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Borrower's Guide to Home Loans

FCIC: Borrower's Guide to Home Loans

Introduction

Before you borrow money on your home's equity, think twice so you don't end up paying more than you expected. As part of AARP's Campaign Against Predatory Home Lending, AARP prepared this Borrower's Guide for you. We don't want you to be the next person who says,

"They Didn't Tell Me I Could Lose My Home."

AARP's Borrower's Guide gives you information that can help you get the best possible loan and avoid bad, or predatory, loans. You'll find worksheets, a glossary of terms, and information about:

People borrow on their homes for many reasons-to make repairs or improvements, to consolidate debts, to pay off medical bills, or something else. Sometimes there may be benefits to using your home equity when you borrow. But if the loan costs too much, the benefits disappear ... and so might your home.

Remember: Get the facts before a bad loan gets you.

Getting the Best Loan Possible

Sometimes a home equity loan is a good way to borrow money, but there are some lenders that only bring problems.

Predatory home mortgage lenders look for people who may have financial difficulty. They hunt for people who may be behind on property taxes, who need to fix up their home, or who need money for medical bills. Once they find these people, the lenders often use highpressure sales talk, high interest rates, outrageous fees, and repayment terms that the person can't afford. Fast talkers can trick homeowners into taking out loans that they can't afford to pay back. When they can't make the payments, their homes are at risk of foreclosure.

Even if you don't have financial troubles, no one wants to pay more than is needed. Why pay interest rates higher than you need to? Why pay unneeded fees or charges? Whether you have excellent credit or not-sogood credit, you want the best possible loan you can get.

Don't be fooled by loan offers you see on television or receive in the mail. They don't tell the full story.

Be a smart borrower. Don't get caught in a bad loan!

Follow these steps:

Know your credit rating and credit score.
Sometimes people who have good credit are charged higher rates and fees for loans because they don't know that their credit is good. Getting your credit report and credit score may help you negotiate the best loan for you so you don't pay more than you should have to pay. You'll want to look for any mistakes in your credit report and take steps to correct them. You can get your credit score on the Internet, usually for a fee, or a lender can give you a free copy when you apply for a loan. Avoid lenders who won't give your score to you. Most credit scores range from 300-850, and the higher the score, the better your credit. Most lenders consider scores over 700 as "good" to "excellent" scores.

The three major credit reporting agencies are:

For More Information
AARP Webplace:
Credit Scores and Credit Reports
Check Your Credit Report
Credit Scores: Before You Borrow

Be cautious about using a home equity loan to consolidate credit card debts.
Loan offers may tell you how you can save money by paying off credit cards with a home equity loan, but what they don't say is that your home is at risk if you do it. Yes, sometimes this type of loan is useful, but only if the loan's terms are very good-and you won't run up another credit card bill. Even then, if something should happen and you can't make the home equity payment, your home is at risk of foreclosure.

An important difference: Credit card lenders can't foreclose on your home if you don't pay your credit card bills. But, a home equity lender can foreclose if you don't make the mortgage payment.

Shop around.
Get several offers and pick the loan that's best for you-not one that is best for the lender or broker. Use the worksheet on page 11 to help you pick the best loan offer you can get, and

Learn about reverse mortgages.
For homeowners age 62 or older, this may be a better option than a home equity loan. These are loans you don't have to pay back as long as you live in your home. With a reverse mortgage you can get a lump sum of money, a monthly income, a credit line, or a combination of payment options.

Close your deal carefully.
Once you've found the loan you want, make sure you get the deal you were promised.

Follow these steps:

Tip:
To Reduce Unwanted Credit Offers call 1-888-567-8688 or 1-800-353-0809 and ask all three credit reporting agencies Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion not to provide information about you to companies wanting to send you loan offers.

Know your legal rights and use them.
You have a legal right to know:

With home equity loans, you have the right to change your mind, even after you have signed the papers. If you decide within three business days after you sign the papers that you do not want the loan, you have the right to cancel. You can cancel by sending the lender written notice of your decision to cancel by mail, hand delivery, or telegram within three business days. Saturday is a business day. For example, if you sign at 3 PM on Thursday, you have until the end of Monday to cancel. Ask for "return receipt requested" at the post office for proof of when you sent the notice.

Report things that go wrong and get legal help.
If you think that your lender is dishonest-for example, you discover fees that you weren't told about or you were required to buy credit insurance-report it!

Warning Signs
Be cautious if anyone:

If You're Over 61, a Reverse Mortgage May Be a Better Choice for You

A reverse mortgage is a home loan that you do not have to pay back for as long as you live in your home. It can be paid to you in one lump sum, as a regular monthly income, or at the times and in the amounts you want. The loan and interest are repaid only when you sell your home, permanently move away, or die.

Eligible Homeowners

Eligible Homes

How They Work

What You Get and How Much You Get

Types of Reverse Mortgages

The Cost of a Reverse Mortgage

What Else You Must Know

The federal government requires you to see a federally-approved reverse mortgage counselor as part of getting a HECM reverse mortgage.

For More Information
AARP Webplace:
Understanding Reverse Mortgages
www.aarp.org/revmort

"Home Made Money, "a free booklet by AARP, is available by calling 1-800-209-8085 or writing AARP Fulfillment, 601 E Street, NW, Washington, DC 20049. Ask for stock number D15601.

Home Improvements

Your home is worth a lot to you ... but dishonest home contractors see the value in it, too. Every year, people spend billions of dollars for home improvements. Usually the work is done well, but each year many homeowners are victims of poor, overpriced, or never-completed work. Some people posing as home repair specialists are simply con artists looking for easy money. Others are "front men" for predatory lenders.

If you are planning on making repairs or improvements to your home, it is important to pick the right contractor and the right financing. Here's how.

Identify what you want done and how much you can afford.

Take time to find a reliable home improvement contractor.

Don't be pressured to get your financing through a particular company.

Know your legal rights.

Warning Signs
Be cautious if contractors:

Worksheet:
Comparing Home Equity Lenders

This worksheet can help you when you're comparing loans. Ask lenders questions and write down their answers. Remember, it's not only the monthly payment or the interest rate that matters in making your choice. If you compare the at least three lenders for borrowing the same amount, you may find a better deal. See the Glossary below to learn about any terms you don't understand.

Worksheet:
Getting Bids & Selecting a Contractor

This worksheet can help you select a home repair contractor and compare bids. Ask contractors questions and write down their answers. If you compare at least three contractors, you may find a better deal. See the Glossary below to learn about any terms you don't understand.

Glossary

Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM): A home loan where the interest rate can go up or down during the time you are repaying the loan.

Annual Percentage Rate (APR): The cost of a loan expressed as a percentage rate. It includes both the interest rate on the loan and many of the costs in getting the loan. APRs are the best way to compare loans.

Balloon Payment: This is the very large payment that is due at the end of some loans. A balloon payment means that the borrower's monthly payments are used to pay the interest on the loan and that little of the payment is used to pay back the amount that was borrowed. Unless you know how you will make this payment, these loans can be risky.

Bid: A written estimate of what your home improvement project will cost.

Closing Costs: All of the "other" costs that you have to pay when borrowing money. They could include fees for credit reports, land survey, appraisal, title search, title insurance, document preparation, notary, points, credit life insurance, and attorney fees.

Credit Insurance: An insurance policy (such as life, disability, or unemployment) that pays the lender the balance of the loan if something happens to the borrower before the loan is paid off. Sometimes the lender adds the entire price of the policy to the amount you are borrowing and this is very expensive because you pay interest on that amount.

Credit Report: Credit bureaus collect information about your credit history-where you owe money, how much you owe, your credit cards, and your payment history. Lenders determine whether to give you a loan and how much to charge you based on information in your credit report.

Credit Score: Your credit score is a number that is used by lenders to decide whether to give you credit and at what cost. It is based on information in your credit report.

Equity: The difference between what your house is worth and what you owe on it. For example, if your house is worth $150,000 and you owe $100,000, your equity is $50,000.

Fraud: Dishonest business practices that lead to your doing something against your best interest.

Housing Counselor: Counselors can help you explore your options, find a loan, and explain loan documents. They also offer help with foreclosure problems. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) certifies housing counselors.

Installment Payments: Partial payments made to home improvement contractors as the work is being done.

Interest: The percentage rate lenders charge you for using their money. The higher the percentage, the more you pay.

Line of Credit: A pre-approved amount that you can borrow. You only borrow what you need, when you need it.

Mortgage Broker: A person you pay to help you find a lender.

Points: Each point is 1% of the amount you are borrowing.

Predatory Lenders: Lenders who take advantage of borrowers and make loans that the borrowers cannot afford. They may charge very high interest rates or fees, hide costs, or lie about loan terms.

Principal: The amount of money that you borrow.

Reverse Mortgage: A home loan you do not have to pay back for as long as you live in the home. Repayment of the loan is due when the last surviving homeowner dies, sells the home, or permanently moves away.

Settlement: The meeting where you review and sign your loan papers. Also called a "closing."

Total Amount to Repay: This is the total amount of fees, points, and all monthly and balloon payments that you will pay over the life of the loan.


American Association of Retired Persons is a nonprofit, nonprtisan membership orgnization for people 50 and over. We provide information and resources; advocate on legislative, consumer, and legal issues; assist members to serve their communities; and offer a wide range of unique benefits, special products, and services to our members. These benefits include AARP Webplace at www.aarp.org, Modern Maturity, and My Generation magazines, and the monthly AARP Bulletin. Active in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP celebrates the attitude that age is just a number and life is what you make it.

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