Paying Back Loans
Related to Your Property

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Consumers are getting more disciplined about paying their credit-card balances, reported the American Bankers Association on Tuesday. The percentage of card accounts overdue in the first quarter was 4.03% -- the lowest delinquency rate in more than two years. But when it comes to property-related loans, such as home-equity loans and lines of credit, consumers continue to fall behind. Home-equity loan delinquencies rose to 2.43%, from 2.37% in the previous quarter.

WHAT TO DO: While consumers may be using the equity in their homes to pay off other forms of debt, like credit cards, consolidating loans has risk. Read about considerations for using home loans. Get a handle on monthly payments by going online to balance your budget. Read about how one family reduced its debt. Learn how future interest-rate increases may affect your card payments and other loans. An aggressive debt-collection industry is going after people who used to fly below the radar. Terri Cullen, in Fiscally Fit, offers considerations on credit counseling, and on finding a reputable agency.

Payback

Delinquency rates on some types of consumer loans.

Source: American Bankers Association

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