RBI switched to a softer monetary policy by reducing its policy interest rates to boost economic activities and prevent the country from going into recession as few other western economies.
However, economic conditions have improved significantly over last few quarters and the capital flow in the system is good.
With the improvement in economic condition, many felt that RBI would exit its soft monetary policy and this would lead to increase in home loan rates. However, analysts are of the opinion that RBI would consider various factors before exiting its accommodative monetary policy since a premature withdrawal of the existing monetary policy might slowdown the pace of economic growth. However, a late exit might shoot up the inflation.
Some of the factors that may lead to a change in monetary policy in near to medium terms:
Macroeconomic and financial parameters
Since RBI has to manage the risks associated with inflation, fiscal consolidation and capital inflows, its decision to continue or exit the accommodative monetary policy depends on various factors associated with the risks.
Analysts feel that RBI's stance would primarily depend on macroeconomic and financial market conditions. Factors like strong aggregate demand and a well functioning domestic banking system will lead to gradual exit from low interest rate regime.
Analysts believe that the present rates would continue for some time and the central bank would not tamper with the rates until it is sure that tightening would not hinder economic growth and inflation would remain within control.
Source
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
Pros and Cons of Home Improvement Credit Cards
People looking to start a home improvement project often wonder which are the best sources of financing. Many people turn to banks for a loan, however, most banks require you to have equity built up in your house in order to approve you for a loan. Plus, if your home improvement project is fairly small, the hassle of applying for a bank loan and the high fees typically charged for these loans may not be worth it.
For this reason, many people fall for the temptation to use a home improvement credit card to take out a short-term loan for purchasing the materials needed for their project. All the major hardware stores offer their own private label credit cards; for example, you can have your pick between a Home Depot Credit Card, the Menards Big Card, Lowes Credit Card, Lowes Project Card, and more.
However, in a time where the uncertainties linked to credit card debt have never been higher, is financing a home improvement project with a credit card a good idea? The answer is, it depends. Here is an overview of the pros and cons of hardware store credit cards.
Pros:
* 0% APR Financing Offers. Many of these cards offer a 0% APR introductory period for 6 to 12 months, essentially giving you an interest free loan. This is a great benefit, which can quickly add up if you are undertaking a large home improvement project. However, as we will discuss below, there is a catch.
* Special Offers and Rebates for Cardholders. Many hardware store credit cards offer special promotions to card holders, or e.g. a 2% rebate on purchases made with the card in the store.
Cons:
* 0% APR Financing Offers. That 0% APR may not mean zero interest. For most home improvement store credit card offers, the 0% interest applies only if the purchase is completely paid off before the 0% APR financing period expires. This includes “No Payments, No Interest” offers. If purchases aren’t paid of in full before the end of the promotional period, the standard APR will apply retroactively to all purchases made since you opened the account. Most hardware store credit cards come with a high purchase APR, so this could cost you a lot.
* One strike and your 0%APR is out. Not paying off your purchase before the expiration of the financing offer may not be the only thing that trigger the retroactive interest. For most hardware store cards, the standard APR will also be applied retroactively if you default on the credit card agreement, e.g. by paying late one month.
* High purchase APR. The average purchase APR on Home Depot credit cards, Lowes credit cards, and Menards credit cards are considerably higher than the average for regular credit cards. A purchase APR for a home improvement credit card issued by hardware stores starts at around 17.99% and can go as high as 26.99%.
* Highest default penalty rates in the industry. If you pay your credit card bill late, the penalty default rate applied to your account can be punitive. One consumer reports being penalized with a 45% default APR on her Menards credit card for making a late payment.
The bottom line: While private-label credit cards issued by major home improvement stores like Home Depot, Menards, and Lowes may seem like a convenient way of financing your renovation project, you could easily end up paying through your nose for the convenience.
Instead, consider looking into other types of home improvement credit cards with lower interest and better terms. If you time it right, the Discover More card offers one of the best credit card options for home improvement projects. The card comes with a low purchase APR and it gives a 5% cash back on home-related purchases three months a year, typically in the top home improvement season from April to June.
Source
For this reason, many people fall for the temptation to use a home improvement credit card to take out a short-term loan for purchasing the materials needed for their project. All the major hardware stores offer their own private label credit cards; for example, you can have your pick between a Home Depot Credit Card, the Menards Big Card, Lowes Credit Card, Lowes Project Card, and more.
However, in a time where the uncertainties linked to credit card debt have never been higher, is financing a home improvement project with a credit card a good idea? The answer is, it depends. Here is an overview of the pros and cons of hardware store credit cards.
Pros:
* 0% APR Financing Offers. Many of these cards offer a 0% APR introductory period for 6 to 12 months, essentially giving you an interest free loan. This is a great benefit, which can quickly add up if you are undertaking a large home improvement project. However, as we will discuss below, there is a catch.
* Special Offers and Rebates for Cardholders. Many hardware store credit cards offer special promotions to card holders, or e.g. a 2% rebate on purchases made with the card in the store.
Cons:
* 0% APR Financing Offers. That 0% APR may not mean zero interest. For most home improvement store credit card offers, the 0% interest applies only if the purchase is completely paid off before the 0% APR financing period expires. This includes “No Payments, No Interest” offers. If purchases aren’t paid of in full before the end of the promotional period, the standard APR will apply retroactively to all purchases made since you opened the account. Most hardware store credit cards come with a high purchase APR, so this could cost you a lot.
* One strike and your 0%APR is out. Not paying off your purchase before the expiration of the financing offer may not be the only thing that trigger the retroactive interest. For most hardware store cards, the standard APR will also be applied retroactively if you default on the credit card agreement, e.g. by paying late one month.
* High purchase APR. The average purchase APR on Home Depot credit cards, Lowes credit cards, and Menards credit cards are considerably higher than the average for regular credit cards. A purchase APR for a home improvement credit card issued by hardware stores starts at around 17.99% and can go as high as 26.99%.
* Highest default penalty rates in the industry. If you pay your credit card bill late, the penalty default rate applied to your account can be punitive. One consumer reports being penalized with a 45% default APR on her Menards credit card for making a late payment.
The bottom line: While private-label credit cards issued by major home improvement stores like Home Depot, Menards, and Lowes may seem like a convenient way of financing your renovation project, you could easily end up paying through your nose for the convenience.
Instead, consider looking into other types of home improvement credit cards with lower interest and better terms. If you time it right, the Discover More card offers one of the best credit card options for home improvement projects. The card comes with a low purchase APR and it gives a 5% cash back on home-related purchases three months a year, typically in the top home improvement season from April to June.
Source
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Mortgage rates may be low, but home-equity loans are souring at record pace
An American Bankers Assn. report today illustrated homeowners' struggles to repay debts they already have shouldered. Home equity loan delinquencies jumped from just over 4% in the second quarter to a record 4.30% of all accounts in the third quarter.
Delinquencies on home equity lines of credit also hit a new record, rising from 1.92% to 2.12% of all accounts, the bankers group said.
The troubles with housing debt contrasted with a general decline in consumer loan delinquency rates, as the economy begins to stabilize, recession-chastened borrowers pay down debts and banks write off dud loans as uncollectible. Delinquency rates improved in the third quarter on loans for cars, home improvements and even boats and recreational vehicles, the bankers group reported in its quarterly survey.
The survey by Freddie Mac, the government-controlled mortgage buyer, was conducted Monday through Wednesday and should be posted on Freddie's news site later today. It assumed that borrowers had good credit, a 20% down payment or equity in the home, and paid 0.7% of the loan amount in upfront lender charges, or points.
Last week, the average for a 30-year fixed loan was 5.14% and the week before 5.10%, Freddie Mac said. For the seven weeks before that, the average rate was less than 5% as government support for the mortgage market took effect, including heavy buying of mortgage bonds by the Federal Reserve. Last year at this time, the 30-year fixed rate mortgage averaged 5.10%.
Other mortgage rates, according to Freddie Mac:
--The 15-year fixed rate averaged 4.50% with an average 0.7 point, down from last week's 4.54% and 4.83% a year ago.
--The rate for a hybrid home loan, fixed for five years and then fluctuating with yields on Treasury securities, averaged 4.44% this week with 0.6 point, unchanged from last week and compared to 5.57% a year earlier.
--The 1-year Treasury-linked adjustable rate mortgage averaged 4.31% this week with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.33%. At this time last year, the one-year ARM averaged 4.85%
Source
Delinquencies on home equity lines of credit also hit a new record, rising from 1.92% to 2.12% of all accounts, the bankers group said.
The troubles with housing debt contrasted with a general decline in consumer loan delinquency rates, as the economy begins to stabilize, recession-chastened borrowers pay down debts and banks write off dud loans as uncollectible. Delinquency rates improved in the third quarter on loans for cars, home improvements and even boats and recreational vehicles, the bankers group reported in its quarterly survey.
The survey by Freddie Mac, the government-controlled mortgage buyer, was conducted Monday through Wednesday and should be posted on Freddie's news site later today. It assumed that borrowers had good credit, a 20% down payment or equity in the home, and paid 0.7% of the loan amount in upfront lender charges, or points.
Last week, the average for a 30-year fixed loan was 5.14% and the week before 5.10%, Freddie Mac said. For the seven weeks before that, the average rate was less than 5% as government support for the mortgage market took effect, including heavy buying of mortgage bonds by the Federal Reserve. Last year at this time, the 30-year fixed rate mortgage averaged 5.10%.
Other mortgage rates, according to Freddie Mac:
--The 15-year fixed rate averaged 4.50% with an average 0.7 point, down from last week's 4.54% and 4.83% a year ago.
--The rate for a hybrid home loan, fixed for five years and then fluctuating with yields on Treasury securities, averaged 4.44% this week with 0.6 point, unchanged from last week and compared to 5.57% a year earlier.
--The 1-year Treasury-linked adjustable rate mortgage averaged 4.31% this week with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.33%. At this time last year, the one-year ARM averaged 4.85%
Source
Friday, January 15, 2010
Delinquencies jump for home equity loans, lines of credit
Delinquencies on home equity loans and lines of credit jumped to record levels in the third quarter, a banking trade group said Thursday.
Home equity loan delinquencies rose to a record 4.3% of such accounts from 4.01% in the second quarter, the American Bankers Assn. reported.
Delinquencies on home equity lines of credit also hit a record, climbing to 2.12% from 1.92%.
The troubles with housing debt contrasted with an improvement seen with other consumer loans, the bankers group said.
Delinquency rates fell in the third quarter on loans for cars, home improvements and even boats and recreational vehicles, reflecting a stabilizing economy as well as efforts by recession-chastened borrowers to pay down debts and moves by banks to write off dud loans as uncollectable.
The bad news on home equity debt came as Freddie Mac, the government-controlled mortgage giant, reported that the average fixed rate on a 30-year home loan this week was 5.09%, the third straight week it had been just above 5%, Freddie Mac said Thursday.
The average, which applies to loans taken out by borrowers with good credit and at least a 20% down payment or 20% home equity, was 5.14% last week and 5.1% two weeks ago. Borrowers paid an average of 0.7% of the loan amount in upfront lender charges, or points.
For much of November and December, the average 30-year fixed rate was below 5%, reflecting government support for the mortgage market, including heavy buying of mortgage-backed bonds by the Federal Reserve. Last year at this time, the 30-year fixed rate averaged 5.1%.
The 15-year fixed rate this week averaged 4.5% with an average upfront fee of 0.7%, down from last week's 4.54% and 4.83% a year earlier.
Home equity loan delinquencies rose to a record 4.3% of such accounts from 4.01% in the second quarter, the American Bankers Assn. reported.
Delinquencies on home equity lines of credit also hit a record, climbing to 2.12% from 1.92%.
The troubles with housing debt contrasted with an improvement seen with other consumer loans, the bankers group said.
Delinquency rates fell in the third quarter on loans for cars, home improvements and even boats and recreational vehicles, reflecting a stabilizing economy as well as efforts by recession-chastened borrowers to pay down debts and moves by banks to write off dud loans as uncollectable.
The bad news on home equity debt came as Freddie Mac, the government-controlled mortgage giant, reported that the average fixed rate on a 30-year home loan this week was 5.09%, the third straight week it had been just above 5%, Freddie Mac said Thursday.
The average, which applies to loans taken out by borrowers with good credit and at least a 20% down payment or 20% home equity, was 5.14% last week and 5.1% two weeks ago. Borrowers paid an average of 0.7% of the loan amount in upfront lender charges, or points.
For much of November and December, the average 30-year fixed rate was below 5%, reflecting government support for the mortgage market, including heavy buying of mortgage-backed bonds by the Federal Reserve. Last year at this time, the 30-year fixed rate averaged 5.1%.
The 15-year fixed rate this week averaged 4.5% with an average upfront fee of 0.7%, down from last week's 4.54% and 4.83% a year earlier.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Home-owners face new interest rate hike
Home-owners with an average $300,000 mortgage can expect to pay an extra $46.21 on their monthly repayments assuming retail banks match the Reserve Bank of Australia's 25 basis point hike in the cash rate.
The market had expected the decision as the economy continued upon its road to recovery.
Only NAB had gone out on a limb and tipped a 50 basis point rate rise.
What will this mean to your home loan? Tell us using the feedback form below
"Economic conditions in Australia have been stronger than expected and measures of confidence have recovered,' RBA governor Glenn Stevens said.
"Some spending has probably been brought forward by the various policy initiatives. With those effects now diminishing, these areas of demand may soften somewhat.
"Some types of capital spending are likely to be held back for a while by financing constraints but it now appears that private investment will not be as weak as earlier expected.
"Medium-term prospects for investment appear, moreover, to be strengthening. Higher dwelling activity and public infrastructure spending are also starting to provide more support to spending.
"There have been some early signs of an improvement in labour market conditions. The rate of unemployment is now likely to peak at a considerably lower level than earlier expected.''
This rate increase marks the second consecutive rate rise by the central bank after its official rate had stayed a 49-year low of three per cent for part of this year.
A 25 basis point increase to the official rate means an additional $46 a month in repayments on a $300,000 home loan, according to comparison website Canstar Cannex.
Today's decision is expected to be part of a series of rate rises as the Reserve Bank goes about "normalising" its official rate.
Economists still expect the Reserve Bank to have raised rates to 4.25 per cent in six months' time.
The market had expected the decision as the economy continued upon its road to recovery.
Only NAB had gone out on a limb and tipped a 50 basis point rate rise.
What will this mean to your home loan? Tell us using the feedback form below
"Economic conditions in Australia have been stronger than expected and measures of confidence have recovered,' RBA governor Glenn Stevens said.
"Some spending has probably been brought forward by the various policy initiatives. With those effects now diminishing, these areas of demand may soften somewhat.
"Some types of capital spending are likely to be held back for a while by financing constraints but it now appears that private investment will not be as weak as earlier expected.
"Medium-term prospects for investment appear, moreover, to be strengthening. Higher dwelling activity and public infrastructure spending are also starting to provide more support to spending.
"There have been some early signs of an improvement in labour market conditions. The rate of unemployment is now likely to peak at a considerably lower level than earlier expected.''
This rate increase marks the second consecutive rate rise by the central bank after its official rate had stayed a 49-year low of three per cent for part of this year.
A 25 basis point increase to the official rate means an additional $46 a month in repayments on a $300,000 home loan, according to comparison website Canstar Cannex.
Today's decision is expected to be part of a series of rate rises as the Reserve Bank goes about "normalising" its official rate.
Economists still expect the Reserve Bank to have raised rates to 4.25 per cent in six months' time.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Business borrowers wait for rate rise sting
BANKS moved swiftly to raise variable home loan rates in line with the Reserve Bank's 0.25 per cent increase in the cash rate yesterday, but Westpac tried to upstage its rivals by promising not to boost the cost of small business credit.
While Commonwealth Bank's business borrowers will have a nervous wait to see whether they will cop another increase, NAB and ANZ said they were lifting rates on business loans by 0.25 per cent from the start of next week, The Herald Sun reports.
The RBA increased the official rate for the second month in a row and signalled it would move "gradually" to further tighten monetary policy.
"With the risk of serious economic contraction in Australia now having passed, the board's view is that it is prudent to lessen gradually the degree of monetary stimulus that was put in place when the outlook
appeared to be much weaker," RBA governor Glenn Stevens said.
"The adjustments at the October and November meetings will work to increase the sustainability of growth in economic activity and keep inflation consistent with the target over the years ahead."
After the official rise the money market began "pricing out" the likelihood of a December rise, with the benchmark rate on 90-day bank bills tumbling 7 basis points to 3.88 per cent. The 90-day bill swap rate fell 8 basis points to close at a slight premium to the RBA's new cash rate of 3.5 per cent.
Joris Hillmann, the head of fixed income at Macquarie Funds Management, said the fall in bill rates reflected the lesser chance of a December rate move by the RBA.
"The market had previously priced in for month-on-month increases, but the reaction today suggests that RBA may keep rates on hold in December," he said.
Within minutes of yesterday's RBA announcement, ANZ boosted its variable rate home mortgage by 0.25 per cent to 6.31 per cent.
It was followed by CBA, NAB and Westpac, which each also increased their standard variable home loan rate by 25 basis points. CBA and NAB remain joint price leaders in the home loan market, both offering variable mortgages at 6.24 per cent.
But Westpac sprung a minor surprise, saying it would hold its business rates. Westpac and its subsidiary St George are making a pitch for new small business borrowers in Victoria and South Australia, where NAB and ANZ have traditionally held dominant market positions.
Westpac's pricing on its base rate for secured business lending will remain at 7.69 per cent, while NAB is set to reprice to 7.68 per cent.
Business lending price leader, CBA, is yet to decide whether it will move its secured lending rate up from 6.49 per cent.
"Our business rates are under review," said CBA spokesman Brian Fitzgerald.
The RBA is the only central bank in the world to have begun tightening monetary policy this year, and the latest official hike comes ahead of important board meetings later this week at the US Federal Reserve, the Bank of England and the European Central Bank.
No changes are expected to official rates in the US and Europe, but some economists have tipped the Bank of England may further ease monetary policy by launching a pound stg. 50 billion
re-purchase of government-backed paper.
Money market traders are waiting keenly for the latest US employment data due on Friday after a warning from President Barak Obama on Monday that the US workforce may still be contracting.
The RBA's Mr Stevens noted yesterday that economic growth in China was having a "significant impact on other economies in the region and on commodity markets".
He said economic conditions in Australia had been stronger than expected and measures of confidence had recovered.
"There have been some early signs of an improvement in labour market conditions," he said.
"The rate of unemployment is now likely to peak at a considerably lower level than earlier expected."
The RBA's decision not to tighten by more than 0.25 per cent contributed to a fall in the Australian dollar, which peaked at US91.22 in the minutes before the rate announcement. It was hovering near US89.70 last night.
Source
While Commonwealth Bank's business borrowers will have a nervous wait to see whether they will cop another increase, NAB and ANZ said they were lifting rates on business loans by 0.25 per cent from the start of next week, The Herald Sun reports.
The RBA increased the official rate for the second month in a row and signalled it would move "gradually" to further tighten monetary policy.
"With the risk of serious economic contraction in Australia now having passed, the board's view is that it is prudent to lessen gradually the degree of monetary stimulus that was put in place when the outlook
appeared to be much weaker," RBA governor Glenn Stevens said.
"The adjustments at the October and November meetings will work to increase the sustainability of growth in economic activity and keep inflation consistent with the target over the years ahead."
After the official rise the money market began "pricing out" the likelihood of a December rise, with the benchmark rate on 90-day bank bills tumbling 7 basis points to 3.88 per cent. The 90-day bill swap rate fell 8 basis points to close at a slight premium to the RBA's new cash rate of 3.5 per cent.
Joris Hillmann, the head of fixed income at Macquarie Funds Management, said the fall in bill rates reflected the lesser chance of a December rate move by the RBA.
"The market had previously priced in for month-on-month increases, but the reaction today suggests that RBA may keep rates on hold in December," he said.
Within minutes of yesterday's RBA announcement, ANZ boosted its variable rate home mortgage by 0.25 per cent to 6.31 per cent.
It was followed by CBA, NAB and Westpac, which each also increased their standard variable home loan rate by 25 basis points. CBA and NAB remain joint price leaders in the home loan market, both offering variable mortgages at 6.24 per cent.
But Westpac sprung a minor surprise, saying it would hold its business rates. Westpac and its subsidiary St George are making a pitch for new small business borrowers in Victoria and South Australia, where NAB and ANZ have traditionally held dominant market positions.
Westpac's pricing on its base rate for secured business lending will remain at 7.69 per cent, while NAB is set to reprice to 7.68 per cent.
Business lending price leader, CBA, is yet to decide whether it will move its secured lending rate up from 6.49 per cent.
"Our business rates are under review," said CBA spokesman Brian Fitzgerald.
The RBA is the only central bank in the world to have begun tightening monetary policy this year, and the latest official hike comes ahead of important board meetings later this week at the US Federal Reserve, the Bank of England and the European Central Bank.
No changes are expected to official rates in the US and Europe, but some economists have tipped the Bank of England may further ease monetary policy by launching a pound stg. 50 billion
re-purchase of government-backed paper.
Money market traders are waiting keenly for the latest US employment data due on Friday after a warning from President Barak Obama on Monday that the US workforce may still be contracting.
The RBA's Mr Stevens noted yesterday that economic growth in China was having a "significant impact on other economies in the region and on commodity markets".
He said economic conditions in Australia had been stronger than expected and measures of confidence had recovered.
"There have been some early signs of an improvement in labour market conditions," he said.
"The rate of unemployment is now likely to peak at a considerably lower level than earlier expected."
The RBA's decision not to tighten by more than 0.25 per cent contributed to a fall in the Australian dollar, which peaked at US91.22 in the minutes before the rate announcement. It was hovering near US89.70 last night.
Source
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Plan a Vacation or Research a Mortgage?
Americans spend more time looking into home-improvement projects than they do on refinancing. With mortgage rates at less than 5% this year, the lowest in any 10-month stretch since 1971, proper research can save tens of thousands of dollars during the life of a home loan."People seem not to want to spend a lot of time on mortgage shopping, but it's incredibly important," says Stan Humphries, chief economist for Zillow.com, a real estate Web site that provides price estimates on 70 million U.S. homes. "It's very common that people will just reach out to their current lender to see what they can do about rates."
Humphries says those who plan to refinance ought to check different lenders' rates -- as well as their reputation.
A recent survey by Harris Interactive for Zillow.com of 2,897 consumers who obtained or refinanced a home loan in the past five years found they typically spent only five hours on research. An equal amount of time was spent planning a vacation and, on average, more time was taken in researching a car purchase (eight hours) and home improvements (10 hours). When calculated as time spent per dollar invested, Harris Interactive determined that Americans spend almost 80 times more time researching their vacation than a home loan.
According to Zillow's Mortgage Marketplace, refinance-loan requests through its site are up 39% since September, making up more than 51% of all consumer-loan requests. Its sampling of offered rates is even more competitive than Freddie Mac's(FRE Quote) statistics. On Nov. 2, its average 30-year mortgage rate was 4.78%, 77 basis points lower than in June, when it was 5.55%, the highest this year.
Refinancing has accounted for almost seven of 10 mortgage applications this year, according to Frank Nothaft, chief economist at Freddie Mac. Thirty-year fixed-mortgage rates were 6.46% a year ago, according to Freddie Mac.
Even a slight decrease in rates can mean big savings. Assuming a fixed rate of 4.9% on a $200,000 loan (with a home price of $250,000), the monthly principal and interest payment would be $1,064, compared with $1,141 for the same loan in June. The savings would total $27,788 over the life of the loan.
Zillow.com's Humphries doesn't expect the record-setting lows to last much longer. As the Federal Reserve ramps down its purchase of mortgage-backed securities, he expects rates to begin to rise in the first quarter.
"You see plenty of people speculating on both sides, but I would definitely say that the probability of the upside in outweighs the probability of the downside," he says.
Source
Humphries says those who plan to refinance ought to check different lenders' rates -- as well as their reputation.
A recent survey by Harris Interactive for Zillow.com of 2,897 consumers who obtained or refinanced a home loan in the past five years found they typically spent only five hours on research. An equal amount of time was spent planning a vacation and, on average, more time was taken in researching a car purchase (eight hours) and home improvements (10 hours). When calculated as time spent per dollar invested, Harris Interactive determined that Americans spend almost 80 times more time researching their vacation than a home loan.
According to Zillow's Mortgage Marketplace, refinance-loan requests through its site are up 39% since September, making up more than 51% of all consumer-loan requests. Its sampling of offered rates is even more competitive than Freddie Mac's(FRE Quote) statistics. On Nov. 2, its average 30-year mortgage rate was 4.78%, 77 basis points lower than in June, when it was 5.55%, the highest this year.
Refinancing has accounted for almost seven of 10 mortgage applications this year, according to Frank Nothaft, chief economist at Freddie Mac. Thirty-year fixed-mortgage rates were 6.46% a year ago, according to Freddie Mac.
Even a slight decrease in rates can mean big savings. Assuming a fixed rate of 4.9% on a $200,000 loan (with a home price of $250,000), the monthly principal and interest payment would be $1,064, compared with $1,141 for the same loan in June. The savings would total $27,788 over the life of the loan.
Zillow.com's Humphries doesn't expect the record-setting lows to last much longer. As the Federal Reserve ramps down its purchase of mortgage-backed securities, he expects rates to begin to rise in the first quarter.
"You see plenty of people speculating on both sides, but I would definitely say that the probability of the upside in outweighs the probability of the downside," he says.
Source
Sunday, November 15, 2009
What you Need to Know about Home Improvement Financing
Acquiring a Secured Loan for your Home Improvement Projects. Financing home improvement projects is a great way to invest in something long-term. It will help to raise the value of your home quite a bit. Home improvement financing can cover many projects associated with repairs and renovations of your home.
You can remodel, add a room, or have a pool put in. You can even finance to bring your home to a more green status by adding a glass house for organic growing and for energy conservation.
Home improvement financing is a type of home equity loan that lets you withdraw from your established equity for cash. Home equity financing usually allows for a much lower interest rate and better terms than with other types of loans that you can get. This is because it is a secured loan against your property.
Financing for home improvements can benefit you in the following ways:
1. You have the option of fixed or variable rates.
2. You are given more flexibility in how you repay.
3. You are provided much lower interest rates than most home loans would offer you.
4. You can finance for any home improvements that you want to make.
5. There is no application fee or costs associated with this type of financing.
Some find the whole process of financing for home improvement very stressful and takes more time than they wish to provide for it. There are some steps you can take to help the whole process run a lot smoother.
1. Formulating a Plan: Having a well thought out plan as to how your home improvement will proceed is important. Draw it out on graph paper and make a list of everything that you are moving, adding, or changing.
2. Developing a Budget: You need to figure out how much your renovations will cost and how much equity in your home you have to work with. Sticking to a budget can help ensure that you project runs smoother.
3. Contractor Team: The outcome of your home improvement project ultimately lies within the people you hire to get it done. Interviewing many people helps you to choose the right ones and get a reliable team on your side to do your project.
4. Be Prepared: The project you are undertaking can, at times, become very stressful and take up a lot of your spare time. Being prepared for problems to arise is a good way to help keep your calm in the time of crisis.
Source
You can remodel, add a room, or have a pool put in. You can even finance to bring your home to a more green status by adding a glass house for organic growing and for energy conservation.
Home improvement financing is a type of home equity loan that lets you withdraw from your established equity for cash. Home equity financing usually allows for a much lower interest rate and better terms than with other types of loans that you can get. This is because it is a secured loan against your property.
Financing for home improvements can benefit you in the following ways:
1. You have the option of fixed or variable rates.
2. You are given more flexibility in how you repay.
3. You are provided much lower interest rates than most home loans would offer you.
4. You can finance for any home improvements that you want to make.
5. There is no application fee or costs associated with this type of financing.
Some find the whole process of financing for home improvement very stressful and takes more time than they wish to provide for it. There are some steps you can take to help the whole process run a lot smoother.
1. Formulating a Plan: Having a well thought out plan as to how your home improvement will proceed is important. Draw it out on graph paper and make a list of everything that you are moving, adding, or changing.
2. Developing a Budget: You need to figure out how much your renovations will cost and how much equity in your home you have to work with. Sticking to a budget can help ensure that you project runs smoother.
3. Contractor Team: The outcome of your home improvement project ultimately lies within the people you hire to get it done. Interviewing many people helps you to choose the right ones and get a reliable team on your side to do your project.
4. Be Prepared: The project you are undertaking can, at times, become very stressful and take up a lot of your spare time. Being prepared for problems to arise is a good way to help keep your calm in the time of crisis.
Source
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Making your dream home a reality: Home Loans
Prashanth, aged 32 years had finally zeroed-in on the dream home that he always wanted to own. Scraping through his savings and investments which he had been setting aside over the years for acquiring a home, he could only manage a 20% down payment and now started looking at bank loans to fund the balance amount. Most banks in fact, provide up to 85% of the project cost as loan - but how to approach different banks and get best competitive rates was what he was unaware of .
There are indeed a slew of people who want to know how to go about scouting for a loan and what are the tax implications. Let us start-off with the tax implications and then gradually move towards the type of home loans and the common documentation required while availing a loan.
House ownership & Home loans
Before you buy a house, it is important to understand the tax benefits of the same. No matter what type of loan you avail, there is always an EMI (Equated Monthly Installment) which has to be paid to the Bank. Such EMI has two components - Principal & Interest. Both such components avail tax benefit on a housing loan, however, it depends on the type of house - Self - Occupied or Let out property.
With homes there could be 2 scenarios - you stay in it or you rent it out - When you stay in it, it is termed as Self - occupied property, when it is given out on rent it is termed as let out property. The tax benefits of house property are as mentioned below -
Principal in both cases (Self Occupied & Let Out) can avail tax benefits u/s 80C, which has an overall limit of Rs 1 Lakh alongside other investments like PF/PPF, NSC, Infra Bonds, Insurance, ULIP, ELSS etc., The interest part can be claimed u/s 24 but depending on whether it is a self-occupied or let out property the benefit would correspondingly change.
Required Documents to avail a home loan
Although there is no exhaustive list of what every bank would ask, there are some common papers which you need to hold appropriately, the same would be required irrespective of which HFC (housing finance corporation) he approaches for loan.
> Personal details (photographs, passport and visa copies, authority letter or power of attorney, driving license etc.,)
> Financial details (appointment letter, salary slip, bank statement, balance sheet etc.,) ? Normally for past 3 Yrs
> Property documents (latest sale deed with previous chain link, allotment letter, payment plan and receipts for under construction properties etc.,)
For security, most banks insist that the first mortgage of the property should be in their name. If the property is under construction then adequate additional security is required such as guarantee of third party.
Fixed Rate of Floating Rate: The eternal dilemma!
At the outset, we need to figure out what are the dogmas related to fixed and floating rate - this will guide us in choosing the right type of interest rate on the long term liability that you would assume.
Fixed Rate of Interest
No surprises. No changes. Although this is what one would perceive, often a fixed rate home loan has the liberty to review its home loan rates once in 3 or 5 Yrs. They may not be troubled by short term interest rate jitters, but they may not be purely fixed.
Pros - The benefit of such loans is that because the interest rate is fixed, even if the market pressures push the interest rates to high levels, the borrower pays a fixed EMI. A fixed rate home loan is excellent for those who are good at budgeting and want a fixed monthly repayment schedule, which is easy to budget and doesn`t fluctuate. Thus, fixed rate home loan brings a sense of certainty and security.
Cons - The major drawback with fixed rate is that it is usually 1% - 2.5% higher than the floating rate home loan. Secondly, if for any reason the interest rate decreases, the fixed rate home loan doesn`t get the benefit of reduced rates and the borrower has to repay the same amount every time. And of course, one cannot overlook the fact that the interest rates could be reviewed at intervals of 3-5 Yrs.
Floating Rate of Interest
A floating rate loan is also referred to as adjustable, variable or flexible interest rate loan. The interest rate on home loan will go up or come down depending on how the interest rates are moving. This, in turn, will impact the EMI. The HFC will decide upon a base rate -- known as the floating reference rate. This is generally based on their internal base rate called the retail prime lending rate (PLR). The interest rate on your loan will be benchmarked against this PLR. The changes in interest rates are based on the periodicity as mentioned in the documentation by the home loan company. Eg the interest rates for many banks are reset on a quarterly or half yearly basis.
Pros - The biggest benefit with floating rate home loans is that they are at least 1%-2% cheaper than fixed interest rates. So, if one is getting a floating interest rate of 11.5% while, the fixed loan is being offered at 14%, one will still save money if the floating interest rate rises by up to 3% assuming that there was an equal period before and after the loan rates are exactly equal. Even if the floating rate goes over the fixed rate, it will be for some period of the loan not for the entire tenure. If interest rates fall over a long period; floating interest rate brings a lot of savings.
Cons - The drawback with floating interest rate is the uneven nature of monthly installments. This makes it difficult to budget with floating interest rate home loans. As seen in recent times due to the hike in floating home loan interest rates, EMI``s went up substantially, throwing the entire budget out of order.
Your choice should be purely based on the outlook towards interest rates, currently interest rates are on the verge of bottoming out, and they will head northwards from here onwards. One needs to keep this in mind and the tenure for which one is availing the loan and accordingly avail an appropriate option.
Types of Loans
We are all familiar with the Fixed and Floating Rate Home loans, however, the evolution in home loans has translated into offering consumers a host of options to choose from.
Home Purchase / Construction Loans: This loan is available for the purchase/construction of a new home (on a said land for construction). If one is availing the loan for purchase of land, on which one subsequently intends to construct a house, then it is termed as a composite loan.
Home Improvement / Extension Loans: These loans are given for implementing repair works and renovations/extensions in a home that has already been purchased. If you were planning a refurbishing of your house for a long time, but have not been finding the finances to start the same, then the home improvement loan/extension loan is a definite option.
Home Conversion Loans: This is available for those who have financed the present home with a home loan and wish to purchase and move to another home for which some extra funds are required. Through a home conversion loan, the existing loan is transferred to the new home including the extra amount required, eliminating the need for pre-payment of the previous loan.
Balance-Transfer / Re-finance Loans: Balance Transfer is the transfer of the balance of an existing home loan that you availed at a higher rate of interest (ROI) to either the same HFC or another HFC at the current ROI a lower rate of interest. Re-finance loans are the ones which are availed to close the existing loan which is at a higher ROI by availing a loan from a different HFC at a lower ROI. This swap may however come at a cost and hence one is required to look into minute aspects while deciding on the same. This has recently caught the fancy of many home loan borrowers who intended to swap their existing loans (which necessarily had a higher rate of interest) with the popular SBI loan which was being offered at 8%.
Bridge Loans: Bridge Loans are designed for people who wish to sell the existing home and purchase another. The bridge loan helps finance the new home, until a buyer is found for the old home.
Realty investment as such is an elaborate subject with multiple complications, one may need to spend adequate time and effort to ensure that one is inducing funds into the right projects and availing the home loans at most competent rates!
A few tips:
- Evaluate the affordability of the house and the loan. Choose the duration to match your cash flow
- Carefully compare home loans from different companies before choosing one and look at conditions like conversion from fixed to floating rate loan after a period.
- Most home loan companies have corporate offers. Ask for corporate discount if you are working with a leading corporate.
- Many banks allow you to park your surplus funds into a linked current/savings account and interest is calculated on outstanding reduced by the balance in the account.
Source
There are indeed a slew of people who want to know how to go about scouting for a loan and what are the tax implications. Let us start-off with the tax implications and then gradually move towards the type of home loans and the common documentation required while availing a loan.
House ownership & Home loans
Before you buy a house, it is important to understand the tax benefits of the same. No matter what type of loan you avail, there is always an EMI (Equated Monthly Installment) which has to be paid to the Bank. Such EMI has two components - Principal & Interest. Both such components avail tax benefit on a housing loan, however, it depends on the type of house - Self - Occupied or Let out property.
With homes there could be 2 scenarios - you stay in it or you rent it out - When you stay in it, it is termed as Self - occupied property, when it is given out on rent it is termed as let out property. The tax benefits of house property are as mentioned below -
Principal in both cases (Self Occupied & Let Out) can avail tax benefits u/s 80C, which has an overall limit of Rs 1 Lakh alongside other investments like PF/PPF, NSC, Infra Bonds, Insurance, ULIP, ELSS etc., The interest part can be claimed u/s 24 but depending on whether it is a self-occupied or let out property the benefit would correspondingly change.
Required Documents to avail a home loan
Although there is no exhaustive list of what every bank would ask, there are some common papers which you need to hold appropriately, the same would be required irrespective of which HFC (housing finance corporation) he approaches for loan.
> Personal details (photographs, passport and visa copies, authority letter or power of attorney, driving license etc.,)
> Financial details (appointment letter, salary slip, bank statement, balance sheet etc.,) ? Normally for past 3 Yrs
> Property documents (latest sale deed with previous chain link, allotment letter, payment plan and receipts for under construction properties etc.,)
For security, most banks insist that the first mortgage of the property should be in their name. If the property is under construction then adequate additional security is required such as guarantee of third party.
Fixed Rate of Floating Rate: The eternal dilemma!
At the outset, we need to figure out what are the dogmas related to fixed and floating rate - this will guide us in choosing the right type of interest rate on the long term liability that you would assume.
Fixed Rate of Interest
No surprises. No changes. Although this is what one would perceive, often a fixed rate home loan has the liberty to review its home loan rates once in 3 or 5 Yrs. They may not be troubled by short term interest rate jitters, but they may not be purely fixed.
Pros - The benefit of such loans is that because the interest rate is fixed, even if the market pressures push the interest rates to high levels, the borrower pays a fixed EMI. A fixed rate home loan is excellent for those who are good at budgeting and want a fixed monthly repayment schedule, which is easy to budget and doesn`t fluctuate. Thus, fixed rate home loan brings a sense of certainty and security.
Cons - The major drawback with fixed rate is that it is usually 1% - 2.5% higher than the floating rate home loan. Secondly, if for any reason the interest rate decreases, the fixed rate home loan doesn`t get the benefit of reduced rates and the borrower has to repay the same amount every time. And of course, one cannot overlook the fact that the interest rates could be reviewed at intervals of 3-5 Yrs.
Floating Rate of Interest
A floating rate loan is also referred to as adjustable, variable or flexible interest rate loan. The interest rate on home loan will go up or come down depending on how the interest rates are moving. This, in turn, will impact the EMI. The HFC will decide upon a base rate -- known as the floating reference rate. This is generally based on their internal base rate called the retail prime lending rate (PLR). The interest rate on your loan will be benchmarked against this PLR. The changes in interest rates are based on the periodicity as mentioned in the documentation by the home loan company. Eg the interest rates for many banks are reset on a quarterly or half yearly basis.
Pros - The biggest benefit with floating rate home loans is that they are at least 1%-2% cheaper than fixed interest rates. So, if one is getting a floating interest rate of 11.5% while, the fixed loan is being offered at 14%, one will still save money if the floating interest rate rises by up to 3% assuming that there was an equal period before and after the loan rates are exactly equal. Even if the floating rate goes over the fixed rate, it will be for some period of the loan not for the entire tenure. If interest rates fall over a long period; floating interest rate brings a lot of savings.
Cons - The drawback with floating interest rate is the uneven nature of monthly installments. This makes it difficult to budget with floating interest rate home loans. As seen in recent times due to the hike in floating home loan interest rates, EMI``s went up substantially, throwing the entire budget out of order.
Your choice should be purely based on the outlook towards interest rates, currently interest rates are on the verge of bottoming out, and they will head northwards from here onwards. One needs to keep this in mind and the tenure for which one is availing the loan and accordingly avail an appropriate option.
Types of Loans
We are all familiar with the Fixed and Floating Rate Home loans, however, the evolution in home loans has translated into offering consumers a host of options to choose from.
Home Purchase / Construction Loans: This loan is available for the purchase/construction of a new home (on a said land for construction). If one is availing the loan for purchase of land, on which one subsequently intends to construct a house, then it is termed as a composite loan.
Home Improvement / Extension Loans: These loans are given for implementing repair works and renovations/extensions in a home that has already been purchased. If you were planning a refurbishing of your house for a long time, but have not been finding the finances to start the same, then the home improvement loan/extension loan is a definite option.
Home Conversion Loans: This is available for those who have financed the present home with a home loan and wish to purchase and move to another home for which some extra funds are required. Through a home conversion loan, the existing loan is transferred to the new home including the extra amount required, eliminating the need for pre-payment of the previous loan.
Balance-Transfer / Re-finance Loans: Balance Transfer is the transfer of the balance of an existing home loan that you availed at a higher rate of interest (ROI) to either the same HFC or another HFC at the current ROI a lower rate of interest. Re-finance loans are the ones which are availed to close the existing loan which is at a higher ROI by availing a loan from a different HFC at a lower ROI. This swap may however come at a cost and hence one is required to look into minute aspects while deciding on the same. This has recently caught the fancy of many home loan borrowers who intended to swap their existing loans (which necessarily had a higher rate of interest) with the popular SBI loan which was being offered at 8%.
Bridge Loans: Bridge Loans are designed for people who wish to sell the existing home and purchase another. The bridge loan helps finance the new home, until a buyer is found for the old home.
Realty investment as such is an elaborate subject with multiple complications, one may need to spend adequate time and effort to ensure that one is inducing funds into the right projects and availing the home loans at most competent rates!
A few tips:
- Evaluate the affordability of the house and the loan. Choose the duration to match your cash flow
- Carefully compare home loans from different companies before choosing one and look at conditions like conversion from fixed to floating rate loan after a period.
- Most home loan companies have corporate offers. Ask for corporate discount if you are working with a leading corporate.
- Many banks allow you to park your surplus funds into a linked current/savings account and interest is calculated on outstanding reduced by the balance in the account.
Source
Thursday, October 15, 2009
The Best Option For Home Improvement Loans
Home improvement loans let you fix your home without sacrificing your savings. There are various online sources for home improvement loans.
Home improvement loans cover the expenses for any repairs or renovations you do to your house. The money borrowed is intended for any materials and tools needed, or to hire professional services. Improvements will increase the market value of the house.
The United States Commerce Department stated that 150 billion dollars was spent by Americans for home improvements in the year 2000. The figure shows why finance companies around the US deal largely on providing such loans. It is able to assist many homeowners who need to make reparations.Find a credible improvement loans provider and a well-respected house renovation contractor before deciding on borrowing money through this scheme. Beware of companies that look more on the profits they may gain from you than the quality of service they provide you. Some are self-serving and think more on their profits than what you actually need.
You can do a little background check with contractors as well as companies offering to finance your home project. Try to ask around from their past clients and gauge their feedbacks. Ask about the services they offer and the price you need to pay. Compare the estimated value of the house after the renovation with the cost needed for the improvement. And you also have to compare the interest rates and insurance that is involved with the improvement loan you need.
The final comparison you need to do is the actual costs for the renovation of your home against with your current personal finances. This will now guide you to the most appropriate finance company that offers home improvement loans and the contractor for your home improvement plans or purpose. You really have to make sure that you can repay the loan after some time.
The tax implications for the renovation of the house through the improvement loan program are another concern. There can be some tax deduction and this will help you save a bit. And one of the most important considerations is to identify the renovations or improvements you need that are included with the improvement loan you are applying for.
The detailed home improvement plan you need to accomplish should include the estimated costs and the calculated costs for the renovation. Do not forget to include the expected value of the house after the improvements. The estimates or quotes for the home improvement you obtained from the contractor, architect or civil engineer will be certainly asked by the lender. Be sure you have it ready before going to the finance company.
The following will help you evaluate the options for the improvement loan you are trying to obtain. Will the renovation increases the market value of your house greater than the loan you are applying for? Many improvement loan companies offer a maximum credit limit of 85 percent of the property value. On the other hand, some financial institutions may sanction 100 percent of the house value if you met all their requirements.
The home improvement loan company will base their calculations on your salary, credit history, age, whether single or joint application, amount of loan, collateral and length of payment. The finance company's quotes and the Annual Percentage Rate is also a good guide for improvement loans.
However, online sources for home improvement loans are good alternative for those whose loans do not get approval from traditional finance company. Online home improvement loan lenders are not as strict as their traditional counterpart. They ask fewer requirements for credit qualification. Most online improvement loan lenders' site is convenient and easy to use. Their quotes are usually available within a few hours.
Source
Home improvement loans cover the expenses for any repairs or renovations you do to your house. The money borrowed is intended for any materials and tools needed, or to hire professional services. Improvements will increase the market value of the house.
The United States Commerce Department stated that 150 billion dollars was spent by Americans for home improvements in the year 2000. The figure shows why finance companies around the US deal largely on providing such loans. It is able to assist many homeowners who need to make reparations.Find a credible improvement loans provider and a well-respected house renovation contractor before deciding on borrowing money through this scheme. Beware of companies that look more on the profits they may gain from you than the quality of service they provide you. Some are self-serving and think more on their profits than what you actually need.
You can do a little background check with contractors as well as companies offering to finance your home project. Try to ask around from their past clients and gauge their feedbacks. Ask about the services they offer and the price you need to pay. Compare the estimated value of the house after the renovation with the cost needed for the improvement. And you also have to compare the interest rates and insurance that is involved with the improvement loan you need.
The final comparison you need to do is the actual costs for the renovation of your home against with your current personal finances. This will now guide you to the most appropriate finance company that offers home improvement loans and the contractor for your home improvement plans or purpose. You really have to make sure that you can repay the loan after some time.
The tax implications for the renovation of the house through the improvement loan program are another concern. There can be some tax deduction and this will help you save a bit. And one of the most important considerations is to identify the renovations or improvements you need that are included with the improvement loan you are applying for.
The detailed home improvement plan you need to accomplish should include the estimated costs and the calculated costs for the renovation. Do not forget to include the expected value of the house after the improvements. The estimates or quotes for the home improvement you obtained from the contractor, architect or civil engineer will be certainly asked by the lender. Be sure you have it ready before going to the finance company.
The following will help you evaluate the options for the improvement loan you are trying to obtain. Will the renovation increases the market value of your house greater than the loan you are applying for? Many improvement loan companies offer a maximum credit limit of 85 percent of the property value. On the other hand, some financial institutions may sanction 100 percent of the house value if you met all their requirements.
The home improvement loan company will base their calculations on your salary, credit history, age, whether single or joint application, amount of loan, collateral and length of payment. The finance company's quotes and the Annual Percentage Rate is also a good guide for improvement loans.
However, online sources for home improvement loans are good alternative for those whose loans do not get approval from traditional finance company. Online home improvement loan lenders are not as strict as their traditional counterpart. They ask fewer requirements for credit qualification. Most online improvement loan lenders' site is convenient and easy to use. Their quotes are usually available within a few hours.
Source
Monday, September 28, 2009
What you Need to Know about Home Improvement Financing
Acquiring a Secured Loan for your Home Improvement Projects. Financing home improvement projects is a great way to invest in something long-term. It will help to raise the value of your home quite a bit. Home improvement financing can cover many projects associated with repairs and renovations of your home.
You can remodel, add a room, or have a pool put in. You can even finance to bring your home to a more green status by adding a glass house for organic growing and for energy conservation.
Home improvement financing is a type of home equity loan that lets you withdraw from your established equity for cash. Home equity financing usually allows for a much lower interest rate and better terms than with other types of loans that you can get. This is because it is a secured loan against your property.
Source
You can remodel, add a room, or have a pool put in. You can even finance to bring your home to a more green status by adding a glass house for organic growing and for energy conservation.
Home improvement financing is a type of home equity loan that lets you withdraw from your established equity for cash. Home equity financing usually allows for a much lower interest rate and better terms than with other types of loans that you can get. This is because it is a secured loan against your property.
Source
Monday, July 20, 2009
Consumer loan delinquency hits record high in 1Q
The number of people delinquent on loans rose to a record high in the first quarter, according to new data from the American Bankers Association.
The composite delinquency rate among eight types of closed-end installment loan categories increased to 3.23 percent of all accounts, from 3.22 percent in the previous quarter, the association said. Delinquency is defined as a payment that’s at least 30 days overdue.
The industry group blames the record wave of job losses as a major factor. More than 2 million Americans lost their jobs in the first three months of the year, and 6 million have lost their jobs since the recession began.
“Delinquencies won’t improve until companies start hiring again and we see a significant economic turnaround,” James Chessen, chief economist for the association, said in a release.
Bank card delinquencies rose to 4.75 percent of all accounts, from 4.52 percent in the previous quarter. But balances on those delinquent accounts rose to 6.6 percent of the value of all outstanding bank card debt — marking a record high — from 5.52 percent.
Chessen said the unemployed may be using bank cards to bridge a temporary income gap, especially with less home equity to fall back on as housing values continue to decrease.
Other delinquency rates on the rise in the first quarter:
• Home equity loan delinquencies increased to 3.52 percent of all loans from 3.03 percent.
• RV loan delinquencies rose to 1.52 percent from 1.38 percent.
• Mobile home loan delinquencies increased to 3.7 percent from 2.96 percent.
• Personal loan delinquencies grew to 3.47 percent from 2.88 percent.
• Direct auto loan delinquencies increased to 3.01 percent from 2.03 percent.
Loan delinquency rates in some categories posted a decrease over the quarter, the association said. Declines in delinquency rates were registered with property improvement loans, indirect auto loans and loans for boats and yachts.
Source
The composite delinquency rate among eight types of closed-end installment loan categories increased to 3.23 percent of all accounts, from 3.22 percent in the previous quarter, the association said. Delinquency is defined as a payment that’s at least 30 days overdue.
The industry group blames the record wave of job losses as a major factor. More than 2 million Americans lost their jobs in the first three months of the year, and 6 million have lost their jobs since the recession began.
“Delinquencies won’t improve until companies start hiring again and we see a significant economic turnaround,” James Chessen, chief economist for the association, said in a release.
Bank card delinquencies rose to 4.75 percent of all accounts, from 4.52 percent in the previous quarter. But balances on those delinquent accounts rose to 6.6 percent of the value of all outstanding bank card debt — marking a record high — from 5.52 percent.
Chessen said the unemployed may be using bank cards to bridge a temporary income gap, especially with less home equity to fall back on as housing values continue to decrease.
Other delinquency rates on the rise in the first quarter:
• Home equity loan delinquencies increased to 3.52 percent of all loans from 3.03 percent.
• RV loan delinquencies rose to 1.52 percent from 1.38 percent.
• Mobile home loan delinquencies increased to 3.7 percent from 2.96 percent.
• Personal loan delinquencies grew to 3.47 percent from 2.88 percent.
• Direct auto loan delinquencies increased to 3.01 percent from 2.03 percent.
Loan delinquency rates in some categories posted a decrease over the quarter, the association said. Declines in delinquency rates were registered with property improvement loans, indirect auto loans and loans for boats and yachts.
Source
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