Related Links

Featured Links





Recommended Products



 

 
Featured Articles

British Families and Debt
There is current concern from the Bank of England that British families are getting deeper into debt, however, it has been said that lenders are putting themselves at risk because people are now more willing to make themselves bankrupt.Despite people ...

Is Now the Right Time to Become An Entrepreneur?
A number of economic changes are magnifying the role of small business and creating the impetus for entrepreneurship. In the past, many people perceived small business owners as shopkeepers – the mom ‘n pop shops. Today, with a status boost, they’re ...

Why You Need To Buy and Sell Gold Coin(Part 1)
The Value of Gold in a Era of Paper Assets, Stocks, Bonds and Mutual Funds...The facts behind the increasing demand for gold and silver, rare coins, and historic collectibles from the U.S. Mint...No other substance on Earth embodies the unique ...


Google
The Power of a Home Equity Loan to Pay Down Debt
 

Households across the country are finding themselves in a similar situation. They lack the financial funds to make the necessary changes to their home and need to find a way to fund upgrades and eliminate debt. A popular way of financing these changes without killing themselves is by taking a home equity loan to pay down their debt.


The Home Equity Loan has become a fast-track way of paying down large credit card debt, financing college education and even taking a vacation. Since the stock market has lost quite a bit of appreciation, people have been purchasing homes as a means of investment, thus sending housing prices through the roof. With higher prices comes a great deal of appreciation in the home. People who have found themselves in 20 – 30 thousand dollars in debt can pay it down by taking a home equity loan. Home Equity Loans have been a source of relief and flexibility to get the homeowner out of debt and moving forward in life.


The home equity tax shelter


The greatest benefit from taking a Home Equity Loan is being able to crush debt, but also reduce the amount you owe the government every year. Most loans by design do not provide any tax relief, whereas a Home Equity Loan provides a direct line item to reduce your debt. To figure out your home equity value you can hire a professional appraiser to come out and tell you how much it is worth to a bank or financial institution. Once you have that figure you can easily find out how


much equity you have in your home. For example, should your home appraise for $150,000 and you owe $ 60,000 you have $90,000 in equity. This equity will not become a taxable event should you buy a bigger home and spend more money. Should you step down in your home, you can be penalized for the difference, provided that you have not already taken the one-time exemption allowed by the government.


Debt relief


Once you have found out how much your home is now worth, it is time to apply for the loan. During the loan process you can bring your credit card statements as well as any other debts you may owe to the table. Explain to the loan officer your situation and ask that these debts also be included in the Home Equity Loan. If your home has at least 40% equity in your property you should have no problem getting them dissolved into the loan. There are many reputable lenders who will help you find the right loan for you. The Home Equity Loan will restart the 15 or 30-year clock from day one. Your payment may increase or decrease depending on how much debt you add or cash you take out of the property.


By Jakob Jelling


http://www.cashbazar.com






Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.cashbazar.com. Visit his website for the latest on personal finance, debt elimination, budgeting, credit cards and real estate.





News



US government looks to mine social media to combat terrorist attacks, uprisings
Fox News
SAN FRANCISCO – The US government is seeking software that can mine social media to predict everything from future terrorist attacks to foreign uprisings, according to requests posted online by federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies.

and more »

UK government calls for tougher penalties against press in wake of phone ...
Fox News
LONDON – Britain's government minister responsible for the media said Sunday the country's press must face tougher penalties for breaches of standards in the wake of the tabloid phone-hacking scandal. Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt also said newspapers ...

and more »

USA TODAY

Hutaree militia trial opens Monday
USA TODAY
By Tresa Baldas and David Ashenfelter, Detroit Free Press DETROIT – The government says they're homegrown terrorists who plotted to kill police officers with bombs and guns. By Madalyn Ruggiero, AP A law enforcement official walks out of an armored ...

and more »

Hindustan Times

Commonwealth to Probe Government Change in Maldives
Voice of America
February 12, 2012 Commonwealth to Probe Government Change in Maldives VOA News The Commonwealth said Sunday it is sending a team to the Maldives to investigate the sudden transfer of power in the Indian Ocean archipelago. The nine-member Commonwealth ...
Nasheed snubs US, unity government in MaldivesHindustan Times
New president of the Maldives names former autocrat's party in expanded CabinetWashington Post (blog)
Diplomacy Falls Flat in MaldivesWall Street Journal
NPR -Times of India
all 527 news articles »

Bloomberg

Israel Strike Ends After Government, Histadrut Reach Accord
BusinessWeek
12 (Bloomberg) -- The Israeli government and the country's largest labor union reached an agreement ending a general strike that has shut banks, government offices and the stock exchange since Feb. 8. Under the accord, crafted during all-night ...
Israel General Strike Ends as Government, Union Reach Contract-Worker DealBloomberg
Israeli strike called off after union, government reach dealCNN International
Israeli union federation ends five-day national strikeBBC News
Reuters -Chicago Tribune
all 151 news articles »