What’s old is new again? In Vermont, one man is refurbishing payphones for people to use for free. Very cool. Debt isn’t old or new, but how we treat it is. On today’s episode of Advisory Angle at 2PM ET, STRATMOR experts Garth Graham, Nicole Yung, and Sue Woodard explore how home equity fits into today’s mortgage landscape. With refinancing largely on hold in a high-rate environment, home equity products are giving lenders, and their borrowers, important new options. The team looks at where the opportunities are right now. Reported numbers vary somewhat, but there are roughly 6 million delinquent student loans. The Treasury & Department of Education are allegedly going to start garnishing wages in October. That impacts mortgages how? 35-40 percent of GNMA borrowers have student loans, and HUD’s guide states no loan modifications if a borrower is delinquent on their student loans. So if a lender is trying to help a client, not only are they dealing with mounting homeowner insurance costs ($500-1,000 a month), but if their wages are being garnished ($500 a month) then what does that do to both their ability to qualify and their delinquencies in other consumer debt categories? (Today’s podcast can be found here and this week is sponsored by Gallus Insights. Mortgage KPIs, automated, at your fingertips. Gallus allows you to turn data from your various databases and systems into automated business intelligence and actionable insights. Hear an interview with Elysian Fields’ Jordan Higgins on how intentional micro-wellness can combat burnout, boost focus, and bring accessible, joyful wellness to today’s screen-heavy workplaces.)
