Saturday, December 9, 2006

Self Employed Mortgage Issue – Lots Of Assets, Little Income

The economy of the United States is undoubtedly and indisputably based on the small business. That being said, it is rather amazing that financing for self-employed people is such a problem.

Self Employed Mortgage Issue – Lots of Assets, Little Income

There is a certain beauty to the entrepreneurial spirit. You have the pride of ownership in running your own business. You get to make the key decisions. You get to decide the vision for the business. Of course, you have to pay the bills and deal with down years, but it is really a small price to pay. When it comes to financing, however, you may feel like you are being sacrificed to the finance gods.

In this case, we are talking about being self-employed and applying for a home loan. Despite the fact you and me are part of a group of millions of self-employed individuals, lenders do not seem to know what to do with us. The problem is we do not fit in nice little squares. Owning a business is a highly fluid situation, but most lenders consider fluidity a bad thing and are uncomfortable with it. In an effort to deal with us, they usually want to see every bit of financial information we have for the last three years. If you are self-employed, you know this can lead to problems.

It is the rare day that a self-employed person makes a consistent amount of money. Each year is different. 2004 may have been great, while 2005 was not so. This variable income situation gives mortgage lenders major headaches. They want to forecast whether you can afford the loan you are seeking. A big part of that forecast is how much they think you will make in future years and how likely it is you will make that amount. If you had a down income year recently, they will often reject your loan.

So, is there anything you can do in this situation? Yes and no. If you have nominal assets, there is not much advice I can offer you. No assets and low income is a bad combination when it comes to seeking financing. On the other hand, significant assets can provide a solution.

If you have been putting money into the stock market or retirement vehicles or art or whatever, there is a potential solution to your low income problem. The answer is to sell some of the assets off and make a bigger down payment. The exact amount is entirely dependent upon how much the lender requires before they will give you the loan. They will usually tell you how much you can borrow with your income figures. You need to come up with the rest as the down payment.

Being self employed is great except for when it is not. Applying for a mortgage can be one of these negative situations. If you get in a bind, consider cranking up your down payment to see if it does the trick. While you may not want to sell that choice stock, keep in mind you can sleep in a house.

Fixing Your Finances Through A Bad Credit Home Mortgage

If you've been abusing your credit cards like many Americans there's a decent chance that you've already accumulated enough credit card debt to last you until retirement age. On the other hand, it may be time to bit the bullet and to say enough is enough and do something about it before you find yourself having to go through a bankruptcy.

The good first step is to take charge of your financial situation by keeping track of every cent that goes in and out of your pockets.

Unfortunately, through the power of credit cards or "cashless shopping", many have been duped into over spending because of the readily available credit that multiple credit cards offer and by the low monthly payments. Individuals think only of today and before they realize it they've spent themselves into financial oblivion by purchasing things they don't really need, they can't afford and sooner or later the debt begins to snowball out of control.

There are options once you see the light and decide to make the necessary changes in your spending habits. Both financial institutions and many non profit organizations offer debt counseling to get you started in the right direction.

Another popular debt consolidation option is the all inclusive bad credit home mortgage debt consolidation loan. You can take all your credit card debts and pay them off in one fell swoop. Of course, you need equity in your house but if you do it's a viable option because you'll lower your interest rate and be able pay off more principal each month. Another nice feature is that the interest you do pay will become tax deductible. Consolidation will also allow you to take multiple payments monthly payments and turn them into a single payment.

When it comes to working towards a debt free life, it's important that you pay all your debts and loans each month but you should also set aside a percentage of your income in some type of savings plan. This is essential if you truly want to get your financial house in order.

By organizing expenses, curbing your spending and developing sound savings habits you'll begin to create a financial buffer for when the unexpected events of life occur like losing a job or health issues. Of course, there's really no easy way to escape debt payments. It's simply a matter of finding the best debt reduction plan that suits your financial capacity and setting up a realistic time frame to get your financial house in order.

Mortgage Broker Vs. Mortgage Banker

Many consumers think that “mortgage companies” are banks that lend their own money as mortgage. But in fact, any company that you deal with might be either a mortgage banker or may be a mortgage broker.

Mortgage Banker: A mortgage banker is a direct lender, which lends you its own money, although it may often sells the loan to the secondary market. Mortgage bankers (otherwise known as “direct lenders”) sometimes keep servicing.

Mortgage broker: A mortgage broker is actually a middlemen; he first does the loan shopping and analysis for the borrower and then puts the lender and borrower together. Most of the lenders by which the broker finds loans do not deal directly with public.

If you go through mortgage banker, you would save the fees of middleman and could make the loan process quite easier. A mortgage banker would give you direct approval of loan, whereas a mortgage broker gives you information second-hand. But anyhow, many mortgage bankers have their own limitation in what they can offer. An in case, if you present your loan application in poor light, it would lead to a bad impression in front of banker. It is not suggested to lie or mislead a lender, but one need to understand that presenting a loan to a lender is just like presenting your taxes to the IRS; all documents should be valid one.

A mortgage broker charges dramatic fee for every service, but then he has access to wide variety of loan programs. He would also have knowledge of how to present your loan application to various lenders for approval. Some of mortgage bankers are brokers as well. As an investor it is always wise to have both mortgage broker and a mortgage banker on your side. You all need to remember that mortgage brokering is an unlicensed profession in many of the states.

Thursday, December 7, 2006

Advantages of whole life insurance

Whole life insurance also known as “permanent” or “straight” life insurance is one of the most applied forms of insurance. This life insurance policy covers one’s entire life. This is much in demand because of its ability to provide financial protection and accrue cash value and pay dividends to the insured. In other terms, you can say it as an investment, that you make to secure your future build up finance that helps you in your indigence.

Taking a whole life insurance policy leads to a number of benefits and advantages. Few of them are listed below.

1. The first advantage is The Death Benefit.

The whole life insurance policy guarantees you the death benefit that never decreases. Moreover no federal income taxes are charged upon death. And if you desire, death benefit can be taken as a monthly income instead of a lump sum.

2. Consistency of premium level.

Unlike term life insurance’s premiums, which increase at the time of renewal, the premium you pay in whole life insurance remains consistent. There’s no increase. However, use of dividends can minimize the premiums that you pay and contracted for.

3. “Cash value” is another beneficial feature of whole life insurance.

Unlike other life insurance policies, whole life insurance policy accumulates the useable cash reserves. This increase as one pays premiums and also accumulates tax deferred. And if you decide to surrender the policy, you receive your cash values.

4. Participation in whole life insurance policy earns you the dividends.

You are eligible to earn dividends if you own a participating whole life insurance policy. You receive this dividends in cash, which you can further use to either purchase a paid up additions, to minimize premiums or you can keep it within the policy to generate interest.

These advantages of whole life insurance policy are really worthwhile. If you are not confident you should consult an expert before taking up any policy.

California Auto Insurance Quote

It is a good idea for consumers to shop around for car insurance. People can save hundreds of dollars a year by getting quotes from different companies. Car insurance quotes are easier to come by than ever before. In the past, people had to fill out paperwork, mail it in, and wait for a response to get a quote, but now quotes are available in a matter of minutes either over the phone or on the Internet. There are numerous sources accessible to consumers today that can provide them with a quote instantaneously.

It is wise to take advantage of free California auto insurance quotes on the Internet. Hundreds of insurance companies currently provide their services through the web, allowing shoppers to get quotes easily and without stress. People who still buy their auto insurance from an agent could possibly be losing out on the best deals.

People no longer have to sit and wait in long lines at their local insurance agent\'s office to buy a policy or make changes to an existing account. They can make all their decisions online, from paying bills to adding another driver to their policy, and it shouldn\'t take longer than a few minutes. The Internet allows policyholders to access their policy and make minor changes without ever having to speak to an agent.

Moreover, people can use their free California auto insurance quotes to find out more about the credits presented to drivers with good ratings. From simple carpool options to low mileage credit, safe drivers could be given a concession on their policy. It can also be a good idea for a consumer to bundle up their insurance policies, meaning that they should try to use the same provider for other cars in the household and any home insurance policy they may have. It could help save more than just couple of dollars from their monthly bill.

Life Insurance - Who Should Have Life Insurance And What Kind Of Policy?

Life insurance doesn't benefit the person that dies; it benefits those who are the beneficiaries. There are many types and many reasons to buy life insurance but you need to consider the needs of your family and how long they will need protection.

Life Insurance For The Living

The best life insurance policy is one that pays the biggest benefit. If there are young children you should have a term life insurance policy and if both parents work, there should be disability insurance as well. And anyone with dependents or liabilities, should move to protect themselves at the lowest possible cost.

Do I Pay Forever?

The reality is that the policy should benefit the surviving spouse after the children have left home if you do not have a lot of assets.

Term Life Insurance

The two most common types of life insurance are term life insurance and whole life insurance. Term life insurance offers coverage for a specific number of years with a set premium. If you choose a policy to age 100, you are buying a policy, similar to whole life but without the cost.

The biggest drawback is that you can keep on paying and have no value if you decide to cancel. But that is what life insurance or any type of insurance is about; risk.

You insure your car and house but you don't secretly hope to have an accident or your home burn down. And whenever you sell either, you cancel the policy but don't receive a refund of the premiums.

And so it is with term life insurance. It is just that; insurance against an event that may happen prematurely. And if you decide to keep it, your purpose has changed from protection against death to the provision of the proceeds to your family and loved ones.

Whole Life Insurance

Term life insurance is up to five times cheaper than whole life and for that reason, provides up to five times greater coverage. This type of policy will provide a cash value at a later date, but remember that you have paid a fair amount more in premium.

And this cost of term life insurance compared to other types, holds true until the older ages. Then both types must be compared to see which offers the greatest advantage.

Both policies offer protection but a very different cost.

When you are younger, the two best reasons to buy term life insurance are that it is cheaper and gives you greater coverage.

When you are older, your needs have changed. If you have become wealthy, perhaps you need to continue with the coverage to pay income taxes. If not, perhaps you will need to keep the coverage so that your spouse can buy a life annuity to provide just that, an income for life.

How to quickly find the best term life insurance quote?

A term life insurance holder pays regular premium during the term of his life insurance policy. If the insurance holder dies during the term, death benefits directly go to the beneficiary.

Most of the life insurance policies offer variety of options but term life insurance offer only limited flexibility. Additionally, term life insurance does not make any cash value or any residual. After the expiry of term life insurance policy, there is no use of it, you just need to renew it or purchase a new one.

It is also true that options are more readily available with other insurance solutions. Despite simplicity and limitations, term life insurance is still sensible among many customers.

Those who need temporary life insurance protection should prefer term life insurance policy. Some times it happens that an individual is not covered by any life insurance policy due to some reasons, under such circumstances, a term life insurance can fill the gap, protecting the financial interests of their family. If you also need life insurance coverage for a short period, term life insurance comes in picture.

Term life insurance is mostly meant for young working people with families. You can quickly find the best term life insurance quote using Internet. While searching for online term life insurance quotes you should keep some points in mind like the premium to be paid, term of the insurance, term life insurance rate, authenticity of the company etc. You can find affordable term life insurance by searching online life insurance companies. By comparing life insurance policies of different companies you can find the best term life insurance policy suitable for you.

A easy way to Compare term life insurance quote

The best way to compare term life insurance quote is to have several companies quote their premiums to you. Today you can go online and utilize free services that make it their business to compile databases with all the various information from hundreds of companies. The rating service gets a small fee from all the companies, therefore they aren't concerned with which one you buy. Now you truly compare life insurance quote

Frankly this method is truly best for you because you've removed individuals from the process and any prejudges. The services are strictly mechanical without opinions or biases. Apply a little thought to what you're trying to accomplish. Put that into the quoting process and you'll likely find what you're looking for at a decent price.

We've seen major differences on a particular coverage from one company to another. The rates these companies charge are based on their loss experience and cost of doing business. The more volume they do the lower their cost per policy seems to be.

You go online select off a checklist what you want and within seconds you'll have a lot of information with which you can make a good decision. Rather than calling around through the yellow pages just put your mouse to work by going online. With your favorite drink in hand relaxing in your comfortable chair you'll get done in minutes what used to take hours to get accomplished.

Buying adequate amounts of coverage is a lot easier today than ever before and certainly more easier that’s for sure. It's great to be able to compare term life insurance quote.

Foreclosures - How To Invest Successfully

If someone is about to lose their home to foreclosure, then you can guarantee they're feeling stressed. They're probably being bombarded by calls and letters from creditors, and for many people it all becomes too much to handle. They close their eyes and hope it will all just go away.

Reality is that it won't, and as an investor interested in buying foreclosures, the hardest part can be convincing the homeowner that they really are going to lose their house unless they do something about it. It can also be difficult to convince them that you really are trying to help them, even though you are helping yourself make a profit at the same time.

When you're dealing with foreclosures, time is of the utmost importance. You need to have enough time to bail out the homeowner and take over the property before it's too late. That's why it can be a good idea to subscribe to a foreclosure listing service - you get access to listings at the earliest possible time, and don't have to use your valuable time looking for potential foreclosure properties from other sources.

Many people facing foreclosure have spoken to an attorney, and are convinced that bankruptcy is their only option. In most cases this isn't true, but attorneys tend to stick to what they're familiar with, which is bankruptcy, rather than mentioning other possibilities such as:

- Sale by assumption
- Deed in lieu
- Straight sale
- Foreclosure presale
- Compromise sale
- Short payoff
- Workouts
- Assignment
- Injunctions

There are still more options than these, which shows that bankruptcy definitely isn't the only choice for the homeowner. When you're dealing with a homeowner in foreclosure, make it clear that you're offering an alternative to bankruptcy. Find out whether they really understand what bankruptcy will do to their credit history and how it will affect their future.

If you're serious about buying foreclosure properties, then you need to become familiar with everything that's required in the process, and check everything for every property you consider. These items include:

- Loan and mortgage documents
- Loan amount, monthly payment, and interest rate
- Any outstanding taxes
- Existing insurance policies
- Any other liens or judgments

Make sure you have enough information to complete all the necessary tasks before the foreclosure occurs. If there's not enough time, don't even bother starting. Having said that, learn as much as you can about ways to delay foreclosure, and help the homeowner to implement them all. If may just give you enough time to take over the property before the foreclosure auction.

Above all, focus on creating a solution where everybody wins. It's never an easy time for the homeowner, so be prepared for plenty of anger, frustration and resentment - some of which may be directed at you. Walk away if it's obvious the person doesn't want to work with you. Find someone who is interested in finding a solution, show empathy for their situation, put together a strategy to get the best possible result for them, and before long you'll find yourself with a good portfolio of investment properties.

Investment on Returns

So there I stood, feeling incredibly stupid. Having waited in line for a few minutes to return a paperback copy of Harry Potter, which I realized I already owned once I brought it home, I stood face-to-face with the cashier. I looked over his shoulder and ready “Barnes and Nobles”, I looked down at the imprint on my plastic bag “Waldenbooks”. I paused , turned beet red and said “Oops, I am obviously in the wrong place”. I started to turn and leave when he gently stopped me with the words “If we carry that book we would be happy to refund it for you”. “Really???” I asked. “Sure no problem let me have a look”. He determined that he already had 24 copies in stock and was more than happy to take one more. He handed me a credit card looking store credit, had me sign a receipt and that was that.

But that was not the end of the story. I was so blown away and so grateful I decided to go buy a CD. Now the CD was about twice what my refund was so I handed the card and the money and I took my CD and left

But that was still not the end of the story. As soon as I got out of the store I called my brother and 5 of my friends to tell them about this amazing customer service. And now of course I am telling you, too.

So let’s look at this story and see what actally occurred. Barnes and Nobles made an “Investment on my Return”. What exactly was the “cost” of this investment? Perhaps there was a cost for training the employee that taught him to act in this kind and generous way. But other than that it cost them nothing. Okay maybe there was some cost for restocking. They will surely sell that other copy. But then we need to reverse this formula and see what the Return on Investment was.

Here is where the real power of this theory is seen. They not only were repaid their initial outlay of $7.99, they received an additional $7.99 that I most surely would not have spent otherwise. They received free word of mouth advertising (which is far more powerful and effective than traditional advertising) and they created a loyal, raving fan customer.

“Returns” are often emotionally charged events. Think about it. People return things that “don’t fit”, that they “don’t like” , that they “can’t afford” , “wasn’t what they expected”, that are of “inferior quality”, that” they don’t need” or “they don’t want”

For a lot of your customers returns are either embarrassing, filled with disappointment or frustration or at the very least a major inconvenience.

How you handle this touchy situation will impact on your customer’s decision to continue doing business with you.

There are many stories going around about how Nordstrom would take anything in a return (including a car engine). Of course you don’t have to go to that extreme to make your return policy fair, easy and effective.

What does it take to create a return atmosphere that will keep your customers coming back?

1. Create

Management needs to create a policy that is fair, easy and effective. Put yourself in your customer’s shoes and make a decision that benefits them.

2. Train

Once you have your policy make sure that your employees understand what the policy is and how to implement it.

3. Empower

This may be the most essential element of the process. Empower your employee to “do the right thing” to “err” in favor of the customer. Then publicly stand behind that employee even if his or her decision goes beyond your policy. Take them aside privately and discuss and modify.

4. Educate

Your customers need to know your policy inside out. This is especially true if your business has strict regulations. If they need to have a receipt to return the product then it is best to say to the customer as they are checking our “Remember if you need to return this we require the receipt. Would you like it in the bag or would you like to have it?” Granted this will not guarantee that the customers will remember but it does help. Also have the return policy displayed at the check out line and on the receipt.

5. Bend within Reason

Rules are important, but customers are more important. Even with a strict return policy you need to be customer focused. Do what you can to help that customer with their need. Remember the Investment of Return.

Truly looking out for your customers best interest is actually in your best interest. Take a long hard look at your policy. Is it serving you and your customers? If not change it NOW!

Wednesday, December 6, 2006

Chicago Personal Injury Funding

One can face a lot of financial bother in the event of a personal injury lawsuit moving to trial, or an individual can encounter a difficult financial situation during out-of-court settlements. Even if an individual emerges triumphant, he or she may suffer if the money that is procured is too little or is given after inordinate delay. But the possession of funds during one’s personal injury lawsuit settlement can give the much needed financial and assistance.

Law firms that specialize in such cases provide the necessary funding. The money is repaid to the concerned firm if one wins the personal injury lawsuit. One of the bitter facts accompanying a personal injury lawsuit is that it can be extremely time-consuming as far as a settlement is concerned. Even with a sound personal injury lawsuit and a distinguished lawyer, it takes a lot of time to complete the legal process. And the bills, together with medical costs, keep mounting.

It is an accepted practice for personal injury litigation to be sorted out of court. But financial compulsion could drive one to agree to a small settlement for one’s personal injury lawsuit. A cash advance in hand can help one to pay one’s pressing bills and buy time to continue dealing with one’s personal injury lawsuit.

A personal injury fund is aimed at easing the financial strain of one’s court case by offering a cash loan. By using the fund, one can obtain the money one requires while the case undergoes a long legal process.

As a claimant who may be in opposition to a defendant with a sound financial background, one could discover one’s finances stressed to the maximum. Lawsuit funding can help one avoid the compulsion to give consent to a settlement that is too premature or concerns a paltry sum.

Chicago Car Accident Attorneys

Those of us who have been involved in a car accident know how frustrating it is to deal with an insurance company. Some victims of car accidents are unable to obtain the compensation or fair settlement due him. In this situation, it is good to bank on Chicago car accident attorneys.

Why Hire Them?

In the U.S., car accidents happen every five seconds. In Chicago, car accidents happen day in and day out. Basically, car accidents are rampant. In fact, they happen so often that you can hardly find a person who has not been involved in a car accident.

But transportation is still a necessity. People spend most of their time on the road. You use cars to transport you from home to your place of work and vice-versa. You use them to visit your friends and relatives. You use them to visit a client or customer, run an errand, etc.

During the times that you are on the road, you are exposing yourself to the risks and dangers of transportation. Traveling may lead you to a situation where you can be hurt or injured. In the worst cases, you can even lose your life.

Experienced and skillful Chicago car accident attorneys can help you with your claim so that you can receive full and fair compensation for the losses, suffering and injuries you have endured.

Competent Chicago car accident attorneys advise their clients to document the names and addresses of the drivers, passengers and witnesses involved in the accident. When possible, the party involved in the accident must also get the names of the insurance companies and policy numbers of the persons accountable. Aside from these, victims are also advised to note the damages of the cars as well as the injuries and fatalities involved. A narration of how the accident happened is also material.

Negligence on the part of the other driver can be established by his recklessness, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and other factors. Be sure to get all the necessary details for your claim to be prosecuted easily and with favorable results.

Chicago Personal Injury Attorneys provides detailed information on Chicago Personal Injury Attorneys, Chicago Personal Injury Claims, Chicago Personal Injury Funding, Chicago Personal Injury Law Firms and more. C Personal Injury Attorneys is affiliated with Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers Web.

Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers

You should contact a lawyer if you've recently suffered an injury due to someone else’s negligence. Lawyers specializing in personal injury cases usually work only on a contingency basis, meaning that you only pay if you win the case. The costs of hiring a lawyer are not that high.

If you are contemplating hiring a lawyer for your case, it would be prudent to do some research on the facts of your claim. List the questions you what to ask a lawyer and what kind of services should you expect from him or her.

An experienced legal representative will be familiar with the specific facts that need to be taken into account for your specific argument. Your lawyer will guide you though the legal aspects of the case that you may not be able to comprehend. Similarly, he would provide aid when dealing with the insurance companies and health plans.

The main reason to hire a lawyer is that they are able to negotiate the case better than you could yourself. This is particularly true when you are involved in a case that involves multiple states, since the personal injury laws differ from state to state. Take into account that you should only hire a lawyer with an extensive practicing in your region. A variety of personal injury lawyers can be found but you should make certain that he or she has experience managing cases similar to your personal incident.

Finding a lawyer to argue your case who is experienced shouldn't be overwhelming. Bear in mind the specific statute of limitations set by your state and think about the fact that you need to get legal representation soon. Consider using the Internet to gather all the information you need about a lawyer.

Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers provides detailed information about Chicago personal injury lawyers, Chicago personal injury funding, chicago personal injury law firms, and more. Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers is affiliated with Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer.

Chicago Personal Injury Attorney

If you are involved in an accident in Chicago and you suffer from an injury due to the negligence of another party, you should report the incident to your personal injury attorney as soon possible. In case of an accident, take the following steps:

First, seek medical attention as soon as possible even if there are no evident signs of injuries. Second, get the personal details and contact information of all the people who witnessed the accident. Lastly, contact your personal injury attorney, especially one who is based in Chicago, right away.

As soon as the accident is reported, the insurance company will conduct its own investigation to verify the facts of the case. It will attempt to explore angles in your report that will help reduce its expenses and liabilities.

By contacting your Chicago personal injury attorney, you have someone doing the legwork for you within the confines of the law. What?s more, you can be rest assured that he has your best interest in mind. There are some lawyers who go to the extent of not charging you any fees until you are properly compensated. The primary reason you why would want to hire a Chicago lawyer is because he will be able to negotiate your case better than if you did it yourself, helping you secure the claims you deserve. Besides, these personal injury lawyers are based in Chicago. Therefore, know how the law works in the area and how it can be used to your advantage.

Your Chicago lawyer will help you establish two facts: first, that the other party was at fault and, second, that there was substantial damage to cause injury to you. It should be established that the other party failed to take reasonable precautions, and was, in fact, negligent enough to cause the accident leading to your injury. Citing the defendant?s past incidents of negligence will also work to your advantage. However, leave it to your lawyer to explore such options.

Injury Attorneys provides detailed information on Injury Attorneys, Personal Injury Attorneys, Brain Injury Attorneys, Work Injury Attorneys and more. Injury Attorneys is affiliated with Brain Injury Lawyers.

Chicago Personal Injury Attorneys

In case a person is wounded in an on-the-job mishap, or injured because of the carelessness of another, Chicago personal injury attorneys will fight in order to safeguard one’s lawful privileges and get compensation for one’s injuries.

Chicago Personal Injury Attorneys make their clients aware of one’s legal rights. In the aftermath of being wounded while working, it is imperative that one should be familiar with the legal rights.

When a person is injured while working, his physical and financial security is at peril. One should seek the assistance of a forceful and knowledgeable Workers’ Compensation attorney to equal the playing area. While working, if a person is afflicted with a recurring strain damage in the form of carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis or tennis elbow as a consequence of keeping up with the demands of one’s job, one could qualify for Workers’ Compensation reimbursement. It can include a preference for doctors free of cost, 100% of every medical expense, and lost-wage reimbursement.

It also includes lump-sum cash payments, professional retraining or re-schooling, and permanent wage loss benefits. Immediately in the aftermath being wounded in a mishap, one has to encounter a hostile legal network that is complicated and puzzling.

There are numerous blunders that can be committed during the preliminary phases of a personal injury suit; hence, one should require the instant help of a forceful and qualified personal injury attorney to direct oneself through the claim procedure. The attorneys also try to make certain that a person is allotted the highest reimbursement legally permissible for one’s injuries.

Some of the kinds of personal injury cases handled by Chicago personal injury attorneys include, medical malpractice, products liability, dog bite, slip and fall, railroad accident, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, and nursing home abuse.

Chicago Personal Injury Attorneys provides detailed information on Chicago Personal Injury Attorneys, Chicago Personal Injury Claims, Chicago Personal Injury Funding, Chicago Personal Injury Law Firms and more. Chicago Personal Injury Attorneys is affiliated with Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers Web.

Why It Has Become So Essential To Know Your Credit Score?

Your credit score like your reputation follows you around. This is more true if you are embarking on a new venture like moving to another town or starting a new business. What you have achieved in the past remains significant. There would be very few occasions when it would not matter.

You may not realize the importance of having a good credit history in the early years but be sure it will become extremely valuable at a later date. A good credit history will help you obtain loans at lower interests, get a better job, get help in renting an apartment, secure finance for white goods and even get great financial references when starting a new business.

You have to therefore keep track of your credit scores and to do this you must obtain a copy, either free or paid of your credit report and score. From the report you can read the contents and understand how it is affecting you.

Your credit score tells the lender what the chances of getting his money back from you would be. To understand this let's relate it to the rank your child would show on his report card. One glance and you would know the total number of students in the class and the number at which your child is placed. The determining factor here would be his performance in studies. Similarly, the lender will have a good idea of how you manage your debt, your past record in the same and any defaults or issues you have had.

So just how is this score calculated? All related information like your income, credit history, employment details and the like are logged into a computer and a score is obtained. If you get a higher score, the lender knows that you are a good person to loan the money to i.e. you have a better credit risk. If the scores are lower then that spells trouble.

You score can be lowered due to late payments, deferments, tax liens, delinquent accounts and similar issues. If you have settled the same, these issues continue to be mentioned on your report for up to seven years.

Some people may think if they cancel their credit cards their score will be bettered. This is not true. Your credit score actually shows how well you have managed your credit. The key is to keep one or two credit cards and manage that debt rather than having multiple cards and ending in a mess.

While credit scoring only puts you into a bracket, it is ultimately up to the lender to decide on the actual course of action. Based on your low score your request can be rejected. If you do get through, you may be offered the loan at a higher rate of interest.

As in any kind of lending, the lender takes a chance with his money, in that he may not get it back. As the borrower you get a provision that you otherwise could not afford. The rate of interest secures the risk for the lender and pays for the facility for the borrower.

The Cycle Of Wealth Building

There are foundational principles that rule the cycle of wealth building whether you build your wealth on stock market, home loans, or any other type of real estate investment. Many who are new to wealth building are often not aware of, or not disciplined to follow the principles for building wealth. The formula for building wealth is straight forward 1) make more, 2) spend less, 3) start early and 4) manage the risks. The cycle of wealth building consists of phases of goal setting, planning and execution.

1) Define the goals of your wealth building both short term and long term.

Goal setting begins with the questions of where do you want to be financially 5 years from now, 20 years from now and by the time of your retirement. For instance, you plan to own a half million dollar house in 5 years. You would like to accumulate net wealth of one million dollars in 20 years. And you want secure two million dollars in your bank account when you retire. The goal of wealth building should be challenging enough yet realistic. If they are set too low, you won’t be motivated to work harder. You’ll be totally frustrated if the goals are unreachable. Studying books for personal financing and attending wealth building seminars will help you to get it right at the beginning.

2) Develop a plan that help achieve the goals you’ve set

We won’t know exactly whether the goals of the wealth building are set too low or too high unless they are justified by a plan. Many investors may think one million dollar net wealth is unthinkable. In fact, if you invest $500 a month and that invest generates 11% annual return, you’ll be a millionaire in 30 years. 11% annual return is what S&P 500 index has realized in past 30 years. To achieve your one million dollar goal, you don’t even have to make the choice between “eating well” and “sleeping well”.

3) Follow your plan and work hard

There are two common causes of failures in wealth building – 1) not committed to the plan to work hard enough, and 2) not disciplined to follow the plan and rules even they work extremely harder. Even well-known investment gurus are often distracted to believe the possibility of get-rich-quick when financial market experiences drastic up-and-down swing.

Once you’ve completed the cycle of wealth building, the next cycle of wealth building begins. Returns on investment contribute to building your wealth but not if you forget about high interest rate on debts. Taking a wealth building seminar you can discover how maintaining a realistic and positive attitude is worth more than crying about a loss. Wealth building can begin with a raise at work or your first income after an investment.

Genuine wealth building is made up of learning which comes from a wealth building seminar or personal experience, enhanced with the input and feedback of those who are already building their own wealth. In this cycle, cash is the king so get ready for developing enough liquid resources and never invest if you are afraid to lose because you will be propitiating your luck.

Using The 21st Century Transporter

While using the internet hasn’t developed to the point yet of actually transporting people from one location to another physically, as did the transporter of Star Trek fame, the availability of information almost reaches the level of science fiction. The one thing that is common to acquiring information online is being able to accomplish internet access.

The method of internet access has changed almost as much over the years since the advent of the personal computer as has the hardware and software to operate the computer.

Originally, the sharing of information on the computer was through normal telephone lines. The use of “dial up” was cumbersome, as we look back on the method, with frequent dropped calls, requiring redialing. As the volume of users to an internet service provider increased, so did the frequency of busy signals when trying for internet access...

Some internet service provides moved to DSL (Digital Subscriber Loop) which used existing telephone lines, but at a different part of the bandwidth. This application doesn’t interfere with existing telephone service, but there is some additional cost involved in equipment modifications, so DSL internet access has been more prevalent in urban areas, which can better distribute the cost to subscribers.

Many colleges and universities use a T-1 internet access system, which allows students to plug in their computer devices in the same way they would plug in a phone. Some large businesses also have internet access as near as the T-1 jack. Internet access is provided through many cable companies now as well, similar to the TV cable service and using the same wiring.

More and more people are utilizing satellite internet, especially in areas where cable and DSL has not reached. The one requirement is a clear line of sight to the south in many cases as trees, buildings and geographical features can block signals.

The use of wireless internet access has been described as the future of networking, but given the rapid increase in technology for the past few years, it remains to be seen what the future will bring.

Asset Protection - Why Do You Need It?

By the time people reach their forties, many have a growing family and responsibilities. Many already own a house and quite a few other valuable assets. This is the phase of life where they focus on their career in order to provide for their families, and to pay for the bills and mortgages etc. They also focus more on investments for better financial security for their family and a comfortable nest egg.

With your growing financial portfolio and asset, it is imperative that you take steps to protect your assets. A practical solution for creating an additional umbrella of security for your family is to take advantage of asset protection that minimize the risk of losing your assets or being taxed heavily.

The three vital steps toward asset protection planning

To set up an effective asset protection, you have to:

* Be clear about your goals and objectives

* Plan early

* Plan safe

You are more than painfully aware that it took much effort to build up your assets. But you need to know that it takes even harder work to protect them. Beware that you do not start asset protection planning too late or you are only inviting trouble and headache for your family. Upon your death, there is nothing more gut wrenching than your family having to fend off greedy money suckers trying to lay claim on your family assets that should rightfully belong to your family. Even worse is fighting amongst your own family members for a bigger share of the family asset. If you do not want to put your loved ones through this, then for their sake, initiate the asset protection planning right now.

If you are a truly practical person, asset protection should be a part of your asset-building plan from day ONE.

Be Focused About Your Objectives

You must be sure of your goals and objectives in order to be able to draw up a well thought up asset protection strategy and plan. There can be no universal process to asset protection as every individual has different needs; you have to tailor it according to your future plans and objectives.

Follow The Law When Protecting Your Assets

Never ignore the legal aspects while dealing with asset protection. Of course you can divide your assets according to your own wish, but at the same time you have to abide by the restrictions put forward by law in this regard. A legalized deal will help you avoid all sorts of discrepancies later.

Whether you decide to set up offshore asset protection or asset protection trust, taking a little trouble to protecting your assets will benefit your family greatly, and they in turn will be grateful for your foresight and generosity.

Home Refinancing - Are You Making The Right Decision?

Owning a home is one of the most important decisions in anyone's life. Owning a house is also a big financial commitment on your part, so any financial decision involving your home should not be taken lightly. When the right moment presents itself, refinancing the home may be a good financial move. However, choosing the best home refinancing deal can be very confusing.

When choosing your home refinance package, you have to consider a number of points. You need to consider whether the time is right to apply for a home refinance loan. In most of the cases homeowners make the decision to refinance their homes just to lock in low interest rates. Even if the present interest rate is low, it may not be prudent to refinance the home in particular situations. Let us discuss about some of the factors that will help you to make the right decision regarding home refinancing.

Why And When To Consider Home Refinance

The main reason behind home refinancing is the monetary gain. Refinancing means locking in a lower interest rate, and lower interest rate loan in turn means your required monthly payments are lower. Thus you get extra cash in your pocket. There are some typical situations where homeowners may consider a home refinancing loan:

* When a homeowner finds that his current mortgage rate is more than 2 percentage points higher than the current interest rate for a similar loan amount and the person in question has no intention of leaving the house in the near future.

* The homeowner had enough foresight to go for an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) and now wants to switch to a fixed rate loan to lock in lower rates for the long term. With refinancing, he is expected to get a better ARM with a lower interest rate and naturally more favorable repayment terms.

* When the homeowner wants a shorter loan period so that he can become the complete owner of the home more quickly.

* When the homeowner wants to utilize the equity value accumulated on his property.

If you are considering a home refinance because of any of the above-mentioned reasons, you should take the following points into consideration before selecting a lending company:

* Try to remember whether your current mortgage loan is going through a prepayment penalty. If yes, the new loan will not offer any extraordinary financial gain.

* Never trust those lenders who refuse to provide you with the detailed information on application and closing costs. They tend to impose hidden fees that can rip you off of the savings gained from refinancing in the long run.

* When you decide on a certain loan product, try to lock in the rate for at least 60 days. But if you sense that the loan is going to turn out to be bad at closing you have the right to reject it within three business days.

Is The Interest Rate A Clear Indicator Of Your Cost Of Borrowing?

Are you considering taking out a loan for some extra cash flow? If you are, then the most important aspect of getting a loan is to calculate the interest rate. The lower the interest rate then obviously the lower the cost of borrowing.

Other than the level of interest rate that you have to consider at the time of taking out a loan, there are other issues for you to consider:

Thoroughly Research Interest Rates Offered By Credit Institutions

Before taking out a loan keep yourself up to date about current market and economic trends and indicators. You should know what the current interest rate is as well as how the rate is fluctuating and moving. There is a close link between the direction the interest rate is headed and the activities on Wall Street. If you keep constant tab on the interest rate trends prior to getting a loan you will be more likely to anticipate when the rate falls and to nab a good deal from the loan provider. However while doing your research, take into consideration both today's rate and also the rate trends over the past thirty days.

APR - Clearer Indicator Of Cost Of Borrowing

Often gullible customers are swayed easily by the lure of unbelievably low rate of interest. But you should not decide on a loan package just based on its low interest rate, as there are many hidden costs. You also need to take note of the Annual Percentage Rate or APR for short which tells you the measure of the effective interest rate that has to be paid on a loan, taking into consideration other fees and standardizing the way the rate is expressed. In other words, APR tells you the total cost of borrowing. The APR makes it easier to compare lenders and loan options to understand the comparative benefit of different loan products. The APR is a more accurate reflection of the true cost of the loan that the borrower has to bear. It is expressed in the form of a per-annum rate. APR helps you realize that there are many more fees and costs hidden behind the sometimes misleading interest rate figure that appears in the advertisements of the credit institutions.

Discuss With Your Lender

No matter what the purpose of your loan application is, you have to go through a pre-qualification round meeting with a representative from your preferred lending company. This will give you a clearer picture of the loan amount you can qualify for and the corresponding interest rate you have to pay for that. This will help you in your decision making process.

Lock Interest Rate

Processing of the loan takes some time. But rate lock is a facility commonly provided by most of the institutions in the loan industry. This ensures that you will be charged at the interest rate and number of points at the time you took out the loan, while your loan application is being processed. Some lenders are generous enough to let you lock in the interest rate and number of points right from the time you file your application.

Monday, December 4, 2006

Leased Vehicles And Automotive Insurance

People have different opinions when it comes to leasing a vehicle and buying a vehicle, but here’s the basic gist of it: buying a vehicle differs from leasing a vehicle in that buying a vehicle requires you to pay for the entire vehicle, whereas leasing a vehicle requires you to pay for the amount of the vehicle you “use up” during a set period of time. Simply put, once the time period is up the person leasing the vehicle may decide to buy the vehicle, or move on.

There’s no difference, however, in purchasing automotive insurance for bought and leased vehicles. If you lease a vehicle and finance through the dealer or a bank, you’re still required to purchase automotive insurance for your leased vehicle. Just because you’re only paying for the portion of the vehicle that you use during a specific time period doesn’t mean you aren’t responsible for repairing the damages to the leased vehicle, or the damages your leased vehicle may inflict upon another person’s vehicle, or another person.

For example, if your leased vehicle is involved in an accident that is your fault and involves another party, you’re responsible for paying to repair not only the damages to your leased vehicle, but the damages to the other party’s vehicle, as well. At the same time, if your leased vehicle is involved in an accident but no other party is involved, you’re responsible for repairs to your leased vehicle if the accident was your fault.

Too, your leased vehicle may be involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault with a party that doesn’t have automotive insurance. By having automotive insurance for your leased vehicle, you are safeguarding yourself against drivers who don’t have automotive insurance.

The purpose of automotive insurance is universal. Regardless of whether you buy or lease your vehicle, and regardless of your reasons for buying or leasing, you must still purchase automotive insurance.

Choosing The Best Type Of Lease For Your Business

When it comes to leasing equipment, understanding what it can do for your business is only part of the equation. Understanding and choosing the best lease for your business is another matter altogether. The market is primed for the use of equipment leasing to expand, grow and hone a businesses assets, but at the same time there is little material out there to help a business judge what’s a good lease and what isn’t.

What You See Is What You Get

There is an old truism that says you get what you pay for. When it comes to equipment leasing, you want a lease that clearly defines your responsibilities versus the lessor’s responsibilities. You really want it to be what you see is what you get. So how do you go about choosing the best type of lease for your business?

Shop the options is the best way to get started. If you know what type of equipment you need, then comparison-shop the options with different companies. Some key figures to make sure are included in any lease option are:

• Cost Per Month
• Maintenance Contract
• Cost of Maintenance Contract
• Training Available
• Customer Service
• Availability for Software and Hardware Support
• Obsolescence Upgrades
• Term of Contract
• Renewal Terms

When it comes to long-term leases, it’s better to set the terms from the outset to deliver the best possible results to the company overhead. When it comes to maintenance, many leasing companies package that as a separate component. If a piece of equipment fails altogether, it’s likely the leasing company will replace it. But what if the piece of equipment goes down? Will there be a 2-hour, 4-hour or 24-hour response time to getting a service technician on-site and the equipment back into operation?

This information is critical because when a piece of equipment is operable, it’s just a piece of junk taking up room and preventing the business from operating normally. Upgraded maintenance contracts will have to be negotiated. But there’s also the concern about what happens when a newer, better model of equipment becomes available? Does the lease terms support an upgrade to this model of equipment or will it require waiting until the contract is up for renewal?

Beware Hidden Costs

By getting the information up front, a business can avoid hidden expenses. They can plan budgetary requirements and potentially for long-term leases, bring up training requirements for their staff. This is another concern that some companies don’t consider when negotiating a lease. Will the operator of the equipment receive training from the leasing corporation? Do they have representatives that understand the operation of the equipment and provide certified instruction? If not, how is that handled?

While this will not be a concern for every piece of equipment leased, for those businesses that require certified training it’s good to know if it will be available. Also in the case of leasing computer equipment, how is software licensing handled? Is packaged into the hardware lease or do those licenses need to be obtained separately?

Finally, understanding the renewal terms can help circumvent a rise in cost for renewing an equipment lease. Some contracts will allow locking a price for a period of five years. The lease may only last two years, but at the renewal point the cost is locked in for that particular piece of equipment. When it comes to a long-term budgetary forecast, every piece of information can help.

Clearly defining what an individual contract delivers from a leasing company can provide a business with the opportunity to comparison shop. By comparing the different options, price levels and services from one leasing company to the next, a business will be choosing the best equipment lease for their business.

Future Of Equipment Leasing

The future of equipment leasing is firmly hand in hand with business development, small, large and everything in between. Equipment leasing is synonymous with possibilities and what business does not benefit from possibilities? Equipment leasing offers businesses: Financial Options, Growth or Expansion Options and Business Potential.

Financial Options - Businesses need financial capital to grow. Capital provides a business with options from loans to investments. Equipment leasing is tax deductible, whereas initial large investments are deductible the first year but only a percentage thereof is after that. Businesses hire accountants and tax experts to help them maximize their capital. The future of equipment leasing is in the financial options they offer to businesses, large and small.

Growth & Expansion Options - Small businesses and the self-employed may find their growth and expansion options limited without the options equipment leasing can provide them. From construction to accounting to medicine, equipment leasing provides a future for both. The rapid growth industry for equipment lessors is matched only by the needs of lessees.

What a company needs more than anything else is capital to invest not only in themselves, but also their future. Equipment leasing keeps the capital in their pockets and helps physicians, engineers, computer specialists and even writers develop their businesses. The future of equipment leasing is tied firmly to the package that is the American Dream.

Business Potential - While financial, growth and expansion options are definitely part of the future of equipment leasing. There is an untapped source that will find its future in equipment leasing. That source is the business potential in the entrepreneur. More and more business entrepreneurs are leaving the wildly hectic corporate world to start their own business.

When you go into business for yourself, there are a lot of trepidations. First and foremost, starting a business can be a risk for the individual and the family. Equipment leasing can help an entrepreneur minimize their risks, plan for a future and deal with unforeseen eventualities.

Equipment leasing can be the difference between achieving a dream and being stuck in a dead-end job. There is a surge in the growth of small business in the country, specializing in personal services from web building to direct marketing to selling homemade clothing. Equipment leasing can make all those possibilities happen and for fraction of the cost it would take to purchase the equipment outright.

Farmers and Other Opportunities - There’s a lot of focus placed on equipment leasing for private physicians, medical practices, construction companies and computer and Internet technologies. Another untapped market that benefits from equipment leasing is farmers that work small and large farm operations. Equipment leasing can keep the small farmer moving on a tractor or helping to rebuild a damaged barn.

Large equipment like tractors, backhoes, ditch witches and scoops are a hefty investment. Farms are a tricky operation and take a lot of backbreaking work and labor investment. When a piece of heavy equipment breaks down, farmers have a choice to repair it or do without. If they can’t affect the repairs themselves or afford them, then it is more than likely they can’t afford to go out and buy a new one. Equipment leasing would provide the farmer not only with the equipment to get the job done, but also to the maintenance support without the huge output of cash.

The future of equipment leasing is in business, industry and primarily people. It only takes a small investment to get started and that small investment returns the dividends to the lessee as their business and financial opportunities grow.

Accounts Payable Outsourcing: Things You Need To Check Out

wants to be free of the burden of paying money which they owe to anyone as soon as possible. Accounts payable literally means the money which a business owes to sellers for products and services which have been bought from them on credit. If not paid in time accounts payable can pile up and spell trouble for any business. If you are finding it difficult to keep a track of the amount of your accounts payable, then get accounts payable outsourcing service from an outsourcing company. This is the perfect way to deal with this condition.

When you are running a business, keeping track and managing of things like accounts payable, can become very demanding and hectic. Nonetheless this is an important aspect of any business process and has to done and done in time. Accounts payable outsourcing services are offered by many companies which deal with finance and accounting outsourcing.

The best way for searching a firm providing accounts payable outsourcing services is through the internet. The internet is a storehouse of information, and all you will have to do go online and search for information. The numerous options which you will find in the internet can confuse you. Take some time out from your busy schedule and do a proper research about the companies offer accounts payable outsourcing to clients. I am sure you want the best services for your business. Get an in depth analysis of the services offered by the firm before you actually decide to take up services from the company.

Make sure to check the security arrangements the company has in place for its clients. See for yourself and find out if the security measures are adequate to protect customers personal identify and financial data. Online security in this internet age is vital and you must never compromise on this aspect. Make checks and cross checks about the security arrangements of the firm providing accounts payable outsourcing, before you actually outsource your work to the outsourcing company.

Accounts payable outsourcing has many advantages. One of the main advantages is that you can save huge amounts of revenue through the outsourcing work. Work is outsourced mostly to developing countries where there is abundance of manpower and labor is cheap. This automatically means that your accounts payable outsourcing work will be handled by trained professionals at a very cheap rate. The revenue which you will save in this manner is the profit for your business.

There are some outsourcing companies which offer free trails for prospective clients. You can check out such companies and get some of your work done under the free trail offer. See for yourself the type of work done, the amount of money charged and then decide if the company is capable of handling your accounts payable outsourcing work or not. If you are not satisfied with one company, there are plenty of others for you to choose from.

Accounts payable must always be handled properly and every account must be in place for you to make payments timely. Piling up accounts payable will only put you under a huge amount of strain. Accounts payable outsourcing is a simple way for you to keep all your accounts in good shape. Go ahead, rest easy and earn revenue for your business by accounts payable outsourcing.

Benefits Of Leasing Equipment

Leasing equipment provides the lessee with all the following benefits of utilizing the equipment without having to pay the up-front costs or assuming the risk of ownership. A lease is one of the best ways for businesses to stay on top of the development curve. With so many new developments that occur (particularly in the technology areas) equipment leasing is less financially expensive. Running a business means making sound financial decisions that improve the condition and quality of a business. Equipment leasing provides such a benefit along with:

 Minimal Cash Outlay
 Overcoming Budgetary Limitations
 Avoidance of Obsolescence
 Flexibility in Terms and Equipment
 Conservation of the Business’ Working Capital
 Increased Opportunities
 Tax Benefits
 Fast Applications
 100% Financing

The minimal cash outlay allows a business to conserve their own capital. A lease also provides for servicing equipment failures. When managing a large computer room, owning all the computer equipment would place not only the upfront cost of purchasing the equipment, but also maintenance and repair as needed. Businesses that conserve personal business capital and lines of credit can handle the more mundane day-to-day expenses and unexpected events.

Budgetary concerns over new equipment purchases can be circumvented through equipment leasing. Operating budgets tend to be more flexible than a capital budget. The lease terms can be as flexible as required and are often negotiable on an individual basis. Lease terms are usually much longer than a standard bank loan, which makes their payment terms even better.

The ability to upgrade remains one of the best benefits of equipment leasing. Businesses grow; technology changes and the needs of both can change year to year. Equipment leasing allows businesses to benefit from developments on both sides of the aisle. Lease terms may also be structured to handle these changing situations.

Considering this multitude of benefits for equipment leasing, it’s not surprising that more and more businesses are reaching out to lease their equipment rather than purchase it. The benefits of leasing are not limited to the computer industry or to large corporations. Small businesses can benefit even more from equipment leasing than a large corporation may.

In a contest of leasing versus buying, leasing wins most of the time. Imagine the small business that houses only two employees. Their working capital may afford a couple of PCs and some exterior accounts to host a website. When a PC in the office goes down, if they are not leasing they will need to replace the machine. In general, the cost of replacing a standard PC is significantly lower than repairing one.

Small businesses need the ability to remain flexible, to upgrade and to keep their machines in maintenance and up to date. Even more than their corporate big brother, they need to know they will remain on the cutting edge of the industry in order to make better business decisions. A small construction company that has no access to certain types of equipment will not be able to take on more challenging jobs. The graphic’s designer that doesn’t have the equipment to support the latest software will find himself or herself less competitive. An accountant that doesn’t have the disk space to maintain growing accounts will have to turn away business.

Leasing equipment makes sense on a variety of financial levels, but also on levels addressing future growth. The business that takes advantage of these benefits are planning two steps ahead of their own niche market and will likely avoid being trumped by their competition. So whether a business is large or small, thinking ahead provides them with opportunity. What is the best benefit a business can receive from leasing their equipment? Opportunity.

The Issue Of Car Finance

When buying a new car, a common issue is the way people pay for it. Most use car finance to pay for their vehicles. If you want to make the best deal, you will have to understand car finance and the intricacies of its processes.

When buying a vehicle there are a couple of aspects people think about: whether their future car will be a new one or a used one and where they will get the money from. Regarding the money, problems can be solved by obtaining the car finance from banks, credit unions, dealerships, or auto manufacturers. However, when considering buying an old car, one has to think of the differences between car finance for a new or for a used car and its advantages and disadvantages. People tend to favor new cars. If you are asking yourselves “why?” then you surely heard some attractive commercials. Most of the unbelievable offers are too good to be true, but they come with extra requirements like high down payments and very high interest rates. For a good deal, negotiation is the only adoptable strategy that will make room for more advantages and less terms and conditions.

Making a loan requires a copy of your credit report and a check of payment histories. The lender will verify every aspect of your financial background in order to give you car finance. Once you have all the paperwork done, gather information, ask the dealers for the best offer and use every detail to bargain.

Pre-Approved loans are better for your car finance because you can find near market rates. Start by looking for a good sub prime lender. Search the Internet, look at closing costs, fees, compare and use the APR number to get the overall cost. This car finance can save you money.

You can also use online loan applications from car finance companies to speed loan processes. Before choosing a car finance company you should compare prices and rates. The dealer will want to make the best for him and choose the appropriate car finance company.

Try not to let yourself be persuaded to buy the dealerships finance pack when you can make a better car finance deal elsewhere. You should calculate your APR and take into account how much the car costs in cash and if you have additional rates. Also see if car finance works for you and if you agree with the down payments and closing payments. Even if it seems complicated, it doesn’t have to be if you educate yourself in car finance.

Car finance is a very important part of your credit-related decisions and you should be careful not to take offers that exceed your income. If you end up in a bad deal you will waste your money on unnecessary things and your car finance will lower your budget drastically. If you try to take your car finance from a bank, the disadvantage is that banks take a lot of time to process a loan. The disadvantage in dealership rates is that they cost more overall. You can also try the Internet for online car finance deals, but the offers have to be carefully analyzed before (not to be scams). Some people may even get your car finance information and use it in their own interest. A little research about the online car finance can save you a lot of trouble. However, if you choose online lenders, you will get low interest rates and save time and money.

To obtain the car finance you are looking for, it will take some time to research and find the appropriate solution for you. You have to know exactly what you want and, after that, be careful not to let salespeople convince you into a car finance deal that you don’t want. Being familiar with car finance will enable you to go out and get the beast deal for you and your family.

Car Leasing Basics

Over the past few years, the popularity of car leasing has soared. When you compare leasing with buying a car and suffering the humongous monthly installment fees, leasing provides a better and more viable financial option.

For auto leasing, you need to know the tricks of the trade so that you will not end up paying more than when you directly buy the car. There are car dealers and manufacturers who can give you your money's worth if you want to go for this option.

You will get a better deal out of the car dealers if you appear knowledgeable about the auto leasing industry, so read up.

'Auto Leasing Defined'

You would "lease" a car by paying for the costs by which the vehicle depreciates in value. You can calculate depreciation costs by subtracting the car's value by the time that the lease ends, from its original value. There are cars which depreciate more than other brands. The rule of thumb is, the smaller the amount that your car depreciates, the lesser the costs to lease.

Once you decide to go for leasing over buying a vehicle, you may choose the one with the least depreciation value.

If you decide to go for this option, you need to learn about "lease term". This is the number of months that the vehicle is leased. Typically, leases last for 24, 36 or 48 months, depending on your contract.

'Leasing or buying: Which option is kinder to your pocket?'

-Automobile leasing requires you to have a good credit, so if your credit score is low, it is better to go for buying.

You may even be disapproved for a lease if your credit history is not good. Or, at the very least, you will be required to pay higher monthly dues.

-Leasing companies would need to profit from you.

They will invest capital on buying the car, then lease that car out. Just like with any loan, their money shoudl earn interest so you better consider this as well when considering the advantages of buying.

-Make sure that you get the best deal out of car leasing by comparing the monthly costs with the interest rates of your local car dealer.

By making a note and comparing both prices, you would more or less have an idea of which option to go for.

'Car Leasing Tips'

- When deciding on the model or make of the car that you will lease, choose the Japanese and European cars. These are basically the brands which have lower depreciation rates, as compared to the American vehicles.

You will find out that most luxury cars have the lowest depreciation values. Research, visit a local car dealer in your area or ask friends who are currently leasing cars. They should have some great tips to share with you on how to get the best deal out of leasing cars.

-Leasing a car may put a big dent in yur budget when it comes to car maintenance. You need to make sure that you are a "car-friendly" user when you opt to go for auto leasing.

-Definitely go for leasing if you are the type who wants to own the latest cars in the market. In the long run, leasing will be a better option for you as compared to buying the latest car model then trading in or selling the old one that you have.

-As much as possible, choose a shorter lease period. This is so that you can optimize the warranty of the vehicle.

-Finally, avoid the long-term leases, because the car's value will decrease by the time the lease ends, and this is mostly when engine problems begin.

Leasing Equipment Versus Buying

Short on cash, but need equipment? Consider leasing what you need. Leasing equipment may be a better alternative to buying, depending on your situation and needs.

Today, leasing is common practice in business. Over the past two years, equipment leasing has risen approximately 20 percent, according to recent research by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). And 8 out of 10 U.S. businesses lease all or part of their equipment, reports the Equipment Leasing Association.

Leasing is appropriate for just about any business at any stage of development. For start-up businesses with no revenues, smaller leases—those of $100,000 or less—may be better managed on the personal credit of the owners—if they are willing to make the monthly payments.

Comparing Leasing to Buying When you buy a piece of equipment or vehicle, you usually have to pay for it in full either by using cash or by financing the balance. After you finish paying for it, you own it.

Equipment leasing, on the other hand, is essentially a loan. The lender buys and owns the equipment and then "rents" it to a business at a flat monthly rate for a set number of months. At the end of the lease, the business has several options. It can purchase the equipment for its fair market value (or a fixed or predetermined amount), continue leasing, return it or lease new equipment.

With a lease, you actually only pay for using the equipment. But at the end of the lease period, you could end up owning nothing. So why lease? The answer is simple: By leasing equipment, you leave money in the bank that can be used for other purchases. Since lease payments are usually smaller than regular loan payments, you don't have to pay out as much each month.

However, keep in mind that a lease is not cancelable like a bank loan or other debt. If you need to get out a standard loan you can sell the equipment and pay off the loan, or even refinance it. With a lease, you generally have to pay off the lease in full. So you have to be sure you make the payments when you enter into a lease.

So what kinds of equipment make the most sense for a small business to lease? According to research by the SBA, the most common items leased are office equipment, computers, and trucks and vehicles.

Benefits of Leasing Leasing equipment offers a wide range of benefits, from consistency with expenses to increased cash flow. But perhaps the most significant advantage of leasing is the ability to maintain up-to-date equipment. Leasing allows you to easily and affordably add equipment or upgrade to a complete new piece of machinery to meet future needs. This lets you transfer the risk of being caught with obsolete equipment to the leasing company.

Here are some other benefits of leasing:

• Alternative to financing - Leasing is essentially an alternative to traditional financing and can be great for companies not able to obtain business loans.

• 100-percent “financing” – In many cases, leasing requires no down payment. This allows you to “finance” an entire purchase, including software, hardware, consulting, maintenance, freight, installation, and training costs.

• Ease and convenience - Applying for a lease is easy, and lease arrangements can be structured to meet your individual requirements. Equipment leases can range from $ 2,000 to $ 2 million. For smaller amounts, you can complete a brief application and receive a final decision within days—often with no financial reports or tax returns needed. Leases for more than $100,000 generally require detailed financial information from the business, and the leasing company conducts a more thorough credit analysis than it would for a smaller

• Flexibility - Lease terms range from 12 to 60 months, depending on the equipment type. Most leases can be structured so that payments are made with operating rather than capital funds. This can eliminate or reduce capital budget delays. Leased equipment can be purchased later if capital becomes available. Plus, a percentage of the lease payments can be credited toward the purchase of the equipment.

• Fixed, predictable payments - Having fixed lease payments enables you to accurately predict the impact of equipment expenses on your cash flow.

• Conserves working capital - Leasing conserves your working capital by requiring only a minimum initial outlay of cash.

• Tax Advantages - Operating leases are generally treated as a 100-percent, tax-deductible business expense paid from pre-tax earnings instead of after-tax profits.

• Protection against inflation - Lease payments are based on the dollar's current value. And unlike bank lines of credit with fluctuating rates, your payments are fixed regardless of what happens to the market tomorrow, making it easier to budget, forecast and grow.

Working with a Leasing Companies When leasing equipment, keep in mind that the company selling the equipment simply makes a direct referral to a leasing company with which it does business. And, usually, the company selling the equipment works with more than one leasing company. So be sure to get quotes from a number of leasing firms. It’s also a good idea to ask for referrals from friends and business associates.

Additionally, make sure you understand with whom you’re dealing. Are you talking to a broker—the person who simply structures deals, then gets them financed through any of the leasing companies he or she works with. Or are you dealing with a leasing company that is actually putting its own funds on the line?

Brokers can be beneficial because they have valuable insight about the leasing market and can help you find the best leasing solution for your needs. But as when dealing with any type of salesperson, you are responsible for handling the due diligence. Do your own homework to ensure you negotiate the most favorable lease agreement for your company.

The Appealing Modern Purchasing Alternative – Leasing

Today leasing is very popular. Instead of buying your car, you can lease it. When the lease expires, you return the old car to the dealer and you can lease a newer model. One reason that leasing is so popular is that a smaller amount of money is required up front and monthly payments are low. This is a very appealing concept to many people.

We lease houses, mobile homes, apartments and even the things inside them. People lease steamers for drapes and carpet cleaners and floor polishers to keep their floors clean as new. If you can’t afford to purchase all your appliances and furniture, you can lease them. Some homeowners buy a second house, fix it up and then lease it out to others. This can be particularly profitable if you have your second house at a desirable location, such as the shore or in the mountains.

We also lease things for their entertainment value. For a child’s birthday party, parents rent clowns, ponies and magicians for hours at a time. Local pools can be rented for an afternoon, after regular pool hours or a day. Many restaurants offer space to lease for lunches for children. Some movie theatres provide space in the lobby area and special price arrangements for children celebrating their birthdays by going to the movies. For an adult occasion, portions of restaurants and halls can be leased and catering services engaged. Weddings, bat/bar mitzvahs, graduation parties and reunions require leasing many items. Aside from the hall or huge tent at an outdoors event, silverware, linens, tables, chairs and audio visual equipment are leased. A wedding involves a number of leased items, including the church, florist, catering, supplies, DJ, photographer and the groom’s and best men’s tuxedos.

Steam shovels, cement mixers, trucks, graders, loaders, bulldozers and cranes are just some of the equipment needed when constructing a new building. Because they are not needed once the building is completed, builders lease the machines for the duration of the time they are needed. Another advantage to leasing equipment is that if a piece of equipment breaks down, the builder does not incur any additional costs to repair or replace it. Most leases usually include service, repair, maintenance and replacement of all leased equipment.

Once buildings are completed, the owner will lease out the interior space to help recoup the cost of the building. For this, he or she may lease the services of contractor to build the rented space to the occupant’s needs. The occupant, in turn, may decide to lease the equipment needed to run the business. Telephones, fax machines, computers, printers, scanners, and copiers are often leased because the lease contract covers installation, service, instructional classes and upgrades of all equipment. This is essential for companies in the information technology market.

After they are established, businesses might lease a restaurant, museum, symphony hall, zoo or even Sea World to impress their clients. Rooms, tables, chairs, linens, podiums, glassware, catering and audiovisual equipment are leased to meet the client’s needs. The lessee needs to do nothing, except show up in the right place at the right time.

Why Equipment Leasing Is Better Then Using Your Business’s Cash!

First

Why use your business’s cash when you don’t have to. Cash is valuable, the less you can use the more profitable your business will be. The concept is simple it is the time value of money. You have heard of it. Well, that is why you should lease all your equipment. Use your cash for more important things.

Second

Protection against obsolesce. When the term of the lease runs out you turn in your equipment and get a new lease for updated equipment. Your competitors have the new technology. You need to stay ahead and have it also.

Third

Tax Advantages. Depending on the way that your lease is structured, it may be possible to deduct all of your payments as a business expense. This type of lease will have no effect on your debt–to–equity ratio, since this is not a debt.

Fourth

It is fast and easy. Usually it is only a one page application to get you started and on your way.

Fifth

Stretch your buying power by buying more equipment with less cash outlay. By having this new equipment, it will allow you to do more business and become more profitable.

Sixth

A fixed rate on a lease makes your business equipment expenses predictable. During times of increasing interest rates you will have peace of mind!

Secret

If you have equipment which is fully paid for and has a current value, there are ways to get you cash for that equipment and this cash can be used for anything! And that is a good thing! You can get the working capital you have been looking for, but didn’t know how to get it!

You should get started today and lease all business equipment from now on!

Your best bet is to speak with a knowledgeable Equipment Lease Advisor who will answer all your questions and steer you in the right direction.

Hope you enjoyed reading this article,

Sunday, December 3, 2006

New Credit Repair Mortgage Or Remortgage

Enable Finance is pround to announce a new Credit Repair Mortgage and Remortgage product funded by Mortgages plc. The non-conforming mortgage will allow borrowers to repair their credit record after 12 months.

Mortgages Plc said it will be the first to launch this kind of mortgage deal in the UK bad credit or non-conforming mortgage market. The product, which is available from 20 November, allows borrowers to then remortgage without incurring onerous redemption charges.

It offers a choice of a one-year fixed or tracker with rates depending on LTV and status. After 12 months, the borrower can then remortgage onto any other Mortgages plc product. Alternatively, borrowers can remortgage to another lender if they wish to do so.

Other key features include 85% LTV on heavy and 80% LTV on unlimited products, any amount of CCJs or arrears, arrears with an adverse credit lender are allowed up to 75% LTV, where loadings will apply.

Although the rates are slightly higher than normal for a short-term fixed or tracker, the product is perfect for borrowers who have experienced credit problems and want to get their finances back on track. This unique mortgage product is available now with Enable Finance.

Enable Finance Ltd. are national Mortgage & Loan specialists providing a comprehensive advice and regardless of your personal circumstances.

Pay Your Mortgage On Time

All of us have trouble getting along financially from time to time. There may be a reason behind it that is simple to identify such as losing your job or having a lot of hospital bills come up unexpectedly, but no matter how much trouble that you are having there are certain things that you should never do if it is at all possible, and one of those things is paying your mortgage on time. Here is why you should worry about your mortgage before you worry about any other bill.

Having a mortgage late on your credit report is one of the worst things that you can have happen. It sticks with your credit report for a long time and if you ever need to refinance your home or get another mortgage this will be something that will make it much more difficult. Of course you never want to have any late payments show up on your credit report but having a late mortgage payment is by far the worst that you can do.

So protect your credit and make sure that you are paying your mortgage on time. Take a good look at your mortgage bill see if they have a grace period where you may be able to buy a little extra time before you are actually late. That might help you to make your payment on time as well even though it may not be on the actual due date. Keeping a clean credit report is very important for many reasons. If you are having problems, figure out how to start keeping it clean from this point on, and if your credit report is clean already make sure that you keep it that way. A clean credit report will follow you through your life and help you to get more of what you need.

Your Money Matters: Buying First Home Need Not Be Overwhelming

Are you one of those people who considers life pretty good? You're thinking about getting married and you have a good job, a nice car and money to pay off the student loans. You have spare time to spend hangin' out with your friends.

The only negative in your life right now is having to pay rent and dealing with roommates. For many Americans in their late 20s and early 30s, the "whoosh" sound of paying rent each month eventually turns to thoughts of owning their own piece of the American dream. However, the process of actually buying a home can seem overwhelming--even daunting--to some.

"First-time homebuyers can feel intimidated by or even 'out of control' during the whole home-buying process," says Jim Ferriter, executive vice president for GMAC Mortgage. "But there's hope. An experienced loan officer, combined with innovative products and services, can help first-time homebuyers better understand their financing options and boost their confidence in purchasing their first home."

Ferriter, who has more than 25 years' experience in mortgage lending, offers the following tips for first-time homebuyers:

1. Save, Just A Little Bit More--Of course it's important to save money for the down payment and closing costs. But there's more to buying a home than figuring out if you can pay a monthly mortgage payment. There are costs similar to renting, but now you must be prepared to maintain a home, too. Weekly shopping trips to your local big-box home store to purchase everything from decorating items to a lawn mower can add up quickly.

2. Check Your Credit--An individual's credit score will have a significant impact on his or her mortgage loan approval and interest rate. A good first step in the home-financing process is to check your credit history. You can request a free credit report from any of the three credit-reporting bureaus: Equifax, TransUnion or Experian. Carefully review your report and contact the credit-reporting bureaus to correct any misinformation.

3. Get Preapproved--Before you start working with a real estate agent, consider contacting a mortgage lender to obtain a preapproval credit decision. A loan officer will review your financial status, including your income, cash flow and credit score, to help you determine the maximum monthly housing payment for which you may be able to qualify, and, if qualified, "preapprove" your mortgage before you've found a home. Armed with a credit preapproval, you can start searching with a much better idea of the price range you should be looking in, and in turn save time as you'll know the right homes to focus on.

As you start thinking about and preparing for the preapproval process, start shopping for the mortgage lender from which you would like to obtain a mortgage for your new home. Because this process is new, it's easy to go with the first lender or loan officer you meet. Instead, take your time and shop around. Start by asking friends, co-workers and family members for recommendations. When you've identified two or three loan officers, ask for references. Remember, obtaining a pre-approval may offer more confidence and certainty to home sellers.

In addition to pricing (interest rate and closing costs), focus on customer service as well as other services and tools that a mortgage lender may be able to offer you. For example, in addition to offering the preapproval program, GMAC Mortgage offers a feature called "HomeCommand," which allows you to cap a mortgage rate for up to 126 days while you shop for your dream home, as well as a free home-finder service that can give you a jump on other house hunters, alerting you to homes that hit the market that match your search criteria.

4. Don't Be Afraid To Ask Questions--Once you've found your new home, the mortgage lender will help you through the details of the loan process. From application to closing, your loan officer will work through the financing process with you, just as your real estate professional will in the home-buying process. Your mortgage loan officer can also be a valuable source of information, so be sure to take advantage of his or her expertise. Throughout the process, read all loan documents carefully and involve an attorney, if necessary.

5. Inspect It--Before you commit to purchasing a home, don't forget to hire a licensed home inspector to conduct a thorough assessment of the property. An inspector can alert you to any major problems with the home, and/or help you understand potential short-term and long-term home maintenance issues.

Buying a home for the first time can seem like you're riding on a roller coaster. But by doing your homework, asking lots of questions and taking your time, you can stay in control and discover an overwhelming sense of accomplishment in buying your first home.

Many mortgage lenders recommend that first-time homebuyers have at least three to six months in additional savings before applying for a mortgage.