•5 Easy Tips For To Save Money On Credit Card Balance Transfers
In today's financial market more and more people are turning to credit card balance transfers instead of the traditional home equity lines that they have been used in the past. During the refinance hay-day throwing a tax deductible line of credit on the home to wipe out the credit cards was a no-brainer. Nowadays, shrinking home values and a turbulent secondary market are causing most banks have to hold these loans as opposed to selling them. This means the HELOCS of yesterday are only...
•Are Atlanta Home Mortgage Lenders And Brokers Being Squeezed Out Of The Mortgage Market?
Mortgage guidelines and rules are changing daily because of the current mortgage crisis. Foreclosures are up, and the Atlanta market is eighth in over-all foreclosures nationwide. Larger investors are turning down four times as many loans and have dropped more than half of the programs as they less than a year ago. This isn't a very optimistic picture for those smaller lenders and brokers that are trying to keep their heads above water.
Atlanta mortgage brokers operate as a virtual lending...
•Back Room Mortgage Deal Has Legislators Up In Arms
America’s two largest mortgage controllers, Freddie Mac (FMLC) and Fannie Mae (FNMA) recently agreed to enact tougher standards on appraisers and lenders beginning in January 2009. FMLC and FNMA buy mortgages from all facets of the mortgage industry and together they control over 80 percent of the mortgage industry. They either hold these mortgages in their own portfolios or package them into mortgage-backed securities for resale to investors. Any variation from current policies within these...
•FHA Closing Costs - How They Differ From Conventional Mortgages
FHA Closing costs differ from conventional mortgages by the amount the lender can charge and the amount of insurance coverage homeowners are required to have. FHA mortgages are the last of the government sponsored mortgages. Fannie and Freddie started out as a government charter but privatized over a decade ago. Since FHA is government operated, there are specific safeguards which have been designed to protect borrowers from paying too much closing costs. However, as is the case with most...
•Gas Credit Cards – Tips on Picking the Best Card
With gas prices skyrocketing, millions of people are flocking to gas cards to help with the rising fuel cost. Gas cards are brand specific credit cards that offer consumers rebates and rewards for using their credit card. Like most credit cards that offer a reward programs, there are specific guidelines that consumers’ need to be aware of. In many cases, a traditional credit card is better suited for the task.
For starters, gas reward cards are designed for people with good credit that pay off...
•It’s The Income, Stupid. Thoughts On Fixing The Subprime Mortgage Crisis
Slowing foreclosures have given a spark of optimism to investors on Wall Street who see the trend beginning to slow down. For the last year the foreclosure rate has steadily risen month by month over the previous year’s month of foreclosures causing speculation of a continued trend in homeowner foreclosure rates. RealtyTrac, an online marketer of foreclosure properties, said “that foreclosures fell to a 5% increase from a 6% increase in foreclosures the previous year” causing speculation of...
•Myth vs. Fact Helping Homeowners – Another Perspective
The looming mortgage crisis has affected almost everyone in all facets of life. When the homes stop selling the builders stop building, the carpenters stop nailing, the painters stop painting, paint stores stop selling and Home Depot stock hits record lows. Vertical damage is universal in almost all aspects of retail, services and durable goods. Let’s face it, America is a nation that is fueled by land development and salesmanship. One look at all of the runways across the world and you can see...
•New Home Purchases - Negotiating Tips For New Homebuyers
There are many techniques to negotiating a new home purchase. Almost everyone has their own brand and approach to negotiating, as evidenced by the dozens of books written on the subject. There really isn't a right or wrong way to negotiate as long as you have the basics down. The biggest difference in negotiations is the personality and egos of the people who are negotiating. That being said, I thought I would chime in and share some of the negotiating tips I have learned over my last 15 years...
•Say Goodbye to Hidden Credit Card Fees
Direct Banc - The U.S. Senate is currently considering a bill which could possibly save consumers that use credit cards on a regular basis. The Bill, Credit Card Fair Fee Act, sponsored by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), contends that credit card issuers have an unfair advantage in the marketplace based on the fact that they control 40% of retail transactions across the country. The legislation is specifically aimed at the bank’s interchange fees that they charge on every credit card...
•Three Barriers to Solving the Mortgage Crisis
In late 2006 the economy was showing indicators that pointed to a looming mortgage crisis that would ultimately disrupt the flow of business in the secondary market. Investors, who are essential to the flow of money, basically ignored the warning signs but began trading more cautiously. What they ignored was the “perfect storm” as it relates to our secondary mortgage market. The housing bubble burst, sub-prime loans began adjusting, investors stopped trading, and mortgage companies were left...
•Top 3 Credit Cards For Fair Credit
Credit card issuers are reacting to the recent trend of lower credit scores across America. In the wake of the current mortgage crisis consumer’s credit scores have been steadily falling in certain segments of the population. This means that the competition for credit cards for fair credit is heating up between the bank issuers and this means better deals for consumers. We have outlined, what we feel, are the best credit cards for fair credit on the market below.
1) Citi® Platinum Select®...
•Unnecessary Closing Costs – Mortgage Tips to Save Money
Unnecessary closing costs are charged to unsuspecting borrowers on almost all mortgages that close. Closing costs can be broken into three general categories, costs that the lender charges, costs that third parties charge and money that is paid on your behalf i.e. taxes and insurance. Due to the scope of this article, we are unable to go into detail in each category. However, there will be a link at the end of this article for a tutorial that does.
First and foremost, “no closing costs loans”...
•Where Are the Best Mortgage Deals in Today’s Economy?
Many people believe that the best mortgage deals are no longer available for the average consumer that is shopping for a mortgage in today’s economy. That may be true if you cannot prove your income or have had a bankruptcy in the last two years. However, if you are the average Joe with a few dings on your credit, and are looking to buy a new home, the best deals are still out there. The truth is, they have always been there. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has been helping the average...
•Will Using 0% Balance Transfer Credit Cards Lower My Credit Score?
We are asked this question on a regular basis and the short answer is yes, it probably will. The caveat is how much will it hurt the scores, for how long and is there anything I can do to keep my credit score from dropping? Some times the benefits out-weigh the credit score dip that should be measured by each card holder as it applies to their specific situation. There are also some tips and tricks that could significantly help you when you applying for a balance transfer credit card, or any...
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