DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Student-loan borrowers with 'hardship' could be eligible for Biden's next round of relief if the administration can define what that means
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Education Department released its draft text for its new student-debt relief plan. AdvertisementAdvertisementOver the past few years, Insider has heard from a range of borrowers who have struggled to get ahead of their student debt. Now, President Joe Biden's Education Department is moving forward with its new plan for student-loan forgiveness — and it wants feedback on which situations would meet a "hardship' standard for relief. The department said it did not include that group of borrowers in its initial draft text for debt relief because it needs to further define what hardship means. Do you think your student debt experiences should qualify as hardship?

Persons: —, Joe Biden's, Pell, Tamy Abernathy Organizations: Education Department, Service, Joe Biden's Education Department, Higher

☆ Student-loan companies are asking for patience to resolve account errors as payments come due, but borrowers can't afford to wait
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

AdvertisementAdvertisementAlicia, 48, is just a few months away from qualifying for student-debt relief through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. She said she anticipated that once the student-loan payment pause ended, she would be facing the same monthly payment. After over three years, the pandemic student-loan payment pause is officially over — interest started to accrue again in September, and bills are now starting to become due. So we can't wait months and months and months." Are you having challenges with student-loan repayment?

Persons: servicers haven't, —, Alicia, Alicia —, I've, servicers, it's, it'll, they're, We're, Xiong Chang, Xiong, I'm, servicer, he's, Miguel Cardona Organizations: Service, Public, Education Department, Customer Service Locations: PSLF

The CFPB's funding design draws money each year from the Federal Reserve instead of from budgets passed by lawmakers. Challengers to the CFPB - trade groups representing the high-interest payday loan industry - argued that the agency's funding structure violates a constitutional provision giving Congress the power of the purse. The Supreme Court's 6-3 conservative majority has rolled back the power of federal agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency in important rulings in recent years. The court's three liberal justices pressed the challengers on the repercussions of deeming the CFPB's funding structure unconstitutional. Circuit Court of Appeals, which last October ruled that the CFPB's funding structure violated the Appropriations Clause.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Kevin Wurm, Joe Biden's, Elizabeth Prelogar, Biden, Elena Kagan, Barack Obama, Wells, John Kruzel, Will Dunham Organizations: U.S, Supreme, REUTERS, Companies Wells, Co, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Federal, Environmental Protection Agency, Conservative, Federal Reserve, Democratic, New, Circuit, Appeals, Republican, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, WASHINGTON, New Orleans

☆ All the ways student-loan borrowers can get help on their monthly payments — and new relief to look out for next year
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

AdvertisementAdvertisementPandemic relief for student-loan borrowers is officially over. While pandemic relief is over, the Education Department has put forth a series of plans to help borrowers afford their monthly payments — including temporary safeguards should they miss a payment. On-ramp periodIf a borrower finds they cannot afford their monthly payments, they can make use of the 12-month "on-ramp" period beginning in October. AdvertisementAdvertisementOther forms of relief to comeAside from repayment, the Education Department is working through other regulations, including targeted relief, for student-loan borrowers. It could also run into legal challenges, and not everyone who qualified for Biden's first debt relief plan is guaranteed to qualify now.

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Biden Organizations: Service, Education Department, Federal, Higher Locations: COVID

Our experts answer readers' student loan questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess student loans). After a three-year pause on payments due to the pandemic, student loan payments are scheduled to resume October 1 . For many, adding student loan payments to a long list of expenses might be a struggle. Understand how student loans will fit into your financesDon't just guess whether you can afford the expense — student loan payments will require you to redo your budget. What to do about private student loansIf you owe private student loans , this might be a bit trickier.

Organizations: Consumer Financial, Social, SAVE, Federal

☆ What happens to student-loan borrowers who miss payments starting next month
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Federal student-loan payments are starting up again beginning next week. AdvertisementAdvertisementMillions of student-loan borrowers are about to face another monthly bill — and they might not be able to afford it. On October 1, borrowers will begin receiving bills for their federal student-loan payments. Here's what borrowers should be aware of, along with the potential consequences of missing a payment starting next month. AdvertisementAdvertisementOn-ramp periodThe Education Department announced some temporary relief for borrowers if they find they cannot afford payments next month.

Persons: —, Joe Biden, Biden, servicer Organizations: Service, Education Department, Education, Perkins, Social, Higher Locations: COVID

☆ An ex-mortgage underwriter who owns 129 rental units worth over $28 million shares 3 ways to buy property with little or no money down. — Plus 3 calculations he uses to find a cash-flowing property.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( Laila Maidan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

To date, he has amassed 28 single- and multi-family homes that were worth over $28 million at their time of purchase. This is when the seller provides the loan, allowing the buyer to skip the bank and instead give the monthly payment with interest to the seller. In this instance, the lender will provide the down payment in exchange for either equity in the deal or monthly payments over time. If he has an $8,000 return, he must deduct $5,000 on mortgage payments. He determines this by dividing the total monthly operating costs, including utilities, maintenance, property taxes, home insurance, and property management fees (not including mortgage payments) by the total monthly income.

Persons: Chris Gerbig, Tori Gerbig, Pink Lily, Chris, Chris didn't, he's, you'll, they've Organizations: eBay, Bank of America, Housing Administration, National Association of Realtors, Loan Locations: Wells Fargo, Kentucky

☆ Global watchdog tackles 'vulnerabilities' in leveraged loans
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Global securities regulators have proposed tightening how the leveraged loan market operates to tackle "vulnerabilities" after a prolonged period of low interest rates led to deteriorating standards. Leveraged loans are loans extended to companies that already have high debt, and therefore are at a higher risk of default. Global securities watchdog IOSCO said it had identified "some vulnerabilities in the leveraged loan and collateralized loan obligation markets which may be exacerbated by the behavior of certain participants and market practices." Covenant-lite loans now make up 90% of the leveraged loan market, up from just 1% in 2000, IOSCO said in a public consultation paper on its proposed new guidance. U.S. companies have raised more money in private markets than in public markets in each year since 2009, it added.

Persons: IOSCO, Huw Jones, Mark Potter Organizations: Global, Investors, Thomson

☆ Conservatives hope Supreme Court defangs US consumer watchdog
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( John Kruzel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

But the watchdog's future may be in peril thanks to a case now before the U.S. Supreme Court. Pro-business conservatives and their Republican allies believe the court fight has brought them closer than ever to dismantling the CFPB. Congress, then controlled by Democrats, authorized the agency to supervise certain financial institutions' compliance with federal consumer laws, backed by the threat of lawsuits and fines. Circuit Court of Appeals last October ruled that the agency's funding structure violated the Constitution. Biden's administration told the Supreme Court that the CFPB's funding structure approved by Congress - with a fixed amount going to the agency annually - was effectively "a standing, capped lump-sum appropriation."

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Kevin Wurm, Wells, Joe Biden's, Ellen Harnick, Barack Obama, Mick Mulvaney, Donald Trump, Mulvaney, John Kruzel, Douglas Gillison, Will Dunham, Scott Malone Organizations: U.S, Supreme, REUTERS, Rights, Consumer Financial, Bureau, Fifth Third Bank, U.S . Federal, Congress, Center for Responsible, Republican, Democrats, Republicans, Republican U.S, Community Financial Services Association of America, Consumer Service Alliance of Texas, Circuit, Trump, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office, Federal Reserve, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, New Orleans

Legal experts say that if California wins, it could embolden other states to take action against lenders that make high-interest loans to low-income borrowers using what critics call "rent a bank" partnerships. Several nonbank lenders have already exited California, said Saunders, whose group tracks high-interest lenders. In California, OppFi took the unusual step of preemptively suing to try to block the state from taking action. Federal law allows state-chartered banks to lend across state lines at the interest rate legal in their home state. California has urged Dillon to recognize that OppFi decides who to lend to and has a deal with the bank to purchase the loans.

Persons: Lee Jae, Timothy Dillon, Lauren Saunders, California's, OppFi, Saunders, Dillon, Allard Chu, That's, Ron Vaske, Ballard Spahr, Jody Godoy, Andy Sullivan Organizations: REUTERS, California Department of Financial Protection, Los Angeles Superior, California, Federal Reserve, National Consumer Law Center, EasyPay Finance, FinWise Bank, FinWise, Thomson Locations: Seoul, California, Chicago, Utah, U.S, In California, Colorado, New York

☆ The Chinese property market may look like it's imploding. But one expert doesn't think it'll cause a financial crisis — and there may even be a bright spot.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

China's property troubles may slow the economy down, Nicholas Lardy, a China economy expert, told CNN. However, the issues will not create a financial crisis, he added. Even so, one Chinese economy expert thinks the crisis is unlikely to spill over into the broader economy. Advertisement Advertisement Watch: Ken Rogoff on the next financial crisis and the future of bitcoinChina's property sector has been gripped in a crisis since 2021 when property giant Evergrande ran into a liquidity crisis. The market was so hot that Chinese developers were taking on massive borrowings to build apartments ahead of demand.

Persons: Nicholas Lardy, it's, Ken Rogoff, Evergrande, Lardy, Lina Batarags Organizations: CNN, Service, Peterson Institute for International Economics Locations: China, Wall, Silicon

☆ A couple with over $250,000 in student debt finally got their balance wiped out after nearly 3 decades of repayment: 'This is life-altering for us'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-27 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

"I fully expect this debt will follow me to the grave," Ron Rizzardi told Insider in 2021. AdvertisementAdvertisementRon and Marcia Rizzardi just got their student-loan balance forgiven. "It's a little unbelievable — surreal, maybe," Ron Rizzardi told Insider after he received that letter. AdvertisementAdvertisementFor the Rizzardis, their chapter of student-loan repayment is now closed. "I had just gotten back from a meeting, and I sat down, and I just got into the habit of looking at my servicer's account every day," Ron Rizzardi said.

Persons: Ron, Marcia Rizzardi, Ron Rizzardi, Harris, we'll, it's, I've, Joe Biden's, We've, We'd, It's, —, servicers Organizations: Service, Harris Administration, Students, Education Department Locations: Wall, Silicon

As of January 2023, residential mortgage debt stood at C$2.08 trillion ($1.53 trillion), according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). Mortgage rates tend to track moves in the bond market with a lag. At 6.79%, the five-year mortgage rate posted by major Canadian banks has climbed to its highest since November 2008, data from the Bank of Canada shows. When it is time for renewal, options for homeowners hoping to shop for better interest rates might be limited as they would have to re-qualify for the stress test at the latest interest rates with their new lender. "It certainly is going to be problematic for the Canadian economy if rates stay at this level."

Persons: that's, James Laird, Laird, Daniel Foch, Foch, Stephen Brown, Nivedita Balu, Fergal Smith, Denny Thomas, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: TORONTO, Bank of Canada, Canada Mortgage, Housing Corporation, Ratehub.ca, Bank of, Toronto Regional Real Estate Board, Greater Toronto Area, Reuters, North, Capital Economics, Thomson Locations: United States, Toronto, Greater Toronto, Canada, North America

☆ How Biden's new student-loan repayment plan could keep borrowers from owing far more debt than they originally took out
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Biden formally launched the new income-driven repayment plan, known as the SAVE plan. Interest capitalization often keeps borrowers in repayment without being able to touch their principal balance. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe new SAVE plan would work to prevent that from happening. AdvertisementAdvertisementAside from the SAVE plan, the Education Department had previously announced plans to tackle growing interest on borrowers' balances. The formal launch of the SAVE plan comes as the student-loan payment pause is about to end after over three years.

Persons: Biden, Joe Biden's, Biden's Organizations: Service, Economic Advisors, CEA, Education Department, Higher Locations: Wall, Silicon, Biden's

☆ Distressed US corporate debt trading touches 11-month low: JPM
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Matt Tracy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Stephanie Keith/File Photo/File PhotoAug 8 (Reuters) - The amount of U.S. corporate loans and bonds trading at distressed levels has reached its lowest in 11 months, according to a JPMorgan (JPM.N) research report on Tuesday. However, the volume of junk-rated corporate loans themselves trading at distressed levels has fallen for two consecutive months, nearing a year-to-date low in July, it said. At the end of July, $110 billion of outstanding loans traded at distressed levels. It marked the second straight month of declining distressed trading of junk-rated loans, after reaching a year-high in May, according to data in the report. At 22%, loans to junk-rated healthcare sector issuers made up the highest portion of distressed trading last month, according to the JPMorgan report.

Persons: Stephanie Keith, Shirley Singh, Singh, Matt Tracy, Deepa Babington Organizations: JPMorgan, REUTERS, Moody's Investors Service, Moody’s, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, . Federal

☆ The lawsuits to block student-loan forgiveness keep coming — and the latest would keep borrowers who 'have earned the forgiveness' in debt, Biden's Education Department says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Conservative groups filed a lawsuit last week to block Biden's latest student-debt relief effort. The relief would discharge loans for over 800,000 borrowers on income-driven repayment plans. But there are similarities in the arguments from the October lawsuit, and the most recent one challenging the income-driven repayment relief. "Unlawful cancellation of student-loan debt reduces the amount of a borrower's PSLF-cancellable debt and thus reduces the amount by which PSLF benefits qualified employment," it said. It's unclear how this lawsuit will impact debt discharges, but the administration has made no indication yet that the process will be halted.

Persons: Joe Biden's, —, Harris Organizations: PSLF, Service, New Civil Liberties Alliance, Cato Institute, Mackinac Center for Public, Education Department, Biden, Harris Administration, Public, Cato Institute and Mackinac Center, Federal Register Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ Some student-loan companies are offering borrowers cheaper payments before the October restart. Making the switch could strip away a range of debt relief programs.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-05 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Some student-loan companies are encouraging federal borrowers to refinance before the payment restart. Companies that manage private loans have started reaching out to federal borrowers, encouraging them to refinance their federal debt to get a better deal on payments. For example, SoFi — a student-loan refinancing company — sent letters to borrowers last month with a header reading, "Federal student loan forbearance is ending soon. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Advisor to the Director Andrea Matthews told Insider in September that "the benefits to having a federal student loan have never been more tangible. Before federal payments resume in October, borrowers can enroll in the Education Department's new SAVE Plan, which is an income-driven repayment plan intended to lower monthly payments.

Persons: Joe Biden's, It's, —, forbearance, Biden's, Earnest, refinancer, refinancers, Andrea Matthews, Tanya Burnett, Burnett Organizations: Service, Education Department, Public, Biden, Consumer Financial Locations: Wall, Silicon

See our picks for the best personal loans for bad credit >>Steps to get a loan with bad credit1. Get your most recent credit scoreIt's one thing to suspect you have bad credit, and another to know exactly how bad it is. Consider a credit unionCredit unions are a great option for those looking to get a loan with bad credit. Where to get a personal loan with bad creditYou can get a personal loan with bad credit from many banks, credit unions, and online lenders. How to get a loan with bad credit FAQsIs there really a way to get a loan with bad credit?

Persons: It's, it's, We've, Jamie Young, Young, Priyanka Prakash, Prakash, Nathalie Noisette, Experian, Holly Johnson, Johnson, Banks, Josh Goodwin, Eric Rosenberg, you'll Organizations: Service, you'll, Credit, Companies, Business, Goodwin Mortgage Group, National Credit Union Administration, Chevron Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ A conservative group filed a lawsuit to block $39 billion in debt relief for 800,000 borrowers on income-driven repayment plans
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Conservative groups just filed a lawsuit to block Biden's latest student-debt relief effort. Last month, Biden announced $39 billion in relief for 800,000 borrowers through an adjustment to income-driven repayment plans. Last month, the Education Department said it would be automatically canceling $39 billion in student debt for 804,000 borrowers as a result of changes to the department's income-driven repayment plans. The relief was for borrowers who have completed the necessary 20 or 25 years of qualifying payments. They argued that as nonprofits, "unlawful cancellation of student-loan debt reduces the amount of a borrower's PSLF-cancellable debt and thus reduces the amount by which PSLF benefits qualified employment."

Persons: Biden, Joe Biden's, —, Biden's Organizations: Service, New Civil Liberties Alliance, Cato Institute, Mackinac Center for Public Policy, Education Department, Court, Eastern, Eastern District of Michigan, Department, Public Locations: Wall, Silicon, Eastern District

U.S. Capitol police stand outside the Capitol building as the Senate votes on debt ceiling legislation to avoid a historic default at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., June 1, 2023. Fitch downgraded the United States to AA+ from AAA, citing fiscal deterioration over the next three years and repeated down-the-wire debt ceiling negotiations that threaten the government’s ability to pay its bills. With the downgrade it becomes the second major rating agency after Standard & Poor’s to strip the United States of its triple-A rating. Investors use credit ratings to assess the risk profile of companies and governments when they raise financing in the debt capital markets. Other analysts had pointed to the risk that another downgrade by a major rating agency could affect investment portfolios that hold top-rated securities.

Persons: Evelyn Hockstein, Fitch, Joe Biden, Janet Yellen, Biden, Karine Jean, Pierre, Keith Lerner, Raymond James, Ed Mills, Mohamed El, Davide Barbuscia, Jyoti Narayan, Lewis Krauskopf, Saeed Azhar, Megan Davies, Arun Koyyur, David Gregoiro, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Capitol, U.S, REUTERS, White, AAA, Standard, Democratic, Republican, Treasury, Advisory Services, ” Treasury, Fitch, AA, Queens ' College, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, States, United States, Atlanta, New York, Bengaluru

Our experts answer readers' personal loan questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess personal loans). The easiest personal loans to get are ones with low or flexible credit score requirements. Quick tip: A secured personal loan is even easier to qualify for than a traditional personal loan . There are more places than ever to get personal loans, but there isn't a one-size-fits-all personal loan source for everyone. Because of their lax credit score requirements, these lenders are often the easiest overall sources of personal loans.

Persons: you've, you'll, Michael Pugh, Banks, Pugh Organizations: Service, Federal Savings Bank, Chevron Locations: Wall, Silicon, Plenty, Chevron

The Biden Administration announced $39 billion in automatic loan forgiveness to 804,000, according to a July 14 press release from the U.S. Department of Education. This wave of student loan forgiveness is separate from the forgiveness plan outlined in August 2022 that the Supreme Court recently struck down in June 2023. Under Secretary James Kvaal said in the statement that "millions of borrowers had earned loan forgiveness but never received it." Who qualifies for the Biden Administration's student loan forgiveness? With the Biden administration's widespread student debt relief blocked by the Supreme Court, the future of student loan forgiveness is currently on hold.

Persons: James Kvaal, Kamala Harris, Mark Kantrowitz, they've, accrual Organizations: Biden Administration, U.S . Department of Education, Supreme Court, Federal, Department of Education, Biden, CNBC, of Education, Department, Education, Supreme, The, CNBC Select's, Facebook, Twitter

☆ Is Biden's $39 billion student loan forgiveness action legal? 'Be assured it's going to stay,' says expert
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty ImagesHow are the two loan forgiveness actions different? There are four of these plans, which aim to make loan payments more affordable for lower earners. That law gave the president power to revise student loan programs during national emergencies. The Trump administration had leveraged the Heroes Act to implement a student loan payment pause at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, Congress has already authorized loan forgiveness relative to income-driven repayment plans, dating to when it created them in the 1990s.

Persons: Joe Biden, Education Miguel Cardona, Demetrius Freeman, —, Biden, hasn't, Virginia Foxx, Abby Shafroth, who've, Trump, Shafroth, Kantrowitz Organizations: U.S, Education, Washington, Getty, White, U.S . Department of Education, Department of Education, National Consumer Law Center, National Consumer Law, of Education

☆ Owe federal student loans and earn $15 an hour or less? You could qualify for a $0 monthly payment
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Kamaron Mcnair | In Kamaronmcnair | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The SAVE plan will replace the existing REPAYE plan and offer the lowest monthly payment of any IDR plan available, the Education Department announced last week. Here's how the SAVE plan works and how you may be able to use it to manage your loans. Bigger income protections Similar to the REPAYE plan, the SAVE plan caps monthly payments at a percentage of your discretionary income, currently 10%. So any borrower earning that salary — which is about $15 an hour for a full-time worker — or less could qualify for a $0 monthly payment on the SAVE plan. No co-sign required for married borrowers Borrowers will be able to apply for the SAVE plan without having their spouse co-sign.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Biden, Here's Organizations: Education Department, SAVE, Department of Education

Our experts answer readers' student loan questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess student loans). Borrowers who have refinanced federal loans into private loans are ineligible for forgiveness. See Insider's picks for the best student loan refinance lenders >>What is Biden's student loan forgiveness plan? Federal student loans you've refinanced are not eligible for forgiveness under Biden's debt relief plan. Types of student loans that are eligible for forgivenessThe Education Department maintains a list of eligible student loans on its website, which includes the following:Federal Direct Loans — subsidized, unsubsidized, PLUS loans, and consolidation loansFederal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program loans (ended in 2010)Federal Perkins Loan Program loans (ended in 2017)Education Department-held defaulted loansAll loans funds must have been received on or before June 30, 2022.

Persons: Pell Grant, —, Biden, Pell, you've, doesn't, Andrew Latham, Biden's, Perkins, Latham Organizations: Service, —, Pell Grants, Education Department, US, of Education, Department, Federal, Family Education, Loan Program, Public

Search resuls for: "Borrower's"

25 mentions found