In the world of finance, a bond is a debt security. It is an agreement to pay back the borrowed money, and interest is accrued. So, for all intents and purposes, a bond is very similar to a loan. They can provide a borrower with external funds which can be used for long-term investments. Bonds are generally issued by credit institutions, and the most common process is through underwriting. Underwriting is simply the process a large financial institution goes through, to assess the eligibility of a consumer to receive their services.

The type of bond or loan you apply for determines the time required for processing and completion, and different types of loans require different kinds of documentation. Paperwork for bond issues and loans can be overwhelming, but there are basic documents required by all lenders, prior to processing an application.

Verification of your income is a major priority. To do that, you will need earnings statements like your W-2 forms, pay stubs and tax returns, for at least two years. For those who are self-employed, profit and loss statements and tax returns can be used. If you have additional income, such as social security, bonuses, commissions, interest and so on, be sure to have that documentation available as well.

Bank account and savings account numbers, along with those statements, should be provided. Also have information available for all savings bonds, stocks and investments, as well as copies of titles to any vehicles that are paid in full. Supplying a copy of a ratified purchase contract for the property in question, along with a copy of the cancelled check used for a down payment, will also be required.

You will want records of your debts, as well. Credit card bills, car loans, furniture loans, student loans, and other installment loans should be made available, along with creditor contact information. Also, if you have paid child support or alimony, make those records available, as well.

Verify your credit history by supplying the lender with canceled checks for rent, utilities and other recurring commitments. This shows a payment history, as well as the amount of your revolving debt.

When all the proper documentation has been received, it goes to a processor. Their job is to verify and validate all the information. You should anticipate that verification requests will be sent to your employers, mortgage holder or landlord, and lending institutions.

For the most part, securing a loan or bond will depend on your previous financial habits, in other words, your credit report. Before they step out on a limb and extend credit, lenders want to know what the risk factor is, in getting their money back. Make sure you know what is in your credit report, prior to applying for a loan or bond. If you find an error, take the needed steps to correct it before you apply. On average, almost 50% of all credit reports have errors that are noteworthy enough to cause a loan or bond denial.

Once all the information is collected and verified, the file is sent to the underwriter.

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Hidden Costs in a Mortgage

Most every loan is going to have associated with it fees for insurance, valuation, etc. Most of these fees are commonly required amongst all lenders and they must give you a list of their costs associated with a mortgage. Despite the fact that the costs are disclosed, some lenders may include extraordinary “junk” fees in their costs that an unwary buyer may not recognize as an extra fee. At the time of a loan application lenders are required to give you a written closing cost estimate.

First, determine if you’re rate are being loaded. Some lenders advertise artificially low rates to attract customers but load up on fees to compensate for a lower rate. A tip off to a lender that charges hidden fees would be a lender who advertises interest rates that are appreciably lower than the competition. Interest rates are very competitive and shopping for the very best rate may in fact work to your disadvantage. Differences in rates of 1/8^th or 1/4^th of a percent result in very little difference in a payment and may be offset by poor service and added hidden fees.

Mortgage companies and fees. Mortgage companies often advertise that through their intervention the financial institution will subsidize the client’s bond registration fees. But, at what cost to the client? Saving R2 000 for example in bond registration fees, but ending up paying R200 000 more in interest is a great deal for the bank, but not for the client.

Mortgage companies are often owned by a bank or an estate agency. The real issue is a serious lack of independence and conflict of interest. Clients have no guarantee that their mortgage application will be channeled to the lender that offers the best interest rate instead of to the one offering the broker the highest commission. These fees will be subsidized by the banks customers in the form of higher charges and higher interest rates.

Always work with an mortgage firm that is independent from any bank and who’s services are FREE and without any premiums attached to the client like Mortgage Plus.

Correcting Past Credit Problems

Contrary to what you may have heard, credit reports are for the most part accurate. Common last names and a “Jnr.” in the family does cause a few problems but credit reports identify people by their identity number, address, and name. If you have an issue with your credit report, credit-reporting agencies are required to attempt to resolve the problem. Most of the information has to be provided by the individual and they should stay in touch for as long as it takes, frustrating or not. There are two main credit repositories in South Africa: Trans Union, and Experian. These companies each hold a database of information and provide it to a more local credit-reporting agency that may actually be issuing the report. If you have a dispute, you can go direct to the two repositories to attempt to clear the issue.

As mentioned before, credit scores in the 500 range can cause problems when attempting to obtain new credit. You can raise your score if the original information was incorrect, or you can over time improve your payment history, but it may take a few years of diligent payments to appreciably raise your credit score.

If worse comes to worse declaring bankruptcy  may be your only answer, but despite its growing popularity, I recommend it only as a very last resort. A bankruptcy will stay on your record for years and make obtaining credit difficult. There are two methods to declare bankruptcy: Voluntary and Compulsory Insolvency (bankruptcy). If your creditors have you sequestrated, this is known as compulsory sequestration. If, however, you decide to have yourself declared insolvent, such act is referred to as voluntary sequestration.

Should you not have yourself declared insolvent, but wait for your creditors to take the necessary action, there is a possibility that they will not succeed in their application for a court order. It may no longer be in their interest, on account of the fact that your assets are worth too little to them.

In the absence of compulsory sequestration, your debt simply increases further (as a result of interest), and your financial suffering is aggravated and endures for longer. The descriptions above are overly simple and general, but the bankruptcy option is a poor one and you should explore your options with an attorney before making a decision. After a period of time a rehabilitated insolvent may apply for credit, but this will depend on numerous factors. Most lenders state that at least a year must pass after a person’s been rehabilitated and a new good credit history must be established. A difficult chore, but it can be done. Make sure that rent or mortgage payments have no late payments for at least the previous 12 months. Avoid paying in cash; make all payments by check or credit card where your payment history can later be verified. It will also help to explain to your lender that the situation that originally caused the problem, a job loss, illness, etc., has now been resolved.

To learn more or if you’re interested in getting a loan, or are worried about debt, make an enquiry with Mortgage Plus at www.mortgagepluscc.co.za or call (011)327-4489 / morne@mortgagepluscc.co.za