so to follow that of their first mortgage.

How Do Secured Loans Work?

To the average lender, secured loans offer a very appealing prospect. They are able to lend out large sums of money with the additional security of a property – They will subsequently have open to them a number of legal remedies in the event of the borrower defaulting there obligations and payments. This will of course include home repossession.

A lender will register a secured loan by way of a legal charge with which the applicant must give consent to in order for an application to complete. The charge is then registered at the Land Registry by the lenders solicitors.

When it comes to remortgaging, most secured lenders will require the outstanding balance to be redeemed at the same time as the first mortgage. An exception to this is when a second charge lender grants a deed of postponement, thus allowing the existing second charge loan to run alongside that of the new mortgage lender.

What Are The Characteristics Of A Secured Loan?

The characteristics of a secured loan share many similarities to that of a mortgage. The most common one being that if your do not keep up the repayments on the secured loan, your home may be repossessed.

In the case of taking out a secured loan, it is a common myth that your home will be safe so long as you meet the repayments on your first mortgage. This is not true. If you fail to meet the repayments on your secured loan, even if you are up to date on your mortgage, the lender can seek possession of your property through the courts.

Secured loans can be arranged on loan sizes that usually range from 5,000 to 250,000, depending on the lender. Flexible terms are also available on secured lending, ranging from 5 up to 30 years. Some lenders will have schemes available allowing you to borrow more than the value of your property (combined with that of your first mortgage) of up to 125%. These schemes are not too common and it is believed that this is more of a marketing ploy rather than a viable or an advisable option to many borrowers.

How Does A Debt Consolidation Secured Loan Work?

A debt consolidation secured loan enables borrowers with significant levels of debt to consolidate some or all of these outstanding commitments into one loan amount and subsequently, one monthly payment. Debt consolidation is seen by many as an extremely effective short term solution to relieving the pressures of debt.

It is highly likely that by arranging a secured loan to clear off other unsecured debts such as credit cards, personal loans and hire purchases, the borrower is able to achieve a lower rate of interest than that applied to their unsecured commitments.

Not only will this take the effect of reducing the monthly payments but also secured loans can be arranged over a longer term than that of their unsecured counterparts. By extending the term of the loan will also mean that lower monthly payments can be achieved.

This is often viewed as a short term solution as in the long term, increasing the term of the debts may mean that you end up paying more interest. The other potential disadvantage of these types of loans is that consolidated debts that were once unsecured would then transform to being secured on the property.

What Are The Benefits Of A Secured Loan?

There are many benefits to be realised in taking out a secured loan. Many lenders and brokers alike will not charge any upfront fees, house valuation costs or legal fees. Compared to the fees associated with a remortgage, the secured loan option can be a very appealing one to borrowers.

Such fees associated with a remortgage will include valuation and administration fees, higher lending charges, discharge fees, title insurance and telegraphic transfer fees. This list is by no means exhaustive however they may not all be applicable in every case.

The timescales involved along with the various fees involved can be a put off for some homeowners considering a remortgage.

Perhaps the biggest appeal to most homeowners who are seeking finance is the speed at which a secured loan application can complete. At the top end of the scale, an application can take just a matter of days to complete. However for the majority, two to three weeks is a sensible timeframe to look for.

The benefits of secured loans when looked at against comparable unsecured loans are that it is highly likely that you will obtain a more favourable rate of interest on secured lending. As discussed earlier, this is due to the fact that the lender will in this case secure the loan by legal charge over the property reducing their perceived level of risk and subsequently reducing the rate of interest.

A secured loan will also offer a more flexible repayment period than that of an unsecured loan between 5 and 30 years with many lenders. If it is the intention of the borrower to obtain the very lowest monthly payment then this could be large benefit to them.

How Do I Know Whether I Should Take Out A Remortgage Or Secured Loan?

Each case must be assessed on its own merits. It is impossible to answer this question without careful consideration and assessment of the borrowers circumstances, needs and objectives.

The obvious example would be where a borrower seeking finance has a large early repayment charge to redeem their mortgage. In this case it may not be appropriate to remortgage. ERCs (Early repayment charges) can be as high as 7% of the outstanding mortgage balance which can of course result in thousands of pounds.

By arranging a secured loan in this instance might mean that you would be paying a slightly higher rate than that of the mortgage, however it could potentially save thousands of pounds of charges.

Another example of when taking out a secured loan might be of more benefit to the borrower would be a case where the first mortgage was originally taken out before the individual started to miss payments or run up another form of bad credit. It is highly likely in this instance that raising finance through a remortgage would mean paying a higher non-conforming/sub prime rate on the entire amount of borrowing.

By arranging a secured loan might mean that the borrower can still enjoy the prime high street rate applied to the first mortgage whilst only paying a higher non-conforming/sub prime rate on the new secured loan the additional finance.

Can I Apply For A Secured Loan With A Bad Credit History?

There are many schemes available today to cater for nearly every type of borrower regardless of credit history. If there is available equity in your property and you can meet the affordability criteria then it is highly like that you will be eligible for a secured loan. Bad credit will usually be defined between having one or more of the following:

# Mortgage arrears

# Rental arrears

# Secured loan arrears

# County Court Judgements

# Individual voluntary arrangements

# Bankruptcy

The more severe your credit history then the higher the interest rate that you will be charged. This again is a reflection of the higher level of risk perceived by the lender.



Sell House Quick

It may fee as though you have no option other than to surrender your property when facing home repossession. This is not true, however, as there are options to consider which can help to stop repossession of you home and save you from eviction.

Repossession is one of the most devastating things that can happen to a home owner. The very thought of losing your family home to a lender as a result of a failure to keep up with mortgage repayments is unpleasant and uncomfortable. Unfortunately this unfortunate even happens to thousand a people each year forcing entire families to evict their homes and begin their lives again.

Once the repossession process is complete the pain of the experience does not immediately stop. The effects of losing your home and destroying your credit rating can last for many years making it difficult to build a new life. While it may seem like there is no way to stop this terrible experience from occurring once a possession order has been made, there are options available.

Firstly, it is important to remember that lenders do not actually want to repossess properties. It is an expensive and drawn out process. Lenders are in the business of lending money, not repossessing properties, and they are usually receptive to any alternative solutions that can be reasonably offered by the borrower.

Therefore, your first act in attempting to stop repossession is to contact your mortgage lender and try to reach an agreement for paying off your debts while being allowed to keep your home.

A second solution to stop repossession of your home is to refinance your mortgage and any other debts you may have. Many finance companies specialize in refinancing loans for applicants whose properties are at risk.

Another alternative, which is proving popular in modern times, is to sell your property for cash to any number of companies that specialize in solutions for stopping repossession.

The sale proceeds can be used to clear up mortgage arrears and pay off the balance of the mortgage. Such a solution can ensure that the potential repossession victim is not made homeless and will have every opportunity to make a fresh start.

Such a solution should also help to ensure that their personal credit rating is not plundered. This should help ensure that the recovery process is as quick and painless as possible.

A recent trend that has emerged in the current credit crisis is for people facing repossession to simply abandon their homes. Home owners who cannot keep up with their mortgage repayments are simply handing over the keys to their lenders and surrendering their property.

This is not an advisable solution as the lender will be forced to carry out the repossession process as normal and the borrower’s credit rating and personal finances will suffer. All other alternatives should be exhausted before allowing your home to be repossessed and sold.

It is possible to stop repossession of your home. The methods outlines above may prove effective and should be carefully considered before giving up. Also, this article may not provide an exhaustive list of alternative solutions. Therefore, if you are facing the prospect of having your home repossessed you should conduct extensive research to try and uncover as many potential solutions as possible. The key to success is to act fast and do all you can to help salvage the situation.



Passive Income

Gone are the days when living within ones financial limits was considered a virtue. Today it is thought well of people if they possess all the luxuries of life. Without becoming indebted much, people can easily get themselves the luxuries of life. Secured loans will be very helpful in this venture. Through secured loans, borrowers can get cash for purchasing several assets that their limited income would have rarely been able to sustain.

A secured loan is an advance to the borrower by a loan provider. Homeowners are particularly preferred for lending secured loans. Several banks and financial institutions operating in the UK may accept to lend to the borrower. However, the terms on which secured loans are lent are dependant largely on the credit status of borrower.

Credit status refers to the credit report of borrower as shown by credit file. This is prepared by the credit reference agencies, namely, Experian and Equifax. Though bad credit status does not bear significantly on the decision to lend secured loans, they do result in some strictness in terms. Terms such as the amount to be lent as secured loans are decided in conjunction with credit history.

The secured loan puts cash in the hands of borrower, which is to be used in the manner decided by the borrower. Once the cash is received, borrower can choose to spend it in varied ways. Loan provider seldom exercises any control on the uses of the loan proceeds. Some of the common uses of secured loan proceeds are in debt consolidation, making improvements in home, purchasing car or other assets, going on holidays etc.

Secured loans use any asset of borrower to cover lender against any risk emerging in the future. More often, it is the home of borrower that is offered as collateral. This is when large secured loan proceeds are being drawn. When smaller loan proceeds are required, lenders may accept to use automobiles and other secondary assets as collateral.

Because of the use of collateral, the risk involved in secured loans is minimal. Since borrower agrees to use his home or any asset as collateral, he also agrees that lender has the right to recover any unpaid loan amount through liquidation of asset. Therefore, lender has little or no risk. However, this process is cumbersome and often prolonged. Therefore, lenders want to skip such a situation. A lender who gives more emphasis on yours being with good credit has the same consideration at the bottom of his mind.

Borrowers can gain secured loans at attractive rates of interest. This again is the result of reduced risks. Always try to get a cheap rate secured loan. You will hear this often when you get on the venture of finding secured loans. However, beware of lenders who lower interest rate and increase other charges, which are given in fine print and not often read by borrower. Compare APR instead of rate of interest.

How does a person know of the least APR on secured loans? Provided the search for secured loan is conducted online, it is very easy. Just fill up the loan quote with certain lenders that one finds desirable. The application for loan quote is available on their website. The website also contains other important information about the lender and the specific product. Within hours or even less, borrower will receive loan quotes from several lenders. Compare these loan quotes and make your decision.

However, do not hurry. This is the advice from loan experts. They say that one must search over several loan providers offerings before choosing a particular lender. Larger is the purview of search undertaken, greater are the chances of getting the best secured loan deal. With the help of internet, searching the best secured loan is not difficult any longer.



Repossession

You have been tossing and turning all night. Each time you check your alarm clock, you are amazed at how quickly a minute transforms into an eternity. Your heart starts thumping, you feel dizzy, and that pepperoni pizza you had for dinner sits in your stomach like a boulder. Big events in our lives can cause big stress to develop. A million thoughts rush through our head as we focus on anything that could go wrong. This prevents us from getting a good night’s sleep, and then performing at our optimum potential the next day. In dealing with any problems, such as when we need to refinance mortgage loans for bad credit, the best approach is always to find the best solution to the problem.

Only Known Problems Can Be Solved

Face it: problems are part of life. These problems include the need to refinance mortgage loans for bad credit. A life without problems would not be a life in the real world. But how we deal with a problem could either solve it or create more problems. For example, if your car breaks down, you could either call a friend for a lift to work or school, or stay home and worry about how you will get around town. The first step to solving a problem is to define what the problem is. Sometimes people have problems making the payments on their mortgage loans. Perhaps there was a family emergency or an emergency health issue. Higher inflation or a lower income could also affect one’s ability to make payments. In other cases, people simply want to consolidate their debts to simplify their lives.

New Solutions for Everyday Problems

After defining the problem, one of two approaches can be taken. Most problems can be solved with routine actions. However, sometimes innovative solutions are required. Where the case of needing to refinance mortgage loans for bad credit is concerned, one could argue that a little of both is needed. Refinancing is the act of applying for a secured loan, for the purpose of replacing an already existing loan. It should be noted that the same assets secure both loans. Where does the innovation come into play? You must determine which refinancing plan is the best for you when you refinance mortgage loans for bad credit.

ARMs and Balloons

If you want to refinance mortgage loans for bad credit, there are certain steps you should take.

* In particular, consider the first loan that you took out. If you had an adjustable-rate mortgage, or ARM, for a few years, your loan’s interest rate may have gone up. So the monthly payments on an alike fixed-rate mortgage at the current rate might actually be lower than your current monthly ARM payments.

* If you take a new fixed-rate loan, you should consider the costs and interest rates. Shorter-term loans – for example, 15 years – are ideal if you want to speedily build equity. But if a longer-term loan commitment is not a problem, then perhaps you might consider a 30-year loan.

* The balloon mortgage is another type of fixed-rate mortgage. These loans have lower interest rates for shorter-term financing-typically for seven years. You must refinance again or pay off the remaining balance at one time at the term’s end.

Life is full of problems, and sometimes solving them is not easy. So, when we refinance mortgage loans for bad credit, we should make sure that our solution does not create new problems.



Repossession