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Jewish World Review July 18, 2000 /15 Tamuz, 5760

Bruce Williams

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Consumer Reports


Getting out of an upside-down loan


http://www.jewishworldreview.com -- DEAR BRUCE: Five and a half years ago my husband was getting restless and bought a 1995 motor home, a 24-footer. At the time this was OK, we could afford it.

Only a few months later he died. Subsequent to that time, my income has diminished and I am having a difficult time making the payments, and there are still 10 years to go.

I have contacted all manner of RV dealers that advertise in magazines and newspapers, but nothing has happened. I am told that I just owe too much on it. I am what is called "upside down."

I called the bank and asked if I could just stop paying and they could have it, but they said no way. They did reduce my interest by one-half of 1 percent. Big deal! What can I do? -- M.D., Sacramento, Calif. DEAR M.D.: Unfortunately it would appear that you financed the entire cost of the motor home or very close to it. As a consequence, upon the depreciation that takes place when you drive out of the showroom, you are "upside down" and will be for most of the payment period.

By the way the bank did you a favor. They had no obligation to lower your interest or make any concession to you. The fact is that I don't think that you will want to have a repossession.

The only choice you have is to sell it and pay the difference between what it's worth and what you owe.

Everyday that you keep that thing, it depreciates in value. Unless you are enjoying it, and you clearly are not, your only legitimate option is to get out from under it, lick your wounds and get on with your life.

DEAR BRUCE: I am a little confused about IRAs. I figure that if you put after-tax dollars into a Roth IRA, as opposed to before-tax dollars into a 401(k), at the end you will have more money in the 401(k). And assuming a 25-percent tax, it will be about equal to the tax-free investment in the Roth. Is my thinking flawed? -- J.F., Anchorage, Alaska

DEAR J.F.: The one question, if not a flaw, is where did the 25-percent tax rate come from? Nobody knows what they will be charging in 30 years.

At this point, making the assumption of 25 percent is at best a guess. We know the amount of money in the Roth IRA will be altogether yours.

DEAR BRUCE: I live in rural Montana. I have a 30-year home mortgage of approximately $100,000 at 7.25 percent. I want to upgrade and remodel my home for $20,000. This sum is available to me as disposable income.

Would it be wiser to use the money for the upgrade or pay down the loan and borrow money for the additions? This would seem to be a no-brainer but I can't figure it. -- G.B., via e-mail

DEAR G.B.: I can't figure either. What would be the advantage of paying off 7.25 percent mortgage and then re-borrowing? It seems to me that you are in the exact same situation except in all likelihood you will be paying a higher interest rate.

If those are the two options, it makes sense just to use the $20,000. If you have equity in the home that would support a $20,000 loan and you itemize, then it would make sense to borrow the money using a home equity loan at a reasonable rate and invest the $20,000 in the marketplace.

You then have picked up whatever the interest is on the $20,000 as a tax deduction, and perhaps made a good return on your marketplace investment.



Send your questions to JWR contributor Bruce Williams by clicking here. (Questions of general interest will be answered in future columns. Owing to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.) Interested in buying or selling a house? Let Bruce Williams' "House Smart" be your guide. (Sales of the book help fund JWR).

Up

07/13/00: Death is no escape
07/12/00: Multiplying dollars
07/10/00: Making sense of retirement investing
07/07/00: 'Bankruptcy does follow us around'
07/06/00: In which state should I file my income tax?
07/03/00: When to diversify assets
06/30/00: I'm buying my dad's house
06/29/00: How social security seniors should invest
06/27/00: Waiting before re-establishing credit
06/21/00: Insuring an older car
06/19/00: Take the money and run!
06/16/00: Utility company incursion
06/15/00: Insurance settlement is no bargain
06/13/00: A straightforward form of bankruptcy
06/08/00: In the computer's clutches
06/07/00: The trouble with tenants
06/05/00: Do I really need title insurance?
06/01/00: The truth about nursing home insurance
05/30/00: Keep mother-daughter loan simple
05/25/00: CDs for security, not investment
05/24/00: Battling with collection agency
05/22/00: Are callable CDs a waste of time?
05/18/00: Building a college fund
05/16/00: Even death brings no relief
05/15/00: House is 'worth' what's offered
05/12/00: Borrow from Mom and Dad?
05/11/00: Your heirs, your choice
05/09/00: Mutual-fund investigations
05/05/00: Credit cards vs. debit cards
05/04/00: Lawyer are good for something
05/03/00: The binding nature of contracts
05/02/00: You know you are in trouble when ...
05/01/00: Can primary residence be rented out?
04/28/00: A full refund after five years?
04/25/00: Get a homeowner's title policy!
04/24/00: Beware of errors in your favor
04/18/00: $10,000 limit on gifts
04/17/00: Invest or repay student loans?
04/13/00: Beware of Internet auctions
04/11/00: Six percent is a pittance
04/10/00: Married couples should share windfall
04/07/00: How not to blow an inheritance
04/06/00: Get genetic screening for Tay-Sachs
04/05/00: Beating the look-back period
04/04/00: Providing for retirement
04/03/00: Readers disagree on time shares
03/30/00: The road back to good credit
03/29/00: Pre-tax dollars in IRA taxed later
03/27/00: Gambling on business ventures
03/22/00: Old cars as hobby, not investment
03/20/00: Tax on foreign gifts?
03/16/00: How to buy government bonds
03/13/00: Buying treasury instruments
03/09/00: Subcontractors must pay S.S.
03/08/00: Real-estate lawyers are essential
03/07/00: Don't expect compensation for ideas
03/06/00: Too rich for a Roth IRA?
03/01/00: Is time-sharing a scam?
02/29/00: Paying for nursing-home care
02/28/00: Rely on a real-estate lawyer
02/23/00: Keeping child's money safe from divorce
02/16/00: Just how important is a 401(k)?
02/14/00: Shaky partnership buying house
02/11/00: Protection by residential zoning
02/09/00: Benefiting from a reverse mortgage
02/07/00: Ensure your insurability
02/04/00: Absurd community zoning laws
02/02/00: Money or securities?
02/01/00: Can we KO a custodian?
01/31/00: Why sell a home you love?
01/26/00: Everyone needs a will
01/25/00: Will splitting stocks affect rollover?
01/24/00: Should early retirees contribute to SEP?
01/21/00: Strategies for paying off debt
01/20/00: Is 15-percent growth achievable?
01/19/00: Selling a second home
01/18/00: Running from a time-share
01/14/00: Don't be a spendthrift!
01/13/00: Who gets the house?
01/11/00: It all depends on size of estate
01/06/00: Check references before hiring an advisor
01/04/00: Savings bonds a bad investment
12/31/99: Out of state ain't that great
12/29/99: Warranty rip-offs
12/27/99: Checking up on investment handlers
12/23/99: Options good only when company's strong
12/20/99: Capital gains tax sometimes best
12/17/99: Don't give up your nest egg
12/15/99: Small-claims court no panacea
12/13/99: Termite company not liable for termites?
12/10/99: Services provided must be paid for
12/06/99: How do we minimize house-sale gain?
12/06/99: Maximize your tax shelter!
12/02/99: My neighbor won't maintain even a modicum of civility
12/01/99: Long-distance rentals a bad idea
11/29/99: Mortgage strategy A-OK
11/18/99: Students can work and learn
11/16/99: Value is what will sell
11/11/99: Y2K: No big deal for real estate
11/08/99: Real life is tough luck
11/03/99: The right time to cash a savings bond
11/01/99: Slow road for savings accounts
10/29/99: What do you want from insurance?
10/27/99: You have a right to see your tax forms!
10/25/99: Why own a house at 65?
10/22/99: Online fine, but CDs?
10/20/99: Love, honor -- and separate credit
10/18/99: Find the value of your stocks
10/15/99: Property lien prevents trade
10/13/99: Clear up debt, only then tie the knot
10/11/99: If it ain't broke...
10/04/99: Should I stick with the company IRA?
10/04/99: Get a financial education!
10/01/99: Insurance: Not much one person can do
09/30/99: Lost tickets are lost cash
09/29/99: Trusting only one financial planner
09/27/99: Adult children should help out
09/24/99: Tips for first-time home buyers
09/21/99: Use the rule of 72s!
09/17/99: Legal strategy can be a pain
09/15/99: Teen drivers drive up insurance
09/13/99: Always use an attorney!
09/10/99: Whose taxes are they, anyway?
09/08/99: How do I roll over my 401(k)?
09/03/99: How can I work out my IRS payments?
09/01/99: When your company can't pay you
08/30/99: Beware of shady viatical investments
08/26/99: Landlords vary on security deposits
08/25/99: Educational IRAs must be spent on education
08/23/99: Finding out the value of old stocks
08/20/99: How to get an FHA refund
08/19/99: 100 percent financing is a scam
08/16/99: Will I have to pay a capital gains tax?
08/16/99: Thinking about PMI
08/13/99: Short-term mutual funds a-OK
08/11/99: It's your job to shop around
08/10/99: Sometimes, roots need to be uprooted
08/09/99: 'Pre-approved' doesn't mean a thing
08/06/99: Only you can determine your investments
08/04/99: Bank IRA the lowest-risk option
08/03/99: Reverse mortgages good for the elderly
08/02/99: Get the survey BEFORE you buy the house!
07/28/99: Get a lawyer -- it's worth it!
07/27/99: If it ain't broke...

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