Tuesday, October 30, 2007

NFL Jerseys

Looking for a great NFL Jerseys? You can find great nfl jerseys at uniformset.com

These nfl football uniform sets even make a special Christmas gifts for children. If you're tired of giving your kids the usual Christmas gifts, then these sets will give your a child a thrill on their Holiday! The sets include an official logo NFL Jersey, NFL Helmet, double stitched pants, and iron on numbers. If your child is energetic and will be playing catch with the football in the backyard, get the matching shoulder pads so he can play with dad. These sets are not to be used in real contact sports activities. They are a fun playtime outfit. These sets are really GREAT! Cause they can be used as kids pajamas too.

It it more fun. You can even used it as a Halloween costume! These nfl jerseys has the every NFL and College team covered like... Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons, Washington Redskins, Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles,
New York Jets, New York Giants, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Green Bay Packers, Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphin, New Orleans Saints, St Louis Rams,
Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, Washington Red Skins and many more...

Friday, October 26, 2007

Exam Results Successful Examinees - 2007 Licensure Examination for Teachers

Exam Results
Successful Examinees - 2007 Licensure Examination for Teachers


• ELEMENTARY LEVEL (A - D)

• ELEMENTARY LEVEL (E - M)

• ELEMENTARY LEVEL (N - Z)


• SECONDARY LEVEL (A - D)

• SECONDARY LEVEL (E - N)

• SECONDARY LEVEL (O - Z)

Top 10 highest places:

ELEMENTARY LEVEL

1.Angelo Aniag Unay (Philippine Normal University-Manila) Macy Marie Mendoza Valdez (Philiipine Normal University Manila)

2.Mark Gleen Ocasla Cidro (Philippine Normal University-Manila) Ma. Luisa Odi Marcelo (Philippine Normal University-Manila)

3.Gerry Cabrera Areta (Philippine Normal University-Manila) Babylen Abaja Arit (Philippine Normal University-Lopez, Quezon) Grace Ann Sauquillo Estores (Philippine Normal University-Manila)

4.Candy Pearl Nacario Cabag (Philippine Normal University-Manila) Pinky Laser Escalona Ilaga (Philippine Normal University-Manila) Jenny Carlos Paguyo (University of the Philippines-Diliman) Joseph Randolph Pino Palattao (Philippine Normal University-Manila)

5.Jonalee Cataquiz Bandoquillo (University of the Philippines - Diliman) Ruby Rose Rodriguez Briones (University of the Philippines-Diliman) Maria Ursula Gabon Caturan (Philippine Normal University-Manila) Hernilyn Veric Pelarco (Mindanao State University-Gen. Santos City) Raychel Hipolito Punsalan (Assumption College-Makati)

6.Nenita Balando Cabidog (Philippine Normal University-Manila) Phoebe Cesar Ocampo (University of Mindanao-Davao City) Ma. Lovena Veladiez Moneva (University of the Philippines- Diliman)

7.Janess Marie Caberte Encarnado (Holy Name University (Divine Word Tagbilaran) Kristine Frances Alcantara Muni (Universidad de Santa Isabel) Vannie Jill Estrella Samonte (Bicol University-Legazpi)

8.Nowell Santos Torres (Philippine Normal University-Manila) Nympha Dumaya Villanueva (Philippine Normal Univesity-Isabela)

9.Glyna Jamila Acenas (Andres Bonifacio College) Rhodaline Fajardo Escala (Philippine Normal University-Manila) Anita Cua Lim (University of the Philippines-Diliman) Hannah Mia Abrenica Navidad (University of the Philippines-Diliman) Alberto Urmeneta Rañin (Leyte Normal University) Louwell Ted Jayson Sevilla (University of Southeastern Philippines-Davao City)

10.Shiela Marie Perandos Castro (University of the Philippines -Diliman) Anna Renissa Sta Tersa Cuneta (Assumption College-Makati) Arthur Ronald Juinio Dayrit (Philippine Normal University-Manila) Christyn Amargo Escurzon (University of Mindanao-Davao City) Grizchelle Villanueva Odtuhan (Philippine Normal University-Manila)

SECONDARY LEVEL

1.Joel Lising Adamos (University of Santo Tomas) Manuel Tablante Eusebio (University of the Philippines-Diliman) Aaron Dalisay Galamgam (University of the Philippines-Diliman)

2.Virgo Mamaclay Gulan (Philippine Normal University-Isabela) Melissa Elinore Manuel Wang (Ateneo de Manila University -QC)

3.Sherwin Barrete Iñigo (Mindanao State University-Marawi City) Missy Dazzle Molinyawe Olea (University of the Philippines-Diliman) Blessilda Perez Rapoza (Philippine Normal University-Manila)

4.Eisha Vienna Maliksi Fernandez (Philippine Normal University-Manila) Julius Abel Bicos Galpao (Centro Escolar Unversity-Manila)

5.Rommel Ambal Ramos (University of Batangas)

6.Jorge JR Salvador Baclor (Philippine Normal University-Manila) Tom Ng Chu (University of the Philippines-Diliman) Celina Punzalan Sarmiento (Philippine Normal University-Manila)

7.Nestor Gonzales Acala (Mindanao State University-Marawi City) Ferdinand Licup Aguila (University of the Philippines-Diliman) Rachel Edita Oñate Roxas (University of the Philippines-Los Baños) Mona Lisa Pardilla Siacor (Central Philippine University)

8.Gissella Bahoyo Lebron (De La Salle University-Manila) Helma Yusa Mesa (University of the Philippines-Diliman)

9.Agripina Lagasca Arboleda (Saint Louis University) Oliver Garejo Daitol (University of the East-Caloocan) Angeli Soledad Roque Echiverri (University of the Philippines-Diliman) Angelita Profeta Radiel (University of the Philippines-Los Baños)

10.Krystal Dianne Masangkay Dolarte (Polytechnic University of the Philippines-Sta. Mesa) Glaiza David Tarine (Holy Angel University)

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Your Home Improvement Loan and Finding A Good Contractor

With home design shows like Trading Spaces, Extreme Home Makeover and others ruling the ratings, many people have developed design fever. The quickest way to slake that thirst is with a home improvement loan, also known as a home equity loan.

A home improvement loan lets you use the equity in your home to fix it up. Equity is the cash difference between what your house is worth on the market and what you still owe on the mortgage. This loan gives you cash up front so that you can afford to make your house look exactly the way you want. When shopping for a loan, make sure to:

* Get multiple home improvement loan quotes from lenders so you can get the best rates

* Check your free credit report to find out your credit score and increase your negotiating power



Whether you’re planning an addition for a growing family or getting new storm windows, finding a competent and reliable contractor is the first step to a successful and satisfying home improvement project. It's the first smart purchase you'll make with your new home improvement loan.

Your home is not only your castle, it's an investment. So be cautious when you hire someone to work on it. Home improvement and repair and maintenance contractors often advertise in newspapers, the Yellow Pages, and on the radio and TV. Your best bet is a recommendation from friends, neighbors, or co-workers who have had similar improvement work done. Get written estimates from several firms. Ask for explanations for price variations. Don’t automatically choose the lowest bidder.


Who's Who in Home Improvement Professionals
Depending on the size and complexity of your project, you may need a number of different professionals:


* General Contractors manage all aspects of your project, including hiring and supervising subcontractors, getting building permits, and scheduling inspections. They also work with architects and designers.

* Speciality Contractors install particular products, such as cabinets and bathroom fixtures.

* Architects design homes, additions, and major renovations. If your project includes structural changes, you may want to hire an architect who specializes in home remodeling.

* Designers have expertise in specific areas of the home, such as kitchens and baths.

* Design/Build Contractors provide one-stop service. They see your project through from start to finish. Some firms have architects on staff; others use certified designers.



Don’t Get Nailed
Not all contractors are trustworthy. Here are some tip-offs to potential rip-offs. A less than reputable contractor:


* Solicits door-to-door

* Offers you discounts for finding other customers

* Just happens to have materials left over from a previous job

* Only accepts cash payments

* Asks you to get the required building permits

* Does not list a business number in the local telephone directory

* Tells you your job will be a "demonstration"

* Pressures you for an immediate decision

* Offers exceptionally long guarantees

* Asks you to pay for the entire job up-front

* Suggests that you borrow money from a lender the contractor knows. If you’re not careful, you could lose your home through a home improvement loan scam



Hiring a Contractor
Interview each contractor you’re considering. Ask these questions:


* How long have you been in business? Look for a well-established company and check it out with consumer protection officials. They can tell you if there are unresolved consumer complaints on file. One caveat: No record of complaints against a particular contractor doesn’t necessarily mean no previous consumer problems. It may be that problems exist, but have not yet been reported, or that the contractor is doing business under several different names.

* Are you licensed and registered with the state? While most states license electrical and plumbing contractors, only 36 states have some type of licensing and registration statutes affecting contractors, remodelers, and/or specialty contractors. The licensing can range from simple registration to a detailed qualification process. Also, the licensing requirements in one locality may be different from the requirements in the rest of the state. Check with your local building department or consumer protection agency to find out about licensing requirements in your area. If your state has licensing laws, ask to see the contractor’s license. Make sure it’s current.

* How many projects like mine have you completed in the last year? Ask for a list. This will help you determine how familiar the contractor is with your type of project.

* Will my project require a permit? Most states and localities require permits for building projects, even for simple jobs like decks. A competent contractor will get all the necessary permits before starting work on your project. Be suspicious if the contractor asks you to get the permit(s). It could mean that the contractor is not licensed or registered, as required by your state or locality.

* May I have a list of references? The contractor should be able to give you the names, addresses, and phone numbers of at least three clients who have projects similar to yours. Ask each how long ago the project was completed and if you can see it. Also, tell the contractor that you’d like to visit jobs in progress.

* Will you be using subcontractors on this project? If yes, ask to meet them, and make sure they have current insurance coverage and licenses, if required. Also ask them if they were paid on time by this contractor. A "mechanic’s lien" could be placed on your home if your contractor fails to pay the subcontractors and suppliers on your project. That means the subcontractors and suppliers could go to court to force you to sell your home to satisfy their unpaid bills from your project. Protect yourself by asking the contractor, and every subcontractor and supplier, for a lien release or lien waiver.

* What types of insurance do you carry? Contractors should have personal liability, worker’s compensation, and property damage coverage. Ask for copies of insurance certificates, and make sure they’re current. Avoid doing business with contractors who don’t carry the appropriate insurance. Otherwise, you’ll be held liable for any injuries and damages that occur during the project.




Check References
Talk with some of the remodeler’s former customers. They can help you decide if a particular contractor is right for you. You may want to ask:


* Can I visit your home to see the completed job?

* Were you satisfied with the project? Was it completed on time?

* Did the contractor keep you informed about the status of the project, and any problems along the way?

* Were there unexpected costs? If so, what were they?

* Did workers show up on time? Did they clean up after finishing the job?

* Would you recommend the contractor?

* Would you use the contractor again?

Source

Home Improvement Loan

A home improvement loan is money lent to a property owner for home repairs, updates or remodeling. Home improvement loans are not necessarily secured by the property they are intended for and may simply be classified as home improvement loans by the lender. These loans can be secured or unsecured and are usually short term.

Home Improvement Loans Home improvement loans are intended to increase the value of your home so it is important to think carefully about where best to put the money. After all, the money spent on home improvements is added to your overall cost of the home and you want to be able to recoup this cost if and when you decide to sell.

Things to Consider about Home Improvement Loans

1. Are you over-building for the neighborhood? Adding a huge addition could make your house the nicest on the block but also the largest and most expensive, making it potentially harder to sell.
2. How much equity is available for home improvements and what is your maximum budget? If you paid only $50,000 for your home ten years ago and now similar homes on your block are selling for $120,000, then you will have no problem investing in updates and repairs.
3. Are you getting the most for your money? Research has proven that upgrades to kitchens, baths and curb appeal offer an excellent return on your investment. Make sure you spend the money where it counts.

Ideas for Home Improvement Loan Projects

The improvement possibilities for your home improvement loan are almost impossible to calculate. While there are many decorating and design improvements possible, here are a few that are good to consider.

1. Additions - If you have a 2 bedroom, 2 bath house, consider adding a third bedroom. Similarly, if you have a 3 bedroom, 1 bath house, consider adding a second bathroom. And last but not lease, if you have a 2 bedroom, 1 bath house, consider adding a master suite complete with his and her closets and a full bathroom.
2. Updates - Concentrate on bathrooms and kitchens when spending the money from your home improvement loan. Kitchens and bathrooms seem to get outdated so quickly so it is important to use classic design concepts and soft, neutral colors. The lime green bathtub was a hit in 1975 but now desperately needs to be replaced.
3. Curb Appeal - Basic improvements such as landscaping or exterior painting can make a huge difference in the overall perception and value of your home. Keep these projects in mind when setting the budget for your home improvement loan project.

While the goal of your home improvement loan is to make repairs or upgrades to your home, the challenge is to make that money go even further, raising the value of your home above and beyond the level of money spent.

For more information on home improvement loans, please visit our Home Equity page.

Source

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Credit Repair

01. Self Help May Be Best

You see the advertisements in newspapers, on TV, and on the Internet. You hear them on the radio. You get fliers in the mail. You may even get calls from telemarketers offering credit repair services. They all make the same claims:

* "Credit problems? No problem!"
* "We can erase your bad credit - 100% guaranteed."
* "Create a new credit identity - legally."
* "We can remove bankruptcies, judgments, liens, and bad loans from your credit file forever!"

Do yourself a favor and save some money, too. Don't believe these statements. Only time, a conscious effort, and a personal debt repayment plan will improve your credit report.

02. The Credit Repair Scam

Every day, companies nationwide appeal to consumers with poor credit histories. They promise, for a fee, to clean up your credit report so you can get a car loan, a home mortgage, insurance, or even a job. The truth is, they can't deliver. After you pay them hundreds or thousands of dollars in fees, these companies do nothing to improve your credit report; most simply vanish with your money.

03. The Credit Repair Warning Signs

If you decide to respond to a credit repair offer, look for these tell-tale signs of a scam:

* Companies that want you to pay for credit repair services before they provide any services.
* Companies that do not tell you your legal rights and what you can do for yourself for free.
* Companies that recommend that you not contact a credit reporting company directly.
* Companies that suggest that you try to invent a "new" credit identity – and then, a new credit report – by applying for an Employer Identification Number to use instead of your Social Security number.
* Companies that advise you to dispute all information in your credit report or take any action that seems illegal, like creating a new credit identity. If you follow illegal advice and commit fraud, you may be subject to prosecution.

You could be charged and prosecuted for mail or wire fraud if you use the mail or telephone to apply for credit and provide false information. It's a federal crime to lie on a loan or credit application, to misrepresent your Social Security number, and to obtain an Employer Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service under false pretenses.

Under the Credit Repair Organizations Act, credit repair companies cannot require you to pay until they have completed the services they have promised.

04. The Truth About Credit Repair

No one can legally remove accurate and timely negative information from a credit report. The law allows you to ask for an investigation of information in your file that you dispute as inaccurate or incomplete. There is no charge for this. Everything a credit repair clinic can do for you legally, you can do for yourself at little or no cost. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA):

* You're entitled to a free report if a company takes adverse action against you, like denying your application for credit, insurance, or employment, and you ask for your report within 60 days of receiving notice of the action. The notice will give you the name, address, and phone number of the consumer reporting company. You're also entitled to one free report a year if you're unemployed and plan to look for a job within 60 days; if you're on welfare; or if your report is inaccurate because of fraud, including identity theft.
* Each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – is required to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. The companies are rolling this out across the country during a nine-month period. By September 2005, consumers from coast to coast will have access to a free annual credit report if they ask for it. Otherwise, a consumer reporting company may charge you up to $9.50 for another copy of your report within a 12-month period.
* You can dispute mistakes or outdated items for free. Under the FCRA, both the consumer reporting company and the information provider (that is, the person, company, or organization that provides information about you to a consumer reporting company) are responsible for correcting inaccurate or incomplete information in your report. To take advantage of all your rights under this law, contact the consumer reporting company and the information provider.

Step 1

Tell the consumer reporting company, in writing, what information you think is inaccurate. Include copies (NOT originals) of documents that support your position. In addition to providing your complete name and address, your letter should clearly identify each item in your report you dispute, state the facts and explain why you dispute the information, and request that it be removed or corrected. You may want to enclose a copy of your report with the items in question circled. Your letter may look something like the one on page 6. Send your letter by certified mail, "return receipt requested," so you can document what the consumer reporting company received. Keep copies of your dispute letter and enclosures.

Consumer reporting companies must investigate the items in question – usually within 30 days – unless they consider your dispute frivolous. They also must forward all the relevant data you provide about the inaccuracy to the organization that provided the information. After the information provider receives notice of a dispute from the consumer reporting company, it must investigate, review the relevant information, and report the results back to the consumer reporting company. If the information provider finds the disputed information is inaccurate, it must notify all three nationwide consumer reporting companies so they can correct the information in your file.

When the investigation is complete, the consumer reporting company must give you the results in writing and a free copy of your report if the dispute results in a change. If an item is changed or deleted, the consumer reporting company cannot put the disputed information back in your file unless the information provider verifies that it is accurate and complete. The consumer reporting company also must send you written notice that includes the name, address, and phone number of the information provider.

If you request, the consumer reporting company must send notices of any correction to anyone who received your report in the past six months. You can have a corrected copy of your report sent to anyone who received a copy during the past two years for employment purposes.
If an investigation doesn't resolve your dispute with the consumer reporting company, you can ask that a statement of the dispute be included in your file and in future reports. You also can ask the consumer reporting company to provide your statement to anyone who received a copy of your report in the recent past. You can expect to pay a fee for this service.
Step 2

Tell the creditor or other information provider, in writing, that you dispute an item. Be sure to include copies (NOT originals) of documents that support your position. Many providers specify an address for disputes. If the provider reports the item to a consumer reporting company, it must include a notice of your dispute. And if you are correct – that is, if the information is found to be inaccurate – the information provider may not report it again.

05. Reporting Accurate Negative Information

When negative information in your report is accurate, only the passage of time can assure its removal. A consumer reporting company can report most accurate negative information for seven years and bankruptcy information for 10 years. Information about an unpaid judgment against you can be reported for seven years or until the statute of limitations runs out, whichever is longer. There is no time limit on reporting: information about criminal convictions; information reported in response to your application for a job that pays more than $75,000 a year; and information reported because you've applied for more than $150,000 worth of credit or life insurance. There is a standard method for calculating the seven-year reporting period. Generally, the period runs from the date that the event took place.

06. The Credit Repair Organizations Act

By law, credit repair organizations must give you a copy of the “Consumer Credit File Rights Under State and Federal Law” before you sign a contract. They also must give you a written contract that spells out your rights and obligations. Read these documents before you sign anything. The law contains specific protections for you. For example, a credit repair company cannot:

* Make false claims about their services.
* Charge you until they have completed the promised services.
* Perform any services until they have your signature on a written contract and have completed a three-day waiting period. During this time, you can cancel the contract without paying any fees.

Your contract must specify:

* The payment terms for services, including their total cost.
* A detailed description of the services to be performed.
* How long it will take to achieve the results.
* Any guarantees they offer.
* The company's name and business address.

07. Have You Been Victimized?

Many states have laws regulating credit repair companies. State law enforcement officials may be helpful if you've lost money to credit repair scams.

If you've had a problem with a credit repair company, don't be embarrassed to report it. While you may fear that contacting the government will only make your problems worse, remember that laws are in place to protect you. Contact your local consumer affairs office or your state Attorney General (AGs). Many AGs have toll-free consumer hotlines. Check the Blue Pages of your telephone directory for the phone number or check www.naag.org for a list of state Attorneys General.

08. Need Help? Don't Despair.

Just because you have a poor credit report doesn't mean you won't be able to get credit. Creditors set their own credit-granting standards and not all of them look at your credit history the same way. Some may look only at more recent years to evaluate you for credit, and they may grant credit if your bill-paying history has improved. It may be worthwhile to contact creditors informally to discuss their credit standards.

If you're not disciplined enough to create a workable budget and stick to it, work out a repayment plan with your creditors, or keep track of mounting bills, consider contacting a credit counseling organization. Many credit counseling organizations are nonprofit and work with you to solve your financial problems. But not all are reputable. For example, just because an organization says it's "nonprofit," there's no guarantee that its services are free, affordable, or even legitimate. In fact, some credit counseling organizations charge high fees, or hide their fees by pressuring consumers to make "voluntary" contributions that only cause more debt.

Most credit counselors offer services through local offices, the Internet, or on the telephone. If possible, find an organization that offers in-person counseling. Many universities, military bases, credit unions, housing authorities, and branches of the U.S. Cooperative Extension Service operate nonprofit credit counseling programs. Your financial institution, local consumer protection agency, and friends and family also may be good sources of information and referrals.

Reputable credit counseling organizations can advise you on managing your money and debts, help you develop a budget, and offer free educational materials and workshops. Their counselors are certified and trained in the areas of consumer credit, money and debt management, and budgeting. Counselors discuss your entire financial situation with you, and help you develop a personalized plan to solve your money problems. An initial counseling session typically lasts an hour, with an offer of follow-up sessions.

09. Do-It-Yourself Check-Up

Even if you don't have a poor credit history, some financial advisors and consumer advocates suggest you review your credit report periodically:

* Because the information it contains affects whether you can get a loan or insurance – and how much you will have to pay for it.
* To make sure the information is accurate, complete, and up-to-date before you apply for a loan for a major purchase like a house or car, buy insurance, or apply for a job.
* To help guard against identity theft. That's when someone uses your personal information – like your name, your Social Security number, or your credit card number – to commit fraud. Identity thieves may use your information to open a new credit card account in your name. Then, when they don't pay the bills, the delinquent account is reported on your credit report. Inaccurate information like that could affect your ability to get credit, insurance, or even a job.

10. Sample Dispute Letter

Date
Your Name
Your Address
Your City, State, Zip Code

Complaint Department
Name of Company
Address
City, State, Zip Code

Dear Sir or Madam:

I am writing to dispute the following information in my file. The items I dispute also are encircled on the attached copy of the report I received.

This item (identify item(s) disputed by name of source, such as creditors or tax court, and identify type of item, such as credit account, judgment, etc.) is (inaccurate or incomplete) because (describe what is inaccurate or incomplete and why). I am requesting that the item be deleted (or request another specific change) to correct the information.

Enclosed are copies of (use this sentence if applicable and describe any enclosed documentation, such as payment records, court documents) supporting my position. Please investigate this (these) matter(s) and (delete or correct) the disputed item(s) as soon as possible.

Sincerely,
Your name

Enclosures: (List what you are enclosing)

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit www.ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

Source

Learn more about Your Credit Score

Frequently Asked Questions

01. What is credit scoring?

Credit scoring is the quickest, most accurate and consistent way of determining the likelihood that credit users will pay their bills. Credit scoring began in the late 1950s, and since then, it has become widely accepted by lenders as a reliable means of credit evaluation. Consumers have benefited from scoring's speed and accuracy, which have helped them gain access to a wide variety of credit products.

02. Why should you care?

Increasingly, lenders are trying to fund loans with prices (rates, fees and terms) that more precisely match your risk. In theory, someone with a 900 credit score should get much better rates than someone with a 650 score.

So far, though, it hasn't exactly worked that way, at least not that precisely. There are several grades of credit which have arisen, most notably below the 620 line (A-, B, C, D). But above the 620 line, everyone pretty much pays the same. Lenders can penalize you for poorly managing credit, but don't much reward you for effectively and wisely managing your debt, at least so far.

03. Why credit score at all?

It's not as though consumers have been clamoring for some sort of number, so why are we even bothering to go though this process for each loan? In the past, mortgages have been pooled together for sale, with these pools containing a range of credit risks -- all pretty good, but some better than others, and some worse than others.

Some borrowers would be more likely to pay off their loans early, and others might fail to make timely payments at all. The securities derived from these pools each carried a vaguely known level of risk to the investor, which made holding and hedging these as a part of an investment portfolio a bit of a tricky business.

It's long been the desire of investors to be able to slice and dice portfolios of mortgage loans to add or remove risk (and rewards) to a larger investment portfolio. With known risk, a greater level of performance could be assured. Investors are willing to pay more for a greater level of precision, and began pressing the industry to adopt a means to achieve it. Hence, credit scores; now, a seller can put together a package of loans for sale that aren't from a wide muddy pool of credit risks, but rather from a very specific kind or kinds of borrowers, all with scores which are close together.

04. Who really benefits from credit scores?

Credit scoring is actually a good idea, at least on paper, and some ways in practice, too. The sub-prime lending industry (for borrowers with not-so-good credit) could not have been developed without it. Certain borrowers have seen an explosion in the credit available to them, with more competitors vying for their business, lower rates and more choices in product.

It's safe to say that thousands of homeowners have their credit score to thank for their chance to get a mortgage. The credit score is helping to make loan approvals faster, simpler and more convenient for all kinds of loans. At least so far, however, only folks at the bottom of the scale have seen significant "rewards" for the adoption of credit scoring on a wide basis in mortgage lending.

05. What are credit bureau scores?

Credit bureau scores are just one type of credit score. It is computed and calculated from the information on your credit bureau file at the time it was requested. A credit score is like a snapshot: It sums up, at any given point in time, what your credit history and current usage predicts about your future credit performance.

06. Where do credit scores come from?

Statistical scoring models calculate credit scores. Mathematical tables assign points for different pieces of information that best predict future credit performance. Developing these models involves studying how millions of people have used credit. Score model developers find predictive factors in the data that have proven to indicate future credit performance.

Credit score models can be developed from different sources of data. A custom model can developed from a business's own data on its customers. Information is taken from credit application forms and credit bureau reports. Credit bureau models are developed from information in consumer credit bureau reports.

07. How are credit scoring models used?

Credit scores give lenders a fast, consistent and reliable indication of how likely you'll be to repay a loan according to the terms of your agreement. Scores are usually just one of many factors a lender considers in making a decision. This is particularly true in industries like mortgage lending where appraisals and other information play an important part.

08. Who calculates credit bureau scores?

Credit bureau scores are calculated by the credit bureaus and are based solely on the data in their credit reports at the time a lender requests the score. Lenders usually calculate application scores directly. Custom credit scores can be calculated by lenders or by the credit bureaus with whom they work.

09. What is considered a good credit score?

This is a difficult question to answer. With most scoring models, the higher the score the better. Higher credit scores mean lower risk. For other scoring models it's the other way around. More importantly, every company using scoring decides for itself which scores are "good" and which are "not so good," based on its goals and estimates for certain types of loans.

The credit score is only a tool, not a recommendation; the lender always makes the final determination. That decision may be to offer people with lower credit scores a different product, rather than turning them down.

10. What's bad about credit scoring?

In a word, secrecy. In the bad old days of mortgage lending, you may have been judged by a person or committee who used some subjective process to evaluate you, a process which may have been arbitrary. You didn't know what they wanted to see in a borrower, so you applied and hoped.

Especially in the last 20 years, more and more light has been let into the underwriting process, and that knowledge turned into power for the consumer. Knowing where they stood in a lender's eyes, potential borrowers went from place to place in search of a better deal.

Credit scoring is a high-tech way to draw a big, black curtain between borrower and underwriter. Since the credit score data could not be released to consumer, by both choice and contract, the power in pricing returned to the lender. Armed with a score, the lender knows precisely who you are; but you no longer have any idea exactly how good or bad you appear.

For some loans, lenders have stopped even providing rate quotes when you call. They want you to fill out an application first, so they can extract a credit score for you, knowing full well that once you've applied (and perhaps paid a fee) you're less likely to go elsewhere.

11. Why all the secrecy?

It's been a competitive stance by FICO not to release credit scores. It's simple enough to understand that once that FICO proved that scoring works, that other competing models would be developed. They are, including entries from the credit bureaus, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and others.

But there's a good reason why they have resisted telling consumers about their credit scores and what goes into them. The scoring model depends upon consumers going about their business as usual, paying or not paying bills on time, opening lines of credit and getting credit cards as they normally would.

If you knew that closing out a Visa account you barely use might raise your score by some amount, you would close it. That change in behavior, repeated millions of times (and across the various kinds of credit weighting) would distort or destroy the model, rendering the credit score and scoring process worthless.

FICO has claimed that revealing the score to a consumer would merely confuse the borrower even further, and that the credit score by itself isn't useful without proper understanding of the process.

12. Do credit scores cause overcharging?

Because you can't know how you appear, you might be charged far in excess of what you might pay. Credit scoring may have helped foster "predatory lending", a situation where a borrower, especially less sophisticated borrowers, may fall victim to an unscrupulous lender or broker. This can occur especially in cases where a borrower fails to shop far and wide for a loan, and happens largely in lesser-educated areas, and among the poor and elderly.

While the borrower might have pretty good credit, the salesperson might only offer them loans with high rates, fees, or both; not knowing that they might do far better elsewhere, and lacking both the credit score information and understanding of the process, the borrower signs on for the loan. If the borrower had access to his/her score and a little knowledge of the lending process, they could search more aggressively.

13. What's in the future?

Enough pressure has been building around this issue that regulators and even legislators are getting into the act. Recent, Congress has been considering the Fair Credit Full Disclosure Act (H.R. 2856), sponsored by Rep. Chris Cannon (R-Utah), but no action has yet been take to advance the bill along. The California legislature is also considering a law to force release of credit scores. Soon, FICO and the credit reporting agencies TransUnion, Equifax and Experian are planning to provide evaluations of your credit profile to you, for a fee.

In the meantime, if you are applying for a mortgage, you can certainly ask what your credit score is. FICO has stated that it has no specific objection to providing you with the number as part of a financial transaction.

Source

Your Credit Score

01. Overview

Credit scoring is a statistical method of assessing the credit risk of a loan applicant. It uses mathematical models to evaluate a person's credit worthiness based on their credit history and current credit accounts. The credit score was first invented and developed in the 1950s, but has come into widespread use in just the last two decades.

In the mid 1980s the three major credit bureaus, Equifax, TransUnion and Experian (formerly TRW) all worked with Fair, Isaac and Company (FICO) to develop credit scoring models. These models allow each bureau to offer a score based solely on the contents of the credit bureau's data about a person.

The actual numerical credit score is a number that indicates the likelihood that an individual will pay back a loan. It is typically calculated by reviewing the following parameters:

1. Past payment delinquencies
2. Current level of indebtedness
3. Types of credit accounts currently open
4. Length of credit history
5. Number of credit inquiries
6. How often credit is applied for
7. Other derogatory credit behaviors

Each major credit bureau has its own unique method for calculating credit scores. However, the scoring models have been somewhat normalized so that a numerical score at one bureau is roughly the equivalent of the same credit score at another. Therefore, a score of 600 from Equifax indicates the same creditworthiness as a credit score of 600 from Trans Union or Experian, even though the calculations used to determine those scores may be different at each bureau.

Mortgage brokers and lenders frequently use these scores (commonly known as FICO scores) as an important factor in the decision whether or not to offer credit. The higher your credit score the better credit risk you are. Depending on the credit bureau, credit scores range from 375 to 900 points, but those numbers mean little on their own. They only become meaningful within the context of a particular lender's underwriting guidelines.

Nevertheless, because major institutions in the mortgage industry such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC) have enforced guidelines for lenders based on credit scoring, certain general rules are accepted. So, in general, credit scoring will place a loan applicant in of the following three categories.

02. Credit Score Guidelines

Scoring models like the one developed by FICO have always been shrouded in mystery, especially when it comes to specifics. Generally speaking, though, they utilize your credit history, income, outstanding debt and debt utilization over the years, access to credit, and other indicators of your financial behavior to determine how likely you are to pay your bills on time, or if at all.

A numerical score is then developed, typically ranging from 300 to 900, with the low end of the scale indicating a poor credit risk. This can tell a lender whether or not he'll lend to you. For example, a credit score of 620 is frequently cited as a "cutoff point" for loans which can be funded by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Below that, and you're usually off into the private "sub-prime" market, where rates are higher.
650 and Above

In general, a score of 650 or above indicates a very good credit history. People with these credit scores will usually find the loan process quick and easy, and will have a good chance to obtain a loan at a relatively low rate of interest.
620 to 650

Credit scores between 620 and 650 indicate basically good credit, but also suggest to lenders that they should look at the potential borrower to asses any particular credit risks. (Average FICO scores fall into this range.) People with scores in this range have a good chance at a loan at a good rate, but may have to provide additional documentation and explanations to the lender before the loan is approved. This means that their loan closing may take longer, making their experience more like that of borrowers in the days before credit scoring, when every individual was researched.
Below 620

A credit score below 620 may prevent a borrower from getting the best interest rates, as they may be considered a greater credit risk-but it does not mean that mortgage funding can't be found. The process will probably be lengthier and, as noted, the terms of loan less appealing, but often a loan can still be obtained.

03. Credit Scoring Models

A typical credit scoring model contains a list of questions and answers. A specific number of points are assigned to each answer. Only information proven to be predictive of future credit performance is used in a model. Below are some examples of what a typical model will (and will not) consider.

Information from your credit application:

* How long you've lived at your current address
* Your current occupation
* Your financial obligations

Information from your credit bureau report:

* Amount of outstanding credit balances
* Amount of credit you are currently using
* Length of time with established credit
* Any late payments made

These items are definitely not considered:

* Your race
* Your gender
* Your religion
* Marital status
* Place of birth
* Neighborhood you live in

According to FICO, the breakdown of your credit score is as follows:

* 35% of the credit score is determined by payment histories on your credit accounts, with recent history weighted a bit more heavily than the distant past.
* 30% is based upon the amount of debt you have outstanding with all creditors.
* 15% is produced on the basis of how long you've been a credit user (a longer history is better if you've always made timely payments).
* 10% is comprised of very recent history, and whether or not you've been actively seeking (and getting) loans or credit lines in the past few months.
* 10% is calculated from the mix of credit you hold, including installment loans (like car loans), leases, mortgages, credit cards, etc.

Other models being employed are sure to utilize these in various weightings, plus other data that may be fed in to the model. These might include your address or zip code, how often you've moved and other public and private information about you.

04. Credit Report Errors

You should correct any errors on your credit report. It's a good idea to review your credit report from each bureau regularly. If you see an inaccuracy, report it to the credit bureau. The three major credit bureaus in the United States are Equifax, Trans Union and Experian. All of these companies have procedures for correcting information promptly. For more information click here.

If you discover incorrect information when applying for a loan, be sure to tell your broker or lender. They should be aware of the fact that erroneous data may lead to an unusable score, and consider that fact when making their decision.

05. Raising Your Credit Score

You can improve your future score, but it is unlikely that any single action you will take will have a large impact on your score immediately. This is because your score reflects your credit patterns over time.

Some things you can do that will improve your credit score in the future:

* Pay your bills on time. Delinquent payments and collections can have a major negative impact on your score. As they get older and you pay all other obligations on time, the delinquent information will have less impact.
* High outstanding debt can affect your score, so pay down any loan balances.
* Apply for new credit sparingly. Shopping for credit can have an adverse affect on your score.

It is important to realize that there is no single action that will immediately raise your credit score. Each time a credit score is calculated, specific reasons (score factors) are delivered to the lender along with the score. If you've been given your score, you can ask your lender for these reasons.

These factors represent the three major reasons why your credit score was not higher. Anything that you can do to address these factors will most likely improve your score.

06. Finding Out Your Credit Score

Many lenders may tell you your credit score, though others may not. One reason is that many different types of scores are in use, therefore the number by itself might not hold much meaning to you. Another is that the credit scores can change on a daily basis as new information is added to your credit file.

A credit bureau score is just a tool that lenders use. By itself it does not tell you if your application for credit will be approved or not. If you find out your score is 610, for example, you also need to know your lender's policy for those borrowers with scores in that range.

Lenders are not required to disclose your credit score, but if you have been turned down for a loan in whole or part because your score was too low, they are required to give you the reasons for the score that you received. These reasons give you valuable information you can use to improve your score.

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Your Free Credit Report

01. Access to a Free Credit Report

A recent amendment to the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies to provide you with a free credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. The FCRA promotes the accuracy and privacy of information in the files of the nation's consumer reporting companies. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, enforces the FCRA with respect to consumer reporting companies.

A credit report contains information on where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you've been sued, arrested, or filed for bankruptcy. Nationwide consumer reporting companies sell the information in your credit report to creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses that use it to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, or renting a home. There are three nationwide consumer reporting companies:

1. Equifax
2. Experian
3. Trans Union

02. How to Get Your Free Credit Report

Consumers in Western states will first be able to order their free credit reports under the federal law beginning December 1, 2004. Consumers in other states will be able to order their copies according to a regional roll-out.

The three nationwide consumer reporting companies have set up one central website and a toll-free telephone number where you can order your free credit report:

* Visit: AnnualCreditReport.com
* Call: 1-877-322-8228

Or, you can complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form available at the website above and mail it to:

Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281

You may order your free credit reports from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies at the same time, or you can order from only one or two. The law allows you to order one free credit report from each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies every 12 months.

Source

Your Credit Report

If you've ever applied for a charge account, a personal loan, insurance, or a job, there's a file about you. This file contains information on where you work and live, how you pay your bills, and whether you've been sued, arrested, or filed for bankruptcy.

Companies that gather and sell this information are called Consumer Reporting Agencies (CRAs). The most common type of CRA is the credit bureau. The information CRAs sell about you to creditors, employers, insurers and other businesses is called a credit report or consumer report.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), enforced by the Federal Trade Commission, is designed to promote accuracy and ensure the privacy of the information used in credit reports. Recent amendments to the Act expand your rights and place additional requirements on CRAs. Businesses that supply information about you to CRAs and those that use credit reports also have new responsibilities under the law.

Here are some frequently asked questions consumers have about credit reports and Consumer Reporting Agencies. Note that you may have additional rights under state laws.

Frequently Asked Questions

01. How do I find the CRA that has my credit report?

Contact the CRAs listed in the Yellow Pages under "credit" or "credit rating and reporting." Because more than one CRA may have a file on you, call each until you locate all the agencies maintaining your file. The three major national credit bureaus are Equifax, Experian (formerly TRW) and Trans Union.

In addition, anyone who takes action against you in response to a report supplied by a CRA, must give you the name, address, and telephone number of the CRA that provided the report.

02. Do I have a right to know what's in my credit report?

Only if you ask for it. The CRA must tell you everything in your report, including medical information, and in most cases, the sources of the information. The CRA also must give you a list of everyone who has requested your report within the past year. Two years for employment related requests.

03. Is there a charge for my credit report?

Sometimes. There's no charge if a company takes adverse action against you, such as denying your application for credit, insurance or employment, and you request your report within 60 days of receiving the notice of the action. The notice will give you the name, address, and phone number of the CRA. In addition, you're entitled to one free report a year if you can prove that:

* You're unemployed and plan to look for a job within 60 days.
* You're on welfare.
* Your report is inaccurate because of fraud.
* Otherwise, a CRA may charge you up to $8.50 for a copy of your report.

04. What can I do about inaccurate or incomplete information?

Under the new law, both the CRA and the information provider have responsibilities for correcting inaccurate or incomplete information in your report. To protect all your rights under this law, contact both the CRA and the information provider.

First, tell the CRA in writing what information you believe is inaccurate. CRAs must reinvestigate the items in question (usually within 30 days) unless they consider your dispute frivolous. They also must forward all relevant data you provide about the dispute to the information provider. After the information provider receives notice of a dispute from the CRA, it must investigate, review all relevant information provided by the CRA, and report the results to the CRA. If the information provider finds the disputed information to be inaccurate, it must notify all nationwide CRAs so that they can correct this information in your file.

When the reinvestigation is complete, the CRA must give you the written results and a free copy of your report if the dispute results in a change. If an item is changed or removed, the CRA cannot put the disputed information back in your file unless the information provider verifies its accuracy and completeness, and the CRA gives you a written notice that includes the name, address, and phone number of the provider.

Second, tell the creditor or other information provider in writing that you dispute an item. Many providers specify an address for disputes. If the provider then reports the item to any CRA, it must include a notice of your dispute. In addition, if you are correct (that is, if the information is inaccurate), the information provider may not use it again.

05. What can I do if the credit provider won't correct the information I dispute?

A reinvestigation may not resolve your dispute with the CRA. If that's the case, ask the CRA to include your statement of the dispute in your file and in future reports. If you request, the CRA also will provide your statement to anyone who received a copy of the old report in the recent past. There usually is a fee for this service.

If you tell the information provider that you dispute an item, a notice of your dispute must be included anytime the information provider reports the item to a CRA.

06. Can my employer get my credit report?

Only if you give approval. A CRA may not supply information about you to your employer, or to a prospective employer, without your written consent.

07. Can others get a credit report that contains medical information about me?

Not without your approval.

08. What should I know about "investigative consumer reports"?

"Investigative consumer reports" are detailed reports that involve interviews with your neighbors or acquaintances about your lifestyle, character, and reputation. They may be used in connection with insurance and employment applications. You'll be notified in writing when a company orders such a report. The notice will explain your right to request certain information about the report from the company you applied to. If your application is rejected, you may get additional information from the CRA. However, the CRA does not have to reveal the sources of the information.

09. How long can a CRA report negative information?

Seven years. With the following exceptions:

* Bankruptcy information may be reported for 10 years.
* Information reported in response to an application for a job with a salary of more than $75,000 has no time limit.
* Information reported because of an application for more than $150,000 worth of credit or life insurance has no time limit.
* Information about a lawsuit or an unpaid judgment against you can be reported for seven years or until the statute of limitations runs out, whichever is longer.

10. Can anyone get a copy of my credit report?

No. Only people with a legitimate business need, as recognized by the FCRA. For example, a company is allowed to get your report if you apply for credit, insurance, employment, or to rent an apartment.

11. How can I stop a CRA from including me on lists for unsolicited offers?

Creditors and insurers may use CRA file information as a basis for sending you unsolicited offers. These offers must include a toll-free number for you to call if you want to remove your name and address from lists for two years; completing a form that the CRA provides for this purpose will keep your name off the lists permanently.

12.Do I have the right to sue for damages?

You may sue a CRA, a user or, in some cases, a provider of CRA data, in state or federal court for most violations of the FCRA. If you win, the defendant will have to pay damages and reimburse you for attorney fees to the extent ordered by the court.

13. Are there other laws I should know about?

Yes. If your credit application was denied, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act requires creditors to specify why. For example, the creditor must tell you whether you were denied because you have "no credit file" with a CRA or because the CRA says you have "delinquent obligations." The ECOA also requires creditors to consider additional information you might supply about your credit history. You may want to find out why the creditor denied your application before you contact the CRA.

14. Where should I report violations of the law?

Although the FTC can't act as your lawyer in private disputes, information about your experiences and concerns is vital to the enforcement of the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Source

What Creditors Want

When deciding whether or not to grant a loan, creditors look for an ability to repay debt and a willingness to do so. When considering these factors they examine the three Cs of credit:

1. Capacity
2. Character
3. Collateral

01. Capacity

Can you repay the debt? Creditors ask for employment information: your occupation, how long you've worked, and how much you earn. They also want to know your expenses:

* How many dependents you have.
* Whether you pay alimony or child support.
* Amount of your other obligations.

The magic number that quantifies your capacity is your Debt-to-Income Ratio, or DTI. It is simply your total monthly payments divided by your gross monthly income.

02. Character

Will you repay the debt? Creditors will look at your credit history to see how much you owe, how often you borrow, whether you pay bills on time, and whether you live within your means. They also look for signs of stability:

* How long you've lived at your present address.
* Whether you own or rent.
* Length of your present employment.

The important number here is your credit score. The higher, the better.

03. Collateral

Is the creditor fully protected if you fail to repay? Creditors want to know what you may have that could be used to back up or secure your loan, and what assets you have other than income for repaying the debt. In other words, what can they take from you if you default on the loan. The most important piece of collateral, of course, is the property you're financing. The higher the loan amount relative to the appraised property value, the more nervous creditors get. This ratio, by the way, is called Loan-to-Value, or LTV.

Creditors use different combinations of these facts in reaching their decisions. Some set extremely high standards and other lenders simply do not make certain kinds of loans.

Some rely strictly on their own instinct and experience, while others use credit scores to predict whether you're a good credit risk. They assign a certain number of points to each of the various characteristics that have proved to be reliable signs that a borrower will repay. Then, they rate you on this scale.

And so, different creditors may reach different conclusions based on the same set of facts. One may find you an acceptable risk, while another may deny you a loan.

Source

Monday, October 22, 2007

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Friday, October 19, 2007

How The Credit Card Process Works

It can take years of using credit cards to understand just how they work. Even after you understand the basic credit card features, you might not know how they affect you. Read on for an explanation of the credit card process from start to finish.

Credit Limits and Available Credit


Your credit card has a credit limit. You can charge up to your credit limit without receiving any penalty. If you charge more than your credit limit, you will be assessed an over the limit fee each month your balance is over the credit limit.

As your balance increases, your available credit decreases. If you have a credit limit of $300 and make a $100 purchase, your balance is now $100 and your available credit is $300 - $100 = $200.

Billing Cycles and Billing Statements


At the end of each billing cycle, a billing statement will be mailed to you.


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Billing cycles typically range from 29 days to 31 days, but can be shorter or longer depending on your credit card.

Your statement will include the balance at the beginning of the billing cycle (what was carried over from the previous month). It will detail credit card charges and payments as well as credits and fees in the current billing cycle. The balance from your previous billing cycle is added to charges and payments from the current billing cycle for a current balance.

Finance Charges and Grace Periods


If you carry a balance from the previous month, a finance charge will be applied. The finance charge is calculated using the annual percentage rate. Your finance charge is calculated using one of several methods: average daily balance, double billing cycle, previous month's balance, or adjusted daily balance.

If you did not carry a balance from the previous month, you have a grace period to pay your balance in full without receiving a finance charge. Your next billing statement will include a finance charge, if you don't pay your balance in full.

Minimum Payments and Late Fees


You must make the minimum payment listed on your billing statement before the payment due date to be considered current. Current means you are not late on any credit card payments.

Typically ,the minimum payment is calculated as a percentage of your credit card balance. If you make less than the minimum payment or you make the payment after the due date, your payment is considered late and you will be charged a late fee. When you are more than 30 days late, the late payment is placed on your credit report.

When you make a payment on your credit card, the amount of the payment is subtracted from the balance. Your balance decreases and your available credit increases. So, if your balance is $200, your credit limit is $300, and you make a $50 payment, your balance goes down to $150 and your available credit is now $150.

The Credit Card Process Ongoing


Keep in mind much of this process applies to revolving credit cards rather than charge cards.

As you make charges and payments with your credit card, your balance and available credit will go up and down. Pay attention to your billing statement for minimum payment and date due. To keep good credit you should make at least the minimum payment each month and stay well below your credit limit.

Source

Making a Plan to Get Out of Debt

Many people who have debt blindly make their minimum payments each month without a single thought about paying off the debts. Showing an interest in reducing your debt is a big step. Let one big step lead to another by finding out how to put together a plan to eliminate your debt.

When you're overloaded with debt, it can be difficult figuring out how to best tackle the debt. You have to figure out which accounts you should pay, in what order you should pay them, and how much you need to pay to eliminate your debt. By attacking each of these hurdles one by one, you can tailor a plan that fits your budget and debt load

Source

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Getting a Mortgage with Bad Credit

Having bad credit is not the end of the world and it's not impossible to get a loan. Generally, credit scores below 600 are considered sub-prime and the lower your credit score, the harder it will be for you to secure a mortgage.

A mortgage is a secured loan, meaning you put up your house as collateral. Therefore, if you fail to pay off your loan, the lender has the right to foreclose on your property. So as we said before, it may be more difficult but not impossible to get a mortgage if you have bad credit.

Statistically speaking, those with a lower credit score are more likely to default on their loans. To offset the risk, lenders will charge you a higher interest rate and limit the amount of credit you can borrow (because the higher your interest rate, the higher your payments, which means you have less ability to pay back a higher loan amount). Lenders may also charge higher late payment fees.

What Are Your Options?

If you have bad credit and want to get a mortgage, here's what you can do:

Get a Co-Signer: You can sometimes get a cheaper rate if you can get someone who has better credit to co-sign your loan. The drawback to this is that the co-signer is also responsible for repayment of the loan and may also limit their ability to take out loans in the future since the loan they co-sign is factored into their debt ratio.

Improve Your Credit Before You Get a Loan: If you have the time and can wait on getting a mortgage, then you should think about trying to improve your credit score-the higher your score, the cheaper the interest rate; thus the lower your monthly payments. Click here to get tips on how you can improve your credit. It may also be prudent to seek the advice of a good credit counselor.

Someone Else Gets the Mortgage for You: If your credit is so low that no one will agree to financing you, see if you can convince someone with better credit-perhaps a family member or spouse-to take out a mortgage for you. Obviously, this can have serious consequences on any relationship, so be sure that the person you ask is someone very close to you-someone whom you can trust to handle it.

You could also pay cash by selling your home and using the profits from the home sale to pay for the new, less expensive home, for instance. But you shouldn't forego the chance to re-establish your credit by proving yourself a worthy borrower.

Getting a mortgage may not be as impossible as you think with a low credit score. You'll likely pay more with higher interest rates and you may not be able to get as large a loan amount as someone with good credit, but you still have options, as long as you're not afraid to ask for some help.

Source

Wedding Stuffs!

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Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Debt Consolidation - A One Stop Solution For Debt Problems

Life would be easy if every thing go as planned. But this rarely happens and uncertain and unexpected things come to haunt us every now or then. Because of our requirement we take loan thinking that we can pay that in time but due to some reason we are unable to pay that in time. This result in continuous increase in interest rate, and worst, our credit goes low. In this situation debt consolidation comes as your savior.

So what is debt consolidation

Debt consolidation is a way out to consolidate your multiple debts in one single payable unit. While going for debt consolidation, you are not going for another loan but the debt consolidation company takes a single fixed monthly payment which is paid to your existing loans. This is extremely helpful for those who have taken multiple loans for their requirement.

Features and process of application

Debt consolidation is available for all needy residents of UK. One big advantage incorporated with bad credit debt management plan is that the charges and interests are often frozen, so your debt doesn't increase. This further helps in boosting your credit scores. They also offer many facilities such as debt calculator, repayment tools which help in self evaluation. There are many organizations which are in field of debt consolidation. What you have to do is to just go online and find one which suits you best. Fill their form online and then all your worries will be shouldered by them. What you have to do is just pay monthly installment to the organization where you have applied for debt management.

Bad credit loan management is an absolute profitable decision. This lets you to overcome from deep debt plus it boosts your credit score. One thing must be kept in mind that debt management is not legally binding. And creditor might take legal action against you. But this situation can be easily dealt with. So struggle no more with your debt just apply for debt consolidation and live worry free life.

Jennifer Morva has been associated with Bad Credit Personal Loans. Having completed his Masters in Finance from Lancaster University Management School, he undertook to provide useful advice through his articles that have been found very useful by the residents of the UK. To find debt consolidation loans uk, cheap debt consolidation uk, Debt consolidation, student debt consolidation loan visit http://www.debtconsolidationloans.me.uk

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Consolidate Debt

To consolidate debt or not to consolidate debt, that is truly the question, if you will forgive the Shakespearean reference! When you are in debt up to your ears, when your creditors are hounding you day and night, and when you feel like your very life's blood is being wrung out of you in effort to squeeze more money out of you, sometimes the only option you have open to you is to consolidate your debts and loans.

However, if you truly are in up to your ears in problems because of your never ending debt problems, then the very last thing that you want to do is to rush in and consolidate your debts without having a clue as to what it means to consolidate debt.

And although it is quite simple really, and takes only a little bit of your time to find out how to consolidate debt, and about the firms that will consolidate debt, some people give in to the pressures surrounding them and make one bad decision after another regarding their debt problems. It is to stop this that you need to take a deep breath, sit back and look at your problems head on. If you have gotten to the point where you are thinking whether or not to consolidate debt, then you need take a good hard look at what you are facing.

For instance, if your monthly payments are too high, or you have too many creditors to pay off monthly, you might want to think about consolidating your debts into one, but then you will also have to look at the flip side of this particular coin as well.

If you rush into things, without looking to see what you are getting yourself into, you could find yourself in a lot more trouble than you bargained for, on the other hand, if you do your homework well and you know exactly what you are doing, you could find that you are better off than before you thought to consolidate debt and loan problems.

So, make sure that you don't finally end up with a higher interest loan from the debt consolidation companies than you need, and make sure that you don't get a secured loan from them to cover your unsecured loans. And when you are looking at getting out of debt and if you are still thinking about whether to consolidate debt or not, make a point of investigating all of your options first, this way you won't be caught unawares after you have made a crucial decision.

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Debt Consolidation Home Equity Loan - Available At Low Rates

If the credit card balances have been a bottleneck and you cannot free yourself from the debts undertaken so far, there is a way you can meet both the ends. If you have an equity for a home, then Debt Consolidation home loan equity can let you escape the trouble. These loans are available at affordable prices and assists in reducing the number of debts.

Debt consolidation works in a simpler fashion. The home equity is calculated by deducting the amount you owe for the home from the current market value of the home. Once the loan is approved, the money can be used to free oneself from the current creditors. The chief reason for the home equity loans is their lower rates of interest and longer duration credit for repayment, as compared to the credit cards and fixed rates of interest makes it easier to plan out and repay. But careful planning is required before opting for the second mortgage.

But once if second mortgage is opted for, then it adds bad credit to your debt consolidation loan. And availing the loan for second time becomes not only difficult but at times impossible. To get approved for debt consolidation home loan equity, one needs to have high credit ratings. If the loan amount installment is not repaid duly in time, there is a high risk of losing one's home.

Another option is to refinance an existing mortgage, thereby freeing oneself from the prevalent debts but that involves higher amount of fees. The money so obtained can be used to reduce the debts, start a business, plan for a vacation, home improvement, home repair, auto loans or to pay off the credit card balances. But, what is popular these days is Debt Consolidation home loan equity which incorporates lower rates of interest and lower fees. And again it takes only few days to get the approval, and one the approval is obtained the amount can be received in a short while.

Again, before applying for any mortgage loan, its better to look around and have a comparative study of the prices and rate of interest and the requirements for availing those mortgage loans. One needs to work out to find whether he/she would qualify for the Debt Consolidation home loan equity and for what amount and whether that would be sufficient enough to pay all the prevalent debts and become debt free.

Debt Consolidation World is an online informational resource center with articles providing in-depth knowledge about Debt Consolidation. Know your options with Debt Consolidation Home Equity Loan.

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How to get a low interest loan to consolidate your debt

An alternative solution to credit and debt counseling, which could suit a number of people with higher levels of debt, is the low interest debt consolidation loan. Often, having a number of different financial commitments such as credit cards, store cards, loans, catalogues, and other types of credit can become very difficult to manage. Not only could you find yourself spending a fortune on making interest payments each month, with each of the creditors taking a chunk of your repayment by way of interest, but you could also find that trying to juggle a variety of repayments could become very confusing, thus increasing the chances of missed or late repayments, which could affect your credit rating.

In addition to this, you may find that the total monthly commitment from all the different repayments you have to make to the various creditors could really mount up, leaving you with little to nothing in the way of disposable income once you have made your repayments. By taking out a competitive debt consolidation loan you can wrap up all of your higher interest debts, and you can benefit in the following ways:

1.

Reducing the amount of interest that you repay on your debts each month
2.

Reducing your overall monthly outgoings through dramatically cutting the monthly repayments on your debts
3.

Having fewer debts to manage, thus making it easier to budget
4.

Having more disposable income each month for emergencies, day to day living, or even for occasional luxuries
5.

Enjoying a choice of secured and unsecured loans, with competitive rates available, a variety of repayments terms, and a choice of lenders


Different consolidation loans available in the market

There are two main types of debt consolidation loan available from a range of lenders these days, and this is the secured and the unsecured debt consolidation loan. Your own circumstances will determine which of these is the most suitable, and you can find some very competitive lower interest rates available with both types.

With one of these debt consolidation loans you can look forward to paying off all of your smaller debts, and having just one repayment and one lost of interest to deal with. You could find that the repayment that you make on your consolidation loan is far lower than the collective amount that you currently pay on each of your smaller debts, which means that you can enjoy more disposable income each month as well as easier budgeting.

Secured debt consolidation loans are designed for those with an asset against which the loan can be secured, which is normally the home. Most lenders will base your eligibility and borrowing power on the equity in your home, which means that market value of your home minus any mortgage or other loans still secured on it. There are many benefits to taking out a secured loan, but there are also risks and restrictions that you should look out for.



The benefits of a secured loan include:

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The ability to borrow larger sums of money based upon the equity in your home
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Being able to unlock the equity tied up in your property in order to raise capital without having to actually sell your property
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Enjoying very competitive interest rates from a choice of lenders
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Being able to spread repayments over a longer period, which means lower monthly repayments
*

Because these loans are secured those with a poor credit history and rating can enjoy a better chance of being offered finance at a competitive rate, although the rate is likely to be higher than it would be for someone with good credit


Some of the areas to look out for and bear in mind

1.

Your home could be at risk if you do not keep up with repayments on your secured consolidation loan, so do make sure that you can comfortably afford the repayment before you commit to this type of finance
2.

Some secured loans have a range of restrictions and penalties, such as early repayment penalties. You should make sure that you read the small print and fully understand the terms and conditions
3.

During the earlier years of the loan you could be covering mainly low interest repayments rather than paying off the principal balance
4.

In order to enjoy lower monthly repayments you may have to spread repayments over a very long term, which means that you will be in debt for longer

Unsecured debt consolidation loans are not secured against any asset, and these are therefore ideal for those that do not own their own home, or do not wish to put their home at risk. You will find a wide range of traditional banks and specialist lenders that offer this type of loan, and by comparing the deals on offer you can enjoy competitive interest rates and a choice of repayment periods that could cut the amount that you have to repay each month.

Your borrowing ability will be based upon your financial status and credit history, and in most cases unsecured loans are available to those with a good credit history and rating. As with unsecured debt consolidation loans, there are a number of benefit as well as areas to look out for when it comes to unsecured loans.


Some of the benefits of unsecured debt consolidation loans

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You do not need any asset, such as owning your own home, in order to take out an unsecured debt consolidation loan
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These loans are generally faster to process than secured loans, as there is less paperwork and administration involved, which means that you can sort out your finances more quickly
*

The repayment terms on unsecured loans are usually much shorter than on secured loans, which means that you will pay off your debt more quickly
*

You will often enjoy a fixed interest rate throughout the term of an unsecured debt consolidation loan, so you won’t have to worry about rising repayments and you can budget more easily
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If you do own your own property you won’t have to put it at risk when you take out this type of loan, even if you do fall behind with repayments
*

Some of the things to bear in mind and look out for with unsecured debt consolidation loans include:
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Shorter repayment periods mean that your monthly repayments will usually be far higher than with an unsecured loan, although it could still work out cheaper than paying all of your smaller debts separately
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Interest rates may be higher than with secured loans because the loan is based on trust rather than secured against an asset, which means that it is a higher risk investment for the lender
*

Unsecured loans are usually very difficult to obtain if you have a poor credit history or rating
*

Some unsecured debt consolidation loans come with a range of penalties and restrictions, so you should always check the small print before you make any commitment.


The right loan with the right low interest for your debt consolidation

Both secured and unsecured loans for consolidating credit card debt could help to ease the financial burden of high debt levels providing you take the time to find the right loan for your needs. It is important to compare the different loans on offer in each of these loan categories in order to find the best one.

This can be done with ease and convenience online, and you can look at areas such as the repayment terms and periods, the monthly low repayment figure, and the interest rates charged in order to find the most affordable loan for you. It is also possible to make your application online for both secured and unsecured debt consolidation loans, and in many cases you will receive an instant decision in principle, which can save you time and hassle.

However, before you make any commitment it is important that you are confident you can afford the monthly repayments – particularly with secured loans where your home could be at risk if you are not able to keep up with repayments. You should also check the small print with both types of loan to make sure that you won’t be affected by any penalties that may be in place.

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Consolidating your credit card debts

Credit card debts cab cause a lot of financial stress simply because it is so easy to accrue debt on these cards, and it can take forever to repay them if all you can afford is the minimum repayment each month. On top of this, the high interest rates charged on credit cards can really hit your finances and you ability to repay the card balances more quickly.

If you are the kind of person that uses the credit card to make purchases and then repays the balance at the end of each month then there is no problem, as you get to enjoy the convenience of a credit card without the financial implications of being charged high levels of interest – no interest is charged if you repay the balance in full within the specified period.

However, for many people credit card spending isn’t quite that simple. It seems to take next to no time to actually accrue a huge balance on the card, and it seems to take an eternity to actually repay it. With a large chunk of your monthly repayment being swallowed up in interest you could find that you are barely impacting on your principal balance if you are only able to make small repayments on your card each month.


Various debt management solutions

There are a number of solutions available to those looking to consolidate their credit card debts in order to reduce repayments and interest and make repayment of the debts more manageable. If you have a number of credit cards you are most likely paying a lot of interest as well as having to deal with making a number of repayments each month. By consolidating these you could cut your repayments, enjoy easier budgeting, and reduce the interest that you pay.

One of the solutions available for those looking to consolidate their credit card debts is through a debt consolidation loan, which can be used to consolidate a variety of other debts in addition to credit cards, such as catalogues, store cares, and other forms of credit. Another solution available is by transferring the balance of your credit cards to a 0% balance transfer credit card, which will enable you to benefit from a set interest free period to try and clear more of your balance.



There are a number of benefits and drawbacks to using the 0% balance transfer credit card. Some of the benefits include:

1.

Being able to transfer all of your credit card balances onto one card, thus making financial management and budgeting easier and more convenient
2.

Benefiting from an interest free period during which time you can make more of an impact on the principle balance of your credit card debt, rather than watching large chunks of your repayments go towards interest payments
3.

Enjoying a choice of 0% balance transfer cards from a range of lenders and financial institutes, giving you more choice and a better chance of finding the right card for your needs
4.

Some of the things to look out for and bear in mind include:
5.

Some 0% balance transfer credit cards charge administration fees and annual fees
6.

You will usually need a good credit rating in order to qualify for a credit card that offers this type of facility
7.

You will need to be able to get a credit limit that enables you to transfer all of your other credit card balances on to the card in order to cut back on the amount of interest you pay
8.

If you find it hard to stop spending on credit cards, you will still have the temptation of a card if you use this method to consolidate your other credit card debts



If you do plan to transfer your existing credit card balances on to a 0% balance transfer card you should make sure you compare the cards on offer, and find a fee-free transfer card that will not charge you for the privilege of transferring your balance. Also, compare areas such as the period of interest free credit offered, as the longer this is the more time you have to make a real impact on your credit card balance.


Reducing your credit card spending

For those with willpower curbing spending on a credit card may not be a problem, but for many people the temptation can be all too much and before you know it you’ve suddenly accrued a huge balance on your credit card and are faced with the prospect of repaying it all – and at very high rates of interest. There are a few ways to try and curb your credit card expenditure, and these could help to stop the debts mounting up on your card.

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Keep your card somewhere safe for emergencies or to take with you on vacation but don’t carry it around with you all day everyday, as this can help to keep your usage of the card down
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Set up a direct debit or standing order with your bank so that a set amount – as much as you can afford each month – is repaid on the credit card automatically, keeping the balance lower
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Keep a close eye on your credit card expenditure and monitor how much you are spending so that you don’t go over your limit and incur hefty charges – and to try and control your credit card spending a little more
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If you have a number of credit cards with balances, transfer the balances to a 0% interest balance transfer card If you think that you might use the available credit on the card as quickly as you are paying it off, simply cut up the card and dispose of it safely so that the temptation is not there and continue making the repayments on your transferred balances at 0% interest for the specified period.
*

Consider using a debt consolidation loan in order to pay off your credit card debts, and once this is done cut up and safely dispose of your credit cards to eliminate temptation.



Further reading: Finding the right person for credit counseling and what to look at when examining debt counselors and organizations.

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