Get help, advice and information on all your Finance issues. http://advice-and.info/Finance/will.htm Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:35:57 GMT en In todays world, no one can afford to buy a home without applying for some kind of loan in the form of a mortgage. Mortgages are controlled by various lending companies which can include banks, credit unions, and even individuals. These parties make their money by charging interest on the loan. Because a mortgage revolves around the lending and repayment of money in order for lenders to make a profit, it is important that they loan to individuals who are as secure as possible; the general rule is that the more secure the individual as far as past and present money matters, the more money he or she will be lent. After all, the lender is taking a risk with his or her own funds, and will want them paid back. http://advice-and.info/Finance/85107_Will_A_Bankruptcy_Affect_Your_Ability_To_Get_A_Mortgage.html Sat, 19 Apr 2008 04:55:51 GMT There are few times in life worth looking forward to that are better than retirement, unless it is retiring knowing you will have financial security for you and your family. Most people will spend years working, knowing retirement is going to sneak up on them, and unfortunately, few will begin planning soon enough. When talking to financial planners they will tell you that it is never too soon to begin planning for your financial future, but at some point, it will be too late. It has often been said about business that those who fail to plan, are planning to fail and the same could be said about planning for retirement. There are very few who will not qualify for Social Security benefits when they reach the appropriate retirement age, but the money from those benefits is not likely to provide a lifestyle they have grown accustomed to living. For example, a person who averaged a net pay, take home, of about 3,200 per month, may expect only about 1,500 per month if they work until full retirement age. http://advice-and.info/Finance/81980_Social_Security_Benefits_Will_Not_Pay_All_The_Bills.html Tue, 18 Mar 2008 17:17:21 GMT How much money you spend on a renovation project really depends on what you plan on getting out of it. Are you doing it to improve your every day way of life, or are you planning on selling your house and want to increase the value. As a seasoned veteran in the remodeling industry, I am constantly being asked the question "What I can do to have the biggest impact on the value of my house?". While it is a common belief that any money you put into your house will add value to it, this is not always the case. There are really two different categories that people invest money into their home- Repairs and Renovations. http://advice-and.info/Finance/81262_Home_Renovation__Will_I_See_A_Return_On_My_Investment.html Sat, 15 Mar 2008 19:12:11 GMT Loan protection insurance has seen many problems, which has led the Financial Services Authority to set out recommendations to improve communication and selling in the sector. Some changes have already been put in place as a result of the recommendations and more are in the pipeline, with the forthcoming introduction of comparison tables in March this year. It is thought that with the introduction of the tables protection policies will become more transparent, and so consumers will be less confused and less likely to buy an unsuitable policy. Currently consumers often misunderstand payment protection products and dont know exactly what their policy will deliver. For example, many do not realise there are exclusions in a policy that can stop them from being eligible to claim. However, the tables will highlight the exclusions, make the consumer aware of how much the cover will cost and, through question and answers, allow them to choose a suitable policy. http://advice-and.info/Finance/79562_Loan_Protection_Insurance_Will_Become_More_Transparent.html Mon, 25 Feb 2008 20:54:00 GMT Only a few years ago, the prospect of a debt consolidation mortgage was often hailed as the way forward. And its clear to see why. Homeowners were getting in to increasing unsecured debt in 2007, all debt in the UK (around 135tr) exceeded GDP for the first time (around 133tr) while interest rates were temptingly low. In October 2003 for example, the base rate stood at just 3.5 per cent. As a result, many homeowners were persuaded to borrow more of this cheap money against their homes which of course were rocketing in value and pay off more expensive unsecured debt like credit cards. This became known as a debt consolidation mortgage. How does a debt consolidation mortgage work?But, really a debt consolidation mortgage is just another name for a remortgage or a further advance. The reference to debt consolidation is simply what the homeowner does with the money released. A remortgage means when you switch lenders and increase your borrowing in the process, whereas a further advance means sticking with the same lender and deal but borrowing more against your property. Either of these types of further borrowing is widely referred to as a debt consolidation mortgage. http://advice-and.info/Finance/78845_Debt_Consolidation_Mortgage_-__Will_It_Be_Your_Friend_Or_Foe.html Sat, 23 Feb 2008 14:28:18 GMT Sometimes credit cards make life a little too easy. How is that possible? By allowing us to make purchases we really cant afford, and then giving us an unlimited amount of time to pay off the debt. It sounds great in theory, but ask a card holder whos been paying off the same debt for years. Theyll tell you that extending your repayment isnt as easy as it sounds. That is because of the amount of interest you accrue when you stretch out your debt over a long period of time. In fact, credit card companies count on card holders with revolving debt (debt that rolls over from one month to the next). Those consumers pay the fees and interest rates that keep the card companies so profitable. http://advice-and.info/Finance/78751_Why_Minimum_Monthly_Payments_Will_Cost_You_Big.html Wed, 20 Feb 2008 07:32:57 GMT