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Saturday, October 31, 2009

A Quick Guide to Avoiding Foreclosure

By Justin Green

The housing industry is involved in a great deal of restructuring at the present time. House foreclosures are on the rise and have become all too familiar in the average American's vocabulary. Oddly, a large number of homeowners-many who are at risk of foreclosure, have put themselves in a risky situation.

Foreclosure is a legal process instigated by the lending institution to terminate a homeowner's right to reinstate the mortgaged estate. As a result the lender becomes the authorized owner of the property and can also sell the property to recover the principal money. Foreclosures only happen when homeowners fail to pay the stipulated payments as mentioned in the deed of trust for a period of more than 3 months.

These proceedings normally begin by sending a letter of notice called a notice of default to the homeowner demanding the mortgage payments. There are different types of house foreclosure and their application varies from state to state. However, the two most widely used and common types are by power of sale and by judicial sale.

America has experienced a large increase in foreclosure proceedings, above 79 percent in many cases. How do we put an end to this house foreclosure crisis? What follows are a group of tips that can at least help you individually to make a guide toward foreclosure stop.

First and foremost is communication. You must quickly and clearly communicate with your mortgage lender when you anticipate financial problems. Do not wait to receive a notice of default.

Second, as foreclosures are gaining momentum (and have been for some time!) you must locate a professional that has experience in this area. This step is very important and should be avoided at your financial risk. Do not pay for this advice there are far too many government agencies out there to help you free of charge.

Finally, realize there are other sources of help out there and you are not alone. Ask those that are involved in the process: your lender, professional help to point you toward other helpful institutions or information. Just by doing a search on Google you can find multiple helps and aids in your area so do not give up!

Awareness is the key when it comes to reducing the risk of foreclosure. Don't allow your emotions to get the best of you, rather stay relaxed and focused. After talking to experts apply the advice they give you and hope for the best!

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Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Save Money or Pay Off Loans?

By Melinda Torbay

Should You Sacrifice Savings to Pay Debt Off?

Most people would love to live without any debt. We dream about the day we can burn or mortgages, drive a loan free car, and not owe a cent to credit card companies. Since that seems to be a distant goal, some of us dream about winning the lottery, or chucking everything to live in a shack in the mountains.

I really think that those end of the world books became popular as an escape. Even if something awful happens, like a zombie invasion, it would still wipe out all of our creditors too.

But you really have to look at your debt. Some people should worry about stashing cash instead of reducing their mortgage or car loans. I cannot give everybody a right answer, but only say that it depends upon your situation.

Juggling Debt

Instead of paying it off today, is there a way to pay less interest for it? You may be able to find a lower interest rate on your loans. Credit cards could be moved to a friendlier company, and homes or cars could be refinanced. You may be shocked at how much lower your bills will be if you can reduce your interest rates.

Consider your credit cards. Some interest rates are really out of control, and many consumers report sudden rate hikes to twenty-five percent or more! If you carry $10K on your credit cards, and many people do, that means you have to pay $2,500 a year to service that debt! Even if you could just cut that rate in half, you would save twelve hundred and fifty dollars every 12 months.

Keep Your Emergency Fund

If you do have debt, I still think you should keep an emergency cash fund. If you do need to spend some money in an emergency, you could have to borrow money on worse terms, and so paying off your old debt may not do you much good.

Stick with a Plan

The way people have managed to pay off debt is to make a plan and stick to it. Even if you can only set aside $100 a month toward paying off debt, plus another $100 a month toward your savings account, you can still help yourself out.

If you set goals you will never meet, you will never do yourself any good either. A thousand dollars toward debt, that never actually gets paid, will do you no good.

Evaluate Loans vs. Investments

Do you have a fairly good home loan with a lower interest rate? Do you also have a way to save your money that pays high returns? Then you do have to consider that you may be able to deduct the home loan interest, but have to pay taxes on your savings. In this case, you will probably do well to leave things alone.

You also have to consider the impact of state and federal income taxes. If mortgage interest gives us a deduction, it might work in our favor. So even though we have to pay interest on the money, the actual rate is lower when we consider the tax deduction.

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Sunday, October 25, 2009

Bad Credit Mortgage Refinance

By Johnny Hall

The current financial outlook is not good, and financial problems are affecting many families across the country. Unemployment is on the rise, the stock markets have nose dived, and the banks are being propped up. Households are experiencing job losses and families finances are being stretched beyond their limits in some situations, and debts start to mount. If youre looking for a way of this situation then you might want to carefully consider bad credit mortgage refinance. If you profile is right then it might be a way to ease you financial difficulties and debts.

The Federal Reserve has cut rates to an all-time low, allowing banks and mortgage providers to offer mortgage rates lower than anything that has been available in recent history. For consumers with credit blemishes, bad credit mortgage refinance is a smart solution.

In the current economic climate, Bad Credit Mortgage Refinance has prevented the repossession and loss of many family homes. By lowering mortgage rates and therefore lowering the house repayments, mortgage refinance can ease the financial pressures placed on families due to difficult circumstances like unemployment.

Credit status can be repaired after a bad credit mortgage refinance. The poor credit history that results from an individual being unable to make ends meet, will improve over time when the individual makes the more affordable mortgage repayments on time. This in itself will further improve the individuals financial situation because of the effects a positive credit history can have on improving employment and other financial opportunities.

A tax credit of up to eight thousand dollars can be obtained for first time home buyers, when they purchase their first property. For prospective home buyer with adverse credit history Bad Credit Home Loans can be the way onto the property ladder. But existing home owners who have a similarly and have a poor credit rating, bad credit mortgage refinance can be a way to lower home repayments and prevent the loss of the family home.

A bad credit mortgage refinance can provide homeowners with the funds to needed to make essential repairs, home improvements or expansion. Circumstances change, and this can lead to a familys property being unsuitable. A run down property might be the best a low income family can afford, or maybe as a family grows the property becomes too small. A bad credit refinance raise the cash to overcome such problems.

A family home can be at risk due to the financial difficulties caused after the death of a spouse. The financial expense of a death in the family and the resulting financial difficulties could be eased by a bad credit mortgage refinance. It could ease the money troubles and provide financial stability after the change in circumstances.

A divorce or separation of partners when children are involved can be complicated and emotionally testing. In such circumstances assets must be divided including the family home. A bad credit mortgage refinance could provide a solution to the financial complications in such a situation. A spouse's share of equity could be released from the property without it being sold, and so allowing the children to remain in the family home.

Bad credit mortgage refinance has been helping to make lives of consumers better, and will continue to help families through their financial difficulties. No matter what the circumstances behind the decision, regardless if it is to reduce mortgage repayments, raise the cash for home modifications, repairs, divorce settlement of loss of a partner, then bad credit mortgage refinance could provide the financial answer for families across the US.

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Thursday, October 22, 2009

The Short Sale Process - My Safety From Foreclosure?

By Anthony Y. Mauer

The short sale process can be quite stressful on the homeowner. They are in the unfortunate position where their home is worth less than the mortgage - the short sale definition. Most homeowners allow themselves to approach dangerously close to foreclosure before admitting that the short sale process is something they'll have to deal with.

Before the process can begin there must be an agreement between both lender and borrower. It's an agreement between two parties that involves many complexities. The most valuable aspect of the transaction for the homeowner is the avoidance of foreclosure.

The two parties agree to the short sale, and then to all of its minute detail. They must agree to many things such as unpaid property taxes, the selling price of the home, the purchase agreement, the payment of the various legal fees, and the amount of the debt to be forgiven. It is extremely important to have professional assistance. Do NOT attempt the short sale process with professional help.

The lender will require the homeowner to complete the "hardship letter" in order to explain how they ended up in such financial distress. The borrower will be required to document statements in the hardship letter through pay stubs, investment documents, and bank statements. This will provide a historical time line leading up to the homeowner's inability to pay.

It is at the next stage that the lender appraises the value of the home through real estate professionals. The whole short sale process is used primarily by the lenders to undertake minimal losses. For this reason, it is vital that the lender appraise the home properly - so that the bank can get back as much of its money as possible.

If the home is sold in accordance with the agreement - then the money will be used to settle the debt. The bank is not obligated to wait any longer than they agreed to wait in the contract. They can legally proceed with foreclosure if it is not sold by the date agreed to in the contract. These issues will be clearly stated in the agreement.

The borrower's credit rating doesn't have to be damaged by the short sale process. A short sale involves many complex issues and many people have missed important dates relating directly to their credit rating. Their credit was left in shambles as a result. Some allow their credit to be damaged due to having other finance areas deeply ingrained in the short sale process. Damaged credit is NOT a foregone conclusion here - this is the important point. It is for this main reason that following the advice of our experts is critical.

If we successfully complete the short sale process we could very well end up with little damage. If we do it right, we could still have stable credit, no legal fees or unpaid property taxes, and no foreclosure! This would be our prize - to be in the best position humanly possible to buy another home.

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Sunday, October 18, 2009

Can You Get A Loan With Bad Credit

By Tim Rotherson

Once your credit starts to slide, you will feel it! It may not seem like such a big deal at first because you can still pay the rent or mortgage and groceries. As the debts mount, credit card payments and loans will become harder to manage. Being in a situation like this some time ago, I know exactly how this feels. I wanted to take out a loan to cover my old loans, but all I could get were adverse credit loans.

I thought this bad loan agreement would help and it did have an immediate effect but in the course of time I found they did not help me. Loans designed to consolidate other loans are usually designed to take advantage of those who cannot find loans that are more favorable elsewhere, so I would think about what other options I had before accepting one of these.

Unfortunately, you may have exhausted all other possibilities and are forced to take out an adverse credit loan. If you are faced with the possibility of loosing your home, for example, or if you quickly need a lot of money for some medical procedure or other, adverse credit loans can literally save your life ? or at least your livelihood. If one of these loans gets you back on your feet and helps with your future financial freedom then it may be worth it.

Just remember that these loans have risks. Always be aware that there is a payback to the solution they may be solving, one that requires paying at some stage in the future. They can lead to even higher interest payments, and if you were not at all able to pay off the ones that you had before you got the adverse credit loans, just think how much harder they will be to pay off after.

Before you go about getting bad credit loans, you should probably think about all of your other options pretty carefully. Is it at all possible for you to borrow some money from a relative, or a close friend? Have you thought about getting a second job?

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Thursday, October 15, 2009

Why Monitoring Your Credit Score Is More Important Than Ever Before

By Darrell Price

In the economy of current economic events, it is more important than ever to keep your credit rating good. However, if you don't have good credit or if it has been damaged because of an unfortunate circumstance such as looking your job, you can start the process of rebuilding your credit immediately. This usually required a two-pronged approach where you have errors removed and your increase your scores.

People have the mistaken belief that removing errors is the same or result in your scores increasing automatically. This is not true. The process of getting discrepancies removed from your credit report differs from the process of raising your scores.

To increase our credit worthiness, you will have to establish a few new accounts. The best way to do this is to get a new credit card and start using it responsibly or to open up a few charge accounts with retail stores. Just removing errors from your report is not enough to increase your credit scores.

People often avoid the process of restoring their credit into good standing for many reasons. The effects are usually the same and will keep you from many wonderful opportunities. Normally, you should start repairing your credit history before applying for a loan. But this alone does not mean that your FICO scores will automatically improve.

By disputing errors and mistakes in your credit files, you can get them removed. However, this does not mean you scores will automatically rise. In some cases, removing data from your credit history can leave you with insufficient data for creditors to make an accurate appraisal of your credit and may cause your FICO score to drop even further.

So what is FICO and where did it originate? The term FICO stand for Fair Isaac and Company, who was the original creator of the model that is used to measure your credit worthiness. While the actual formula has never been made public, the effects of the formula can be seen as bankers and lenders use this information to interpret and assign your credit rating.

FICO is like having a big brother watching over you. Think of it as having a person constantly looking at your spending habits and your ability to repay any debts you may owe. The good news is that for anyone involved in a credit repair program, the most recent activity filed in your reports are given more weight than older data. This means that you can and should take a proactive approaching to restoring any breaches to your credit starting immediately.

One of the best ways to actually raise your scores is through the responsible use of credit cards. People participating in credit improvement programs often use cards as the tool of choice. If you have low scores, you may have to get a secured credit card. With this type of card, you have to fund the account for the amount you plan to spend. This is how you start raising your scores so you can be approved for greater loan amounts at lower interest rates.

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Sunday, October 11, 2009

Going For The Homes Short Sale

By Mark Colling

Many have heard about the homes short sale process but may not particularly see why it is something they might have to look into at 1 time in their lives. Learning the way to arrange a short sale could literally save yourself thousands of greenbacks and a likely foreclosure marking on your credit score.

Short sales are generally used when homeowners are trying to sell their property but cannot get an offer for the full amount of the mortgage note because the market has crashed or because the home has depreciated in value for another reason. Maybe there has been major damage to the home or the whole street recently became a drug neighborhood in the past few years. No matter what the reason is, it is almost impossible to sell for the amount needed to pay off the mortgage loan in full and still cover realtor fees as well.

You've got to know the best way to arrange a short sale because unless you start the conversation with your mortgage company, you could never hear them talk of it. Although it is a choice that they offer, it's not something that you are going to hear the collection dep. talk a lot about. The thing is though , the short sale can be terribly profitable to the mortgage company also particularly if the customer isn't now making any payments on the mortgage. Some cash beats no money.

If anybody gives you difficulty about it, remind them that it takes thousands of bucks on their end to foreclose and they'd be stuck with a house that they also would have difficulty selling. This sometimes helps get the idea across that you are actually serious. And usually you want to talk with the special office that handles short sales as the standard collection dept that calls you isn't normally the office that handles it

Don't be shocked if you're asked to fill out some bureaucracy. The mortgage company wants to be sure that everything is legitimate before they're going and accept less cash than what you owe. Also, ensure that you are inquiring about the short sale as quickly as you realize that there's an issue so you can get the ball rolling. Many corporations suggest that you list the property for sale immediately and set the standard price high enough to where the loan may be totally paid off. If after so many months it doesn't sell, they can counsel you that it is OK to go forward and attempt to get something lower.

Bear in mind though ; the mortgage company will have limitations on how low they're ready to go with the homes short sale payoff amount. Don't be upset when they send out one of their own appraisers to record the present cost of the property. They're simply attempting to protect their assets and to make certain that they're making the right choices referring to the ticket price and how much they're going to accept.

Even though it may seem like a lot of work to deal with, the homes short sale is worth it. You will be able to satisfy the mortgage loan and save your credit. With all of that in mind, you might want to get started looking into the short sale sooner rather than later.

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Thursday, October 8, 2009

Foreclosure Scams You Want To Avoid

By Adam Whazzer

Foreclosure is one of the worst things that can happen to a borrower. Knowing there are criminals waiting to prey on your desperation and vulnerability makes the situation even more frightening. Thousands have fallen victim to phony foreclosure counseling, phantom help, bait and switch, rent to buy, and bankruptcy foreclosure scams. Being able to see the telltale signs of a foreclosure rescue scam can save you the pain and suffering of becoming yet another victim.

What should you watch out for? Beware of any rescuer that guarantees or promises to save your home. You need to steer clear of any company that guarantees to stop your foreclosure, tells you not to contact your lender, a lawyer or credit and housing counselors, requires an up front fee before providing services, will only accept certified funds or wire transfers as payment, or instructs you to make your mortgage payment to them instead of your lender.

Bait and switch scam artists outright take your home by tricking you into signing paperwork that transfer the property deed or title to their corp. Equity skimming scams steal the equity in your home while leaving you with your mortgage obligation. In the rent to buy scheme you are told to surrender the title of your home, but you will be able to remain in it as a renter. Although you have the option of buying it back, generally the terms are so outrageous it is impossible to do so. Avoid any company that instructs you to sign over the title or deed to your home.

Staying calm and not dropping under pressure is the best thing you can do. Scam artists will often offer to fill out Papers for you. While you think they are arranging a rescue mortgage for you, in reality, they are taking the money youve given them, filing a bankruptcy in your name and stealing your property. Do not sign anything that you are unsure of or dont understand, and never allow any company to fill out paperwork for you.

Knowing where to turn is your best defense. You should start by phoning your lender and trying to make a payment schedule. Additionally, the FTC offers free info that helps consumers recognize and avoid fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices. If you feel you have been the prey or a foreclosure rescue con you can file a complaint at the FTC website.

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Sunday, October 4, 2009

No Credit Check Loans For You

By Josh Barnstable

Is your credit bad, but you really need money? Find a no credit check loans company and see about finding out how much you can get a loan for. Some of these ideas will include a pay day loan that you can get until your next paycheck. Most companies that do this type of service will not check your credit. This will help you be able to qualify to get a loan.

But most people who are looking for a no credit check loan may need more time to pay it off. There are still places out there that will assist you in borrowing money. They may possibly be able to help people who have the worst credit rating on the planet. But not everyone can help the fact that their credit isn't spectacular.

Not everyone who has bad credit has got into their situation due to their own actions. In fact many have had situations that have come up they cannot control. It's for those reasons that these no credit check loans have been created. In order to help people out that will not be able to qualify for a normal loan through many financial institutions.

Look around on the internet and find them via a search engine to see how many choices you have for the loan you need. Most times you will need to have a checking account or savings account. But you may even be able to find a place that won't have this requirement. Look at several different options before you choose one.

Compare them and see who will give you the best deal for interest rates that you will be required to pay back. Just because your credit isn't the greatest you shouldn't have to pay 'out of this world' interest rates. But be ready, because you're going to have to pay a bit higher for that interest, it's something that can't be helped.

You may also be required to fill out a check and leave it with that business that you have taken out the no credit check loan with. That will be in case you don't show up to repay the loan. Remember they will deposit that check into their account, and you will be responsible for the money it's made out for. So if you don't have money in that account, you may also have bank charges that will come up to be paid.

Finally, keep in mind that you may need to use this service again, so do everything you can to make sure you pay the loan back. Some places will require that you leave them a check that they can deposit if you don't come back and pay the loan off.

If you pay off enough of those loans they will up the limit that you're able to take out each time. This can come in very handy at times in your life. So treat them with the respect that they deserve, after all they may be one of the only places that does business with you.

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Thursday, October 1, 2009

Short Sales Secrets From Real Estate Expert

By Arnulfo Snider

The best time to choose a short sale is when you owe more on your home than it is worth. Let's say that your home is worth 450,000 and you owe 470,000 then a short sale would be the way to go. Obviously, if you do not have to sell your home, you could wait out the market and hope for a turnaround in real estate values.

If you cannot wait out the market, then you have three options available to you. The first one involves bringing cash to the table. In the example above you would sell your home for $250,000 and pay another $10,000 to the lender out of your pocket to pay off the loan on your property. Your second option is to foreclose on you home. Your bank will foreclose on your home and evict you from the premises. They will sell your home to highest bidder at a foreclosure or Trustee's auction. Your third choice is to pursue a short sale. A short sale involves contacting a specialist who will negotiate with the lender on your behalf. The specialist will explain your situation and ask the bank to take less than the value of your home for payment.

In a case where you have a buyer for 240,000 and your loan is for 250,000, you would then explain to the bank that there aren't any buyers willing to pay a higher price. You can continue with a short sale when the lender agrees to the lower amount. Sometimes the lender will consider a short sale before you have a buyer and you can market your property and, if you find a buyer, take their offer to the lender for consideration.

Fortunately, short sales are not complicated but they do require some leg work for you and your short sales specialist.

You have to find out what your home is worth. Your short sales specialist will do market analysis which will help you to determine what your home will sell for. You can also use the Internet to help you in this process, there are many real estate sites that you can compare listings to help you determine the value of your home. If the market is moving down keep in mind that your homes value may be moving down as well and estimated valuations may be valid for only a short time.

You must also figure out how much it will cost to close. Items such as a title report, escrow, appraisal, attorney fees, agent commissions, unpaid property taxes etc. may add up to a substantial amount of money.

You will need to be aware of how much you have left to pay on your home, include all loans in this calculation.

Calculate your equity. In a normal case closing costs and loans will add up to less than the value of your home. When the opposite is true you can then pursue a short sale.

Your short sales specialist will be talking to someone in authority at your bank who is required to make these decisions. Usually lenders have a "loss mitigation department" that you can contact. Banks do not have to accept your short sale offer, but in most cases it benefits them. Some banks will not take a short sale unless you are behind on your monthly installments. You need to make sure your bank accepts short sales so get in touch with them as quickly as you can.

Understand where you stand with taxes. Do not underestimate this! Many times there can be a substantial tax obligation after a short sale has occurred. Make sure you talk to your accountant or short sales specialist to calculate your tax before going with a short sale.

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