Free Credit Reports Now Available From the FTC
August 23, 2007
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has set up a new website (www.AnnualCreditReport.com) where US residents can obtain free copies of their credit reports from the three major credit report bureaus (Equifax, TransUnion and Experian). The FTC site was set up as part of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act enacted last December. The site was set up in an effort to help fight the increasing threat of identity theft. The credit reports must be ordered from the FTC site to get them for free. If you order your credit report directly from one of the credit report agencies’ sites, you’ll be charged a fee for the report.
While a number of websites on the Internet currently offer free credit reports, these free reports require a credit card be put on file as a free trial membership of their credit report monitoring service. The reports have been free if you remember to cancel the trial membership, but can end up being quite costly if you accidentally forget. The new FTC site is marketing free and no credit card is required.
Whats The Truth Behind Your Finances?
August 22, 2007
Between 15 - 20% of people in our country (UK) own there own businesses. This statistic is on the rise thanks to the incredible invention of the Internet. The staggering truth is that of these only 5% are genuinely financially free! You may well see lots of expensive cars driving on our roads and big houses inhabited by the seemingly wealthy, but these houses and cars are not yet paid for.
Never in our history has it been so easy to lend money. Banks and building societies are falling over backwards to lend us money. You can sign your life away to a 50-year mortgage these days if you choose! Banks and building societies are offering 125% mortgages to first time buyers and business is looking outwardly great.
How To Save Money On Car Loans
August 21, 2007
Have you noticed that everyone seems to have a newer car than you? There’s good news. You can find a way to upgrade your old clunker to a newer model. There are many ways to save money on your car loan. Lenders are competing for your business, and more and more car loans are approved to allow more people than ever to buy a car.
So now that you’ve decided to buy a newer car, the question on how to pay for it arises. If you’re like most people, you don’t have the cash needed to buy a new car. The other option is to borrow the money. There are certain guidelines to follow which could help you save money on a car loan. Careful planning, comparison-shopping and persistence are necessary to find the best deals.
If your credit rating is good, you should have no problem in negotiating a low interest rate. However, there are still basic principles, which apply during your search to find ways to save money on car loans. If you have a pile of credit card bills to pay and have made recent large purchases such as another car or a home, it is likely that your loan will have a higher interest rate. The object is to save money while negotiating your car loan.
Mortgage-Refinance Loan Can Put Cash in Your Pocket
August 20, 2007
Do you need cash? Here’s a mortgage for you. If you are not in a good position to take an equity line of credit on your home, because you have not built enough equity or a poor credit situation is making bankers steer clear of you, altogether, there is another option — the cashout refinance. This loan does what the equity line does in most cases, but it is not an interest-only loan, and it has conventional mortgage terms. The advantage for people without enough equity and less than perfect credit is you can get at what little equity you do have by refinancing to a new conventional mortgage, taking cash out at the close of the loan.
Here’s how it works.
Let’s assume you have a home valued at $110,000. You owe $86,000, and you would like to get $8,000 in cash to pay off two small credit cards with high interest and to do some minor rehab work on you home. With your B credit rating, banks won’t give you 100 percent of your equity or even 95 percent, so an equity line won’t work.
10 Ways To Boost Your Credit Score
August 19, 2007
1. Deleting Errors in 48 Hours
This is the absolute fastest way to correct errors on your credit report and raise your credit score. However, it can only be done through a mortgage company or a bank. If you apply for a home loan and find errors on your credit report, request the loan officer to conduct a Rapid Rescore. But don’t mistake it for the credit clinic tactic of multiple dispute letters.
The Rapid Rescore strategy requires proper paperwork. You need proof that the item is incorrect. It must come from the creditor directly. For example, a letter stating the account is not your account, a letter stating the account was paid satisfactorily, a release of lien, a satisfaction of judgment, a bankruptcy discharge, a letter for deletion of collection account or any relevant evidence.
This is the same documentation a bank or mortgage company would require for the credit accounts anyways. The difference is, now you can improve your credit score and receive a lower interest rate. The results are not guaranteed and will run you about $50 per account.
2. Deleting Negative Credit
Some Mortgage Loans are Available with Absolutely no Money Needed From You
August 18, 2007
Today, FHA will loan up to 97 percent of the purchase price of a home, meaning a borrower only needs 3 percent. The three percent down payment can come in the form of a gift, and closing costs can be financed into the loan, making this a true no money out of pocket purchase transaction.
Now, you may be thinking, I don’t have anyone to gift me the money for a down payment, so what good does this do me?
Not to worry.
There are organizations that specialize in this kind of mortgage transaction. If you have a good mortgage professional, ask him or her about AmeriDream Inc. or the Nehemiah Corporation. Both of these companies offer gift down payments.
Don’t worry about qualifying, if your credit isn’t perfect. Unlike conforming lenders, who want good credit and other things that make qualifying for a mortgage difficult, FHA is not a credit score driven program. In fact, you can even have a bankruptcy on your credit and still get an FHA loan, along with a very good interest rate. (Your bankruptcy must be discharged for two years.)
Online Loans Made Easy
August 18, 2007
What will it take for you to get a low interest, low payment loan? The answer to that question could be an online loan from one of the many companies that specializes in granting online loans, or e-loans.
Some analysts forecast that as more and more customers expect better interest rates, and as competition for their business intensifies, loan institutions will focus even more on their efforts to lure as many customers as possible to use their services, and online loan institutions are no exception.
Both traditional lenders from financial institutions such as banks, mortgage lenders and credit unions as well as on-line lenders compete fiercely for the privilege of lending money. Incentives such as zero percent or low-interest-rate financing, giveaways, and cash rebates are just some of the ways to gain your business. All this appears to be great for consumers, but the wise person must discern between true incentives and come-ons by deciding whether a rebate or a super-low interest rate is most beneficial. A rebate is not a bargain if the interest rate makes the pay-off on the loan higher.
For Mortgage-Refinance Help, Get the Best Mortgage Professional, Not a Bank Loan Officer
August 17, 2007
When you need a mortgage — either because you are buying, refinancing, taking out equity or getting into investment real estate, you need a good mortgage professional. Now, you may be tempted to go to your local savings and loan, as they may promise lower fees or zero costs. Meanwhile, in virtually every case, banks can’t compete with mortgage professionals on the two most important things — interest rates and service.
Also, the banker who promises very low closing costs will probably be making his money on a higher rate, and he’ll likely try to sell you on discounting that higher rate, by paying a percentage of the loan amount. This is a common tactic bank loan officers use, and it is a very poor strategy in almost every case for you to buy a rate.
Finally, bank loan officers can’t come close to the service of a good, honest mortgage professional. When dealing with a bank, you have to go to them, you have to close your loan where they tell you to close, you can only get your interest rate locked in when you’ve jumped through all of their hoops (mortgage professionals can lock your rate the day you call, over the telephone).
What You Need To Know About Credit Cards
August 16, 2007
What is a credit card?
A credit card is a card that allows you to borrow money to pay for things. There will be a limit to how much you can spend called your credit limit. At the end of each month you can either pay off the whole of the amount you owe or make a minimum repayment.
Other kinds of cards include:
1) A cheque guarantee card, issued by your bank, that you can use to ensure that your cheque will be honoured up to a certain limit. 2) A chargecard where you have to repay the full amount at the end of each month. 3) A debit card, issued by your bank, where whatever you spend is immediately deducted from your bank account
Do you need a credit card?
Using a credit card is a useful way of making purchases:
a) A credit card means you don’t need to carry huge amounts of cash around and risk losing it. b) A credit card means you can buy items over the internet. c) A credit card means you can make purchases abroad without having to worry about local currency. d) A credit card gives the opportunity to spread the cost of a large payment over several months. e) A credit card is useful in an emergency. For example, an unexpected repair to your house or car.
How To Easily Find A Military Loan
August 15, 2007
Military members the price for serving your country and defending freedom is difficult, fortunately finding the right loan to fit your situation doesn’t have to be when you know where to look. Finding a loan provider that understands the pressures and time constraints that many military members are currently going through can be difficult and downright depressing. Lets be honest, after working upwards of 15 or more hours a day who has the time or energy to go seek out loan providers in person. Fortunately the Internet has easily resolved that problem.
Using the Internet to find a military loan provider has leveled the playing field. Never again will you have to worry about talking to a loan lender during your short lunch hour or feel pressured to take the first loan that you qualify for. Now you can simply do an online search for military loan providers and find a loan provider for free in the comfort of your own home.
