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Yessiree! There's more than meets the eye when it comes to loan modifications. A recent article pulls back the curtain just a tad. Check it out. By the way, I'm working with homeowners who are underwater, current and want to do something positive for their balance statement...just ask me!

Loan Modifications and Mortgage Modifications Can They Affect Your Credit Score

Loan Modifications and Mortgage Modifications are being sold like they are going out of fashion and both the Government and private banks are reporting successes in the number of loan modifications and mortgage modifications processed.

If you are desperate to keep your home and you are finding it difficult to pay for your mortgage payments a loan modification might be the option for you. However there is a question you must ask yourself. Is a loan modification or mortgage modification worth my trouble? There are a number of negative consequences that are attached to mortgage modifications.

Among them is the risk of paying more that the mortgage is already costing you in deferred and balloon payments.

Another issue related to mortgage modifications is the possibility your credit score could be affected. It might surprise you but taking a government sponsored loan modification could lower your credit score. The reason for this is that some banks and loan providers report loan modifications as partial payment plans. These plans include programs that reduce the debt of borrowers that can’t afford to pay their loan. FICO, one of the organizations that prepare credit scores from the information financial institutions quantify partial payment plans negatively.

This could make it harder for borrowers that take on a loan modification to buy a home in the future. Of course if you are happy where you live and you just want to save your home this should not be a problem.

First-time Homebuyers Tax Credit

A completely different type of credit that people are concerned about is how the mortgage crisis will affect previous government sponsored first time homebuyers tax credit programs.

These tax credit provide a tax break, a percentage discount or sometimes a dollar to dollar deduction from tax of any mortgage related expenses.

The government is as interested in promoting home purchases as it is to stop foreclosures so these programs have been extended. However the recession is affecting the U.S budget so it is wise to get on the first time homebuyers tax credit bandwagon while there is a wagon to ride. The deadline for applying for a tax credit has been extended so that purchase agreements must be signed before May 1^st and closed by July 1^st.

For more information on this matter visit www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com

The same applies for other tax credit programs like the HOPE scholarship tax credit, a sister program to the HOPE loan modification program. This tax credit program provides dollar for dollar tax breaks on college tuition, fees and course materials. This program will end next year so it pays to apply early. For more information visit www.finaid.org.