Thursday, March 29, 2007

Payday Loans - Quick, Easy But Darn Right Costly

Perhaps you can remember the time when you were in a financial fix. Perhaps you can still remember how desperate it was to lay your hands on some cash. So desperate that you had to borrow some cash from your friends or relative. Maybe it is not so bad to borrow from them for the first time, but you might not feel all that pleasant to ask from them again the second time around.

Let's face it, you have to pay for the electricity bills, phone bills, car loan, house loan or house rent, you just name it. In the end, how much of your salary money do you have left at the end of the month? You must be thinking on how to get the extra money to help support you and your family.

Even though your need was urgent, you managed to get through it without entering into any costly financial commitment. You need to hold on to this memory because it is proof to yourself that you can survive these situations, no matter how difficult it may seem at the moment. If you managed to get out of this before, there is no reason why you cannot do this again.

At times like these, when faced with financial shortages, many people are tempted to go for payday loan as their last resort. On the face of it, payday loans seem like a quick and easy way of getting hold of funds. It is so easy that you can now get approved in less than an hour. It is so quick that you could have the money transfered to your bank account faster than you could ever imagine. It is so convenient that it seems like it is the one and only solution to your financial problems.

However, you must remember that when you're going for one of these loans, it is not a decision to be taken lightly. If you are a first timer, then this route is something that you'd really want to think hard about before making the decision.

First and foremost, you need to think carefully about whether you are going to be in a position to repay the loan. This is very important. In actual fact, the majority of people who take out these loans do manage to repay them without too much problem. For them, a payday loan can serve a useful purpose like preventing their phone line or electricity from being cut off. If this is you, then you are using payday loans the right way and somehow payday loans do seem like a lot of help or a life saver.

However, there are others who get themselves into serious difficulties. Those who apply for a payday loan but have no way of repaying the loan on time. For these people, payday loans may be quick and easy, but they are also seriously expensive. Don't be surprised that it is much more expensive than they could have dreamt when taking out the loan in the beginning. This is because payday loans are meant to be short-term loans and because of this, the interest can rack up to a horrific rate if they are kept for a longer period.

This is the reason why you need to think carefully before applying for the loan. Desperate times call for desperate measures as they say. That is true in every way in this case. When you are feeling desperate, you are tempted to think only as far as getting the money to get out of the hole you are in, and not to look beyond that.

Yet the consequences of defaulting on the loan will be very serious, not only for yourself but also for your family. Ultimately it could end up with your home and belongings being repossessed. That's not what you want is it? What's worse, in this situation your family will suffer as much as you too, if not more. Yet it is not actually their problem in the first place! Do you think that it is fair to get them involved in the mess that was created by you?

This is why you need to think first and act second. Remember that once you have signed that piece of paper, there is no going back. Read the small prints and find out all the information you can before going for a payday loan. This way you could avoid a seriously costly mistake. There is no reason for you to borrow money just to get yourself deeper into debt. It is like digging your own grave.

Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/

The Secrets of Motorcycle Loans

Owning a motorcycle is just one of the many dreams that the young have in their mind. They are willing to do just about anything to own the new swanky sports bike or the macho cruiser that gleams in the showroom. Motorcycle loans seem to be the easiest ticket to a motorcycle. But it can actually land you in a financial mess if you do not choose the correct loan program and fall prey to one of the high interest rate programs available nowadays. So what exactly is the right way to look for motorcycle loans?

Choose the Loan first

Before you select one of the costliest motorcycles for yourself, see what amount of motorcycle loan you qualify for. If the lender is only willing to lend you $9000 and you have chosen a motorcycle that costs $15000, then you are digging a big grave for yourself. So, the bottom line is to choose the loan before you choose the motorcycle for yourself.

Searching for the loan

You need to search around a bit before you get a loan with interest rate that you like. Credit institutions, banks etc are good places to start your hunt. If you directly go for a loan from within a motorcycle showroom, then you will get a loan that charges you a much higher interest rate than conventional motorcycle loan programs.

The Term of the loan

Lenders will always invite you to sign up for a loan program with a long term. Some loan programs go as long as 72 months. This seems like the most affordable and attractive proposition out there. It has low monthly payments, a fixed rate of interest etc. But there is a negative side to this. In such a long time period, you end up paying more than what your motorcycle is worth. You definitely do not want your debt to exceed the value of the motorcycle. Do you? Most borrowers find themselves in such a situation after sometime.

The Rule of 78 and Simple Interest

These are two methods by which the lender determines the rate of interest that he would pay. You need to look at this before you sign up for the loan program. Simple interest is always the better option from the borrower's point of view and vice a versa. In simple interest, the interest is calculated on the basis of the balance of the loan. You need to take care that the term is reasonably long but not too long. In the rule of 78 you only pay the interest for the first couple of years. So you have no equity on your vehicle. So you should always look for a lender who will give you simple interest on your loan. Some lenders also offer a mixture of the two. These loan programs have the rule of 78 in the first few months of the loan and then move on to simple interest.

Fixed and Variable Rate of Interest

The rate of interest can be tricky as well. It may be a fixed rate of interest or a variable one. The fixed one is the safer option. Please ask the lender beforehand itself whether there are any circumstances which may cause the rate of interest to jump. If there are any such circumstances, it is better if you know it beforehand itself. The more questions you ask the lender, the better you will feel about the whole program. Some lenders increase the rate of interest if the payment is delayed for a couple of months.

So play it safe and select the right loan. Hope you have a great time on your motorcycle.

About the Author
Motorcycle Loans How can you choose a motorcycle loan that is best suited for your needs? This article says it all. It has some great tips to help you select the best motorcycle loans for yourself.

Everything You Need To Know About A Remortgage

When looking to remortgage your aim is to switch to a deal that is more beneficial to you and saves you money/increases flexibility etc, whether this be sticking with your present lender or changing to another.

What Are The Benefits Of Remortgaging?

Remortgaging is a chance to switch from an inadequate mortgage and take full advantage of current products available such as fixed rate, tracker or discount mortgages which can offer you more competitive rates. Choosing the right deal for you is just as important when remortgaging as it was the very first time. Consideration should be given on your prediction of future interest rates, your own risk assessment, your income and the balance of the loan outstanding. You will also need to weigh up your monetary needs and present circumstance.

Adverse Credit Remortgages also enable you to cut loose from a dissatisfactory lender as there is nothing to say you should stay with the same one.

Doing either of these things when remortgaging may considerably reduce your monthly out goings. This is just one benefit of deciding to remortgage.

Say for example you have a loan of 100,000 and are paying a rate of 7.5% interest; you then switch to another lender which has a rate of just 7% interest. This would mean you would be saving 31 each month, thats nearly 400 per annum.

Sometimes the money tided up in the house could be put to better use else where. For an amount larger than what is needed to repay your original mortgage, remortgaging can release some of this equity to put towards investing in a new business venture or maybe even another property.

How Long Will The Process Take?

The process of remortgaging tends to be faster than that of a normal mortgage (but slower than adverse credit loans) as in this case youre not buying a property. The whole process without considering individual circumstances should take on average six weeks.

The Cost Of A Remortgage

As with your original mortgage, a survey to confirm the value of your property will need to be done as the first one will no longer be valid. Add onto this solicitors fees and administrative costs, however these will be lower than mortgaging for the first time and depending on your lender, they may be able to recommend certain people in association with them that could lower your costs.

There maybe early repayment charges on your existing mortgage. This is when there is a penalty if you redeem the mortgage within a fixed period of time after commencing. For example this could be additional pay of three to six months or a percentage of the loan amount.

When looking at the cost of a remortgage you also have to look at the possible longer term benefits of the process and the money you could save.

Quick Action Plan

If still indecisive on whether remortgaging could work for you, run through the following points:

First of all communicate with your existing lender and ask for a redemption statement. This indicates what, if any penalties you will be charged in the event of remortgaging, it also states the amount still left to pay on your current mortgage.

When looking at a remortgage deal be sure to look at all the small print and ask for the lender to show you clearly what your potential repayments would be. It is always useful to ask for something in writing to use as a reference.

Add up all costs payable with any new lender i.e. the arrangement and administrative fees. Legal fees should also be added on, these will vary depending on where you go and the value of your property.

Armed with these facts and figures you should then weigh up whether remortgaging will benefit you, whether the long term savings will outweigh the immediate costs of remortgaging.

About the Author
James Copper enjoys writing on all aspects of finance. He works for Any Loans who specialise in the Adverse Credit Remortgage and Adverse Credit Mortgages.

Guide To Secured Loans

A Secured Loan is one that requires you to use your property as security against the loan. This means in order to take out a Secured Loan you will need to be a house owner, and this includes if you are still paying off a mortgage. It does however mean that you if fail to keep up the repayments on your Secured Loan, you could risk losing your home.

The amount you will be able to borrow with a Secured Loan depends on the borrower you choose to use and your individual circumstances. The amount you can borrow, the term available and the interest (APR) you will have to pay back on the Secured Loan depend on:

- the value of your property
- your ability to repay the loan
- your personal circumstances

Before taking out a Secured Loan it is important that you understand how it works, how much you will have to repay, and that you are able to manage the repayments. Remember, that if you fail to keep up with repayments on a Secured Loan then you risk losing your property.

Who are Secured Loans for?

A Secured Loan allow you to borrow substaintially more money than a personal loan, and also repay the money over a longer period, sometimes up to 25 years. A Secured Loan can usually be used for any purpose and are often available to people who are unable to take out other types of loan, as long as they own their own property.

Examples of this are people who are self-employed or struggle to prove their income, those who have recently changed jobs, and people who have had credit problems in the past. Those who wish to borrow a larger amount of money than available with a personal loan, or want a longer time period to repay the loan should consider a Secured Loan.

Finding a Secured Loan

There are many lenders who offer Secured Loans but whether or not they will offer you one will depend on your personal circumstances. You should approach a number of Secured Loan companies and obtain a number of quotes. Be sure of how much you want to borrow and do not get talked into borrowing more money that you require. Be honest with the company about your personal circumstances, especially your repayment details, as this may lead you to getting into problems repaying your loan. Look at the time allowed to repay the loan and try to weigh this against the APR that is offered on the repayment of the loan.

For example, a loan with a lower APR but repaid over a longer period of time may offer lower monthly repayments but could lead to you paying back more in the long term. At the same this may also allow you to borrow more and pay it off over a longer period with lower monthly repayments.

You may also find that you are offered a Secured Loan with a broker rather than a lender themself. A broker will offer you a Secured Loan, offer you a time frame to repay it over, and set your APR on behalf of the lender. Although you may wish to skip the middleman and deal with the lender directly, you may find that some lenders will not deal directly with borrowers, and a broker may have access to a greater number of Secured Loans from various lenders, offering you a better deal.


About the Author
The Loans Website The Loans Website offers information and resources about the various types of loan that are available. It helps you research different loans to find the best one for you and your circumstances. For more information please visit http://www.loanswebsite.org.uk.

Tips For Home Loans

Everyone wishes to own a home at some or the other time in their lives. But not everyone has a huge resource in the bank that they can tap and purchase the home that they dream of. Some people have to look at other options that need to be used to buy a home. Home loans are one of those options which have gained a lot of popularity in the last few decades. As realty continues to be a lucrative investment option as well, there are many who opt for home loans for this one reason. There are many home loan programs out there. So a bit of research on your part might be required to select the right home loan for you.

The Down Payment

The down payment is the key to reducing your monthly payments. More the amount you pay as down payment, lesser you will have to pay off every month. So it is recommended that you keep at least some percentage of the principal loan amount with you before you start to hunt for a home loan. Along with the home loan there will be other expenses as well like mortgage insurance, registration fee, finance charges etc.

The Type of Loan

There are so many loan programs out there that you might well end up getting confused over which is the right one for you. By all means, you can seek the help of a professional consultant who will help you understand the pros and cons of each loan program. There are fixed rate programs which might seem like a great option when interest rates in the market are rising. However, they might seem like a drag as they cannot be altered later on without paying a huge penalty and you have to pay the same interest for a long time to come.

Floating or adjustable rate mortgages are an option that is great for people who are looking at short term mortgage loans. The rate keeps fluctuating along with the market interest rates. So it might jump or plunge depending on how the market is performing.

The Total Cost

One mistake that many borrowers make is that they just look at the rate of interest in the loan program. But what they miss out on is the fact that there are other charges as well like the monthly or annual administration fees. Remember, it's the total amount that you need to pay off every month that matters. Not just the rate of interest.

Statement Errors

Even a minor error in the loan statement can benefit the lender and harm the borrower. So you need to check your statement quite regularly for any errors. The error might be as simple as an incorrect entry but that can rob you of a few thousand dollars.

Get Multiple Quotes

You need to compare quotes from several different lenders before you sign up for a loan program. This is very important for you to find the loan program with the lowest monthly payments as well as the most flexible options. A mortgage broker might help you find the best lender suited for you. It also gives you a lot of options to choose from.

Consider Refinancing

If your financial condition has improved since you took a loan, then you can actually qualify for a better interest rate now. So you might want to consider refinancing your loan. This will not only help you to lower your monthly payments, but also help you to save a lot of dollars in the long run.

About the Author
Home Loans Some tips for buyers who are looking for a home loan. The article describes the various terminology related to home loans and also how a borrower can reduce the hassles in the entire loan process.

You Can Get A Second Chances For Credit

A lot of people give up when they feel like their credit is ruined. They don't feel there is any point to trying to apply for things that they want because of their tarnished credit. However, gaining knowledge on what you are eligible will help you to achieve the things that you need without having to worry about credit issues.

Each creditor will set their own standards for deciding whether or not you are eligible to be approved, and their views on your credit history will vary. There are some that will only look at your record from recent years, and some will be more lenient with giving you credit if it appears that your payment history has steadily improved.

A good way to determine whether or not you will qualify with a company is to call the creditor directly and discuss their regulations with them. The worst that could happen is that you could be denied, and even though this may be an incredible blow to your ego, you will not be any worse off than before you made the phone call.

Many creditors are open to working out a repayment schedule. However, you should only consider this option if you are unable to work out a schedule for yourself but you feel like you can work under the deadlines of a creditor's budget. There will be no good result if you waste someone's time making them find the best option for you, and then fall behind on your payments again.

There are also credit organizations as well as non profit companies that are dedicated to helping people get on schedule with their payments, but try to research these companies before enlisting their help because they are not always trustworthy. You should also make sure that you learn about all of their fees upfront whether they are higher than average or hidden fees. Also, just because a company is non-profit, it doesn't mean that you have to make a contribution.

If you were in a position to give money away, you would not be requesting their help. If you are going to get help from a management company, make sure that you find one that will conduct their services in person as opposed to the Internet.

Many people feel like the only way they can find relief is to file for bankruptcy. This is not always the best option. It will take years to get back on track, and all of the worries that you may have had before about buying a home, or getting a credit card will be far out of reach when you file for bankruptcy. However, if you are firm with your decision you should know that as of October 2006 a new amendment was added to the bankruptcy laws which stated that you must seek credit counseling within six months of filing for bankruptcy. So, if you have to find a service anyway, you might want to try paying some penance for your mistakes and start paying people back.

A few mistakes on your credit won't ruin it forever; there are ways around it and ways that you can re-establish good credit. Don't give up, there is still a chance that you will have that home or car. The best thing to do is to make an honest attempt to fix your mistakes. Talk to your creditors and find out what you can do to fix it and maybe with a little hard work you can get your creditors to forgive you and offer you the opportunity of a second chance.

About the Author
John Edmond runs Credit Card Debt where you can read many more articles on bankruptcy and for the latest information on personal loans checkout the blog.

The Mortgage Types And Repayment Options

Unfortunately in recent years mortgages have become increasingly complex and wrapped up in technical jargon. Borrowers now need to consider at least two things, the type of mortgage loan they want and how they are going to repay it. Have a look at your options below.

Types Of Mortgages

Variable Rate Mortgage

Rates on these loans fluctuate in line with general interest rates but because they are at the lenders discretion they dont necessarily move as far, or as fast. Discounts are usually offered to new borrowers in the early years.

Tracker Mortgage

Rates on tracker loans are normally linked directly to movements in the Bank of England base rate. The link may be for a limited period rather than the life of the mortgage.

Cashback Mortgage

When these loans are granted, cash payments are given to borrowers to spend how they like. They are typically between 6 per cent and 8 per cent of the loan.

Fixed Rate Mortgage

Rates of interest on these loans are guaranteed not to change for a specified period, typically the first three to five years of the mortgage.

Capped Rate Mortgage

With this type of loan, the interest rate is guaranteed not to exceed a fixed level during the capped-rate period. The advantage is that it can go down if rates are cut.

Repayment Methods

Repayment Mortgage

Also known as capital and interest mortgages because part of the monthly payments gradually pays off the loan while the remainder covers the interest on the amount outstanding.

Offset Mortgage

These loans are taken out in conjunction with a current account or savings account. Regular mortgage repayments are required but at the same time the cash in the other accounts helps to reduce the loan, thereby saving interest. This can help to speed up repayment of the mortgage.

Interest Only Mortgage

As its name implies, the borrower pays the interest only on the loan during the mortgage term so the capital remains outstanding. Payments may also be made into a savings scheme, such as an Individual Savings Account, to repay the capital at the end of the term. Sometimes the loan is repaid out of the sale proceeds of the property.

Endowment Mortgage

This is where an interest-only loan is combined with a life assurance with-profits policy intended to pay out a sufficient sum to clear the mortgage at the end of the term. But endowment policy payouts are not guaranteed and many are currently expected to produce shortfalls.

What You Need To Look Out For

Arrangement Fees

Most lenders nowadays charge you for the work involved in setting up a mortgage or to reserve a loan at a particular rate. The amounts can vary considerably between lenders. Paying more doesnt always get you a better deal.

High Lending Charge

If you are borrowing more than 90 per cent of the property value, check to see whether you will be charged an extra fee. This is to protect the lender in case you fail to keep up the payments, but not all of them make this charge.

Insurance

Some lenders will offer you a lower mortgage rate if you buy their home insurance products. They will also encourage you to take out their mortgage payment protection policy. It is usually better to shop around for the cheapest insurance deal.

Early Redemption Penalties

With mortgage special offers, fixed rate deals, etc, you will normally be charged a penalty if you pay off your loan within the offer period. In particular, try to avoid those loans with redemption penalties that extend beyond the end of the offer period as you will be stuck on the lenders standard variable rate.

Initial Disclosure Documents And Key Facts Illustration

Initial disclosure documents (IDDs) spell out mortgage advisers services, such as whether they can recommend products from one company only, or are free to sell mortgages from all lenders. Key facts illustrations (KFIs) are given to borrowers when they apply for or are recommended a mortgage. These outline the mortgages cost over its term, repayments, fees and an interest rate expressed as an annual percentage rate (APR).

Annual Percentage Rate

The APR tells prospective customers the interest rate over the life of the mortgage. This factors in any initial offer rate and then the lenders standard variable rate to which the mortgage reverts, as well as the impact of fees. The APR in the key facts document does not reflect that many mortgage borrowers switch to better deals than the lenders standard variable rate (SVR) after their initial offer expires. Neither does it include the potential costs on leaving the mortgage, such as administration fees and early repayment charges.

Standard Variable Rate

Because house prices are at a record high many people (probably including yourself) are now thinking of their mortgages in the long term as well as the upfront rate. For this reason it is worth knowing what current customers are paying. It is highly unlikely that when you come to the end of your fixed or discount rate period you will be on the same SVR as current customers. But you can use the information to see how the lender compares against others in the market.


About the Author
James Copper enjoys writing on all areas of personal finance. He works for Any Loans who specialise in the Adverse Credit Remortgage and Adverse Credit Loans.

Multi Facet Loans From Canada

To apply successfully for a loan, try to imagine yourself in the position of the lender and see if you have the answers to why exactly you need the money, what your assets are, and how you plan to repay the loan. Get your business plan in place so that you are able to convince the lender why you want the loan and how you plan to spend the money. It is best that you mention a concrete financial data complete with how you would repay the loan. If you have an established business and are looking for further expansion, you will also need to submit your past tax returns. Your credit card ratings will also affect your chances of getting a loan.

Canada Loans for Small Business

If you are planning to set up a small business, and you need to purchase or improve your real property and immovables, improve lease property or purchase new or used equipment, you need to be aware of the Canada Small Business Financing Program that aims at encouraging financial institutions and leasing companies including banks, credit union or caisse populaire to make their financing services available to entrepreneurs wishing to set up small scale businesses. Under this program, if the loan or lease is granted by the financial institution or the leasing company, the federal government will reimburse 85 percent of the lender's or lessor's losses in the event of default.

As a borrower, you can avail of up to 90% of finance to cover the cost of asset acquisition or asset improvement. The maximum loan that you can avail of is $250,000. Again, if a particular financial institution does not grant you the loan, you can forward your application to another financial institution that is part of this program. The maximum interest rate that a lender or a financial company may charge on a commercial loan is prime plus 3% on floating rate, or the lender's residential mortgage rate plus 3% on fixed rate.

The Canada Small Business Financing Program also offers special benefits for women. As a Canadian woman, if you are interested in setting up your business, you can avail of a loan easily under this program. The pre-condition is that the business should be completely or at least 50% owned by a woman or women. Again, where you live will also make a difference for the program extends loans to only particular areas in Canada.

Canada Loans for Women

Canada loans for women include the Women Entrepreneur's Fund. Under this scheme, The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) has earmarked a $25 million fund to enable women entrepreneurs to seek new opportunities, or expand the existing ones in business areas such as food, health, software and manufacturing.

Then again, there is the AFER Program for Women in Rural Communities - Reseau des SADC du Quebec. As the name itself suggests, the program caters to the women who reside in the rural communities. For this, they can avail a business loan of $25,000 to cover start-up costs.

Canada Loans for Students

As a student, if you wish to attend a post-secondary education institution, you can raise the required funds under the Canada Students Loan Program, which is a special program designed to take of the demonstrated financial needs of the students. Before deciding on a loan, you need an estimate of the cost of your post-secondary education. The counselors in the colleges or university that you have in mind will be able to guide you regarding your loan requirements, and on issues such as saving, planning and paying your loan.

How Your Bad Credit History Hurts Your Chance Of Getting A Loan

Obtaining a loan or any type of finance can be a real challenge. If you have a bad credit history and you are trying to get a secured loan or buy a house, you will usually have to do even more work to find a lender that will be prepared to lend you the money. You will also have to pay a higher interest rate than someone with a clean credit history. What Is Credit History? Before you go looking for loan, it is crucial that you know more about your credit record. This is a recording of all your past financial commitments and contains information about your repayment reliability and the total amount of debt you are carrying. Lenders look at this record to determine your credit worthiness, usually by assigning you a credit score. The lower your credit score the less likely a lender is to grant you a loan. How Did Your Credit History Go Bad? Your credit history is an ongoing record of information about you and your finances, so anytime you miss a payment it is captured in the file. This is the same if you have ever defaulted on a debt or failed to fulfil a financial contract. Everything is captured in this record, missed mortgage payments, repossession, bankruptcy, CCJs, IVAs, credit card defaults, etc. Credit reference agencies collect other information about you, such as changes in employment or address. If your record shows that you make such changes frequently this will also lower your credit score. Will You Ever Qualify For A Loan? Generally speaking you will still be able to get a secured loan or mortgage, but there might be certain restrictions on your borrowing. Because of todays culture of debt there are an ever number of increasing lenders who specialise in loans for people with bad credit. Just keep in mind that you will probably be charged a higher interest and maybe offered a lower loan amount. The positive part of this is that once you have secured the loan you can start repairing your adverse credit history by making regular, payments on time. It will take a little time to improve your credit history, but it will happen. What Type Of Loan Can You Get? You have the option of going for a secured loan or unsecured loan. Unsecured loans are more difficult to get because you dont put up collateral as security for the loan. This is risky for the lender so expect them to require more stringent loan terms in this situation. Secured loans, on the other hand, require you to provide some form of asset as collateral. Most of the time this means you will secure the loan with your house. The amount of money you can borrow and the interest rate you will pay are influenced by your credit history, your total amount of debt, and your homes value. Different lenders weight these items different ways, so be sure to check with several to find one with a product suited for you. Where Do You Look For A Bad Credit Loan? Before you submit any loan enquiries, you need to research a number of different lenders and brokers. Find out about their interest rates, any special loan terms they may require, and any other specifics about their loan process. You can do all the research you want, but be careful not to submit a large number of loan enquiries over a short time period. This kind of activity can actually damage your credit history further. Generally if you have an adverse credit history the best way to source a good loan is to use an independent broker. Make sure that they are not tied to one lender but have access to a large panel. Find out what fees they will charge and what are the reasons for charging these fees. There are a large number of both secured and unsecured loan brokers in the UK, some are ethical others not so much, so make certain that you speak to as many as possible.

Monday, February 19, 2007

Cheap Secured Loan – How Cheap Can I Go?

by: Allison Thompson

When you hear the word “cheap” what does it conjure up for you? Can it be the pair of shoes that you are wearing or the new house that you purchased not long ago? So no matter what the product is having something of a better quality but at a cheaper rate, how often would you not jump at the chance to possess something like that. If you are that type of person, then may be it is time for you to look at getting a “cheap secured loan”. These kinds of loans have been specifically set up to fulfill a persons financial requirements. Often such loans will help a customer to obtain a cheaper and more accessible rate than any other loans that are currently available.

However, a secured loan is a loan where the borrower must place collateral against the amount of the loan that they have taken out. The collateral they use can either be a house, car or any other related asset and works as security on behalf of the borrower. A cheaper secured loan is a secured loan which is provided to the borrower at a lower rate of interest than normally provided by the lender and certainly this type of interest rate is always an added benefit to any borrower. Often these type of loans the lending company or bank will offer the borrower a longer repayment period, which is often an additional benefit to those borrowers who choose to opt for these types of loans.

Often a cheap secured loan can be used for a variety of purposes such as the borrower wants to purchase a new car, or take a vacation or it may be that they want to make some improvements to their home. Some people even use such loans for consolidate debts that they already have into one easy to manage account.

Often such secured loans come at a lower rate of interest than normal loans because they are secured against the borrowers property and will often have the added benefit of a flexible repayment period. With such loans one can often borrower a larger sum of money and the loans offered can range from £5,000 to £100,000. However, the amount being offered really depends on the security being offered by the borrower. As mentioned previously such loans will provide the provider with an extended repayment period and because of this the borrower often gets a cheaper interest rate and can pay the loan back over a longer and more easily manageable period of time. Often the period time in which the loan has to be paid back generally ranges from between 5 to 25 years.

You can easily obtain a cheap secured loan from the many different banks, lending societies and financial institutes that are around. But the best method of obtaining a cheap secured loan is by going online. Using this method the borrower has access to a large number of loans that are available from trusted lenders. This method allows a borrower to look at and read the terms and conditions of the lenders loan facilities and thus make a qualified assessment of all the facilities that are available to them.




If you would like to learn more, please visit http://www.centrallendingservices.com.

Finding the Best Private Student Loan

by: Dave Fitzgerald
Students who do not meet federal requirements for financial need can use the route of a private student loan. Apply for a private loan is free. The loan is based on the student's creditworthiness and not the need for aid as does the federal loans. Many lenders offer private student loans to students or their parents and the application process is simple and free. The loan requirements are usually less stringent and the repayment options are affordable for young professionals. A private student loan is a great way to finance the education of any student that needs financial help. Below you will find things that you should know and things you should consider. Things You Should Know: 1. Student loans can be used not only to pay the fees but also for lab fees, dues for associations and housing. 2. A student can have an educational loan even though the tuition is covered by a grant. 3. A student who is eighteen years or above in age, can apply for a student loan. 4. Most of the student loan is deferred for repayment until the student completes the education or leaves the school. Things You Need To Consider: 1. Private loans for students are not given without a co-signer or a credit report. 2. Credit unions give student loans if a vehicle or a boat is provided as collateral. 3. During the cumulative credit period, a student has the option of paying or not paying the interest part of the loan. It should be noted that paying the interest on the loan while attending school will significantly reduced the amount due when the student starts paying the loan after leaving the institution. 4. Student loans are to be repaid in ten years. Nevertheless, longer repayment facilities are provided to large student educational loans. It is not difficult to finding lenders, because most financial institutions offer some form of student loan. Always take the time to investigate lenders in your immediate area and find out exactly what kind of loans they offer. Compare the different interest rate and terms to get the best offer available.

About The Author
Dave Fitzgerald is a freelance publisher living in Glendale, Arizona. He publishes articles and reports in various ezines and provides information on student loans. For more information about loans and lenders come visit http://www.DelveIntoStudentLoans.com.

NextStudent Offers PLUS Loans for Graduate and Professional Students

by: Jeff Mictabor
According to Phoenix-based NextStudent, a premier education funding company, the proliferation of graduate and professional programs has led to new sources of education funding designed to benefit these goal-orientated students who are, in essence, beginning their career by continuing on in their education. As the job market in the United States continues to generate a need for applicants who are highly competitive in specified fields from technology to the ever-growing medical field, undergraduate students across the country are beginning to feel the squeeze as graduate and professional degrees become “must-haves” for even intermediate and entry-level positions. The decision to continue education onto the graduate and professional level is one that oftentimes comes with considerable financial stress because of the continued financial obligation. However, NextStudent’s Graduate PLUS Loan (http://www.nextstudent.com/) Program may allow borrowers to fund up to the full cost of their education (less any financial aid received), including living expenses, books, supplies and even computers. NextStudent now offers a PLUS Loan Program for graduate and professional students with rates starting as low as 8.5 percent. The Graduate PLUS Loan Program features the same benefits directly to graduate and professional students that parents of undergraduate students receive from traditional PLUS loans (http://www.nextstudent.com/plus_loans/plus_loans.asp). Because NextStudent Graduate PLUS loans are federally sponsored, they offer many of the perks of traditional PLUS loans, including eligibility for federal student loan consolidation (http://www.nextstudent.com/consolidation_loans/consolidation_loans.asp), tax-deductible interest and a variety of repayment options. Eligibility and Credit Resolution NextStudent offers a simple online application process through E-Signature, and many prospects who apply online qualify within minutes. Also offered is a “second look” for borrowers who receive an initial denial because of unresolved credit issues. NextStudent has a PLUS Credit Resolution Team that has an 87 percent success rate at resolving borrowers’ credit issues, resulting in funded PLUS loans. Graduate PLUS loans (http://www.nextstudent.com/plus_loans/plus_loans.asp) easily are accessible to many students. To qualify a student must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen. Although a credit check is required, many students with limited or no credit history still qualify for Graduate PLUS loans. Flexible Repayment Options and Aggressive Incentives With all the great incentives offered by NextStudent and its Graduate PLUS Loan Program, now is the right time for students to take the next step and go for their graduate degree. NextStudent Graduate PLUS loans offer several repayment options including deferred repayment while a student is enrolled in school at least half time, and there are no prepayment penalties, ever. There also is a 3 percent cash rebate at repayment on the remaining principal balance after the first 12 months of consecutive on-time payments when student borrowers pay through Auto-Debit. In addition, a 2 percent interest rate reduction is available after the first 48 months of consecutive on-time payments when student borrowers pay through Auto-Debit. Student borrowers receive a .25 percent reduction when they choose repayment through Auto-Debit. NextStudent, federal lender code 834051, is dedicated to helping students and their families find affordable ways to pay for college. NextStudent offers one-on-one education finance counseling and has a portfolio of highly competitive education finance products and services including a free online scholarship search engine, federally guaranteed parent and student loans, private student loans, both federal and private student loan consolidation (http://www.nextstudent.com/consolidation_loans/consolidation_loans.asp) programs, and college savings plans. The NextStudent Scholarship Search Engine, one of the nation’s oldest and largest scholarship search engines, is updated daily, available free of charge, completely private – and represents 2.4 million scholarships worth $3.4 billion. For more information about NextStudent and its student loan programs, please visit the company’s Web site at http://www.nextstudent.com/.

Making this Bad Credit Loan the Last You’ll Ever Need

by: Julian Thornton
If you are suffering from bad credit in any form, you probably want to do everything you can to clean things up so you can enjoy the world of good credit again. After all, in the media and from talks with the majority of mortgage brokers and big lenders, chances are you’ve been told that bad credit won’t get you anywhere – ever. The great news is that’s rubbish! Working in the bad credit mortgage industry, I personally know that people with bad credit are securing mortgages – good ones with reasonable interest rates – every day. You can too, and when you do, it’s important to decide immediately that this bad credit loan will be your last – ever!

This Bad Credit Loan will be the Last!

It might sound depressing saying that something will be the very last ever, however when it comes to bad credit loans, I’m pretty sure you’ll agree with me that it’s a good thing to decide that it will be your last. That’s because once you secure your bad credit loan, you will be well on your way to cleaning up your financial house to make sure you achieve good credit and a financially secure situation again – or perhaps for the very first time! After saying this, perhaps you are saying, “Yeah Julian, all very well and good for a money expert like you to say, ‘make this bad credit loan your last’, but I have a history of bad credit and poor money decisions”? My response to that is, “So what!” Even with the strongest history of poor money management, bad credit mortgage experts worth their salt can work with you to change your bad money habits and turn them into good ones that will result in lasting financial security. Hold me to that, because now I’m going to show you how!

How to make this Bad Credit Loan Your Last one Ever!

Sure, I’ve made a pretty amazing statement in the previous section, and now I’m going to show you how you can ensure this bad credit loan is the very last one you’ll ever have because it’s going to be the last one you’ll ever need!

It’s quite easy and straightforward to achieve this, so here goes:

• Find a bad credit mortgage expert who knows what they are doing: It is critical that you choose to work with a reputable bad credit mortgage expert! Good specialists in bad credit mortgages will secure competitive mortgages for people with all sorts of financial problems. Sounds drastic right? It gets better! These experts don’t just secure their clients a good home loan though. They also make sure their clients are prepared to succeed both now and into the future.

• Good money management: If you are dealing with a credible bad credit mortgage expert, and you aren’t mortgage ready when you walk through their doors for the first time, they work with you to get you ready. It’s all about good money management, and no, it’s not rocket science. It is discipline though. You make the decision to turn from your bad credit ways and you stick to that decision. Then you go to a bad credit mortgage specialist for your credit redemption! Sounds pretty dramatic, however it’s true. Bad credit isn’t the end, because every day bad credit clients prepare for a better financial future and secure home loans – even people with personal bankruptcy! The reality is that for every financial problem, there is always a solution. That solution is good money management. Reputable bad credit mortgage experts teach every client they work with, how to regain control of their finances, and for some it may be the very first time they have that control. These specialists teach their clients how to keep control as well, which prepares the client for a successful financial future. Once a bad credit mortgage specialist secures a home loan for their client, they will also walk away with a plan to follow that will ensure they will find a life of good credit at the end of the rainbow.

• Get a bookkeeper: A bookkeeper will really help you to keep on top of your financial situation, so find a good one and hire them! At least this way you will be up-to-date with everything and know what money is coming in and what money is going out.

• Stick to your cash flow plan: You are paying a certain amount off your mortgage each month according to your budget. You must stick to your budget. One way to ensure you never go beyond your budget is to donate what you deem to be a significant amount of money, to a cause you do not support. For instance, if you have a fear of birds, donate money to a bird society. Do this even if you go over budget by just a few dollars. It will keep you disciplined.

• Stay Motivated: Think about what you want to do once you are financially stable and secure. Pin photographs of your dream home, car or holiday destination on your corkboard, so you can see it as you work. Set goals and remind yourself of them. Try reading rags to riches stories as well, because they will definitely inspire you. All of these things will help you stay on track.

How to Get Your Last Bad Credit Loan Ever!

Forget the banks, because they won’t touch anybody with bad credit! Find an experienced bad credit mortgage broker who will work with you so you’ll get a great home loan to suit your needs, and the guidance you need to ensure your financial future is bright. Say goodbye to bad credit once and for all!

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Legislation and Governing Bodies of the Secured Loans Industry

Author: Adrian Hudson


Learn about the regulations and bodies affecting the Secured Loans market


Introduction

The Secured Loans market is often referred to as ‘Unregulated’, but what does this mean? This article will attempt to answer this question by looking at the both official and non-official governing bodies that have an affect Secured Loans. It will also briefly discuss the various Parliamentary Acts that incorporate legislation affecting the Secured Loans or Second Charges market. The target readership for the article is either those involved in the Finance Industry, specifically secured loans, or members of the public with a general interest in Consumer Credit legislation which may affect them.

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT)

The Office of Fair Trading, or O.F.T as it is more commonly referred to, is responsible for a number of key areas with the ultimate aim of protecting the consumer. It has three main purposes. These are the enforcement of Competition and Consumer Protection rules, the analysis of markets to make sure they are working and communication to consumers, businesses and the government.

In terms of Secured Loans there are a number of areas the O.F.T deals with that affect the way that operators in the market promote themselves. The first of these is by administering Consumer Credit Licenses. With the rapid growth in people taking out credit in the early 1970s an act of parliament was passed in 1974 called the Consumer Credit Act and it is under this at that Consumer Credit Licences are granted. If an entity advertises promotes or brokers Secured Loans it must have a Category C Consumer Credit License. On application the O.F.T will investigate all people connected to the business applying to ensure that they are all people worthy of issuing or guiding people to enter into credit. There is a general misconception in the market that the Consumer Credit License is only required if the Secured Loans Company offers loans less than £25,000, but the Act clearly states that a Category C license is required for businesses that provide credit of ANY amount secured on land.

Other areas the O.F.T deal with that affects secured loans are there enforcement of other elements of the 1974 Act and also the updates to the Act which occurred in 2004 - these are the ‘Agreements Amendment’, ‘Disclosure of Information’ and ‘Early Settlement’ Consumer Credit Acts.

For secured loans these act govern a number of things. The first of which is the way that organisations can advertise secured loans. The Acts have rules governing what can and cannot be said in an advertisement and also have stipulation over certain words that have to appear in the advertisement. For example the words “YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON A MORTGAGE OR ANY OTHER DEBT SECURED ON IT” probably have to appear on most Secured Loans advertisements. The Acts also stipulate that the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) must appear on Credit dvertising and also given rules give its calculation (commonly known as the TTC calculation or total charge for credit).

There is a growing momentum of opinion in the Mortgage and Secured loans industry that at some time secured loans will be regulated by the F.S.A. With the already increased workload of the F.S.A it is more likely that an ‘official’ recommendation for their regulation by the F.S.A is more likely to come from the O.F.T
Financial Services Authority (FSA)

The Financial Services Authority, or F.S.A as it is more commonly know, is responsible for enforcing the rules of the Financial Services and Markets Act (FSMA) 2000. Contrary to popular belief it is actually a non-government independent body and is financed solely from the income it receives from the very organisations it legislates. Although it is accountable to Treasury Ministers it is operationally independent.

In terms of legislation affecting Secured Loans the F.S.A regulates activities in relation to payment protection insurance (P.P.I). So if a business helps customers buy or claim on payment protection insurance it is highly likely it will need to apply to the F.S.A to be regulated. In the Secured Loans market whether you need to be legislated by the F.S.A largely depends on your involvement in P.P.I. If an organisation simply acts as an introducer it is quite likely it does not need to be regulated, however it is always advisable to seek legal advice.

At the time of writing the FSA is very active in the area of P.P.I. It is presently looking into what happens to Insurance premiums when someone either settles a loan early or want to cancel only the P.P.I element of a secured loan. At the moment most insurance providers have a ‘no refund’ clause for both cases.

Another area the F.S.A deals in that may affect Secured Loans providers is their regulation of Mortgages. The FSMA states that if an authorised lender gets second charge loans business from an unauthorised lender then their advertisements must be approved by the F.S.A approved firm.

Finance Industry Standards Institute (FISA)

The Finance Industry Standards Institute (FISA) is a self-governing body set up independently by the industry to govern itself in the Secured Loans market. An annual subscription fee from its members funds FISA. It publishes a Code of Conduct for its Members that cover the standards it requires in advertisements. In essence these are guidelines that give the requirements of the O.F.T specifically for the Secured Loans sector. FISA also publishes a disciplinary procedure and warns in its documentation that it will enforce legislation on non-members, in the first instance by contacting the offending organisation and in the second instance by informing the relevant regulatory body.

FISA also conducts training courses every month or so. These cover the legislative requirements of being involved in the Second Charge sector. In the future the organisation plans to have three levels of ‘qualification’, these will be Foundation, Associate and Member, but it is waiting on developments in the O.F.T and F.S.A before it does this. One supposes whether this happens will also be influenced by the level of regulation that those two bodies impose on the Secured Loans sector.

Information Commissioners Office (ICO)

The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) enforces the requirements of the Data Protection Act (1998). Given that all businesses in the secured loans sector will at some time hold information about individuals they must be registered as a Data Controller with the ICO. In summary, the Data Protection Act ensures that all data kept on an individual (including employees) is accurate, fairly and lawfully processed, adequate relevant and not excessive, used for limited purposes, not sent overseas and is kept securely.

Other Regulatory Bodies and Secured Loans

Although the following organisations do not have a direct power or control over the secured loans market it is worthwhile mentioning them, not only for reasons of clarity, but also, as it is possible there will be changes in legislation, these organisations may later have more influence over the secured loans sector.

The Consumer Credit Trade Association (CCTA) is another independent body, but differs from FISA in that it deals with the whole Consumer Credit market. It also offers training courses, publishes regular newsletters and actively lobbies the Government about consumer credit related issues. In a world where we assume taking out credit is a relatively new phenomenon it is useful to note that the CCTA was founded well over a hundred years ago in 1891.

The Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association (IMLA) is an independent body that represents the views and interests of institutions in the generation of mortgage business through Intermediaries.

The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) is yet another self-governed body operating in the Mortgage Industry. In a similar fashion to the CCTA it is also involved with government with legislative issues, issues policy guidelines. It is also renowned for produces statistics about the UK lending market covering, amongst other things, arrears and repossessions, the number of mortgages being taken out and specifics like the number of buy to let mortgages being taken out.

To finish this section, there is one more independent organisation called the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries (AMI) who acts as the trade body for mortgage intermediaries.

Conclusion

Although the Secured Loans sector is commonly referred to as ‘unregulated’ this document has hopefully shown there is still a lot of regulation (both official and un-official) that affects and encompasses the secured loans sector. In the finance area where the UK has a reputation for being the most regulated in Europe it is only a matter of time before secured loans come under the umbrella of the FSA. It is believed that instruction for the FSA to take control of the secured loans market is more likely to come from the treasury rather than the FSA itself. What is certain is that the secured loans market will become more legislated in the coming years. One thing to note if you are going to business in the Mortgage or Secured Loans market that subscription to these organisations can add up to many thousands of pounds per year.

Home finance mortgage loan calculators

Author: Ziss Sub

You can use home finance mortgage loan calculators as help in handling every day finances
You can use home finance mortgage loan calculators as help in handling every day finances Use home finance mortgage loan calculators in calculating loans payment,loans amortization schedule,calculating interest rate ,present and future value of monthly payments In credit cards section use financial calculators in Real Cost calculator where you can find out how much is the price of product The Cash Advance Cost Calculator is used to determine the total cost of taking a cash advance from your credit card and paying it back over timeThe Payoff calculator helps you calculate how much interest you will save by paying off a credit card balance now instead of paying it off over timeIn Mortgages section you can calculate:- Mortgage payments- mortgage refinancing to get a better interest rate- Mortgage amortization- detailed mortgage calculator- Second mortgage- mortgage tax benefits- Mortgage interest and property tax payments are tax deductible.You can deduct this interest from your income, and this can mean a large tax savings- Maximum mortgage calculator - presents estimates of the mortgage amount you could get at various interest rates- Mortgages points comparator - fee for establishing a new loan. It is one of the important factors in the calculation of the annual percentage rate for a mortgage- Escrow account cancellation - Escrow Cancellation Calculator helps you determine the financial payback for canceling your escrow account and managing your insurance and property tax payments yourself Planning section: Renting house vs buying house - The Rent versus Buy Calculator will help people who are trying to decide whether to keep renting their home - leasing or buuying car - will help people who are trying to decide whether to keep leasing their car - student loans cost -Setting up a college loan savings plan - saving for student loans - The purpose of student loans Savings Calculator is to determine how much you will have to put away on a monthly basis to meet your college savings goals- retirement planner - Improve quality of life after retirement Use this home finance mortgage loan calculators as help in managing you personal finances: http://www.credit-cards-mortgages-loans-calculators.com/

Cut off your financial crunch at a single stroke with debt consolidation loan

Author: John Carry
a debt consolidation loan has some other benefits to offer. It will bring your interest rate down. The interest you have to pay for this loan will be lower than the average interest rate of your multiple debts.


Have you had enough of dealing with multiple credits and several creditors? Do you want to cut off this financial crunch at a single stroke?

“Yes”, if this is your reply to these questions, then you can take a debt consolidation loan. Probably there is no other better way of answering back your creditors’ harassing phone calls than paying off his money. By taking a debt consolidation loan, you will receive a reasonable amount of cash. With the cash in hand, you can pay off almost all of your debts.

As soon as you repay your debts, the creditors will be silent. There will be no more phone calls asking you to clear the instalments. The hassle of making multiple payments to lots of lenders on the different days will vanish. With only one loan to deal, it will be easier for you to keep track of it.

This is not all; a debt consolidation loan has some other benefits to offer. It will bring your interest rate down. The interest you have to pay for this loan will be lower than the average interest rate of your multiple debts. Further, you will have an extended repayment period for this loan. So, you have to make smaller monthly repayments.

Despite that, you can take a debt consolidation loan in secured and unsecured form. If there is equity available in your home, then you can go for a secured debt consolidation loan. Tenants and those homeowners who are not ready to risk their home can take an unsecured debt consolidation loan. Finally, to obtain this effective gadget of getting rid of debt trap in a hassle free manner it is recommendable to apply through the online lenders

What Are Bridging Loans?

Author: Peter Kenny


If you are in the middle of moving house, and you have found the perfect new home but you cannot sell your current home, then you should think about getting a bridging loan to pay for the shortfall

If you are in the middle of moving house, and you have found the perfect new home but you cannot sell your current home, then you should think about getting a bridging loan to pay for the shortfall. A bridging loan is a loan that you take out when there is a temporary shortfall in cash when you are moving property or business. You may also need a bridging loan when buying property at auction in order to pay for the property within the 28-day time frame. These loans are more risky for lenders, and so are more expensive. Therefore you should only get out a bridging loan if you know that you can repay the loan within 6 months. Who can get a bridging loan? A bridging loan is often easier to obtain that a normal loan or mortgage, with the self employed and people with poor credit history being eligible for such loans. Obviously this depends on the lender, but generally speaking you should be able to secure a bridging loan as long as you can make the repayments. How do bridging loans work? Bridging loans in the case of property work by allowing you to take a mortgage out on the new property, and then take a second mortgage out on the property that you are selling. You can usually borrow up to 65% of the value of the properties, minus any existing mortgages that you have. Depending on the property valuation this means you can borrow between £25,000 and £500,000 as a standard figure. How to get a bridging loan Getting a bridging loan is much like getting any other loan, and involves shopping around various online lenders and mortgage providers. However, the main difference is that for the bridging loan a valuation will be carried out by the lenders to ensure property value. The process usually takes around 7-10 days, in which time you can sort out the rest of the legal processes involved when buying a house. Costs Bridging loans vary in cost, with specialist lenders who specialise in giving loans for auctions having the lowest rates, as it is assumed you can afford the property as you have already legally bought it at auction. If you have bad credit then you will obviously pay more. Interest rates on bridging loans are usually worked out on a monthly basis, with an average rate being about 1.5% a month. Often, the interest rates for bridging loans is less important because you are going to pay back the loan quickly and the most important factor is getting the loan on time for you to purchase the new property. Any alternatives? If you cannot sell your house in time to finance the new property, then there are not many options open to you apart from bridging loans. Of course you could get a traditional loan, but this can take longer and the loan terms might be too long or the amount offered too low. If you know that you will have the money back from a property sale soon, then a bridging loan might be the right choice for you.

Tuesday, February 6, 2007

Business Loans For Minorities: Get A Good Rate

By: Louise Michaels

Business loans are not always easy loans to get, and minorities may find this even more difficult. Many communities and government agencies have created programs to help minorities obtain a small business loan when they need it, but there is still a lengthy process to go through before the small business loan for the minority can be approved. Minority business entrepreneurs must submit a series of loan application materials, get a background check, credit check, and also submit a reliable and cohesive business plan.

The most important thing to get a good rate is to have a strong credit history. Without a high credit score, most lenders are required to only offer specific programs. Some banks and financial institutions may extend higher rates for low credit scores, poor credit history, or bad credit overall. If this is the case, it will be harder for minorities to obtain a business loan with a good rate.

The Minority Business Development Agency helps minorities by providing training and information. This can include loan and grant applications, minority businesses in the area that can provide referrals and even banks that work exclusively with minority businesses to create a custom loan program.

A mentoring service by the National Minority Council helps people receive special contracts through local lenders. Many local lenders work from referrals, and have access to funds where they can offer a lower rate. It’s important for minority business entrepreneurs to network as much as possible. Networking helps people learn about other businesses, and there may be outside investors who are available to extend funding at lower rates than even banks or commercial institutions.

The legal work behind many minority businesses is what can hold up the loan application process. The more well-prepared and ready the minority business owner can be with all documents, financial information, and records, the more likely it is that banks and other lending institutions will want to work with them. Banks can offer various programs that are tailored for certain business needs.

Referrals from key community members can increase the chances of obtaining a minority business loan, and possibly getting a good rate. Another way to reduce a rate is to break up the loan into two separate loans, and use different assets or collateral for each one. Some banks can help with arranging this.

Financial assistance may also be offered by the Small Business Administration. Corporations can help minority business owners. Corporations can assist with the loan, or extend some corporate loan package benefits that are competitive or lower than standard market rates. These corporations may work as sponsors for the loan, and can help the business promote itself within in the community as well.

Minority businesses can get good rates from a variety of resources. Community assistance programs can help pull together the financial plans and business planning specifications, while banks can offer strong rates when there is a strong credit history. Making sure credit scores are accurate can help business owners get a good rate right away. Still, there are plenty of options for assistance from other resources as well.

Dangers Of Home Equity Loans

By: Patricia Lewis

A home equity loan is very attractive to home owners since it can help increase immediate cash on hand, provide a way to fund repairs or renovations of the home, and offer an extended line of credit. A fixed rate equity loan can reduce monthly payments, and an extended line of credit can help pay down high-interest credit cards or personal debt. Still, there are some dangers of home equity loans.Some lenders and brokers can promise a lower interest rate or lower monthly payment, but the payment can go up if the borrower’s credit score decreases. Homeowners who are not able to meet the demands of the change can put their house at risk of repossession if they cannot repay the debt in time. Consolidating debts or refinancing a home in this way is not a good idea if the borrower ends up instead with a larger loan that they cannot pay off easily.Even when money is saved on the home equity loan or line of credit itself, some borrowers may end up overspending in other areas. If credit cards are paid off, they may start buying things on credit again and end up making monthly payments beyond what is affordable. Plus what happens when the funding estimated for a project the loan was obtained for - house repairs, college expenses, unforeseen medical emergencies – exceeds the initial funding amount? Borrowers may find themselves spending more money than they sought to save.Some mortgage companies might charge excessive fees that the homeowners don’t know about until they sign the final papers. This is becoming increasingly common, and it’s important to know all of the terms and final costs well before hand. Other poor lender practices include equity stripping, loan flipping, and over borrowing. Equity stripping is when a lender will inflate the income on an application to secure the loan. This results in the borrower not being able to pay back the amount. Loan flipping is when a lender increases the loan amount by increasing the current mortgage. This results in an overextended amount that the borrower cannot pay. Over borrowing involves extending a loan for more than the house is worth. This borrower cannot receive a tax deduction on this amount and may not be able to keep up with the payments.Although there are many advantages of a home equity loan, there are some dangers and pitfalls to look out for. Sensible budgeting and financial practices are important to stay ahead of payments, no matter how small or large the amount may be.

The Truth About Self Certification Loans

By: Chris Copper Jnr

Ten years ago if you were self employed you were very limited to the deals that were available to you. Lenders tended not to like it if you couldnt prove you income when apply for a secured loan or mortgage.Things have changed, because they have had to. With more and more people starting their own business and companies opting to contract staff on a self employed basis, lenders have had to change policies. Now many more lenders have had no choice but to offer self certification loans and mortgages in order to service more customers.With a self certification product you can state your income without having to provide payslips. Such loan and mortgage products are available with specialist and some high street lenders.The hook is that with a self cert loan you will normally have to pay lager deposit and slightly higher interest rates than a standard borrow would. You should also be prepared to incur slightly higher fees as well.Different lenders will have different criteria. Some will be more concerned about affordability, others with job title and credit history others will require accounts, accountants letter or bank statements.Whether you are with a specialist lender or a high street one, you will generally need a minimum of a 10 per cent deposit (some 5 per cent). In most cases the bigger the deposit you put down the lower the interest rate will be, because you are reducing the lenders risk. You will also pay more fees when putting down a small deposit.Self Certification loans and mortgages used to only be available through specialist lenders, but this is now changing. A handful of dynamic lenders have realised that they need to include the self employed into their mainstream products.Even if you do not have three years worth of accounts, do not think that a self certification product is your only option. Lenders are now embracing more sophisticated credit scoring techniques to better weigh up the potential lending risks.Another bonus for the self employed, is that if you can get together a 25 per sent deposit then you will be able to approach most lenders and choose from their mainstream loan products. Also because of the size of the deposit you are putting down, many of the fees will be crossed out.Although self cert loans are a lifeline to many legitimate people there are a small number of borrowers that take advantage by lying about their income. Over inflation of income in order to have access to more lending or get on the housing ladder is not only illegal but also very dangerous. People that do this will often find that eventually they fall behind on their loan repayments and can face repossession. It pays to make sure that you are always honest on your application.The key rule is to ensure that your mortgage loan repayments are going to be affordable. Flexible mortgages are great for the self employed that might have seasonal spikes and dips in their income. They allow you to overpay, underpay and take payment holidays if you wish to.The best way to ensure you get a good deal and the right product is to use a good broker. They will have access to a number of lenders and products and be able to advise you on the best cause of action.

Chris Copper Jnr enjoys writing on all areas of personal and business finance. He works for Any Loans who are specialists in Self Certification Loans.

Thursday, February 1, 2007

Student loans are a great source of financial aid

By: Ganesh
Student loans are a great source of financial aid for students who are in need of financial assistance for their education. With the escalating cost of higher education many will need to look beyond what they are able to save for college financial support. Student loans provide an affordable option. First of all you need to choose how much money you’ll need, which loan type is best for you; you’ll also need to decide whether this is the right time to do it and how you are going to pay for it. All these questions need to be answered preceding to apply for a student loan before doing some research and requesting loan quotes.

In recent times many financial Institutions providing loans like Student loan refinancing, Student loan consolidation, International student loans. Student loan refinancing, it is the main goal of refinancing is usually to reduce your monthly student loan payments. When refinancing your student loans there are several things to consider. First, you have both federal student loans and private loans; you will want to refinance them separately. Because of the way federal loans are structured, you can get a much lower interest rate on them than you can on private loans. Student loan rates vary by lender and by your credit history. So, before your refinance make sure your credit history is in good shape.

Student loan consolidation is the term may not be proverbial to you but to put it merely, it is about combining all your student loans into a single loan with one lender and one repayment plan. It helps to integrate all your student loan payments into one monthly bill and it provides a fixed low interest rate for your loan and this translates into huge savings for you in the long term and it also offer flexible repayment options and no fees, charges, or prepayment penalties. Consolidating student loans allows you to extend the repayment period, which means lower payments every month.

The International Education Finance Corporation (IEFC) is the premier provider of International student loan programs for the rapidly growing population of students who wish to study in foreign countries. It offers Competitive interest rates, No application fees or other out-of-pocket fees, Funding in as few as 5 business days from receipt of completed application , Preliminary approval in as little as 15 minutes.




For more Information on student loans Visit our www.bankxp.com forum and place your valuable comments on it.

Joint Loan Application Tips

By: Peter J Kenny

If you are living with a partner or family member and you need some money but don’t have the means, then you should think about applying for a joint loan. Joint loans can help you and a partner or family member both get their hands on more money than you could individually, whilst sharing the burden of repayment. If you want to know more about joint loans and how to apply for them, then here is some useful information that might help.Who can I get a joint loan with?Joint loans are not available for all types of relationship, but are in fact limited to certain partnerships. Married couples are the most common joint loan applicants, although unmarried couples are not eligible. Some companies will allow applications during engagement, but the loan will not be given until after marriage. Also accepted are applications from a parent and child. Although some loan companies also consider two brothers, all other sibling and family relations are generally not accepted.Getting more moneyThe main reason to jointly apply for a loan is to get a larger amount of cash than you might be able to if you were applying on your own. Married couples or parents and children can include both of their incomes to allow for a larger loan to be taken out. If you have a similar salary, then you can usually double the amount that you can borrow.Unequal earningsApplying for a joint loan doesn’t mean you both have to have excellent salaries. Even if one of you doesn’t have a salary, but money earnt from a part-time job or other work, this can help you both to get more money. As long as you are both earning and can make a contribution to the repayment it will be in your interests to apply jointly.Both responsibleAlthough both of you will get benefits from the loan, it is important to remember that you are also both responsible for the repayment of the loan. Even if you are married and split up, the amount still owed on the loan will need to be paid back by both of you. Of course there is more risk of default than a normal loan, because should one of you stop payments then the other may not be able to keep up and so you will both end up in default. This means you risk having your credit history damaged even if you were not responsible for the debt problem. Make sure that you can definitely afford to pay the loan back, even if you are no longer living with the other applicant.Who should get joint loans?Although most married couples are eligible to apply for a joint loan, they are not right for everyone. If one of you has a poor credit history or earns significantly less than the other, a joint loan may not be the right choice for you. Also, try and make sure that any joint loan you take out will benefit both of you. Just because you can get more money does not mean that money will benefit you both. Always use joint loans to fund something that will help you both, so that you can get the most out of your loan.

Peter Kenny is a writer for The Thrifty Scot, please visit us at Poor Credit Loans and Compare Secured Loans Visit www.thriftyscot.co.uk/

Refinancing A Car Loan

By: John Miller
The term "refinancing" should be familiar to anyone who has purchased a loan. Simply put, refinancing is the process of obtaining a loan to pay off an existing loan. Obviously it's not quite as simple as it sounds, but understanding that basic description is enough to begin the process of learning about refinancing.One of the best-kept secrets in the finance industry is refinancing. A great deal of time, trouble, and most importantly cash can be saved through this method alone. Home refinancing has been around for a long time now and is used by many people to save money on their loans and/or reduce their monthly payments. However, many people still balk at the idea of car loan refinancing despite being familiar with the benefits of refinancing a home loan. Those who have a less than perfect credit rating to back them up, in particular, are likely to react this way.What exactly is different about car loan refinancing? In essence, nothing. At the basic level, car loan refinancing works the same as refinancing your home. In car loan refinancing, a new car loan is obtained in order to pay off the existing car loan. The new loan may have different (typically better) interest rates, a new lender, or both. Again, as in home refinancing, this is beneficial since car loan refinancing can make your monthly car loan payments lesser. Alternately lower interest rates garnered through car loan refinancing can be capitalized on to pay off the balance of the current car loan in a shorter period of time.Very few people understand the time value of money--that the longer a loan is paid on, the more money is spent on interest charges. Take for example a 60-month loan for $16,500 on a new Honda Accord and assume that the buyer's credit is poor. The car dealer manages to get the buyer approved at 21% APR for that loan, making the monthly payments $446.38. By the end of the loan term, the buyer will have paid $10,282.83 on interest charges alone--almost as much as the initial price of the vehicle (which, of course, is now worth far less than when it was purchased). Now, if the car loan were refinanced with another lender at 6% APR after the first few months, the monthly payment would have been $318.99, allowing the buyer to save as much as $7,643 on interest charges. If the buyer refinanced at the lower APR but retained the same monthly payment, the term of the loan would be shorter and the interest savings even higher.Record numbers of homeowners refinanced their homes and saved thousands of dollars during the years 2001 and 2002. More car owners are beginning to realize the benefits of car loan refinancing every day. With the steady drop in interest rates, car loan refinancing is fast becoming a trend as more and more people realize how much money can be saved simply by refinancing a car loan.

John Miller is a writer for several well-known online magazines, on shopping and products and shopping tips topics.

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Art and Antiques Insurance

By: Dovetail
Is the Art and Antiques Insurance Cover on your Home Policy Adequate for your needs ?
Most home policies will insure your precious objects like art or antiques under the contents section of the policy. But if you possess a valuable painting, item or collection, it’s worth checking to see whether this cover really meets your needs fully. You may get a better deal by switching to an insurance provider who understands art and antiques insurance better.

Most home policies are designed to offer Art and Antiques Insurance in a very general manner. After all, they have been created to cater to the needs of an average family and accord very little consideration to the specific needs of the individual customer, especially one who owns precious art and antiques.

Typically, the insurance cover will be limited to a percentage of the overall contents. Besides this, the insurance sum insured will have a single article limit that’s too low and rarely provides cover away from the home unless a specific extension to cover is opted, and paid, for. This may not be the ideal situation for precious objects like art, antiques and other high value items.

Dovetail Insurance Services only recommends insurers who recognize that this type of general cover is too restrictive for individuals needing more art and antiques insurance than the average home. These providers are often referred to as “High Net Worth” insurers.

These are some of the art and antiques insurance benefits you could get with a High Net Worth policy:

• Worldwide All Risks cover so that your art and antiques are covered wherever you may take them.

• A high value single article limit (i.e. no individual specification required) of up to £25,000

• Depreciation in value of the piece of art or antique, following restoration, if it is only partially damaged rather than completely lost or destroyed

• Assistance in getting your art and antique collections professionally valued

• If you have a valuation, which is less than 3 years old, your art or antique could be covered for up to 150% of the specified figure to give protection against market value appreciations

• New acquisitions of art or antiques covered automatically upon purchase with a set time period to notify the insurers.

The insurance cover varies between each provider so we need to know which items are particularly valuable to you so that we can get the best possible art and antiques insurance. Please use the ‘Your Specific Needs’ section of the quotation request form to tell us or contact us directly.




www.dovetailinsurance.co.uk/art-and-antiques.htm

Need Motor Insurance ?

By: Dovetail
For good motor insurance that will cost you less, Dovetail recommends Directchoice.Save time and money by getting Direct Choice to 'shop around' for the right cover at the right price. Dovetail doesn't provide motor insurance - we're not experts - but Direct Choice are. They also provide insurance for home, caravan, motor bike, van and breakdown. Click on the links at the bottom to get a quote.They started in 1974 and they're now one of the biggest brokers in the UK. We recommend them because they'll look after you from quotation to claim to renewal. Why try Direct Choice? Like Dovetail, they're completely independent so, unlike a direct insurer, they scour the entire market to get you the best deal. If you have a problem with your insurer, they'll help you - with a direct insurer, you're on your own. They take away the hassle and tedium of finding the right cover and price and do it for you. They compete aggressively with the direct insurers and take more business from them than they lose. They invest in their people and systems to ensure you get the best possible service.

www.dovetailinsurance.co.uk/needmotorinsurance.htm

Understanding your ACS Student Loan

"A number of different financial aid programs fall under the heading of an ACS student loan. For those who do not already have one. Here's what you need to know and understand... "

An ACS student loan is one that is serviced by Affiliated Computer Services, Inc., a company that is known for outsourcing technology and business solutions. Many universities use the ACS student loan because of the company’s reputation for using technology to smooth over some of the more difficult aspects of loan services. With an ACS student loan, students can make payments online, instantly see the status of an account, change personal details like name and address, and receive email notification when payments have been processed. A number of different financial aid programs fall under the heading of an ACS student loan. One of the major ACS student loan groups is the Campus Based Student Loan Program (CBSL), which includes Federal Perkins Loans, Nursing Student Loans (NSL), and Institutional Loan Programs, among others. Another major group of educational loans handled by ACS is the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFEL), which includes the Stafford (GSL) Loans, PLUS loans to parents of students, and loan consolidation services . ACS also handles a group of educational loans donated by a variety of private companies. For those who do not already have an ACS student loan, applications and guidelines for different financial aid options are available online. The ACS website gives a clear example of how to fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, and demonstrates what the results mean in terms of your eligibility for financial aid. Furthermore, applications for both Stafford and PLUS loans for parents can be found on the ACS website, and can be completed and sent in online. If you have an ACS student loan already, you might be interested in learning about the benefits of student loan consolidation. The ACS website provides information and application forms that could help you lock in a lower rate and reduce your monthly payment amount. Other tools that might help you with your ACS student loan include a repayment calculator, IRS guidelines about how to use your student loans for tax relief, and a glossary of important student loan-related terms. All in all, an ACS student loan is one that will give the borrower the most ease and flexibility when it comes to loan servicing from application to repayment and consolidation. ACS works with a number of universities across the United States, including the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Vermont. Even if your specific university does not offer student loans handled by ACS, their website is a treasure trove of helpful tools and information, and well worth a look. Mark Kessler's website http://studentloans.seeking411.com offers a comprehensive free resource of college financial aid for Consolidating Student Loans, Alternative Student Loans, ACS , Bad Credit, US Department Of Education Student Loans, including a variety student loan articles.
By John Riggin

How To Lower Your Car Insurance Quote

The discrepancy in cost of premium among different Insurance companies can be considerable. Different companies consider risk factors, which is the basis of insurance, differently. What is considered a high risk factor in company "A" might be treated differently by company "B." A Car Insurance price or premium is usually arrived at following the car owner’s answers to a series of questions put to him or her by an Insurance company according to their set rules in terms of risk factors. So, it will be a good idea to try a number of insurance companies and eventually settle with one which price is more favourable to you in relation to your answers. Also before buying you car bear in mind that among all the risk factors on which an insurance company will base your premium, the type and cost of your car is a very important consideration. The most popular rating group for cars is the ABI (Association of British Insurers), which divides vehicles into about 20 groups for the sake of premium. It will also make your premium even cheaper if your buy your car insurance online, because by so doing you save the Insurance company some expense, some of which they pass over to you inform of discount. If you are an inexperienced driver, it will lower your premium if your car is in the lower group. And your answer regarding your annual mileage will also affect your premium, so don’t just take suggestions on annual mileage from the agent, work at your expected mileage and arrive at a realistic annual mileage by yourself. There are different types of car insurance policies, but the most popular is the Third Party insurance policy, which is the cheapest of the insurance covers legally available. The Third Party is the car insurance of choice for most people, but if you get involved in an accident, only damages suffered by a third party are covered. However, a Comprehensive policy should be considered if your car is an expensive one. One of the other factors considered nowadays as a risk factor is your credit rating. Keep it good. A poor credit record will surely jack up your car insurance premium. Bear in mind that in arriving at your monthly premium cost, Insurance companies try to find out how much excess you are prepared to carry on your policy. This is supposed to be voluntary, but higher excess generally lowers your premium. The down side is that before any claim is paid to you, you will be required to liquidate the amount of excess on your policy. Your driving record is also a very important factor. If you have had accidents or convictions prior to taking out a car insurance policy or have accident and convictions while on your current policy, these will affect your premium upwardly. How many times you have made car insurance claims in the last five years is also considered a factor for giving you a lower or higher insurance premium, so try an be a good drive. When buying a car insurance, do not overload your policy with additional drivers, because this will mean a higher premium for you. Most companies will allow you, at a small additional charge, to add an additional driver on your policy if the need arises. And be aware that the security of your car is an important factor while your insurance company calculates your premium, so keep it right too; using a car alarm and immobiliser will reassure the company and even afford you some discount. Finally, note that Insurance companies consider drivers with advanced test certificates more responsible or better drivers, and lowers their monthly premium. Being married with an insured spouse and paying your annual premium at a go are both ways of getting cheaper premium cost, too. Consider buying your car insurance online because by so dong you save the insurance company some expense, some of which they pass over to you in form of discount. Drive sensibly. Neshah writes for your success – find your nearest seized car auction listing at Nationwide Government Car Auction Listing for cheap new and nearly new cars at 90% off retail prices

By : Jackson Neshah