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Monthly Archives: July 2009
Don t Neglect Shopping Online For A Mortgage It Could Save You Tons
Author : Gregg Hall
When you are looking for a bank to work with you on a mortgage, don’t forget to look online When looking online for a bank, you have more options available to you There are many things you need to consider when looking for a bank You will want to find a bank that is willing to work with you
If you have talked to the banks in your area and do not like what you have found out, try looking on the Internet When looking online, you may find a bank that has exactly what you are looking for Just because the bank is not in your town does not mean you can’t work with them This gives you more options when you are looking for a bank because you are not limited to the banks in your area
When you are looking online for a mortgage company, you will need to fill out an application just like at a local bank The difference is that online applications usually get submitted to more than one company This allows you to compare banks with only one application
Online banks may also have more options available to you Sometimes these banks can offer you different kinds of loans than you can find at your local bank Some banks can offer you interest only payments Online banks may also be willing to loan you more money No down payments, or low down payments, or no closing costs may be something else that is available to you
The time it takes to get the information to each other is cut down since you can use the Internet This usually helps cut down on the time it takes to get approved and close on your house Who wouldn’t want to move into their new found house as soon as possible?
Online banks may also be able to give you a better interest rate too Make sure you know what kind of interest rate you will be getting though Working with online banks that offer you more options makes some people leery of their interest rates They wonder how a bank can offer you all these great things without a higher interest rate Just make sure you know what kind of rate you will be getting
Another thing that makes some people leery about working with online banks is the sharing of information When working with online banks you have to give all your information to the bank on the Internet, which makes some people nervous
When looking for a bank make sure you check out all your options You may find the perfect loan for you if you look online
Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as mortgage Refinance Information at http://www.shop4mortgagerates.com
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How Does Foreclosure Work Understand Foreclosure In 4 Simple Steps
Author : Peter Johnson
If you are asking yourself how does foreclosure work, then this article is going to provide you with answers There are only a few steps to the foreclosure process You might consider these steps if you are trying to avoid a foreclosure These steps include things like the default being recorded, reinstatement of the loan, and more
Step 1 – The Bank Records Notice Of Default
The first step of the foreclosure process is when the bank officially records the notice of default This is the first day you miss the payment on your house This usually does not really occur on the first payment but after a few missed payments This depends on the bank and how they do the foreclosure process Some banks begin the foreclosure process after two payments while others begin the process after three or four
Step 2 – Reinstatement Of Loan
The second step to the foreclosure process is the reinstatement of the loan The loan can be reinstated by you This means that just because the foreclosure process has begun does not mean you have lost your house You don’t technically lose your home until the home has sold through an auction If you can come up with the money to pay the missed payments and the late fees then you can reinstate your home loan This is possible to do up until 5 days prior to the sale of the home through an auction
Step 3 – Bank Sets Date Of Foreclosure
The third step of the foreclosure process is that the bank will set a date of foreclosure This is usually 3 months after the notice of default is set or around 90 days The home owner can continue to live in the home until this date No one will come and evict you out of the home before this set date has arrived
The next thing that will happen is that the notice of trustee sale prepared It is also published as public information that the home is up for foreclosure A copy is mailed to you and posted on the home
Step 4 – Selling The House At The Foreclosure Auction
The final step to the foreclosure process is that the house is sold at the foreclosure auction This can go two ways Someone may bid at the auction on the home and the purchase it at a lower price than what you owe on the loan If this is the case then the new owner will immediately have you removed from the home This eviction can happen in less than 24 hours by the sheriff If the home does not sell at the auction then the bank will still own the home The bank may work toward evicting you right away However, banks usually hire a company to take care of the home until they can sell it This could give the home owners a few weeks
Conclusion
So in summary – how does foreclosure work? The ideal time frame for a foreclosure to occur is around 3 months for a bank This is what they would tell you However, the actual time frame for a closure can take from 6 months to a year depending on how long the process takes and if the home sells at the auction If you are going through the foreclosure process you don’t have to move out of the home right away
Wondering how does foreclosure work? Don’t fall victim to foreclosure! Learn unique methods that will help you secure your financial future today.
Please visit:
http://www.homesforeclosurehelp.com
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Your Business Plan s Goals Objectives and Strategies
Author : Dee Power
Every business needs a business plan and a business plan requires goals, objectives and strategies Goals are what you hope to accomplish in the upcoming period of time Goals can be set on a monthly basis, every three months or yearly Some entrepreneurs set major goals for the year and then monthly goals Think of goals as the end destination on a trip If you don’t establish where you’re going you won’t know if you got there Objectives are the benchmarks along the way and strategies are the road map that will guide you to your goals It may seem like extra work to formalize your objectives and strategies but it has three huge advantages
1 Once you’ve finished the tasks for each product you may realize that it’s an impossibility to get everything accomplished in the time frame you’ve assigned You either have to stretch the time frame, eliminate some of the tasks, or eliminate a revenue stream The business plan forces you to be realistic
2 With a business plan you know what you did and if it worked You can increase the activities that worked and start eliminating the efforts that don’t For example: if your business is web related, one of your objectives may be increasing traffic to those websites If backlinks are not increasing your traffic and posting on discussion lists is a major source of traffic, don’t waste time getting backlinks
3 The business plan keeps you on track Think of it as a master plan You know what you have to do every month to achieve your objectives Focus is critical to achievement Comparing your plan results to your actual results can increase productivity
It may help to take your monthly objectives and strategies and keep track of your activities by the week An old fashioned notebook is good You can print out a spreadsheet with the strategies, three hole punch it and then jot down notes for the week You’ll have an easy way to track your progress At the end of the week update the spreadsheet with your notes
Once you’ve finished your goals, objectives, and strategies you can incorporate them into a formal business plan You’ve already established your revenues, you have a good idea of what strategies and tasks need to be accomplished and the expenses that will be necessary
Know where you want to go and how you’re going to get there A business plan can be your roadmap to success
Free business plan format. Dee Power is the author of Business Plan Basics on how to write a business plan and several other nonfiction books, as well as the novel Over Time Money, love, and football: All the important things in life.
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Preparation Before Getting An Equity Home Loan
Author : Randall Stevens
Thinking of taking out an equity home loan? This might seem like a smart financial move – after all, these loans are tax deductible, they usually have lower interest rates and they are easier to get than other loans If you’re keen on getting your money quickly, it might be tempting to try and secure one as soon as possible There are two sides to these loans
Back To Basics
To get a clear picture of the equity home loan, we have to understand how it works When you opt for these loans, you agree to put your home up as collateral – naturally you need to be a house owner in order to qualify This is a popular option for many people as it allows them to borrow large amounts of money People also tend to take their payments more seriously because their home is at stake Home equity loans are also helpful for people who are struggling with bad credit While this would technically be a subprime loan, lenders tend to be more relaxed since they have the house as collateral
It’s important to remember that these loans are actually a kind of second mortgage – they are not HELOC loans When applying for these loans, you need to be extra-careful about scams Make sure you are dealing with a reputable firm and that the terms and conditions are clear and in writing If you feel they are pressuring you to sign or they aren’t clear about their terms, then look elsewhere It’s always good to shop around and compare home loan refinance rates before committing to one
Making It Work
Landing an equity home loan is one thing – but making that money work for you is another matter Remember that you’ve borrowed this money against your house, so you need to put it to good use Before applying for the loan, make a specific budget for how you plan to use the money Many people have taken these loans to finance renovation jobs and even surgery By keeping a budget ready, you’ll avoid the risk of spending the money on things you don’t need
You should also consider if you will need insurance – if for some reason you can’t make the payments, your insurance might be able to cover for you If you plan on doing this, make sure you pay the insurance premiums on a monthly basis You should also make sure that you don’t end up being ‘upside down’ on your loan This happens when you end owing more on your loan than what your house is actually worth This often happens when real estate prices fall
Remember that just because a home equity loan has its advantages, that doesn’t mean you should be lax about it Be regular with your payments and use the money for its designated purpose – don’t spend it rashly just because it’s there! Scout out the market, compare rates and find the right kind of loan to suit your needs With a little effort, you can easily make that equity home loan work for you!
For more insights and expert advice on equity home loans, visit us at http://www.gettingthatloan.com
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The Formula for Making More Money and Having More Freedom in Your Business
Author : Jan Marie Dore
Trading hours for dollars in your professional service business will never bring you wealth or freedom
How can you make more money and have more time off?
My seven step success plan to enjoy your business more, work less, and boost your bottom line gives you a clear path to follow to get you on the road to financial independence
If you want to start making a lot more money and enjoying more time off, it takes more than a good idea, luck, or hard work Practice the following seven steps every day, and you’ll be well on your way to perpetual prosperity and true enjoyment in your business
Step 1: Develop a Big, Compelling Vision
Create your big vision of what you see is possible for your clients and for the world Dream big about how you can make a difference with your talents Be willing to play a bigger game Write down your vision down and imagine yourself living it Feel the feelings, emotions, and connections as if it were already happening Then, share your vision passionately with others
Step 2: Create a Plan
Develop a simple plan to guide all your actions and a strategy to achieve your vision I encourage all my clients to create a simplified marketing plan that covers all the basics – the who, what, where, when, why and how Be very specific about your objectives, the targets you want to reach, and timelines Reward yourself when you achieve any milestones
Step 3: Shift from the Role of Service Deliverer to Business Owner
Once your professional practice is established and you have all the clients you can handle, you can increase your income while working fewer hours by increasing your rates Then, begin to change your emphasis from being a practitioner to a business owner Determine how you can leverage your time and talents by developing processes, by systematizing, automating, and slowly replacing yourself by delegating The ultimate test that indicates you are a true business owner is that you can step away from your business and have it operate without you
Step 4: Identify Your Top Priorities
Know what your most important action items are to achieve your objectives Have an intention each day for what you want to accomplish Start each day with your number one priority Get ruthless with your time and focus only on those activities that you have identified as important Drop or delegate all the rest Stay focused on your plan and avoid distractions at all costs
Step 5: Pay Very Close Attention to How You Spend Your Time
Notice the tasks you are doing throughout your workday with the intention of keeping your focus on income producing activities Put a dollar figure on your time For example, if your hourly rate is $150, ask yourself as you notice yourself doing any menial tasks or spending too much time checking email, “Is this activity I’m doing right now worth $150 an hour?” Find ways to delegate the lower value tasks and activities that aren’t your strength so that you can focus entirely on what you do best Learn to be ruthless with your time, energy, and focus
Step 6: Identify Everything That Is Holding You Back, and Get It Handled
Make a list of all the things you’re doing that you shouldn’t be doing I call this my ‘not-to do list’ Make a second list of all the things you know you should be doing that you’re not currently doing This would typically be things such as active marketing activities, getting out and connecting with people, giving talks or speaking engagements, hiring support staff, planning for growth, and creating products that complement your services
Now list all the reasons why you’re not currently as successful as you might be, and get those items handled List any beliefs that might be getting in your way Examples could be, “I don’t know enough to be successful”, “Financial success means hard work and no time for me”, or “No one would ever pay me top dollar for what I’m offering” Make your own list Question those assumptions and replace them with the truth about who you really are right now, the strengths you have to offer, and how people would really value you
Step 7: Enroll Support
It’s impossible to achieve a big vision alone Your earnings will be limited if you try to do it all yourself There is lots of free and low cost support available to you, so there is no excuse for not getting help Find a mentor or a business support group Create your own virtual board of directors Start or join mastermind success team Delegate administrative tasks to a bookkeeper, personal assistant, or virtual assistant Hire a business coach
You can make a real difference and have meaning and financial freedom in your professional practice Success is not a matter of working harder, but rather working smarter Follow this seven step success plan to easily double your income and double your time off
Jan Marie Dore teaches women entrepreneurs how to grow their business online and create profitable income streams. Sign up for her savvy and smart marketing tips and receive a 30 page FREE Bonus Workbook and audio Eight Insider Marketing Secrets of Wealthy Women Entrepreneurs by visiting http://www.femalepreneurs.com
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7 Things You Should NOT Do When Applying For A Home Loan
Author : Mark Shah
So you’re ready to apply for a mortgage Some of you may even be further ahead of the game and have been pre-approved Well think again! Here’s a checklist of things that you should avoid doing before your loan has closed
1 Don’t buy or lease an auto! Lenders look carefully at your debt-to-income ratio A large payment such as a car lease or purchase can greatly impact those ratios and prevent you from qualifying for a home loan
2 Don’t move assets from one bank account to another! These transfers show up as new deposits and complicate the application process, as you must then disclose and document the source of funds for each new account To eliminate potential fraud, most loans require a thorough paper trail to document the source of all funds The lender can verify each account as it currently exists You can consolidate your accounts later if you need to
3 Don’t change jobs! If at all possible, try not to make a career move during the time between your mortgage application and the closing on the home you are purchasing But, you ask, “What if it is a BETTER job, for MORE money, in a DIFFERENT field?” Still, try and wait until AFTER closing One of the factors mortgage companies consider is length of present employment; they are partial to stability At the very least, changing jobs initiates the need for more paperwork, and may delay your closing
4 Don’t buy new furniture or major appliances for your new home! If the new purchases increase the amount of debt you are responsible for on a monthly basis, there is the possibility this may disqualify you from getting the loan, or cut down on the available funds you need to meet closing costs
5 Don’t run a TRW report on yourself! This will show as an inquiry on your lenders credit report Inquiries must be explained in writing Try to keep everything the same as far as credit goes as when you where initially pre-approved unless told different by your loan officer
6 Don’t attempt to consolidate bills before speaking with your lender! The lender can advise you if this needs to be done Also, do not pay off any old collection accounts on your credit report unless you were specifically told to do so by your mortgage professional
Paying off old collection debt will often signal to the credit reporting agencies that there is new activity on an negative entry and actually lower your credit score
7 Don’t pack or ship information needed for the loan application! Important paperwork such as W-2 forms, divorce decrees, and tax returns should not be sent with your household goods Duplicate copies take weeks to obtain, and could stall the closing date on your transaction
8 Don’t stop making your regular monthly payments after applying for a mortgage Borrowers refinancing their home to payoff other debts sometimes stop making their regular monthly payments because they are going to payoff the debt This can cause problems during the loan process because not making payments on time may hurt your credit rating Lower credit scores may cause your interest rate to go up or result in you being denied credit
9 Don’t ignore to tell your mortgage broker about any material changes in the purchase agreement you and the seller come to agree upon after the mortgage process has begun A slightly lower sale price can alter the loan-to-value ratio and requires re-submission of loan documents Your mortgage broker and lender have to be made aware if any addendum is later attached to the purchase contract
10 Don’t co-sign on a loan for anyone else Although you will not be making the payment, the lender still views this as your debt
Mark Shah is a residential and commercial mortgage banker with Great Southwest Mortgage. Great Southwest Mortgage is the Retail Lending arm of First Magnus Financial Corporation and licensed in 49 states. For more information you can visit http://www.dropmypayments.net/
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Looking At Mortgages Then See Why The Best Mortgage Is a Simple Mortgage
Author : John E Edwards
Mortgages come with a wide variety of options, what do you do? It’s simple Keep the mortgage very simple It will be easy to manage, set goals with (Im not kidding) Often a complex mortgage will slow you down
Rule No one
Always start with the simplest mortgage and slowly add features to the mortgage A standard principle and Interest loan
There are many mortgage features to look at
Offset accounts
Splitting accounts
Fixed or variable
Interest only
Portability
No fees, some fee?
And many more
I always recommend that you contact a mortgage broker when looking at a mortgage and find out what options are available The first thing a mortgage broker will or should ask you to talk about yourself and lifestyle
A mortgage is fitted to the client not the other way around
1) Employed/self employed/ what legal entity, if in a business
2) How much money comes in a month
3) Do you need to hold cash for periods prior to paying
4) What profitability or salary take home do you have
5) Married/single/in between
6) Financial position: pension funds, superannuation funds, investments
7) Financial goals over next 5 to 10 years
What personality are you, do you like details or big picture etc
With that information the mortgage broker can suggest a loan Remember the standard variable loan is good for 90% of the population
Here a few examples of when an complex option in a mortgage may be used
Split in a loan
Multiple accounts,with partners in an investment may split the loans up for each partner Each partner is free to pay off their own portion loan at the speed with which they are comfortable Its easy to keep track and account of who owns the property, rather than with a single account
100% Offset Account
A Person has a business and needs to store money over periods Would they set up a number of 100% offset accounts to keep the money separate? It makes accounting easy and gives the business owner control over then various funds It allows the stored funds to be uses to reducing of the balance of the mortgage and keep the business and personal account separate
Interest only vs Variable
The mortgage owner needs to be able to access all the principle payment When all the principle payments need to come out, an interest only structure would be used If it was a principal and interest loan only the payments above the minimum monthly mortgage payments would be able to be with redrawn from the mortgage
There are countess variations to a mortgage In all cases contact a mortgage broker and ascertain your needs and then move forward But always remember a simple mortgage is a good mortgage
John E Edwards explains how a mortgage is a wealth creation tool, and how to use the mortgage effectively to start creating wealth in your life now. Contact a specialist to get you on the right path now.
Mortgage Solutions or Mortgage Answers
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Separating Legitimate Loan Modification from Foreclosure Rescue Scammers
Author : Ed Staff
If you’ve looked into loan modification as a way to save your house from foreclosure or to help you save some money, then you probably already know that it requires an upfront payment
Whoa now, stop right there! The FTC, FCC, and consumer watchdog groups all warn against accepting any offer that requires you to pay upfront, even if it’s for an offer to do a legitimate service that normally requires payment It’s not so much that you are being asked to pay money, but that you are being asked to pay upfront
Scammers always ask for payment upfront because they never intend to provide you with any valuable service, and that is the exact reason why we’ve been warned for years to be wary of such offers Turns out that many promises to save you from foreclosure and require payment upfront are, indeed, scams
But there are legitimate services offered by legitimate companies wherein it’s the industry standard to require upfront payment Think about the earnest money you put down when you made an offer on your house How about the co-pay you make each time you visit the doctor’s office? Refinancing your mortgage often requires payment before it can be finalized If you aren’t asked to pay during a refinance, it’s usually because they tack the fees onto the end of your new mortgage — which can be worse than paying it upfront because you end up paying interest on a relatively small amount of money for the entire term of your loan
These may not seem like upfront payments because we think “upfront payment” automatically means a scam is going on And your doctor and loan officer aren’t scammers, right?
Loan modification is another service that requires upfront payment, but has raised a few eyebrows from some concerned consumers Because loan modification is sometimes pitched as a method to save your house from foreclosure, it unfortunately often gets lumped in with the “foreclosure rescue” scams
So why, if loan modification is a legitimate service, do companies ask for payment upfront? Well, to start with, take an honest look at your situation Plain and simple, you’re a high-risk client People want to know that you are serious about saving your home before they start the process of opening loan modification negotiations Secondly, loan modification often involves lawyers Lawyers mean retainers Attorney services are another industry where upfront payment is standard But if you’ve never dealt with an attorney before, you might not know that
In the end, loan modification performed by a qualified company or attorney is a legitimate service The real question is whether or not it’s worth it If you’re already behind on your payments, loan modification can make that go away Furthermore, your interest could be lowered, your payment could come down, and you might even end up owing less overall Most people would say it’s worth it, but that’s for you to decide
Federal Loan Modification Law Center, LLP preserves the American Dream of Homeownership by successfully renegotiating loan agreements between homeowners and lenders. Our team of attorneys and real estate experts works closely with lenders to negotiate the best possible loan modification solutions for homeowners who qualify. Ed Staff is a freelance writer.
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