Archive for October, 2006

Tuesday, October 3rd, 2006


At some point in our lives, many of us make a loan whether it be for personal or professional purposes. These loans do help us when we’re in dire need of funds to support any worthwhile endeavor. It’s important, though, to determine our needs first before applying for a loan as this could also lead to problems notably when it comes to the repayment process. Keep in mind that a loan is actually a form of debt, hence we always need to pay it back.

There are different kinds of loans that we can avail of. It all depends on our needs and financial capabilities. Remember that any loan always involves an interest rate. Learning about these loans and how to pay for them on time are vital to be able to enjoy their benefits and be eligible for another loan in the future.

Types of loan

The two most common types are the unsecured and secured loans. Unsecured loans from financial institutions may come in the form of credit card debt, personal loans, bank overdrafts, credit facilities or credit lines and corporate bonds. The interest rates to these loans may also depend on the lender and the borrower. In making a personal loan, there are several points to consider. Before making any final decision, it would be best to scout for the right financial institution that offers affordable loan packages. The more information you get about several lenders, the better you will be able to weigh your options and get the best deal that’s available. It’s just like shopping for a grocery item or your clothes, perhaps. One would most likely buy the shirt from shop A if it were sold at a lower price than at shop B. We always go for something that will save us money, right?

Other important things to consider in making a personal loan are the penalties and payment protection insurance to cover yourself should the worse comes to worst. Personal loans, however, are not that heavy on the pocket as the terms are usually shorter and interest rates lower compared to secured loans. Proper management of your finances should help you pay for your loan.

The second type is the secured loan, an example of which is the home loan. Secured loans usually involve larger amounts of money than unsecured loans and entail a longer period of repayment. Financial experts point to debt consolidation or home improvements as the main reasons why people apply for a secured loan. Since lending a huge amount of money is admittedly risky for a financial lending institution hence, the need to secure the loan on your property in order for the company to have some insurance for their capital.

For the home loan, the money taken is normally used to purchase housing. A home loan is different from your original mortgage. It is considered an additional loan that lets you borrow money according to the equity in your home. Compared to a regular mortgage, a home loan is easier to obtain and processing takes only a short time. Also, it provides more attractive interest rates and terms than unsecured loans. Money obtained from a home loan can actually be used for any purpose like buying a car, paying for your child’s education, renovating your home, buying a new home or paying for a family vacation. Remember to spend the money wisely and don’t overspend so as not to put your house at risk. And though the repaying term may be longer, you have the choice to pay in full early should your finances permit.

Money management

Whenever we borrow money, we should always pay it back. That’s how to achieve credibility and be eligible for another loan. Avoid making multiple loans, too, at one time as this will definitely put you in trouble. The repayment term for your loans will usually depend on the plan you choose. Generally, the monthly payment amount will be based on how much you borrowed. A monthly due date is set for you to pay your loan but, of course, you may also opt to make payments before the due date or pay more than the amount due each month.

To keep track of your expenditures, it’s best that you have a budget. Creating a budget will help you manage your debt, maintain good credit and save money as well. It’s actually just a simple plan to allow you to set spending goals and track the money that goes out. A monthly budget is more reasonable. What you should do is to keep a list of your projections for each month and beside that the actual expenses you made. This technique will surely give you a clue as to where you could cut back on your spending.

Keep in mind to live within your means and not make impulsive and unnecessary purchases. By sticking to your budget, you will be able to know your spending habits and make better choices in the future.

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Tom Takihi is the owner of the Discover Loans portal. To gain more information, please visit www.discover-loans.info

Tuesday, October 3rd, 2006


I was doing research for my web site, on ways to save money. Checking other web sites and discussion forums, I found that the cheapskates are hitting new - and funnier - lows. Choosing a spouse according to how frugal he or she is, and reusing the plastic from bacon packages were just a couple of the serious suggestions. One man even said, “Instead of buying toilet paper, I use yesterday’s newspaper.”

Probably the suggestion that was the most ridiculous was to stop drinking beer. What are we trying to save all this money for? In any case, here are some more funny ways to save money. I suspect, or at least hope, that many of these really are not meant to be serious suggestions. Don’t try these at home.

Ways To Save Money?

- Unplug your clocks at night to save on electricity.

- Carry powdered drink mix and add it to water when eating out, to save on buying drinks.

- Install a cat door and train your cat to go outside and to the neighbors yard to go to the bathroom. This saves you on cat litter and time cleaning the yard.

- Eat dog food. (According to this contributor, the dry dog food is better than the canned.)

- Tell everyone you’ll be out of town for Christmas, so you can shop the after-Christmas sales for presents.

- Ask your friends to save the labels for you off any new products they buy, so you can put them on your thrift-store purchases when you are buying gifts.

- Run around the house and close the heater vents in all the rooms except your bedroom before going to sleep.

- Encourage mice in the house by leaving crumbs around - so your cat will have a free food supply.

- Learn speed-reading and read books for free while in the aisle at the book store.

- Leave everything in the same place in your house, so you can easily get around at night without turning the lights on.

- Bring back rolls of coins from Canada, to use at the laundromat and in pop machines, saving you 20% or more, depending on the exchange rate.

Okay, these may be funny ways to save money, but did any of them tempt you? Do you pick up pennies on the street? Wouldn’t it be more efficient to just stay on the clock at work for an extra minute? Hey, and while you are there, take a big drink of water - to save on your home water bill.

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Steve Gillman studies money. To get free e-courses and e-books on money topics, and for more Funny Ways To Save Money, visit:
www.UnusualWaysToMakeMoney.com

Tuesday, October 3rd, 2006


Stocks are the basic building block of the stock market. A stock represents partial ownership of a company - the smallest share possible. Companys issues stocks to raise capital and investors who buy stock are actually buying a portion of the company. Ownership, even a small share, gives investors rights to a say in how the company is run and a share in the profits (if any). While stocks give owners certain rights, they do not carry obligation in case the company defaults or faces a lawsuit. Worse comes to worse, the stock becomes worth absolutely nothing but thats where the liability ends - investors will never actually owe money if the company goes bankrupt.

1. Companies Give Stocks To Raise Money

In most cases, the company needs money to expand or to acquire new properties. Each stock issue is limited to a certain number of shares, and when they are issued they are given a par value. The value of a companys stock is often directly related to it’s market share.

2. Buy Low, Sell High

If you are going to buy stocks, make sure you invest in a company that you believe will be growing soon. Investors who acquire stock in a new company are taking more of a risk than buying shares of well-established companies but the potential gain is much greater. For example, those who invested in Microsoft and held onto them are quite wealthy today.

3. How Is Trade Done?

Trade actually happens at stock exchanges such as the NYSE or NASDAQ. Only reputable, and listed, companies can have shares bought, sold, or traded. As an investor, you will need a broker to make your transactions for you. You can tell your broker to sell once the stock reaches a certain price or simply to sell what the market will bear. Your broker will get a commission for the sale.

4. Why Stocks Over Other Investments?

- Stocks grow over time
- Stocks give you rights to vote as a shareholder
- Dividends give you money once or twice a year
- You will never owe money if the company goes bankrupt
- Can earn more money than any other savings investment

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For more great stock market related articles and resources check out stockinformer.info

Tuesday, October 3rd, 2006


Although experts expect the number of homeowners facing foreclosure to increase over the next two years, a better understanding of insurance may help keep you from becoming a statistic.

Surprisingly, homeowners insurance policies are a common bill many borrowers fail to save on; instead accepting insurance as just another cost of owning a home. As far as many new home borrowers have been concerned, their homeowners insurance policies are bundled into their mortgage payment. Homeowners insurance rates, however, can vary by hundreds of dollars from company to company; therefore, homeowners should shop for insurance the same way they would shop for any other product.

Look for Multi-Policy

Insurance

Most insurance companies that sell insurance products other than homeowners insurance will offer consumers discounts for buying more than one product from them. For example, if your auto insurance company also sells homeowners insurance, you might get a discount of up to 15 percent by buying both.

Only Buy Coverage You Need

Homeowners insurance policy limits should be revisited every year to reevaluate any major purchases and additions. On the other hand, many of the possessions that homeowners insure depreciate significantly over a year. Update your home inventory and reevaluate policy limits for possible savings.

Raise Your Deductible

Increasing your deductible by just a few hundred dollars can make a significant difference to your premium. Most deductibles start at $250; therefore, if you raise yours to $1,000, you may save nearly 25 percent on your premium.

Look for Discounts That Apply to You

There are a myriad of homeowners discounts that go unrecognized by many consumers. For example, you may be able to get a lower premium if your home has safety features such as dead-bolt locks, smoke detectors, an alarm system, storm shutters or fire-retardant roofing material.

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Visit www.InsWebHome.com to compare homeowners insurance quotes for your home.

A few adjustments in your homeowners insurance may help you save the money you need to meet your mortgage.

Tuesday, October 3rd, 2006


Buying investment property with discretion is perhaps a foolproof way of accruing long-term wealth. With the stock markets being overly volatile the investor is anxious and often seeks haven in real estate, which unequivocally involves less uncertainty than other investment options. While real estate has drooped a bit from its zenith during the late 1980s, astute real estate investments can still deliver significant gains. In general, buying investment property gives you access to three benefits: yield, capital growth, and tax advantage through negative gearing.

Investment properties are also known as Non-Owner Occupied properties. Since every investor looks for high capital growth, buying investment property in a developing area does make sense. Experienced investors state that suburbs located within a 10 km radius of a city’s hub can be regarded as developing areas. It is recommended that you explore the area prior to buying investment property. Ensure that the basic amenities and emergency provisions are easily accessible to potential tenants. This would result in healthy rental returns and minimal vacancy periods, if any.

While buying investment property, you must consider that renting an apartment unit is much easier than renting a separate house. Moreover, the expense of rectifying problems, such as replacing the heating ducts, is shared among the several owners in the apartment.

The locale also plays a crucial role in determining which property to purchase. Properties with a panoramic view are often more desirable than others. Undoubtedly, the rental income from such a property would be huge. But there is no point going overboard and purchasing an expensive property, prior to ensuring that potential tenants can afford renting such a property.

If capital growth is what you look for in an investment property, then seek a property that can be sold quickly. Augmented properties, such as a unit with a balcony, garage or laundry, are rather alluring and can be sold with ease.

While buying investment property with the key intent of renting it, you must bear in mind that there might be periods when the property is unoccupied, either because of repairs or lack of tenants. Therefore, you must have a contingency plan for such vacancy periods.

Property investment might not seem all hunky-dory during the initial few years. But after a few years of holding a property, you might hopefully see yourself from being negatively geared to being either neutrally geared or positively geared. That is, your returns would be higher than your operating expenses. This is because the rental income would increase on a gradual basis, keeping pace with the market sentiments. Over time, you would also generate extra capital in your investment property.

On the whole, buying investment property can be a profitable venture if it’s done astutely.

Copyright © 2006 Joel Teo. All rights reserved.

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Joel Teo writes on Ahwatukee Real Estate Investment. Learn more about Property Investment by signing up for his free Real Estate Investing Ezine

Tuesday, October 3rd, 2006


Is your financial life undergoing stress? Need finance to meet expenses? If your answer to these questions is yes, you will get a solution here. The financial market has designed a special loan program in the form of bad credit secured loans especially meant for people having bad credit history.

Bad credit secured loans are offered to individuals having any of the following in their credit history:

-Arrears

-Defaults

-CCJ

-Bankruptcy

-Poor credit score

You will be offered a bad credit secured loan on the basis of your credit score. The lender before giving you the money sees your credit score and determines whether you are eligible for the loan amount you applied for or not. So your credit history is a major factor in deciding your loan amount. In case you do not know your credit history, you can request the credit rating agencies to send your credit score.

Bad credit secured loans are offered against a security. The security acts as collateral and can be put in the form of your house, car, real estate, jewelry or any other valuable property. Since you are offering a security, the lender gets the assurance that his money is not at risk. That is why lender agrees to lend a huge sum of money at easy repayments. By offering you money in such rates, these loans not only meet your expense but also help you in improving your credit score.

With a bad credit secured loan you can get a loan amount ranging from £3000-£25,000, and even more depending on your credit score. The repayment term varies from 3-25 years. The interest rate depends upon the loan amount and the repayment that you choose.

Bad credit secured loans can be availed easily if applied online. Internet provides you an opportunity to surf the websites of different lenders so you can easily choose and select the best lender among them suiting your repayment capabilities and requirements. Once you have selected the lender, the next step will be to fill an online application form which will require details such as your credit score, employment, residential and identity proof, etc. This saves a lot of time and money as you do not need to visit the lender personally. Your application will be approved in just 3-4 hours and very shortly the loan will be transferred in your bank account.

Bad credit secured loans serve as a helping hand for bad credit holders. These loans will help you make your dreams true. Whether you want to buy a new house or a car, or want to go for a holiday or need fund for your business, bad credit secured loans are there to help you out.

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Peter Taylor is a senior financial analyst at Bad Credit Secured Loans with an acumen for finance and insurance. To find Bad credit secured loans,Bad credit secured personal loan,Bad credit secured loan UK,Bad credit homeowner loan, Bad credit loan that best suits your need visit www.badcreditsecuredloan.net

Tuesday, October 3rd, 2006


Copyright 2006 Ray Prince

Background

I’ve been working in the world of pensions for over 12 years now and looking back the amount of change has been relentless. In that time we’ve seen the introduction of stakeholder pensions, Gordon Brown taxing pension funds an extra £5bn a year as soon as Labour came to power in 1997 and a couple of years ago there was talk of the NHS Pension normal retirement age being increased to 65 (fortunately this did not happen).

I’ve also dealt with many doctors and dentists, advising them what their best strategy should be for their future. By being involved with many different planning scenarios I’ve been able to see where clients have made mistakes with their retirement planning. Not on purpose of course, but usually down to lack of information and time.

Planning Mistakes

So what are some of the common mistakes and what action can you take to avoid them?

Let’s look at one in particular.

Believing a Personal Pension is an Investment

A personal pension is not actually an investment. It is a tax wrapper that allows you to receive the tax rebates at either basic rate or higher rate tax.

For example, let’s say you invest £300 per month into a Personal Pension Plan with one of the major insurance companies. They have approximately 70 funds to choose from with their Individual Pension Plan. So, the actual investment that you are making is when you decide where your money will be invested.

Their funds cover all types of risk (lower, medium and high); therefore the key is to only invest the money in funds that are in line with your attitude to risk.

If you have a Personal Pension Plan(s) or Additional Voluntary Contribution Plan(s), analyse your latest statement or policy document to see where your money is being invested.

The next step is to review the level of risk that you are comfortable with and to alter the funds if necessary. With the majority of pension companies you are able to switch money from one fund to another (there may be a charge) or redirect future contributions.

If the funds that your pension company is offering have poor past performance and poor prospects for future performance, you may be able to transfer to another pension company with better prospects for future performance (check for any transfer penalties). Do bear in mind though that past performance is no guide to future performance.

Action Point

Don’t underestimate the potential impact on your retirement income. You need to be aware of the planning mistakes that should be avoided so make sure you do your research before taking any more action.

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Ray Prince is an Independent Financial Planner with Rutherford Wilkinson plc, and helps UK Resident Doctors and Dentists get the best deals on mortgages, protection and investments, as well as helping them achieve their financial objectives. Just visit www.medicaldentalfs.com to get your free retirement guide, How To Avoid The 7 Most Common Retirement Planning Mistakes. Rutherford Wilkinson plc is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

Tuesday, October 3rd, 2006


Choosing the right bank account can be difficult, with so many seemingly similar options available to you it can just seem easier to pick the first account you come across. Although many accounts do have similarities, if you don’t shop around then you won’t get the best deal for your needs. If you want to find the best bank account for your needs then follow these simple steps:

Number of accounts

Many people have a few current accounts as well as one or two savings accounts, which they are not getting the best out of. If you pick the right accounts then you will only need one current account and one savings account for your personal use. If you have a large number of accounts, then now is the time to think about replacing them with one or two accounts that better serve your needs.

Don’t be lazy

The first step to finding the right bank account for your needs is to start being active and looking for a new account. Banks rely on the fact that you are too lazy to check your fees to see if they are worth your while. It is likely that you pay fees and rates each month that are more than you need to pay, or are for services that you don’t need. If you are proactive then you are more likely to get a good deal.

Features

Once you have decided that your current bank account is not fully serving your needs, then you need to look at what features are most important to you. Are you someone who transfers a lot of money electronically, or do you write cheques to pay for things? Some accounts will have better rates for each of these features, so you need to decide what you are going to use the account for.

Online banking

One aspect that you need to look at when choosing an account is online banking. If you only need basic checking and savings services, then having online banking might not be worth it. However, if you need to access your money quickly and be able to transfer between accounts or pay bills instantly, then you should get an account that has online banking features.

Current and savings accounts

There are many account variations available for both current accounts and savings accounts, and it is even possible to get combined current and savings accounts. The type of account you need depends on the features you need and the amount of money you will be paying in and out of your account. If you have a large amount of savings, then you want a savings account with the best interest rate to take advantage of this. Also, if you have relatively little money in your current account then you shouldn’t opt for an account that requires a minimum amount be paid into the account each month.

Where to look

Now that you know what sort of account you want, you need to find the right institution to suit your needs. Although traditional banks should be your first port of call, you should also look at credit unions and online banks to find the best bank account for your needs.

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Peter Kenny is a writer for The Thrifty Scot.
Please visit us at Bank Accounts and Current Accounts
Visit www.thriftyscot.co.uk

Tuesday, October 3rd, 2006


Most people do not understand the consequences of having bad credit. They believe that they can just make mistakes with their money, and one day they will wake up and everything will be all right. However this is not true. Your personal credit is one of the most important things that a person can have in life. The ability to buy a house, a car, or finance any other major purchases will depend heavily on the quality of your credit score. If you damage your credit score then you might not be able to get financing for any major purchases at all. Or if you do get financing, then the finance company will give you the highest interest rates that are allowable by law, because you will not be able to go anyway else to negotiate a better rate. Thus having bad credit will cost you more money, and get you further into debt, which will probably damage your credit rating even more. It is fairly easy to see that if you allow yourself to damage your credit, then it will be very difficult to get your credit rating back in good standing.

Once you have bad credit you will quickly realize just how damaging it can be to your finances. More than likely you will start to look for ways to get your credit rating back in good standing. You will definitely see many different advertisements that claim they can get your credit back in good standing and negotiate on your behalf. These companies are good, but they are basically doing the same thing that you can do for yourself, except that they usually charge you for their services. The charges will just make it that much harder for you to get your bad credit erased. However you can call your creditors and try to negotiate for yourself and most of the time creditors will work with you to help you get your credit back in good standing. The first thing that you will want to do is contact your creditors and try to get them to lower your interest rates, or your monthly payment so that you can make payments on time, and try to erase your debts. Then once you get your debts paid off, slowly try to reestablish your credit by making small purchases and paying them off quickly.

If you already have bad credit, there are things you can do. Bad credit is not the end of the world, but if it is not taken seriously it can definitely derail your life’s plans.

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If you have bad credit, visit our site, Bad Credit Loans, for help!

Tuesday, October 3rd, 2006


More people than ever before are suffering from money problems, some more serious than others. Anyone can experience financial insecurity due to the uncertainty of life. One means of coping is through debt consolidation. Using it may save you from annoying phone calls, restless nights, and bring you the joy of knowing your bills are under control.

With credit consolidation, you also avoid more severe steps such as bankruptcy. While this can be a solution for clearing credit, bankruptcy should be the last consideration. Of all options of straightening up debt, credit consolidation is by far the smartest and most effective measure. Today, most cities have one or more debt consolidation firms or credit consolidation consultants who can work closely with you to help you get out of debt.

With credit consolidation, the professionals negotiate with your creditors to lower your total debt owed and/or to reduce interest rates. In most cases, 40% to 60% of your major debt will be reduced, simply because of eliminating the high interest rates and late fees. Once the debt has been consolidated, you will then have a lower and restructured monthly payment that you can afford.

A major plus of using one of these services is that it doesn’t have the stigma attached that bankruptcy does. Most creditors will see that you are not trying to get out of paying, but are in fact trying to improve your spending and borrowing habits. Once they stop showing late payments on your report, the bothersome phone calls will stop. Another positive outcome is that you’ll pay off your debt in about one-third of the time. You’ll have no debt, save your credit rating, and be able to start all over with your financial planning.

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Molly Deuda provides a range of resources at her web site: Asset Consolidation, where you will find information that will help you on many credit consolidation issues. Why not take a look: www.assetconsolidation.com

Tuesday, October 3rd, 2006


Debt Consolidation Can Be the Way Out Of Bad Credit
Chance is that you have credit problems and a mountain of debt just like most of us in this country, and sometimes it may seem to you that there is 0 hope left for you to fix a bad credit. But dont worry there is still some hope left for you.

What you should do is to think about debt consolidation services which can assist you with your credit repair. Lots of times the process of debt consolidation reduces stress and can help the consumer to get out of debt faster at the same time.

Credit repair is sometimes just the answer we need; especially to those who are planning to buy a house or a car sometimes in the near future. But finding just the right company which we can trust in this course of action is often very difficult.

The best way to do this is online, that way you can compare and research any company you are interested in from the comfort of your home. Be sure also to check for reviews and rate quotes at the same time in order to save time.

After research, the next thing you should do is to get all your debt information that you can get your hands on. Be very thorough and try not to miss anything. Good way to this is to start asking yourself some questions like: what credit cards do you have or what are the minimum payments you have each month.

These kinds of questions are essential to your credit repair and you should share every information that you have with your chosen credit repair advisor. After that the company you have chosen, after the research, will quote you a monthly fee. Next the credit repair company takes over and the rest is up to them.

Very soon you will have a much lower monthly payments on your back and no longer will you be paying your creditors but instead you will be paying your credit consolidation company.

Debt repair is often excellent way to avoid bankruptcy and there are many debt consolidation companies to choose from these days. The reason for this is that a lot of people need credit help, and credit consolidation companies see that as an excellent business opportunity.

With so many to choose from it can be a difficult job to find just the right one for you, so you should check for company reviews, history, background and policies. Use BBB (Better Business Bureau) to check the company you are interested in once you narrow down the candidates. Ask your family and friends about their credit repair experiences (if they have any) and see which company they can recommend.

It will not be easy or cheap to get out of debt but it should improve your credit score and not ruin it. And at the end you can start with your debt consolidation by handling your money with more care, saving and investing wisely for the long term profit and also get your credit report and sign up with a good credit repair company.

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At Debt-Free-Family we are dedicated to help you get out of debt, avoid bankruptcy and enjoy a debt free life. Get all the answers on your Bankruptcy Questions

Tuesday, October 3rd, 2006


Are you looking to get your feet wet in real estate but don’t know how to begin. If you ask the more creative and experienced of investors, they would suggest that you look for financial institutions that finance investment property. That is, the golden rule of real estate is to use other people’s money to leverage your investments.

Seasoned investors advise against investing scads of money on a single real estate asset, even if you have the funds to do it – simply because it is too risky a proposition. Moreover, you forego the benefits of leveraging.

Nowadays, several reputable lenders offer finance for up to 95% of the purchase price of the property. The most alluring feature of such schemes is that they cut back on your out of pocket costs when acquiring an investment property. Moreover, the finance is typically available in the shape of a single loan, which can be used to invest further in other properties.

The benefits of financing can be better understood with an example. Let’s assume that you purchase an investment property, without financing, for $150,000. If your expected yield from the property is 10%, then you would get returns of $15,000, which is a 10% return on your investment. On the other hand, if you get your property financed up to 95%, then you would effectively make the same profit on a mere investment of $7,500, which amounts to be an overwhelming 200% return on your investment.

Lenders that finance investment property up to 95% normally offer loans with a 15-year or 30-year term. These loans may either be fixed-rate or adjustable-rate. Lenders verify your credentials, such as your income source, savings and credit score, prior to offering finance. Though low credit scores are permissible by many financial institutions, a healthy credit score does help acquire finance at low interest rates.

While choosing a financial institution that will finance investment property, ensure that you are thorough with the terms of the finance agreement. Although financing your investment property seems like a profitable option, you may not be able to acquire finance for just about any property you desire. Reputable lenders offer finance for no more than 5 investment properties. And this too can be rather tough to accomplish. You need to be eloquent enough to persuade the lender into offering finance.

All in all, it is prudent to seek lenders that finance investment property. Financing empowers you to leap ahead in your real estate career at a rapid pace. It helps you augment your investment portfolio, which leads to significant profits in the long run.

Copyright © 2006 Joel Teo. All rights reserved.

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Joel Teo writes on Ahwatukee Real Estate Investment. Learn more about Property Investment by signing up for his free Real Estate Investing Ezine

Tuesday, October 3rd, 2006


“California refinance using a Pay Option adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) loan are on the increase,” states Jaime Polanco, President of AmeriVision Mortgage Corporation, a nationwide mortgage company based in Southern California

“We are seeing a tremendous increase in the amount of people refinancing in California using a Pay Option home loan because the program gives the homeowner the choice to make low monthly-deferred interest payments, an interest only payment, a 15 year amortized payment or a 30-year amortized payment. Which gives the homeowner complete control of their mortgage payment every month.”

“All types of borrowers are taking advantage of a Pay Option refinance, but the two most common are self-employed/commissioned borrowers and those that have found themselves in a financial position in their life where they need the absolute lowest payment.”

“This program is ideal for anybody that has fluctuating income such as the self-employed looking to refinance and be able to meet the monthly mortgage payment.”

We recently assisted a self-employed California contractor who is busy during the spring and summer, but due to weather conditions in the winter business slowed down. When business is going well they can make a fully amortized payment but when business is slow he can take advantage of the new low deferred interest payment. It gives him great flexibility to make the mortgage payment he wants depending on his monthly cash flow situation.”

“Others looking to buy a new home or even a first time home buyer and want the lowest possible monthly payment or just want to lower your existing mortgage payment will all benefit.”

The Pay Option refinance home loan is a relatively new product that allows you four payment options each month:

1. 15 year payment- Pay your home loan off and build equity faster as well as save thousands of dollars in interest;

2. 30 year payment- This option will let you know how much to pay to have your home free and clear in the standard thirty years;

3. Interest only option- This option allows you to pay only the interest portion of your monthly payment so you can increase monthly cash flow;

4. 1% Minimum payment-This option allows you to pay your mortgage at a 1% rate of interest for maximum savings.

Your payment cannot increase more than 7.5% above the previous year for the first five years. Another gives you the option to convert to a fixed rate mortgage after the first three years.

“Borrowers should remember to use the program to their advantage. If they only make a minimum deferred payment then the deferred interest will be added to their principal balance at the end of 5 years,” warns Polanco.

“The Pay Option Refinance Loan is the absolute best adjustable rate mortgage ( ARM ) product available today,” concludes Polanco.

For immediate assistance on refinancing with a Pay Option Home Loan please call 1-866-398-4664 or go to http://www.goldmedalmortgage.com/PayOptionRefinanceLoans

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Jaime Polanco is a real estate investor and President of AmeriVision Mortgage Corporation, a nationwide mortgage company based in Southern California.

Lease to buy real estate is available in all states. For more information on lease to buy home programs please call 866 398 4664 or go to: www.goldmedalmortgage.com/PayOptionRefinanceLoans

Tuesday, October 3rd, 2006


Hollywood loves the stock market. The chaos of the stock exchange floor, the tension of boiler room day-trading, devious power brokers making back room deals; it all makes for great drama. Then you have the true-to-life stock market stories in the news: insider trading, big money IPOs, the dot com bust. All of it is enough to make you steer clear of the market for good and travel down a safer investment path. But don’t be frightened, history shows that long-term, there’s no better place to put your money to watch it grow. Here are a few tips to get you started.

Stocks 101

Simply put, when you purchase stock in a company, you become part-owner of that company. Along with other shareholders, you all combine as investors in the business, and therefore reap its rewards, or suffer its losses. Stocks are most commonly divided into separate categories depending on the size and type of the company (e.g., mid-cap, small-cap, energy, tech, etc.).
While speculation can drive stock prices in the short term, it’s long-term company earnings that determine a stocks gains or losses. Speaking of short term, that’s when stocks are extremely volatile. Over a span of just a few months or years, stocks can climb to astronomic heights or drop to pitiful lows. But, since 1926, the average stock has returned over 10 percent per year. That’s better than any other investment vehicle out there, and that’s why stocks are your best bet for long-term investment.

Picking Stocks

Before you dive head-first into the market, there are a few things you should know about picking stocks. First, the market’s performance as a whole is not necessarily a reflection of its individual stocks. Good stocks can keep growing even in a down market, while bad stocks have the frustrating tendency to drop or remain stagnant in a strong market.

Also, remember that history is not indicative of a stock’s future performance. Even solid stocks can slip from time to time. Remember that stock prices are based on a company’s earnings outlook, not its past performance. If the future looks bright for a company, a $100 dollar stock is probably a good buy. If earnings look less than promising, even a $5 stock can be a waste. Finally, investors determine a stock’s value by measuring a handful of primary criteria, most notably cash flow, earnings, and revenue.

“Diversify”

It’s the rallying cry of all smart investors. When compiling an investment portfolio of stocks, it’s smart to own shares in companies from several different industries. Consider it a “hedge bet”. When one part of the economy experiences a downturn, you’ll have other stocks in your portfolio to put your faith in.

When building your portfolio, the safest bet is to pick from financially strong businesses with earnings growth above the average. Surprisingly, that limits the lot to choose from, as only around 200 stocks today fit that bill. A solid portfolio features somewhere in the ballpark of 20 stocks selected from seven or more industries. A general rule of thumb is to invest in stocks with an above-average rate of growth and reasonable valuations.

Buy and Hold

Day trading is a great way to lose your nest egg, but quick. As we noted before, stocks over the short term are highly volatile. Sure, brokers today are offering cheap trades, but beware. There are a ton of hidden fees and taxes involved with day trading, not to mention the amount of attention required by you to monitor the blow-by-blow proceedings of the market. Our recommendation: buy and hold. A ten percent return over the long term is nothing to sneer at.

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Joseph Kenny writes for the Personal Loans Store which offers information on loans and other loan types including home loans, secured loans and others.
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Tuesday, October 3rd, 2006


Filing personal bankruptcy will protect you from creditors that you owe money to. Bankruptcy is a new method to gain protection. It takes away your debts so that you start off on a new note with your finances. If you are planning to file bankruptcy then there are certain things that you should keep in mind.

The very first thing that you should do is get in touch with a lawyer who specializes in bankruptcy. You’ll want to be working with someone who knows exactly what is required and what steps you need to follow for bankruptcy. When you first meet with the lawyer make sure that you take along all of your financial papers, including bills that you owe, a verification of your monthly income, and statements from your bank.

Be very clear and forthright in calculating your entire debts, minor ones included. Don’t be apprehensive, if the amount you figured as a debt is too high. Both, your lawyer and you need not be skeptical about the declaration. After all you are on the threshold of making a new beginning in your life.

The lawyer will explain to you the difference between secured debt and unsecured debt. Secured debt is debt where your creditor will hold some type of secure interest on what you owe until the entire amount has been paid back. If you don’t pay back the amount owed the creditor can take back what you’ve purchased, such as your car. Unsecured debt is debt that isn’t secured with interest and is not tied to property.

Mind you, not all the debt of yours can be cleared by filing for bankruptcy. Some of them are student’s loan, child support and any unpaid back taxes. These remain outstanding in your bills that you owe. Lawyer needs to be well informed in order to draft a proper application for bankruptcy.

Once you’ve determined all your debt you’ll be filing a bankruptcy petition with the local courts in your area. Your creditors will need to be contacted and notified that you’ve filed for bankruptcy. Once you’ve filed for bankruptcy your creditors will be unable to contact you and won’t be able to collect any of the money that you owe them.

The court will assign a trustee in response to your bankruptcy case. He is liable to contact your creditors and pay their dues. All the proceedings will commence only after all your property, if you own any, is sold off and hence the funds are raised. These funds are spent on repayment of your debts. If the place you live in entitles you to receive a part of the profit made by selling off your property, you would get that. Or you might end up in receiving an allowance for a fixed period of time, in order to restart your life.

Filing for personal bankruptcy can be a threat to your financial status in the future. Be well informed and give it a second thought before putting your plan into action.

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Ben Fallison provides a range of resources at his web site: Bankruptcy At, where you will find information that will help you on many bankruptcy related issues. Why not take a look: www.bankruptcyat.com