Understanding Bonds To Avoid Risk By Bill Dufrane

With a plethora of ways to analyze bonds, it might make your head spin. Even so, evaluating the potential risk before you buy and calculating your potential returns is an essential step in the process of acquiring bonds.

1. Evaluate All Potential Risks

You should pay attention to all the details - interest rates, inflation, how easy it is to sell that particular bond, you name it.

2. Credit Risks

It doesnt matter what kind of bond you choose to invest in, there is always a credit risk. In 1995, U.S. Treasuries, considered the gold standard of bonds were close to default for the first time in history. For corporates and municipals the risks are even greater, running everywhere from the AAAAaa to B and below. These are often called junk bonds.

3. Bond Evaluation Checklist

- What is your earning potential?
- What is the current earnings per share?
- What is a typical divident payment?
- What is the outstanding debt?
- What forseeable technological changes might affect this bond?
- What is the track record of management?

4. Dividends

As debt loads grow, the amount of interest paid increases, reducing the amount for such investments as well as bringing a company closer to default on existing debt, since only so much can be sustained by current revenues.

5. Interest Rates

A large number of bond issues have maturities with 5-30 year periods. Any change in the prevailing interest rates affects unmatured bonds in two ways. A rise in rates depresses the price for those considering selling prior to maturity, since investors can get a better rate with a new instrument. Also, the pressure to sell rises, since the bondholder can himself get a higher rate with a new instrument. The longer he holds the older one, the more opportunity costs he incurs.

7. Dealing With Inflation

Inflation is the enemy of bonds. It will significantly reduce your return on any bond. Even ignoring tax issues, an 8% bond in a 4% inflation environment is worth half its coupon value. Historically, inflation tends to increase more than it decreases. When it does decrease the general economy tends to suffer, worsening returns for all investments. Know the rate of inflation and the market conditions before you invest.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=92565&ca=Finances

Understanding Home Equity Loans By Andy M

Home equity loan is often reviewed as an advantageous loan for both the consumer and lender. Home equity loans are the secured loans, which require the home as the collateral security. It has become a popular mortgage option among the home owners. Home equity loan is appreciated over other loans because lenders are more lenient about the terms and conditions. The lenders are flexible about the home equity loan as it is a secured loan. The home owners can utilize the home equity loan for any purpose as it is cheaper than most other types of loans.

One can avail equity loans even if any mortgage is present on it. The equity loan amount will then be calculated with respect to the volume of the equity you owe in the home. It can be computed based on the difference between the outstanding amount in the mortgage and the current market value of the home. As the lenders will be confident about the loan amount, the market value appraisal of the home is usually high up to 125%. Even though 125% or 100% appraisal is not feasible in all times, most of the home equity loans provide high appraisal values of 80%. Moreover credit reports are not given much importance in the loan approval as the lenders have the security of the home.

The home equity loan application requirements are also simple. The additional prerequisites for the equity loan application include the proof for ownership of the home, and the proof for your current equity in the home. The home equity loan is provided for any type of homes such as single-family home, duplex, a townhouse a condominium unit, and a modular home. The home equity loan processing is a step wise process, in which the property appraisal is the first step. The title search and document preparation are also the part of the equity loan processing. And obviously as in any other loans, the lenders will check for the employment status and may monitor your debt to income ratio. The increased debt ratio such as more than 38% expenditure may affect your loan appraisal. However it will not be a major constrain, if your home has appreciable market value. The home equity loan processing will take around 5 days, in an average.

The main advantage of home equity loan is its interest rates. The home equity loans are usually structured as fixed loans for long periods ranging from 10 years to 30 years. Hence home equity loan can be used to meet any requirements such as debt consolidation, home improvement, paying medical bills, personal loans and even for a holiday. However do not think that home equity loans can be a safe deal for the borrowers always. The lenders may come up with many attractive offers, since they will have the advantage over your precious asset. They will offer the maximum amount and long tenure period as they can get more profit from it. Moreover the lenders will ultimately become the owner of your valuable asset, if you are incapable to repay the debts.

Home equity loans are one of the cheapest loans that you can avail, however, be cautious while your step in since the risk involved in equity loan is also high, if the borrower finds it hard to make the repayments in time.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=93275&ca=Finances