Lifting the Fog Around Reverse Mortgage Property Types

By Reverandmortgage Vanrock

There seems to be some confusion as what types of properties are eligible for financing with a reverse mortgage.

What one first must understand is that FHA insures the mortgage companies that lend money to senior home owners for reverse mortgages. With that in mind FHA makes all the rules.

FHA was originally set up during the Great Depression as a method of monitoring building and safety standards, but also it greased the skids for banks to lend and increase home ownership.

FHA, outside of large apartments, is only in the business of insuring properties in which the home owner actually lives on the premises.

With this in mind FHA will not be available for properties that don't fall under the category of a principle residence. Investment homes and the rarely used cabin in the mountains won't qualify.

This does not pertain to all investment properties. For instance, if the owner lives on the premises of a one to four unit property, with tenants, the property would still qualify for financing.

What if the owner lives in the property and it is used as a bed and breakfast? No. FHA will not allow for any commercial purpose even if the owner lives on site.

Some customers come to me with a home on large acreage. The lender will finance a home and land up to what is customary for the area.

A good scenario is a house on fifty acres. It's not hard to find this in the outskirts of Dallas or Houston. If many local homes have sold on this much land, it can fly otherwise it won't. I the norm is 2 acres, 48 acres will be survey off.

In some rural areas I get calls regarding manufactured homes. This is okay under certain conditions: Home is built after 1976, double or triple wide, and sits on an approved FHA foundation.

Additional home types include townhomes, condos, and Co-ops.

If you have a property not conforming with what I just laid out other reverse mortgage financing is available, but does not fall under the FHA umbrella. These are worth time to research but be careful.

About the Author:

Learn insider's information, five big pitfalls to avoid for the California reverse mortgage. Many more answers and a good read about the California reverse mortgage is right here.

Spiraling Stocks Send Seniors to Reverse Mortgage

By Rimj Vanrock

It isn't a secret that that the stock market is down a solid 35% or more. I don't keep accurate tabs on it because I don't have money in the market.

I was too smart for the stock market. I put my money in real estate so I'm down closer to 70%. I can't wait for next year.

I'm in the reverse mortgage business and my phones are ringing with seniors on the other end panicking about losing their nest egg.

I am by no means a financial genius, but I have to wonder what the reverse mortgage can do to help these folks?

Many of them have seen their entire life saving cut close to in half.

It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. I mean they already own the equity to the home. It's there's. What they perceive a reverse mortgage will do for them is convoluded.

Most tell me they want it for security purposes. What does that mean? They've lost a bunch of money in the market. Is having a bunch of money in a line of credit really going to help them?

I have serious questions about this logic. Other, more panicked or more aggressive potential clients (I'm not sure which) believe the market has seen its worst days are looking to plant reinvest their home equity into the market.

Our 2nd group may be making a mathematical mistake. After all, how good can the investment actually be in these times? Just to take the money out it will more than like cost them six percent per year.

The math doesn't work out very well, even if they get 10%. Less than a 4% return.

Look, the reverse mortgage is not the best investment strategy. Now, if you have a sure fire winner, I'd say go ahead and do it. But who has that. Last person I knew who had a sure fire winner went to jail for insider trading.

Please relax a bit with this shakeup in the market. Your equity in the home is important. Use it when you need it. Cooler heads prevail in times like these.

About the Author:

You may consider using a Texas reverse mortgage to invest. Learn first and read this report. Also, learn details about the Texas reverse mortgage, click here.

3 Things You Should Know Before Hiring A Credit Repair Law Firm

By David Wada

There are hundreds of law firms out there that specialize in credit repair. I may get sued for writing this, but its my opinion that credit repair law firms like Lexington Law are scams.

Let's say you have a goal to have perfect credit, meaning no negative entries and the highest credit score possible. Keep in mind that often these law firms can do a great job, but there are couple major problems.

Problem #1: Price Is NOT Right

In addition to set-up fees that average $99 at one of the most popular law firm, the monthly charges can be anywhere from $39 to $79. If their services only took one month, and believe me the 'true' process doesn't take more than a couple of days, then you would only be charged $39 to $79. The problem is law firms are in for business and their perspective is the longer they take to repair your credit the more money they make. This is why credit repair services usually cost you between $567 and $2,000 to get your credit fixed. This is why they are getting very, very rich.

But even that much would be worth it, wouldn't it? If they fix your credit for you? But how much sense does it make to pay $2000 or even $500, when you can get the same benefit from credit repair programs for less than a hundred bucks?! Well, you might say that your time is valuable and it's worth it to pay someone to do all the work.

Problem #2: You Do Most Of The Work Here's a dirty little secret with credit repair law firms. You still have to do most of the work yourself. More work, in fact, than when you use credible repair programs. Here's why:

First of all, you have to sign all kinds of paper work and Power of Attorney forms just to start the process. Some of these forms even require you to get your signature notarized. So the sign up process alone can take hours.

Then, you have to order your own credit reports from the credit bureaus.

Then, the credit bureaus are going to send the reports back to YOU, not to the law firm.

Of course, you then have to re-send the same letters to the law firms so that they have them for the records and making sure you make copies for your own file too.

Then, the law firm is going to scan your credit reports into a computer, and post it on their website.

Then, believe it or not, even with all the money you're paying the law firm, you still have to go to their website and choose for yourself which items you want to dispute and even how to challenge each negative credit item. You heard me right. When I hired a credit repair company, hoping they would take care of my credit, I had to choose which 'items to question' and know which items were errors. I wanted to protest, "How am I supposed to know? That's why I hired a professional!"

The law firm then takes the information you put on their website and create a standard dispute letters that they send to the credit bureaus.

Finally, the credit bureaus will still send all correspondence to your home address. So you will have to open every letter, read it, figure out if it's important, make copies of it for your records, and then put it in another envelope, address it, stamp it, and send it back to the law firm. You might have to do this five or six times every week.

So you can see how inefficient this process is. And because all of this takes so much time, the process drags on and on and the law firm just keeps making more and more money. In fact, credit repair law firms tell you that it can take a year, two years, or even three years before you reach your goal.

Problem #3: Forget about their crappy guarantee All they have to do is improve one item, such as a credit card inquiry, and they consider that they've done their job. Really! There's no money back even if 90% of your credit report is still negative after three years and $2000.

About the Author:

About The Author: David Wada, who has been improving credit in Northern California for thirty years, has written a very practical guide to de-mystify Credit Repair Companies. For a limited period, you can access a free copy by going to his Credit Repair Companies

Government Guaranteed Student Loans

By Trinity Foster

If you would like to go to college and find it too expensive, there are a lot of different options available. Government guaranteed student loans can help you to get started the right way and are fantastic loans that almost anyone in need can qualify for.

As you review your options for student loans, you will discover there is one referred to as a government guaranteed student loan. Just what does the guarantee mean? It means that the government backs the loan for the lending institution who is offering the loan.

For almost fifty years, these types of loans have been offered. The government assumes all of the responsibility of making sure the loan is repaid on time and in full. Any default on the loan is covered by the government so the lending institution doesnt have to be as concerned about losing money on the loan. Lenders wont use your credit score as a qualifying factor in receiving the loan. This is good news for some of you who may have bad credit.

There is also another way the government is involved in guaranteeing the loan. There is a specific kind of loan referred to as the subsidized Stafford loan. With this type of government loan, they take responsibility for the interest on the loan as long as you are in school and for the first six months after completion.

Observably, this is a really good deal for the borrower. It gives you time to work on school instead of worrying about all of the interest you are accruing on your loans. Hopefully, this contributes to a greater percentage of students completing school as well since you dont have to be concerned with interest compounding.

The six months after school gives the student time to find a good job so there is a greater likelihood of being able to repay the loan in full. Historically, a subsidized Stafford loan was always called a guaranteed government loan.

But now, any loan which is guaranteed against default by the government is referred to as a government guaranteed loan. Subsidized Stafford loans are still the least expensive loans since there is the benefit of not accruing interest, but in order to qualify for one, you have to prove financial need.

If you financially qualify for one, it will most likely be the least expensive way to borrow money for school. If you dont qualify for the Stafford loan though, you can still receive a government guaranteed loan. They really are the most secure student loans you can receive.

About the Author:

Trinity helps people to find out about different types of guaranteed student loans including government guaranteed student loans.

Guaranteed Payday Loans

By Dave Davis

If you need cash quickly and won't be getting paid for a week or two, there are quite a few options available to you. Many people turn to cash advance or payday loans to get the funds they need. Lenders can often give you the funds you need on the spot and this can save you late fees and other expenses.

If you're in the market to take out a payday type loan, you'll need to find a lender that can work with you. Legal issues vary from state to state so the first thing you're going to need to figure out is whether this type of loan is legal for you.

If you live in a state where this type of loan is legal, you should be able to get a loan without any problem. Make sure that you educate yourself well on the terms of the loan because interest rates on payday loans are usually quite high.

Since the finance charges can be pretty hefty, be sure to borrow only what you need and only what you will be able to pay back on your next payday. If you fail to pay back the loan by the due date, usually two weeks from the date the loan was issued, the interest will continue to compound leaving you with a debt that may be near impossible to pay back. You will definitely want to be wise when determining the amount of money to borrow.

Many payday lenders will direct deposit your funds directly in your account and will then withdraw your payment automatically. Other lenders will require you to post date a check to make your payment. You are usually expected to pay the loan back yourself and if you don't, they will cash the check you left.

If your payment check bounces, you're looking at a lot of extra fees and interest. Payday lenders usually make a lot of money on people that pay late and to avoid really paying out a lot, you need to make sure you pay back your loan before it's due.

If you decide to get this type of a loan, it should be fairly easy to find. There are payday loan stores on almost every corner these days. You can also find an online store that provides this type of loan without too much trouble. Be careful so that you can avoid paying too much interest and this loan may be quite useful.

About the Author:

You should only use guaranteed approval payday loans with extreme caution. Dave educates people on how to use personal loans instead of high interest loans to save themselves money.

Negative Credit History Timeline

By William Blake

If you have seen (or heard) the recent commercials about getting a free credit report, then you know it's important to have good credit and to monitor your credit line. This is the only permanent record that you need ever be worried about. Having a negative credit report can affect your borrowing ability, your interest rates, and even your employment.

The good news is that if you have negative credit, all is not lost. This record is not really permanent. Most of the bad information will be removed from your credit history after seven years from the last infractions.

This is why it is so important to manage and care for your credit history. Although mistakes can be repaired, it will take at least seven years to make those repairs.

Your credit history will be negatively impacted by late payments on rotating credit and loans. For that reason, paying such debts in a timely manner is very important. Having proof that you have been able to pay bills on time for one entire year is important when you meet a lender to borrow money. Some people are not organized and thus have a hard time making on time payments. If this is the case for you, be sure to pay off your bills as soon as possible.

Some credit card companies and retails stores that distribute credit cards will allow you to make a special payment arrangement with them if you are unable to pay off the debt that you have incurred. This could be a wise decision, but it will put a negative mark on your credit history. This effect will only be short term, though.

Filing for bankruptcy causes serious negative repercussions to your credit history. Doing so will remain a part of your credit history for more than the standard seven years.

When lenders are trying to decide whether or not you can be trusted to pay back the money you wish to borrow, they will judge you by your credit history. Bankruptcies filed under chapter 13 stay on your credit history for seven years, much like other negative information. If you file for chapter 7 bankruptcy and thus do not have to pay back debts you have racked up, that information will remain a part of your credit history for ten years.

Loans are often offered to people with a negative credit history at interest rates three or four percent higher than normal. The financial decisions you make now can potentially affect you for the next seven or even ten years, so make sure that you take care when it comes to your finances.

About the Author:

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Credit Card Offers

By Darren Cason

It is very important to compare credit card offers. The first thing you need to do is look at the fine print in the Terms and Conditions, where you can learn more about the card offers. Although some providers advertise cards with no annual fees or zero percent APR, the fine print can often tell a different story.

Another area to look at is the credit card company's policy on fraud liability. The fine print can often lay out stipulations which could mean that you are responsible for some of the charges if your card is used for fraudulent uses. Also consider the APR, since some ads claim to offer zero percent during an introductory period, but the fine print sets out limits on the use of the card in order to qualify for the zero interest period.

Cash advances are another thing to consider before applying for a card. Many cards charge up to 31.99 percent APR for cash advances, which is a very high interest rate. In fact, this is the highest allowed by law. Some card providers even go beyond this rate, believing that they will not be caught.

Be careful of catchy ads, because they can lure you into a card that may not be the best deal for you. Carefully investigate any credit card company before you apply for their card, to make sure that the card is legitimate. This will save you many hassles in dealing with the company later. There are many scam companies out there, especially those that offer credit cards regardless of your credit history if you give them a small deposit. These types of companies are illegal, because credit checks are mandated by law. Be sure you know how to spot a legitimate offer before you begin applying or redeeming chase card or other credit cards..

Snail mail credit card ads are often from illegitimate companies, and you should always toss these ads. Even the ones from legitimate credit card companies like MasterCard, Visa, or American Express should be thrown away. You should do your own research, rather than applying for cards based on heir ads. All cards offer unbelievably great deals according to their ads, but these offers are often negated by the fine print in their terms and conditions.

Finally, make sure you know exactly why you need a credit card. Determining whether you will need cash advances and whether you can and will pay your balance in full every month can impact which card is the best choice for you. There are many options, including those with rewards points or cash back programs. What you want from a credit card will change which card you should choose.

Lastly, use your card wisely. It can be great for paying bills, purchasing necessities when cash is low, or for use during emergencies. However, be sure to use it responsibly.

About the Author:

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Credit Card Balance Transfer

By Michael Benifez

Credit Card Balance Transfers

If you're like most Americans, you get tons of credit card offers by mail, email, and over the phone. Many times, these calls and offers are just a waste of time, but every once in a while, you may actually come across an offer of some benefit. These offers typically come in the form of a good balance transfer rate.

If you currently have a card with a high interest rate, transferring to a low rate balance transfer card may really take some burden off your pocket book. Some cards even offer zero percent on balance transfers. If you're really serious about saving, you can transfer your balance and refrain from using the card for additional purposes. This way, you're paying off debt with no interest what so ever.

Finding a card with a good balance transfer rate should be relatively easy. Aside from the fact that you're proably getting telemarketing calls on a daily basis and tons of offers in the mail, there are countless numbers of online sources to help you in your search. You may even considering contacting customer service from a few of the more popular cards to find out what they can offer you.

If you find that you're not having much success in finding a card that is right for you, consider contacting your current provider. The people in customer service there may be able to help lower your current rate, especially when they learn you are considering changing to a new card in order get a better rate. Because they truly value your business, they may work with you to provide a solution you're happy with.

In most cases, keeping the low rate on your balance transfer only requires that you pay your bill on time. Make sure you are familiar with the guidelines the agreement set forth by your credit card company and stick to them without fail. If you neglect to make your payments on time, you may very well end up with a rate that is higher than the one you had before you made your balance transfer.

Do your best to make an informed decision about the credit cards you choose and set aside some extra time to ask questions regarding possibility of having low apr rate as well as additional . Making the transfer via phone will be simple and relatively quick, all you will need is your current information and a few minutes to answer questions.

Transferring a balance can be an effective way to save some money and improve your credit at the same time. If you're struggling to make ends meet, paying down debts interest free can be a lifesaver. If you find yourself trying to dig out of a credit card hole, take the initiative to transfer the balance, your wallet will be happy you did.

About the Author:

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Choosing a Visa, American Express, Discover, or MasterCard

By Darren Cason

Many American consumers have recently defaulted on their credit cards. Recent hurricanes along with high gas prices have affected consumers. However, having to pay more for gas should not be enough to push you over the edge, if you are using your credit card responsibly.

There are many excellent reasons to use credit cards. They eliminate the need to carry large amounts of cash, and many offer rewards points or cash back options. Discover Card in particular offers a well-known cash back program. Credit cards also come in handy during emergencies, as a convenient way to make unexpected purchases if you do not have cash saved up for such emergencies.

However, the bottom line is that if you can't pay cash for a purchase, then you should not charge it. Credit cards are often used to buy luxuries that you can't really afford. Being able to make the minimum payment is not the same as being able to afford the item.

If you have a balance on your credit card, particularly if you only make the minimum monthly payments, then you need to get control of your finances. First, read the fine print of your credit card agreement. If it has a yearly fee, cancel it. If it has an exorbitant interest rate, call the credit card company. Many will lower your rate just for asking. Next, compare the late fee, especially if you are often charged this fee because you pay late. By shopping around, you may be able to save money on the fees.

Penalty rates can be very high on credit cards. Over three quarters of credit card companies raise rates as a penalty for carrying a monthly balance and paying your bill late. However, there are still some companies who do not do this, so if you often carry a balance or are late paying, you should look for a credit card with lower interest or one which will not raise your rates. Another penalty fee to watch out for is the fee charged for going over the card's credit limit or when you desire for the best card to transfer.

Another factor to consider when choosing a credit card is the minimum payment. Minimum payment amounts are very important when calculating the total amount of interest you'll owe on the amounts you charge. If you're charging items because you can't afford them in full now, why would you want to pay interest on top of that amount? According to one study, paying the minimum payment on a $12,000 balance at 18 percent interest will take more than 60 years to pay off! And you'll end up paying nearly three times your original balance because of all the interest charges. Many people only make the minimum payment each month, but it will take you many years to pay it off if you do that. As a result, new laws require that the minimum payment is at least 1 percent of the balance. If you paid that on the same $12,000 balance, it would cut the payment time to 30 years, and the interest down to less than $6,000.

You must understand how credit card fees if you want to use them responsibly and avoid falling into debt. Think wisely, and avoid using the card if you can.

About the Author:

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Retirement Planning Careers Offer New Job Opportunities

By Michael Geoffrey

As baby boomers begin to reach retirement age many are not thinking about swapping the office desk for a rocking chair and are looking for a change of pace once they hit retirement age. Many are being welcomed into retirement planning careers to put the skills they learned throughout their working life to use to benefit younger workers. With more companies offering 401K retirement plans in addition to other retirement benefits many workers are lost when it comes to how best insure they have enough money to live on after retirement.

Many financial services companies offer a range of employment opportunities for experienced individuals that also provide continued training and support. Special fields within retirement planning careers allow people to use their communication skills, accounting technical resources and abilities to analyze complex plans to work for them and to the companies with which they come into contact.

A career in retirement planning means working along with businesses to establish a plan for their employees and helping their employees benefit from the retirement plan provided.

retirement planning careers include planning with employers of the types of retirement services available and how to make the plan meet the best interests of their employees. While planners meet directly with companies about the plans, those in marketing and sales work with other in the business to provide sales support for potential customers.

Learning New Trends In Financial Services

In addition to setting up and maintaining plans, financial consultant services handle the disbursing of retirement funds and possible loans that may be option under certain retirement plans. The financial world is ever changing and that includes types of retirement investment plans. A financial consultant will keep the company informed as changes and new plans become available and help companies decide how they should respond to these changes.

As always, every company offering retirement planning careers has a need for record keeping in all phases of the business. For recent retirees or those on the cusp of retirement considering a career change, the field of retirement planning careers is growing rapidly and in constant need of talented people.

So if you are nearing the age of retirement but are not quite ready to leave the working world a career in financial planning may be worth considering. The opportunities are out there and you may find this new career very fulfilling.

About the Author:

Before deciding to cut up credit cards to help you get your debt paid off, you'd better understand how it can affect your credit score. Find out what you'd better know first on the Debt Smackdown website.

Choose a Career That Will Ensure a Secure Retirement

By William Blake

Retirement planning is the thought and commitment that you put into providing for income and a comfortable lifestyle for the years after you leave the workforce, and it is one of the most important times in anyone's life. Waiting until retirement actually approaches in your life is going to be too late to get yourself prepared and ready, and so the earlier you can start the better, even if it is as early as your teenage years, although some consider that to be silly.

The more time you give yourself to save the more you will have saved when you are ready to retire. It will not matter that you are not able to put aside lump sums of money at a time. If you put just a little away on a regular basis over time that will add up not to mention the interest that it will accrue. When you reach the age of retirement and look back you will be glad you started so early.

Working for Retirement

Career planning retirement basically refers to the process in which you decide on a career that is going to offer you satisfactory retirement benefits. Really, career planning is an ongoing lifelong process that allows you to change your career direction as circumstances in your life change, retirement or otherwise.

It is important to think about your career even if you are presently working. It could happen that your employment status may change due to a change in personal circumstances, company restructures and layoffs, or other factors.

Factors That are Involved

Your career should fit you. Of course, there are other things that you have to consider. But your first priority should be to make sure that you choose a career that fits the person you are ??" your likes and dislikes and your abilities.

Making sure your career suits you is not the only thing to consider. It is important to take into consideration the type of retirement plan that will be available. You want your career to fit you now so that you can be happy and enjoy life now. You also want your career to have a good retirement plan so that you can be happy and enjoy life in the future. Both are equally important.

About the Author:

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