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Teaching about mortgages as part of economics and personal finance curriculums
Hands-on practice Hasty focuses primarily on what lenders look for in terms of qualifying for the payment and having other existing debt. She lets students know that having too much consumer debt, whether car loans or credit cards, can cause an otherwise qualified applicant to be rejected for a home loan. She also discusses types of housing and types of homeowner's insurance with her class. The most successful way to teach mortgage-related concepts, Hasty has found, is through hands-on calculations and practice. Students also calculate loan-to-value ratios, property taxes, and mortgage payments of PITI (principal, interest, taxes, and insurance). Hasty created a workshop that includes the loan-to-value ratios and loan qualifications determinants. Students draw "careers and incomes" early in the year, and these are used for exercises related to applying for home and car loans as well as for filing tax returns. Input from experts She uses her industry contacts in the classroom and brings in guest speakers from the legal community, banking industry, title companies, and mortgage brokers. She has found that representatives of these groups are always willing to speak to the class. This outreach also helps in making the businesses in the community aware of the practical lessons being taught in her classroom. Another tool that Harris uses in her classroom is a series of online videos related to mortgages. She says, "These short videos are very helpful. I use these with chapters in the textbook relating to mortgages, and this gives the students good insight into what a mortgage is and how to apply for one.” Additionally, Harris has students complete the various mortgage-related applications and forms to simulate a mortgage application process. Resources from the Fed
By Jackie Morgan, senior economic and financial education specialist, Nashville Branch November 18, 2010 |
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