REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-'Strategic Defaults' Can Damage Credit for Years

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-'Strategic Defaults' Can Damage Credit for Years

Home owners who choose to default on their mortgage even though they can afford the monthly payments can expect to take a significant hit to their creditworthiness, some credit rating firms say.

A record of the default — initially as much as 200 points — stays on a credit report for seven years. This will have an impact on the defaulter’s ability to get credit of all kinds and potentially his or her ability to buy insurance and even get a job.

The debt that foreclosure erases may be considered income, and Uncle Sam may want to collect taxes.

"It's by no means a move to be undertaken lightly," says Maxine Sweet, vice president of public education for Experian.

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Mortgage Rate Falls Under 4.5 %

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Mortgage Rate Falls Under 4.5 %
Freddie Mac reports that long-term mortgage rates moved south again this week. 

Interest on 30-year fixed loans hit a new low of 4.49 percent, compared to 4.54 percent last week and 5.22 percent a year ago; and the 15-year mortgage landed at 3.95 percent, down from 4 percent last week and 4.63 percent a year ago. 

Five-year adjustable-rate mortgages reached a new low of 3.63 percent, down from 3.76 percent last week and 4.73 percent a year ago; while one-year ARMs fell to 3.55 percent from 3.64 percent last week and 4.78 percent a year ago. 

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Five Surprising Reasons to Buy a Home Now

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Five Surprising Reasons to Buy a Home Now
ForSaleByOwner.com offers five good reasons why now is a great time to buy a house:

1. Low mortgage rates serve as an equity shock absorber. When buyers borrow at today's record-low rates, they start building equity as soon as they close. That means they can absorb a few ups and downs as the still-recovering housing market gains traction.
2. Houses are in move-in condition. Home owners have continued to spend on maintenance and repair, according to the Harvard Joint Center on Housing. As these houses enter the market, they are in marked contrast to tattered foreclosures.
3. Terrific houses are coming on the market. Foreclosures are finally starting to clear the system, and they are being replaced by some very attractive properties.
4. Appraisal regulations are finally aligned with market realities. Fannie Mae has adjusted its appraisal guidelines, giving appraisers more flexibility to set values that reflect the current market.
5. Plenty of programs. Many programs that encourage middle-class families to buy homes continue to exist, despite market downturns. Buyers who qualify can get a big boost by combining one of these programs with today's low mortgage rates.