Articles for Loans
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Massachusetts Mulling Foreclosure Legislation
Not long after a Massachusetts Supreme Court decision overturned some foreclosures, the state's legislature is set to consider several new laws that could further help financially troubled homeowners avoid losing their property.
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JPMorgan Chief Admits Foreclosure Process a 'Mess'
The chief executive officer for JPMorgan Chase recently said that the company's foreclosure process has proven disastrous, and cost the company a significant amount of money.
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Some banks walking away from foreclosures
Over a million homes faced foreclosure in 2010, and now many of those are becoming vacant and falling into disrepair as banks abandon more properties.
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More Consumers Could Seek Home Loans in 2011
As the economy continues to improve, many consumers may have increased interest in seeking out mortgages on new home purchases over the next year.
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Nevada's foreclosure mediation kept more consumers in their homes
In its first full year of operation, a Nevada state program to help consumers dodge foreclosure has proven successful for many homeowners.
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Attorneys Criticized For Role In Foreclosure Crisis
Lawyers who failed to adequately review foreclosure paperwork may face legal ramifications.
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Massachusetts foreclosure ruling could boost home prices
A recent ruling by the Massachusetts Supreme Court deemed that thousands of foreclosures in the state were transacted illegally because lenders did not properly transfer them to securitization firms. Now, some believe that decision may end up boosting home prices.
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Pension funds demand investigation of foreclosure practices
A coalition of several public pension funds has demanded that a number of major national lenders launch separate investigations into their mortgage and foreclosure processes.
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Home value problems could continue long into the future
Many cities across the country have recently seen tremendous drops in home values, and some predict the problem could persist for as long as two decades.
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Foreclosure abuses highlighted by Florida investigation
As part of the large nationwide effort to examine the foreclosure process, Florida recently highlighted some of the abuses lenders made, which included forging signatures and fabricating witnesses.
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Foreclosure settlement expected in near future
Part of an investigation by the 50 state attorneys general into the foreclosure practices of the nation's largest mortgage companies will likely be settled in the next few weeks.
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Mortgage market expected to change based on new rules
A new set of restrictions that may soon be placed on mortgage lenders could radically change the landscape for the housing market.
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Government report says lenders not to blame for crisis
While there are a number of causes for the national economic meltdown that led to millions of consumers losing their homes, a new government report indicates that the lending practices of major banks was not one of them.
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Strategic default becoming more popular among homeowners
In recent months, Americans have seen their home values plunge to the point that they owed more on their mortgage than the property was actually worth. This trend led millions to walk away from the loan in a process called strategic default, and many more now say they would consider doing so.
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Freddie and Fannie underwater purchase proposal meets resistance
Several government bodies and officials have actively questioned a proposed plan that would see mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac begin to purchase consumers' underwater home loans and allow them to write down part of the remaining balance.
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Fed urged to deny borrower rights to invalidate mortgages
Financial institutions are asking the Fed to remove safeguards that allow homeowners to battle against paperwork flaws.
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Possible mortgage fraud jumped in first half of 2010
Cases of suspicious activity that may indicate mortgage fraud rose in the first half of the year as more banks attempted to foreclose on consumers' properties.
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Mortgage applications decline again this week
Fewer consumers are now seeking new mortgages, as several recent declines in the overall market continued this week.
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More consumers pay off mortgage ahead of schedule
Reversing a recent trend, many consumers are now making a greater effort to reduce not just their credit card debts, but also the remaining balance on their mortgages.
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Mortgage rates expected to remain low in the next year
While it remains unlikely that next year will see rates on home loans will reach the lows they hit in November, experts believe they are still likely to remain well below 5 percent.
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Veteran enrollment rises at for-profit institutions
Revenue skyrockets at for-profit schools, as more veterans sign up for programs
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Mortgage rates rose again this week
For the fourth week in a row, the average national rate for home loans rose once again in the week ending December 9.
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Home values projected to plummet in 2010
More Americans may face negative home equity by the end of the year.
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Mortgage delinquencies should decline sharply in 2011
The economy has made a slow, steady recovery over the last several months, and that amelioration is expected to continue through the end of next year, potentially leading to fewer mortgage delinquencies.
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Groups urge lawmakers to set tighter controls on reverse mortgages
Seniors who do not fully understand reverse mortgages may face financial strain and risk down the road.
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Massachusetts bill would require judicial review of foreclosure requests
Consumers in Massachusetts who have had trouble dealing with foreclosure in the past may get help from a bill that will be introduced next month, which would require a judge to review all seizure requests.
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Philadelphia firm allowed nonlawyers to file inappropriate foreclosure documents
A major Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, law firm faces a new lawsuit for allegedly allowing a number of people who were not lawyers to review and file thousands of bad foreclosure documents against homeowners throughout the state.
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New law to clarify cosigning obligations for student loans
Often, when a young adult applies for a student loan, their parents will co-sign to help them qualify. In the event that a student dies, the co-signer will be stuck with the bill. However, a new law recently introduced into the U.S. Senate would clarify parents' obligations under those unfortunate circumstances.
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Banks must stop foreclosures during loan modifications
As the government continues to investigate the practices of major banks relating to the foreclosure crisis that recently gripped the country, lenders are now prohibited from seizing properties if borrowers are in loan-assistance programs.
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Consumers seek fewer mortgage refinances as rates rise again
The seasonally adjusted number of consumers who applied for a refinance of their existing home loan during Thanksgiving week tumbled considerably, resulting in a steep decline in the total mortgage market.
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Banks balk at Fannie and Freddie's demands
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have recently begun demanding that lenders buy back defaulted mortgages the government-controlled home loan insurers backed, but the banks are ignoring or refusing those requests.
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Fannie and Freddie instruct agents to restart foreclosures sales
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two government-controlled mortgage backers, recently issued memos to real estate agents across the country, telling them to resume selling properties that had previously been foreclosed on.
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Bi-weekly mortgage payment plan may benefit consumers
Homeowners who agree to make bi-weekly payments may chip away at their mortgage loan more quickly.
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Rent or buy? Ask Bank of America
Bank of America launches a new program to help renters decide whether they would benefit from homeownership.
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Number of mortgage applications increased last week
The number of consumers who applied for either a new home loan or a refinance of their old one last week increased over the previous period.
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Housing affordability climbs to highest level in 20 years
Low mortgage rates enable more Americans to purchase homes at reasonable prices.
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Freddie Mac increasing fees to lenders for backing risky mortgages
In an effort to reduce the costs associated with insuring risky mortgages, federally backed home loan giant Freddie Mac will soon introduce new fees for lenders who grant these lines of credit.
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California universities raise tuition, cause concern among students
The recent decision by University of California and Cal State University officials to raise tuition for all undergraduates has caused many to worry if they can afford to bridge the gap from their student loans.
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For-profit colleges see enrollment slow as student loan issues take center stage
Fewer students are enrolling in for-profit schools, earnings reports show.
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Expert says credit standards still too tight for mortgages
Though rates have dropped to near all-time lows, many consumers are still having trouble qualifying for a home loan under the current credit conditions because they're too restrictive.
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Mortgage rates climb to highest level since August
After weeks of being at or near record lows, rates on home loans jumped sharply this week.
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Elder care loans hit the market to help 'sandwich generation'
Some boomers are turning to new forms of financing to help cover the costs of caring for an elderly parent.
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Tough job market making it difficult to pay back student loans
Recent college graduates that left school optimistic they would soon begin to afford paying back their student loans have found the job market to be difficult, and as a result are faced with significant money woes.
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Lenders may incorporate additional restrictions on FHA-loans
Consumers may have a more difficult time securing mortgage loans amid even tighter lending restrictions.
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Consolidating student loans an option again
There were few ways to make student loans easier to pay off during the national recession. But as credit standards loosen again, many lenders may now allow consumers to consolidate their education debt.
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Student loan debt highest among D.C. graduates
Student loan debt may be higher in some areas of the country than others.
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Mortgage rates expected to increase in 2011
Mortgage rates have remained at or near record lows for a number of months, but now experts are warning that this trend will reverse itself next year as interest rates creep back toward normalcy over the next year.
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New purchases drive mortgage activity upwards
More consumers sought home loans as they attempted to buy homes, and as a result, the total number of mortgage applications last week increased substantially.
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Know student loan repayment options before defaulting
Consumers should exhaust all of their options before succumbing to student loan debt
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11 percent of troubled loan modifications still default
While a government program has helped many Americans successfully refinance their mortgages to make them more affordable, some that enrolled still had so much trouble making payments that they defaulted.
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Kansas residents now eligible for Lending Club loans
Popular personal loan website, Lending Club, has opened its doors to Kansas residents.
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More students graduating with large debt and no job
Student loan balances have grown on average each year along with the unemployment rate for recent graduates.
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Student loan debt rises again
Consumers are spending more to put themselves or their children through college.
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Refinance while interest rates remain at record lows
Current interest rates may prompt millions to refinance their mortgage loans and save thousands in the long run.
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Potential homeowners eschew traditional buying methods
Thanks to the national economic downturn, more consumers are looking for more ways to save money, and that frugality has extended to the homebuying market.
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Professionals question new FHA practices
Many mortgage brokers are concerned the new FHA requirements will not solve real estate crisis.
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Mortgage boom buoys smaller banks
Thanks to an increased demand for mortgages, on both new home purchases and refinances of existing loans, many regional banks throughout the Midwest and Southeast have seen marked improvements in their third-quarter earnings.
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What to do if you can't pay your student loans
Thanks to the stagnant job market, many recent college graduates may be having trouble finding full-time employment, and as a result could struggle to pay their student loans. However, there are a number of ways for these people to keep their credit scores healthy.
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More parents cut into retirement funds to pay for child's education
Despite the availability of numerous student loan and grant programs, many parents are now opting to borrow from their own retirement funds to pay for their kids' education.
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Understand the obstacles before applying for VA loans
Tightening credit markets may limit eligible veterans from receiving loans.
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Expiring tax credit may become permanent
Congress may consider a proposal to halt the expiration of the American Opportunity Tax Credit and make it a permanent part of its budget.
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Explore all options before taking out student loans
Considering all financial aid options can help individuals avoid student loan debt.
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Some zero-money down mortgage programs still exist
Consumers who don't have a large amount of money saved may still be able to secure a mortgage loan.
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Apply for mortgage loans at same time to reduce credit score damage
Submitting mortgage applications all at once may lower the impact to a consumer's credit score.
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FHA credit score requirements take effect
Consumers who want a government-backed home loan will now need to have better credit scores than in the past.
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Q2 loan delinquencies increase, report says
U.S. consumer loan delinquencies rose for the first time in a year during the second quarter of 2010.
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A good credit score can lead to a better interest rate
Typically, when lenders consider a person's loan application, they are primarily concerned with the borrower's credit score.
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More Americans can't get mortgages because of credit scores
Many people may be aware that their credit score has a direct affect on their ability to qualify for loans of all types, but mortgage lenders have tightened restrictions so much that a large percentage have been locked out of the home loan market.
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Unpaid taxes and insurance led to 13,000 reverse mortgage loan defaults
The reverse mortgage industry has seen its default rate spike as property taxes and insurance burden more older Americans.
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Mortgage loans difficult for consumers with credit scores below 620
Lenders continue to tighten their mortgage loan criteria, turning away many with lower credit scores.
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HAMP loans have lower default rate
Borrowers who have modified their mortgages under HAMP are less likely to default than homeowners who have secured lower payments through other programs.
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Mortgage loan process more tedious
The abundance of paperwork makes securing a mortgage loan more difficult, despite competitive interest rates.
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U.S. sees spike in short sales
Short sale transactions have nearly tripled since 2008, data shows.
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More banks create 'second look' programs for loan applicants
Second review of denied credit applications may help more consumers secure loans.
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Banks no longer allowed to offer federal student loans
A lesser-known provision of the healthcare reforms passed in March makes the government the sole lender of federal student loans.
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Low rates make 15-year mortgages more attractive
Homeowners who are refinancing their homes are opting for 15-year over 30-year mortgages due to low rates.
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Louisiana reports more personal loan defaults
Borrowers in Louisiana are finding it more difficult to pay off their personal loan, credit card and utilities bills, records show.
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Unemployed college graduates may qualify for personal loans
The average college student comes out of school with thousands of dollars in credit card debt and student loan bills. If they don't have a job, they might not know how they can pay off those outstanding balances.
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What you need to get a personal loan
Many consumers may have a desire to take out a personal loan, but may not know where to begin.
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Know which debts to pay off first
Facing a mountain of debt is stressful enough, but trying to determine which bills take priority can be even more tedious.
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National amount of nonrevolving credit rose slightly in July
Slightly more consumers relied on personal loans as the second half of the year began.
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Scammers preying on personal loan seekers
There are many lenders that will extend consumers a fair and affordable personal loan. But a recent investigation in Nebraska has uncovered two that promised things they didn't deliver, and ripped off consumers in the process.
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14 questions you should ask before you sign up
Debt settlement may sound like an easy solution to your debt woes but before you decide to hire a settlement company to negotiate or settle your debts, make sure you ask these fourteen questions before you hire them.
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Personal loans grow for TD Bank
More Americans may be seeking personal loans to make ends meet as the economy continues to slowly improve.
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Consider personal loans before turning to private funding for tuition costs
Many people who have been unable to secure a job during the economic downturn have decided to go back to school and obtain an undergraduate or graduate degree. But as tuition increases, securing funding to pay for the cost of education can be difficult.
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Citi sees increase in overdue personal loans
The restructure of Citibank's consumer finance unit is being named one of the reasons that personal loan delinquencies are increasing.
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New Jersey nursing students taking out personal loans.
As lenders tighten restrictions and make it more difficult for consumers to borrow, more Americans are looking for less-traditional ways to pay for the things they need. But one case in New Jersey had more bizarre circumstances.
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Be cautious when shopping for personal loans
Visiting a number of different banks and asking detailed questions about the terms of their personal loans will allow borrowers to make a more informed and financially sound decision.
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Personal loans becoming easier to obtain
Many Americans have run into money problems for one reason or another, but there may be good news for those consumers.
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Personal loans can pay off other debts
The recent financial crisis has caused many consumers across the country to fall into credit card debt or see their home loans lapse into foreclosure. In these cases, they may find a personal loan to be helpful.
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Student loan repayment statistics may help young adults choose college
The most recent data on student loan repayment rates - more specifically, those associated with for-profit schools - has led many Americans to take a second look at the true cost of an education.
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Massachusetts to offer low-cost student loans
Many consumers may be interested in attending college but unsure of how they might begin to pay for it. Now Massachusetts is offering its residents a way to fund their higher education.
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Rules for student loans at for-profit colleges may change
For-profit colleges that operate online have come under fire of late, and now the government will review standards for issuing federal student loans to these institutions.
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Lenders extend modified mortgage loans to 40 years
Banking institutions and mortgage companies continue to be inundated with mortgage modification applications as a record number of Americans try to stave off foreclosure. But many who receive permanent modfications are part of a new trend that allows lenders to extend a homeowner's repayment period to 40 years.
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Fewer Americans re-defaulting on mortgage modifications
New reports reveal that homeowners who have obtained modifications as of late are finding it easier to meet their mortgage responsibilities. The latest data from the State Foreclosure Prevention Working Group - a collaboration of 12 state attorneys and banking regulators - revealed that homeowners who received modifications in 2009 were 50 percent less likely to fall behind on payments within a 60-day period in contrast to those who received lower payments in 2008.
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Government aid programs face obstacles, but continue to help some homeowners
Although many of the federal initiatives to provide mortgage modifications and foreclosure prevention aid have been deemed "ineffective" by some lawmakers, recent reports show that the programs have gained some success.
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The Truth About Payday Loans
Payday loans, also known as ”check cashing“ or ”payroll advance“ services, are marketed as short-term solution to covering your expenses before your next payday. Along with that benefit, however, come a number of pitfalls to consider before you seek out this loan option, among them a high annual percentage rate.
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Repayment Options for Student Loans
If there's one thing about student loan debt, it's that there is no easy way out of paying them back. Lenders will give you many options to help you pay them back, but if you default, there are serious consequences.
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Student Loan Consolidation Tips
For recent college grads, student loans are just one more reality they have to face. Consolidation is just one option to help make repayment more manageable. Considation isn't right for everyone, however, and you need to consider the pros and cons before you make the leap.
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Better Score, Better Deals
Having a higher credit score can get you a lower interest rate on credit cards and loans, which means lower payments — and bigger savings in the long run. Luckily, there are steps you can take to improve your credit score, no matter what it is, and get better deals.
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Paying Off Your Student Loans with Forgiveness Programs
If you're drowning in student loan debt, there are a few legitimate options that can help you cancel out part of your debt, such as service-oriented occupations (or vocations) like being a doctor, nurse, teacher or community volunteer positions.
