Barry Ripp ~ East Bay Area Real Estate

Some homeowners wonder what would happen if they were to stop paying their mortgages.  

When lenders do not receive payments, the first action taken by the lender is to report the missed payment to the credit bureaus by the first day of the next month.  Sometimes this can happen in as little as two weeks from the due date, depending on when the payment is due.  Generally, this action will leave a negative mark on a credit report and decrease the homeowner’s credit score by as much as 200 points.

Because of the negative mark on the homeowner’s credit report, within the next 30 days, homeowners can expect their other creditors to take note of the late payment and to take action.  Credit card issuers may raise interest rates, lower credit limits, or close credit card accounts.  The borrower’s auto insurance, student loans, and other forms of credit also may change, as these are tied to the borrower’s credit score as well. 

If the homeowner does not pay for 90 days, the lender likely will start calling, trying to persuade the homeowner to enter into a loan modification.  If a loan modification cannot be agreed upon between the homeowner and the lender, and the homeowner continue missing payments, the homeowner likely will be served with a foreclosure notice. 

Homeowners at risk of defaulting on their mortgages, or those who already are behind, should contact their lender immediately to work out a repayment plan and/or loan modification.  

Information obtained by Calif Asso of Realtors and the Modesto Bee.
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LOW INTEREST RATES:
Falling interest rates are fueling a rise in home mortgage applications and refinancings in the Inland region, though experts aren’t yet ready to declare the beleaguered local housing market on the road to full recovery.

PENDING SALES:
According to the National Association of Realtors’ housing affordability index, seven of the top eight most affordable months occurred during this year. Pending sales of existing homes rose for the sixth straight month in July, the association reported.
NEW HOME SALES:
Sales of new, single-family houses rose 9.6 percent in July compared with June, to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 433,000 units, according to estimates released jointly by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development.

HOUSING MARKET LOOKS GREAT FOR BUYERS:
The combination of affordable home prices, historically low mortgage rates, and a first-time home buyer tax credit that’s set to expire soon, has created the perfect storm of sorts for buyers who’ve been sitting on the fence, waiting for the market to recover.
Real estate prices nationally have declined approximately 30 percent from their 2006 peak and are beginning to show signs of increases—an indicator that prices aren’t likely to go much lower, according to some housing analysts.
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I will be happy to help you with any of your real estate needs. I look forward to working for you.
~ Barry Ripp