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Saturday, December 27, 2008

The Reverse of the Credit Crisis - Reverse Mortgages

By Tupania Vanrock

We have all read and heard about the results of the the credit crisis, which all begain with high-risk home loans. The entire forward mortgage industry is in a world of hurt.

I have friends in the mortgage industry from Seattle to Phoenix and east into Texas. All of their respective mortgage businesses are down. Some are down as much as 75%.

All polled telling sob stories would have one thing in common, they are all doing forward mortgages. If I polled a reverse mortgage loan officer I'd hear something quite different.

The reasons are multifaceted. The main reason probably revolves around investors' willingness to be involved in the reverse mortgage side of lending. It simply does not carry the risk of the forward market, as borrowers are not required to repay the lender on a monthly basis.

If their is a risk to the reverse mortgage side it is in the possibility that one day more would be owed on the home than the home is actually worth. This is why lenders create reasonably large cushions between the value of the home and the actual loan.

Adding to the recipe, the over 62 market is growing like a weed. Many demographers believe the over 62 population will double by the year 2030.

Furthermore, with the ever increasing cost of living and this group's propensity to save less than its parents, the need for additional income will persist.

I haven't looked at the exact numbers of how much the stock market is down, but many seniors are running scared because of it. Many of my new reverse mortgage applications have been predicated on this.

From early indications this group is taking out a reverse mortgage and using it in one of two ways. They are either paying off a mortgage to free up more money for savings, or they are simply using the loan as a financial safety net.

There is a ton of uncertainty in the marketplace, and this will remain so for the indefinate future. Home value are taking a beating and we really don't know how bad it will get.

The reverse mortgage industry could take a hit if house valuations take a deep plunge. However, with a softer landing the reverse industry will continue its upward curve.

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How To Get Bad Credit Student Loans

By Dave Davidson

For people that are trying to further their education by going to college, the cost of tuition can be pretty overwhelming. In order to achieve your educational goals, it may be necessary to find some assistance. What should you do if you're a person that has bad credit?

Lots of people ask me if they will need to improve their credit score before they apply for student loans. I almost always tell them that this won't be necessary. The government provides several different types of loans that help people that have bad credit.

Most student loan programs offered by the federal government are based on need. The government backs these loans and that makes them available for people, even if their credit is poor. As long as you have financial need, you can probably qualify for Stafford loans and you credit history isn't considered when you apply for Stafford loans.

The Perkins Loan is another loan that is issued based on financial need. Fewer of them are issued than the subsidized Stafford loan, but if you qualify, you will be glad that the loan is less costly over time. If you do have a financial need, you'll want to check to see if you qualify for a Federal Pell Grant. This would be the best deal for anyone who can qualify because it is a grant from the government.

You are not expected to repay any of the money you receive. Some people may qualify for a Federal Pell Grant, but not in the amount to cover all of their tuition and college expenses so they may take out a loan in addition to the grant.

If you aren't able to qualify for the federal subsidized loan programs, there are still some options out there for you. Take a look at unsubsidized Stafford loans, because they are probably still available to you, even if you have bad credit.

The government doesn't assist in any way with the payment. But generally, the interest rates are much lower than other lending options. And like all of the loans and grants mentioned, your bad credit history won't disqualify you from receiving the loan. So if you want to go to college, there is always a way.

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Caring for Your Family Once You're Gone - Estate Planning

By William Blake

Your retirement is one of the most important things you will ever plan for. It means enjoyment and peace of mind for you in the future. However you want your family to have that same peace of mind even after you are gone. Sometimes it is difficult to think about death and leaving your family. But it is important to be financially prepared so that in addition to the grief they feel over loosing you your family is not overwhelmed with funeral expenses and other costly financial obligations that you were not fully prepared for. So in conjunction with planning for your retirement it is good to also think seriously about your estate planning.

Retirement planning takes a lot of time and effort. When you throw in estate planning on top of that some people feel overwhelmed. It does require quite a bit of work on your part to determine what you have and how it will be distributed and as you develop a financial plan for your estate. But caring for your family's future needs is worth the effort.

Putting a plan into action

Once you have accounted for all of your assets it is time to put a good estate plan into action. There are certain things you will need to consider:

- List your beneficiaries

- Decide how the assets will be divided between all beneficiaries

- Determine how you want benefits distributed to each of your heirs

- Determine what you will do with a vacation home, second home or a business

- Before setting it all in stone discuss your decisions with your family

Never hesitate to plan your estate because you are unsure of what you want to do with your assets when you are gone. Remember that any plan you make can be adjusted if necessary. What is more important is that you begin to get things on paper and put some sort of plan into action. As you family's needs change or as your circumstances change you can revise your estate plan. Even if you feel you have very little to distribute in your estate it is best to set out on paper how you would like it handled to save your family from having to make those tough decisions.

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What Are Trading Options And How Are They Beneficial?

By Walter Fox

In these unpredictable and uncertain financial times, Options Trading is becoming popular. Options trading is one way to create a quick profit with a smaller investment. Another benefit of options trading is the limited exposure to loss that it offers.

Savvy investors come to the table prepared, and they will approach Options Trading with a system. Options Traders should be aware of the relationship between risks and rewards when investing, and they will appreciate the versatility of this particular investment vehicle.

Options trading takes place in the stock market. Trading can be done with a variety of financial instruments such as stocks, commodities, bonds, indexes, and currencies. Options traders will select the financial instrument that works best for their options trading system of choice.

An option allows a person the right to buy or sell their chosen item at a future date for a specific price known as a Strike Price. Thus, an option trader speculates on the future price of a specific item.

Options can be used with a put (sale) or with a call (purchase). An options trader will decide to purchase or to sell their option based upon their own systematic approach to this type of investment. The decision to put or to call is important, and it relates to your strike price.

You would want to Put or sell your option when the strike price is higher than the price for your investment type. If your investment is below the strike price, the loss is limited to your put cost. The put gives you the right, but not the obligation, to sell your option.

Similarly, a Call will give the investor the right to buy an item but they are not obligated to do so. If the expectation is that prices will increase for your financial instrument then a call would be used to sell your option for a profit. If the financial instrument falls below the strike price then losses would be limited to the cost of the call.

When purchasing options you can easily limit your risk, but when you sell an option, you leave yourself open to an unlimited amount of risk. Nevertheless, selling an option is very attractive as generally 85% of all options eventually expire worthless.

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3 Tips for Choosing a Consumer Credit Counseling Service

By Steve Collins

Selecting a consumer credit counseling service seems like a pretty straightforward task. However, with the field growing by leaps and bounds, it is in your best interest to take some time and follow a few tips to make sure that the consumer credit counseling service you choose is reputable and offers the best services.

One recent and unfortunate trend in the industry has been a steady rise in the numbers of consumer complaints lodged with various reporting agencies and watchdog groups that keep an eye on the consumer credit counseling service industry. Sadly, whenever an industry sees meaningful growth year after year, the temptation of easy money invites disreputable players who, provide poor service and even actively work to cheat customers. It is particularly upsetting when the business caters to people who are already facing grave financial problems.

One of the best tips when searching for a credit counseling agency is to pass over any consumer credit counseling service that has not been in business at least 8-10 years. An extensive track record in the consumer credit counseling service industry usually indicates a business that is run professionally and that provides good services for the fees they charge.

A second tip is to verify the professional accreditation of each consumer credit counseling service you're considering. Look for agencies that have been formally accredited by either (or both) the Council on Accreditation (COA) or the International Standards Organization (ISO). Note: always make sure that the consumer credit counseling service you choose has a current accreditation with these organizations! Some will have been accredited in the past, but may be operating now on a old certificate.

Finally, due diligence requires verifying with the Better Business Bureau and your State's Attorney General's Office for complaints against the agency. You might be astonished by what you uncover with these simple checks. Many disreputable credit counseling agencies remain in business, even after many complaints have been lodged against them. Take the time to check each one out thoroughly before choosing one and paying them for their services.

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