Thursday, June 30, 2005

Consider this...

California bad credit mortgage

Apply For Home Mortgage Loan Online With Bad Credit - Things To Consider by Carrie Reeder

So, you’ve found the perfect home. You’ve already decided where to place each piece of your furniture inside the home, and in your mind, all of your family photographs are hanging alongside the stairwell. But wait—do you know that even if you believe that your credit report is spotless, it could negatively affect your chances of getting that home mortgage approval?

The credit bureaus handle hundreds of thousands of credit reports, and it’s only logical that they will make mistakes. In fact, studies show us that there are some types of errors on at least 50 percent of all credit reports.

Could an error be lurking on your report?

Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to ensure that your credit report reflects exactly what it should.

Step One: Avoid a Bad Credit Report by Requesting a Copy of It

Under the law, you are entitled to a copy of your credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies. You should simply submit a request in writing or visit their web sites and request a copy.

Step Two: Check the Personal Information

Maybe your name is Jane Smith, but the agencies have you listed as Jayne Smith. If you don’t think that it matters, you’d better think again. If the agencies have a miss-spelling in your name, the wrong address, reversed digits on your social security number, or even wrong employer information, it could mean bad news for your report. If the person who they have you confused with makes a late payment, then it will appear on your report. What’s worse, if they file for bankruptcy or default on a car loan, it will take some time to sort out the erroneous information once it’s found its way onto your report. Avoid all of this, and report any bad information now.

Step Three: The Credit Information

It may be too late, and you may find that there are loans or other items on your report that you’ve never taken out. In addition, you may find that late payments are on your credit report when you’re sure that you made them on time. If you find such erroneous information, then you’ll need to send the credit reporting agencies a letter explaining the error, along with any proof or documents that you have that will back up your claim. They are required to investigate your complaint and report back to you with their findings.

It’s important to do all of this before you apply for a home mortgage. It will not only reduce the amount of time that it takes to get an approval, but it could positively affect the interest rate that you end up with.

To view our recommended sources for bad credit mortgage lenders, visit this
page: Recommended Bad Credit Mortgage Lenders.
About the Author
Carrie Reeder is the owner of ABC Loan Guide, an informational
website about various types of loans.


California Bad Credit Mortgage

Refinance - http://mountainview-mtge.com/refinance.htm

Consolidate Debts - http://mountainview-mtge.com/consolidate.htm

Bad Credit - http://mountainview-mtge.com/bad_credit.htm


Wednesday, June 29, 2005

How to win the Credit Game

California bad credit mortgage

Winning the Credit Game by Cecily Backstrom

Everywhere we go, the word credit can be found, shining huge
dollar signs in front of our very eyes. Everyday we receive
solicitation and promotions offering us credit. Credit
actually makes the financial world go round, yet just the
mere mention of the word can make many people very nervous.
So why does credit get such a bad reputation?

It's been my experience that credit falls into the same
category as politics and religion. People have very strong
opinions about Credit. It has been around since the
beginning of mankind. People would borrow either goods or
services, to be repaid at a later date with interest.
There's nothing wrong with that. And like anything else, it
can be used, or abused.

There are programs that allow you to borrow from your IRA,
or you can borrow from the equity that had built up in your
home. Credit card companies often offer promotions to borrow
money at a lowered rate of interest for a predetermined
period. It's all good news for the consumer. One of the
simplest ways to borrow money to use a Credit Card. The
choices available are plentiful, with a variety of interest
charges, annual fees, loyalty programs, and reward systems.

Many companies offer 6 months no interest credit. This is
often an excellent way of saving money as you are basically
given an interest free loan for those months. It's even more
valuable if you are able to transfer some of the card debt
from a different company into the interest free loan. The
best advice is to make sure you always have the money in
the bank, or in a savings account, to pay off your card when
you are taking advantage of the interest free promotion.

That way you benefit from earning interest on your savings
at your bank, but as soon as the interest free credit period
has ended, you can pay the entire bill off without being
hit for high interest charges. If you intend to pay off
you credit card bill at the end of every month, there are
many benefit programs and reward packages available.

You can receive award points every time you make a purchase
with that card. These points can be redeemed in cash or
discounts, and can even be used for the purchase of airline
miles, etc. Some companies offer a consumer guarantee
protection on items purchased with the card, and many
will extend the warranties on those items. Many offer
discounts such as car rentals, travel insurance, accidental
damage insurance for any products you buy.

Also some companies charge an annual fee for using their
card (especially business credit card accounts), so these
should be considered against the cards benefits. If you
are not paying off your monthly credit card bills, look for
a card that offers a low interest. If you are paying off
your monthly credit card bills, look for additional card
benefits. Interest free credit periods are good news for
saving money. Credit Cards are an effective, and easy way to
borrow money for a short time. Be wise and prudent when
deciding to use credit. The bottom line is the credit
card companies want your business, and there is a credit
card out there that can meet everyone's needs.


About the Author

Cecily Backstrom is founder of All About Credit an excellent resource site dedicated to information about credit

California Bad Credit Mortgage

Refinance - http://mountainview-mtge.com/refinance.htm

Consolidate Debts - http://mountainview-mtge.com/consolidate.htm

Bad Credit - http://mountainview-mtge.com/bad_credit.htm


Tuesday, June 28, 2005

Debt Consolidation Beware!

California bad credit mortgage

What Your Mama Never Told You About Debt Consolidation Services
by Mike McDowski

When someone is extremely deep in debt, and he or she has no other options to prevent bankruptcy, debt consolidation can be his or her savior. Debt consolidation can also be a very wise choice for someone who has many debts on high interest credit cards. Debt consolidation, quite simply, is the process of taking loans and debts and bringing them into one low-interest loan that can be paid off over varying periods. This is a very good choice for many people because it saves them from having to file bankruptcy. Debt consolidation merely requires collateral (such as a home or vehicle) for the interest rates to be lowered and the customer to be on his or her way to debt free living.

Most people understand the basics of debt consolidation, however there are several dos and don’ts in the world of consolidating debt. Most importantly, make sure you research the company before you choose to consolidate your debt with it. Some companies will take advantage of unassuming consumers. Here are a few underhanded tricks unfavorable companies will employ when you are trying to consolidate your debt:

1. Some companies will take advantage of high interest loans, and the benefit of consolidating those loans, by charging exceptionally high fees in the debt consolidation loan. These fees can sometimes even be near the state maximum for mortgage fees. Any company with fees that seem unnaturally high should not be your choice for debt consolidation.

2. Watch out for companies that wait until you are “backed into a corner.” Some companies will let a customer get further and further into debt until the customer is forced to refinance. Someone who has put his or her house will be willing to refinance in order to save his or her collateral (again, usually the home). The unscrupulous company will then charge an excessive refinancing fee.

3. Lastly, be wary of companies that employ “predatory lending.” Predatory lending is when a debt consolidation company allows a customer to be in such debt that they are unable to find another debt consolidator to help them with the debt. The person is forced to stay with their current company and sometimes even file bankruptcy anyway. The company that knowingly led the customer into the dregs of debt comes out on top. Most companies don’t use predatory lending, but it is always a good idea to be extra careful when choosing a debt consolidator.

Good debt consolidation companies naturally don’t do anything underhanded. On the contrary, a worthwhile company offers the customer all the information he or she will ever need about their loans and interest. The company is helpful and concerned for the financial safety of their customers. Companies that realize that the decision to consolidate one’s debt is a weighty one are usually the best companies to opt for. Approaching each case uniquely is the sign of a debt consolidator that understands the importance of every customer.

Debt consolidation can be a weighty decision for many people to make. If you keep in mind the dos and don’ts of choosing a debt consolidation company, you will have no worries. Some companies try underhanded methods to increase their profits, but if you know what to watch out for, those companies cannot swindle you. Debt consolidation is a wise choice for anyone who has high interest credit cards, and substantial loans. Follow my advice, and I’m sure that you’ll be debt free sooner than you can say, “Consolidate!”

About the Author

Mike McDowski is very knowledgeable concerning financial matters and enjoys writing about debt consolidation services.

California Bad Credit Mortgage

Refinance - http://mountainview-mtge.com/refinance.htm

Consolidate Debts - http://mountainview-mtge.com/consolidate.htm

Bad Credit - http://mountainview-mtge.com/bad_credit.htm


Monday, June 27, 2005

Playing the Credit Card Game

California bad credit mortgage

Title: How To Survive In A Plastic World, Qualifying For Credit Card.

Author: Www.creditandyou.com

Article:
Let's face it, having credit is no longer a choice. "Don't leave
home without it" is more like "can't buy a home without it."
Your credit now determines the neighborhood you live in, the
kind of car you drive and, sometimes, even whether or not you
get a particular job.

Credit cards are great financial tools and the convenience they
provide is beyond question They are easier to carry than cash
and offer valuable consumer protection under federal law.

Establishing A Good Credit History

Suppose you haven't financed a car loan, a computer or some
other major purchase. How do you begin to establish credit?

First, consider applying for a credit card issued by a local
store and use it responsibly. Ask if they report to a credit
bureau, most major department stores do. If they do and if you
pay your bills on time you'll establish a good credit history.

Second, consider a secured credit card. A secured credit card
requires that you open and maintain a bank account or other
asset account at a financial institution as security for your
line of credit. Your line of credit will be a percentage of your
deposit, typically from 50 to 100 percent. Credit card
application and processing fees are not uncommon for secured
credit cards. In addition, secured credit cards usually carry
higher interest rates than traditional no secured credit cards.

What To Do When You Are Denied A Credit Card

If you're turned down for a credit card, it is important that
you ask why. It may be that you haven't been at our current
address or job long enough, or that your income doesn't meet the
issuer's criteria. As you'll discover, different credit cards
companies have different standards. But, if you are turned down
by several companies, that may indicate that you are not ready
for a credit card.

On the other hand, if you've been denied a credit card because
of information supplied by a credit bureau, federal law requires
the creditor to give you the name, address and telephone number
of the bureau that supplied the information. If you contact that
credit bureau within 60 days of receiving the denial, you are
entitled to a free copy of your report.

It is extremely important that you dispute any inaccuracy with
the credit bureau, but also with the company that furnished the
information to the credit bureau. No one is going to make
corrections on your behalf.

"Credi-quette" --The Miss Manners Guide To Proper Credit Card
Handling

Once you get a card in the mail, sign it immediately so no one
else can use it. Note that the accompanying papers have
important information, such as customer service telephone
numbers in case you have questions or your card is lost or
stolen. File this information in a safe place - one that is easy
for you to access.

Call the card issuer to activate the card. Most cards come with
stickers affixed that give you a telephone number to call. Many
issuers require this step to minimize fraud and to give you
additional information.

Keep your account information to yourself. Never give out a
credit card number or expiration date over the phone unless you
know who you're dealing with. A criminal can use this
information to steal money from you, or even assume your credit
identity.

Keep copies of sales slips and compare charges when your bill
arrives. Promptly report in writing any questionable charges to
the card issuer.

Don't lend your card to anyone, even a friend. Your credit
privileges and history are too precious to risk.

Credit Card Land Mines - Watch Your Step!

While a credit card makes it easy to buy something now and pay
for it later, you can lose track of how much you've spent by the
time the bill arrives if you're not careful. And if you don't
pay your bill in full, you'll probably have to pay finance
charges on the unpaid balance. What's more if you continue to
charge while carrying an outstanding balance , your debt can
snowball.

Before you know it, your minimum payment is only covering the
interest. If you start having trouble repaying the debt, you
could tarnish your credit report. And that can have a sizable
impact on your life. When a negative report makes it more
difficult to finance a car or home, get insurance or even get a
job, it can be frustrating, embarrassing and downright painful.

About the author:
To find out: additional rights you have as a credit card user,
how to get your first credit card, easy steps anyone can take to
repair there credit report, the different types of credit cards
accounts, and how to find out if your getting the best credit
card deal visit: http://www.creditandyou.com/creditcards.html
it's a free information website!

California Bad Credit Mortgage

Refinance - http://mountainview-mtge.com/refinance.htm

Consolidate Debts - http://mountainview-mtge.com/consolidate.htm

Bad Credit - http://mountainview-mtge.com/bad_credit.htm


Sunday, June 26, 2005

How to choose a Bank

California bad credit mortgage

Banks Are More Than Just A Place To Park Your Money
by Carol Sue Blanchard

If you've been to a shopping mall lately, you've probably
discovered two different banks within a few feet of each
other. Go inside the food store in that shopping plaza
and you'll see yet another one, just waiting to offer their
services to you. Now drive down the road a few blocks and
you'll probably see yet another bank on the corner. With
all the banks to choose from these days, it can be
too much. How do you know who is reputable and what will
serve your purposes?

It's actually very simple. Make a list of what you want
from a bank and choose only two or three of the ones you've
heard good things about. Banks are often places that your
friends and families will have strong opinions about- so
listen to them. If they rave about one and rant about
another, you will know where to stay away from. Make sure
to take their advice with a grain of salt though, so you
don't sign up right away. First, you need to find out all
that they offer so you can make an informed decision.

Enrolling with a bank may not seem like a big decision, but
it is. Think about it, changing banks is not something
people want to do often. And it's not something that is
particularly easy or fun to do. You'll want to start with a
good bank and stay with them for many years - if not for the
rest of your life. You'll probably be using a debit card,
credit card, loan and various other services with your bank,
so choose wisely.

Inquire from the banks you're choosing between if they
offer free checking, what their policy on over-drafting is,
how they handle lost/stolen cards, what happens if you have
unauthorized charges appear and so on. Talk to them about
saving/checking accounts and the fees they charge. Get lots
of information to take home with you so you can read it
throroghly.

Many will have pamphlets to give you, so take all the
ones that interest you. You will also want to find out how
many locations they have and where all their ATM's are.
Convenience is key with banks since you won't want to have
to drive all over town to withdraw cash or deposit checks.
If you're considering a start-up bank that doesn't have too
many locations yet- make sure you won't be traveling around
much just because you won't have access to a bank.

The best thing you can do when choosing between banks is to
get all the information you possibly can and then decide
which one to go with. This way you'll get the best deals
and you'll know what to expect and not expect from your
banking institution.


About the Author

Carol Sue Blanchard is passionate about banks and
is the webmaster of All About Banks

California Bad Credit Mortgage

Refinance - http://mountainview-mtge.com/refinance.htm

Consolidate Debts - http://mountainview-mtge.com/consolidate.htm

Bad Credit - http://mountainview-mtge.com/bad_credit.htm


Saturday, June 25, 2005

Debt Consolidation Article

California bad credit mortgage

Debt Consolidation by Tim Gorman

Millions of Americans are finding it hard to pay their bills and dig themselves out of debt. Many are turning to debt consolidation for help. While the biggest problem seems to be credit card debt, other debts such as; tax debts, medical bills, student loans and personal loans can all be included in a debt consolidation plan.

Debt consolidation is a simple process that can be done over the Internet. A person needs to search for a lender that is listed in the Better Business Bureau. It is also recommended to find a lender that is part of a non-profit organization. After a lender is picked, an application is filled out with personal information as well as debt amounts, account numbers and present monthly payment amounts. A debt specialist will then give you feedback on what your 1, new monthly payment would be and how long until your debts are paid. If both parties accept the debt consolidation plan, a signature will be required to get started.

The lender will deal with the creditors. In most cases the lender will get the creditors to lower the interest rate and in some cases even lower the amount owed.

The creditor will benefit from debt consolidation because they know they will be receiving money from this lender. From their standpoint, they would rather get some money than have the debtor file for bankruptcy and get nothing.

The lender is also benefiting from the donations that the non-profit organization receives for their services.

The debtor receives the greatest benefits from debt consolidation. They now have one monthly payment, which is smaller than their combined payments were before. They will get their debt paid faster due to the fact that (A) they cannot use their credit cards at this point. The creditors have closed their accounts, but left them in good standing. (B) The interest rates have been lowered; therefore the debt will be paid off faster. Another benefit from debt consolidation is that you can reestablish your credit without having blemishes on your credit report.

About the Author

Timothy Gorman is a successful webmaster and publisher of Debt-Relief-Solutions.com. He provides more debt relief, consolidation and free debt consolidation information that you can research in your pajamas on his website.

California Bad Credit Mortgage

Refinance - http://mountainview-mtge.com/refinance.htm

Consolidate Debts - http://mountainview-mtge.com/consolidate.htm

Bad Credit - http://mountainview-mtge.com/bad_credit.htm

Friday, June 24, 2005

What they don't tell you about credit.

California bad credit mortgage

Author: Kerry Hook


As a single mom credit can be your best friend or your worst nightmare. The strange thing about credit is that it is a mystery to most people. And the mystery doesn’t seem to be limited to ordinary folks like you and me. When I was applying for credit and wanted to understand how my credit score was determined, I couldn’t get a straight answer. I did learn some of the factors that go into its calculation, but exactly how they calculate a credit score seems to be a mystery – even to lenders. The reason for this is that there are three primary companies that keep your credit information. Each has its own formula and each therefore comes up with a different number. These companies have differing reputations for accuracy on the records they keep – so it is important that you find out what is on your credit report.

Who knew for instance that any time you had a credit inquiry – that it was registered on your credit history. Too many inquiries and your credit rating goes down. That means that every time you accept any of those offers for a refinance over the phone, or for a new credit card in order to get 10% off at a store - it will register on your credit history – even if you ultimately don’t accept the offer. This is true also if you apply to rent an apartment because the landlord will likely making a credit check. Keep credit inquires to a limit.

Did you know that if you have too many credit cards it counts against you? Even if they are all up to date – even if you don’t owe anything on them – it still counts against you to have too many credit cards. Strive to keep only two or three cards.

Did you know that if you carry a balance more than half of the limit – it will count against you? Keeping a balance (if you must carry one) of less than half the limit will help raise your credit score.

Did you know that if you have a late payment and it is recorded on your credit report, that it is best to keep the account open for a while until this negative report “rolls off?" Each of your lenders will have a period of 12 (one for each of the last months of the past year) entries that show how you paid over that period of time. Once the account is closed it is “frozen” in time for 7 years from the last date the company made any report on you. This means it stays a negative report for one late payment will stay on your record for a very long time.

It really is imperative that you stay on top of your credit report. Errors abound and those errors will cost you money. If your credit score is low you will not be offered the best rate.

You can check your credit report at:

http://www.freecreditreport.com

Or http://www.creditworthy.com/providers/ag...

The three main credit agencies that are used in the U.S. are: TransUnion, Experian and Equifax.

Check your credit report often. Frequently, accounts you closed are not reported as closed, and that is an error that you can easily remedy by contacting the lender. Be sure to send a copy of your letter to each of the credit agencies so they will know that you want the error fixed.

It does take a bit of work, but it will save you money by getting you a lower interest rate.


California Bad Credit Mortgage

Refinance - http://mountainview-mtge.com/refinance.htm

Consolidate Debts - http://mountainview-mtge.com/consolidate.htm

Bad Credit - http://mountainview-mtge.com/bad_credit.htm