Loans

Loans questions and answers

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Q: loans.....?
I got someone to cosign for my autoloan but will they be able to if they have a few loans already taken out?

A: only if their credit allows it, if they are not capable of taking on your loan on top of what they're already paying, then most banks wouldn't allow it.

Q: What Loan company will take over my federal student loans when the loans are in forbearance?
What Loan company will take over my federal student loans when the loans are in forbearance so I can go back to school? My loans are government loans from Saillie Mae. I owe them under $5000. I heard about this company that will take over your school loans from them but I don't know the name of the company.

A: No one will "take over" your loans. You will still owe the money to your lender when you are in forbearance. They will simply add interest every month while you are making payments. If you are asking about defaulting the lender will just contract out with a collection agency to start calling and hounding you to mail them payments. If you make 6 to 12 months worth of willing and reasonable payments you can ask your lender to "rehabilitate" your loan. This is when you are issued a new loan and pay off the one in default so you can get federal fin aid again. Again, rehabilitation can only be done after you have made 6 to 12 months of payments.

Q: What Loan company will take over my federal student loans when the loans are in default?
What Loan company will take over my federal student loans when the loans are in default so I can go back to school? My loans are government loans from Saillie Mae. I owe them under $5000. I heard about this company that will take over your school loans from them but I don't know the name of the company. I am at the point where I can't get a federal student loan until I pay this off.

A: When your federal educational loans are in default, you have several options: You can repay the loan in full. You can negotiate a new payment plan with your lender. You can "rehabilitate" your loan. You can consolidate your loan. Obviously option one is rarely attractive or possible for defaulted borrowers. Option two (renegotiate) should be investigated fully - most borrowers skip this step, but it's probably the best option for most people. Call your lender and ask to speak to someone in the "Workout" Department. Explain your situation to them (there's nothing unusual about it) and ask what options are available to you for switching to a graduated, extended or income-sensitive repayment plan. If your lender will agree to change your repayment plan, a few regular payments will get your default status removed, and the new plan may be easier for you to keep up with. Option three (rehabilitation) is really a specific form of a workout agreement. It probably won't help you much in your situation, because it requires an agreement between you and the lender that will allow you to make 9 consecutive on-time payments of some agreed-upon amount. Option four is everyone's favorite, but you must absolutely understand what a consolidation loan will do. To keep this utterly simple - a consolidation loan is a brand new loan that will pay off your old, defaulted loan. A consolidation loan MAY lower your monthly payments, but understand how this works. A consolidation loan never lowers your payments by wiping away some of your debt - a consolidation loan lowers your payments by stretching out the length of your loan. If you pay less every month, you'll make many additional monthly payments, and - in the end - you'll pay far more back than you would have paid on the original loan. As an example: Suppose I lent you $100 and you agreed to pay me back in 2 weeks by paying me $50 a week. You came back a few days later and explained that you weren't going to be able to afford to pay me $50 - is there something else we could do? "Oh, absolutely," I'd say, gallantly. "Instead of paying me $50 a week for 2 weeks, how about if you only pay me $10 a week for 17 weeks?" See - in the end, you'll pay me back $170 instead of $100 - that's how a consolidation loan works. But remember - we're not talking a $100 loan for a couple of weeks - by the time you pay that $5000 loan of yours back over many years, you'll pay a few thousand more than you might have paid if you didn't consolidate that loan. I've attached some information about consolidating from the Department of Education - take a few minutes to read it over. If you do choose to go this route, be sure to consolidate with a reputable lender (or directly with the government) and not with some fly-by-night operation that you learn about from some pay-per-click site shilled on Yahoo! Answers. Good luck to you!

Q: How do student loans affect a mortgage applicaton?
I have $60,000 in various student loans, but since consolidating my combined payment is only $300/month. I have no other debt. Do lenders view student loan debt differently due to the flexibility of the loans? Also, would they look more at the total amount of the debt or the monthly payment when determining the rate and loan amount?

A: With 20 years experience in the mortgage business, I have never seen a student loan that was in repayment treated any differently than any other long term debt. While you may be able to ask for a hardship deferal in the future, which is the only advantage on a student loan that doesn't exist on a standard installment loan, no lender wants to anticipate that circumstance. As long as the payments extend past 10 months in the future, the lender will only use your monthly payment as part of your qualifying ratios. The total debt is not that important and would only be a minor factor. What will matter more is your payment history on the student loan: it should be perfect. It all comes down to the quality of your credit history (your FICO score) and your qualifying ratios of debt/income.

Q: What kind of loan can I get to consolidate private student loans?
I have $100,000 in private student loans from two lenders. The interest rate is over 10%. Is there a way to get another loan to pay this off at a lower interest rate? What kind of debt consolidation program should I consult? Most student loan companies only deal with Federal loans it seems. I keep seeing ads for mortgage loans with low monthly payments-- is there something similar I could get for a personal loan? THANKS!

A: You know what my answer to this problem is? I am joining the Marine Corps. I'm gonna be programming. There are plenty of different jobs in the Corps other than just killing ppl. So if I were you I'd go to marines.com and search for your nearest recruiter to see what they could do for you. What do you have to lose by talking to a recruiter. Nothing.

Q: How do student loans work? Once I start paying them back, do I have to pay back consistently?
Like if I have $1000 now gathered from working as a student for 2 years, can I use that to pay some of the loan back? Or, is it that once I start paying back loans, I can't stop, and I must consistently pay them back every month? Also, do student loans have minimum sums we are allowed to pay every month? Like can it be that i'm only allowed to pay if i'm paying in a minimum sum of $800 or $1000? P.S. this is not for me, so its not like I can look over a contract or anything like that.

A: It seems like everyone who answers on this subject just refer you to a website. Here's my knowledge so far on my son's student loan... He just got accepted for his first fiscal year in school and the fine print states that if you pay $1000 when your payment is only $250 (example), then your next payment wouldn't be due until after those other payments are paid from what was left of the $1000, meaning, you have an extra three months of payments paid from that money before you had to pay again. Make sense? But no matter if you overpay or pay monthly, you do need to make sure you pay on time, or it could affect your credit rating. I'm not sure what you're saying on your second part, but all loans have a minimum payment due each month, if that's what you're talking about. So what it comes down to is that you can always pay more than what you owe. No bank will turn down money early.

Q: What happens to the status of student loans if I transfer undergraduate schools?
I just transferred undergraduate schools and still have some student loans from my previous school (Sallie Mae and Federal Direct loans). Is there some sort of clearing house that my new enrollment status will be sent to so that the loan agencies know that I haven't just stopped going to school (and thus cause my loan payments to become due)? Or must I obtain enrollment verification from my current school and send it to each loan agency myself?

A: Although most lenders find out if you transfer schools, it's best not to wait to hear from them, as they may have you in repayment status, and if you go too long without making a payment, you'll default which will ruin your chances of federal aid in the future. Best thing to do is call each loan servicer, inform them that you changed educational institutions, and ask if they need you to provide anything to them to keep your loans in good standing with them. Good luck with your education!

Q: What can u tell me about business loans to start up a new business?
In the process of opening a new business. How do business loans work - I know I need a business plan etc before I can apply for a loan, but what's some other info? What's the interest rate range, what's the range of how many yrs u can have the loan, range of amnt they can loan, will they include the first yrs lease amnt in the loan if needed...etc, etc? We have good credit.

A: A true business credit card is a line of credit that is taken in the name of the business, under the business' credit. Activity, whether good or bad, is reflected on your business' credit report through D&B and other financial institutions, and the liability for any debts incurred and bills owed is with the business. However, some companies out there offer "business" credit cards which they require a person guarantee for. These institutions will often ask for a personal guarantee, and will almost always ask for a social security number from the person applying for the card. If this is the case, the credit card is not a business credit card, but is simply a personal credit card which is used for the business. The business is not liable for bills and debts - you are. When applying for a credit card for your business, watch out for areas asking for your SSN (and not your TaxID or EIN) and be wary of any credit card that asks for a personal guarantee. By ensuring that your credit card is in the name of your business, you can help to build your business' credit, while avoiding creating problems with your own. Many companies offer a list of credit cards that are issued under the business name only. Those lists typically run $300-$900, depending on the quality of the information inquiring. I would suggest starting your search online via google or yahoo. Search for "strong business credit" (just like that in quotes) to find services that sell the information. Good luck, Ilya Bodner Small Business Owner Initial Underwriting Group

Q: Is it better to pay off student loans quickly?
I'm graduating this June and I'm going to have about 30,000 canadian in student loans. I want to pay off my loans as quickly as I can even if it means sharing a room with someone. I'm planning to take at least 50% of my pay check to go into loans. So maybe around 900 a month, which allows me to pay off my loans in about 3 years. I'm normally a saver anyway and I can live cheaply. I would have just enough money left over for rent and living expenses. My rent would only be about 400 dollars. Plus, I have savings right now that would work as my emergency fund. Do you guys think that it's a good idea and is it worth it financially? My thought is that it would save me on interest even though it would be hard for a few years, but I will be much better off in the long run. Any suggestions?

A: Its always good to pay down debt Good Luck!!!

Q: What types of loans are out thier for first time home owenrs with good credit?
What types of loans are out thier for first time home owenrs with good credit? The place that I want to buy is about $185 can I still get a zero down loan? If not what is the next best thing?

A: JJ I would be very careful asking for help with your financials on this venue. What you are most likely to get are solictations, like you've already gotten. Do business with local lenders. Should something go wrong at least you can visit them to make sure they correct it. As for the actual question, FHA and USDA have good programs, the VA as well especially if you were wounded. Best of luck!

Q: What to do when you run out of student loans?
I am on my last year of Grad school and I run out of student loans. I had the federal loans and a citi-assist loan but my school is telling me that I maxed out on the amount of loans I can get (the full cost of attendance). What can I do? I see there are private student loan option but some say maximum is total cost of attendance... this means I am ineligible? what are my options?

A: No, it means all you can get is the total cost of tuition & books. Call a few of those companies & ask. Also, since you're in last year, ask mom, dad, aunt, whoever you can for a personal loan. Also, get a job. Waiting tables can be really good $$ for minimum hours put in. Dinner or cocktail only. There's no money in breakfast or lunch.

Q: How do they process your student loans when you almost at your borrowing limit?
I have around $4500.00 left in student loans, and I have two semester left of college. In the fall, I am taking 15 hours, but in the spring I am only taking six. Will they offer the remaining of my loans for the fall semester, and I can use my pell grant for the spring or will they split the remaining loans between the two semesters?

A: Chances are they will split the remaining loans between the two semesters, at least my college does. hope this helps

Q: How do construction loans work?
My husband and I are working with a builder of a subdivision we are planning on building in. We chose a home from the options this builder has for the sub. To get started on the house, we need to give him $5,000 down. However we do not have the funds saved so we are able to do a construction loan. I've heard so many things about construction loans and how the fees are horrible. Yet, its been so hard for me to find any information. Would the fees be that steep, even though we only need $5000 down? Is there any specific banks/companies out there that make this process easier that anyone would recommend? Any help or information would be greatly appreciated. Thank You!

A: It doesn't sound like you are being required to get a construction loan. The builder is asking for an earnest money deposit. Typically, builders require $5,000 to start the home and would ask for an additional 5 or 10 during different phases of the project. If they are going to build something to your specifications, they want you to have enough money into it so you don't back out. The only financing you will need is a normal mortgage, once the house is complete. You will be able to use the money given to the builder as the down payment. Otherwise, you can buy the model.