Bankruptcy Is Not The Only Option

Bankruptcy is on the rise. It is one way many deal with their insurmountable debt. The filing for insolvency can have long term consequences however that might be avoided through alternatives or credit negotiation. The filing can remain on a person’s credit report for up to ten years in some cases. This will have negative consequences on a person’s ability to apply for credit or for a loan during this long period of time. So people need to think carefully about making this move.

Recent legislation makes it more difficult to file and to be approved. The judge must approve the filing and many factors will be examined. The person’s financial situation will be scrutinized. If it is determined that the person who is filing has the means and the capability to pay back the debts, the filing will be denied.

Those who were looking for a fast and easy way to have their debt extinguished might find that their request for insolvency turned down. Of course there are many advantages if the judge does approve the request for insolvency. The debtor no longer has any debt to pay. They will be relieved from harassing creditors and will in essence be able to start with a clean slate.

For those who declare insolvency, they will be able to get credit or be approved for a loan, contrary to what many believe. But they will have a difficult time finding a lender to extend credit and when they do find one, they will have to pay a much higher interest rate. In fact, there are many lenders who like to lend in these cases because they can charge a higher rate of interest.

There are other options to filing for insolvency. Most people file because of their credit card, or unsecured debt. The unsecured debt means that there is nothing for the creditor to attach, or repossess. This means that a creditor might be willing to negotiate a settlement with the debtor. The debtor has the option of dealing with the lender, or he can seek help from a professional credit negotiator who will work with the credit card companies on his behalf.

Creditors who cannot recover the money owed them by a debtor will sell the loan to a collection agency for as little as ten cents on the dollar. This is a ninety percent loss for the creditor. A credit negotiator can offer the creditor a settlement offer of fifty percent of the balance that is due. This is better deal than ten percent the creditor would get by selling the loan.

The negotiator will also inform the creditor that the debtor is considering filing for insolvency. If this happens and if it is approved, the debtor of course will receive nothing. The negotiator will explain to the creditor that if the debtor can get that company, and others to agree to some form of settlement, that the debtor will not have to file and the creditors are more likely to get some of their money back as opposed to nothing if the filing is approved.

Bankruptcies are increasing because of the tough economy. People are losing their jobs and simply do not have money to pay back their debts. For this reason, there are more creditors willing to work with debtors and come up with a settlement agreement.

If you have been searching far and wide for bankruptcy Scarborough alternatives that fit your particular lifestyle and situation, then a visit to KillenLandau & Associates is a must.

How The New Mortgage Rules Affect House Prices

On Tuesday February 16th, 2010, Canada’s Finance Minister, Jim Flaherty, announced that the Government will be changing Canada’s mortgage regulations in effort to prevent potential mortgage borrowers from acquiring mortgages that they cannot afford. Due to the increasing concerns about consumers being attracted to low mortgage interest rates, especially borrowers who are securing variable-rate mortgages starting at very low levels, there are worries that many mortgage holders may not be able to afford the monthly mortgage payments which could result in a housing bubble. Flaherty announced that the Government will be implementing tougher restrictions regarding how banks go about approving mortgages. For people looking to purchase a new home, it is important to understand how the government mandated mortgage rules will affect home prices.

The goal of the new mortgage rules is to make sure borrowers are not taking on more debt that they can manage. Many experts believe that in the next couple of years home prices are likely to decrease thereby increasing the need for stricter mortgage regulations. Many economists note that the recent low home prices and low mortgage rates are eventually going to increase, but these new rules basically ensure the likelihood that the lower house prices will continue into 2011. In the coming weeks, it is expected that many people will hurry to acquire a mortgage before the rules kick in as the date the regulations come into effect is April 19th, 2010. After that, the housing boom will likely slow down as the market adjusts.

If you are in the market for a new home, this may be a good time to acquire a mortgage. It is important to remember that interest rates will eventually increase so you should create a long term financially stable mortgage repayment plan, especially if you have an adjustable interest rate. For instance, if you get an adjustable mortgage rate at 2% and in two years it rises to about 5.5%, this will cause a drastic increase in your monthly mortgage repayments. If possible, many real estate experts recommend a fixed rate mortgage with a larger down payment so that you will not be negatively impacted when rates increase.

The recent economic crisis has resulted in Government intervention in order to make sure the housing market does not crash. As the housing market stabilizes, home prices will eventually begin to rise. As well, as the economy rebounds, the current low prices being offered on many homes throughout Canada will not last. If you plan to purchase a home after April 19th 2010, it may be more difficulty to secure a mortgage as you will have to meet criteria that includes: a minimum down payment of 20 per cent will be mandatory for government-backed insurance property, the maximum you will be able to withdraw when refinancing your mortgage will be 90 per cent of the property’s value, and you will have to meet specific qualifying criteria for a five-year fixed rate mortgage.

If you have a secure job, good credit rating, and can afford the monthly mortgage repayments even when interest rates rise, this may be a good time to purchase a new home before the new mortgage rules become compulsory.

Analysts are expecting mortgage rates to rise and GIC rates to drop within the upcoming year. Read more about it on our blog.

How Living Within Your Means Can Make Life More Enjoyable

With the recent downturn in the economy, many people are realizing that they cannot afford to sustain the lifestyle that they have grown accustomed to living. Fortunately, this does not mean life cannot be enjoyable. There are a number of easy ways to live within your means without hurting your quality of life. With a little planning and knowledge you can live on budget without feeling the financial strain.

The following are a number of ways to live within your means while making life more enjoyable:

1. In order to live within your means, you have to be able to bring in more money than you are spending. Create a monthly budget that includes how much you spend on essential items such as home and vehicle insurance, utilities, food, cable, phone, mortgage payments, gas, etc. Then, calculate how much you earn monthly. Subtract your monthly income from necessary expenses to determine how much extra money you have to work with.

2. List extra expenses such as entertainment, recreation, and products you shop for in the home and on yourself such as clothing, personal care products, etc. Calculate how much you spend monthly on these items. You will then need to come up with ways to control your spending habits. This can include cutting down on the number of times you dine out each month, shopping for discounts at large department stores, second hand stores, surplus stores, etc. When shopping, look for deals, coupons, and sales. Never pay full price for an item. As well, you can often find great deals when shopping online.

3. Credit card debt is a major source of financial hardship. If you have several credit cards with high outstanding debt, you should at least pay the monthly minimum for each card, and then start to pay off the card with the highest interest rate. Owning fewer credit cards will make it easier to manage and remember. Always pay your bills on time to avoid having to pay any interest at all. To help wean yourself off of credit cards, start carrying cash with you at all times and pay using cash. Seeing the physical money literally change hands will help you consider needs vs. wants on a more regular basis.

4. If you are having trouble keeping up with debt payments, then maybe you should consider consolidating your debt in order to manage it better. Instead of making multiple monthly payments to several creditors, you can consolidate your debt and only need to make a single monthly payment. In addition to helping you get organized, this can also alleviate stress that is often associated with debt.

5. Clean up your credit score. Request a copy of your credit report from one of the following two major credit bureaus: Equifax, or TransUnion. Check it over for any inaccuracies. Look to see what debt is affecting your credit rating and work with a creditor to establish a repayment plan. Don’t ignore your creditors as they will send your debt to a collection agency.

At first, implementing a plan to live within your means can seem very unpleasant. You may miss a few of the luxuries you had grown accustomed to. However, once you get used to the plan, you will find life more enjoyable as you will not longer have the worry of how you are going to pay all of your bills. You may even realize that you are much happier living on a budget.

When searching online for debt counseling or credit counseling, one of the many resources available is Consolidated Credit; offering a variety of debt counseling services and financial planning tools to help Canadians get their debts under control.