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Monday, February 2, 2009

Mortgage industry

By reklicom

Here's what you need to do...Promise yourself that you'll spend 30 uninterrupted minutes each day working on the marketing part of your mortgage business. Set aside a 30 minute block of time. Turn off your cell phone. Checking your email and surfing the Internet is not allowed. Answering the phone is not allowed. Out bound calls are allowed. Use a timer or alarm because clock watching is not allowed either.The next 30 minutes are your marketing minutes, so make the most of this time. Here are but a few suggestions on how to spend those precious 30 minutes:

Then, in 2006, a slowdown in real estate led to a deterioration of home values, an increase in inventories, and ultimately to today's tightening of credit guidelines, leaving many investors unable to sell or refinance out of their existing positions. Many Americans who had tapped into their equity were suddenly tapped-out and overextended as home values fell. Foreclosures followed in record numbers and a re-valuation of mortgage bonds and other financial instruments created the credit/liquidity domino effect we're now experiencing.

The following Commandments did not come from any mountain, nor were they carved on clay tablets, but they have been known for countless years by Mortgage Professionals. Smart marketers have followed these common sense commandments because they know it will lead them directly to The Promised Land.

Thou shalt dedicate thyself to becoming the very best Mortgage Professional you can be. Thou shall be a virtual sponge and soak up everything related to your knowledge and improvement of your Mortgage Business. The more you learn, the more powerful you become, and the more powerful you become, the more effective you will be at originating mortgages.

There is no doubt that all of us have broken these commandments from time to time. Should you consistently break these Ten Commandments of Mortgage Marketing, you do run the risk of a mass customer and prospect exodus the world has yet to see.

Subprime mortgages have now been credited for bankrupting well over 135 lenders and seriously damaging operations at many major mortgage firms. They've reportedly wiped out 5 hedge funds, tens of thousands of jobs, and have led to millions of foreclosures with millions more on the way. And, as if that weren't enough, subprime mortgages are also blamed for massive volatility in the stock, bond, credit, futures, and real estate markets here in the US and around the globe. Some say losses in the mortgage securities market alone could reach hundreds of billions of dollars this year.

This means that, for any Americans looking to buy, sell, or refinance a home, they are confronting a very different market from the one that existed just 6-12 months ago.

How did this happen?The recent real estate boom was fueled by a period of record home appreciation and historically low interest rates. Banks, in order to compete, loosened guidelines and began offering more funding to more borrowers through riskier, non-conforming or "exotic" mortgages.

Although I can't promise you a complete meal in just 30 minutes as does Rachael Ray on the Food TV Network...I can provide you a solution that can help with your mortgage marketing program and your loan originations. Especially, if you can't find enough time to really do your marketing. Set up appointments with mortgage prospects or customers,

Buyers: Get pre-approved by your mortgage professional. While there are a lot of great deals out there, getting credit is becoming tougher and tougher, and it's taking longer and longer to complete a transaction. Remember, what you qualify for today could change tomorrow in a volatile market. For those looking to refinance, keep this in mind. There is no time to delay! Communicate with your lender. Don't do anything that could negatively affect your credit, and make sure you get all your documentation in on time.

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FACT - Bad Credit Could Get Your Student Loan Denied

By Tim Beachum

What high school student do you know who truly understands the ramifications of their credit score? With all the graduating activities and festivities that are going on the condition of their credit score is the last thing on their minds. The subject of bad credit never really slaps you in your face until you are denied a student loan because of it. This is more than likely the first time in a high school students life that reality begins to set in.

Instead of getting discouraged your first line of defense should be seeking a cosigner. Approach your parents, grandparents, friends, and even loved ones. Normally when you ask someone to cosign you are immediately met with rejection. Be honest and upfront let them know that you need help, and you would like them to cosign to aide in continuing your education. Chances are theyll be more willing to cosign for a college career than a car loan. Whoever it is that you do approach make sure that you have your career plans in hand. Do not approach an individual without an action plan.

Locating a co-signer with a good credit history will be advantageous to you because the lending institution will use the credit history of your co-signer instead of yours to base their decision. This will in turn allow you to receive a student loan at an extremely low interest rate. If a young person has low or bad credit a co-signer may be their best option.

Lets say that all of your efforts to find a cosigner are futile. You gave it your best shot and know one is willing to give you a break. Wait Do not hit the panic button just yet; you still have some other options for obtaining a student loan and or a scholarship. The next thing that I would do is contact all local banks and lending institutions in my area. Sometimes these institutions have special programs such as scholarships or special loans designed for new college students. Keep in mind that if you do find a loan chances are the interest rates are going be through the roof.

The good news is that a higher interest rate option isnt as bad as it sounds. In the majority of cases most college degrees take a minimum of four years. This means that you will have time to start rebuilding your credit. When the big day arrives and it is time for you to pay the piper chances are you will be able to refinance your student loan at a lower interest rate.

A third option that you should know about is called a combination loan. If you have bad credit due to poor money management i.e. a lot of debt this option may be for you. A combination loan will allow you to consolidate your existing debt and then apply for one big loan to pay all of it off. By consolidation your loans chances are you will end up paying a lower monthly interest rate.

I almost forgot about the Stafford Loan and the Perkins Loan. These loans are geared towards those that are having financial hardships

Please realize that at first all of this may seem a bit overwhelming. The truth of the matter is its nothing more than a mere numbers game. If you go on the Internet and apply for every student loan and scholarship program that you could find you would be astounded at the numbers. The fact of the matter is if you just continue applying for several scholarships and loans, I can pretty much guaranteed that at the end of the day you will be approved for a few of them at least. Whatever you do keep the faith and dont give up, who knows you may just get a free ride regardless of your financial situation.

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Bad Credit Could Mean No Student Loan For You

By Tim Beachum

Ask any high school senior what their credit score is and they will reply with a Huh? After all this response should be too surprising. Most high school seniors are to busy for trivial things such as credit scores and student loans. Then the flags go up when they find out that do to their poor credit scores they cannot get a standard student loan. This is the point where most students begin to get discouraged.

Instead of giving up do to your inadequate credit it is advised that you approach your close relatives and friends in hopes of finding a cosigner. Normally when you bring up the word cosigner people flee like roaches with the lights on. However most are more receptive when they find out that you are asking for a cosigner for your college education and not a car or something along those lines. Whoever it is that you decide to approach make sure that you have your career plans in hand.

If you do land a qualified cosigner this works out to your advantage. The financial institution will take the cosigners credit score into consideration. Thus landing the student a better loan with a lower interest rate. If a student has a poor credit score chances are this may be the best route for you.

BUT what if you have contacted every individual that you could think of. You have knocked on every door and still you have no luck finding a cosigner. Do not jump ship just yet you still have other options. Try giving your local banks and other financial lenders a call. Chances are that they have some sort of program that will fit your current situation. The downside is your interest rates are going to be sky high.

Once you finally find a loan that works for your situation dont start to think about it to deeply. Thinking about those high interest rates is not where your focus needs to be at this point in your life. Look at it this way - most college courses take 4-5 years for a student to complete. This is more than enough time for you to reestablish your credit at which time you can refinance your high interest rate loan for one with a much lower rate.

There is one more option I would like to make you aware of. That option is known as a combination loan or a combo loan. What it does is allows the student to consolidate all of their debts and apply for one big loan that will cover everything. By using the combination technique chances are you will end up with a fairly lower interest rate.

I almost forgot about the Stafford Loan and the Perkins Loan. These loans are geared towards those that are having financial hardships

Please realize that at first all of this may seem a bit overwhelming. The truth of the matter is its nothing more than a mere numbers game. If you go on the Internet and apply for every student loan and scholarship program that you could find you would be astounded at the numbers. The fact of the matter is if you just continue applying for several scholarships and loans, I can pretty much guaranteed that at the end of the day you will be approved for a few of them at least. Whatever you do keep the faith and dont give up, who knows you may just get a free ride regardless of your financial situation.

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Time to buy Seattle Condominiums

By K. Kim

With interest rates at all time low for mortgages and housing market one of the worst in decades, Seattle condominiums offer opportunities for those who are looking for long term. To jump start the housing market, the federal government is offer $7,500 credit for first time home buyer. Overall prices averages sales in Seattle are have surprising increased to 6 percent from declines in the past few years.

Although city of Seattle like the rest of country is dealing with high inventories of unsold homes, which is causing the price declines. One exception in this region is the Queen Anne and West Seattle where the price is still appreciating wile prices in downtown have been falling.

There are many things to do and visit in Seattle. One of the attraction that is attracting international interest is the Pioneer Square where visitors from all across the world is flocking too. In the Pacific northwest, Seattle is home to bustling financial district as well as large coastal area in this region. Some large corporations also call Seattle home like Amazon, Microsoft, and Starbucks.

In the past few years, there has been large amount of development in new condos, which brought over 5,000 units to the market, there seems to be no new development or new constructions within this market until 2012. So, this makes it perfect time for one to buy a Seattle condominiums for investment or as a home for your family or yourself.

If you are thinking of purchasing, think about the options available like upgrades which not can be negotiated with many developers offering incentives to move the over supply of condos. You can get fully furnished kitchen and great interiors and comfortable living space for great value.

If your not sure and need a hand holding, contact a local experienced professional who can guide you in the process. Make sure you do some homework as you can get better deals if you know what people are willing or are selling these assets at.

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Philadelphia Condominiums

By J. Kim

In today's real estate markets, condominiums are desired by home buyers. It is also a buyers market where the prices have declined from the highs of mid 2007. With the recent financial meltdown in the US, the prices have become more affordable for even the luxurious Philadelphia condominiums.

Customization and many amenities are what draws home buyers to condominiums, it is ideal for single family home or as a place for retiree to live worry free. In Philadelphia, there are many attractions such as dining, shopping, and many historic attractions to visit.

Philadelphia is home to rich American History, it is the birthplace of American Democracy and home to many famous Americans like Benjamin Franklin. There is over supply of inventories of unsold homes in Philadelphia, but condos are changing hands between the buyers and sellers not as robust as in the past.

Developers and many home owners are offering many incentives and deals and upgrades that are enticing to new buyer. In short term, the market seems to be in for a rough ride, but if you are a long term investor or buyers of home, the market will sure to rebound beginning in late 2009 and early 2010. You are in the driver seat if you are buyer.

One of the areas like Rittenhouse Square and couple of blocks from it have seen there prices hold value even though rest of the region seems to be declining in price. Prices in other areas are down anywhere from 10 to 20 percent. With over supply, first time buyers should have a favorable conditions, $7,500 tax credits and low interest rates will also help new buyers.

One of the areas showing a tight market is luxurious condos, where there is not enough of the to go around. The market will rebound perhaps in late 2009 or early 2010, especially during the spring months when people begin to look for new housing or to move.

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Buying a Minneapolis Condominiums

By K. Kim

The largest metropolitan area in the state of Minnesota is the greater Minneapolis St. Paul area and it has become popular place for new home owners. The hottest areas for Minneapolis condominiums are North Warehouse District, North Quadrant Region, and St. Paul's Lowertown, you can find many condo developments along the Mississippi river.

Many of the new high rise developments and luxury condos have beautiful views of the city along the river. Warehouse and factory building have been turned into condos because they have stable structures that provide solid building structures for the condominiums. Some of these range from $400,000 in the lower end to over $1,800,000 for luxury penthouse condos.

Currently the real estate market has been in down mode for the past year and the Minneapolis condominiums market has seen the bottom of the price declines. The inventories of condos under $400,000 in recent months have been dwindling and few constructions are being brought to the market. Some experts are agreeing that price has stabilized in North Loop and Mill District where they are affordable at around $300,000.

But if you are thinking about selling your Minneapolis condominiums remember the average days on the market has increase 28 percent over last year to 108 days. But the inventories have declined for downtown as available condos for sale have declined by about 30 percent.

One positive news is that the aver median selling price has increased 6 percent. Even with many short sales and foreclosure auctions at a rate of 35 percent, the Twin Cities real estate market have remained better than rest of the country. The price have been below the national level by less than 8 percent.

One thin for sure, the real estate market will rebound with rebound of the economy. Right now the market maybe at the lower end at this point, new buyers will be into the market beginning with spring where many buyers move or buy new homes. Make sure you have patience to wait for the right property at right price and right location.

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Tips In Becoming A Wealth Wonk In A Troubled Economy

By Chris Channing

Internet users are often confused at the term "wealth wonk." For those who aren't familiar, a wealth wonk is simply someone who studies wealth, finance, strategies, and trends for one reason or another. Becoming a true Wealth Wonk means knowing when to strike on a business opportunity and when to know when to fold on a bad hand.

The Wealth Wonks that have gotten where they are today have scaled mountains by making informed decisions on their investments. The perfect investment is going to be one that has a high return, little to no risk, and minimal investment. Interference from lenders or government operations should also be minimal if a concern at all. It's hard to find such investments in the real world, but investments should be compared to this perfect "meter stick" in order to judge a investment's worth.

Wealth Wonks also tend to make smart buying decisions that deal with credit. Banks and lenders are overjoyed to lend out the money they achieved through deposits, as they get a hefty interest return in the end. Wealth Wonks looking to make it big in the long run will, instead of obtaining loans to pay for something such as a car, save up the money and buy it outright. It may take a longer time, but it has been proven to dramatically increase one's chances at striking it big.

If the economy is own, investments tend to slow down as well. This is actually a good opportunity for new investments and business opportunities to grow. If the funds are present, investigating the surrounding area for a solid business opportunity will result in sure success. This should be done regardless of the economic conditions present, but is especially important for when times are rough as the stakes are usually higher.

The proper Wealth Wonk isn't going to consider things in short-term effect: indeed, most are already planning their retirement funds by the time they reach their 20's. Planning is the key action here, in which all aspects of one's finances can be foreseen and accounted for. Thus, the intellectual Wealth Wonk is logical in what he or she invests in, and weighs all possibilities in each financial decision made.

Becoming a wealth wonk is a long road for those who are just starting out in building a financial empire. There are books to be read, published magazines to keep up to date on, and a wealth of information found online to browse through. And if one is a physical learner, getting personalized help over the Internet is an option in becoming a financially intelligent Wealth Wonk.

Closing Comments

The principles of the smart Wealth Wonk can all be learned in a matter of weeks to months, and that's with extended practice in putting theory to work. To get started in building a better tomorrow, check into reading material and advice consulting in your area.

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Lenders Lend X Amount Based Upon These Ratios

By Van Whalen

You are currently mulling over whether you should be purchasing a home and how much a lender will approve you for a mortgage. You can make a rough calculation of the monthly payment and then extrapolate that into an actual loan amount.

Mortgage companies use two separate ratios to make this determination. The first involves your income relative to the house payment.

The first thing the lender determines is how much gross income you make on a monthly basis.

Convential and FHA mortgages work slightly differently. Relative to the gross income the total house payment should not make up more than twenty nine percent for FHA.

Conventional loans work the same way except their front end ratio raises to 33%.

To qualify for either type of loan you must qualify not only on the front end ratio but the back end as well.

Determining the backend ratio is similar to the front end except one must add to the house payment to all other monthly payments made to creditors. This total amount in relation to the gross income is your figure.

You garden variety conventional will all a thirty three percent back end. FHA, as much as forty-one percent.

Where you can get into a little trouble in determining these ratios is factoring the proper income. Factoring monthly debt is a piece of cake comparatively.

For those on salary who have been on the job for a year plus, it is simple. Most people are not paid so simply.

What if you are self employed for 1.4 years? Maybe you are a traveling nurse and have been in town for six months. Maybe you get lots of overtime.

Others work seasonally and the list goes on and on.

A good rule of thumb if you are basically self employed or receive most of your income via commission is to average your last two years tax returns.

It is a shame that mortgage companies require the use of tax returns like that. We all know you make quite a bit more money than what is shown.

If your situation didn't fit in my explanation bite the bullet and call a loan officer. Otherwise you can use this info as a rule of thumb.

The Reverse Mortgage and Worst Case Scenario

By Matt Vanrock

People are really pretty trusting. As a reverse mortgage loan officer people actually ask me if the reverse mortgage is a good choice.

The truth is the reverse mortgage is not a great decision for all borrowers. Situations are unique and they must be evaluated individually.

I have a few borrowers with a bunch of money in savings but the majority have next to nothing and are looking for financial answers.

Some have low fixed incomes and others still have jobs.

One of my big concerns for these folks is they will have the money available later on in the just in case scenario of a huge financial issue.

As we get older big medical needs are more likely, not less. As mature adults we must be prepared.

One of the problems of getting a reverse mortgage is all of the sudden an individual who is used to living on nothing has tons of money to spend. I caution to use discipline with the reverse.

The reason being is the house is going to be the biggest store of cash for any of these individuals. If that is floundered away they could be in a real bind later on when something big comes along.

For a very conservative perspective one should use the reverse mortgage when it is absolutely needed. If a mortgage exists maybe it is best to wait to refinance it with a reverse mortgage.

For those without mortgages who want to use the reverse as supplemental income I advise using the line of credit option. This option allows the borrower to take out money as needed and interest only accrues on used moneys.

A real benefit of this LOC is it actually grows over time and benefits the borrowers. Any unused money in the LOC gains interest for the borrowers favor.

There is no doubt the reverse mortgage serves a great financial purpose. However, it should be used with the utmost care.

Identity Theft

By Landon McGehee

Immediately upon becoming aware that your identity has likely been stolen, it's easy to begin to panic. This is the wrong reaction and should be repressed. Calm yourself down and consider your options. You'll need a clear head to minimize the damage done to your finances and credit. Here are the steps to take, one at a time, to stop the theft from getting out of hand:

First, contact your local police department to report the crime. Give them all the information you can. They will likely refer you to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to continue your report. File with both of those agencies as well. This allows the police on a local level to look into the matter while coordinating with the federal authorities. The FBI and FTC will likely want your local police's case number, which you should have received when you first reported to them.

In addition, reporting to the FTC (or their Consumer Alert website) will alert the three credit bureaus and put a Fraud Alert on your reports, which means that no new credit cards or other lines of credit can be obtained on your account for three months. Fraud Alerts are non-specific, however, and merely note to creditors that something illegal has happened involving your credit-whether that illegal activity otherwise involved you or not is left up to question. This is not a total blockade either and still allows a thief to use your existing credit.

Often the FTC requests that you change the passwords and access information for your accounts, but leave them open so they can monitor for thieves. While this seems like a good idea and it will help them catch the thief, it also leaves your accounts open to more fraud that you may or may not get reimbursed for. Most people opt to close their accounts and open new ones instead. It is your choice to do so and you are not required to cooperate with the FTC's investigation.

Now that you've gotten your financial life started back towards normal, it's time to get the rest of your identity secured as well. Contact the Department of Motor Vehicles for your state and request a new driver's license number, explaining the situation. Usually they will be happy to do this without any questions if you can present your original license and other proofs of your identity. Contact the Social Security Administration for the same purpose, to change your Social Security Number. This is trickier and often takes much more time, but it can also be done and is a good step towards renewing your broken life.

Now be prepared for a real battle to restore your identity, finances and life. Often, victims of identity theft find themselves battling for years over issues on their credit reports, bank accounts, and more.

Since identity theft continues to go on the rise as thieves utilize new technologies, the World Wide Web, and other techniques to find new victims, government and law enforcement have little chance of stopping the phenomenon. Repairing the effects of identity theft is difficult as well. It's up to individuals to take charge of their private information, be it their personal information or their bad credit history - and keep it safe from thieves, so that they will pass you by looking for easier targets. This includes family and friends as often, victims of identity theft find out that it's those closest to them that are doing the crime.

So take charge of your life and, if you find yourself a victim of identity theft, don't panic.

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What you need to know about bankruptcy assets

By Josh Ramos

Bankruptcy serves as a real option for those who find themselves unable to pay off their debts. However, one of the main concerns that people have when it comes to bankruptcy is what will happen to their assets. To understand this, we must first explain the two most common forms of bankruptcy.

In chapter seven bankruptcy, your aim is to discharge, or wipe out, your debts completely. The downside, however, is that you may have to forfeit some of your assets in order to pay off at least part of your debt.

The other major form of bankruptcy is called chapter 13. Instead of just getting rid of your debt completely, chapter 13 is meant to form a payment plan to help you get back on track. This is often used to help people get caught up with their mortgage payments, and the repayment plan usually last 3 to 5 years. The good part about chapter 13 is that you don't have to forfeit any of your assets.

So, if are trying to get rid of your debt completely, then chapter seven would be the way to go. The problem is that you may have to sell off some of your assets in order to help pay for the debts that you owe. This is called liquidation, and it is a part of chapter seven bankruptcy.

Of course, if you're filing for bankruptcy, then you may not have many assets to speak of. In fact, in virtually all cases, no assets are forfeited for one of two reasons. Either the consumer doesn't have any assets to sell, or they just aren't worth enough to bother with.

Most people are mainly concerned with two common assets: the house and the car. In most cases, you're covered to a certain extent by a homestead exemption. The details vary by state, and this also depends on how much your house is worth and how much you still owe on it.

You should realize that finding a good bankruptcy attorney is essential to help you file bankruptcy successfully. There are just too many details for you to try to figure everything out on your own.

That doesn't mean that you shouldn't try to learn as much as possible before consulting your lawyer. You should continue to find articles like these because an informed client will make things easier for the lawyer, which can end up saving money in the long run.

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