Dangerous Debt Consolidation Loans

Sponsor:

Debt News:

Debt Consolidation
Advertise with Us
Debt Blog
Link to Us

Informative Articles

Is It Safe To Consolidate Debt Online?
Some people are motivated to consolidate debt online because they know they can save a lot of money by taking advantage of low interest rates. Others are panicking to find a quick and easy solution to help them deal with a mountain of debt. ...

kentucky-debt-consolidation
Kentucky debt consolidation mortgage loans are best financial solutions if you are looking to pay off debts quickly and easily to become debt free sooner. Read on for comprehensive information about debt consolidation in Kentucky. Also, read tips to...

Secured debt consolidation loans: bringing down your debt count to zero
It is unlikely that while growing up you would not have heard that there is strength in unity. Well since this age old saying has braved the test of time, there must be truth in it. It is interesting that the validity of this statement is...

Seven Ways to Consolidate Your Debt
When it comes to debt consolidation the first thing you want to do is consolidate your debt, but the first thing you should consider are all of your options. There are in fact more options and help out there than you imagined and just because you...

Why Choose a Debt Consolidation Loan?
If you are one of the many people who continually struggle to cope with an ever increasing amount of debt the solution could well be within your reach. If your are looking to: reduce interest rates lower your monthly payments, ...

Dangerous Debt Consolidation Loans

Now that the frenzy of refinancing has tapered off, many mortgage lenders have turned to alternate methods of marketing their services. Many banks have started pushing harder to sign up customers for home equity based debt consolidation loans.

On the surface, debt consolidation loans offer cash-strapped consumers some relief from high interest rates. Looking deeper, consumers should be wary of both the pros and cons of this fast growing practice.

In their simplest forms, debt consolidation loans are refinance agreements, second mortgages, or home equity loans. All three loan options allow homeowners to cash out part of the equity in their homes in order to pay off other debts. For borrowers who have watched their homes appreciate in value, a debt consolidation loan can eliminate the burden of multiple monthly payments without significantly affecting the amount of their monthly mortgage payment.

On a mathematical level, debt consolidation loans can make much sense. A home owner who struggles to make the monthly minimum payments on her 21% interest rate credit cards can roll those balances into her 7% mortgage. The debt doesn't go away, but the rate goes down by two thirds. In many cases, she would only continue to pay about the same amount per month for her mortgage, freeing up her cash flow for other uses.

As a side benefit, borrowers can deduct a portion of their mortgage interest payments from their income taxes each year. Though not a huge savings, many taxpayers love the opportunity to look forward to a larger tax return.

The danger lies in the borrower's loss of security on two levels. First, if a home should suddenly depreciate, a debt consolidation loan customer could quickly find himself or herself "upside down" on the loan, owing more than what the house is worth. As long as that borrower continues to make payments, they'll survive. But, they will be unable to sell their home without absorbing a loss. For families who need to move in order to accept job transfers or pursue educational opportunities, this can be a devastating blow.

Second, although the lending bank handles paying off the customer's outstanding debt, the customer must personally close their old credit accounts. For many customers, the temptation to keep those accounts open is far too great, and they find themselves deeper and deeper in debt. In effect, the debt consolidation improved their cash flow, but reversed their financial course. Without immediate intervention, these customers often find themselves on the road to bankruptcy.

When investigating debt consolidation loans, consider your long-range plans. If you intend to stay in your current home for a long time and can handle the potential risk of depreciation, and if you can exert the willpower to close out your paid off charge accounts, then a debt consolidation loan may be a reasonable option for you.
About the author:

Kevin Adelsberg is a writer for FDLoans.com
For additional articles and an extensive resource for
everything about loans, please visit us at