Every year over 8 million homeowners are seeking help preventing foreclosure proceedings. This is a stunning 30 year high. Experts project that by 2006, 12 million homeowners will be teetering on the brink of foreclosure. Many homeowners are not aware that they can prevent foreclosure and save their house. Did you know that you can stop the proceedings up to an hour before the auction takes place?

As a homeowner facing foreclosure there are various options available. We will briefly examine some of the most popular options.

Reinstate the loan - Ideally you would like to be able to pay the loan payments that you are behind on and bring the loan current. These costs would include whatever owed on the missed payments, and any additional late charges or attorney fees. This is the most efficient way when preventing foreclosure proceedings.

Get forbearance - When a lender forecloses on a property it is expensive for them. They would rather work out some sort of arrangement than proceed with the foreclosure. Talk to your lender and see if they are willing to work out a plan that outlines a way to get current on your mortgage. This agreement will vary depending on the situation and the lender. Some things they may be able to help with are a temporary reduction or suspension of your payments. If you have a FHA VA or other government loans you may qualify for even more options.

File for Bankruptcy - Some attorneys may advise a homeowner to file for bankruptcy. This is a legal way to avoid the foreclosure process. However the process may still continue and you will be stuck with bad credit for 7 years. You should consult your attorney about the option of bankruptcy.

Sell your home - The problem with selling the home is that if you list it with and agent, and it still is not sold the lender does not care, you are still on the foreclosure clock. The best way to go about selling the home in this situation is to contact a real estate agent that is familiar with foreclosure investing. They may be able to put you in contact with investors that will be happy to buy your home. Preventing foreclosure proceedings can be as easy as getting in contact with a foreclosure investor.

Deed in lieu if foreclosure - This is when you would voluntarily give the house back to the lender. The lender is not obligated to accept it. You should discuss with the lender how they will report it back to the proper agencies. Should the lender choose to refuse the deed they are required to file a Notice of non acceptance with the county recorder.

Nothing - We mention this because many homeowners will ignore the lender and do nothing. Don’t fall into this trap. You have options when in foreclosure, you just need to talk to someone and find out what the best options for your situation are. Visit www.foreclosure-helper.com for a free no obligation consultation of your situation. One of our experienced foreclosure specialists will contact you with a personalized situation analysis.

Mark Lambie is the owner and operator of http://www.foreclosure-helper.com a website dedicated to helping homeowners facing foreclosure. We provide a wealth of information on the whole foreclosure process.

As poker becomes increasing televised, it may seem that all of the poker players are young and glamorous. The televised broadcasts of poker tend to focus on the players that will attract the largest viewing audience, and this can mean the players with the greatest skill or the players that are the most cameras ready. Before you start thinking that you will need to abandon you poker game to the new batch of fresh faced players, take a moment to consider the statistics.

Only 26.9% of poker players are between the ages of 26-35. While there are a very few aberrations that make their poker names younger than 25, these statistics show that the bulk of players are above the age of 35. This means that you definitely have good company at the table along with your experience and familiarity with the game.

Age actually can have a critical impact on the way that you play poker. While it borders on a cliché, the older a man is, the more time that they have had to learn how to control their emotions. Add on top of this a longer time spending poker and more ready cash, and you have a winning combination that is sure to make you walk away a winner even if the other player is half your age.

When you’re shopping for a new homeespecially for the first timeall the terms and expressions may be confusing and difficult to understand. Adjustable rate, fixed rate, balloon payment - how do you decide which is the right type of home mortgage for you if you’re not even sure what each of them are?

The name of the mortgage type usually has to do with how you’ll pay for your loan - how the interest on the loan is being determined by the bank. The three major types of mortgages are fixed rate, adjustable rate and balloon payment. Each has advantages and disadvantages.

Fixed Rate Mortgage

With a fixed rate mortgage, you have a set interest rate for the entire life of the loan. The interest rate that you pay for your loan won’t change - which means that you’ll pay the same monthly payment for the entire length of the loan. This protects you from unexpected rises in interest rates that would increase your monthly payment. At the same time, should the interest rates drop, you will have the option of refinancing at a lower interest rate. Because the protections are largely on the side of the buyer with a fixed rate mortgage, interest rates on them are generally slightly higher than they would be on other types of mortgages.

A fixed rate mortgage is the safest type. Because the payments are predictable, it’s usually considered the most desirable type of mortgage. Always choose a fixed rate mortgage if interest rates are rising.

Adjustable Rate Mortgage

When you choose an adjustable rate mortgage, your monthly payment and interest rate will fluctuate with the current market interest rate. If the interest rate goes up, so will your monthly payment. If it drops, your monthly loan payment will as well. The adjustable rate is tied to an index, which is determined by the lender. Other terms of the mortgage are also determined by the lender. These include how often the interest rate is adjusted - anywhere from every 3-6 months to once a year, how much the interest rate can increase or decrease on any adjustment date, and whether there is a ‘cap’ on how high the interest rate can rise.

Often, adjustable rate mortgages are advertised with extremely low interest rates, which will be in effect for a short period of time. When the introductory period is over, the mortgage rate will rise to its normal amount.

Choose an adjustable rate mortgage when you have secure income that is likely to increase along with the economy. It’s a good mortgage when interest rates are stable, or if the signs suggest that they’re about to fall.

Balloon Mortgages

A balloon mortgage is often a last resort for home buyers who can’t qualify for more traditional loans. The balloon mortgage has a fixed interest rate and monthly payments for a specific amount of time. At the end of that time, the entire loan comes due - hence the name ‘balloon’. In practical terms, a balloon rate will give you a fixed monthly payment for several months. After that, you’ll essentially have an adjustable rate mortgage.

Choose a balloon mortgage loan for substantially lower initial rates, or if your credit limits the other types of mortgage that you can apply of qualify for.

Now that you understand your options for mortgage loans, don’t forget to shop around! The interest rates and fees can vary wildly from lender to lender, so make sure that you get the best deal that you can!

To view our list of recommended mortgage lenders online, visit this page: Recommended Mortgage Lenders Online

Carrie Reeder is the owner of ABC Loan Guide, an informational website about various types of loans. The site has informative articles and the latest finance news.

The time has come for the oil giant to bid a fond farewell to Peter Sutherland , its Irish chairman, but what is next for the CV of the man who’s already run the World Trade Organisation?

Peter Sutherland was less than happy on Monday morning: the day after Ireland’s loss to Argentina in the Rugby World Cup, he could scarcely contain himself. He’d been at the game at Parc des Princes with his children and words such as “suicidal” and “bejesus” eminated from his lips.

Just the day before, he was on the Eurostar, on his way back to Paris, for a meeting that was a mixture of both politics and business. Such are the opposing worlds of Sutherland: Dubliner, father of three, rugby fanatic, chairman of BP, chairman of Goldman Sachs International, new chairman of the London School of Economics, diplomatic fixer and afterdinner speaker supreme.

If when we reach the gates of heaven we are presented with a choice I’d like to come back as a smart Irishman. In the past, I might deliberated over being an English aristocrat but it’s the Irish who are the masters now. They seem to be in charge of everything. The epitome of this is Sutherland, an integral figure in two business powerhouses as well as an extremely wealthy individual, thanks to his partnership at Goldman. But he’s served for a decade at BP and has begun the search for someone to take the reins. Suddenly, the oil major has to confront life without him .

It’s very easy to establish through talking to anyone at BP, these past few years to realise what a powerhouse behind the scenes Sutherland has been. While the company has had a variety of issues in America, they have been operational. On personnel matters, notably the attempt by Lord Browne and his friends to get the chief executive’s term extended, and then Browne’s departure following his lying under oath, Sutherland has played a pivotal role. His contribution in bringing BP forward is something which few can dispute.

The time has come to buy a house. Questions buzz around in your head like a swarm of angry bees: “How much can I borrow? How much do I have to put down? How much will my payments be?” Well, let me suggest starting with the “How much can I borrow?” question. I know you should never answer a question with a question, but in this case we need to ask a few more questions in order to figure out the answer to our first question.

There are many factors you need to take into consideration when purchasing a home. First and foremost, ask yourself what size monthly payment you can afford. When determining how large a mortgage you can afford, be sure to factor in all your current expenses such as car payments, credit card bills, student loans, utilities, and the like. You may also want to factor in how much you spend on things like entertainment, eating out, and traveling. You don’t want to add a mortgage payment and say goodbye to your social life. Instead, you want to make sure that you’re not overextending yourself financially and thus ensuring the survival of your social life.

At the present time, most lenders will allow for a whopping debt-to-income ratio of 45% - 50%. Your debt-to-income ratio is the sum of your mortgage payment and any other credit card or loan payments, divided by your monthly gross income. Lenders use this ratio to help determine your credit worthiness. So, all of your revolving debts along with your mortgage payment divided by your monthly gross income should not exceed the 36% - 45% debt-to-income ratio. So, here’s a quick little formula to help you figure out how much you can afford to put toward your monthly house payment:

–Multiply your gross monthly income by 0.45
–Subtract your non-mortgage debt payments from the result
–What’s left is your allowable mortgage payment
So, if we have a couple with a combined monthly gross income of $5000 and they pay $700 a month toward two auto loans and one credit card, they would qualify for a monthly payment of $1550. Also, be aware that not all of your monthly housing payment goes toward your principal and interest. A portion must go toward homeowner’s insurance and property taxes. I mention this because on most mortgage calculators that’ll you use, you’ll need to enter these figures to get an accurate idea of what your real monthly mortgage payment will look like.

Property taxes are typically a percentage of your home’s assessed value. To calculate property taxes, local jurisdictions generally multiply the tax rate by a home’s assessed value. For example, if you pay 0.5% in property taxes of the assessed value, a home assessed at $250,000 would have a yearly property tax bill of $1,250. In order to find out the tax rate, you will need to contact your county tax assessor, or a local mortgage broker or bank may be able to assist you. As for the homeowner’s insurance, your best bet is talking to a local broker or bank to get a general idea of what it is for your area. Mortgage calculators will ask you for a percentage rate sometimes and others will ask for a yearly figure. It can be confusing for a new buyer, so don’t be afraid to seek a little assistance.

Figuring out how much you can afford to put toward your monthly house payment is a start. Now, you want to know how much house you can afford. There are mortgage calculators galore that will help you do this, but, as I mentioned above, they will require you to enter real estate taxes, homeowner’s insurance, and interest rates. Some calculators will provide you with figures, but they aren’t necessarily correct, so I would suggest a little leg work. Once you know how much you can comfortably spend a month toward a home, and you’ve gathered your tax and insurance rates, you only need an idea of what kind of interest rate you’ll get (Oh, did I forget to mention that you can call your local bank or mortgage broker to get pre-qualified, and they usually don’t charge anything?). Once you have an idea of what your interest rate may be, you can plug in all your numbers on any of the numerous mortgage calculators on the internet. Once you have a good idea of what you think you can afford, call a local bank or broker and get pre-qualified to see if you’re in the ballpark, and soon you’ll be on your way to owning a home.

Brian Daniel is a loan officer/marketing coordinator for Bend Mortgage Group Ltd. a mortgage company in Bend, Oregon. For more information or help with a Bend, Oregon home loan visit www.bendmortgagegroup.com.

A Bank is a Business and they make their money on Markup just like any other business. In the Case of a Bank Loan the Markup is really the Spread (Difference) in the interest rate the bank pays and the interest rate the bank receives. So the loans with the biggest Spreads are best for your bank. Doesn’t it stand to reason the more money the bank makes the less money you keep.

The Cost of Funds Index for July 2005 was 2.75 percent. The Most popular loan is a 30 year fixed rate loam. This loan also has the highest interest rate traditional of any loan available to an ‘A Rated’ Borrower According to Freddie Mac the Average rate on 30 Year Fixed mortgage was 5.71 percent. This represents a spread of almost 3 percent. On a $200,000 mortgage the bank is earning over $6,000.

If the loan with the highest Spread is best for the bank wouldn’t a loan with a lower spread be best for the borrower. Loans with the lowest spreads tend to be Adjustable rate loans. With Adjustable rate loans your interest rate adjust usually yearly based on an Index and a Margin. The Index can be any published interest rate such as 30 Year Treasury, Prime Rate, London Interbank Rate (Libor) or 11th district Cost of Funds. Many Adjustable rate mortgage will start with a low teaser rate with payments fixed for up to 10 years (much like a retail store will advertise a loss leader to lure in the shoppers).

A Smart consumer will take advantage of these low teaser rates and lock in those low payments for up to 10 years. An even smarter consumer will invest some or all of the mortgage savings to act as a hedge against the uncertainty of these loans. With a proper conservative investment strategy using equity indexed annuities the homeowner will almost always come out way ahead using this method.

About the Author
Mike Makler Offers Financial Services (Mortgages,Life Insurance, Annuity) in Florissant Missouri which is in North St. Louis County Missouri Just Across the Bridge from St. Charles Missouri

Call Mike at 314 398-5547

Visit Mike’s Web Page:
http://ewguru.com/finance

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http://ewguru.com/Mo-Finance

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Copyright © 2005-2006 Mike Makler

Home equity loans are a popular way for homeowners to borrow money using the equity in their home as collateral. With this type of loan you can use the equity in your home to finance a multitude of things, from home improvements to large purchases and more. If you’re considering a home equity loan you should gather information from several lenders to find the loan program that is the best fit for you.

What Is A Home Equity Loan?

A home equity loan is separate from your primary mortgage. It is an additional loan that provides you with a loan amount based on the equity you have built up in your home. It’s usually easier to qualify for this type of loan than for a regular mortgage and the entire transaction can proceed very quickly from start to finish.

How Do I Know How Much I Can Borrow?

The amount of equity in your home is equal to the value of the home minus your outstanding mortgage debt. Most lenders will allow you to borrow some or all of this equity, depending on your personal circumstances. Some even offer special programs that will lend up to 125% of the total value of your home.

What Can I Do With The Money I Borrow?

Your home equity loan can be used for just about any purpose. Some of the more popular uses include buying a car, paying for a child’s college education, and doing home improvements. The wise borrower who secures a home equity loan will be careful to ensure the additional debt is manageable within their overall financial situation. This is important because if you fall behind or default on a home equity loan you will put your home at risk.

Advantages And Disadvantages Of A Home Equity Loan

As with any loan, there are advantages and disadvantages to taking out a home equity loan. It is a relatively easy and low cost way to pay for a major purchase or home improvement project, and the loan interest may be tax deductible in some cases. Because a home equity loan is fairly easy to get, though, it also can be tempting to over-borrow and over-spend on things that may be considered luxuries. Remember, you are borrowing against your home so be sure you use the money wisely.

How Do I Find A Home Equity Loan?

You have many choices when it comes to finding home equity loans. There is no shortage of lenders who would like your business so it’s important to shop around to make sure you find a deal that’s right for you. A good place to start is with the lender who holds your primary mortgage, as they are likely to offered special rates and terms for existing customers. Also, your current lender will probably be able to process the loan more quickly since they already have records of your repayment history.

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Mortgage loans are readily available to homebuyers wanting to purchase a home and mortgages are available through several different lending agencies. Mortgage loans are now being promoted online with the Internet, as the Internet has brought a broad market of mortgages into an individual’s choices in mortgage loans. There are different mortgage loans with different terms and interest rates, and finding the right mortgage loan for you and your family can take some time, but with the vast amount of information online, consumers can easily access the current interest rates and find the best mortgage loans for their individual circumstances.

There are mortgage loans today that are designed to practically custom fit homebuyers. There are FHA mortgages available for first time homebuyers, and FHA mortgages offer minimum qualification requirements. There are also interest only mortgages existing and an interest only loan is perfect for the homebuyer whose income is dependent on sales or future territory growth markets. There are second mortgages that loan monies based on home equities and there are conventional mortgages that offer low interest rates with no closing costs or points. And, with low interest rates, refinancing mortgages loans have become very popular with homeowners as well.

To find the best-suited mortgage loans, consumers can browse online and discover the many different classes of mortgages available. With research and time, a consumer can discover the current interest rate, forecasts about the future housing markets, and which mortgage companies are offering the best in closing costs and points. Consumers with poor credit histories or even a bankruptcy will find a mortgage company online that is willing to make mortgage loans to those who have been denied before. Mortgage loans online are the newest and most competitive market and consumers can take advantage of the competition by comparison shopping.

Looking into mortgage loans means that an individual, or couple, or family is considering owning a home of their own. This can be very exciting, as plans are made to move in and enjoy living in a home. But, getting mortgages can be stressful and with so many mortgage options, there can also be confusion. Take the time to pray about your decisions and choices, asking God to guide you in all decisions made. “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

For more information about mortgages and mortgage loans, visit:
http://blogs.christianet.com

1.Landscaping - Curb appeal is most important. A well maintained lawn with flowers and shrubs in defined bordered planting areas. Trees are an added plus. Using plants that maintain their leaves during winter in colder areas will help keep the landscaped look. By hiring a local landscape contractor to design a proper layout and purchasing planting materials from them you may get the design for free.

2.Exterior Painting - Your homes exterior should be repainted every 3 to 7 years by power washing the exterior, replacing any damaged wood, recaulk all openings you may be able to paint only the trim, windows, shutters, doors, and porches. This will give a fresh look to your exterior. This work is not for everyone to try some of us may need to hire a contractor.

3.Patios and Decks - A well defined outside entertainment area is a must in today’s homes. You don’t need a 3 level deck with stone walkway to the lake. But you will find that a larger size deck or patio up off the lawn with cooking and eating areas will be useful to your family and add to your homes value. These can be weekend projects unless city/county inspections are required check with your local code officials.

4.Exterior Lighting - Landscape lights are available at all major home stores a well lighted exterior will make your home a show place. Low voltage systems can provide an interesting look with walkway lighting, up lighting through trees, against the house or to set off a landscape feature. If you don’t have sufficient GCFI circuits outside you will need an electrical contractor to install the correct number at the locations you require. Don’t use the 75 watt spot lights a builders model home is not the appearance we are going for.

5.Exterior Hardware - House numbers, mail box, door knocker, door locks and handles are a great place to spruce up by repainting or replacing. A brass or brushed nickel kick plate at the front door, a large escutcheon plate at the dead bolt and door knob will set off the entry. Replace entry light fixture.

6.Garage - A must clean up area. Move everything outside. Paint the walls and ceiling (painting the floor is a plus and can be a real challenge to do it right) Add shelves and wall hooks to hang tools keeping them off the floor. Keep it neat and clean, only move back inside things that you use, get rid of the junk. An electronic garage door opener is an easy installation of a couple of hours.

7.Interior Fixes - Clean the carpets have a professional with a truck mounted system clean the carpets, other systems and the rentals all leave in excess soap the suction is not strong enough to pull the soap and cleaning agents completely out of your carpet. Soap in the carpet will become dirty easier. Repair all trim, doors make drawers and doors operated properly. Repair or replace any broken shades or blinds. Repair and repaint walls as needed.

Whenever we hear the sound of bells, different images would immediately fill our minds. It could be a picture of an old church in the countryside; a picture of an old steam train, a tall tower church and maybe the most popular would be a picture of Christmas, also distinct in its own way.

Bells have been used centuries ago in churches to acknowledge the start of a mass or gathering, traditionally after a wedding. It has also been used to warn passengers to board the train since it is nearing departure. Another happy picture of bells would be of the ice cream van.

Bells could range from the big old brass ones that require a rope to pull to sound it to the small hand held ones which just needs a little shaking to make it sound.

It has also become a staple Christmas décor, you can see it on the Christmas tree, on doors as an ornament, or just hanging somewhere around the house, it compliments the season.

The way a bell look is actually associated with the country it is in, in the western world, it would be the classical form where you would need ropes to sound it. In the east however, the more traditional types are the temple bells, which requires a stick that would have to be rapped on it to make it sound.

There are quite a number of notable bells today; among them are the Gotenba bell, The Tsar bell and the World Peace bell.