Sub-prime lending is a type of credit given to homeowners who do not meet the criteria for regular (“prime”) loans. A typical sub-prime borrower has a poor or limited credit history and a FICO score of less than 620. These factors make them a risky investment for regular lenders, which keeps them from taking out loans. To compensate for the risk, sub-prime lenders impose higher costs on their contracts. For credit cards, this is usually a higher fee for over-the-limit spending or late fees. Sub-prime mortgages usually have higher interest rates and stricter terms.

 

Contrary to popular belief, sub-prime lending is a perfectly legal business. But like many new industries, it has been tainted by lenders who don’t play by industry standards. From 2003 to 2007, shady companies have turned up offering terms ranging from unfair to downright illegal. This, along with the economic slowdown, has contributed a great deal to the real estate crisis that forced many homeowners into foreclosure.

 

Are all sub-prime loans bad?

 

No. There are actually some sub-prime companies who give you good value for your money. If you find a good lender and stay current, sub-prime lending can have its benefits.For example, many people use sub-prime loans as a means of credit repair. Basically, it gives you a chance to rebuild your credit history and improve your scores. By keeping up a good record on sub-prime loans, you can eventually refinance to better terms and get back on your feet.

 

How do I know when a loan is sub-prime?

 

The first thing you should look at is the cost of the loan. Sub-prime loans have a higher overall cost (including interest, origination and closing fees) compared to prime loans. Although the basic formula is the same for both types, the pricing for sub-prime loans is more noticeably risk-based. A low credit score, small down payment, and other negative factors can greatly increase the cost of a sub-prime loan.

 

Another common feature is the prepayment penalty. Prepayment is when you pay more than the minimum monthly amount, or pay off the loan ahead of schedule. The penalty is to make up for lost interest on the lender’s part. Because you’re getting off early, the lender stops earning regular interest—and naturally, they charge you for it.

 

Many sub-prime mortgages follow the 2/28 structure. This means that you pay a fixed interest rate for the first two years, after which the loan switches to an adjustable rate where your payments are determined by market indicators. Often, the introductory rate is higher than the current index and the margin is applied once the loan shifts. For example, a lender can give you an intro rate of 8% while the index is currently at 4%, with a margin set at 6%. Assuming the index stays the same; your rate can jump to 10% when your two years is over.

 

What can I do if I’m in a sub-prime loan?

 

Fortunately, there are laws in place to protect borrowers in any loan, prime or sub-prime. For instance, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) requires all lenders to give you a good faith estimate of the total cost of the loan before closing any deals. This prevents any third party, such as mortgage brokers, from making any kickbacks at your expense.

 

All mortgages are also covered by the Truth in Lending Act (TILA). This law gives you the right to know the full lending terms and loan costs in any credit transaction, including credit cards. The TILA allows you to opt out of a transaction within a reasonable time if you don’t agree with some of the terms.

 

If a sub-prime mortgage has put you in financial difficulty, another thing you can do is apply for Loan Modification or in this case Sub Prime Loan Modification refers to an agreement between you and your lender to change the terms of your loan on account of your financial situation. This way you can modify your loan terms to a more affordable level. The Sub Prime Mortgage Loan Modification is a lengthy and time consuming process. However a competent loan modification attorney can expertly handle your case and expedite the loan modification process. A loan modification attorney will expertly present your case and use the above mentioned lending laws as leverage to get you more reasonable rates. If you’re already in foreclosure, this will also stop the process while you work out better terms with your lender.

By: Loan Modification Attorney

This guide is designed to explain the top 5 reasons why someone in a pending lawsuit would want to apply for a settlement loan. A settlement loan is basically a cash advance on a possible settlement amount during a pending lawsuit. A settlement loan provider reviews the probability and merit of winning your current lawsuit and determines if you’re eligible. Below are the top 5 reasons why a settlement loan would be right for you.

#1. Credit checks or Income Amounts Aren’t Required with Settlement Loans.

A settlement loan is a provider or investor buying interest into your pending lawsuit. They provide a specific monetary portion of your estimated awardable amount in return for a specific amount of it and the original amount loaned to you. Since settlement loans are solely based on your case your credit report and current income play no role in the application process.

#2. Your Are Required to Only Pay Back if You Win.

This is the main reason settlement loans aren’t consider traditional loans. If you lose your lawsuit you’re not responsible or obligated to pay back the amount of the settlement loan. You only pay back the amount if you win your lawsuit case; this fact alone makes a settlement loan far better than a traditional loan.

#3. Prevent Early Settlement of Your Pending Lawsuit

You’ll probably not be able to work during your pending lawsuit; income will be unattainable and you’ll be stuck with your current assets. Ethical rules prevent attorneys from loaning their client money, as it might create situations where you’ll feel you’ll need to settle sooner when you really didn’t want to. A settlement loan can provide you with financial support during your pending lawsuit. You won’t feel the stressed to settle your case early; you’ll be able to make all medical payments, auto payments, home mortgage, etc on time and protect your credit history.

#4. Your Not Required to Take Out The Full Amount

You never need to take out the maximum amount allowed in you’re approved settlement loan. Settlement loan providers go as low as $150 and up to $5,000,000+ when it comes to loan able amounts in your pending case. This allows you to only take out what you need during the case and keep more of your awarded money after a verdict is reached in your case. Settlement loan providers allow you to take out multiple settlement loans if you still need more money and the case has not ended yet.

#5. Settlement Loans Do Not Affect Your Case.

For some reason people think settlement loans will effect their case, this is farther from the truth. The defendant in your case is never notified if you apply for and\or get accepted for a settlement loan. In fact, the court itself isn’t even notified about the settlement loan and the provider is not required by law to notify anybody beyond your attorney.

By: Legal Settlement Loans

If you’ve ever been a plaintiff in a lawsuit or been involved with a plaintiff in a pending lawsuit then you’ve probably came across the term lawsuit loan or settlement loan at one time or another. A lawsuit settlement loan is a method for a plaintiff involved in a lawsuit to get access to funds prior to a settlement or verdict in their pending lawsuit. The funds can be used for whatever purpose the plaintiff needs it for, including medical bills, legal bills, and mortgage\car payments or even to purchase a new home or automobile.

 One of the most favorable aspects of a lawsuit settlement loan to plaintiffs is the fact that lawsuit loans are considered non-recourse debts, and not actual loans. The phrase “settlement loan” or “lawsuit loan” is just static in the industry, when in fact they are really non-recourse debts. The reason they are considering non-recourse debts and not actual loans is the pay back agreement they are based upon. A settlement or lawsuit loan is not required to be paid back if the lawsuit reaches a verdict in favor of the defendant. However, if the plaintiff gets the favorable verdict and receives monetary awards the plaintiff is liable for repayment on the loaned amount, interest and any fees.

 Another aspect that is enticing to a plaintiff is the approval process of lawsuit settlement loans. Since lawsuit settlement loans are non-recourse debts the approval process is based on the merit of the physical lawsuit itself. A plaintiff’s credit history, employment history and income status play no role in the approval process; again this is due to the fact that the only way a lawsuit settlement loan provider gets payment back is if the lawsuit reaches a verdict in favor of the plaintiff. Since legal agreements signed by the settlement loan provider, attorney and the plaintiff secure how awards are distributed there is no need for the plaintiff to actually pay back the loan; the portion owed to the provider is directly paid to them via your attorney or settlement payout provider.

 There are some side effects to lawsuit loans, they tend to have interests rates that higher than the normal average interest rate at any given time. This is understandable due to the nature of how these companies receive payment back from the plaintiff. There are usually one-time fees included with lawsuit settlement loans and are usually based on the amount of money being loaned to the plaintiff. Beyond those two facts lawsuit settlement loans are a great way for plaintiffs to secure funding during their pending lawsuit. If you’d like to learn more about settlement loans please follow the below information.

By: Legal Settlement Loans