Saturday, October 20, 2012

Dreams and practicality

When you look at all the movies, television shows and mainstream magazines, the successful people in our society are all supposed to be mercenary, interested only in demonstrating their wealth by conspicuous consumption. That means they must have one of these detached homes with enough room for a 9-hole short course in the master bedroom and a swimming pool on the roof, while the garage is full of all those dream motors. Anyone who is anyone must drive something exotic from Italy or Germany or some place where people know the name but never quite worked out where it is on a map. So, when all the rest of us fantasize about suddenly hitting the big-time with the latest lottery ticket, the first thing people think about buying is one of these top-of-the-range cars. So, the ,000 question (the minimum price tag on some of these cars after a dealer discount) is how much they cost to insure.

There's a new survey out (as always). A dedicated research team set out to find the top ten of the most expensive cars to insure in 2011. Interestingly, we have all the usual suspects from Mercedes, BMW, Aston Martin and Porsche as the makes, but curiously not Rolls Royce, Bentley, Ferrari, Bugatti, Lamborghini or, even, the Saleen S7 which, as all dreamers know, is America's top supercar. It seems the retail price is not the only factor taken into account when setting the premium rates - the Bugatti Veyron is currently the most expensive car to buy. Yet, perhaps, it's all slightly academic since all these top insurance rates are clumped quite close together. Probably, the missing models are just off the edge of the screen.

Anyway, the top average annual rate quoted is ,543 for the Mercedes SL65 AMG. This must be the rate for an older driver not likely to try driving it on a public road with the acceleration and at the speeds it is capable of producing. If anyone younger and pumped full of testosterone wanted to get behind the wheel, we suspect the rate might be rather higher.

So here we come to the point of all this. This model of Mercedes sells for around 0,000 and yet only costs an average of ,543 to insure which is about 1.5% of the retail price. Let's now go to the other end of the scale. The cheapest vehicles to insure start with a Chrysler Town & Country LX. This costs about ,000 to buy and ,091 to insure which is 2.4% of the retail price. If we are to believe these insurance figures, it seems the average driver pays more to insure their lower priced vehicles and so subsidize the tiny minority that can afford to buy these dream cars. Yet, the lesson is the same for everyone if they want cheap car insurance for whatever make and model they buy. Always get the maximum possible number of car insurance quotes. Only by comparing all the prices and terms on offer can you hope to find the best value policy. Even the wealthy in their dream cars appreciate saving a few dollars when they have the chance.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

A Structured Process For Your Foreclosure

There will be a structured foreclosure process, the time that a foreclosure is registered, in every state. In a judicial state, the time starts when the lawsuit, is filed.

In a non-judicial state, the timing starts when the notice of default or notice of trustee sales is filed. This is the pre-foreclosure stage. You will make the most money in this stage, which we will talk about this later in this text.

Step 1
Ordering a Trustee Sale Guarantee (TSG): This is another name for a Title Report.

Step 2
Sending notice to every person or entity that has a beneficial interest in the property: This would include everyone who has a lien on the property, including mechanic's liens, a second mortgage, or the IRS.

Step 3
Substitution of trustee: In a non-judicial state, there is always a Substitution of Trustee. This stems from the three tiered approach, which consists of:
1. The Trustor, the one who borrowed the money
2. The Trustee who is a beneficiary
3. The Trustee, the one oversees the process

You may see a Substitution of Trustee posted at the County Recorder's Office. This trustee only handles foreclosures and will follow the process to the end.

Step 4
Post legal notices: In nearly every state, the laws require the county to post legal notices. These notices may appear in regular newspapers or other publications. Some of these other publications include a legal newspaper, sometimes called a county recorder, in order to follow the requirements of the law. In addition, most states require that the foreclosure notice be posted at the property.

Step 5
Maintain continual contact: Continual contact is maintained with the title company to make sure no other liens are attached to the property. One thing that can stop the whole process is bankruptcy. Bankruptcy is a federal filing lawsuit that supersedes the state statute.

Step 6
Prepare a credit bid: The beneficiary or mortgagee prepares a credit bid, which is the starting bid/amount at the auction, depending on the state and the state statutes. In most states, the credit bid will include the principle balance plus all of the arrearages, including:
1. Bank interest
2. Penalties
3. Legal fees
Other arrearages can include second mortgages and homeowner's association fees. In a judicial state, the lawyer for the mortgage company/bank will prepare the credit bid. In a non-judicial, the Trustee will
prepare the bid.

Step 7
Make payment and reinstate the loan: The owner can perform this task.

Step 8
Suspend or cancel the sale at any time: The beneficiary or mortgagee can do this, if suitable arrangements have been worked out with the owner beforehand.

Foreclosure can happen to anybody anytime without any fault of their own. If you are in this position of foreclosure then make sure you take initiative at an early stage. Taking immediate action and following the above mentioned 8 steps can make a huge difference as to whether foreclosure becomes a reality in your life or whether you can manage to prevent it forever.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Home Loans With Bad Credit Are Possible, And Can Be Pre-approved

There can be little doubt that purchasing a home is the biggest transaction a person is likely to ever complete. By extension, a home loan is the biggest debt that a person will find themselves in. With hundreds of thousands of dollars in the equation, getting a lender to approve a home loan with bad credit is surely impossible.

But, the chances of getting just such a home loan are not as impossible as it might seem. In fact, it is even possible to get pre-approved home loans, despite bad credit. Once the criteria for such loans is satisfied, the ability to get any loan exists.

With regards bad credit, lenders recognize a difference between bad credit due to a sudden change in financial circumstance, and bad credit due to irresponsible financial habits. For that reason, bad credit is not always seen as so bad, resulting in bad credit home loans getting pre-approved.

What is a Pre-Approved Loan?

In essence, a pre-approved loan is where an application has been made and approved, but the funds are released until necessary. This system is most used by house hunters who are seeking to buy a new home. A home loan with bad credit can take quite some time to be approved, and time is of the essence when hunting for property.

The fact is that when a house is found, a bid cannot be made until the house hunters know how much they can offer. By the time they have applied and learned their fate, the house could be taken by someone else.

Getting pre-approved home loans, despite bad credit, is the only way around the issue as it allows the hunters to make a bid immediately. The money may not be in their account, but they know what they can get. So, with bad credit home loans getting pre-approved the dream home will not be lost due to any delay.

Getting a Pre-Approved Loan

The process of getting a pre-approved loan is not really any different from getting any other loan. A bad credit home loan will require some strict criteria, with proof of employment, proof of income and an active bank account from which repayments can be drawn, all required.

In order to secure a pre-approved home loan, despite bad credit, an applicant needs to simply go through the normal applications procedure, gain approval and be issued with a document by a lender stating an agreed sum will be issued to the borrower.

Of course, if no house is purchased, then no money is issued to the borrower, but with bad credit home loans, getting pre-approved means the borrower has the confidence to make an offer for the property.

Patience is Necessary

It is worth noting that getting a home loan with bad credit requires more that just a 24-hour call back. Some lenders will only issue an approval after 90 days, during which time the lenders search the credit and banking history of the applicant in great detail.

This is because in assessing the wisdom of granting a pre-approved home loan, despite bad credit, the lender is basically ignoring the credit score and concentrating on the financial habits of the applicant.

With the process taking such a long period of time, there is little chance of purchasing a home unless the pre-approval has been secured. When attaining a bad credit home loan, getting pre-approved is essential if it is not to be a wasted effort.

And of course, a home loan with bad credit is a major financial commitment, so getting it right the first time is important.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Guidelines To Assist You In Obtaining Home Equity Loan Lowest Rate Repayment Schedule

There is certainly a huge number of those that have found themselves avidly trying to seek out a system to get extra wealth via any means possible. People that own their houses, can actually try to request a 2nd mortgage in order to obtain a decent amount of money. However, many people have questions regarding how to get a 2nd mortgage lowest rate.

When it comes to securing a 2nd mortgage, you ought to understand that there are two things that companies will examine when considering your precise circumstances. One thing is how much credit you have (your score), and the other is the whole capital amount that your home possesses (what they judge you have available on your house to borrow from).

Nonetheless, just like in the case of other loans, if your credit is not in the very best situation, you may expect to have to pay back a little bit more than someone else who had first-rate credit would need to pay out. Loads of people declare that this procedure is not fair; still this is just how business works.

You'll find numerous different lenders that have turned their thoughts towards offering individuals that tend not to have good quality credit scores home equity finance. While, these lenders are there in the marketplace, having a high credit rating is always going to be something that will put you above all the rest.

So many people have noted that a fantastic way to get accepted for a 2nd mortgage is to request the loan with the exact same mortgage adviser that they are presently paying. If you go this way, your agent already has all your information, and this will save you an immense amount of time than tracking down a lender that won't have an inclination about your current state of affairs.

The meaning of a second mortgage in simple terms, is a loan that allows for the worth of your house and the amount that you have previously made in payments. If your property is paid off or near to it, you can expect to have the ability to have a loan of extra cash in the form of a home equity loan.

When you are looking for the lowest charges that you can obtain for the equity loan, it will help to start with a good deal of study. You ought to attempt to obtain lots of quotes from different companies so as to properly consider the right direction for you to adopt in the matter.

There are lots of lenders which are keen to work with people despite of their credit score and the total of equity they have accessible on their homes. Attempt to obtain as many estimates as you possibly can with regards to finding a home equity loan, and don't be frightened to ask questions regarding the advance.

Bear in mind that the individuals that shop around for the lowest interest rate on an equity loan, will be the ones that wind up obtaining the type of advance and the rates that they desire.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Who Can Benefit From Non-Conforming Home Loans?

People, who apply for non conforming home loans, are generally home owners who may be in unusual financial situations. Their income may be irregular because of the type of work they do, or they may simply want to refinance their mortgage or home loan, but do not qualify for a traditional refinance loan.

While these are typical cases for non conforming loans, there are other reasons why home owners will have to consider this type of financing.

* It is very tough to get a home loan after a bankruptcy.
* People with a bad credit history should not even bother applying for mortgages at mainstream lending institutions.
* Those self-employed with unusual or irregular income will most likely be rejected for a home loan. Banks are very reluctant to grant mortgages to borrowers who do not fit the classic customer profile, or who would qualify for non conforming loans. While these customers could actually be quite reliable in their payments, traditional financial institutions will simply refuse them.

Individuals who are in such a situation, and would like to buy property, should not despair. There are other financial services that are far more flexible than standard banks. These lenders will consider helping customers with unusual financial situations, because they have far better sources to get non conforming loans approved. Their applications are generally processed faster as well, so you will know much sooner if you can buy your dream home, or not.

While it is never polite to catalogue people, traditional banks often do. Mainstream lenders have strict lending criteria, and will consider the following borrowing situations as abnormal.' For that reason, they will reject the following cases, because they consider them candidates for non conforming home loans:

* Irregular income this category includes contract workers, self employed, seasonal workers, as well as people with other employment issues.
* Poor credit history or previous credit defaults e.g. some people may have had trouble paying back student loans, but are doing just fine now. They will be considered for non conforming loan as long as they have a satisfactory explanation.
* Debt consolidation victims It is easy to rack up a lot of debt during troubled times, such as unemployment. Once back into the workforce, they catch up on their consumer debt, and may actually do quite well.
* Discharged bankruptcy It does not mean that because you are being discharged from bankruptcy that banks will suddenly be open to negotiations. They will continue to view you as "high risk" for personal loans.
* Recipients of centrelink payments/benefits A number of non conforming lenders will consider centrelink payments as a valid source of income e.g. a single mother receiving parenting payments, family tax benefits and/ or maintenance. Check out several financial services before applying for a non conforming home loan. Look for a company that has a fast approval process, a number of different loans for you to choose from, a dedicated team of experts willing to help you, and access to a large number of specialist lenders. If you select the right non conforming loan provider, you will soon enjoy your new home.

Monday, October 8, 2012

Westpac Admits Home Loan Error

Admissions overnight from Westpac, reported in today's Herald Sun that the bank had unfairly denied customers a special fixed rate home loan offer that had been advertised in December 2008, sending a warning to Australian borrowers to shop around and ensure that you are really getting the best deal from your bank before committing to a loan.

The Herald Sun report claims to have received several complaints from readers who had tried unsuccessfully to secure the offer, a Westpac 4.99% fixed rate home loan. Given the loan was marketed in the wake of a series of RBA rate cuts since September last year, this certainly would have been a popular offer among those looking to refinance an existing loan to lock in a more attractive rate. Applicants were allegedly told by Westpac staff that the loan would be subject to rate fluctuations at any time, even after customers had signed loan documentation, bringing into question the legitimacy of a marketing campaign offering the 4.99 per cent rate fixed over three years. One customer told the Herald Sun that he and his wife were offered a rate of only 5.49 per cent after applying for the special rate well before the December 19 deadline.

A spokesperson for Westpac, David Lording apologised and admitted that an error was made in that particular customer's case but has written the issue off as a purely administrative error due to the bank being inundated with applications which created a processing backlog.

The Herald Sun warns that banks and other financial institutions often insert special clauses in loan contracts so that they can vary the terms and conditions affecting borrowers. So the message to prospective borrowers or those looking to refinance an existing loan is clear; ensure that you are aware of the conditions around your entitlement to a discounted fixed rate or a similar special offer. Ask plenty of tough questions of your banker, read the fine print and possibly enlist the assistance of a mortgage broker to help you get the best deal.

Visit www.HelpMeChoose.com.au if you want to ensure that you really are getting the best deal on your current home loan.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Capital One Buys Orchard Bank and HSBC Credit Cards - Orchard Bank Future In Doubt

In recent news Capital One Bank purchased the Orchard Bank Credit Card and all of the US credit cards issued by HSBC bank. The details and exact amounts of this purchase are currently unclear but we are confident that Capital One paid a hefty price.

Orchard bank has a trusted leader and brand in the bad credit credit card market for years. Additionally they have a huge customer base and many current card holders. It is arguably one of the biggest sub prime lending acquisitions.

We believe the acquisition of the Orchard Bank Credit Card is a subsequent result of the mortgage collapse and banking crisis in our country. Just like many local banks were forced to merge with larger banks and thus consolidated our choices of banks to use, we believe the credit card industry is going through the same process.

It is rumored that Capital One is actually going to shut down the Orchard Bank Credit Card. We believe that Capital One has made an aggressive attempt to target individuals with a less-than-perfect credit rating by rolling out a prepaid credit card, secured credit card, and an unsecured credit card for fair credit. This way we think Capital One intends to shrink the market and their brand will fill the void.

One of the most unique features about the Orchard Bank Credit Card was its application process. When you provided your information and your application was processed Orchard Bank would return to you and offer you all the credit cards that you qualified for which included: an unsecured MasterCard, a secured MasterCard, prepaid MasterCard… And then you would choose which credit card was right for your needs.

It certainly appears that Capital One could provide this option to applicants, we hope they do because we have heard many consumers say they appreciate this upfront process. Another concern we have is what alternatives will be left for consumers as the orchard bank secured credit card was one of the most competitive price and best secured credit card offers on the market.

It would report to all three major credit bureaus, charged you a 9.9% APR, and an annual fee of . This compared to unsecured credit cards before the mortgage collapse was a very low priced credit card that would still give you an opportunity to build positive credit. However today we have seen some partially secured credit card offers that we would not recommend to our worst enemies!

These partially secured credit cards require an upfront deposit, the most popular offer we have seen charges an outrageous 36% APR, roughly in upfront fees, and then another in annual fees. Thus, it will be interesting to see what comes of Capital One purchasing the HSBC Orchard Bank Credit Card and if there will continue to be competitively priced secured bad credit card offers available.

As of today and according to both websites it doesn't appear that Orchard Bank or HSBC Credit Cards will continue to be offered. With that said we are by no means executives with Capital One and have no way of knowing for sure, one way or another. Currently at the Orchard Bank website you can still apply for a credit card but from insider information, we have heard Orchard bank is going to stop accepting applications around the end of May.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Questions to Ask Before Starting a Career in Nursing

If you are thinking about starting a career in the field of nursing, it is important that you are absolutely sure that you want to dedicate your life to such a career. While nursing is an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling career, not everyone is cut out for the profession as it is exceptionally demanding. Before you even step into a classroom for a nursing program, you should carefully take the time to think about what type of the person you are and whether you are mentally, physically, and emotionally ready to become a nurse.

Why do you want to be a nurse?

The most important question to ask before starting a career in nursing is: Why do I want to get into the profession? If you have dreamt of becoming a nurse since childhood, that's a good start, however you should have more reasons than just that alone. Before you make your decision, you should do some research into the requirements and tasks of the profession as nursing is not your typical day job. It is a profession that requires an enormous amount of dedication and devotion so be sure that you know exactly what you will be getting into.

Do you have the ability to handle high stress?

While many people don't realize it, nursing is a high stress job. They are by and large the hardest working people in the hospital and are often under paid for the amount of hours, dedication, and labor that they put into their daily work. In a typical hospital or health care center, nurses are expected to work long hours ranging anywhere from 8 to 16 hours each day and are on their feet for the majority of that time. A Nurse is typically assigned six to eight patients to their care, which means that there will always be a patient in need something. Patients will often have trouble sleeping, pain, anxiety, or some other ailment that the nurse is responsible to address. In order to become a successful nurse, it is important that you are sure that you can handle the stress of both the physical and emotional demands that the job can place upon you.

How are you at managing time and organization?
You often hear the phrase time management thrown around a lot, but do you have the capability to manage your time efficiently? Nursing is a profession that demands excellent time management as there is very little down time on any given shift. Whether you're preparing charts for doctors and patients, answering questions related to a patient's health or a host of other things, there is rarely a dull moment during the work day. It is also crucial that a nurse be highly organized. You will be required to take detailed notes for later reference, acquire dosage levels, look up a patient's history, and find out other critical information at the drop of a hat. If you able to work under a high degree of organization, you will not be able to perform your best and your patient's life may suffer as a result.

Are you confident enough to be a nurse?

If you plan on becoming a nurse, you should also plan on frequently playing the role of the scapegoat. Patients, doctors, and relatives of patients will definitely voice frustration and be extremely demanding. While they may not hold any ill will against you, having a loved one in the hospital or being in severe pain can get the best out of people and they will often take their frustration and anger out on you. If you are a nurse in the earlier part of your career you may experience some problems with the doctors you work with as you might not have the experience or tenure as they would like. When you do have a problem with a doctor, patient, or patient's relatives, which is likely, it is important that you consider it as just another part of the job. If you are emotionally unstable or tend to take things too personally, you may not have the personality to be a nurse.

Do you have a sense of humor?

While you don't need to be a comedian to be a nurse, a sense of humor definitely helps. Also, approaching each new day with a smile and some hope will make all the difference to your coworkers and your patients. Remember, attitude is a major part of the healing process. If you were sick, would you want a grumpy nurse?

Becoming a nurse is a big decision so be sure to do plenty of research and self exploration to see if you have what it takes to be successful. While it is true that nurses are in high demand making it one of the few recession-proof careers out there, it is an incredibly demanding job. Not everyone can be a nurse and if you aren't one of those special people, you will dread going to work every day.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Accident Insurance

Accidents are common in everyday life. You never know when you have to face such a situation that might bring financial issue before you or your family member. So, buy Accident insurance plan and be prepared to meet such circumstances of life. Apollo Munich's Individual Personal Accident plan is one of such accident insurance plans.

There is no doubt that the numbers of road accidents are increasing immensely. One can easily see accidents happening now and then. An accident, may it be on road, rail, air or water, might become the cause of health issues that might change his/her complete lifestyle. One might not only lose his/her earning potential, but might also need huge expenses for seeking quality medical treatment. There might be some serious issues. A person might die, get disable or bear bodily injuries as a result of an accident. These changes, though are not liked, but can come to anyone at any time of a life. The need of an hour becomes the requirement of funds to seek quality medical treatment.

In such situations of life, family members are left with no other option, other than to give away money that they have saved for the fulfillment of their dreams. It may be for child's education or for dream house. In some cases, an individual decides to sell off some precious household assets or borrow money to pay for the medical expenses.

Looking into gravity of the situation, a person should buy an accident insurance plan that could offer the required financial coverage for their medical expenses. There are many such plans in the Indian health insurance market that an individual can easily find something suiting to his/her needs.
Health insurance providers in our country are making lots of efforts to encourage people to meet such circumstances of life by buying health or medical insurance plans and thus, lend them helping hand to live a stress-free life. They have brought several accident insurance plans in order to overcome such situations of life.

Accident insurance is also known as death and disablement plan, as it offers a lumpsum payment or complete or partial sum assured amount in case of death or disablement of an insured. At the same time, there are plans that offer coverage to several bodily injuries incurred because of an accident.

Apollo Munich's Individual Personal Accident plan is one of such accident insurance plans. It works on the principle of benefit, which promises an insured a specific amount of money, depending upon the extent of body injuries. The plan is available in two variants: Standard and Premium, each with a long list of benefits. There are some additional benefits included in Premium variant. In addition, it also gives a higher range of sum assured, as compared to Standard variant.