|
||
The mortgage industry has long been able to adapt to changing market conditions. When interest rates rose to double-digit levels in the late 1970's, the industry made more adjustable-rate mortgages available. When the savings rate began to drop and Americans had less to put down on homes, the industry made more flexible loan products available that did not require as large a down payment. And now, as immigrants begin to comprise a larger and larger portion of our population, the lending industry is begun to introduce loans that are tailored to an immigrant population that may not have solid credit histories or Social Security numbers.
These loans, known as ITIN loans, are offered to illegal immigrants that do not have a Social Security number. They can qualify for the loans by obtaining an Individual Taxpayer Identification number (ITIN) from the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS issues these numbers to people who are required to pay taxes but are ineligible for a Social Security number. The government uses these numbers for tax purposes only. A few small banks, as well as national banks Citibank and Wells Fargo, have started to issue loans to customers who have an ITIN but not a Social Security number. Most of these loans have been issued in California, but they will probably be available in other places soon.
The process of obtaining an ITIN loan is somewhat more complicated than that of applying for a conventional mortgage. Applicants with an ITIN usually have a credit history that is less well documented. As a result, the usual background work required issuing such a loan is more complicated and more time consuming than for a conventional mortgage. In addition, fees and interest rates will tend to be higher than for other types of loans in order to compensate lenders for the additional trouble and additional risk.
While there is plenty of opposition to lending money to people who are here illegally, few would argue that a neighborhood that consists of homeowners, rather than renters, is a better neighborhood for everyone. Owners are much more likely to take care of their property and show concern for the neighborhood as a whole than are renters. Thus, any lending plan which encourages people to buy, rather than rent, is good for everyone.
With the growing interest in real estate purchasing and speculation, more and more lenders are offering “nontraditional” types of mortgages. These include adjustable rate mortgages (ARM) of every shape and size, the more popular interest-only mortgage, and the very dangerous Option ARM mortgage, which can cause the amount you owe to actually increase as time passes. One rapidly growing sector of the lending market is the so-called “subprime” market, which caters to consumers with poor credit records. The subprime market is a profitable one, as lenders offer loans to consumers whose poor payment history targets them as risky clients. Yes, they are risky clients, but the lenders charge fees and interest rates that are high enough to offset the additional risk. People who are interested in purchasing a home should be careful, however, as many people who should qualify for traditional loans are being pushed into higher-priced subprime loans instead.
The subprime market is quite a lucrative one for lenders, who are able to charge higher fees and interest rates due to the increased risk posed by clients with substandard credit histories. A subprime borrower might pay an interest rate that is several percentage points higher than that of a traditional loan, and the fees may include several additional “points” as administrative fees. A point is one percent of the loan amount. This can add several thousand dollars to the closing costs and tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of the loan over the life of the typical 30-year mortgage.
While it is understood that customers with poor credit histories represent a higher risk to the lender, potential borrowers need to make sure that they aren't classified as “subprime” by their prospective lenders. Studies show that up to 15% of subprime borrowers have credit scores that should have entitled them to loans at lower, more traditional interest rates. What this means for potential borrowers is that you should shop around for the best price on a loan and not accept it as fact when a lender tells you that you don't qualify for the traditional rates. The Federal Trade Commission is investigating several lenders who have increased their profits tremendously by steering borrowers who should have qualified for low-interest loans into higher-interest subprime loans, claiming that they didn't qualify for the lower rate.
How can you avoid such problems? Obtain a copy of your credit report. You can obtain one, with your credit score, from any of the three major credit bureaus – Experian, Equifax, or Trans Union. As a rule, lenders offer subprime rates to customers who have credit scores below 620. If your score is higher than that, you should be able to qualify for a better interest rate. If not, you can either accept the higher rates from lenders, or take time to improve your score by paying off some bills in a timely manner.
© Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing.