One Segment of the Mortgage Industry Doing Quite Well

By Tupania Vanrock

It seems I don't even need to check the morning paper anymore, because I already know what it will say.... "Credit & mortgage Crisis worse than expected, recession deepens, and basically the sky is falling".

I have friends in the mortgage industry from Seattle to Phoenix and east into Texas. All of their respective mortgage businesses are down. Some are down as much as 75%.

One common denominator of those crying the blues is that they are all in the forward mortgage segment of mortgage lending. On the contrary, reverse mortgages are booming.

The question is why? First, since banks on the forward end are so hesitant to lend out money one can see how a reverse mortgage, which does not require monthly interest or principal payments, might be a healthier investment for a bank or the banks investors.

The one real risk to the reverse mortgage involves a negative equity position for the bank. To combat this the bank lends with relatively low loan to value ratios, which in turn give it the security its investors desire to fund the loans.

Adding to the recipe, the over 62 market is growing like a weed. Many demographers believe the over 62 population will double by the year 2030.

Furthermore, with the ever increasing cost of living and this group's propensity to save less than its parents, the need for additional income will persist.

I haven't looked at the exact numbers of how much the stock market is down, but many seniors are running scared because of it. Many of my new reverse mortgage applications have been predicated on this.

You can imagine how this group feels. The proverbial rug has been pulled out from under them, and they are groping for some financial tool to create some feeling of safety.

Where things go, economically, in the coming years in anyone's guess. Home values are falling with no real end to the recession in sight.

The real nemesis to the reverse mortgage industry is home values reducing radically. Outside of this fairly unlikely occurance it seems the future looks bright.

About the Author:

To get a great guide discussing the workings of the California reverse mortgage go here. Another spectacular website full of answers to the most commonly asked reverse mortgage in California questions, you click here.

Forex Traders Rules- MY LIttle Secrets

By Singapore Trader Reports

A well fact amongst the trading community is that 90 percent of investors lose money in futures and Forex tradin! This leaves 10%, which is then broken down to 4-6 percent break even and only 4-6 percent make money.

What Group Are YOU in?

Given the high numbers of clients that are unsuccessful, it is all the more important for investors to approach futures and forex trading in the right manner. So we have put together some rules that hopefully help you become a more successful trader.

Secret 1: Trade with Money you can afford to Lose

Now that you have decided to get involved in trading, sit down and asses how much money am I going to trade, investor, speculate on the market with. I understand that this is trading and therefore there is the chance that I can lose my money.

Secret 2: It's Not how many trades: Do not OVERTRADE

So many new traders come to the market thinking, I am going to pick 8 winners out of 10 and make all of this money. Well it is possible to pick more winners but still lose on the market. Why because of risk and money management, so always put in equal amounts per trade. Eg: if you have $20,000 to trade, break it up into $2,000 trades, this will help with you staying in much longer and increasing your success to become a successful or a full time trader.

Secret 3: Run with the profits, and cut those losers.

If a trade goes against you, remember to cut it. No one can pick the market 100% of the time, so don't think you are different. If the trade is going the wrong way cut it. Re look at the trade, there is going to be plenty more. Once they start going up, let them go, who knows how high they go. Remember always use trailing stop losses.

Secret 4: Feel Like you can't pick your nose- Have a Break

It can be possible that you are just not picking the market right or there are strange market conditions if this is the case take a break. Walk away and then come back and look again.

Secret 5: Work like an Egyptian build pyramids

As the market moves up and you are long much earlier, you must learn not to double up your positions. Instead, reduce your positions each time you add to a position. If at first you had 10 contracts, the second should not be more than 5-6 contracts and the third should be 50% of your second (i.e. 3 contracts). An upside down pyramid will be top heavy and could wipe out all your hard-earned profits should the market reverse.

Secret 6 : Don't Double Down- It just compounds losses

If start to add to a losing position by averaging down this is going to be very dangerous. Remember you are investing with "margin". The contract is not yours; you merely paid a percentage of the total value. Averaging a losing position is equivalent to not admitting your mistakes, that you were wrong in the first place. Successful traders cut their losses short and realize that you can't get 100% of winning trades. We all try, but we can't. So cut losses.

Secret 7: WHO wants to be a millionaire? Don't Put it all in One Trade

Use risk and money management to protect your capital, divide your trading capital into 10 equal parts and never lose more than 10 percent on one trade. If you lost the first trade, you still have nine more opportunities to be right. Putting all your capital on one trade is suicidal and you will go down.

Secret 8: NEVER MEET MARGIN CALLS - CUT THE $hit- Saves you Money

When you are wrong about the market, get out, admit it and move on. Once you start thinking, very often prices will go against your position, further triggering a margin call from your broker. A margin call simply means that you are wrong in the market and your position should be closed out. Margin calls are made because people do not want to admit being wrong and take a loss; they hope the market will eventually go in their direction and that they will get there money back. It will come back, I am not wrong. Yes you are.. Get out. To avoid this mistake, you should never meet margin calls. Just cut your losses and "get the hell out".

Secret 9: Transfer Profits

Probably no more than 1% of traders have a rule to take profits out of their trading account. The few wise investors I know have bought their house, a car or simply put part of their winnings into a fixed deposit account, or into some long term shares, otherwise the chances are high that they may lose them all back.

Secret 10: James Blunt knows- Baby because I've got a plan Make a Plan

Lack of planning can only result in no plan, and without a plan you are gambling. Look at getting advice, from stock market reports, Great Broker look finding a great stock broker, use this site to see who they recommend.

HELP HINTS: Most traders should listen to the Kenny Rogers song The Gambler, there are aspects of that song that can learn from, mainly, know when to hold them, know when to fold them, and know when to 'cut' RUN

1. Know when and at what price you are going to enter the market. 2. Know how much money you are going to risk on each and every trade. 3. Know when and at what price you are going to get out when you are wrong. 4. Know when and at what price you are going to take your profits if you are right. 5. Know how much money you are going to make if you are right. 6. Have a safety stop in case the market does the unexpected. 7. Have an approximate idea of when the market should meet your objectives or when it should begin to make a move; and if it has not done so, get out.

FINAL WRAP UP

One of the most important things to take away are set a plan, has your risk and money management plan in front of you and stick to it. If you have that plan and it doesn't work, re plan, that's why if you start small you can soon build up to be whatever trader you want to be.

Happy Trading

About the Author:

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Cool Checks in Deflationary Times

By Steven Timers

Consumers are often confused about the economic conditions they are living in. Everything has a cool check about label, and the extremes are that either we are living in inflationary times or a period of deflation.

If the pervasive economic condition is deflationary, goods and services become less expensive. The accounting of the dollar increases. Many cannot grasp that relationship.

In a deflationary environment, the guage of value of almost everything decreases. Your home decreases in price; the value of gasoline, goods and services come under pressure. The value of stocks and hard good assess decreases.

The value of the U.S. dollar goes up in a deflationary environment. Quite the opposite of an inflationary environment.

When the value of the dollar goes up in the United States inevitably it goes up against other currencies. When the dollar buys more, its accounting is rising and acts like a magnet.

Check the value of the dollar in your personal purchases. Is the dollar's value is going up? It's buying more gas than it used to, buys more real estate than it used to, and gets better deals shopping for cars than before. Everything costs less.

When goods and services cost less, you're living in a deflationary environment. The U.S. dollar buys more and the value of the U.S. dollar abroad increases also.

The coolest, cool personal checks for the safest place to have you money in deflationary times in Treasury bills. The least ugly investment worldwide is U.S. currency.

About the Author:

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Apply To See Your Credit Report And Change Your Credit Score

By Jim Bransby

Your credit score has become the way in which many decisions about you will be made. Applying for credit cards, or for a car loan, will trigger a credit check and generate multiple credit scores, based upon which lender will make decisions about whether and how much to lend, and at what rate. Credit scoring is also used by potential employers, utility and service providers, and many others.

That said, improving your credit score is of vital importance. The major credit reporting bureaus use different methods to assemble credit scores, but these methods are similar enough that the same steps will be effective to improve all of your credit scores.

First, a consumer must know the players in the field of credit. There are three major credit reporting bureaus that each have a file pertaining to you. These files are constructed over time by compiling the information that credit providers give the bureaus. Therefore, each time you obtain credit, the report of it goes into your file and is updated over time with a record of your repayment of the debt.

For example, say you get a car loan that requires a payment every month on the 5th for thirty six months. Over the first year, say you make two payments on the 20th, and the rest on or before the 5th. The lender sends a report about this loan activity to each credit reporting bureau. Each credit bureau then uses a proprietary formula to compute a credit score for you, based on the information reported in your file.

As the scores can differ somewhat, the next step is applying to check your credit report. The information here is vital, it can be though of as your financial health record. There are many offers on the internet that can be used to check both your credit report and your credit score.

Once you have a credit report and a credit score, take a look at the information reported by your creditors. Make sure that the creditors that are reporting into your credit file are actually your accounts. If there are creditors listed on your report that you did not borrow from, you can improve your credit score by having these entries removed from your account.

Finally, review all payment histories to be sure that they are accurate. If a creditor has reported incorrect late payments, or does not show payments that you make, correcting these can greatly improve your credit score. Your credit score report will contain the addresses of the credit reporting bureaus. Just follow the instructions to write to the bureaus and identify errors in your report

The credit bureaus will individually investigate each error. Since it can often take several letters back and forth, keep a file of your letters and their responses. You can dramatically improve your credit score in a short time by removing inaccurate information and records of late payments.

Apply to check your credit report as soon as possible, and then at least annually. The more you know about your financial health record, the better able you will be to improve your credit score. Credit scoring is so commonly used today that improving your credit score will help you in many ways.

About the Author:

To find out exactly how you can get your annual credit report visit my credit report website.

Yes, You Can Get Out of Debt

By Eileen King

as you already know, our economy has gone sour and many families are suffering. Thousands of companies have declared bankruptcy and millions of adults are unemployed. Banks are closing their doors and money is tight for everyone. Financial problems are rampant worldwide. Where do we turn for help when we feel that we are drowning in overwhelming debt?

As overpowering as it may seem while in the middle of financial difficulties, it is possible to get out of debt. Credit counseling experts advise the first place to start is to realize the necessity of formulating a credit reduction plan and in being determined to stick to the plan.

To create a plan to get out of debt you must first take an in depth look at your finances. This means you will need to know exactly what you owe and how much interest you are paying on your mortgage, auto loans and credit cards. Start by cataloging all of this information.

Next, make a list of all of your living expenses and the financial obligations you regularly incur each month. The list should include all of your monthly payments: credit cards, house payment or rent, car payments, utilities and insurance - everything. Until you know exactly what you owe, it will be difficult to construct a plan to get out of debt.

After you have accomplished the tasks above you are ready to make an appointment with a licensed credit counseling agency. Enlisting the help of such an agency will help you to follow through with your commitment to get out of debt. The agency will begin by reviewing your list of debts and expenses. It will then make recommendations to you, and it may even work with your creditors to help you reduce both your and your debt.

Getting out of debt is possible. In fact, it is very often easier and faster than people think. The keys are to get good professional help, make a plan, and stick to it. Do that and you can soon be debt free, even in a tough economy.

About the Author:

Eileen King is a home-based freelance writer whose areas of interest include personal finance, online college education, and professionally and career-focused online degree programs for working adults.

How To Negotiate With Debt Collectors

By John Cooper

When you are being contacted by debt collectors it can be very aggravating. It can cause you to change your number, change your job, and even move.

This frustration is ten fold if the debt is not your debt. It is common for a lender to make a mistake and your account to go into collections. Trying to explain that the debt is not yours to a collector is next to impossible. This is because their motive is only to collect money not to fix mistakes.

If you are a victim of a lender mistake then you should immediately request validation of the debt. Do this through certified mail so you have documentation that you letter was in fact received.

Do not request validation over the phone because it is often ignored. In addition you only have 30 days to request validation of a debt once you are notified.

It is not uncommon for debt collectors to sell your debt to another agency instead of validating it with the lender. This is why we suggest you send your letter through certified mail because that way you may be able to file a civil suit against the debt collector.

Instead I suggest you hire a credit service to dispute the negative credit items that the debt collectors have posted on your credit report. This way you will prevent your score from being damaged due to a lender mistake.

If the debt is valid then you should settle it. You should start your settlement offer at approximately 50% of the balance.

Start at 50% of the balance because the collector bought your account for a fraction of the balance. Also this will notify the collector that you are willing to pay you just need to agree on a price.

You will need to have the collector agree in writing that they will remove the negative item from your report in exchange for your payment. If this is not done then the item will change to a paid collection and it will still be seen as a negative mark on your credit by future lenders.

In sum I suggest a service to repair your credit report of debt collectors.

About the Author:

For information about credit repair services or to read an article about how to remove credit card judgments visit us.

? Subprime Mortgage Foreclosures: The Importance of Reading the Fine Print

By Michael Geoffrey

Even without good credit, owning your own home is a very real possibility, and that very advertising strategy worked on lots of current homeowners in the last several years. Snatching up low interest loans, these individuals were all too thrilled to have found such great loans from lenders who enabled them to move into their own homes.

Unfortunately, the majority of people who purchased homes by means of this type of mortgage did not carefully analyze the details hidden in the fine print of their loan agreements. Because of that, they had no clue that their interest rate was set to skyrocket after a few months or years. Since they were not expecting it, that interest rate increase made it impossible for the individuals who took the loans out to continue making payments on their mortgages. This sad situation is now happening all over the country.

When that jump happened, many people saw their payments rise so much they couldn't believe it. Sometimes, the payments more than doubled. When that happened, and they could no longer afford their payments, they found a note on their door saying that if they didn't pay within a certain amount of time, they would face mortgage foreclosure.

A mortgage foreclosure is when you are forced to leave your home. Your home is then put up for resale or it is auctioned. You see, the bank or the lender would rather have someone else in the home who is able to make payments than to have you live there for free. They don't care who lives there, as long as whoever does pays their mortgage.

Protect Yourself

The best way to keep yourself from getting into a similar situation is to read all of the details found in the fine print of a loan agreement before you agree to or sign anything. If your interest rates are going to go up and you know that at the time you take out a loan, you will be able to prepare for the increase and budget yourself accordingly.

So get into the habit of always reading the fine print on everything you sign, whether it's for a new house or for a new car. Everything that you finance can suddenly jump up in price if the fine print says your interest rates are going to increase and that's what happens with mortgage foreclosures all the time.

Before they know it, many people find themselves homeless because they suddenly are no longer able to make their mortgage payments. By being a wise consumer and reading the fine print in any contracts before you sign them, you can keep yourself free of the misery of foreclosure.

About the Author:

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Simple Tips On Refinance Mortgage Loan

By John Bear

Comparing lenders would certainly help you find the best deal on refinancing, but those numbers can get pretty confusing, especially when you are to investigate rates, fees, and points. Remember though that just because a mortgage company has the lowest rates, it doesn't necessarily mean that it offers the best deal for you.

Many of the financing companies post their rates online. In fact, the lower interest on an ARM or fixed-rate mortgage can be tempting, but do look at the fine print. What fees or points are required for the rate? Mortgage lenders tend to lure consumers with low initial numbers only to have high closing costs. The best number to look at is the APR.

The annual percentage rate or APR is required by the federal law to be disclosed to consumers before signing any contract. The APR includes the mortgage's interest rate and closing costs, and this gives you an accurate idea of the total cost of the refinance mortgage loan.

Just like your original mortgage, the refinanced mortgage also has closing costs. Standard fees include the origination, appraisal, and closing fees, while points can be required for a low-rate security. So just by looking at the APR, you can actually figure which lenders are offering the best fees in relation to their rates.

When researching for a mortgage, do ask about penalty fees because early payment or late payment fees can get really pricey. So there are some instances that you can waive part of these fees, such as an early payment, by paying a point at closing.

However, depending on your current situation, the lowest rate refinance mortgage loan may not be the best deal all the time. Take for an example, if you plan to move in a couple of years, paying points for low rates may not be able to save you more money.

Before refinancing, decide on how long you plan to keep the mortgage. Then, compare the costs of mortgages for how long you will have them, even if you take out a 30 year mortgage that you plan to have for only a couple of years. Mortgage calculators can always help with the math.

In order to find your best option regarding refinance mortgage loan, request quotes for refinancing your mortgages together and separately. Also look at several different lenders to make sure you are getting the most competitive offer. By doing your research and analyzing lenders, you will surely end up with the best refinancing deal for your situation.

About the Author:

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