?Want a Successful Home Business? Try a Credit Repair Business

By William Blake

Credit repair is a good business to be in because there is a growing need for this service. This is an excellent at home business because the services provided can all easily be performed from the comfort of your home. If you have any experience in or knowledge about credit repair this is a business that could be very lucrative for you.

Credit repair is highly in demand and if you want to enter this field in a small way then there is no better way to get started than through a credit repair home based business.

Anyone Can Do It

There are no special skills required for starting a home business in credit repair. In fact, there are many programs out there that give instruction on how to get such a business started. These do it yourself kits give you step by step direction in how to start the business and tips on how to make it successful with very little out of pocket expense for you. With this kind of help available it is not necessary to be a financial expert of a professional credit counselor to start your credit repair business in your home.

One of the best things about your own home based business is that you can be your own boss. There is no need for special schooling or licensing to begin your credit repair business. You can start the business right away with the help of these business kits. They even give suggestions on how you can market your business.

Marketing is an important step in getting your business off the ground. Once you advertise your business and get people to respond you can set up a time to meet with them and explain what services can provide for them. If you are able to convince them that you can really help them successfully repair their credit you have just contracted a client.

In your contract with your client be sure you state clearly what fees you will be charging for your services. Collect your fees before you begin working for the client. Once a contract is signed and fees paid you will be ready to gather credit information from your client and prepare dispute verification correspondence for each of the major credit bureaus.

Do your homework before you get started to be sure that you can successfully operate a credit repair business out of your home. With finances the way they are right now and with stricter bankruptcy laws in place the opportunities for success in a credit repair business are greater. It is a good time to try to see for yourself whether this type of business is a good fit for you.

About the Author:

Tire of barely keeping up with your credit card debt? Learn some simple credit card tips on the Debtopedia website. Visit http://www.debtopedia.com for a free copy of my "Secrets Of Credit Card Debt" report.

A Guide to Prosperous Retirement Planning

By Michael Geoffrey

Retirement is a huge milestone in a person's life. Retirement planning is crucial because it will have such an impact on your future. It will not only impact you financially, but in every other way. Because it is so important many questions arise as to how to be best prepared for this life altering time.

It is never too early to start planning for your retirement. Even if you are just finishing your education and beginning your career this the perfect time to begin preparing for your retirement. The earlier you are able to start the more secure your retirement will be. You will have pleasurable and relaxed retirement years if you start planning right now.

You should also make sure to plan for the possibility of living longer than you might now expect, just to be sure and to make sure that you will have enough money in the event that this does actually happen. Include the possibility of being on a fixed income for as long as 30 years or more.

A Smart Choice

The best idea is to create a financial plan for yourself, one that is created with a certified financial planner who will be able to ensure that you take all necessary factors and issues into consideration and that the results you are coming up with are accurate.

These projections will give you a clear picture of where you will be financially when you are ready to retire. That will be a good guide for you in deciding how much you want to save each month and year towards your retirement.

You may feel that you have very little to put away each month for your retirement. But it is amazing how those small amounts grow over time. Also, there may be months when you have a little extra besides your designated amount for retirement account. Padding that account a little here and there when possible will really pay off down the road.

There is no way you can go wrong saving for you future. The more money you save the more comfortable your retirement years will be. You will not have to sacrifice your lifestyle in the least when you make the transition from worker to retiree.

About the Author:

Is secured debt consolidation a good choice for getting your debt paid off? Find out more about how it works and whether it's a good choice or not at the Debt Smackdown website. Visit http://www.debtsmackdown.com for more helpful tips & advice.

?Foreclosure Auctions: A Bargain Hunter's Dream

By Michael Geoffrey

Buying a home at a foreclosure auction could be perfect for you if you are interested in purchasing a home for the lowest price possible. The courts will determine the price of foreclosure homes, which is most commonly below the market valued price of the home. If the lending agency that forecloses on the home requests that they do so, the court can use three different appraisals to determine the value of foreclosed property. These appraisals can be appealed by the lender, however.

However, once the value has been determined, the foreclosure auctions will be advertised for several weeks prior to the date of the auction and most states stipulate the house cannot be sold for less that two-third of the appraised value. If you attend foreclosure auctions do not expect to find a huge crowd of people vying for the right to own a cheap house.

Foreclosure auctions tend to be very simple events and the only people in attendance are often the lender who started the foreclosure process and one or two people who are thinking about buying the property. A foreclosure auction where lots of people attend and more than two or three separate bids are made would be a rare occurrence.

Be Prepared To Buy The House

Winning bidders at foreclosure auctions are expected to provide payment of 10 percent of the purchase price at the end of the auction. The payment has to be in some for of earnest money such as cash, certified cashier check or money order.

Personal checks as well as credit cards are not usually accepted at these auctions. If the winning bidder is unable to produce the required down payment, foreclosure auctions will usually resell the house right then.

The winning bidder will need to get a loan to cover the rest of the price of the foreclosure home they purchased at the auction within a predetermined period of time, usually thirty days. If they cannot get a loan to pay for the balance of the home price they will lose the right to purchase the home. They will also lose the 10% payment they made on the day of the auction. In order to prevent such unpleasant occurrences, most people set up the financing they will need before they bid on a home.

If a home is auctioned a second time due to the winner's inability to secure funding, if it sells for less than the first auction, the first auction winner may be responsible for the difference, as well as losing their 10 percent deposit. It is important to remember that sales through foreclosure auctions are final and the winning bid is considered a contract, promising to make the purchase.

About the Author:

Know how credit card reduction services can impact your credit score? There are some things you need to know before using these services. Find out what you need to know on the Debt Smackdown website at http://www.debtsmackdown.com

What Varieties of Options are Out There in Student Loans?

By William Blake

Whether you are in your first 4 years of college or are attending graduate school you are paying several times more for your college education than your parents and grandparents paid. This increase makes it difficult for students. But there are programs out there that give much needed assistance.

Undergraduates typically rely on a complex mix of scholarships, grants and loans. Those loans are sometimes taken out by undergraduates alone, others by their parents alone, sometimes a mixture of the two as when the parent becomes a co-borrower or co-signer.

Stafford loans are very popular and there are two types. The unsubsidized loan is a bit more expensive because you are responsible for accrued interest from the very beginning of the loan. Though they cost more, these types of Stafford loans are easier to qualify for. A subsidized loan in which the government makes your interest payments until 6 months after you finish college are of course less expensive because you save on all that interest. However, these loans have stricter requirements, offered only to low-income families.

A detailed breakdown of what can be borrowed by who is available at: http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/studentloans.jsp or http://www.salliemae.com/get_student_loan/find_student_loan/undergrad_student_loan/federal_student_loans/stafford_loans/

Graduate students have to work a bit harder for financial aid. Graduate school is more expensive and less scholarship opportunities are available. Typically a graduate student has to work as a research assistant or other employment related to their major to pay their tuition.

In recent times the PLUS loan program has been extended to graduate students. In the past this program was restricted to parents of undergraduate students. Now it has been expanded to include graduate students and rather than making the loan to parents the money is loaned directly to the student.

PLUS loans have several advantages.

First, they're available. Since they're based on credit quality, not need-based, most borrowers can qualify. Relatively few grad students have had time to get into the credit binds that working adults often fall into. As a result, though their history may be sparse, they usually have few bad marks on their credit report. That makes the decision easier for college financial aid officials, who determine eligibility.

About the Author:

Before you consider consolidation as a way to get your debt paid off, research the debt consolidation loan consequences. It isn't always a good idea to consolidate your debt. Find out why on the Inside Debt Consolidation website

What to Do with the Credit Cards When They're Paid Off

By William Blake

Once your cards are paid off, it can be tempting to start charging again. But that's the worst possible thing you could do. There is some disagreement as to the best course of action. Here are the things you could do, along with their pros and cons.

* Keep your cards and don't use them. Some experts recommend that you keep accounts open in order to improve your credit rating. This can help, but if you're not using the cards it won't help much. And by keeping the cards, you open up the door for temptation.

If you have accounts that you are not using you will probably not be reviewing them every month. This is a perfect situation for a person who wants to steal your identity. They could do a lot of damage before you ever notice.

* Keep your cards and use them occasionally. This will build up your credit rating, as long as you pay the balances in full each month. But still, by keeping the cards you could be tempted to run up the balances again, putting yourself right back where you started.

*A less tempting option is to hold onto only your lowest rate credit card and close all the other ones out. This gives you something to fall back on in an emergency situation but you have all those other accounts tempting you to buy.

But even when you only have access to one credit card, it's possible to get into more debt than you can handle. If you're offered a credit limit increase, turn it down.

*If you don't trust your ability to control your spending it is best to close all your credit card accounts and not have access to credit. This may seem a bit extreme but it is better than going back into debt.

The latter should be a last resort because credit cards are helpful in building good credit. They can help improve your financial situation by helping you obtain low interest rate loans when you need them.

About the Author:

Before considering consolidation as a way to get your debt paid off, you need to consider the debt consolidation loan consequences. It isn't always a good idea to consolidate your debt. Find out why on the Inside Debt Consolidation website at http://www.insidedebtconsolidation.com

Online Loans

By Dave Davis

Most of us need extra cash from time to time and sometimes it's hard to get our hands on it. Maybe you need some extra money for the holidays, or maybe bills and other expenses are starting to stack up. If this is the case for you, finding an online loan may be a solution that will really help you out.

Loans that happen online are somewhat different than loans that would happen in a bank. The approval process is a lot shorter. Usually you can apply for a loan online in about 30 minutes. The lender usually can provide you with a decision in two hours or less. Getting a loan from a bank is generally a lot more involved.

If you're approved, most online lenders will notify you via email. Once approved, the money is generally direct deposited into your checking or savings account. You will usually get the money the day after you're approved.

Before you apply for a loan on the internet, you will want to make sure that you're using a reputable site. Search for reviews on the service you're considering and you might save yourself a lot of heart ache. To get a loan online, you will probably have to provide your social security number and this can get you in trouble unless the lender is a trusted company.

Since theft of identity is quite common, you will want to be extra careful. Making sure that the company you want to get a loan from has a good history is highly recommended. You should be able to find plenty of information online about any company that you are considering.

The lender you're looking into should show on their site that it is encrypted and secure. This will ensure that you're information isn't stolen or posted somewhere else on the web. As long as the site is on a secure server, you shouldn't have any problems.

About the Author:

Dave is an educator about online loan types and has helped hundreds of people to find personal loans. You can find out more about loans by visiting his site.

Reverse Mortgage Gets Bad Rap

By Smagmatti Vanrock

You've seen the spokesmen on TV and youre getting solicitations in the mail about reverse mortgages. Maybe you're well versed in them and know your stuff.

A fair amount of seniors only know what they heard through the grapevine: Sisters husband, who heard from his dads friend, knows a guy who lost his house to the bank, all because he had a reverse mortgage.

Reverse mortgages are being talked about by people who dont always know the truth, and too often seniors make unwise decisions based on what they hear without a second thought.

This is a certifiable fact: Too many people speak without knowledge regarding the reverse mortgage. And moreover, too many people listen and take the face value of these uninformed individuals.

If a person had money questions or a financial dilemma, they would turn to their financial adviser or planner, who would then refer them to a certain reverse mortgage lender that they knew and could vouch for.

When the escrow closed, the statement would show a fee charged to the senior, sometimes up to ten thousand dollars, for the consultation of the estate planner.

Since the estate planner was paid from the referral, they were not always just serving the needs of the client.

With laws such as those under RESPA, and various advocates for seniors, something occurring like in the example above is now illegal. In fact, it is almost impossible to be manipulated or duped by anyone when there are so many ways to watch your back.

It is still up to you to make sure a reverse mortgage is the way to go. A lender will not always be forthright in telling you what is in your best financial interests.

But you are still not on your own, because all persons wanting a reverse mortgage must meet with a counselor, HUD approved, before proceeding with the loan.

This adviser will tell you the honest truth because there is nothing in it for them. They are there to guide, and if your outlook isn't the best based on what youve chosen to do, they will shout it from the rooftops.

This adviser will tell you the honest truth because there is nothing in it for them. They are there to guide, and if your outlook isn't the best based on what you've chosen to do, they will shout it from the rooftops.

The point is if you have a financial issue or know a senior who does, and the subject of the reverse mortgage comes up, don't parrot what you've heard until you really know. You might be surprised at the truth.

About the Author:

Perhaps youve heard some rumors yourself. Set yourself and others straight with this California reverse mortgage report. For supplemental information and and a California answer center to the reverse mortgage is here.

Advanta Business Credit Card: The Right Choice for Your Business?

By Caressa Waechter

Credit cards come from many different financial institutions, offering different incentives to get you to use them. There are credit cards that provide you the opportunity to accrue points as you spend with the card, and some credit cards give you special perks, which include discounts to stores and restaurants, or let you in special events. There seems to be a credit card that will satisfy the needs of most people.

When you are a business owner, you really should be using a credit card that is designed for your specific needs. Perks that are normally associated with a normal consumer card may not be right for you, but rather you could use features that are more business oriented. While there tends to not be as many choices for a small business card, there are still several that will be just fine for your business.

As far as a small business credit card, they are available from many of the largest banks. Many of the small business credit cards have features that allow you to track spending, get additional cards for employees, and adjust the credit limit for additional cards. These features give a lot of control to you, the business owner.

Getting a credit card from a company that comprehends the needs of an entrepreneur is very important. Advanta, with their Advanta business credit card, is one such company. They only deal with small business owners, so they are one of the best issuers of business credit cards.

Issuing business credit cards is all that Advanta does, so they are the small business specialists. This allows them to produce a line of business credit cards that are specifically tailored with the business owner in mind.

Having used an Advanta credit card in our business for several years, we have nothing bad to say about the product. If you are an entrepreneur in need of a business credit card, see for yourself what they have to offer.

When you decide on a credit card for your small business, pick a financial product that is designed specifically for the requirements of entrepreneurs. Always go with the best credit card for your particular situation, as this means you are using the best financial tools available for your small business.

About the Author:

Author Caressa Waechter owns her own business and feels all entrepreneurs should be using an Advanta business credit card. To learn more about business credit cards, especially the Advanta card, please visit her website.

Find Out How to Protect Against Identity Theft by Using LifeLock

By Harvey Warmuth

Today, you really need to be aware of the possibility that you could become a victim of identity theft. Since identity theft is on the rise, the possibility of you falling victim to identity theft grows as each day passes.

You should be taking certain precautions to make sure that your personally identifying information is secure, but there is only so much you can do. By using an identity theft protection solution, you are taken greater steps to ensure your identity is safe.

LifeLock is an identity theft solution that works by placing fraud alerts on your credit reports with the three main credit bureaus. Whenever an account is being opened in your name, you are first contacted regarding the new account. You have to confirm the account is actually to be opened, thus preventing a thief from using your information to get credit.

By continually monitoring places such as the Internet, LifeLock is always checking for suspicious activity regarding your personal information. ID theft criminals will sell personal information to make money. Because they monitor the normal sites were such activities occurs, LifeLock takes a proactive approach to identity theft protection.

LifeLock's $1 Million Total Service Guarantee is proof that they completely believe in the service that they are providing. This guarantee will put your life back on track if you happen to become a victim of identity theft while using LifeLock's service. It is comforting to have such a guarantee standing behind you, so you can worry less about identity theft.

LifeLock offers identity protection plans for individuals and children. They currently do not have a solution that covers your entire household. LifeLock has competitors that offers this type of coverage, so if this is important to you, there are other options.

LifeLock offers one of the most comprehensive identity protection solutions currently available. It will be hard to find a solution that offers better coverage for what LifeLock currently offers from just $9 per month.

Make the smart move and begin using LifeLock to keep from becoming the next victim of identity theft. Since the crime of ID theft is on the rise, you need to do all that you can to protect yourself. Using LifeLock is a great way to protect yourself and offers industry leading protection for pennies a day.

About the Author:

Harvey Warmuth is concerned about the crime of identity theft and feels that you should be doing what you can to protect against identity theft. To learn how to fight identity theft, please visit his website: LifeLock reviews

Eliminate Debt Faster Using the Credit Card Snowball Effect

By Phil Crafton

If you are like millions of other people on the planet, you likely have at least three credit cards with balances of ten to twelve thousand dollars. In addition, you are probably still only paying the minimum payment.

By now, you know that this will never alleviate your credit card pain. Debt elimination probably feels like an unattainable goal. Stop hoping for a miracle there is a plan that will have you debt free in no time!

Using what is known as the credit card snowball effect you can pay down then pay off all of your credit cards. Currently you are floating along only doing the minimum, this way you take an active role in your debt elimination.

You know what that is, right? Just like a snowball, you roll up in the backyard, credit cards will build up a balance seemingly in moments. As a consumer, you have two choices, get smashed by the credit card snowball effect or turn it around and make it work for you.

A wise person once said that those who refuse to learn about compound interest are doomed to pay it. No truer words were ever spoken! Therefore, lets begin to learn and turn the credit card snowball effect in your favor and put you on the right path to debt elimination.

There are many people who will tell you to pay off the card with the highest interest rate first. This is what that plan will look like:

List all your credit cards

Rank them in order of interest rate percentage.

Add extra money each month to the card with the highest rate until it is paid off.

Do this over again for each succeeding credit card until you have eliminated them all.

Sounds like good advice doesn't it? On the surface, this is a great debt elimination exercise and eventually it will work. However there are times and situation where this is not the correct way to reverse the credit card snowball effect.

All of your credit cards have different balances and interest rates. It would only seem to make sense to pay off the highest interest first. Nevertheless, consider these numbers.

For example, let us say you have three credit cards with interest ranging from 5% to 20%. Now assume that one of the cards has a $5,000 balance at 10% interest, which is fifty dollars per month in interest. The highest interest rate you have, 20% is on a card with a $2,000 balance, equaling forty dollars per month in interest.

Conventional wisdom in the above case does not apply to debt elimination. The lower interest rate card in this example will actually increase your debt faster than the higher interest rate card.

A better way of attacking this situation is to turn the credit card snowball effect in your favor:

Make a list of all your credit cards.

Choose the one with the highest interest accrual each month.

Put all the extra money on this cards.

Pay the minimum on others until the card with the highest interest accrual is at zero.

Repeat this process until all cards are paid off.

Sometimes a debt elimination plan means looking at things with a new perspective. This way of using the credit card snowball effect will have you free of your debt woes in no time.

About the Author:

Philip Crafton is a professional at managing credit, he has over four years experience in the finance and credit industry. Find reward credit cards, 0% balance transfers and even credit reports at www.Credit-In-Minutes.com. Copyright 2008 credit-in-minutes.com

Home Mortgages Guide

By John Bear

Basically, mortgages are being used on real estate properties rather than other properties, so when you think of a mortgage loan, it is being taken out to buy the property, which has been used as collateral. In simple terms, home mortgages are then loans that you take in order to purchase a house, which is the security for the loan.

When a person takes a home mortgage, it will defer him from paying the purchased home. Now, there are ideally two persons involved in a home mortgage: the creditor and the debtor. The person who gives the loan is known as the creditor and the one who takes the mortgage is the debtor. A legal advisor, a mortgage broker, and a financial advisor are also helpful characters in securing a home mortgage.

The other different types of mortgages are refinance mortgages, second mortgages, and bad credit mortgage loans. Now, there are different ways of repaying mortgages and that includes capital and interest, interest-only, no capital or interest, interest and partial capital, and many more.

The rate of interest that is to be paid with the capital is known as the mortgage rate. It is one of the most important aspects in home mortgages. Now, there are also another two kinds of home mortgages based on the rate: the fixed-rate mortgages and the adjustable-rate mortgages.

The borrower's requirements and situation would clearly define the type of mortgage the borrower can take. Other important factors to be considered are the amount that can be borrowed, price range, and the tax advantages when taking the mortgage.

Origination is the home mortgage process wherein it involves the following stages: submission of an application and documentation about the credit history and income, the underwriter checking the documents and credentials, and granting of the mortgage. For you to secure a home mortgage it is essential for you to have a good credit history. The creditor charges all fees that are included for the mortgage such as the entry and exit fees, administration fees, and lender's mortgage insurance.

Taking a home mortgage is no longer a tedious process. Most lenders have online websites that allow borrowers to discuss the mortgage, submit an application and also compare the various options. Their sites also have easy-to-use home mortgage calculators that give all information, including payments to be made each month and the tax advantages, with just the single click of a button.

The Internet is truly a wonderful source for getting a good mortgage dealer. Most sites even encourage borrowers like you to seek advice online or on the phone regarding home mortgages through the lenders' financial advisors. But of course, you have to ensure that the advisors have good credentials in order for you to trust them.

About the Author:

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