home purchase: Protecting Your Credit During Divorce
- 05/09/07 01:03 AM
When a marriage ends in divorce, the lives of those involved are changed forever. During this time of upheaval, one thing that shouldn't have to change is the credit status you've worked so hard to achieve. Unfortunately, for many, the experience is the exact opposite. Unfulfilled promises to pay bills, the maxing out of credit cards, and a total breakdown in communication frequently lead to the annihilation of at least one spouse's credit. Depending upon how finances are structured, it can sometimes have a negative impact on both parties. The good news is it doesn't have to be this way. By taking a … (0 comments)
home purchase: Is a 30-Year Fixed Mortgage the Best Type of Mortgage?
- 05/08/07 01:25 AM
With interest rates still near 40-year lows, is a 30- year, fixed-rate mortgage the right choice? While the mass media's response is usually yes, my reply is NO. Today's market is much different than the market and lifestyle of the previous generation. That generation typically had one job, one pension, one house and one mortgage. That lifestyle no longer holds true today. Pension plans seem to be a thing of the past unless you are employed in the airline industry and many of the public services agencies. Most Americans will hold five or more jobs throughout their careers. As far as … (0 comments)
home purchase: Are You Using Your Voicemail Effectively?
- 05/06/07 11:42 PM
Have you ever stopped to consider how many times a new prospect gets your voicemail before they have a chance to speak directly with you? Your voicemail greeting provides an excellent opportunity to create a first impression that can have an enormous impact on whether people decide to use your services. It can also be used as a dynamic marketing tool. If the first time you called a CPA, Financial Planner, or Real Estate Agent, you heard a voicemail greeting that was energetic, educational and professional, wouldn't that set the proper tone for the rest of the relationship? Very few people take … (10 comments)
home purchase: ON−Time: Take Time Out for Planning
- 04/29/07 01:20 AM
Have you ever had days, weeks, or even months go by when you were frustrated in your work activities because you failed to implement the things that you know you need to do in order to be more successful? Perhaps you've taken pages and pages of great notes at seminars on the subject of how to improve your business, only to return to the office the next day and implement none of it. The reason this happens to people is because they lack a plan. More importantly, it happens because they are not practicing ON-Time. ON-Time is a time you set aside … (1 comments)
home purchase: An Inverted Yield Curve: What It Means to Mortgage Rates & Programs
- 04/28/07 12:34 AM
The U.S. economy, interest rates, and the housing market are frequent topics on the nightly news. Viewers are told about leading economic indicators, how the stock market has performed, and whether the Federal Reserve is planning on changing interest rates. What isn't explained is how these items are interrelated and how they may impact which home loan is best for you. The Federal Reserve attempts to keep the U.S. economy healthy through its use of monetary policy. As fears of inflation increase, the Fed will raise certain short-term interest rates such as the federal funds rate, which is the interest rate banks … (0 comments)
home purchase: Marketing to the Better Half- Don't Leave Spouses Out of the Equation
- 04/28/07 12:27 AM
Marketing guru Faith Popcorn, who is considered a trend expert, posed this insightful question to an audience in San Francisco back in 1999: "Since men and women are obviously different, why do we continue to market to them in the same way?" Let's take Faith's concept a step further: When meeting with a couple, why do we typically engage one partner in the relationship in conversation, when we know the deal is an important financial transaction involving both partners? Aren't we opening ourselves up to problems by not marketing to each one? How many times have you built a rapport with one person, … (0 comments)
home purchase: Strategic Financing: The Solution to Today's Changing Market
- 04/27/07 12:35 AM
Interpreting one of the main challenges of today's mortgage market isn't as difficult as it might seem. With interest rates on the rise, a lot of consumers are extremely troubled by the negative effects of increasing interest rates on their Adjustable Rate Mortgages. Each month, they are forced to watch hopelessly as their monthly payments increase and interest rates climb closer and closer to the lifetime caps of their loans. For these homeowners who are struggling, refinancing into a 30-year fixed rate mortgage may not help them right now. In fact, doing so could increase their monthly payment and further strain … (0 comments)
home purchase: Trapped in Telephone Purgatory? Use These Short Cuts & Break Free
- 04/25/07 11:43 PM
Does this scenario sound familiar? Your latest credit card statement comes in the mail, and there's an error. You know that it needs to be dealt with, but for some reason you keep putting it off. Then it hits you. The reason for your procrastination is that you just cannot bear the thought of calling "customer service". Just the idea of facing a telephone maze of pressing buttons and repeating personal information over and over again to a computer is so daunting, so loathsome, you actually consider just paying the charge. The good news is your days of wallowing through the Dante's … (0 comments)
home purchase: Victorville Facts and Information
- 04/25/07 01:33 PM
Here is a link that will help you discover Victorville and some of the history behind it!! Victorville, California - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Hope you find this site informative. Please don't hesitate to give me a call if you need any more information.
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home purchase: Gasoline $ense
- 04/24/07 11:37 PM
In terms of the economy and its effect on our daily lives, there is no hotter topic than the outrageous prices we are seeing at the pumps. The maddening part is as consumers, we have zero control over these inflated costs. To make matters worse, there's always that person who says something like, "You know, Europeans pay a lot more for gas than we do." That's true, but it doesn't make it any easier when we're reaching for our credit cards at the pump. The absolute worst part about high gas prices, however, is the notion of having no alternatives. Even … (6 comments)
home purchase: Disaster Preparedness- Simple Steps Everyone Can Take
- 04/23/07 11:48 PM
Natural disasters are a fact of life. Each area of the country has its own challenges, from hurricanes on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts to tornados in the Plains and earthquakes in California. Regardless of where you live, it's important to have plans in place to ensure that you and your family are prepared should an emergency arise. Begin by researching which types of events could occur in your community: •Contact local authorities to learn how community alerts are issued and the evacuation routes you will need to follow. •Inquire about emergency plans at work, school, and any other locations that … (0 comments)
home purchase: The Art of Happiness- Making Each Day Your Best
- 04/23/07 11:15 PM
In The Art of Happiness*, the Dalai Lama shares this powerful insight into life: "I believe that the very purpose of our life is to seek happiness. That is clear. [Regardless of religion], we are all seeking something better in life. So I think the very motion of our life is toward happiness." But how do we achieve this happiness which everyone craves? What commonality can we draw upon, regardless of health, wealth, appearance, etc.? The Dalai Lama goes on to explain how the mind can be trained for happiness, despite a lack of material wealth and success. It's that whole … (3 comments)
home purchase: One-of-a-Kind Gifts
- 04/23/07 12:45 AM
Purchasing a gift can be a stressful experience. Whether you're buying for a close friend or a mere acquaintance, the same questions arise. Will they like it? If the answer is yes, then it could be that they already own it! If you choose to go the safe route and buy a candle, a dessert item, or a gift certificate, then the gift may appear less personal than you intended. Thanks to a couple of great websites, the perfect gift, regardless of who you're buying for, may only be a click away. www.findgift.com This is an excellent website for buying one-of-a-kind gifts. For … (1 comments)
home purchase: College Savings Plans
- 04/23/07 12:21 AM
Saving for your child's education just became a bit more complex as a result of the new tax bill passed last May. The Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA) is a popular program which allows minors to own stock in their name and, if they fall between the ages of 14-17, to pay taxes on the proceeds exceeding $1700 at their own lower tax rate. Under the new legislation, however, these proceeds will be taxed at the parents' higher rate, challenging the growth potential of this investment plan. Other popular college savings plans include the 529 State College Savings Plan, the Prepaid 529, … (0 comments)
home purchase: Where Your Tax Dollars Go
- 04/22/07 01:27 AM
The US government expects to collect some $2.6 trillion in tax revenue this year! That's a 6% increase over last year, and a 13% jump since 2005. With the tax season behind us, did you ever wonder how your tax contributions are spent? Well, according to the government's 2008 budget, nearly 71% of this money is already slated for mandatory programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and interest toward the national debt. The military receives about 17% of the total budget, with another 1.3% funding homeland security. The remaining discretionary revenue not only funds highways, railroads, airports, etc., it also pays … (2 comments)
home purchase: The Pitfalls of Plastic
- 04/22/07 01:19 AM
Credit cards are a great tool when it comes to building up a good credit history. However, according to a recent report, credit card debt in America reached nearly $800 billion in 2005. How can you obtain the benefits while avoiding the pitfalls? Here are some dos and don'ts: Monitor your balances: Credit card usage and management makes up 30% of your credit score. Keep each account balance below 50% of the available credit limit at all times to maintain your score, and below 30% to improve your score. Read everything: Credit card companies can change the terms of your account at … (0 comments)
home purchase: Subprime Changes the Lending Landscape
- 04/21/07 01:44 AM
The effects of the subprime crisis are becoming clearer with each passing day. According to the Wall Street Journal, tightening guidelines and fewer available products are creating challenges for borrowers with credit issues. If you're thinking about taking on or refinancing a mortgage, your credit score will be crucial when it comes to obtaining the best loan program available. For homeowners with ARMs that are scheduled to reset anytime within the next 2 to 24 months, the challenges are even greater. With higher credit standards and tightening guidelines, you may not even qualify for a refinance if you wait too long. At … (0 comments)
home purchase: First-Class Mail is Forever Altered
- 04/21/07 01:09 AM
The US Postal Service has introduced the "forever" stamp. This special stamp, good for any first-class letter weighing up to one ounce, is valid forever, no matter how much postal rates increase. That means consumers can purchase these special stamps at today's rate and use them for years to come, even if postal prices double or triple. And, while there are definitely better places to invest your money in the long term, the forever stamp offers consumers protection against rate hikes and the annoyance of having to purchase one- and two-cent stamps whenever prices do increase. In 1968, first-class stamps were six … (5 comments)
home purchase: The Five Factors of Credit Scoring
- 04/19/07 11:39 PM
There are five factors that comprise the credit score. They are listed below in order of importance, just as an underwriter would look at the score: Payment History: 35% impact. Paying debt on time and in full has a positive impact. Late payments, judgments and charge-offs have a negative impact. Missing a high payment has a more severe impact than missing a low payment. Delinquencies that have occurred in the last two years carry more weight than older items. Outstanding Credit Balances: 30% impact. This factor marks the ratio between the outstanding balance and available credit. Ideally, the consumer should make an effort … (0 comments)
home purchase: Personal Note Cards- Powerful Marketing Tool
- 04/19/07 11:25 PM
The business professional with the most friends WINS! Period. The formula for success is that simple. The power to attract people is what gauges success. The more people consider you a friend and a business professional, the greater your potential for success. Your existing client base, if managed properly, can become your most treasured outside sales force for referrals, the champions of your cause. Your style of marketing to these people will profoundly impact their impression of you. I firmly advise implementing a personalized, hand-written note campaign. It's quite simple: Two cards a day and 10 a week equal 520 notes per year. … (6 comments)
When a marriage ends in divorce, the lives of those involved are changed forever. During this time of upheaval, one thing that shouldn't have to change is the credit status you've worked so hard to achieve.;)
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