How High Reverse Mortgage Closing Costs Solve the Problem

By Mudbrow Vanrock

If I were to name the biggest hurdle to get over, with prospective clients in the reverse mortgage business, it would have to be the closing costs.

I believe I'm a poor salesman. As such I dive right in and tell my customers straight away, "The closing costs for your reverse mortgage will be higher than you might think".

Now, closing costs are high for three reasons... The first being closing costs are charged on the value of the home, not necessarily what the lender allows the borrower to cash out of the loan (aka "Available Principle Limit").

Additionally, HUD charges a two percent fee, based on the value of home up to four hundred-seventeen-thousand dollars. Lastly, the mortgage company charges a transaction fee (origination fee) which can be one percent above normal.

One doesn't need to have a degree in advanced calculus to quickly figure out that closing costs are fairly expensive.

One could argue the origination fee is not really higher than a typical mortgage, because forward mortgages simply build the fee into the rate. That's another subject for another day.

When it comes down to it, the FHA mortgage insurance is the culprit when determining why reverse closing costs are as high as they are. The thing is without this pricey mortgage insurance premium most seniors would be stuck with a second rate reverse mortgage and many with none at all.

To put this into perspective, a seventy year old customer with a two hundred thousand dollar home would be entitled to borrow roughly $130,000 with an FHA insured mortgage.

Fannie Mae offered a reverse mortgage product until September of this year. It discontinued it. You know why? Everyone took the FHA product because it offered far more money than the Fannie product. The same borrower would have received less than $100,000 on the Fannie product.

Why ? Because the FHA insurance, everyone is so unhappy about, allows lenders to feel comfortable enough to lend such large amounts.

The biggest danger to a lender is the possible event that more is owed on the home than the actual value. The mortgage insurance covers lenders in this event.

Expensive, horrible, bitter FHA insurance hedges the lender's risk, which makes much more money available to borrowers. But in the end it allows so many seniors to solve stressful financial issues.

About the Author:

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3 Tips for Choosing a Consumer Credit Counseling Service

By Steve Collins

Selecting a consumer credit counseling service seems like a pretty straightforward task. However, with the field growing by leaps and bounds, it is in your best interest to take some time and follow a few tips to make sure that the consumer credit counseling service you choose is reputable and offers the best services.

One recent and regrettable trend in the industry has been a steady rise in the numbers of consumer complaints lodged with various reporting agencies and watchdog groups that keep an eye on the consumer credit counseling service industry. Sadly, whenever an industry sees real growth year after year, the temptation of easy money invites disreputable players who, provide poor service and even actively work to cheat customers. It is particularly upsetting when the business caters to people who are already facing grave financial problems.

One of the best tips when looking for a credit counseling agency is to pass over any consumer credit counseling service that has not been in business at least 8-10 years. An extensive track record in the consumer credit counseling service industry typically indicates a business that is run professionally and that provides good services for the fees they charge.

A second tip is to verify the professional accreditation of each consumer credit counseling service you're considering. Look for agencies that have been formally accredited by either (or both) the Council on Accreditation (COA) or the International Standards Organization (ISO). Note: always make sure that the consumer credit counseling service you choose has a current accreditation with these organizations! Some will have been accredited in the past, but may be operating now on a expired certificate.

Finally, due diligence requires verifying with the Better Business Bureau and your State's Attorney General's Office for complaints against the agency. You might be astonished by what you uncover with these simple checks. Many disreputable credit counseling agencies remain in business, even after many complaints have been lodged against them. Take the time to check each one out thoroughly before choosing one and paying them for their services.

About the Author:

Steve Collins is an author and journalist. In these trying times, he knows the importance of obtaining effective debt solutions if necessary. Read his article about debt solutions here.

Protection Against Identity Theft: Necessary or a Waste of Time?

By Harvey Warmuth

Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in America, affecting one in four households. It is a rampant problem that results in millions of dollars worth of damage each year.

Identity theft is a crime against consumers that, while it might not affect each of us directly, we all are indirectly impacted. Identity theft is the act of using someone's personal identifying information for criminal purposes, often times resulting in some sort of financial gain for the criminal.

Identity theft happens when someone uses another person's sensitive personal data for an illegal purpose. This includes the use of Social Security Numbers, or credit card numbers, without permission to get some sort of financial gain.

The crime of identity theft is relatively new, and is becoming very popular with thieves. You must be very aware of how you handle your financial information so that you do not become a victim of identity theft. Also, you have to be extremely careful with your online activities, including the use of email, as this is a very popular way for a thief to steal your identity.

There are companies that offer identity protection solutions which compliment the steps that you should be personally taking to secure your identity. Due to the fact that the crime of identity theft is on the rise, you need to take some serious measures in the fight against identity theft. One of the best steps to take is to make use of one of these identity theft services.

An identity theft protection company will automatically place fraud alerts on your accounts with the major credit bureaus. Fraud alerts are one of the best ways to prevent identity theft, and can be done manually or through a service. The advantage of using a service is that they will automatically renew your fraud alerts, which is something that has to be done every 90 days.

With identity theft becoming a larger issue with each passing day, it is becoming increasingly important to protect yourself. The use of an identity theft protection solution has become one of the most affective, and easiest, ways of identity theft protection.

When you use the services of an identity theft protection company, you are purchasing a safety net in case you do become a victim of identity theft. These companies will assist you in undoing the damage of identity theft, but more importantly, they will greatly aid in your defense against ever becoming a victim.

With identity theft being amongst the fastest growing crimes, and victims spending an average of 600 hours and thousands of dollars to recover from the crime, you need to protect your identity today! Do all that you can do to protect yourself from identity theft so you don't have to go through the grief of having fallen victim to this terrible crime.

About the Author:

Harvey Warmuth is a consumer advocate specializing in identity theft and highly recommends using identity theft protection. To find out how wise and economical the use of identity theft fraud protection is, please visit his website.

Real Budget Tips That Would Blow You Away

By Alix Montoya

Would you say that you are prepared in case something happens that sets you and your family back a few notches down the financial scale? It could be an accident that's just too expensive or it could something more disastrous altogether. Whatever this something is, everybody knows the importance of having a budget that's both flexible and firm, to save the family from further disasters.

Budgets would be a very basic way of having your household together financially. It's an easy way to pay your bills on time or even saving up for a family vacation. But having a strong budget is a great way for you to be able to save up for more unexpected expenses as well.

Planning ahead is a sound part of having a budget. To be able to look ahead and prepare for possible expenses is a sound trait of all budget-having people out there. This makes sure that you are not caught off guard by any sudden financial crash that you and your family might experience.

One good way to look ahead is to save up a fraction of your income and put up an emergency fund. You can set aside a fourth of your annual earnings and then just leave it there so it can grow and be more useful in the future. You can use it for big purchases like a new house or a new car, or you can use it for a family vacation if you are very confident.

You also might want to keep some cash that covers up to four months' worth of expenses. This is probably the most important aspect of saving up for a rainy day. It gives you leeway and a margin of time to start again financially. You'll appreciate this greatly once disaster strikes.

It is always best to have a Plan B when you're in a pickle. So whatever strategy you have in having budget, you need to be sure that it covers everything possible. It's just always best to be prepared for anything.

About the Author:

Alix Montoya has been writing about Missouri craft fairs for a long time. You can find out the latest news on MO craft shows and join in on the crafting fun.

Platinum Credit Cards

By Gray Rollins

Credit cards are categorized in three different levels; the Standard credit card, the Gold credit card, and the Platinum credit card. Among the three, Platinum credit card is comprised of more benefits and purchasing power, making it as a status symbol in the society. More cardholders would prefer this Platinum credit card because of the benefits and privileges it extends to the customers who are qualified to avail it. High income and clean credit scores are one of the qualifications.

Among the platinum credit cards in the circulation, the American Express Platinum card is simply the best card of all with worldwide acceptance. It offers the greatest benefits a credit card can serve. If your credit score or credit history is good enough, you can even reach the credit limit of up to $100,000. This card may seem to be high in value, but you will eventually earn in return this value because, as long as you maintain a good credit score, you can earn 1.5 reward points for each of your purchases.

MasterCard offers a platinum credit card. This card is accepted almost every where in the U.S. and abroad. The percentage rate, which is very reasonable, will stay at a reasonable amount as long as the payments are made on time.

The platinum Master Card is for those with higher incomes but if you only pay the minimum on your outstanding balance your interest rates can go up by as much as 35%. When choosing this type of credit card the best way to save the interest and fees is by paying off the balance each month.

The Discover More Platinum credit card is another card that offers convenience through its high spending limits, zero annual fees, attractive introductory APR for purchases and balance transfers for 12 months, and some more rebates on purchases and cash back bonuses. Credit history and details can be accessed through online account access.

Platinum credit card features wider range of benefits and opportunities than the silver or gold credit cards. It extends additional services such as concierge services, travel services, and purchases on high class establishments. Once you met the qualifications of being a high earning individual with high credit score, you can avail this Platinum credit card and experience its benefits and privileges.

Platinum credit card is also offered to business institutions for their company purchases. The features of the business credit card are the same with that of the personal credit card. Some credit card companies offer the platinum business card with no APR on the first twelve months and low APR thereafter, while some offer no annual fee. To avail the 3 to 25% discount on purchases, buy the materials your business needs from those stores affiliated with the credit card companies.

There are cards which are advertised that are called platinum shopping cards. These platinum cards are not to be confused with a regular credit card. Although they are credit cards, they can only be used to buy merchandise at the participating stores. They do, however, report to the credit bureau so they can help to build your credit score up by using it to purchase merchandise and keeping the balance paid.

About the Author:

Not all Platinum Cards are created equal. In fact, some are just downright lowsy. Get the finest Platinum Card available by applying for the American Express Platinum Card today and you'll receive 25,000 points to get started.

Watch the BIG Board - Mini Dow Tip

By D.R. West

We are often asked why we prefer the Mini-Dow index to say the S&P or Russell minis. While any index will do, we especially like the mini-Dow.

Because of the faster movement of the Dow versus the S&P 500, the mini-Dow more closely follows it's big board parent.

So if it is just a matter of speed, then the mini-Russell would be even better right? Not exactly. The problem with the Russell is the low volume. This will no doubt change in the future. The mini-Dow had too low a volume for our money just a couple years ago, but that has now changed.

One more reason why we prefer the Mini-Dow is that we like no-cost tools, and it is much easier to find a reliable Dow chart. In fact there are many online that work just fine.

No matter which Index you prefer, we feel it is an advantage to watch the big board chart, and not the mini chart. We also prefer the 5 minute time frame.

Many traders watch both, which is what I did years ago before deciding to focus on the big board. Here's why. I found that I would not move on what the mini chart was telling me unless I confirmed it with the big board. A popular confirmation among traders. It finally hit me that if I would not make a trade without confirming it with the big board, then why did I need the mini chart at all?

When I dropped the mini chart and focused on the big board movement, my trading improved. I have sinced confirmed this strategy with Hundreds of my students and other traders. Just recently, one of my students who moved on to using the mini-chart (a paid service I might add), came back to our style and is now focusing on the no-cost big board chart we use. He also confirmed that his trading improved, and he now sees why we focus on the big board.

The mini chart (even in the 5 min time frame) is like trading with a 1 minute chart. There are too many head fake moves that get you in a trade before it has fully developed. The big board averages some of those moves out for you. It keeps you on the sidelines when you should be. Sure, you might not get in as early on some runs, but in the long term it will save you!

It is difficult to catch any move from top to bottom or vice-versa, but by watching the big board you can fairly easily get a nice chunk out of the middle (or many chunks with our BIG MONEY small trades strategy). A few nice chunks a week will keep you from needing a bail out plan!

About the Author:

Mini-Dow Index Trading Made Simple Doug West has taught thousands how to grow wealth with simple Index Trading and online marketing of products and services. He has affiliates that have earned $100k in less than a year.

No-one likes the idea of having a mortgage

By Rem

The monthly payment for long term fixed rate mortgages are just one fundamental thought for many individuals who are looking to purchase a home. A large number of couples these days have decided to wait and are buying homes later but they also want to pay off their mortgage early. Although before signing any documentation, there is a great deal to consider.

Over the course of the mortgage, it's essential to remember to make sure the interest rate doesn't change. It is always wise to avoid agreements that appear to too good to be true because they invariably are. The interest rate remains the same for long term fixed rate mortgages over the life of the mortgage.

There are no hidden surprises which is great for many people that need a set monthly mortgage payment. Both my wife and I decided to explore fixed rate mortgages when we started looking at homes for sale. Although it was fundamental for us to pay off our loan as soon as we could, we didn't need high, unrealistic monthly payments which we would have a problem sustaining.

It became manifest that we had to look at fixed rate mortgages over a longer period and not just 15 year fixed mortgage rate plans. No-one likes the idea of having a mortgage when they are close to retiring, and we were no other, so it was still our hope that a 15 year fixed mortgage rate would still be an alternative.

My wife's donation to the monthly finances would in all likelihood be unreliable since she preferred to raise our child at home. The trouble we could see was the raised financial commitment with a higher monthly repayment if we had chosen for the shorter 15 year fixed rate mortgage. For us it just wasn't practicable as we would just be in over our heads and in all likelihood be worrying about money every month.

After looking at the much lower sum of money we would be making on our regular installments with a 30 year fixed rate mortgage, there wasn't any option but to go with it. Also, where possible, making a few additional lump sum payments during the year helps bring down the sum owed. By making just a few of these extra payments each year we discovered that year's could be taken off the mortgage term. This is well worth the effort in the long term but it does require some discipline. Under other conditions, we would have preferred to have taken out a loan with a 15 year fixed mortgage rate but we had to consider our other commitments as well. Despite all our worries, things turned out well for us in the end and we don't regret our decision.

About the Author:

Also have a look at Cheap Real Estate News and Low Cost New Home News

Do You Really Need To Shop Insurance Rates?

By Susan Tanner

We all want to be certain with all the new drivers that seem to be on the road these days, we have adequate insurance coverage for ourselves. We also want to make sure that we have appropriate coverage for the newest teen drivers in the family. This often leads us to start comparing companies to see which will provide the best coverage for our needs at the least cost. Some people choose Geico because they advertise that they have the best deal, but isnat important to compare this with quotes from other companies to make sure?

It is really important that you get more than one quote on your auto insurance because you never know if there is a better deal out there. I mean we all want the best and we want the most coverage like Geico promises but what if there is another plan just as good without the high cost. No one wants to over pay for what they get especially when it comes to getting their car fixed after a fender bender.

You should make sure that when you are comparing quotes from different companies you check all the features included in the coverage for that price so you are comparing apples top apples. You want to compare deductible amounts and make sure that liability is not the only coverage offered for that price if full coverage and rental car or road side assistance are features you want. If you want a lower deductible because of the price of repairs for your auto, then you must make sure that the quotes are both for the same level of deductible.

Another good reason to shop rates is that some companies may offer better discounts than others. Many companies offer discounts for multiple vehicle coverage or drivers in certain age groups. The additional savings gained this way can be a big plus for most of our budgets! You may also want to see if the company requires you to use a particular mechanic or garage for repairs or if the choice is completely up to you.

Most insurance companies do have their own specific mechanics that they work with and don't really want you to go to another one. This is something you should really look into because if you live in an area where there are few mechanics you might have to go a long way to get to theirs. That's the part that is somewhat difficult because most companies will send you to the most expensive ones when you could find a better one for you.

Some insurance companies will send you to expensive mechanics and have you pay a very high deductible before they cover anything. It is very important to get multiple rate quotes when purchasing automobile insurance to see what choices you have. If you are a pet lover, it is possible to find rates that include the family pet.

For some people, this is a great option because the vet bills will be covered if they are injured in an accident just like the medical bills for the rest of the family. There are a lot of additional coverages available in different policies and most of us like to have extra coverage and benefits for our specific needs.

Perhaps the best reason for comparing rates getting the best coverage for the best price. You have to have good coverage for all the drivers in the family and since there is no way to avoid it,it is worth it to spend a little time to avoid overpaying for the coverage you need.

About the Author:

To find out exactly how I got car insurance quotes online, visit my website about auto insurance