The Mortgage Crisis
Most of you are aware that subprime mortgages have created a rash of foreclosures all over the US. Many of the foreclosures were caused by adjustable interest rates.
The borrowers figured they could afford their mortgage at the original interest rate, but somehow did not plan to afford it once the rates went up. The home buyers saw “teaser rates”, and somehow, either did not understand that those rates would increase, or just chose to ignore it.
If Ben Franklin knew about adjustable rate mortgages, he probably would have added a third certain thing beyond death and taxes, and that is the fact that those rates get adjusted, and they get adjusted up! Anyway, the problem is that for many reasons, including the interest rates going up, people are losing their homes.
The Subprime Mortgage Crisis Solution????
The government plan is set to keep rates steady for those mortgages that are scheduled to go up on January 1st. But it does not address the problems of those who have already lost their homes, or who have already fallen behind on payments. Other criticize the plan because they say it rewards irresponsible lenders and homeowners. The mortgage companies never should have extended the credit in the first place, and the homeowners should not have signed a contract that they could not afford.
In another time, when the housing market was good, people could simply sell homes they could not afford. Now, whole neighborhoods are full of foreclosed homes, and they are not likely to be able to sell their home for enough money to pay off a loan that is only a couple of years old.
Of course, sometimes we do need to show compassion. People do lose jobs, become sick or disabled, and have a death in the family. In my mind, these people do deserve help in a fair society, but I do not believe the government has ever stepped forward to bail out victims of circumstance. The government is only acting because this crisis will affect the whole economy, and not because people are in tough circumstances.
Mortgage Protection
If you are concerned about your own future, and your ability to pay your mortgage, consider an affordable mortgage unemployment and disability insurance plan. It cannot prevent an adjustable rate mortgage from rising, but it can help save your home and credit should you experience one of the common problems that prevents people from hanging on to their home.
subprime mortgage crisis, government bailout, foreclosures
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