Not All Home Foreclosures Can Be Blamed On Inept Budgeting
The rate of home foreclosures has continued to rise in recent years and the current housing market does not offer optimism for the trend to end anytime soon. Not everyone living under the threat of losing their home are deadbeats who simply do not pay their bills. Rather, many are honest, hard working people who may have suffered a financial setback or were victims of not-so-honest lenders looking to make a quick sale.
There have been very few people who signed a mortgage agreement with the intent of losing their home. Additionally, very few would agree to loan that they know they would be unable to pay back on time. Yet, there have been some lending practices that convince people that their financial situation will get better before they fall into bankruptcy and that the equity in their home can help them out of trouble when it is needed. However, the staggering number of home foreclosures being filed on a daily basis, proves that not of the lenders had the interests of their customers at heart.
When someone wants to buy a home and are turned down by traditional lenders, they often seek out those who make loans to high-risk borrowers. The initial interest rate may be in line with other opportunities but if the buyer is even a few minutes late with a payment, depending on the loan agreement, the interest rate can soar. After a couple of months of significantly higher loan payments, home foreclosures seem to follow quickly.
Lenders, Borrowers Need To Share The Blame
During times of a high rate of home foreclosures most lenders place the blame on the home buyers, claiming they did not take their financial responsibilities seriously. However, after looking at the trends in home foreclosures, it may become obvious that some of the lenders did not take seriously the need to make loans to person who had the financial ability to repay them.
The debate can go both ways, but the underlying result is that the homeowners and their families are the ones who lose. Those making questionable loans can recover their money through sheriff's sales of the property and its resell to another family of questionable resources. The fear of home foreclosures rarely helps a family find money to pay the bills, but it can prompt them to seek more alternative methods to save their house.
When they realize that taking on more debt may help them put an end to home foreclosures for the immediate future but not in the long-run, they may simply decide to try to sell the home or turn it over to the lender. Regardless of where the ultimate blame lies, home foreclosures take a toll on the family and in some areas, places a blight on the community.
