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Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Responsibily Using A Credit Card

By Rice Amire

Today, more than ever, having good credit is essential in these tough economic times. Credit card companies are becoming more stringent on who to pre-approve for their credit cards and those who are able to handle a credit card responsibly are those most likely to be in good standing with these companies. Knowing how to use your credit card responsibly is important in having good credit.

Remembering to pay your bills on time and to not go over your credit card limit are two great ways in being responsibly beings when dealing with credit cards. If one is able to control these to aspects of their credit cards, they are on their way to being a responsible credit card holder and having a good standing credit score.

However, if you have had some trouble in the past and your credit isn't as good as you wished it were you may need some tips on how to improve your credit. Having bad credit isn't something that is set in stone and there is always a chance for you to boost it up. Here are some tips to avoid and improve bad credit stemming from bad credit card use.

One of the many reasons why most card holders are trapped in a credit card debt its because they have this overwhelming stack of credit card in their wallets. Whats with having so many credit cards when in fact it can only do you harm than good.

The end result of this ill fated choice, bankruptcy. So rule number one, avoid the temptation of having so many different cards to avoid bad credit card info. If you need to have different cards for many uses, why not go for universal cards like American Express card, Visa or MasterCard.

These cards can be used any where you are in the United States. And even though the rates may be high, but it will all be worth it. Here is another thing that most card holders do not know about their credit cards. Its the buying frenzy.

Using cash when possible is another good way to avoid bad credit card habits. When you use cash, you'll have the peace of mind that there are no bills to be billed to you later on and that your purchase has already been paid for. Reward points do sound enticing, but remember credit card companies offer these reward for a reason. Their main goal is to make money, not to save you money. It is best to remember these tips the next time you whip out that plastic.

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Get Out of Debt Fast With The Ultimate Debt Guide

By Ash Ford

The Ultimate Debt Guide is a course that reveals how to get out of debt by not filing for bankruptcy or by signing up to a long-term debt relief plan which has the potential to push you even further into long-term debt and financial disaster.

People in debt will testify that it is way too easy to get into debt and be sinking with loans, credit cards, car payments etc. To find a way out isn't that easy and the Ultimate Debt Guide is a short course that shows you how to do it sooner rather than later.

The Ultimate Debt Guide was created by a guy called Scott Stephen. Scott has experienced things first hand and is a person who in every sense of the word has "been there and done that." The Ultimate Debt Guide is full of quick and easy-to-use information.

As a guide on how to get out of debt, the Ultimate Debt Guide covers all the facts from the standpoint of someone who has researched it in detail. You'll be able to see how each individual plan provided works and get the opportunity to decide for yourself which one will work for you. There's information on credit card debt relief, debt consolidation loan consequences, debt consolidation, debt consolidation loans and much more.

What are you looking for? Is it authoritative information on debt consolidation? debt consolidation loans? credit card debt? debt cures? You'll discover a lot of useful information in The Ultimate Debt Guide. Select a plan that fits your situation and make your own informed and sound decisions without being pressured by time or a lack of time. Whatever you do this will move you forward.

There's a handy glossary included with the Ultimate Debt Guide. Inside it you'll discover key financial phrases that are easy to understand. Personally I now know a lot about the topic of bankruptcy and debt relief and why it never worked for me in my quest to become debt free. The Ultimate debt guide also explains how debt-relief companies work and why, if you get involved with in them, you may never get your debts paid off.

The Ultimate Debt Guide ebook and course provides you with information on how-to get debt management companies off your back and reveals little known secrets about how-to get them to remove your debt and forget about you. The dirty truth about the credit card companies and the game they play game is clearer to me now and you too will learn why so many people are kept in debt to the credit card companies their entire life.

My eyes were really opened by The Ultimate Debt Guide. It has helped me become debt-free in under six-months, not including my mortgage of course which I'm still paying for as a "good debt". There are just so many secrets to becoming debt free that the ordinary person in debt is not ware of it's scary. You'll see what I'm saying just after reading the first few pages of the book.

The Ultimate Debt Guide will show you how-to get the credit rating you deserve. Credit bureaus, with your collaboration, will make sure your credit rating is what it was before you got into debt. I didn't have a clue that I could get my financial life back (so as to speak) this easily.

Consider The Ultimate Debt Guide as a key tool in your strategy to become debt free now because it's a must if you're currently suffering under a huge burden of debt of any kind and you're desperately seeking a way to get out of debt and become totally debt free as soon as possible.

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Ultimate Debt Guide - Get Out of Debt With Debt Consolidation?

By Ash Ford

The Ultimate Debt Guide is a system that uncovers how you can become debt free without signing up to a long-term debt relief plan or filing for bankruptcy both of which have the potential to push you even further into financial disaster and long-term debt.

Anyone in debt will tell you that it's very easy to get into debt and be in over your head with loans, credit cards, car payments, mortgages etc. Finding a way out isn't that easy and the Ultimate Debt Guide is a short course that shows you how to do it fast

The Ultimate Debt Guide was written by Scott Stephen. He has first hand knowledge of debt having been there himself. Whichever way you choose to look at it Scott has "real-world" experience of dealing with debt and coming out on top.

As a guide on how to get out of debt, the Ultimate Debt Guide covers all the facts from the standpoint of someone who has researched it in detail. You'll be able to see how each individual plan provided works and get the opportunity to decide for yourself which one will work for you. There's information on credit card debt relief, debt consolidation loan consequences, debt consolidation, debt consolidation loans and much more.

Choose the plan that suits you based on your circumstances without pressure. Being able to make a sound decision without being pressured is what it's all about. I am now able to do that thanks to this course.

You'll find a glossary of debt related terms included in the Ultimate Debt Guide. There are lots of key financial phrases that are easy to understand but that no one ever bothered to explain. For me, I now know a lot about the topic of debt relief . The Ultimate Debt Guide additionally explains how the debt-relief companies operate and why you should avoid getting involved with in them if you aim to ever get your debts paid off.

The whole truth about the credit card game is clear to me now and you'll learn why numerous people remain in debt to the credit card companies their entire life. This course gives you information on how to get these types of companies off your back and even how to get them to forget about you and remove the debt.

The Ultimate debt guide will open your eyes and help you become debt-free quicker than you ever thought possible. In under six-months (not including my mortgage of course). I've really made headway by using little known methods that many have no idea even exist.

The Ultimate Debt Guide shows you how-to get a credit rating you deserve and that will help and not hinder you. With your help. credit bureaus can make sure your credit rating goes back to what it was before your financial issues started. It's possible but you will experience this only when you take action to be debt free.

Consider The Ultimate Debt Guide as a key tool in your strategy to become debt free now because it's a must if you're currently suffering under a huge burden of debt of any kind and you're desperately seeking a way to get out of debt and become totally debt free as soon as possible.

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Car Hire Services In Australia Explained And Rated

By Chris Channing

Australia can take pride in knowing it has one of the most flourishing tourist economies in the surrounding areas. Where there is an abundance of tourism, there is also a myriad of tourist services to choose from. One industry in particular, the car rental industry, is particularly easy to find savings in.

Australia has a large land mass to explore, and tourists would likely be overwhelmed with opportunity if they aren't familiar with the area or with general travel. In that case, a travel agent can be obtained to help narrow down the choices of entertainment and travel expenses. It isn't required, but it can easily turn a trip into a more enjoyable experience for all.

Planning a trip should not go without using the Internet to find better deals. Internet websites are able to "talk" to different car hire services and find out an estimated or fixed price for the applicant, based on the information they entered. Best yet, said services can rank the results based on price or services offered to make the selection process take minutes as compared to hours.

The car rental agencies in Australia function much like a bank would- they often raise up rates when applicants aren't old enough or have poor credit. Getting around this can be tough, and if enough problems are forming, talking more in depth with a travel agent will be required. Be prepared to pay more money if you're younger, or even if you haven't built much credit up.

Getting a cheaper car rental service can also be achieved by following special rules that many Australia car rental services will put into place. An example would be the gas fill up rule- which simply requires rental cars to have a full tank of gas upon their return or clients will suffer an extra fee to their bank or credit account. Other technicalities such as this are indeed present, so pay attention to detail on rules or regulations.

Although the appeal to go for the first car rental service found is high, tourists are encouraged to go online and find the best price before continuing on with a vacation. They'll appreciate the advice later, when they can afford more expensive types of entertainment or hotel stay as a direct result of their savings with a car hire service located in Australia.

Closing Comments

Everything in life that costs a consumer money can always be brought down- the age of monopolies is long gone for most locations around the world. Consumers can relish in this fact by being able to go online and instantly get a price quote for an Australia vacation.

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Know How To File Bankruptcy Online

By John Steed

When an individual or institution becomes unable or incapacitated to pay its debtors, it prompts the debtor to file for bankruptcy. The norm is to use the services of a seasoned advocate to aide in the legal implications it attracts. Luckily, online insolvency has made it possible for debtors who may want to do so without the help of a legal officer. This is because of the technicalities involved and paperwork required that most people are unfamiliar with and hence the job would suit a legislator who understands the legalities, jargon and the processes taken.

The comfort involved in going for broke online is the fact that you always get competent, experienced advocates to do it and at very pocket-friendly charges. Much of the procedures are usually spelt out for the debtor. What they offer you is the ability to make it legal by listing your reasons as well as your valuable assets. What you can do though, is interact with legal officers online and ask them about the specific clauses that go with the Act.

Despite most individuals preferring taking time to visit a legal officer and incurring some additional costs and time, most of them tend to make the issue look complicated and serious with the aim of cashing in on legal fee. Many bankrupt issues requires a professional who understands things like which documents need signatures, what to file as asset and other issues that may be specific to a particular country or organizations.

A face-to-face meeting will be arranged that allows the advocacy to get to know the debtor and personally get to understand their predicament. The advocacy makes the request for a meeting, in view of the fact that they could be guilty of misrepresentation once the matter hits court. The process is almost similar to applying for a loan since the debtor is required to give so much personal information, a photo notwithstanding. Most advocacies would rather do a background check; sift through your organization or personal history using the web and articles associated with your financial dealings. The debtor can then choose whether to appear in court or not.

In as much as online filing is best left for legal officers to do, some sites usually offer paralegal assistance directly to the debtors, though this is only a trend that has started recently, what with the few cases of negligence that dog this process.

Most web sites promote their services to get past legal representatives and give the clients an avenue to fill in the form through the internet or print out the form and file for bankruptcy all through to court. Some courts may fail to approve to this means and may insist on the legal proceeding handled by a legal officer. However, it is easier for a client to choose a competent advocate as most of them have necessary details available in their sites; hence easier for the client to choose the most appropriate one. This also save legal fees, time and saves an individual or organization the wrath of the public due to bankrupt status.

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You Can Implement your own Credit Repair

By Rob Kosberg

You have reached the point in your life that you realize that you need to make some drastic changes in how you manage your spending and credit before you reach the point of no return. You do not want to rush into "debt consolidation" or use a home equity loan. You need to have a plan that is worked out very carefully.

You will start by collecting all your credit reports, bill payment statements, and credit card statements, mortgage and insurance records. Locate debt worksheets on the internet to help you work. All of these steps will be taking place at the same time.

Be meticulous about ensuring that your credit reports (there are 3 major credit reporting agencies) are accurate and truly reflect your credit status. To complete this project may take some written communications with one or all of the credit reporting agencies. Stay with the process.

Put in writing all of your financial obligations. You will be particularly concerned with credit cards and perhaps small loans. List the cards with highest to lowest interest rates in order, and the minimum payment for each card.

Figure out your disposable income. This is the amount of your salary that goes for necessities such as mortgage, car loans, credit card payments, utilities, other loan payments. When you subtract this amount from your salary, you will have your discretionary income. This is the income you can devote to reducing debt.

Next, decide which loans and credit cards you can pay down in the order you can do so. When tackling the first pay as much as you can, and pay minimum on the others. When number one is finished, apply that amount to the next and so on. This is "tough love" money management style and will be needed for quite awhile.

Commitment is definitely needed when you take on this major project. You will have to change your lifestyle. You have to stop living above your means. There will be no more unnecessary spending. Buy only essentials, eat at home, find alternatives to travel. The BIG MUST IS STOP CHARGING.

This situation didn't happen overnight and it won't improve overnight. Is it worth it? This is your financial life. You are the one who has to save it.

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Military Retirement Calculators Help Plan For The Future

By Michael Geoffrey

Military retirement calculators are a special tool designed to help people in the military plan for their retirement. A normal military career is only 20 years which is much shorter than the average civilian career which starts in your mid twenties and doesn't end until your early sixties. Therefore, a person retiring from the military has a comparatively shorter amount of time to prepare for retirement. For these special retirement needs there is a special military retirement calculator.

Of course planning for your retirement from the military should start while you are still actively in the military. Your banking institution will be able to help you in finding a military retirement calculator that can help you start planning. Most people in the military are members of a credit union and that is always a great source of information.

Getting help at your credit union is a good idea because they have years of experience working with the military personnel and their specific retirement needs. They can answer any questions you have about your military retirement and they can do so using a military retirement calculator.

The Information You Can Expect

People in the military usually live very unusual lives, and these people also have many unusual benefits. Their plans for retirement will be affected by their unusual lives in some ways. Many people in the military move around during their careers so they do not always have a place that feels like a permanent home.

Many benefits that a person receives while in active duty in the military continue after their retirement. They retain their military identification for shopping, medical care and other benefits. If a person wants to take full advantage of those benefits he would need to continue to live near a military base so that these benefits are close to home and available to him and his family.

The calculator does not do all the work. There are certain factors that only you know about and you have to input those into the calculator to get an accurate picture of your retirement. If you put in inaccurate or incomplete information you will receive inaccurate or incomplete results.

You have to tell the calculator what type of lifestyle you would like to enjoy once you retire. If you only give the calculator a location but don't input what type of house, car, etc. you would like to have in that location the calculator will be unable to tell you the information you need to be sure you save enough money for your retirement.

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Sending Money to Brazil

By Chloe Banks

There are several ways to send money from the U.S. to Brazil, one of which is to have a relationship with a US bank that is also present in Brazil.

Money being sent between accounts within the same bank is often processed more quickly. Therefore it might be a good idea to open an account locally with the same bank so that the recipient can get access to funds faster.

Transfers between two banks are also pretty easy, but can take much longer with substantially higher costs.

Through banks, you can also initiate wire transfers to Brazil. A wire transfer gets the money to its destination quickly, but there needs to be a corresponding bank to receive the wire transfer. Fees can be very high for international wire transfers, but if the money needs to arrive quickly, this is a viable option.

Another way to send money to Brazil is through either an ATM card or a pre-paid debit card. In an emergency this may not be the best method, since it takes time for the card to be sent to the person receiving the funds, but for people who send money regularly to family in Brazil, the pre-paid debit card or ATM card is a good option.

Make sure you have a debit card that will ensure money can be withdrawn from a large network of ATMs in Brazil. If using an ATM card, make sure you trust that the recipient is not accessing funds without your permission. A pre-paid debit card is a safer way to ensure the recipient receives the exact amount of money intended.

In addition to these methods, online payment services such as ATM Cash are becoming a more popular way to send money to Brazil. The process moves the money quickly and the fees are relatively low. Online services allow you to send money 24/7 from your computer.

These are some of the safest and most efficient ways of sending money to Brazil.

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New Year, new credit card

By James Noon

A New Year has brought no promise of respite from the current financial crisis and the credit crunch appears to be still in full swing. With the financial forecast still pretty gloomy as we head into 2009, its chilly winds are affecting not just big business, but ordinary consumers as well. However, a new year opens up a new opportunity to take control of your finances and despite the doom-laden headlines there are still plenty of financial bargains to be had if you know where to look.

Although the number of enticing 0% offers has fallen because of the economic climate, there are still plenty of bargains to be had with some financial institutions even joining in the high street scramble for customers and offering 'Sale Prices' on their services. So the wise consumer can take advantage of an anxious market thats eager to please. There are still 0% offers out there, but the credit crunch has meant that they are harder to come by. Many credit card companies are only accepting people with good credit histories. So before you plan your 2009 finances, it is worthwhile checking that your credit record is up to date and that all the information held by the credit agencies is correct. If you have a poor credit history and are repeatedly turned down for credit cards this will compound your low rating and make it much harder to reapply for credit at a later date. Make sure your financial house is in order before you begin to think about changing cards.

There are a few things to remember before you apply for a credit card balance transfer offer. You will be required to pay a balance transfer fee, usually around 3% of the total amount transferred. Some cards have higher rates than others, so again it pays to search the market before deciding on your best option. Some credit cards have a minimum fee, regardless of how small the transfer. If you are only looking to transfer a small amount onto a new card, a minimum fee could make the process much more expensive than it needs to be.

Not all 0% balance transfer credit cards are interest free for purchases as well. There is a mantra that anyone thinking of transferring balances between credit cards should learn " never use a balance transfer card for purchases as well. The amount you pay each month on your new card will go to pay off the most recent transactions (your purchases) rather than the initial balance transfer. If you treat the card as you would any other credit card, you may find that the interest free period has slipped by unnoticed and youre suddenly paying interest on the balance transfer anyway " negating the whole point of carrying out a balance transfer in the first place.

Some cards offer a tempting combination of 0% on balance transfers and 0% (usually for a much shorter period of time) on purchases. In a direct reversal of the above scenario, with these cards once the 0% on purchases has run its course your payments go to the amount attracting the lowest interest rate first, namely your balance transfer. This is known as 'negative payment hierarchy' and results in the customer paying the full interest amount on purchases (usually a minimum of 18% on most cards) and costing more in the long run. To reiterate; the best advice is to have two cards " one exclusively for your balance transfer and one for your purchases.

Once you've decided (wisely) to keep your cards separate, work out how much you can expect to pay each month and how much you will need to pay to clear off the balance transfer amount before the interest free period ends. Dont forget to factor in additional charges such as insurance (sometimes mandatory), any late payment fees and transfer fees. By taking active control over your finances, you may find the current economic storm much easier to weather. The financial market is subject, like any other marketplace, to greater consumer power these days, and as such a smart customer can take advantage of financial deals, even when the economic future looks somewhat bleak.

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Good Debt vs. Bad Debt

By Michael Geoffrey

Some people think that all debt is bad. But that is not the case. There is some debt that is actually good. Below are some instances where debt would be considered a good thing.

* Debt incurred to buy a home - Owning your own home has numerous benefits. But the reason that this is considered a good debt is because a home is an investment. It gains value instead of losing it, so you're putting yourself at an advantage by going into debt as long as you keep your payments current.

* Student loans - Getting a college education is a good investment as well. By earning a degree, you put yourself in a position to earn more money over your lifetime.

If you obtain a start up loan for a business venture this can be good debt. Again you are borrowing in order to give yourself earning potential. Of course you are always taking a chance when going into business for yourself, but often it is worth the risk and the necessary debt incurred.

There are lots of examples of bad debt. Here are a few:

Financing a car ? unlike a home your car depreciates rapidly. That means you are not investing your money with the potential for a greater return in the long run. The money you spend is gone.

Almost everyone has and uses credit cards and they are convenient. However credit card debt is considered bad debt. Typically the purchases made on a credit card are things that will not earn you money over time. Credit card purchases are rarely an investment.

Another bad debt is borrowing money for personal use such as to purchase higher priced items or maybe to fund a much needed vacation. These are at times necessary but will not earn you money in the long run. Since they are not an investment this is not good debt.

Good debt does not mean that it can not be harmful to us if we are not careful. Taking on good debt should be thought out carefully. The lender should not be the only one crunching the numbers to see if the debt is within our ability to pay. We have to take personal responsibility for counting the cost and being sure we will be able to make the monthly payments.

Also, bad debt is not always something to be avoided. To have a reasonable amount of what is considered bad debt is fine. We just want to keep it at a moderate level and not allow it to get out of control. Just like good debt we want to be sure we can handle the payments and only take on bad debt when necessary.

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Credit Cards Dealing With Bankruptcy

By John Steed

At the time when a person or organization is incapable or debilitated to reimburse his debtors, it forces the person owed to file for bankruptcy. The idea is to engage the services of a lawyer to facilitate the legitimate consequences that it attracts. However, online bankruptcy has enabled debtors to proceed without the assistance of an advocate. This is attributed by the mechanism involved and the manual work required that a lot of individuals are not familiar to as the work is done best by a legal representative who understands it best.

The advantage of going for ruined online is the idea of being ever capable, skilled lawyers to this at a very cheap cost. A lot of the dealings are carried out by the person owned. All that the advocate contributes is making the process legitimate and offering the worth of your property. One is required to communicate with the lawyer online and request for the clause that accompany the Act. However, people prefer engaging a lawyer and spending money and time conversing their misery. This slows down the issue making it complicated. A lot of proceeding requires a skilled individual who knows which legal papers require signing, which are to process the property as a person may have kept them in a different state.

As a requirement, the debtor is required to have an up-to-date copy of your credit history, good or bad. Either way the law is aware that the credit history would not hold much weight in a court because most credit histories for any individual or institution would make any financial institution draw back from giving credit. Most of them may have experts who can assess the ability of any debtor to pay back and offer them the continued use of their cards. This can only be achieved if the debtor confirms the balance and signs a new agreement. Such institutions usually have a way of detecting a trend by the debtor in slowly accumulating debt and are always prepared for such an event.

The debtor is them at liberty with the choice of appearing in court or not.

Even though online insolvency is left to the advocates, there exist those web sites that give help to the debtor directly although this idea has come up just recently. But instances of ignorance are associated with this. Lots of sites give awareness of their services as a by pas to the lawyer to help the debtor to online complete the forms and file for bankruptcy to the court directly.

A court can reject this and usually insists on the online proceeding to be handled by a lawyer. This ease the process of a debtor picking a lawyer as they usually lists their achievements on the internet hence the debtor is able to know their cost, timing and the attention that insolvent brings.

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What Are Prepaid Credit Cards?

By Steven J. Talrechi

Money; specifically credit is something many of us are uncomfortable talking about. It can be tough getting approval for a credit card, especially if you have had some credit problems in the past or worse yet, if you have no credit history. No matter the reason, it can be distressing to be rejected for a credit card. You can work towards building a credit history while having all of the benefits offered by a credit card by using a prepaid credit card.

How does a prepaid credit card work? A prepaid credit card is an account which can be refilled and uses a card which is accepted anywhere that a traditional credit card would be accepted. You need to deposit money in this account before you will be able to make purchases using this card. Just like any other charge card, there is a limit to your spending; in the case of a prepaid credit card, this limit is dependent on the amount you have deposited in the account.

A prepaid card will give you several benefits that you can enjoy. The first is that you'll be able to develop a sense of spending freedom. With you're prepaid card you'll be able to buy anything from any store that regularly accepts credit cards.

A prepaid credit card is also a very useful tool for you to control your spending. By only purchasing items when you have already dedicated money for them you are ensuring that you are not going to fall down the slippery slope to major credit debt. With your prepaid credit card you will learn how to handle your finances effectively. That education will be something that you can take with you through the years.

Additionally, a prepaid credit card will give you the peace of mind that no one is going to be able to get a hold of your credit card numbers. This way, if you're purchasing things over the phone or internet you can rest assured that no one will have any way to access your other accounts and money.

So how do you go about setting up a prepaid credit card? Well, you'll have to pay a small fee upfront when you start the account. The fee is usually ten dollars or less. There are also typically small fees assessed when you make deposits into your account. These fees are typically very small and are well worth the expense to help establish credit and keep your spending under control.

Let's face facts, we live in a credit driven world today. It seems like you can't do anything without a credit card these days. So if you want to be able to function in this world you need to find a way to have access to a credit card. For those who are struggling with bad credit, or want to keep better tabs on their spending then a prepaid card might be exactly what you're looking for!

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Your Role in Mortgage Loan Modification

By Kevin Fresner

Millions of Americans are facing foreclosure, and the numbers keep growing every day. If you're one of those many Americans struggling to make ends meet, having trouble finding a job, or just can't seem to afford your mortgage anymore, you might feel like you're at the end of your rope. However, there are some things that you can do to prevent foreclosure from happening to you.

The best option is for you to take advantage of the qualified professionals that work in the mortgage loan modification industry and see how they can help you lower your payments or interest rates and make your mortgage affordable for you once again.

Perhaps you've thought of calling the mortgage company to see what you can do. Maybe you've already called them and they didn't give you any options. Or it could be that the options that they gave you were still to expensive. That doesn't mean that a professional won't be able to get you a solution to your problems with mortgage loan modification. They have inside knowledge of the lending industry, which gives them more ability to negotiate with the banks and get your mortgage to a point where you can afford it again.

You need to know that you DO have options no matter how far behind you are on your mortgage payments. Doing nothing is not the answer, because that will only make you a victim of foreclosure that much faster. Instead, you need to take an active role in saving your home, ask for help, and find a solution that works for you. Too many people think they can't do anything, so they don't, which is the absolute worst thing you could actually do. If you get involved and research your options, you might be surprised at how easy it can be to save your home from foreclosure by loan modification.

Mortgage loan modification is only one alternative to foreclosure, but it is one of the best things that you can do. The professionals you work with will help you to determine what you can afford and how to go about getting your mortgage back on track, so that you're securely able to pay your mortgage each month, thereby being able to keep your home. If you've been doing nothing because you didn't know what to do, now is the time to ask for help and see what alternatives you have to save your home.

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Home Buddies Quarterly Economic Report - Part 3 - Opportunities

By Cliff Pape

Over the past several weeks we have taken a bird's eye view of the US economy. In this post I will be addressing what we will likely see happening in mortgage and real estate markets in 2009. Finally, I will point out the unique opportunities that are available in this type of environment.

Mortgage Markets and Credit

Perhaps the greatest news leading into 2009 is the commitment by the Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve ("The Fed") to achieve lower mortgage interest rates. The fed announced on November 25th that it would purchase $600 billion in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgage-backed securities and unsecured debt.

Whether the government will be able to accomplish it or not, the idea is to lower the cost and improve the investment of financing a property. The goal is to decrease debt costs to put potential investors or retail buyers with good credit back in the market to stabilize the economy.

If investors and retail buyers come back into the market, property values will begin to stabilize thereby improving the balance sheets in the banking industry. This has always been the role of investors in the real estate cycle. This is also a plus for the mortgage loan officers and brokers because the credit markets will ultimately loosen and in 2009 the mortgage market should swing back up. The cycle to this point has been fairly predictable and we have long been predicting the next refinance boom following government intervention.

Real Estate Markets

There are a few things to keep an eye on in Houston. If housing permits continue to contract, it could be a while before the national residential real estate scene improves. Several markets such as Houston are still bucking the national trend, but, even in these markets, permits are beginning to contract which is pointing toward a slow-down as we head into 2009.

If unemployment figures creep up in Houston next year then that may be a sign that Houston may not escape the US and global economic turmoil with just a small hiccup.

Opportunities

The credit crisis has brought fear into markets whose economic fundamentals would not otherwise justify it. Therefore there may never be a better time to buy single family homes in Houston because the emotional fear does not match the fundamentals and prices have fallen below what they would otherwise warrant without the short-term, emotionally-driven fear.

With credit standards like they are right now, many investors (and most retail buyers) are out of the game because they are not able to get financing for single family homes. So now is a window of opportunity for smart investors with good credit to buy up undervalued investment properies in Houston.

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Why First Time Buyers are Hardest Hit by the Credit Crunch

By Troy Cruz William Engle Dawn Khoury James Nissen Robert Hill Chris Laning Janet Taylor Jack Enders Bruce Gross Rick Bean Keith Wood Ray Johnson Alex Velez Juan Hines Paul Holtz Kenya Rios Peggy Dye Neal Dawes Lucas King David Hebert Karl Howell Jarrod Lucky Ruth Coats Doris Lund Ryan Hudson Henry Bush Lonnie May Arlen Bell Wanda Kuebler Kevin Stiles Nick Horton Jorge Pina Frank Vera Chad Copp Fred Brod Jose Cruz Jeremy Stanley Mark Jones Barney Bernard Ailleann Alan

First time buyers who were getting their first mortgages were traditionally the golden goose for banks because once a bank had their business they usually had it for a long time and they made a lot of money off of them. However, first time buyers are now getting to be less and less important for banks because they are traditionally more risky than buyers who have established credit. So, how are first time buyers affected by the down turn in the economy?

It isn't that easy to answer this question. To do so, first you must remember what first time buyers got when there wasn't a credit crunch. Before, first time buyers got a break on the interest rate that they paid or were able to get a mortgage without the traditional 20% down payment. Those who didn't put a lot of money down on their houses often found that they were in trouble when the economy soured. It was the banks who saw the effects of a lot of first time buyers who couldn't afford their houses and they are now rethinking their position on these special deals.

So what does this mean if you already have a first time buyer mortgage? Well, the good news is you don't have to worry if you are sitting pretty with a good interest rate or any other special deal in your home. The results of the credit crunch are going to happen in the future, and people who want to buy their first house now are probably not going to get the same good deals that you did. What they are going to be able to expect is to have to pay more for a down payment, or if they do get a low down payment like five or ten percent, they are going to have to pay a whole lot more in mortgage insurance to cover the risk. This is going to add a lot of money to their mortgage bills every month, making a low down payment mortgage a lot more expensive for them.

In the future, there probably won't be as many first time buyer mortgage deals, because banks are not going to be able give away as many specials. In fact, mortgages are going to become more and more pricey and with the financial times changing, banks are going to be more cautious with lending out their money. Before, any Average Joe could get a mortgage, but in the future, you are going to have better credit and have a lot more security in order to get a mortgage. If you have good credit and are a good consumer this is going to be a benefit to you, because you are going to have to pay less for those who ruin it for you by purchasing a house way out of their budget. Every time someone defaults, you end up paying a little bit of their mortgage, so the less people that default the better it is for you. If you have bad credit, this might not be the best news for you.

First time buyers are going to be affected by a bad economy and problems with housing foreclosures. There is nothing that can be done now so consider yourself lucky if you already have your mortgage.

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The Pros And Cons Of Using A Credit Repair Letter Template

By William Blake

There are form credit repair letters all over the internet. They can be helpful if you find yourself needing to correct an error on your credit report or you are being harassed by debt collectors who are constantly calling your house. It is a stressful thing to have to deal with credit report errors or debt collectors. You may not feel that you are able to write an effective letter under such a stressful situation. Should you turn to the form letters on the internet for help?

Warning Signs

There are thousands and thousands of form letters out there to choose from. There is also sample letter prepared by the government that can be found on the Federal Trade Commission website. Which is a better choice? How can you decide?

When you are trying to choose a form letter to go by there are a few warning signs to look for of letters you do not want to use. For example, if a letter is threatening you do not want to use it. Words like, "if you ignore this letter I'll sue" or "you better stop harassing me" are phrases to be avoided. If a form letter contains statements like these keep looking. You do not want to send this type of letter to a credit bureau or any of your creditors.

Another warning sign is sentences in phrases written in all caps or sentences ending with an exclamation mark. This is not a professional way to write. It is like screaming at a person and that is anything but professional. If you send a letter like this you can expect that your letter will be ignored. It is disrespectful and therefore will earn you no respect.

Overwhelmed by Your Choices?

If the form letters intimidate you and you just can't decide it may be best to write you own letter. If you are going to do this remember that you want to keep the letter short. Be direct and respectful. Briefly explain what the letter is and your purpose in writing it. If you have a friend, an accountant or other financial expert that you can talk to, get some advice about how to write the letter.

Write the letter as if you are writing it for someone else and you are not personally involved. You do not want to show any emotion ??" anger, fear or frustration. Just state the facts as clearly and briefly as possible.

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Getting Secured Personal Loans

By Trinity Davidson

If you need to send a child to college, remodel your house, or you simply think its time to go on that vacation youve always wanted to, a secured personal loan just might be able to help you meet those needs. It can make your needs and even your wants attainable by offering you a loan with a fixed annual percentage rate and a monthly payment that you can make.

You can lock in a loan with a fixed annual percentage rate and a monthly payment that is manageable for your income level while being able to provide for the urgent expenses. The bank will offer you a lower percentage rate on this kind of loan because you will be required to provide approved collateral.

Obviously, not everyone is able to qualify for this kind of loan since it does require collateral. A true candidate for approval of this loan will have something of large value to back up the loan and lessen the risk to the lender. Some banks will allow you to offer a mobile or manufactured home as security for repayment.

The amount that you can borrow with this type of loan varies and is determined primarily by the size of your asset. If your home is paid off, you may be able to get a loan for as much as $250,000, sometimes more. If you still owe a lot on your home your available loan size will be much smaller.

That way, you are able to pay off the loan sooner when possible saving yourself money. The term of the loan may be up to ten years long. In some cases, the term may be even longer for certain purchases like boats or RVs.

Since loans of this type are often quite large, the bank usually requires significant documentation before they will sign off on the loan. You will probably be required to provide income information, a copy of your driver's license, and probably some additional forms of identification.

Once you qualify for the loan, you will not only receive the entire amount up front, but youll usually receive the money in as few as three business days. So if you have an immediate financial need or desire, and you can qualify, a secured personal loan is one of the least expensive ways to finance your expense.

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