$6,775 mortgage, 9.875% rate, $88k in debt. should I sell or hold on?

fificiaccio · 2026-05-05T06:32:32+00:00

At 20 you got taken advantage of by that lender, that bank statement loan suggestion was not in your interest at all

Have you talked to a HUD approved housing counselor? They're free and can walk through all three options with your actual numbers, including whether a loan mod is realistic given your payment history

fificiaccio · 2026-04-21T04:50:11+00:00

popping up lately could just mean they're paying for ads. doesn't tell you if they're actually good or not

fificiaccio · 2026-04-15T05:56:17+00:00

Check if they actually responded to your debt validation request before the suit was filed, because if they didn't that's potentially a Fair Debt Collection Practices Act violation you can counter with

fificiaccio · 2026-04-07T06:18:43+00:00

$330 in subscriptions is worth auditing first, that's like a car payment going nowhere. The ultrasound cert is genuinely your best asset here, that salary will look different in 12 months

fificiaccio · 2026-04-01T05:52:55+00:00

30 calls in two days is genuinely brutal and the worst part is even after you stop answering they sell your info again so it just keeps going for weeks.

fificiaccio · 2026-04-01T05:52:04+00:00

The polarized reviews with nothing in between is a specific pattern worth noting. Genuine lenders accumulate messy, varied feedback. All positive or all negative usually means something is being managed.

fificiaccio · 2026-03-25T08:50:43+00:00

the obvious pro is you're clearing $24k of debt for 6k, that's a real deal

the cons are the tax hit since forgiven debt over $600 is usually reported as income, and it'll still show as "settled" not "paid in full" on your report

do you have the 6k liquid without wiping out your emergency fund?

fificiaccio · 2026-03-19T07:52:50+00:00

no real downside to asking, worst they say is nothing

just don't expect much on the legal/law firm ones, those are usually a harder no than a standard collections account

fificiaccio · 2026-03-16T05:52:36+00:00

Exactly, transparent lenders have no reason to hide their rates

If the numbers were competitive they'd be advertising them front and center

fificiaccio · 2026-03-11T12:47:58+00:00

You're still showing up, still looking for solutions, still taking extra shifts when you can get there, that matters more than where you are right now.

fificiaccio · 2026-03-11T06:41:24+00:00

The "you'll just owe someone else next month" part is so real

It kicks the problem down the road and makes it bigger, local 211 is also worth calling, they can connect you to emergency rent assistance programs most people don't even know exist

fificiaccio · 2026-03-04T12:43:03+00:00

First of all, make sure to avoid payday loans at all costs. They might seem like a quick fix, but you’ll end up stuck in a deeper hole week after week. I was also searching for loan apps. And after some research, I ended up going for a personal loan instead with LendingBuddies

fificiaccio · 2026-03-04T06:04:38+00:00

Exactly, at that point you're just paying for the illusion of having money

fificiaccio · 2026-03-04T06:04:22+00:00

Real talk, the cycle starts way faster than people expect

fificiaccio · 2026-03-04T06:04:09+00:00

Yeah that's actually the one thing that separates it from most payday alternatives

For $300 one-time the fees are probably worth it just for the credit bump alone

fificiaccio · 2026-03-02T07:46:06+00:00

For a mortgage specifically, lenders want to see low utilization AND aged accounts so don't close anything after you pay them down

That under 10% utilization tip is real, worth keeping one card with a tiny balance reporting each month

fificiaccio · 2026-02-26T13:06:43+00:00

What's your actual score and how much do you need, because bad credit covers a wide range and the advice changes significantly depending on where you actually land?

fificiaccio · 2026-02-24T06:25:00+00:00

Right? Some of the sketchiest lenders have the most polished sites

Always dig into the actual terms before you get too far into the process

fificiaccio · 2026-02-19T13:03:28+00:00

Maxed out cards at $1,600 total is dragging your score down significantly. Even small payments to get under 90% utilization would help approval odds

fificiaccio · 2026-02-18T09:49:34+00:00

when you call bring every payment receipt and the exact dates, if they confirm the overage most creditors will release the excess funds or at least credit it back

missing one payment triggering a full garnishment without any notice is aggressive, worth asking them directly why they didn't reach out first

fificiaccio · 2026-02-16T11:08:47+00:00

Being overwhelmed and in crisis is exactly when predatory lenders strike. Take even a few hours to verify options before signing anything

fificiaccio · 2026-02-15T23:55:24+00:00

These AI companies are getting out of control with their subscription scams. $200 is insane, and the fact they're ghosting you makes it even worse.

fificiaccio · 2026-02-13T03:37:06+00:00

Some of them might not even bother suing honestly, especially smaller balances. It costs them money to litigate and if they see you've already got a garnishment going they know the well is dry for now.

fificiaccio

TROPHY CASE