Debt Consolidation Credit Counseling In Phoenix

Do you think your credit is too bad to ever be able to borrow money again? Perhaps you think there aren't any options for you to receive a loan because your credit history is poor. Unfortunately, having bad credit doesn't make you immune from unexpected expenses such as medical bills or broken appliances.

There is an option for people in this kind of situation. Guaranteed high risk personal loans are loans that are issued for whatever your personal needs are, but you don't have to have good credit to qualify for one.

Sometimes referred to as payday loans, the loans offer you money in advance of your paycheck to cover expenses. They are generally short-term loans so you will probably be expected to pay back the loan on your next pay day. For this reason, you'll want to be sure not to borrow more money than you'll get in your next paycheck so you'll be sure to be able to repay the loan on time.

If you're able to repay the loan on time, you will save your self from paying extreme interest. Some people borrow more than they can pay back and with this type of loan, the interest stacks up in a huge hurry. Most loans of this type will carry a term of two to four weeks and if you're able to pay it off in that time frame it won't be as costly. Some lenders of this type report to credit bureaus so the loan can either help or hurt your credit, depending on whether you pay it off on time.

If you plan to apply for a guaranteed high risk personal loan, be sure to look around for the best offer. You may be able to find a company that will give you a really good deal and this could definitely save you some money. Lending sources are always interested in bringing in new business, so particularly if this is the first time taking out this type of loan, you may be able to get a lower interest rate than normal or avoid some fees. The best places to receive the loans are companies that specialize in them. The phone book or internet can help you do your research to find the best arrangement.

It can go without saying that just about anyone you talk to is well aware of what a mortgage is but ask around to see how many know what a reverse mortgage is. This is a type of mortgage that allows you to take a portion of the equity that has built up in the home and have it as cash. The key difference in this type of mortgage is that you do not have to worry about repaying the loan until you no longer have that particular home as your main residence.

This is a perfect option for those that are retired as it can help to supplement their income, helping them to make ends meet. You do need to keep in mind that, should something happen to you, then your family will be left with the mortgage to take care of unless you have other arrangements made. You do need to meet certain criteria to get this type of reversed mortgage.

How do you qualify? In order to qualify for a reversed mortgage you will need to have either a single family home or at least a 2 to 4-unit property that you actually live in. This can be a type of duplex, town home or even a mobile home. Some condos have qualified so it all depends on your particular situation. You will need to talk with someone who knows the ins and outs of reverse mortgages. If you live in a condo, you need to be sure that it is FHA approved.

Beware- know who you are dealing with: - It is important to know the lender that is helping you with your reverse mortgage. There have been many class action lawsuits that have been filed on behalf of the seniors that have tried to utilize the reverse mortgage to help them supplement their income to help cover medical expenses and such. There are lenders out there that will tack on a great number of un-necessary fees so that you are tied into an outrageous amount for the loan. Most of these fees do not even pertain to the loan that you are getting.

Who to talk to: - If you think that a reverse mortgage is something that will be perfect for you and your needs, then you need to talk with a few lenders to see what your options are. You may want to check with your personal bank and perhaps you're the lender that you used for the original mortgage. The reverse mortgage can help you but you need to be sure that you go with a reputable lender that will not try to take advantage of you. Be sure that you make an educated choice where your reverse mortgage is concerned.

For many consumers, finding the right card can be hard. With all the cards available with differing rates, features, and options, it can be a difficult process of finding the right one for you. However, with proper guidance, you can find a credit card that identifies with your needs and will keep you free from debt issues.

Fixed, low rate cards are the best option for the average person. These cards benefit consumers because you can avoid being shocked with higher rates and hidden fees once introductory rates dissolve. With flexible spending terms, repayment can be much easier.

Additionally, consumers should look for cards that will make it easy to repay the bills come the end of the month. Many cards offer online payment or automatic withdrawals from a checking account. Some others allow a consumer to make payments on a biweekly period, or other flexible terms that make it easy for the user to work around their earnings schedule.

To have a good credit life, it is vital to use cards responsibily. If used unwisely, you can find yourself in a credit pinch. If you find yourself in over your head in credit debt, the consequences may last for years.

Hard work and using spending decretion can help in pulling you out of any bad credit situation you may be in. Its also important to seek outside help if you find yourself in this type of crisis. There are many services that can provide help in getting consumers out of debt quicker.

Educating yourself with the right tools and service providers is the easiest way to dig yourself out from debt. Free in Five is a credit service that can assist in easing payment schedules and educate consumers on responsible spending. Life can be much easier with their help.

Credit service counselors provide consumers with good spending habits and teach proper use of credit. Many consumers find this beneficial because they lack the knowledge on how to properly use cards. With the right know how, consumers can use credit properly without falling into unmanagable debt.

So, if you're looking for a credit card, be sure to pay attention to the rates and the extra elements of the cards, and find one that suits your needs. Once you do find the right card, be sure to be responsible and use it wisely for purchases that you can repay in due time. Failure to do so can result in needing some outside help or other assistance to get out of debt that you can easily avoid with a little common sense and restraint.

Day trading can be an amazing way to make good money, or an amazingly stressful occupation. No matter what some may say, it's not an easy ride. You have to put some serious work into it.

Day trading commodities and stocks is more like a highly lucrative job. You need a number of firmly ingrained habits to be successful at it.

Habit number one is having a good sense of time. Anyone who can't get out of bed first thing in the morning or has trouble thinking before that cup of coffee is someone who will only be made miserable by day trading. The best time to assess the way you should play the market today is right before the opening bell. That's at nine in the morning in New York Cit, or six am in California and five am in Alaska and Hawaii. You can't just be an early riser. You also have to have a great internal clock and a good scheduling system.

The second necessary habit is having good quantitative thinking skills. Working on hunches will allow you to make or lose money in day trading. You need to be able to read and understand the numbers without thinking about them if you want to make good decisions. You have to be able to convert and analyze the numbers in your head carefully, so you'll be able to tell if something is a blip or a lasting trend, and you have to be able to act accordingly.

Of course, that doesn't mean you have to be a trained mathematician. You can learn how to deal with numbers correctly, even it's never been your strong suit. Some numerical skills can almost become second nature once you get going.

Another habit all successful day traders need is to combine patience, organizational skills, and a strategically short memory. This is a hard skill to learn, since you can't allow yourself to feel disappointed if you miss getting a stop at its top, or if you lose money because the short you were hoping for never showed up. Don't get caught up in your losses, or over focus on the times when you really pick a winner.

Habit number four is dedicated research. Day trading won't require going through accounting statements to the degree that conventional long term investing does, you do still need to have a constant inflow of analysis and data. You also have to be proactive about the shares you buy and sell. That means making quick, accurate judgments and acting fast. The only way to make the correct judgment calls is researching properly. However, you shouldn't let the need for research paralyze you.

You should also keep in mind the fact that much of this analysis isn't directly done by you. The best traders always keep lots of tools available, and can quickly access a number of different data and research services.

If day trading appeals to you as a new career, you'll have to build up a support network. You'll need to find some investors willing to help you apply leverage, as well as a good broker.

If you believe that you have all these skills, day trading offers an exciting and fascinating way to make a huge income. It's a job you can honestly consider fun, and if you have what it takes, it'll be pretty enriching, too.

There are arguments for and against taking out a fixed home equity loan. However, in a tight credit market, the advocates for fixed rate home equity succeed. Throughout the time of easy credit and low rates, various people took the benefit of adaptable rate mortgages, permitting them to buy a home based on a low interest rate. While the interest rate stayed stable, they benefited from this advantage. Nevertheless, as the prime went up, so did the rate on their fixed home loan and along with it their monthly payments.

Since the scheduled monthly payments are set up and founded on a set rate and the total dollar value spread across an amount of time, there's only one variable during a credit market fluctuation that can be changed; that's the interest rate. The scheduled payments will be changed to meet the new total over the life of the loan, something that does not happen with a fixed home equity loan.

Persons who borrowed in this kind of credit market on their home equity with an adjustable rate, may discover that even a modest raise in the prime can convert to a significant increase in their scheduled payments. One unpredictable item left out of the fixed rate equity loan may create much financial pressure for owners and their families.

Some equity lenders give reduced pay back schedule and at the end of the period, a 'balloon payment' is due. This means a larger, lump-sum payment may be steered clear of when you paid above the minimum payment or refinanced.

Fixed Rates Mean Nothing is Open to Change Although the interest rates commanded by a fixed home loan is perhaps a higher rate than a rate quoted for a variable rate, it is a risk that a lot of owners are eager to take. If the rates go up they win, because the price of the mortgage is fixed, unchanged by the market fluctuation. They can celebrate with a trip to Spain. If the rates fall, then they will spend more money for their loan than had they used an adjustable rate, but it is a chance most are willing to take.

After watching friends and reading about many others who may have lost their homes on account of an escalation in interest rates, adjustable rate loans are not quite as attractive to as many homeowners, in particular those looking for a home equity loan. More than ever if their main mortgage has a fixed rate, neglecting to ask for a stable house equity loan might result in repayments rising so high, they end up losing their home by default.

While many lenders will advocate adjustable rate loans, while not necessarily wanting the rates to increase, these business owners stand to gain a windfall if the rates do swell. A fixed rates home equity loan permits the homeowner to precisely budget their money and not concern himself or herself about an escalating loan repayment.

When you apply for credit, one of the first things a lender will check is your credit score. If you know what your credit score is before you apply, you'll have a better idea of what to expect in the loan process.

So what is a credit score -- and why is it important?

A credit score is simply a number calculated by the three major credit bureaus that indicates how well you handle credit. This is done by reviewing your past credit history and looking at how you are doing with any current debts as well.

The three major credit bureaus are Experian, Equifax, and Trans Union. Each one has it's own method of deciding what your credit score is. Then they use a scoring system to show how good you are at handling credit and paying your bills on time. They all use the same scoring system - FICO - which is an acronym for Fair Isaac Corporation. That's why many people will use the terms "credit score" and "FICO score" interchangeably.

The truth is, lenders won't always ask for credit reports or credit scores from all three credit bureaus when you apply for a loan. Fortunately, since the "big three" all use the same FICO system, a score of 680 from one is thought to be the same as a score of 680 from the other two credit bureaus. Even so, it's a good idea to review your credit report from each one, as sometimes mistakes are made. When that happens, you should contact the credit bureau to have them corrected.

Where Do You Fall - What Is A Good Credit Score?

Your credit score can range from 375 to 900 points. The higher the number, the better you are. Getting credit will be easier, and you'll likely get better loan terms as well.

You should understand that each lender will have their own underwriting guidelines and cutoff points they have to follow. But here is a general guideline you can use to see where your credit score falls overall.

If you have a credit score of 650 and above, you probably have a very good credit history. Because you've been responsible in the past, you will probably find the approval process is quick, easy and painless. An added bonus is that your loan terms and interest rate will probably be very good.

Scores between 620 and 650 are considered average. This means your credit is basically good. If you fall into this range, lenders will tend to look for any possible credit risks before approving a high credit limit or large loan amount. You may find you have to provide additional documentation and explanations when applying.

Also, instead of being quick and easy, your loan may take longer to close. But there is a good chance you will still be able to get credit at a good rate.

If your credit score is below 620, this doesn't necessarily mean you won't get credit. But you should realize that the interest rates and terms of your loan will probably be less desirable, due to your low credit rating.

It's not easy to get a mortgage with bad credit, but it's not impossible. If you know what your credit score is and it's not that high, you may well ask yourself if you can still qualify for a mortgage.

A loan advisor will look at your credit score, when looking at whether it is to be accepted or declined. If you have a bad credit scoring, then look at how you can improve this immediately. Always limit the number of credit cards you have, credit checks and any late payments. Remember, the poorer the credit score, the higher the interest rate. However, even if your credit score is slightly bad, you could still be considered for a mortgage!

If there is no hope for your credit, you need to look for other ways to buy a house, because a mortgage probably won't ever be granted to you. You can thank these mortgage rules on the downturn of the economy, which is making it difficult for those with bad credit to get a mortgage. One way that those with terrible credit can get approved is to ask someone to cosign the mortgage papers with them. This is risky for the cosigner, because they are putting their credit on the line for you.

If you have managed to improve your credit over the last six months i.e. paying bills on time and reducing your debt, you could attempt to get a mortgage. Compare banks to check who is offering the best rates and to see who can you offer you the best deal possible. You may not get the best rate, however you can always remortgage in a few years time, if you continue to improve your credit score.

You're probably going to be left with paying a higher interest if you have a poor credit rating. The mortgage company may well insist that you get insurance, if you don't have funds to cover the down payment. This could increase the cost considerably, so you need to ensure you budget for everything and know exactly how much you will be paying each month. If you default on a mortgage, it is very unlikely that you would ever get another mortgage in the future.

Due to the current financial climate, it is very unlikely you will be considered for a mortgage if you have defaulted or filed for bankruptcy in past. All you can do is shop around, but you may find that interest costs are set so high, in order for a bank to trust you that it simply may not be worth it.

If you want to be smart and save a lot of money in higher mortgage rates, keep your credit score good.

Real estate can be funny thing; there are some strategies in real estate investing that are only successful when the economy is down and values are declining.

If you are ready to dive in and invest in real estate, then here are some helpful tips:

Finding Great Deals

Let's take a closer look at the current situation, or what I call the "Perfect Storm" - Massive over-saturation of bank-owned properties - Downward spiral of the economy - Low interest rates (the lowest in 80 years)

We are in a buyer's market! There are many great deals available on real estate in all types of neighborhoods across the nation. You would be surprised at how low some of the asking prices are for houses.

How do I Begin?

How do you leverage your time and money in finding those great deals? If you are new at the game, the best way to manage your real estate investing career is to get to know a Realtor. A Real Estate professional has expertise and knowledge of the housing market. You can be confident in teaming up with an experienced Realtor, who strives to provide a high level of service, because he or she knows that their business thrives from giving good service.

Providing a great real estate service generates more business through client referrals; referrals are a key to an investor's success.

A good realtor knows the housing market and can help you to avoid time wasted, missed opportunities and financial loss. Going it alone could set-up you up for disaster as a beginning real estate investor.

There are a lot of real estate services that are provided on-line; many real estate transactions can be completed via internet. Your real estate partner should have all the tools and understand the latest technology so you can become a professional at finding the best deals available. A savvy realtor knows how to be first in line to see new great deals.

Closing the deal

Closing the deal can be a challenging experience. A real estate professional must always remain 'on top of things' to successfully get to the closing table and finalize the transaction. A real estate professional will know the best way to structure the deal for a smooth transaction whether you're working with foreclosed homes, HUD properties, wholesale investing or one involving a short sale.

Choosing a Real Estate Professional

Talk with Investors in your area, join local REIA clubs and attend meetings hosted by Realtor organizations to find the Real Estate Professional that will support your real estate business. A lot of real estate investors like to work in partnerships; many like to mentor new investors too.

The market is ripe for real estate investing; supply is quite high and few are buying; therefore, the prices are great. Work with an experienced real estate professional who can act as a mentor if you are new to investing. Even experienced real estate investors benefit from forming partnerships.

Cool Checks to make sense of the times you are living in. If you live in a deflationary time or inflationary time the consequences are as dire as if you live in inflationary times. Often common folk are confused as to what financial condition they are living in.

In a deflationary environment, when thelevel of value for goods and services goes down, the value of the dollar goes up. The logic goes seemingly against human intuition.

With deflation, almost everything goes down. Safety and protection is important and if you have all you money in antiques, real estate or hard assets or commodities the worth of these goods decreases.

There is only one exception; the dollar goes up by definition. The opposite is true. When the cost of goods and services goes up the cost of the dollar shrinks.

Along with deflation, the United States Dollar value goes up. Its value goes up against foreign currencies. The buck buys more.

Check the accounting of the dollar in your personal purchases. Is the dollar's value is going up? It's buying more gas than it used to, buys more real estate than it used to, and gets better deals shopping for cars than before. Everything costs less.

When goods and services cost less, you're living in a deflationary environment. The dollar buys more and the worth of the U.S. dollar abroad increases also.

Regardless of what times you live in, getting good value for your money helps you live better. You can buy really cool checks at ElegantChecks.com. Checks that will stretch your budget dollar and offer an abundance of choices.

Lexington Law is headquartered out of Salt Lake City, Utah. They are a credit repair firm.

They have 22 lawyers and over 400 employees. They have been in business for 17 years and have served 1/2 million people. They will dispute bad credit items on your credit report.

Is it legal?

Yes, credit repair is legal and your responsibility. The Fair Credit Reporting Act passed by congress gives you the right to dispute any item you feel is not accurate on your credit report. This law also says that any item that can not be verified must be removed by the credit bureau.

How does this work?

You get a copy of your credit reports and forward them to Lexington. You also indicate what items you feel are inaccurate.

Then Lexington will mail a dispute letter to each bureau. When the bureaus get this letter they will investigate the item and send you notification of the result. If the item was verified or if it was removed, you then forward update to Lexington.

How long will it take?

It depends upon the damage to your credit. However it typically ranges between 6 months to 12 months.

How much is it going to cost.

There is an initial account set up fee of $99. Then you will be charged a monthly fee of $39, $59, or $79 depending upon what level of service you choose.

Can't I do this myself?

Yes, in fact we encourage you to if you have minor damage to your report. To dispute a listing yourself you must create a dispute letter and mail it directly to the credit bureaus.

Once the bureaus get your letter they will investigate. They will contact the creator of the negative item and ask them to verify the account, the dates of delinquency, and the balance. If the account can not be verified then the bureaus must remove the item from your credit.

What else can I do to repair my credit?

We suggest you open a new revolving line of credit such as a credit card. This will help you to build a positive payment history by making your on time monthly payments. This factor is almost as important as negative items when your score is calculated.

In sum, you do not have to live with a low credit score. You can remove negative items and by building a positive payment history you can repair you score.

If you have filed bankruptcy you should expect your credit will be severely damaged. However there is hope, you can take action to remove your bad credit and by building some positive credit you can have a high score.

The truth is that this mark does not have to remain on your credit for 10 years. To remove it we suggest:

1. Dispute the mark with each bureau.

You can do this yourself or by hiring a service, a dispute letter must be sent to each bureau disputing the accuracy of the mark. Upon receipt the bureaus will investigate, however because bankruptcies are recorded in public records which the bureaus will not check during an investigation, the mark will not be verified.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act says that a listing that in not verified must be removed from your report. Additionally this act says that you can dispute any item you feel is inaccurate on your report. It is a common concern about the legality of repairing your credit; you will never have any legal consequence for disputing a listing.

We suggest before you dispute the bankruptcy you double check to make sure any negative accounts are reported as "included in bankruptcy." This is because once the bankruptcy is removed from your report you will dispute each listing on the basis that it says "included in bankruptcy" yet there is no bankruptcy on your report. Additionally it is rumored that removing a bankruptcy is easier after 2 years have expired.

2. When your bankruptcy mark is erased, you can start to dispute each negative account.

This can be done because no where on your credit report does it say you have filed a bankruptcy so how can these negative items be included? Upon an investigation the marks should be erased and this will provide you with a clean report.

3. We suggest you start building positive credit. This is most effective by opening a new revolving line of credit such as a credit card.

By making your on time monthly payments you will create a positive payment history. Additionally keep your monthly balance at 25% of your available limit because this will show the bureaus that you do use your card and use it responsibly. This will improve your ratio of available credit to debt, a very important factor when your score is calculated.

While it is not illegal to dispute an accurate mark on your report it may not be the most ethical thing to do. However in my opinion charging people outrageous interest rates upwards of 30% and charging late fees is not ethical either.

In sum you don't just have to live with bad credit. You can remove the items and you can do it today. You can create a high score for yourself by removing the bad items and building positive marks. This will save you; on interest rates, embarrassment from a low score, and give you the purchasing power you deserve.

Retirement is a huge milestone in a person's life. Retirement planning is crucial because it will have such an impact on your future. It will not only impact you financially, but in every other way. Because it is so important many questions arise as to how to be best prepared for this life altering time.

It is never too early to start planning for your retirement. Even if you are just finishing your education and beginning your career this the perfect time to begin preparing for your retirement. The earlier you are able to start the more secure your retirement will be. You will have pleasurable and relaxed retirement years if you start planning right now.

You should also make sure to plan for the possibility of living longer than you might now expect, just to be sure and to make sure that you will have enough money in the event that this does actually happen. Include the possibility of being on a fixed income for as long as 30 years or more.

A Smart Choice

Seeking help from a financial advisor is a smart choice in preparing for your retirement. A good financial advisor can help you examine all your options and set up the best retirement plan possible for your circumstances. They can help you project what the results will be from your retirement plan to give you added peace of mind.

These projections will give you a clear picture of where you will be financially when you are ready to retire. That will be a good guide for you in deciding how much you want to save each month and year towards your retirement.

You may feel that you have very little to put away each month for your retirement. But it is amazing how those small amounts grow over time. Also, there may be months when you have a little extra besides your designated amount for retirement account. Padding that account a little here and there when possible will really pay off down the road.

There is no way you can go wrong saving for you future. The more money you save the more comfortable your retirement years will be. You will not have to sacrifice your lifestyle in the least when you make the transition from worker to retiree.

The term 'real estate short sale' is being bandied about more and more as of late. Real estate short sales serve as an alternative to foreclosures in an increasingly declining real estate market. The time it takes to sell a property is extremely high, and the prices on real estate have reached a considerable low. Throughout the country the crisis is so bad that many places are experiencing what is fair to call a market meltdown. It is because the market is so inhospitable that the need for short sale real estate has gone up so dramatically.

Banks undergo a real estate short sale when they let a property be sold for an amount of money that is less than what it is worth. There are two conditions that must be met before a bank is likely to approve this: Number one, the property's sale price has to be incapable of covering the outstanding mortgage balance. The second condition is kind of obvious, but it dictates that the owners will be unable to continue making mortgage payments on the property.

Let's look at an example property that was bought five years ago for the rate of 217,000 dollars with an adjustable rate mortgage. Additionally, the owners took out a second mortgage of 10,000 dollars, which brought their total owed to 227,000 dollars.

Remember that in five years the amount that the mortgages would have been paid off is negligible. In the same amount of time, the market values for similar properties are going for 215,000 dollars, while the adjustable rate has risen from 7 percent to 11 percent. Additionally, we end up with a real estate short sale situation once one of the owners has lost their job.

The bank may decide to save expenses and time delays that a foreclosure would cost by simply allowing a short sale. Banks do this because it allows them to accept a definite amount of money and because it allows them to get the property off their books. If the lenders and owners do not agree on the terms of the sale, complications can result, but in general, that is how the real estate short sale works.

A real estate short sale is not a very pleasant experience, but it certainly isn't the worst experience they could have. If nothing else, it certainly beats being forced to accept a foreclosure on your credit report. These short sales can give the smart real estate investor a great buying opportunity.