Home Loan: Credit Crunch
Not long ago, when property values were on the rise, lending institutions were eager to make home loans even to those individuals with poor credit histories, since a home's equity would cover a loan in case of a default. It seemed that this would simply go on forever, so lenders kept encouraging borrowers and raking in commissions for the loans they wrote. At the same time, since properties were becoming more and more valuable, more and more new construction was taking place.
Unhappily, there was far too much new construction in too short a period of time, leading to the lending crisis which we keep hearing so much about today and which is still affecting so many individuals at the current time. With too many homes on the market, values began to plummet. Some homeowners had mortgage loans for larger amounts than the worth of their properties.
When the housing market was in great shape, loans were made to individuals who had poor credit histories, although those mortgages frequently carried high interest rates. At times, the rates were low in the beginning and then ballooned with the passage of time. With the home loans being higher than the value of the properties, people could not sell their homes, and since the payments were rising, homeowners found themselves saddled with residences they couldn't afford to pay for.
People started to fall behind on their loans, which caused their homes to enter foreclosure, where they eventually ended up back in the hands of the bank holding the mortgage. This caused the number of houses on the market to go up dramatically, forcing the prices downward, creating the cycle that we are still suffering from today.
It is becoming more and more difficult for people with poor credit to get a home loan. In the aftermath of the mortgage meltdown, lenders have become much more rigid about who they will give loans. Even those with good credit are noticing that it is harder to obtain a loan, or to obtain one with good rates. Through the time period when home prices were on the rise, many mortgages were made available with little or no down payment. This practice made it simple for people to get loans when they didn't have much to put down, but that is no longer the case.
It is still possible for someone with bad credit to get a loan, but it will probably require a much bigger down payment. In some cases a bank may require twenty five or thirty percent of the price of the home in order to grant a loan. You can shop around and compare mortgage lenders to find out who will give you the best loan with the best terms.
Over the last few years as housing prices were getting higher and higher, banks became more willing to supply a home loan to people, even those with bad credit. What followed was the "mortgage crisis" that we're still feeling the effects of. Because there were too many houses on the market, prices started to go back down. Sometimes people had a mortgage loan that was more than their house was worth. It is not uncommon for banks to require twenty five to thirty percent of the home's price as a prerequisite. To get the best loan with the best terms, shop around and compare mortgage lenders.
Published December 2nd, 2008
