Motor Boat Insurance Basics

Sailing off into the blue yonder, has the salutary effect of blowing cares and stresses away with the winds. However, before you sail away in your new boat, consider the merits of these questions. Do you have boat insurance? Moreover, are your insurance needs fully met?



Marine insurance defines vessels according certain measurements. A boat is defined as one measured between 16 feet and 25 feet, 11 inches in length. If that's the length and width of your seaworthy vessel, then you have a boat.



Here are the pertinent components your boat insurance policy should have:



Physical Damage Coverage



The insurer pays you for the repair or replacement of your boat, under the following circumstances: Theft, vandalism, lightning, fire, tornadoes, or hurricanes. Included in this coverage is the boat itself, outboard motors, engines, and your boat trailer.



Excluded from the coverage are the following items, which are not, considered a part of your boat's operations: camera or video equipment, clothing, fashion accessories, or jewelries, food or beverages, cell phones, stereo equipment, portable television, personal computers or scuba gear. Alternatively, you can ask for separate coverage for these items.



Tip. Read the fine print and so that you know what restrictions could apply to your coverage. Can your boat be stored at your place of residence? Alternatively, should the boat be at your vacation spot? Where does the coverage begin? Some policies specifically limit the uses of your boat and list the exceptions.



Liability Coverage



You'll find this coverage quite useful. You may also wish you'd paid a bigger premium, when there's an accident and your boat is liable for damaging another boat, property, or injury.



Uninsured Boat Coverage



This is the marine insurance equivalent of the road vehicle's uninsured motorist coverage. In this case, your boat's repairs are covered, in the event the owner of the property your boat collided with has expired insurance or worse, doesn't have it.




Passenger Medical Coverage



This coverage pays for the medical expenses incurred by people on your boat. This is a must-have clause and the limit can be inexpensive, from $450.00 to $10,000.00, is quite common.



Towing & Assistance Coverage



With this coverage, you'll get reimbursement for the costs you've incurred for availing of emergency services. Examples of these, your vessel breaks down, and a commercial outfit tows your vessel to the port, you've paid for delivery to replace your fuel, oil, or engine parts, or for someone to repair your engine.



The bottom line to all this? Be pro-active and arm yourself with knowledge, which among the different policies possible, your boat insurance should have.



Then, you'll sail confidently into the sun, because your insurance policy will cover you where it's most necessary.

Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com

Mansi Gupta recommends that you visit www.independent.ws/2006/01/motorboatinsu.html for more information on motor boat insurance.

Be Wary of Guaranteeing a Loan

You need to be wary of guaranteeing a loan. What would you do if a friend or relative asked you to guarantee a loan? You would probably like to help them by agreeing to guarantee the loan but consider your actions carefully first and make sure you understand what it involves.

You are being asked to guarantee a loan. Think carefully before you do. If the borrower does not pay the debt, you will have to. Be sure you can afford to pay if you have to, and that you want to accept this responsibility.

You may have to pay up to the full amount of the debt if the borrower does not pay. You may also have to pay late fees or collection costs, which increase this amount.

The creditor can use the same collection methods against you that can be used against the borrower, such as suing you, garnishing your wages, etc. If this debt is ever in default, that fact may become a part of your credit record.

Studies of certain types of lenders show that for guaranteed loans that go into default, as many as three out of four guarantors are asked to repay the loan.

If you guarantee a loan and your friend or relative misses a payment, the lender can immediately collect from you without first pursuing the borrower. In addition, the amount you owe may be increased - late charges - if the lender decides to sue to collect. If the lender wins the case, your wages and property may be taken.

Despite the risks, there may be times when you want to guarantee a loan. Your child may need a first loan, or a close friend may need help. Before you guarantee a loan, consider this information:

Be sure you can afford to pay the loan. If you're asked to pay and can't, you could be sued or your credit rating could be damaged.

Even if you're not asked to repay the debt, your liability for the loan may keep you from getting other credit because creditors will consider the guaranteed loan as one of your obligations.

Before you pledge property to secure the loan, such as your car or furniture, make sure you understand the consequences. If the borrower defaults, you could lose these items.

Ask the lender to agree, in writing, to notify you if the borrower misses a payment. That will give you time to deal with the problem or make back payments without having to repay the entire amount immediately.

Make sure you get copies of all important papers, such as the loan contract. The lender is not required to give you these papers; you may have to get copies from the borrower.

You may freely reprint this article provided the author's biography remains intact:

John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help UK homeowners find the best available loans via the http://www.directonlineloans.co.uk website.

Is it a Good Idea to Consolidate Debts?

It is not a good idea to move forward until you know the pros and cons of debt consolidation loans, consumer credit counseling services and companies providing debt consolidation services.

Basically you have two choices to consolidate your debts. First option is you can either take personal loans or you can borrow money to payoff your debts. Second option is to use Debt Consolidation and Consumer Credit Counseling Services.

Deciding what will meet your needs will have a lot to do with whether you can qualify for low mortgage rates on debt consolidation loansimp, and the total amount of debt you need to consolidate.

Check out the Pros and Cons and compare before you decide which one is right for you.

Personal Loans or Borrow Money:

Pros:

- You can make an immidiate payment for your credit card debt or any other debt to eliminate debts

- Your credit rating wont be affected, infact your credit rating might improve

- Debt collection actions eliminated

Cons:

- You may need to qualify to get the personal loan or mortgage

- Risk of losing house/property if unable to maintain payments

- It doesnt actually eliminate debt but it restructures your debts. Which might cause false sense of security

- Easier to get overextended again

Debt Consolidation and Consumer Credit Counseling Services:

Pros:

- Your monthly payments decreases dramatically

- It might eliminate or reduce interest rates and fees

- Debt collection actions reduced

- You may learn money management skills

Cons:

- Unable to use credit under consolidation

- Must meet qualified unsecured debt minimums

- Only works with unsecured debt

- Some unsecured debts may not qualify

- Possible negative impact on credit rating

Making The Right Choice

One thing you won\'t hear us say is which option to consolidate debts is right for you. Your choice has to be based upon your own personal financial situation, as well as make a good fit with your own belief system and lifestyle.

Our goal is to provide you as much information as we can about the various debt consolidation options to make the right choice towards eliminate your debt. If you still aren\'t sure whats the best choice for you, Please contact us and you will get a free, no obligation, customized Debt Relief recommendation to help in your decision for debt consolidation and lower your monthly payments.

Paras Shah
http://www.debtconsolidationconnection.com : Debt Consolidation Loans - Consolidate Debts - Debt Consolidation - Credit Counseling

Should Sellers Order a Presale Home Inspection?

One of the main reasons home sale transactions fall apart is inspections. This happens when something unanticipated is discovered during the buyers' inspections of the property, and the buyers and sellers can't agree on a remedy.

For example, the sale of a four-year-old, multi-million dollar property in Northern San Diego County recently fell apart because of an inspection. A team of inspectors were brought in by the buyer to report on the property's condition. The roof inspector said that the roof needed $450,000 worth of work. Not surprisingly, the buyer immediately backed out of the deal.

The sellers are suing the roofer who inspected the roof. Other roofing experts agreed that the roof had some problems; it had been improperly installed. However, their repair estimates were all a fraction of the deal-killing bid. The judge might grant the sellers a judgment against the roof inspector. But, this will provide little satisfaction because the sellers are still searching for another buyer.

Would the sellers have been better off ordering a home inspection before they marketed their home for sale? Undoubtedly, they would have. (A home inspection is a comprehensive inspection of the home and all its major systems and components.) The seller's inspector would have called attention to problems with the roof. The sellers could have consulted roofers before marketing their home to get estimates for repairs. Then, they could have marketed the home, disclosing that the roof needed work, along with the repair estimates. Or, they could have had the repair work done before the house was listed for sale.

There's a lot of psychology involved in a home sale. Buyers who are aware of a problem up-front can process this information before making an offer. They can factor the cost into their bid, or ask the sellers to take care of the problem. Buyers often have mixed feelings of excitement and trepidation when they enter into an agreement to buy a home. The impact of an unexpected ad report can destroy their excitement and enhance their fear to the point that they want nothing to do with the property.

First-Time Tip: Sellers who decide that a pre-sale home inspection is the way to go should ask their agent for the names of several home inspectors who are well-known and respected in the local real estate community. Interview these inspectors until you find one who you think will give you a thorough and accurate inspection. For example, if you are selling an older home, use an inspector who has a lot of experience inspecting older homes.

Most states, except Texas, don't license home inspectors. Make sure that the inspector you use is a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors), or a similar trade organization. ASHI has strict membership criteria, based on experience. Your home inspector should be a licensed contractor, engineer, or architect.

One reason for using an inspector who has a good local reputation, and name recognition, is that you want the buyers, and their agent, to feel comfortable with your inspector. This will add credibility to your report. Your agent should make the report available to buyers to review before they make an offer.

Make sure that your home inspector will agree to return to the property with the buyers to review the inspection report with them. Also, encourage the buyers to have their own inspector look at the property.

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Real Estate V. Stock Market : the Heavyweights Champ !

There are out there essentially three places where you can stack up your hard-earned money: the stock market, real estate and under your mattress. If you decide to put the money under your mattress, beware: it will fruit no interest and, hence, it won\'t grow over time. In fact, it will devaluate.

Competition between Stock Market and Real Estate as the top source of investment returns has been going on since the mid 1960\'s. Typically the Stock Market was seen as the place to invest and Real Estate as the place ... well, to live in. But since the mid 1990\'s the old axiom has changed more and more every year, and today it is entirely revolutionized. The purchase, holding, renting and reselling of real estate assets - especially residential real estate - is now the investment of choice for the majority of investors. Money is pouring in as a direct and proximate consequence of low interest rates, which favor mortgaging over deposits and low-risk asset holdings over high-risk speculative stocks. Demand for residential real estate throughout all urban areas in North America - and to a lesser extent Europe - has gone through the roof. This affects especially condominiums and townhomes located well inside urban cores, but it extends to single-family assets into suburbia just as well. Real estate has become the psychological equivalent of gold, historically considered a tangible, safe store of value.

Tangibility of assets is, in fact, one of the primary psychological reasons of this financial revolution. Given the choice between the purchase of a piece of paper representing the share into a far-away company over which the Investor has no control, and the purchase of four walls and a ceiling that the Buyer can see, touch and paint, the vast majority of consumers today are not going to hesitate for one second : they\'ll take the latter. But there is also a very important practical reason: availability of financing. Scandals have scoured both Stock Market and Real Estate circles, but whereas scandals in Real Estate typically have affected one or a few Sellers and one or a few Buyers, scandals in the Stock Market have affected millions of Investors. Lenders, as a result, have become somewhat leery to lend for the purchase of stocks and bonds and are much more comfortable with real estate market values. Banks lend on appraised values, and it is far more likely for an appraiser of a residential condo to determine its true market value with a high degree of accuracy than it is for a stock analyst to evaluate the books of a corporation with the same degree of accuracy. Afterall, it can be said that House A and House B have sold for a certain price in a certain neighborhood so that it is reasonable to expect that House C will sell for a similar or equivalent price in the same neighborhhod. But it is more complicated to apply the same reasoning to Corporation A, B and C because variables are too great: location, number of employees, performance, market sector, technology, politics, taxes and all the rest. Therefore, a financial institution will lend money to a qualified Real Estate Buyer more readily than to a qualified Stock Market Investor.

The type of Buyer has also changed. With the advent of the internet and all other technological advances, Buyers today are more knowledgeable than ever before. As such, they want to see through things thoroughly and, once again, it is easier and preferable for them to determine by themselves whether they like a piece of real estate than it is to believe to a Stock Broker or analyst. More than ever they want sound advice and hot tips, and there is no question that those they can get from either a good Real Estate Agent or a good Stock Broker. But what the Stock Broker cannot offer is a tour of the company. A Real Estate Agent, on the other hand, will show them the house.

And, finally, population growth, density and age are other important factors in today\'s prevalence of Real Estate over the Stock Market. For instance, here in the Greater Vancouver region population is expected to grow 58 percent to 3.3 million people in the next 25 years according to the Urban Futures Institute. That\'s 1.2 million more people than are here now. The Institute reports that the Baby Boom generation now makes up about one-third of the population. Their aging will result in a surge in the over-55 population of 146 percent by 2030, and that many baby-boomers today are beginning to look towards their retirement years and golden age as a period of calm, enjoyment and relaxion - free of the continuous buy-and-sell hustle typical of stock exchanges everywhere. They are more and more beginning to question Donald Trump\'s make-it-or-break-it philosophy for a more solid and long-lasting approach to the management of their own personal wealth and finances.

Luigi Frascati luigi@dccnet.com www.luigifrascati.com

Real Estate Chronicle

Luigi Frascati is a Real Estate Agent based in Vancouver, British Columbia. He is the author of the Real Estate Chronicle, his weblog published online. Luigi holds a Bachelor Degree in Economics and has been practising real estate for the past eighteen years.

The Leverage of the Lease

In today's rapidly changing business environment it makes sense to consider all the options before paying for your business equipment - whether it's a photocopier, computer system, computer hardware or software, telephone system, security equipment, office furniture or anything else. Many business people will give great consideration to the actual purchase, getting quotes from different suppliers and considering different choices. When it comes to paying, however, they simply pay cash or use bank finance without fully exploring the available options.

Most businesses will think of leasing for cars, yet don't consider this option for equipment. Either managements don't realise that leasing companies will lease items with little or no second-hand value; or they don't know which way to turn to get expert help or advice. Again they don't realise that the leasing broker - a concept pioneered by Technology Leasing - came into being precisely to meet that need.

The leasing broker gives customers a single point of contact, providing access to many leasing companies (all with different lending criteria) and picking the lender best suited to the client's individual needs. For example, some leasing companies dislike computer equipment. Others will not lease to businesses with less that five year's trading to show. Some will lease on software on its own, though, while others will lease to brand-new start-ups. The broker must match the client to the leasing company, which means not only the one with the best rate, but also one which will finance the type of equipment and consider the client's credit rating on the merits of the case.

Using leasing allows a business valuable leverage. You pay for the equipment as you use and profit from it. There's and analogy with paying your staff; you wouldn't hand over three or five years' salary in one lump sum , so why pay for your equipment that way? Leasing enables businesses to get the equipment they need now. Those on limited budgets can acquire what they really want, rather than what the budget dictates. In the case of one firm of consulting engineers in Glasgow, leasing the equipment enabled them to upgrade their computer software and put them in a position to handle larger jobs at lower cost.

Leasing is also 100% tax-allowable. As the user you don't own the equipment - the finance company does. This arrangement allows the lease payments to be written off the profit and loss account rather than the balance sheet (where a depreciating item is a liability). The tax saving of up to 40% of the cost of the lease payments goes to the lessor. A large firm of solicitors in London was able with our assistance to lease 40,000 of furniture, renovating the office and improving its professional image, while making the above 40% tax saving.

Another benefit is that you don't need to contact your bank when leasing, so there is no need to impress or persuade the bank manager. You need not meet the broker, either. We arrange leases all over the UK for all kinds of different businesses and organisations, with equipment values from 1000 to 500,000 - in most cases without ever meeting anyone from the client. Everything can be done by e-mail, telephone and post, with the cheque going direct to the suppliers of the equipment.

Why increase your exposure to the bank when there is an alternative? The image of the friendly bank manager belongs to the past. Today the old gibe applies too often - that banks are happy to lend you the umbrella when the sun is shining, only to snatch it back at the first sign of rain. They will quote variable rates at so much over base (all the leasing we arrange is at fixed rates) and hide their profit by charging large 'arrangement fees'. Most bank overdrafts are repayable on demand at a time to suit the bank - hence cases of loans being called in, without the borrower's prior knowledge, after a large cheque has been paid in.

If you have a cash pile and want to pay for your equipment from that hoard, always consider one thing before parting with the money. Is there a better use for the cash than being tied up in rapidly depreciating equipment? Remember that, if you do use cash to pay for such equipment, you can't later, in case of cash need, refinance and get the money back. It may well make more sense to invest the cash in marketing or staff training - or purchasing inventory at discounted rates. Simply holding the cash in case of unforeseen circumstances may also be a wise financial strategy.

When you lease equipment for up to five years, bear in mind that you are not tied to that equipment for the whole term. Clients have the option to upgrade and change some or all of the equipment at any time during the term - although this is more cost-effective if done half-way or later in that term. You simply select the new equipment. A new agreement will then replace the existing one, including cost of the equipment and the outstanding payments on the old contract, which will be discounted. This option allows many companies to keep up with new technology by replacing their equipment every two or three years, often with little or no increase in their monthly payments.

In all, leasing via a broker gives the client more choice. It saves the time and money that would otherwise be spent on shopping around to get the best or right deal. And it provides the best independent advice to suit individual circumstances.

Brian Burns - Technology Leasing Ltd - http://www.technologyleasing.co.uk

Computer Hardware and Equipment UK Leasing Experts

125% Home Equity Loans3 Things to Know

Lenders that offer 125% home equity loans allow you to borrow the full amount of the equity you have in your home, plus an additional 25%. For example, if you have $10,000 of equity in your home, and you take out a 125% home equity mortgage, you would be able to borrow $12,500 on your home. This is beneficial for home owners who do not have a lot of equity in their home but want to borrow money to make home improvements. If you are considering taking out a 125% home equity loan, there are some things you need to know.

You Will Need Great Credit

Because the additional 25% of your loan is unsecured, lenders will generally only offer 125% home equity loans to borrowers with good credit histories.

Selling Your Home May Not Be an Option

If you were to try to sell your home, you would have to pay off both your original mortgage and your home equity loan. Because you have borrowed more than your home is worth, you may not be able to sell your home until you\'ve repaid at least the additional 25% that you originally borrowed.

Unsecured Loans Carry Higher Interest Rates

Because the extra 25% is not secured by any collateral, the lender will consider the loan to be higher risk than a normal home equity loan. This means that you will most likely be charged a higher interest rate than you would if you took out a traditional home equity mortgage.

Borrowers should be certain that they can afford the monthly payments of their home equity loan. Keep in mind that the monthly payments for this loan are in addition to your current mortgage payment.

Save money and time on your next home loan by using one of our recommended lenders online.

At http://www.abcloanguide.com:

We research the most reputable, competitive home loan lenders on the internet. We help you save time by finding all the lenders you need in one place.

View our Recommended Sources for: 125% home equity loan lenders and recommended lenders for a payday loan online.

Tax Lien Lady's Step by Step Guide: How to Prepare for Your First Tax Lien Sale

To be a successful bidder at a tax lien sale, you must be prepared. It\'s a good idea to attend a couple of sales before you actually start bidding on properties. This way you can become familiar with the bidding procedure, which is different in each state. In New Jersey (the state that I primarily invest in), new people are always amazed at what actually happens at a tax sale. It\'s not what they expect. They expect to bid a healthy interest rate on a lien and are totally taken by surprise when the bidding goes down to zero and then up into very high premiums.

There are a few things that you need to know before you bid at a tax sale. First of all you need to pay in full with cash or certified check for anything that you are the successful bidder on. Some municipalities will accept attorney\'s checks and/or money wires, but most tax collectors will only accept cash or certified funds payable to the municipality. Some tax collectors will allow you time to go to the bank after the sale to get a certified check, but some will not. You will need to know ahead of time if you will have to pay immediately after the sale or if you will be given time to go to the bank. If you won\'t be able to go to the bank after the sale, you will need to have the required funds with you. Do not wait until the day of the sale to learn what forms of payment are accepted, or you could loose a successful bid.

Get in touch with the tax collector a few days before the sale to verify the time and place of the sale, find out what forms of payment are accepted, and whether or not you need to register ahead of time. Keep in mind that in most cases, half of the properties that are on the original list for the sale will be paid off and no longer available. You don\'t want to waist your time doing due diligence on all of the properties on the original list. The tax collector should be able to give you an updated list with the current properties in the sale. In many cases the tax collector will fax you the list. A few municipalities will have their lists on their website. For very large municipalities you may have to go pick the list up at the tax collector\'s office. Once you have an updated list, you\'ll need a day or so to do due diligence on the properties. Even though you are not buying the property, you want to make sure that you\'re not buying a tax lien certificate on a worthless property.

So how do you know how much money to bring, since you don\'t know if you\'ll be the successful bidder on the properties that you want to bid on, or how much premium, if any, you will have to pay? We have our own proprietary software program that generates a bidding form to tell our bidders which properties to bid on and how much they can pay for them. You can put together your own form with this information to have in front of you at the sale. If you\'re bidding in a state that goes into premium, you\'ll need to calculate just how much premium you should pay for the properties that you\'re going to bid on. The software program that I use, Tax Lien Manager from DataVentures I LLC, does this as well as tracking all my liens.

If you are the successful bidder on any of the properties, you will be required to give the tax collector a Tax Sale Bidder Information Sheet. Some tax collectors will require that you hand in the form before the sale, when you register. It has to be filled out with your name, address, and social security number or federal ID number if you\'re bidding under a company name. It may also have a required notice and disclaimer that you have to sign. Usually there\'s room to fill in the lot and block numbers of the properties that you win, along with the % bid (0 if you paid premium), premium, if any, and the amount of sale (this is the amount of the lien and could be different than the total amount paid if you paid premium). Some municipalities also require you to fill out a W-9 form, so be prepared with your business information if you\'re bidding under a company name, or with your social security number if you\'re bidding under your own name.

On the day of the sale, arrive early so that you can check on last minute updates (people are always paying their taxes last minute, right before the sale), open taxes, and zoning if you need to. I like to arrive an hour before the sale begins. You\'ll need to have the Bidding Form, certified checks, and the Bidder Information Sheet. Make sure that you\'re seated and ready a few minutes before the sale begins. Turn off your cell phone - once things start everything happens very quickly and any distraction can cost you.

After the sale you will have to pay for any liens that you purchased. If the tax collector doesn\'t have change, they will send you a check for the difference, but you may have to wait until the next meeting of the municipality\'s board of trustees before you get it. Keep your receipts and a copy of the bidder information sheet. In some cases the tax collector will issue a certificate immediately, but in most cases you will have to wait up to 10 days and the certificate will be mailed to you.

2005 Permission is granted to reprint this article in print or on your web site so long as the paragraph above is included and contact information is provided to the email provided.

Joanne Musa works with investors who want to reap the rewards of tax lien and tax deed investing. She is the author of the Tax Lien Lady\'s E-books, Tax Lien Investing Secrets and Tax Lien Lady\'s State Guide to Tax Lien and Tax Deed Investing. You can find out more about Tax Lien Lady\'s E-books at http://www.taxlienconsulting.com/sales/sales.htm. For more about tax lien investing e-mail MoreTips@taxlienconsulting.com. If you\'re interested in finding out more about DVI\'s Tax Lien Manager software, send an e-mail to software@taxlienconsulting.com

New Goverment regulations on Air/Heat systems

In January of 2006, the United States Department of Energy (DOE)
began enforcing stricter regulations regarding the efficiency of
air conditioning and heat pump systems. The standard by which
they gauge these systems is called SEER (Seasonal Energy
Efficiency Rating). For nearly 10 years, the minimum standard
efficiency has been 10 SEER, but now is 13 SEER. The good news
is that you can expect approximately a 23% increase in
efficiency between 13 SEER and 10 SEER units; however, other
complications exist.

Manufacturers must now cease production of 10 SEER units and
components. The older units on many of your houses will continue
to function, but will eventually be phased out as replacement
parts become unavailable. If no 10 SEER parts are available, it
will necessary to upgrade the system to a 13 SEER unit, which
may require modification to ensure compatibility within the
system. Some modifications will still result in less than peak
efficiency and costs could range between several hundred to
several thousand dollars.

The 13 SEER units are physically larger and will affect pricing
in several ways. The bigger units may not fit where the older
unit did and may require different pads, air handlers and other
equipment for compatibility. The larger size will take more
warehouse and truck space and possibly more than one person to
install.

Most home warranty companies have increased their pricing in
anticipation of these increased costs. Some are also offering
upgraded coverage, so check with your company for details.

Home Loan Closing Costs May Be Surprising

The whole purpose of taking out a mortgage is to borrow the bulk
of the purchase price of a house. Most houses sell for prices
that are well beyond the amounts the people keep in their bank
accounts, so taking out a loan to buy a home is pretty much
inevitable. And yet many homebuyers are astonished to discover
just how much cash they are required to bring with them when it
comes time to close on the loan.

It does seem rather
counterintuitive that one would have to bring cash to a loan
closing. After all, the purpose of the loan is to receive money,
isn\'t it? And yet, the costs associated with taking out a loan
must be paid and convention dictates that those costs be paid
when the loan is signed.

If you are not expecting it, a
call from a loan officer, saying, \Closing is tomorrow. Don\'t
forget to bring a cashier\'s check for $15,000\ can be pretty
shocking. Here is a short list of things a buyer may be expected
to pay, in cash, when closing a loan:

The down
payment - This is the portion of the price of the house not
covered by the loan. In years past, this figure might have been
20% of the purchase price or more. Now, in some cases, there may
be no down payment at all.

Loan origination fee - The
fee that the lender charges to create and process the loan. This
fee is typically about 1% of the loan
amount.

Appraisal fee - The fee charged to
assess whether or not the house is worth the seller\'s asking
price. This fee may run $300-500, depending on the
market.

Property inspection fees - A charge of a
few hundred dollars to assess whether the home is structurally
sound. This may cover an inspection of plumbing, electrical or
sewage systems as well as a foundation or roof
inspection.

Private mortgage insurance - Charged
on loans that cover 80% or more of the purchase price, this
insurance protects the lender from default by the
buyer.

Miscellaneous fees - This covers copying
documents, postage, courier fees, notary fees and other
miscellaneous office expenses.

All of these fees can
add up to quite a lot of money. The well-informed buyer would do
well to ask, in advance, just how much money he or she will be
expected to provide at closing. As the sum can easily amount to
5% of the purchase price or more, most buyers will sufficient
notice to gather the funds in order to have them ready on time.
The last thing any buyer wants is to be unable to close because
he or she cannot provide the proper funds at closing. It is best
to be prepared.

Comparing Loan Rates Between Banks

Comparing loan rates between banks could save you money. If
you're in the market for a loan, then you probably want to make
sure that you find the best interest rate that you can. After
all, no one wants to pay more than they absolutely have to in
interest. In order to make sure that you find the best possible
rate that you can for your loan, though, it will require a
little bit of work... comparing rate quotes between different
banks to decide on which one is the one for you.

Below you'll find some additional information to help you to
find the best rates, as well as what to look for once you've
received your quotes and other options that you should consider
in order to make sure that you don't miss out on a better deal.

Shopping for the Best Deal

The first thing that you need to do when looking for the best
deal is to start gathering quotes from a variety of different
banks. It's good to start with the bank or banks where you have
other accounts or have done business in the past, but many
people also stop with those... remember that there may be a
better offer at another bank that you don't want to miss out on.

Request quotes for loan rates from several banks, using the same
collateral and loan amount at each, and then carefully consider
each quote so that you can compare them and see which one is
truly best.

What to Look For

You should take the time to compare the interest rates of all of
the quotes that you receive, but this isn't the only thing that
you should consider when looking for the best loan. Take the
repayment terms into consideration as well, along with any
collateral requirements, proposed monthly payments, and any
other special requirements that might be included with each
offer.

Sometimes the loan with the lowest interest rate won't always be
the best deal, and you need to make sure that you understand
exactly what the terms of each loan is before deciding on one or
another as the one that you want to apply for.

Considering All of Your Options

Before you apply for your loan, you should at least stop to
investigate other lending options... after all, banks aren't the
only ones who issue loans. Lending companies, finance offices,
mortgage lenders, and online lenders all exist to issue loans to
individuals, and you might find that one of these has a better
interest rate offer than some of the banks from which you
requested quotes.

Do a bit of research into the alternative lenders in your area
as well as those you might find online... who knows, you might
end up finding a low interest loan offer that you would
otherwise have passed up if you hadn't considered other sources.

Deciding On the Best Loan Rates

Once you've researched all of your options, it's time to compare
the best loan offers from each and come up with the single best
loan of all of your quotes. Using the same criteria as before,
compare the rates and terms of the loan quotes in order to
determine which one is really the best deal.

After deciding on the one that you want to apply for, it's a
good idea to keep some of the others on hand as well in case
something unexpected comes up and you aren't able to get your
original loan. This way, even if you can't get the first loan
you planned on you'll still have good rates to fall back on.

You may freely reprint this article provided the following
author's biography (including the live URL link) remains intact:

Municipal Bonds

Because there are so many stocks that are NOT paying dividends and also going down people are looking for a safe investment that will pay a decent return and also won't lose money. Slowly folks are beginning to think about bonds of which there are all kinds.

Cities and counties have been issuing bonds. There are the school bonds for building new school buildings and the local district issues these. How about building a new sewage plant? Yes, a special bond could be used. If you live in a big city there could be bonds for that new stadium or maybe an aquarium or a huge theme park. Toll roads are a big money maker, aren't they?

The businessmen who want to build these attractions get the permission of the local government to issue them and they have the blessing of the city council or whoever and then go out and collect your money. These are not what are called investment grade bonds. They rank below the A classification and as a result you, the bond buyer, get a much higher rate of return. Remember this - the higher the rate of interest the riskier is the bond. Of course, if your municipality says this has their blessing than it should be O.K. Right?

The citizens of Denver popped for a new aquarium to the tune of 1.2 million. It was supposed to bring in more tourists and pay for itself with tickets. A fraction of those visitors showed up and now it looks like the project might default. They do not have enough money coming in to pay for the fish food and service the debt. And many toll roads are not getting enough traffic.

The spending spree of local governments has sponsored (not guaranteed) bonds equal to more than $320 billion this year. There are $1.6 trillion in municipal bonds. When the projects don't pay out the local governments can raise taxes to pay the shortfall, can't they? Sometimes they can, but many times they won't. The present default rate is running 10 times its historic norm.

Bonds can be as risky as stocks. You must be careful where you invest your hard-earned cash. If you buy any bond other than a U.S. treasury you insist a reputable insurance company insure the bond. Just because the mayor says it is good doesn't mean anything.

One of the safest ways to buy bonds in a no-load bond mutual fund and there are hundreds of them. You can buy as little as $1,000 increments. Your broker will not tell you about them.

If you insist on buying individual bonds you want to know the true net yield, is it investment grade and is it insured. Bonds can be as dangerous as stocks. That is why a mutual fund manager is important, but you still must be in an investment grade fund.

(c) 2005

Al Thomas' best selling book, If It Doesn'tGo Up, Don't Buy It! has helped thousandsof people make money and keep their profits withhis simple 2-step method. Read the first chapterto receive his market letter for 3 months atwww.mutualfundmagic.com to discover why he'sthe man that Wall Street does not want you toknow.

Wealth Building in Four Steps

First, a definition of wealth. I\'m not talking about a wealth of friends, or interests, or experiences. Those kinds of wealth are wonderful, definitely. But right now, I\'m talking about money - lots of money.

Exactly what \lots of money\ means is subjective, but let\'s say that when your annual income becomes your monthly income, you\'re playing in the wealth ballgame.

Wealth building, for the most part, involves four financial aspects:
* Growing a cash machine
* Allocating assets
* Spending planning
* Managing/eliminating Debt

*Growing a Cash Machine*

This is the most important aspect of the wealth building foursome. In fact, it is the foundation for the other three areas, whose sequence depends on the nature of your particular cash machine.

Your cash machine is an incorporated business, which is ideally based on leverage of your existing skill set. For example, say you are an automobile mechanic. That\'s a service. How can you leverage your skills so that you have a business that makes money while you sleep? (The definition of a cash machine).

Here\'s a scenario: People buying used cars come to your shop for inspection before they buy, and you realize that many of the things you check during your inspection, the consumer could easily check for themselves. You teach a class at the community college and you package the hand-outs you\'ve created for the class. Make them into an ebook, hire a marketer, and voila\' you have a cash machine.

That\'s simplified, but you get the idea. Wealth builders are generally entrepreneurs. Think of something similar you could do with your skill set, and grow a cash machine.

*Allocating Assets*

With the income from your cash machine, plus all your other assets, create a comprehensive plan for your assets to work for you. You\'ve heard the saying, \Stop working for money and get money working for you.\

If you haven\'t already put a team together to grow your cash machine, with asset allocation a team becomes critical. You\'ll need advisors to set up an incorporated business for your tax strategy as well as asset protection. And, you\'ll want a financial advisor to help create your overall plan.

One of your most important assets to allocate is time. Millionaires \hire\ time. Invest in building yourself a team of experts and support personnel. In addition to expert advisors, hire bookkeepers, housekeepers, assistants, etc.

*Spending Planning*

When the cash starts rolling in, a common mistake is to allow spending to keep pace with the increased income. This makes for a cushy lifestyle, but isn\'t part of a good wealth building plan.

When you create your spending plan, it should reflect your personal priorities. It doesn\'t need to be restrictive (like a budget). Think of it more like a framework for financial decision-making that serves your long-term interests at the same time providing resources for you to enjoy the present.

*Managing/Eliminating Debt*

Once you\'ve got your cash machine going, turn your attention to arriving at zero consumer debt: credit cards, mortgage, etc.

However, not all debt is bad. Sometimes, you want to leverage someone else\'s money. Buying income real estate is an example of such a time. But for the most part, a focus on minimizing or eliminating debt is a sensible part of any wealth building plan.

The ultimate goal of wealth building is financial freedom - when your passive income supports your lifestyle, and you work because you choose to, rather than because you have to. Use the wealth building foursome to lay the foundation of your financial freedom.

Lila Norden is a business and financial consultant. Lila offers valuable information to help you make decisions about your business growth and financial development. Visit Lila\'s web site FCI Money. Additional articles by Lila are also at Yes Investing and F-Com Finances

Many Homebuyers are Surprised by Rising Mortgage Payments

It may have seemed like a perfect solution to many homeowners and buyers. Refinancing or purchasing with an attractive low-cost option mortgage seemed a perfect financial solution.

But now that interest rates are adjusting on many mortgages, homeowners are getting a not-so-perfect surprise.

In the last five years, millions of Americans purchased homes and refinanced properties using risky mortgages with adjustable rates and low initial payments. The once appealing teaser rate has ended, and some monthly payments have more than doubled.

With interest rates climbing over a percentage point since 2003, homeowners are lured into non-traditional loans with low teaser rates such as 2%. But when the teaser period ends, monthly payments can increase by 50% say industry experts.

Christopher Cagan, director of research for First American Real Estate Solutions, estimates that payment shock will result in approximately $110 billion of foreclosures in the next two years.

Homeowners are facing a double-trouble situation. Not only are they facing higher monthly payments, they are facing the possibility of not being able to sell their homes for what they owe.

Those who purchased or refinanced during the peak of the real estate market in their area are facing the possibility of declining real estate values. If they can\'t sell and can\'t pay their mortgage, they have few options but to default on their loan.

There are non-profit agencies out there that will help homeowners refinance at affordable fixed rates. But homeowners must be able to afford their home on a traditional mortgage -- one of the reasons they didn\'t go with traditional in the first place is that they couldn\'t afford it.

Those that can hold on to their homes will probably come out unscathed if they just hang in there. Millions will probably have to cut their losses and start over. And hopefully, more homebuyers will exercise higher caution when choosing a mortgage product in the future.

Martin Lukac (http://www.MartinLukac.com), represents http://www.RateEmpire.com and http://www.1AmericanFinancial.com, a finance web-company specializing in real estate/mortgage market. We specialize in daily updates, rate predictions, mortgage rates and more. Find low home loan mortgage interest rates from hundreds of mortgage companies!

Credit Scores are Not Universal

Credit scores are not universal. In other words, you could pull your credit score from all three credit bureaus and find that they not only don\'t match each other, they won\'t match the FICO score that your lender accesses.

\This is becoming a real problem -- a lot of people simply don\'t know the difference between FICO scores and other scores,\ said Ginny Ferguson, co-owner of Heritage Valley Mortgage of California. \They think it\'s all the same.\

Many borrowers meet the lender, only to find that their FICO scores are 50 to 100 points lower than the generic score found online.

Credit scores are often referred to as FICO scores. This is actually a company, Fair Isaac Corp., which developed the scoring system used by the mortgage industry. FICO scores range from 300 to 850. The higher a borrower\'s score, the less of a risk they pose to the lender.

There are several different types of commercial scoring models available through the internet. However, most lenders will use only FICO scores to price their mortgages and loans.

Many borrowers are surprised when they go to the lender with a generic score, to find the lender says their FICO is much lower.

\The consumer assumes the broker did something to make their scores worse,\ said Ferguson. \And, of course, that is not the case.\

Ferguson says that the typical FICO score is below that of the generic internet score. She says that despite what is found on the internet, the lender will go with the FICO reported by their source.

Fair Isaac has started taking notice of the disparities. In it\'s own research, it found that FICO scores can be as much as 200 points lower than other scoring models.

Many credit scoring sites contain fine print that points out that the score is not \a FICO score.\ Others say that they are an example of how you could be viewed by a lender.

Advisors say that keeping track of your credit score is an important aspect of financial management. Consumers should understand that most scores are just an estimate of where they are credit-wise.

Martin Lukac(http://www.MartinLukac.com), represents http://www.RateEmpire.com and http://www.1AmericanFinancial.com, a finance web-company specializing in real estate/mortgage market. We specialize in daily updates, rate predictions, mortgage rates and more. Find low home loan mortgage interest rates from hundreds of mortgage companies!

Lowering Car Insurance Premiums

Here are a few tips that will help you reduce the car insurance premiums:

1. It is cheaper to get car insurance on the net. The companies who offer car insurance on the net are cheaper because the automated process costs them less to process your papers. Online car insurance companies usually offer discounts of 5%-10%.

2. Don\'t be satisfied with the first insurance company you see that seems to have reasonable price already. Shop around. Each insurance company has got a different way of calculating the interest rate they give you after asking questions.

3. When the insurance company offers you added insurance products do try to purchase them. I.e. the buildings and contents insurance of the car. They will give discounts when you purchase their added products.

4. Pay the insurance full. If you can pay the car insurance on full amount in one go, you can avoid paying the costly APR rates. Some companies charge a 15% rate when you pay on installments. The companies may even give a discount if you paid in full. If you are really not capable of paying the full amount, check out the company that offers the smallest APR rate.

5. \Excess\ in car insurances is the amount you pay in case you have made a claim. When you increase your claim voluntary the car insurance company will reduce the premium.

6. Having a lower annual mileage will make the car insurance company lower the premium. The usual quotation of companies is for 12,000 miles a year. Try to figure out if you have less mileage than that in year. If you do, you may get a lower premium. They will check your old MOT\'s and service history to verify what you say.

By following these tips you should be able to lower the premium on your car insurance.

You may freely reprint this article provided the following author\'s biography (including the live URL link) remains intact:

About The Author

John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help homeowners find the best available loans via the http://www.directonlineloans.co.uk website.

Choosing liability limits for motorcycle insurance

How do I choose liability for my motorcycle insurance?

While most states have minimum liability requirements, this is
not always the smartest choice. First determine what you would
have to lose if you were to be sued for all you are worth.
Consider all your assets such as your home, cars, jewelry, etc.
It is not uncommon for lawyers to go after your future wages. A
good rule of thumb to consider is 30% of your income for the
next 5-10 years. You can of course insure yourself for more if
you feel more comfortable. Another important point to consider
is the liability to other's vehicles. State minimums aren't
always adquate. It's hard to do a lot of damage to others on a
motorcycle. If you were to hit a brand new Mercedes, it will
cost much more to repair than an 88 Yugo. You will see liability
limits written 50/100/50. The first number is your per person
limit, the second is per accident, and the third is damage to
other's property. You can appline online for motorcycle insurance
or scooter
insurance.

What are mutual funds loads?

Copyright 2006 Michael Saville



Loads are the most talked about fees that mutual funds charge. A \load\ on a mutual fund is just another way of saying that the fund charges a sales commission for purchase, sale, or both. There are funds that charge loads and there are funds that do not charge loads (known as \load funds\ and \no load funds\ respectively).



Front-end loads are sales commissions that are paid up front at the time of your purchase. So, if you give a fund a $10,000 investment and it charges a front-end load of 5%, then the fund will take 5% of your investment (that\'s $500) and pocket it right away. Only what is left over after the load has been deducted will be invested into the fund (in this example, only $9,500 is invested in the fund from your initial $10,000 investment)



Back-end loads charge their sales commissions when you sell (or \redeem\) your shares. So, when you go to redeem your shares in a fund with a back-end load you will end up receiving whatever money the shares are worth minus the sales commission.



Mutual funds charge management fees in order to pay for the management services used to run the fund. In other words, these fees are used to pay the salaries of the fund\'s managers and analysts. Management fees usually do not amount to more than one percent of the fund\'s assets, and they are significantly lower for passively-managed funds, such as index funds, than for actively-managed ones. You should remember that a high management fee in no way guarantees a more skilful management team.



Front loads can be reduced if you are investing or planning to invest a certain amount of money. The load reduction schedules are called \break-points.\ For example, with most fund companies if you are investing over $100,000 or plan to within the next 13 months, you will get a 1% reduction on the front load. The more you invest, the greater the reduction in the load. For some fund companies the break-point reduction begins at $50,000 over 13 months, and with many funds, if you invest over $2 million there is no front load.



If you do not have $50,000 or $100,000 to invest over the next 13 months, you can still earn a reduction on the front load, through \rights of accumulation.\ Under accumulation rules you will receive fee reductions on the front load when your total investments with one fund family have grown past the break points. Therefore, if you only have $20,000 to invest today, that\'s OK, someday soon it will grow past the $50,000 or $100,000 initial break-point and you will be eligible for the load discount on your further investments.



The turnover ratio for a mutual fund can provide you with useful information about how expensive a fund is and how it is managed. Turnover ratios measure the amount of trading activity in the fund\'s portfolio. They are calculated by taking all of the fund\'s sales for a specified period of time (usually one year) and dividing by the fund\'s total assets. This number tells you how much the fund\'s portfolio has changed.



You probably will want to exercise caution when investing in a fund with a high turnover ratio. High turnover means that the fund\'s manager is buying and selling very often, and, since every sale and every purchase involves a commission, this means that funds with high turnover ratios often have high expenses. Some experts recommend focusing on funds whose turnover ratio is less than 50%.

Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com

Michael Saville has over twenty five years experience in providing finance and investment advice. He has written a free five-part short course on \'no load mutual funds\' which is available at www.buy-mutual-funds.com

How Stock Market Price Rises and Falls

Understanding how stock market price rises and falls is similar
to understanding the prices of other products in the market. It
also follows the law of supply and demand. Price of stocks rise
and fall due to the following reasons:

1. Company profit projections and image

A company's growth and profit forecasts describe how capable a
company is in delivering its promises to its investors. These
numerical projections are carefully prepared by a company based
on their past profits and projected additional profits due to
new products and services, operations and infrastructure
improvement.

Aside from profit forecasts, company image can also make an
impact on a company's profitability. Rumors of change in
management, take-over, mergers, and even personal issues about
the company's top executives can affect the company's image.

For example, a rumor of a merger between two big companies
projects more stability and greater profit projections for both
companies. As more investors would want to buy stocks from these
merging companies, the demand for their stocks will rise. Based
on the law of supply and demand: the greater the demand for
stocks, the higher will their prices be.

A bankruptcy rumor about a company can send its investors to
sell all their stocks. If there are more sellers than buyers of
stocks then the supply (of stocks) is greater than the demand
for stocks thus, stock price will fall.

2. Political Economy

General news about the local and global politics has an
immediate impact on the economy and consequently to stock market
prices. Politics and economics are correlated. Positive news
such as lower unemployment rates, increased productivity, peace
and order, and strong confidence in the government has positive
impact on the economy. Such news encourages more local and
international investors to open companies in a certain location
or country. This in turn would generate more jobs, and as an
effect, would encourage more trading in the market at higher
stock prices in general due to the increase in demand for stocks
of different companies. On the other hand, negative news such as
political instability and turmoil, security problems such as
terrorism and insurgency, frequent strikes, and inflation has
negative impact on the stock market prices. Investors are driven
away by these things and close-up. As an effect, more
stockholders would sell out. This creates more sellers than
buyers thus stock market prices fall.

3. Interest rates

Higher interest rates are associated with a slump in economic
growth. This creates a sluggish environment where investors
become apprehensive in buying stocks. Either they keep the
status quo or sell out their stocks. When the demand for stocks
is not high, prices will go down.

Michigan Real Estate A Little of Everything

With lakes, forest, farmland, college towns and big cities, Michigan has a little of everything. Fortunately, Michigan real estate prices are on the low end.



Michigan



Michigan is a state of great beauty if the outdoors is your thing. The state borders no less than four of the Great Lakes and has thousands of smaller lakes within its border. Yes, thousands. With all this water come forest and a bevy of outdoor activities. If you prefer the city life, Detroit is in a renaissance. For a taste of the college life, Ann Arbor is the home of the University of Michigan.



Ann Arbor



Home to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor is a great college town. With a population of roughly 100,000, it is actually a small city but can grow during college football season. The football stadium holds over 100,000, and people from all over the state make a weekend of the games. With the college atmosphere, Ann Arbor is full of interesting little shops, cafes and has an active nightlife. If you're considering living in a college town, Ann Arbor should be on the top of your list.



Detroit



If ever there was a city that took a beating in the press, it is Detroit. Criticized for an out of control crime problem, the city definitely deserved some criticism in the past. These days, however, Detroit is in the process of turning a new leaf. Over a BILLION dollars has spent renovating the downtown area and crime statistics are down significantly. For comparison purposes, Atlanta and Washington, D.C., have much higher crime rates. The rebirth of Detroit is an ongoing process, so don't hesitate to give it a look. It may be an opportunity to get in on the bottom floor.



Michigan Real Estate



Michigan real estate prices are surprisingly cheap. A single family home in Detroit will set you back roughly $280,000, while the same home in Ann Arbor is $345,000. On average, the prices in Ann Arbor are the highest in the state.



With such reasonable prices, one wouldn't really expect to see an exciting appreciate rate in Michigan. For 2005, Michigan real estate appreciated at a miserly rate of a little less than 5 percent.

Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com

Raynor James is with www.fsboamerica.org - FSBO homes for sale by owner. Visit www.homehelperdirectory.com/ to trade links for real estate.

Tips For Lowering Your Auto Insurance Quote

Do you have many claims? If so, you should do all you can to reduce them or even endeavor to file no claims at all. Why do I bring this issue up in an article about lowering your auto insurance quote? Because the number of claims is the single factor that to the highest degree influences the cost of your insurance premium. Let me give you an example: Let's say you have 5 years of no claim. Most companies will then give you an unbelievable discount of your premium, some of them even 75%! It goes without saying that this is the most powerful way to get cheap insurance.

How can an insurance company do this? Look at an insurance company as a big box of money dropped in by people who gets security in return. What the company does is simply to reallocate the money that is left when the payments for damages are deducted.

People that have many damages and file many claims, must pay a higher premium and thus get a higher car insurance quote.But a safe driver that avoid claims, is rewarded with a lower one. Fair enough?

If you are new to insurance - or even if you have had insurrances for some years, but feel you lack knowledge about it. - I'll advice you to learn the basic auto insurance terminology, before you start to shop around. It can help you, not only to get a low cost insurance but also to make the correct coverage decisions for you. Let's do a little test: Do you need PIP coverage? What does PD coverage mean? What is BI coverage?

Do not accept the first quote you get

If you ask an insurance company for a quote, you can be almost hundred percent sure you'll get a better one from at least one other company. Comprehensive marketing research the recent years has shown that prices for a new six-month policy with comparable coverage can vary greatly between different companies. And we are talking about spreads in rates of at least $500

So, equipped with this knowledge both you and I know that it pays to do a little legwork and shop around for car insurance.

Most insurance companies have a form of questions you must provide answers to in order to get an understanding of your security situation. It is really astonshing, how much the criterias for determining the price can vary between companies. What one company may consider a high risk factor another company may view as a minor risk. So why not take a little time to compare rates for a number of different companies?

The first thing you should do before you start this comparison is to go through your insurance coverages and keep your auto insurance policy on hand. Then go online and start to shop around. The internet is probably the most comprehensive, fastest and easiest way to find a decent vehicle insurance quote.

And what's even more incredible, many insurance companies now offer some great discounts for buying the policy over the web - a discount that come in addition to the no-claim discount described above.

How is this possible? To handle an insurance sale in general cost money for the companies. However, a sale on the internet will cost less money than selling it over the counter. They do not have to involve human resources if you purchase it online. Thus the companies save money on your internet purchase, and a part of this saving is passed on to you as a discount, a significant discount if you buy from the right company.

Terje Brooks Ellingsen is a writer and internet publisher. He runs the website cheap-used-cars.w-eland.com Terje gives advice and helps people with automotive issues like how to get cheap car insurance and auto owners insurance in general.

Credit Scoring and Consumers Why Are Credit Scores Beneficial?

Credit scores may seem like a mysterious number to consumers, but they are really just a basic mathematical formula to determine your credit risk. With hundreds of factors affecting your score, each credit choice you make changes your score. Knowing your score can help you get more accurate loan quotes and better financial offers.

Unlike a credit report, credit scores aren\'t free. You can purchase the information from a reporting agency or you can go through a credit monitoring service. Most credit monitoring companies will give you your score free as part of a trial offer.

Evaluate Your Lending Risk

Do you know what type of credit you have? While most people answer with a \'good credit\' or \'bad credit\', a number is a more valuable tool. A score of 670 or higher qualifies you for the best rates. Lower numbers are divided into a series of categories, charging higher rates for lower scores. The national average consumer\'s score is 676.

Even with a low number, you can find credit. It is just a matter of how much you are willing to pay in interest charges. Shopping lenders will also help you find reasonable rates.

More Accurate Quotes

With your credit score, you can get more accurate loan quotes. A number of lending sites provide rate quotes without accessing your credit report. However, you have to provide your credit standing. When you input an accurate number, you can know that the quote you receive is more precise.

For sites that divide credit by good, fair, or bad, use 650 as the bottom end of good. Fair is usually in the 600s, while bad would count as 500 or lower.

Better Financial Offers

You can also get better financial offers when you know your credit score. Lenders specialize in different types of risk categories. So people with bad credit may find better rates with a subprime lender, rather than a traditional lender. The same is true for people with good credit.

Knowing your credit score can help you better target your lender search. However, it isn\'t a bad idea to start by looking at offers from all types of lenders. That way you can see what is available to you. Large down payments or cash assets can also offset your credit score, making you eligible for lower rates.

Here are our recommended companies for a free copy of your credit report and other credit rating resources.

Carrie Reeder is the owner of ABC Loan Guide, an informational website about various types of loans.

Real Estate Investment Success Series Tip #1 Making Money With Real Estate Investing

Are you losing money in all kind of speculative instruments like share, bonds and forex and am wondering what asset class to invest in? Why not consider real estate investment with its traditionally higher yields as compared to leaving your money in your bank account. This article will highlight four common strategies that real estate investors use to make money in property investment.

Money Making Method #1 - Purchase run down property and spruce it up This method involves finding a run down property in a good area that you think has promise for resale and sprucing it up like some of the shows where people do an extreme makeover on the property. Bring along a good structural engineer or architect when you do look for such properties so as to ensure that the renovation works that you have to do will not be so extensive that it does not become worth your while to purchase the property. Since the property is may be rather run down, you need to redecorate and repair it and then you can resell this real estate for a much higher price. The key consideration when investing in this kind of real estate is to keep your renovation costs low but ensure that the basic utilities like the electricity , water and gas pipes are in good working condition. Thus this buy at undervalue and upgrade real investment strategy requires good investment property valuation skills and the ability to keep your costs low.

Money Making Method #2 - Find places with high rentals Find areas with traditionally high rental returns that outperform the national average and then spend time looking for them and make money from the rentals. Here in this area of real estate investment, spending some time to find the real estate investment that is a bargain is a good idea so that you can get better return on investment.

Some people do not seem to get it that high rental yields are important to a real estate investor and think that most of their customers would pay anything to get a winter residence. I was at a property exhibition recently and spoke to a Spanish Real Estate Agent and when I asked her what the Return on Investment was on a piece of Bulgarian property that she was selling. Not only could she not even understand the concept of ROI but she even laughed off the question of rental yield when I asked her. I am sure she is not alone in his mistaken belief that people buy just because they like the real estate. Thus rental yields or return on investment is critical when you decide what type of real estate investment property to purchase.

Money Making Method #3- Purchase foreclosed property Most people will know that foreclosed property usually fetches a lower price than the market value since banks are often eager to sell at a price that covers their mortgages or sometimes they just want to liquidate the property. Such properties tend to be auctioned off and you can then resell them for a higher value subsequently. However beware of hidden defects in auction properties and always arrange for a visit down to the property just to check it out.

Two people you should bring with you when deciding on a real estate investment is your professional engineer and your contractor. You want to check for hidden defects in your real estate investment to avoid buying a defective property that would cost loads of money just to repair. Thus purchasing foreclosed property may be profitable if you find a real bargain for your real estate investment portfolio.

Money Making Method #4- Cash Flow Investment Robert T. Kiyosaki in his book explains this real estate investment strategy. He argues that the best investment you get is when you find a property at a bargain and then purchase it with as much debt as possible and then generate a cash flow from the difference between the monthly rent and the mortgage instalment. This method is highly interesting and requires you to really spend time looking for such a real estate investment that fits in that criteria.

Remember that real estate investment is dependent on rental and the higher the proposed rental the better your monthly cash flow is. You could also purchase the property at a lower price and this would mean that your monthly cash flow would improve. Note that once your property is partly paid up, you can refinance your loan and extract out some money and purchase a second property and so on. Soon you would have multiple streams of income from the purchase of one real estate investment property.

In conclusion, there are many ways to make money from real estate investment and what\'s missing is massive action on your part. Take massive action and start hunting for your ideal real estate investment property today and start generating substantial real estate investment property profits.

Joel Teo takes a keen interest in real estate investment as part of a larger investment portfolio. For more tips on real estate investing check out our real estate investment success series

What the SEC Really Thinks About Mutual Funds!

Let's go into the details of why non-indexed mutual funds are such a bad deal. When Arthur Levitt became the head of the Security Exchange Commission in 1993 he had to sell off all of his individual stocks so that people would not claim that he was doing any dirty inside dealing. He decided to put the cash from selling off his stock portfolio into mutual funds.

Mr. Levitt grew very angry when he tried to decipher how particular mutual funds divvied up their cash into specific stocks. He couldn't make heads or tells from the fancy brochures of the mutual funds called prospectuses. He had been a major player in the stock brokerages for over 25 years at that point and knew that if he couldn't understand the mutual fund's prospectus then he knew public investors couldn't either; it had to be a big scam to suck money out of the public.

In 1980 the US public invested $100 billion into the 500 mutual funds that existed at that time. By 1993 the public put $1.6 trillion into the more than 3,800 mutual funds that existed in that year; talk about growth! By the end of February 2003, at the bottom of the bear market there were 8,200 mutual funds and the public had pumped in $6.3 trillion dollars. Wow! That is a lot of money. What is important to note is that at least 40% of mutual fund money comes in from 401(k) retirement accounts. Today these mutual funds own about 20% of all publicly traded shares of stock. Mutual funds act like a herd of cows buying and selling the same stocks at the same time. This increases the wild price volatility swings in the stock market.

These funds are also sold and managed on pure hype, short term trading, and with key information withheld from the public. All of these factors I teach finance students and investors to avoid! The industry confuses investors by focusing on past performance, which should not be a factor to consider. Many mutual funds are able to cheat the public with excessive fees because investors don't understand how these big costs destroy their profit. Mutual funds have no interest in educating investors because it is easier to hoodwink the ignorant!

Don't put your trust in mutual funds unless they are fully indexed. Indexing means that the mutual fund simply uses a computer to buy and sell stocks in the mutual fund portfolio so as to mimic the composition of a major stock market index like the S&P 500. This means that there is no fund manager sucking out needless fees. A good example is the first fully indexed mutual fund called the Vanguard 500 (VFINX) which is also now the largest of its kind.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dr. Scott Brown, Ph.D., a.k.a. The Wallet Doctor, is a successful futures trader, real estate investor, and stock investor. Dr. Brown holds a Ph.D. in finance from the University of South Carolina. His 1998 articles in Technical Analysis of Stocks and Commodities were prophetic in predicting an impending stock market crash. He has helped many people become profitable investors by teaching them to look out over many years to spot stocks that are low and primed for rise in the new bull market. His second article met with approval by Dr. Bob Shiller of Yale University. Dr. Shiller is the economist that Alan Greenspan most highly regards who coined the term Irrational Exuberance. In 1998 he shouted to the world to get out of the stock market but now he is shouting to everyone that it is time to get in! The Wallet Doctor is not only sought after for investment advice and coaching in stock investing but also in futures trading and real estate investing.

Visit Dr. Brown's site at http://www.BonanzaBase.com or sign up for his investment tips at http://www.WalletDoctor.com

Savings Accounts Professional Advice

When it comes to savings, you may well find yourself daunted by the sheer variety of ways to invest your money. Particularly if you find yourself with a substantial amount to invest, and are less than confident at dealing with things like the stock market, bonds and trusts, you\'re likely to gain from professional expertise. The main issue here is trust - you want to be sure your money is being used to its full potential and whoever you entrust it to must be someone you have total confidence in.

If you have a basic understanding of how savings and investments work, however, it will be a lot easier to make judgements about the reliability and efficiency of individual advisers.

Independent Financial Advisers

Usually you will not be charged for general advice, but the adviser will gain commission when he or she sells you particular products. Don\'t be afraid to ask about commissions - a good adviser should be open and transparent about such matters. They are duty bound to find out all relevant information about you and then give \'best advice\' - which means selling you the products that are most suitable for your situation.

Accountants

Accountants normally advise on book keeping and tax, but sometimes also give advice about investments. If involved with investing, they must belong to one of the Recognised Professional Bodies responsible for regulating their business. These include the Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

Stockbrokers

If you are dealing on the stock market, you will need to buy and sell your shares through a broker. If you want advice on your investments, choose a traditional stockbroker. On the other hand, there are brokers that offer a dealing-only service, and this is a cheaper way to buy and sell shares. Stockbrokers charge a commission on deals, and a traditional brokers service should include advice. www.londonstockexchange.com provides detailed advice and ways to locate a broker.

The Financial Services Authority regulates all these professionals - if you are unsure about the credentials or dealings of someone check with them to verify that they are legitimate and are operating fairly. The FSA website also has details of what to do if you are unhappy with the service you\'ve received from a finance professional - check www.fsa.gov.uk. Once again, the government\'s advice site has sound information on the basic principles - and links to other information sites. www.direct.gov.uk

Joe Kenny writes for Card Guide, offering the latest information on credit cards in the UK, visit them today for the best balance transfer credit cards and start clearing credit card debt today.

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