IC asked:


Only a few years ago, the prospect of a debt consolidation mortgage was often hailed as the way forward. And it’s clear to see why. Homeowners were getting in to increasing unsecured debt – in 2007, all debt in the UK (around £135tr) exceeded GDP for the first time (around £133tr) – while interest rates were temptingly low. In October 2003 for example, the base rate stood at just 3.5 per cent. As a result, many homeowners were persuaded to borrow more of this cheap money against their homes – which of course were rocketing in value – and pay off more expensive unsecured debt like credit cards. This became known as a debt consolidation mortgage.
How does a debt consolidation mortgage work?

But, really a debt consolidation mortgage is just another name for a remortgage or a further advance. The reference to ‘debt consolidation’ is simply what the homeowner does with the money released. A remortgage means when you switch lenders and increase your borrowing in the process, whereas a further advance means sticking with the same lender and deal but borrowing more against your property. Either of these types of further borrowing is widely referred to as a debt consolidation mortgage.

What are the pros of a debt consolidation mortgage?

A debt consolidation mortgage is very useful in terms of the fact it keeps all of your borrowing in one place. This means there are fewer Direct Debits to organise or fewer repayments to miss as, clearly, you have fewer creditors. Another bonus of a debt consolidation mortgage is that, while mortgages rates are not as low as they once were, they are still a lot cheaper than the rates payable on credit cards, store cards, overdrafts and personal loans. This means that your debt consolidation mortgage will leave you safe in the knowledge you will not be paying eye-watering rates of up to 30 per cent APR on any borrowing.

What are the cons of a debt consolidation mortgage?

However, equally there are some downsides to a debt consolidation mortgage. The first one is that the one new loan you have secured against your home, is payable over a longer period than the five-year term of a personal loan for example, meaning that what you save in the rate of interest, you may pay anyway in the length of time the debt consolidation mortgage runs for.

The other downside to a debt consolidation mortgage is that, when you are upping the loan secured against your home, it relies on the fact that house prices are going to go up, as they have done over the last 10 years by 197 per cent, according to Halifax figures. But these days are over. Both house price indices from Halifax and Nationwide building society are predicting that house prices will stall at 0 per cent by this time next year (January 2009). So you could find your debt consolidation mortgage has upped your mortgage to a greater chunk of your home’s value than you originally thought.

A debt consolidation mortgage is worse news still if house prices fall as it could put you in negative equity faster than the natural decline of house prices would have done. Being in negative equity will often prevent you from moving home as your mortgage – alongside your debt consolidation mortgage – is now larger than the value of the house.

Seeking help from an experienced broker like TMBL is therefore always a good place to start before taking on the serious borrowing that is a debt consolidation mortgage.

Jennifer Morva asked:


 

Financial pressures may compel you to go for debts from the market in unavoidable situations. Being knee deep in debt is a problematic situation for one and all. Or you may be having smaller debts, but never take them lightly. Or these debts may turn out to be a repaying woe later. Unsecured consolidation loan is considered as one sure shot way of wiping away debts with lots of other advantages.



Understanding these loans:

Unsecured consolidation loans merge all debts in themselves with the prime motive that the borrower makes low monthly payments towards the loan. The debts repayment is immediately made by the lender. Thus you get out of old debts immediately. Obviously, instead of making repayments to different creditors, now you make low monthly payment to single lender of the debt consolidation loan.


Features:

You would not be pledging any property to the lender in taking unsecured consolidation loan, which means you pay off debts through the loan without any risks. Tenants and homeowners both are eligible for the loan. You can borrow up to £25000 for 5 to 15 years of repaying duration.



Advantages:

One of the prime advantages is that you get rid of higher rate of interest on debts. Also, now that you repay debts in time, your credit score will improve a lot. With such an improved credit, you will get unsecured consolidation loan at comparatively lower rate of interest. Thus your monthly outgoings on interest come down substantially. You can use the saved amount for repaying the new loan with ease or for any other personal use.

Bad credit borrowers with one or multiple credit problems like defaults, late payments or arrears can pocket unsecured consolidation loan once they have proved repaying ability.



Applying:

Better prefer online lenders as they have lower rate of interest and less additional fees on unsecured loans for debt consolidation as compared to banks and financial institutions. Quicker processing is an added advantage.