Financial Advisor Tells About the Change in Consumer Credit

Surviving the Credit Crunch: Financial Advisor Tells Everything Consumers Need to Know about the Sea of Change in Consumer Credit

We keep hearing that getting credit is much harder now that lenders are tightening their belts. But what kind of affect does this credit crunch really have on the ordinary man or woman? Cedar Rapids-based financial professional Monte Marti explains everything consumers need to know to survive the credit crunch.

Cedar Rapids, IA (PRWEB) November 1, 2007 -- We keep hearing that getting credit is much harder now that lenders are tightening their belts. But what kind of affect does this credit crunch really have on the ordinary man or woman?

"The place where average consumers will feel the pinch most is when they look to buy and sell a home," says Cedar Rapids-based financial professional Monte Marti. Gone are the days when people were able to easily obtain home loans with no money down, bad credit or no documentation.

"At this point, there is no real apocalypse," says Marti. "Rather, those consumers with less than perfect credit will find it more difficult to find a loan with terms as favorable as we've seen in recent years."

Marti advises consumers to follow five tips in order to survive the credit crunch:

BE SMART ABOUT YOUR INVESTMENT STRATEGY
Whenever there's stock market volatility, a good number of investors may decide to cut their losses and move their money into bonds or cash instruments. That, according to Marti, could be disastrous. "Most people are investing in order to reach their long-term goals -- things like sending their kids to college or retiring with financial security. Long-term investors who've developed a thoughtful investment plan should not be overly concerned by the daily fluctuations in the market. The stock market historically experiences a 10 percent correction at least every two or three years and that's what we recently experienced from mid-July to mid-August: a correction. This is normal and to be expected." Marti says many investors have become complacent and are now surprised by the recent market volatility. The current bull market began in October 2002 so it has been nearly five years since we have had such a correction. It was time.

It is important to remember the power of asset allocation and proper diversification during times of market volatility. Slight adjustments and/or rebalancing may need to be done, but the key is not to get caught up in the emotions of the market and make changes you may regret once the market stabilizes.

KEEP YOUR CREDIT RECORD CLEAN
As many have discovered, this could be a good time for those seeking a home loan. While the news is bad for those who currently have or would only qualify for sub-prime loans, the Federal Reserve is adding money to the banking system to help relieve the pressure that lending institutions and consumers may be feeling. "The credit crunch is likely to be most painful for those with lower credit scores. Those with good credit scores, on the other hand, aren't likely to be affected," says Marti. "Once again we are reminded of how important it is to be aware of our own credit scores and to learn what we can do to keep those scores as high as possible. Credit scores have always been important, but they are even more important now."

THINK LONG-TERM AS YOU SHOP AROUND
Back when loans were easy to obtain, many consumers opted for interest-only and adjustable rate mortgages (ARMS). Now that interest rates on many of these loans are increasing, we are also beginning to see foreclosure rates increase significantly. "The one-two punch -- ARMS resetting and interest-only terms expiring -- coupled with a tighter lending market is sending many consumers into foreclosure," says Marti. Marti says people are smart to think long term and shop around. Before you sign that ARM or interest-only loan, think through all of the variables. While it may look like you will be able to sell your house or pay off the loan as expected, life and related circumstances can get in the way. "The best laid plans don't always come true," Marti says. "You may be better off going with more conservative assumptions, just to cover any possible variables." The best way to overcome financing or refinancing troubles is to work with a qualified, independent mortgage broker who has the resources to find the most suitable loan for the consumer. "Don't be afraid to shop around," Marti says.

CONSIDER ADDING COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE TO YOUR PORTFOLIO
Recent news on the real estate market can best be characterized as doom and gloom, but according to Marti, that doesn't mean that real estate is dead as an investment vehicle. "Investing in non-publicly traded real estate investment trusts (REITS) can still be a good idea for investors," says Marti. With dividends often ranging as high as five to seven percent, REITS are another form of diversification. REITS are called a low- or non-correlated asset because they are not immediately affected by the housing markets, or the equity and fixed income markets. According to Marti, REITS are an investment that can be used to hedge against market corrections while still providing a respectable income stream because the properties held in REITS are primarily high grade commercial offices rather than residential real estate. This strategy can provide a degree of protection from stock market and housing market fluctuations.

SEEK TRUSTED, INFORMED ADVICE
A financial professional can help interpret current market conditions and chart a long-term plan. From creating a diversified portfolio to devising strategies that help turn less-than-stellar credit into good credit, a financial professional can help you through the credit crunch.

About Monte Marti
Monte Marti is an independent, fee-based financial planner and investment adviser representative who specializes in asset allocation, retirement planning and estate conservation. Marti has been helping people take control of their financial futures for nearly 20 years. He graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in agricultural business and a minor in economics. He went on to fulfill the requirements to become a Chartered Financial Consultant® and Chartered Life Underwriter®.

After starting his business career working as a commodities broker, Marti became an investment adviser and has been helping clients refine their life goals and develop prudent financial plans to meet those goals. Monte has consistently been recognized by Securities America as a top adviser representative through membership in the Masters Forum.

Call (319) 364-3259 or email email protected from spam bots for more information about Monte Marti and Securities America, Inc.

NOTE:
When you need a knowledgeable professional to speak on complicated financial topics in an easy-to-understand manner, please call Monte Marti at Personal Financial Management.

Securities offered through Securities America, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Monte Marti Registered Representative. Advisory services offered through Securities America Advisors, Inc. Monte Marti Investment Advisor Representative. Personal Financial Management and Securities America, Inc. are not affiliated.

Press Contact: Monte Marti
Company Name: Personal Financial Management
Phone: (319) 365-7637
Website:

Help For Galveston Vacation Rentals

Galveston Vacation Rental Help

Ryson Real Estate and Vacation Rentals has been on Galveston Island for almost two years now. Owners Jason Keeling and Ryan Loofboro have worked together to form a wonderful team in Real Estate, and a rapidly growing Vacation Rental business. With two new additions to their team, Samantha Barber and Jesse Roberts, they hope to grow even faster.

Galveston, TX  -  December 28, 2007 -- Ryson Real Estate and Vacation Rentals has been on Galveston Island for almost two years now. Owners Jason Keeling and Ryan Loofboro have worked together to form a wonderful team in Real Estate, and a rapidly growing Vacation Rental business. With two new additions to their team, Samantha Barber and Jesse Roberts, they hope to grow even faster.

Samantha has come into Ryson to help out as the new Galveston vacation rental manager. With two years of management experience she will be a nice addition to the growing needs of Ryson. Currently Samantha is attending Galveston College to major in Nursing. A full time student, and full time employee leaves little time for extracurricular activities, but in her spare time Samantha enjoys outdoor activities. Fishing, going to the beach, and working out are just a few ways she unwinds after a long week.

Jesse is a retired commercial diver that has worked all over the southern US, including Texas, Florida, Louisiana, and the Gulf of Mexico and now calls Galveston home. Mr. Roberts is our new Rental Agent and is in charge of the cleaning crews. He is also responsible for making sure all the repair work in the rentals is up to our discerning standards. In his spare time he likes fishing, camping and hiking.

Ryson looks forward to working with our new help, and hope that our guests will find the experience just as pleasurable.

Press Contact: Jason Keeling
Company Name: Ryson Real Estate and Vacation rentals
Phone: 409-750-2222
Website: http://www.sellinggalveston.com

Real Estate Home Sales in Alabama

al.com Real Estate Driving Home Sales in Alabama

Visit al.com's new real estate section for your Alabama Real Estate needs. al.com/realestate can provide you with a customized map of homes for sale, as well as tools and information to help you find houses for rent and new homes in Alabama.

Birmingham, AL (PRWEB) July 24, 2007 -- The Alabama real estate market has a new driving force. This weekend when house hunters set out to look at homes for sale or rent, they'll be armed with a customized route map. A quick visit to al.com/realestate provides all the tools and information a potential buyer or renter needs to locate available homes and plan a road trip to see them.

Sophisticated technology and a smart user interface are changing the way home seekers find houses, apartments, lenders as well as Alabama Real Estate Agents and Brokers. By providing all the tools in one place, the upgraded site gives everyone in the market for a home a one-source destination. al.com/realestate even helps with decision making. The first time home buyer might use the site to select an agent or broker. Empty nesters can weigh the options: downsize, buy a condo or rent an apartment.

The centerpiece of the upgraded Alabama Real Estate site is the Advance Mapping Tool and Driving Tour functionality. Front and center at the new al.com/realestate is an intuitive interactive map. When visitors search Alabama homes for sale or houses for rent in Alabama, they enter their choices including location, number of bedrooms, price range and listing type (Advanced Search offers even more options). Select SEARCH and the map becomes a one-of-a-kind annotated guide showing all the selections. When the visitor is finished, the map and driving directions are printed out and the tour begins!

al.com is already a first choice destination for Alabama local news, information and classified ads. Home buyers often start with a visit to the site because they expect, and get, comprehensive local Alabama real estate news and listings. According to Cindy Martin, President of al.com, "al.com is already a first-stop for many in the real estate market. With the new tools and easier access to everything an Alabama home buyer or renter needs, we expect to see a significant increase in traffic."

Unlike many other sites, visitors to al.com/realestate come from every stage of the real estate decision-making cycle. Some are deciding whether to rent or buy; others are debating the benefits of a new home vs. an older home or comparing one Alabama town to another. For each of them, there is much more than the Driving Tour. A quick scroll down the page reveals many more options. For those who are "just looking" tools and resources are a quick link away. Learn about recent home sales, mortgage rates or foreclosures. Watch videos of local Alabama real estate brokers. Select an agent. The sophisticated buyer of residential or commercial real estate will turn to al.com/realestate again and again to check current information and listings.

al.com focuses on the local market. Local Alabama real estate news is accessed directly from al.com/realestate. Since al.com is affiliated with The Birmingham News, The Huntsville Times and the Press-Register, the news is current and comprehensive. All home seekers have the tools, resources and information they need, all available at one site.

The new al.com/realestate is an example of the unique approach that the site uses - combining smart, technological tools and comprehensive local information to deliver the everyday information local residents and visitors need and want. "The Driving Tour is the perfect tool for home buyers. It is an excellent example of the way we continually upgrade our site to satisfy the needs of the local market," states Cindy Martin.

al.com, based in Birmingham, AL, is an affiliate of Advance Internet, Inc. (http://www.advanceinternet.com), a leading creator of highly interactive, online community-based news and information web sites created in alliance with over 37 newspapers owned and operated by Advance Publications Inc., and its subsidiaries, including The Birmingham News, The Huntsville Times and the Press-Register. In addition to al.com, Advance Internet, Inc. develops and manages nine other local web sites including cleveland.com; MassLive.com; MLive.com; NJ.com; NOLA.com; OregonLive.com; PennLive.com; SILive.com; Syracuse.com and two specialty web sites, gulflive.com and MardiGras.com.

Press Contact: Jim Bridges
Company Name: al.com
Phone: 503.972.1039
Website: http://www.al.com/realestate

Canada's Real Estate Boom FSBO

FSBO Keeps Pace with Canada's Real Estate Boom

As Canada's real estate market continues to defy popular predictions of a slowdown, privately-transacted sales are keeping pace as homeowners look for ways to pocket the fees usually collected by real estate agents. Many owners are now choosing to bypass real estate agents to sell their homes themselves in order to save the average six per cent commission most agents charge. On a $250,000 home, this can amount to $15,000, a hefty sum for most Canadians.

Toronto, ON (PRWEB) September 18, 2007 -- As Canada's real estate market continues to defy popular predictions of a slowdown, privately-transacted sales are keeping pace as homeowners look for ways to pocket the fees usually collected by real estate agents.

Many owners are now choosing to bypass real estate agents to sell their homes themselves in order to save the average six per cent commission most agents charge. On a $250,000 home, this can amount to $15,000, a hefty sum for most Canadians.

Savvy buyers are also seeking out FSBO homes, realizing they can usually get a better bargain without the broker's fee padding the sales price.

The increasing popularity of "For Sale by Owner" or FSBO, as it is known, is understandably unwelcome by real estate brokers, who see themselves squeezed out by those who take advantage of the internet to market their homes on their own. Many brokers tout dire warnings of slower sales and lower prices than those obtained by 'qualified professionals'.

Indeed, real estate agents stand a lot to lose from FSBO. In fact, they stand to lose exactly what sellers stand to gain: a lot of money. So it is little wonder they wish to discourage those who are considering just how much it might pay to sidestep their services.

But despite the statistics widely quoted on all sides of the divide, the truth is that until recently almost no one was tracking FSBO numbers, except the FSBO websites themselves. So assessing just how many people go the FSBO route, and how many are successful at it, has been tricky.

However, a recent study in Madison, Wisconsin by a group of university professors set out to do just that, comparing FSBO with traditional realtor-brokered sales using the 'Multiple Listing Service' or MLS.

On average, they found FSBO sales had a higher net gain for the owner, thanks to the elimination of the brokerage fee, while broker-assisted sales were generally faster than private home sales.

But a recent study by Alliance and Leicester in the UK found FSBO sales were much faster, finding sales by private home-sellers using websites to market their properties took an average two months, while broker-assisted sales took an average three months.

Michael Lawrence, president of PropertySold.ca, a Canadian FSBO website, maintains the time to sale depends on all the same variables, no matter who is doing the selling.

"Location, pricing of the home, and interest rates can all impact time to sell. But the people that do more research, market their property in as many places as possible and price their home properly can sell their home as quickly as an agent can," he says.

He does, however, concede some homeowners who need to sell fast may prefer to go with a real estate broker.

"Some may feel the time pressure outweighs the chance to learn and be successful with FSBO," says Mr Lawrence.

"There are great real estate agents who can sell your property fast, of course --- but you have to pay."

As for the homeowners who are willing to do the hard work and the buyers who see FSBO as offering better-priced homes, he says, their numbers are growing rapidly.

"Our website's traffic has increased exponentially in the last year," says Mr Lawrence. Their website, now in just its third year of operation, sees more than 5000 unique visitors each day, while property listings have doubled in the last year.

"Our clients have sold $118 million dollars in real estate using our tools and services, so we know it works."

Mr Lawrence is quick to point out the success of the system depends a great deal on how much the homeowner is willing to put in, stressing their services do not replace those of a real estate agent.

"The answer lies with the client, not the system. You can't really equate our website with a real estate agent," he cautions. "When using our services the person becomes their own real estate agent, while we are an exposure vehicle as well as a tools provider."

Canada is not the only place where FSBO is a hot ticket. In the US, the slumping real estate market has many homeowners choosing FSBO to maximize their equity - by taking the broker's commission out of the equation, they can price their homes to sell without losing a chunk of their profit in the bargain.

FSBO is catching on in the UK as well, with about 90 websites jostling for the attention of private sellers, who now represent 8% of the sellers' market, up from 5% last year.

Press Contact: Michael Lawrence
Company Name: PropertySold.ca Inc.
Phone: 1-866-686-9929
Website: http://www.propertysold.ca/

American Property Bought By Chinese Companies

Chinese Companies Consuming American Properties

Tony Sagami examines the buying behavior of Chinese companies and delves further into what that means for the U.S. In this issue of Money and Markets, Tony Sagami takes a look at what U.S. industries could be affected by all the Chinese companies buying in the U.S.

Jupiter, Fla. (PRWEB) September 10, 2007 -- In this issue of Money and Markets, Tony Sagami takes a look at Chinese companies buying up American properties and compares it to the Japanese spending spree of the 1980s.

The Japanese buying spree was a function of the country's great prosperity. Throughout the 1970s, Japan consistently had the second-largest GDP and one of the highest per-capita incomes in the world.

The Japanese are no longer the heavy hitters they used to be. However the Chinese are picking up where the Japanese left off.

State-run China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) tried a hostile takeover of Unocal in 2005. CNOOC eventually abandoned its $18.5 billion bid for Unocal, but that was just the first salvo.

The Lenovo-IBM deal was only one of many Chinese buyouts in recent memory.

China isn't restricting to just the U.S. Chinese companies bought 40% of the Northern Light oil sands project in Canada, 10% of an Azerbaijan oil field and pipeline, and invested billions in Venezuela to get some of the crude oil that was previously going to the U.S.

The Chinese aren't just buying businesses; they're buying skyscrapers, shopping malls, farms, forests, ski resorts, vineyards, refineries and mineral deposits.

Another two significant marriages were announced just last week: Taiwanese personal computer giant Acer is buying Gateway Computer for $710 million. Treated as a combined company, those companies would have had $15 billion in sales and sold 25 million PCs last year. The Gateway purchase will dramatically increase Acer's U.S market share to 10.8%.

Hewlett-Packard and Dell, which control about 52% of the U.S. PC market, better watch out. Between Acer and Lenovo, it's predicted that shrinking profit margins could occur for the two American giants.

Separately, a Chinese company announced its interest in buying Seagate Technology, one of the only two computer disk drive makers in the U.S. IBM sold its disk drive business to Hitachi in 2002, and Fujitsu and Toshiba are the other major players. So a Seagate takeover would definitely put Asia at the top of the PC food chain.

The current Chinese buying binge is very different from the Japanese spree. There are at least three important differences this time around.

First, the Japanese companies doing all the buying were privately owned as opposed to many of the Chinese buying being state-owned and state-run.

Second, Japan is a democracy whereas China is not.

Third, and most importantly, Japan was not buying strategic resources like oil and natural gas and China is. China will need plenty of natural resources to fuel its construction boom.

This has huge implications for investors smart enough to put that knowledge into action. So, how can this be used to make money?

The Chinese will continue buying access to the raw materials they need to fuel and support their rapidly expanding economy.

As in energy products like oil, natural gas and coal.

Metals, like aluminum, copper and steel.

Foods, including pork, poultry and agricultural products.

Construction materials, such as cement, timber, heavy equipment.

"So, it won't take much homework to come up with a list of companies that are probably sitting on resources that the Chinese want. One of the Money and Markets gurus, Larry Edelson, has nailed this trend in his Real Wealth Report. Whatever is to be done, make sure to pay attention to what the Chinese want. Because right now, the Chinese are a major force to be reckoned with," advises Mr. Sagami.
   
For more information and to read the full article, visit this link:
http://www.moneyandmarkets.com/press.asp?rls_id=924&cat_id=6&

About MARTIN WEISS & MONEY AND MARKETS
Money and Markets (www.moneyandmarkets.com) is a free daily investment newsletter from Dr. Martin Weiss and Weiss Research analysts offering the latest investing news and financial insights for the stock market, including tips and advice on investing in gold, energy and oil. Weiss Research, Inc. is located in Jupiter, Florida. For more information about our editors, or to set up an interview, please contact Jennifer Moran at 561-627-3300 or visit www.moneyandmarkets.com.

About Tony Sagami
Tony Sagami, the owner and founder of Harvest Advisors, an investment research and money management company, has been managing money for more than 20 years and is one of the early pioneers in the application of technical and quantitative analysis to mutual funds and stocks.
Prior to establishing his own firm, Mr. Sagami was managing director at W.E. Donoghue & Co, serving additionally as the Director of Investment. During his successful career, he also held the position of account executive at Merrill Lynch.

Mr. Sagami has been frequently quoted as an expert and is appreciated for his frank, consumer-friendly views. He has appeared in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Barron's, Kiplinger's, Smart Money, Business Week, New York Times, Washington Post, Investors Business Daily, Bloomberg, Financial Planning Times, Mutual Funds Magazine, Chicago Tribune, LA Times, and many others.

Mr. Sagami holds a degree in economics from the University of Washington.

Press Contact: Andrea Baumwald
Company Name: Weiss Research, Inc.
Phone: 5616273300
Website: http://www.moneyandmarkets.com/press.asp?rls_id=924&cat_id=6&

Software Saves Thousands In Mortgage Payment Interest

Mortgage Payment Calculating Software Saves Borrowers Thousands In Interest

Mortgage Manager provides borrowers with an easy to follow, step by step, free software program that allows them to calculate the savings they would realize by choosing to make biweekly payments. The bi-weekly payment service that created the software also is free for the borrower to take advantage of.

Plantation, FL (PRWEB) October 4, 2007 -- The convenient, patented mortgage calculating software and payment service, once traditionally distributed through CD Roms, is now available to all homeowners seeking interest savings, via a free download at http://www.waystosaveyourinterest.com. This benefits homeowners as well as financial planners, Realtors and credit counselors who may choose to use this software as a sales tool.

Buying a home for most people is an exciting experience. Paying for a home on the other hand often garners more worrying than it does excitement. Why are homeowners so concerned with paying off a mortgage on a home? The answer often stems from mortgage interest rates.

On an average 30 year mortgage, with an interest rate of 10 percent one will be expected to pay nearly triple the price of their home in mortgage payments. This does not include refinancing, equity loans, or lines of credit taken out against the home that could lead to even more debt. The bottom line is that mortgage interest rates are causing borrowers to pay multiples more for their home than the actual purchase price.

One company that specializes in helping borrowers save money is Mortgage Manager. Mortgage Manager, available at WaysToSaveYourInterest.com is a unique software application that calculates how much one could save on their mortgage by paying bi-weekly mortgage payments instead of the traditional monthly payments.

While each borrower's situation is unique, it is not unheard of for an average borrower to save tens of thousands of dollars in mortgage payments by using the bi-weekly system.

Mortgage Manager provides borrowers with an easy to follow step by step software program that takes their current mortgage details, and instantly calculates the savings the borrower would receive if they choose to make bi-weekly payments.

WaysToSaveYourInterest.com offers the software as a free download on its homepage. In fact, the bi-weekly payment service that created the software also is free for the borrower to take advantage of.

With a highly governed, bonded and insured electronic payment option, the borrower does not have to worry about losing their mortgage payments to theft or human error when using this bi-weekly payment system. Further, the bi-weekly mortgage payment program offered at WaysToSaveYourInterest.com allows you to save between 5 and 15 years in mortgage payments by paying off your home early.

As the economy and real estate market continue to exist in a state of flux, interest rates will most likely be on the rise, as market uncertainty prevails. It is a relief to know that services like WaysToSaveYourInterest.com exist to help those with a mortgage pay it down years faster with thousands of dollars in savings.

To download the free mortgage savings software visit www.WaysToSaveYourInterest.com

Press Contact: Robert McWilliams
Company Name:
Phone: 954-679-9891
Website: http://www.waystosaveyourinterest.com

New Online Mortgage Loans Approach Borrowers

NameYourLoan.com Diversifies Current Lending Environment for Borrowers with New Approach to Online Mortgage Loans

New online mortgage auction site, NameYourLoan.com, has revolutionized the way borrowers obtain mortgage loans online. As a unique and creative online community, borrowers can easily connect with the best mortgage lenders while lenders benefit from a wealth of real time mortgage leads and opportunities for business growth.

(PRWEB) December 12, 2007 -- In today's tough lending environment, littered with deceitful lenders and cunning tactics, it's high time for a revolutionary tool that can empower borrowers yet still benefit lenders. NameYourLoan.com has answered the need with the launch of a new online mortgage auction site designed to give consumers access to an increasing mortgage lenders network to ultimately obtain great online mortgage loans.

"For centuries, auctions have been the most efficient and effective way to get the best deals in everything," says Al Salahi, President and CEO of NameYourLoan.com. "Why not have auctions for all mortgage loan types?"

NameYourLoan.com is an online community where borrowers can easily connect with the best mortgage lenders. Lenders compete with one another in an online auction to win the borrower's business. As numerous lenders submit loan offers, the site enables consumers to see "apples to apples", compare mortgage interest rates and achieve the lowest rate mortgage online such as the best home equity loan rate or home refinance loan.

The site's sophisticated computer system compiles and calculates all the information submitted by lenders (interest rates, points, fees, terms, etc.) and then ranks loan offers, based on their true worth relative to the borrower's stated preferences (lowest rate, lowest fees or best combination of rates and fees). This simplified process gives borrowers a coherent presentation of information without having to do the math themselves.

Unlike other online mortgage comparison shopping services, only those lenders who come out at the top of the auction with the lowest interest rates and fees get a chance at the borrower's business. Moreover, borrowers can invite their friend or relative lender to participate in the borrower's auction quickly and without cost. Lenders who refuse to participate are most likely high priced and not the best mortgage lenders.

"Through advanced technology, we are starting to make haggling and deceptive lending tactics a thing of the past," explains Salahi. "At the same time, we are transforming a generally stressful and complicated process into a very pleasant and easy experience for borrowers. Our multiple bid auction format, coupled with constant consumer feedback, will make it easy for us to weed out dishonest lenders--and hopefully put them out of business!"

Use of NameYourLoan.com is completely free for borrowers. Borrowers are under no obligation to accept any of the online mortgage loans offered in the auction. To protect against identity theft and fraud, site users are never asked for sensitive information, and lenders that receive multiple consumer complaints will be barred from future auctions.
For more information, visit NameYourLoan.com.

About NameYourLoan.com:
NameYourLoan.com is the world's first online mortgage auction, designed to advance the lending process by helping honest and competitive lenders grow their business, and at the same time, make it possible for borrowers to instantaneously reach multiple lenders and receive competitive loan offers online, in an auction format. NameYourLoan.com uses a patent-pending concept powered by sophisticated proprietary software that has been developed by a number of technology heavyweights from the Fortune 500 arena.

Press Contact: Al Salahi
Company Name: NameYourLoan.com
Phone: 866-874-1010
Website: http://www.nameyourloan.com

Lenders Plan For Homeowners with Sub-Prime Mortgages

Mortgage Lenders Finalizing Plan to Help Homeowners with Sub-Prime Mortgages

Direct Mortgage Pro, an online resource for home financing options, expects borrowers to benefit from an aid plan currently being finalized by mortgage lenders and regulators.

Washington (PRWEB) December 8, 2007 -- Some of the nation's top lenders and regulators for the mortgage industry are meeting to firm up plans to help homeowners with sub prime mortgages, according to U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson. Organizations like Direct Mortgage Pro, which work with lenders to provide the best financing options for home buyers, expect this to benefit homeowners as credit tightens in the United States.

"We are working aggressively and quickly ... to help financially responsible but struggling homeowners," said Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson. "We are determined to bring this diverse group together, to develop a set of standards that will be implemented across the industry, from the largest mortgage servicers to the smaller specialty servicers."

As credit tightens in the United States, and sub prime home loans are becoming uncommon, future homeowners should be less likely to end up in this credit crunch. Many current homeowners are close to default, though, as the adjustable rates on their sub prime mortgage program skyrocket. Some financial experts believe these mortgage rates should be temporarily frozen to make it easier for these homeowners to make their mortgage payments and keep their homes.

Companies like Direct Mortgage Pro, however, are working to provide today's home buyers with the best mortgage rates and lending programs, so they will not find themselves in this position in the future.

For more information about the current mortgage market and financing options, visit www.directmortgagepro.com

About Direct Mortgage Pro:
Direct Mortgage Pro believes that getting the best rates and terms on a mortgage should not be a stressful, time-consuming process. They provide what their clients need without wasting any time. By filling out a brief form, borrowers will have a highly trained mortgage coach contact them in a timely manner.

Contact:
Shane Copeland
858-342-1417
email protected from spam bots
Direct Mortgage Pro
www.directmortgagepro.com

Press Contact: Shane Copeland
Company Name: www.directmortgagepro.com
Phone: 858-342-1417
Website: http://www.directmortgagepro.com

Hard to Find Bad Credit Loans

Bad Credit Loans Proving Hard to Find

The fallout from the recent US "Credit Crunch" crisis continues to have far reaching consequences for UK consumers, explains Andy Hygate from Loans for Bad Credit.

Edinburgh, Scotland, December 4, 2007 -- The fallout from the recent US "Credit Crunch" crisis continues to have far reaching consequences for UK consumers, explains Andy Hygate from Loans for Bad Credit.

New evidence has emerged that suggests consumers are finding it increasingly difficult to obtain Loans, regardless of whether they suffer from Bad Credit or not.

Latest research from price comparison website moneysupermarket.com, states that to up 48% of loan applications are now being rejected, an increase of 15% that would have been considered prior to August 2007.

The increased rate of rejection reflects the dwindling availability of so called sub-prime (Bad Credit) products, with many lenders now tightening their applicant criteria or withdrawing from the market all together.

The crisis is not just limited to Personal Loans either; Credit Card applications are also feeling the squeeze.

A spokesman for Barclays recently told the Times "We are declining more than 50% of applications. We are constantly reviewing our criteria and have seen a slight increase in the number we are declining."

The worst hit borrowers though are undoubtedly sub-prime homebuyers and those seeking to re-mortgage. Recent months have seen 7 out of every 10 sub-prime mortgage products pulled from the market.

Will things get better?

The general consensuses is yes, but expect another 4-6months of market turmoil before seeing any sign of visible improvement, and at least 2 years for sub-prime mortgages.

Mervyn King, Governor of the BOE stated at Novembers Treasury Select Committee that the economic outlook was "uncomfortable" even with the proposed injection of a further 10bn into financial markets.

As more and more people suffer from Bad Credit related problems (now 20% of the UK population), consumers with have little choice except to wait for market conditions to improve, or just simply pay a higher rate of Interest for Bad Credit Loans.

Loans for Bad Credit :: Bringing you breaking Bad Credit Loan news

Press Contact: Andy Hygate
Company Name: Loans for Bad Credit
Phone: +44 7792569925
Website: www.loansbadcredit.org.uk

Foreclosure Report Issued

November 2007 Foreclosure Report Issued By Propertyshark.Com; Increases in Los Angeles, New York City and Miami; Seattle Doubles

PropertyShark.com today released its November 2007 report covering first-time residential foreclosures in Los Angeles, Miami, Seattle and New York City. The number of new Seattle foreclosures jumped 118% in November 2007 over October 2007, and 33% over November 2006. The number of foreclosures rose in Los Angeles, 13.09% higher than last month and 233.7% higher than the same month in 2006. There were 643 residential foreclosure auctions scheduled in Miami-Dade County for November 2007.The number was stable from the prior month (638), but 111.5% higher than November 2006.

New York, NY (PRWEB) December 5, 2007 -- PropertyShark.com, the premier real estate data site, today released its monthly report covering first-time residential foreclosures in Los Angeles, Miami, Seattle and New York City for November 2007.

Key Four-City Findings (Request report for details and charts):
•    Foreclosure Auctions: PropertyShark.com recorded 2436 first-time trustee sales in Los Angeles, 257 foreclosure auctions in New York City, 643 in Miami-Dade County, and 157 in Seattle for November 2007.
•    Seattle Worsens: The number of new Seattle foreclosures jumped 118% in November 2007 over October 2007, and 33% over November 2006.
•    Los Angeles Increases: The number of foreclosures rose in Los Angeles, 13.09% higher than last month and 233.7% higher than the same month in 2006.
•    Foreclosures per Household: Of the four cities, Miami had the highest foreclosure rate per household, followed closely by Los Angeles. These rates per household are about 9 times the rates in New York City.

"The surprise this month was the doubling in the number of first time foreclosures in Seattle, an area which had recently shown consecutive monthly improvements" stated Ashleigh Rose Clark, data acquisitions manager at PropertyShark.com.

Los Angeles County
•    Trustee Sales: Los Angeles had 2436 trustee sales during the period, 13.09% higher than last month and 233.7% higher than the same month in 2006.
•    By Zip Code: The top six zip codes for Los Angeles County foreclosures were in Lancaster and Palmdale.

Miami-Dade County
•    Foreclosure Auctions: There were 643 residential foreclosure auctions scheduled in Miami-Dade County for November 2007. The number was stable from the prior month (638), but 111.5% higher than November 2006.

New York City (five boroughs):
•    New Foreclosure Auctions: New York City saw a 17.35% monthly increase in new residential foreclosures in November 2007 (257 foreclosures) compared to October 2007 (219 foreclosures), and a 129.46% jump over November 2006.
•    Foreclosures by Borough: Of the New York City boroughs, Staten Island had the largest percentage increase in foreclosures (48.94%) compared to the prior month, and 366.67% over November 2006. Staten Island is second to only Queens in terms of the number of first time foreclosures in November 2007.

Seattle (King County)
•    Trustee Sales: For November 2007, there were 157 new residential trustee sales scheduled in Seattle (King County), a 118% increase over October 2007 (72), and 33% rise over November 2006 (118).

Real estate investors can browse current foreclosure listings for the following areas:

Los Angeles Foreclosures:     http://www.propertyshark.com/mason/california/Foreclosures/index.html
Miami Foreclosures:         http://www.propertyshark.com/mason/florida/Foreclosures/index.html
New Jersey Foreclosures:     http://www.propertyshark.com/mason/nj/Foreclosures/index.html
NYC Foreclosures:         http://www.propertyshark.com/mason/Foreclosures
Philadelphia Foreclosures:    http://propertyshark.com/mason/pennsylvania/Foreclosures/index.html
San Francisco Foreclosures:     http://www.propertyshark.com/mason/san_francisco/Foreclosures/index.html
Seattle Foreclosures:         http://www.propertyshark.com/mason/seattle/Foreclosures/index.html

Press may request a copy of the report by contacting Brian Scully at 718.408.4985.

With over 25 million properties in twenty major markets, PropertyShark.com provides real estate professionals and investors with data and tools on all aspects of property, including building details, ownership information, recent sales prices, property values and comparable sales, sophisticated maps, listings, foreclosures and pre-foreclosures, mailing lists, photos, and more, available directly from the web. PropertyShark.com strives to level the playing field by offering independent real estate firms, investors, and savvy consumers the information transparency essential to evaluate real estate and make informed decisions. For more information go to: www.propertyshark.com

Press Contact: Brian Scully
Company Name: PropertyShark.com
Phone: 7184084985
Website: www.propertyshark.com

How to Search for the Best Offset Mortgage

Offset Mortgage Centre Tell Home Buyers How to Search for the Best Offset Mortgage

The Offset Mortgage Centre tells home buyers and investors how to find the best offset mortgage deals in their recently published article.

(PRWEB) December 1, 2007 -- The leading flexible and offset mortgage review site, The Offset Mortgage Centre, are pleased to announce the recent publication of their free online guide to 'Searching for the Best Offset Mortgage' on their website (http://www.offsetmortgagecentre.co.uk). The guide along with more from the series can be found here: http://www.offsetmortgagecentre.co.uk/best-offset-mortgage.html.

"There are many mortgage comparison sites that provide side by side comparisons of the best offset mortgage deals, however, rarely do two mortgage comparison sites agree," said Terry Ruddy, Online Marketing Director of OffsetMortgageCentre.co.uk, "some sites use different data sources which can be updated at different times, other sites show different lenders. These nuances make it very confusing for the consumer when searching for the best offset mortgage".

The objective of the guide is give the consumer a deeper understanding of the pitfalls of using comparisons sites to find the best offset mortgage and what the consumer can do to overcome these.

The guide also explains how personal circumstances are not factored into the equation when a particular borrower uses a comparison site to find the best offset mortgage and describes various scenarios which help the borrower to select the most suitable offset mortgage for them.

About The Offset Mortgage Centre

The Offset Mortgage Centre is a non profit website designed to provide a comprehensive resource for visitors interested in gaining more flexibility, saving money or reducing the term of their home finance.

The goal of the website is to educate the mortgage layman in the concept, features, benefits and negative aspects of a Flexible or Offset Mortgage.

For more information on finding the best offset mortgage, please visit http://www.offsetmortgagecentre.co.uk/best-offset-mortgage.html


Press Contact: Terry Ruddy
Company Name: Offset Mortgage Centre
Phone: 01480 214400
Website: http://www.offsetmortgagecentre.co.uk/