Start Rich 的部落格

Helping children is what the Bob Burdette Center is all about -- giving them activities to do after school. But now it's on the receiving end of some serious trouble.

It's now dealing with a lawsuit and will not be receiving thousands of dollars from the city.

Jessica Hudson filed a complaint of discrimination. She was hired as the executive director. Before she even started the job, though, the center fired her.

"The board determined that I was a lesbian based on my Facebook page," Hudson stated in the complaint.

She claims they held an emergency meeting to discuss her sexuality, but never even approached her about it. Since all of this happened, two board members have resigned. In the complaint, Hudson states it's in whole or in part to protest her termination.

Illinois has introduced a new program to ramp up sluggish home sales. It is called the Illinois Home Start Loan Program.

This program is designed specifically for first time home buyers. The Illinois Home Start Loan Program allows first time home buyers the opportunity to use the government $8000 tax credit (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) and ads a twist to it. The twist is that first time homebuyers can now use up to $6000 or 3.5% of the home purchase price (whichever is greater) to use as the down payment in purchasing a home. For some first timers, this may mean that they need no money to be brought to the closing table in the form of a down payment.

The Specifics: What the Illinois Home Start Loan Program comes down to is that it offers 2 loans.

1. 30 Year Fixed Rate Loan

This loan is insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and serviced by U.S. Bank Home Mortgage.

Upon deciding on applying for a mortgage loan it is important that you be aware of the housing loan interest rate that you will be required to pay during the term of the loan. There are times when buyers get too excited about the idea of purchasing their own home that they tend to overlook the interest rate incorporated into the loan. They only begin to notice this after a few years of paying their mortgage, and by this time the rates may be too high, especially if the loan has a variable interest rate. If you are faced with such a situation it is best that you call your mortgage provider and have the contract explained to you in detail. If you feel that it is too high, your loan manager may present you with other options such as refinancing in order to be able to save on your mortgage payments.

It is also important that you understand the principles of mortgage rates or interest percentages before you decide to apply for a mortgage loan with a certain bank. A loan manager will present you with four housing loan interest rate packages to choose from: SIBOR, SOR, fixed interest rate, and variable rate. There are many other interest rate packages that may be offered by banks, however, these four are the most popular among property shoppers. The Singapore Interbank Offered Rate (SIBOR) and Swap Offer Rate (SOR) pegged mortgage interest rates both fluctuate according to the changes in the international market. SOR pegged interest rates tend to fluctuate more because it reacts to the ever changing foreign currency exchange rates. For this reason, SIBOR is deemed as more stable as compared to SOR. However, there are instances when SOR pegged mortgage rates can suddenly drop without any warning and can be even lower than SIBOR pegged rates.

A fixed housing loan interest rate is another popular choice by those who are shopping for mortgage loans because it is not affected by economic changes in the world market. Those who choose this mortgage rate package will continue to pay a fixed rate of interest regardless of how the world market is doing for the duration of the mortgage loan.

The principles of a variable housing loan rates for interest are a little harder to understand because it varies from bank to bank. You may find banks that offer lower variable interest rates than others, while some charge higher than usual. This is because variable rates of interest depend on a lot of factors, including your credit background, your ability to pay, and your standing as a Singapore citizen. It is important that you thoroughly understand the computation before you agree to the terms so as to avoid paying more than what you can afford.

To get a mortgage rate that is most suitable for your financial situation, make sure that you thoroughly research about the current mortgage rates in the market before you start doing your mortgage loan shopping. Patience and determination are also very important because running in and out of banks to meet with housing loan managers can be a tiring and time consuming task. Everything becomes worthwhile however when you are able to land a housing loan rate package that is right for you.本文出自 Mr.J ....

Federal bank regulators gave M and T Bank Corp. another "outstanding" rating for its performance under the federal Community Reinvestment Act, citing its lending, investments and services for the communities it serves.

According to a news release from M and T, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York called the bank a leader in community development loans and investments, and said its branch and other retail systems were readily accessible to customers. Regulators also cited good distribution of loans to individuals of different income levels and businesses of different sizes.

In particular, the regulatory review highlighted 456 community development loans totaling $2.3 billion that were made by M and T during the two-year assessment period that ended in December 2009, up from $1.9 billion in the prior two-year period.

Regulators also cited the bank for sponsoring and participating in seminars and presentations on affordable mortgages, small-business assistance and other banking education, while providing financial or volunteer help for 1,876 events.

"While we've increased lending for the construction of affordable housing, health care facilities, senior housing and other community development projects in cities and towns where our employees live and work, we've also maintained lower loan losses than almost all other U. S. regional banks," said JoAnne Schwartz, M and T's corporate CRA officer.

1) Increase your credit score prior to applying for a consumer loan after bankruptcy

Ideally want to increase your credit score before you apply for a consumer loan after bankruptcy. Why? Because a higher credit score could mean a lower interest rate. Depending on what you're financing this could save you $100s or even $1,000s in extra interest and other finance charges.

So how can you increase your credit score to potentially lower your interest rate on a consumer loan after bankruptcy? There are a number of different ways. One way is to have any inaccurate or obsolete negative items removed from your credit reports. Another way is to add positive accounts to your credit report. These are just two examples - there are more ways you can increase your credit score. Again - if you are able to increase your credit score enough, it could potentially reduce the interest rate you pay on a consumer loan after bankruptcy.

2) Talk to the lender before applying for a consumer loan after bankruptcy

Before you complete a credit application for a consumer loan after bankruptcy you will want to see if the lender would even consider approving your application. How do you find out? You ask. For example, will the lender consider someone with a recent bankruptcy on their credit report? Do they require a minimum credit score? These are just two questions you need to ask - I cover more in After Bankruptcy Credit Solutions.

*Note: This was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Do you have a personal finance story that you'd like to share? Sign up with the Yahoo! Contributor Network to start publishing your own finance articles.

COMMENTARY Graduating college and moving out on my own started a quick downhill slide for me financially. But I was able to turn things around, leading to what I term my big money secret - virtually no debt.

As I moved out on my own, I maximized the balances on my credit cards to buy furniture and fixtures, to buy my work wardrobe, and to maintain a lifestyle that was better than my income could provide. I quickly found myself barely able to pay the minimum balances and I found that I had little available credit for emergencies. I was riding in my car one day with my boyfriend, now husband, driving and we hit a deer on a country road coming back from his house. While I had insurance, I realized that I did not have credit available on any of my credit cards to pay to get my car repaired and I went, hat in hand to my parents for help.

Since, I have maintained my financial secret. I pay off every credit card every month. I started using an American Express card once I was able to secure one. Because that card must be paid in full every month, it helped me to gain the discipline necessary. But now, I maintain a variety of rewards credit cards and use them appropriately. It has probably been 20 years since I have carried a balance on a credit card and just as long since I have had more than a car loan and a mortgage outstanding.

The returns on paying a credit card off each month can be substantial. First, credit card interest remains much higher than mortgage or car loan rates. I am not going to pay someone more than 7-8% for money when I cannot earn that kind of return anywhere in the market or at a financial institution. Second, I have learned that I enjoy the financial independence of a largely debt-free lifestyle. I know that I am not beholden to anyone or any institution financially. Finally, available credit gives me financial security. If some sort of catastrophic loss occurs, I have the available credit to manage my life and that of my family.

That's the conclusion Lisa Twombly reached as she fought to hang on to her job as a caretaker for an elderly San Diego couple. Taking the bus and bumming rides from friends wasn't cutting it. She was repeatedly late for work.

Threatened with firing, Twombly put down $4,000 - all her savings - on a 9-year-old Chrysler Sebring with 95,000 miles. The Buy Here Pay Here dealership, Dig's Wheels, lent her the $2,600 balance at a steep 18 percent interest rate.

A few months later, the car broke down and she got into a dispute with the dealer over who should pay for repairs. She quit making loan payments, and the dealer repossessed the car.

Again Twombly struggled to get to work on time. She was fired. That set off a chain of events that left the 38-year-old single mother and her two children homeless for six weeks.

"I don't know what I'm going to do," she said, still out of work. "I lost my job because I lost my car."

Communication among volunteer firefighters south of Longviewshould improve under Homeland Security Administration grantsapproved Tuesday by Gregg County Commissioners.

"This is to tie all the fire departments together so they cantalk to one another," County Judge Bill Stoudt said after the courtaccepted federal monies topping $31,000.

Under the grant program, which required no local match, theElderville-Lakeport Volunteer Fire Department will have $22,500.The money is earmarked to replace a 26-year-old repeater, whichrelays radio signals, and buy 13 mobile radios built in compliancewith locally used narrow band requirements.

Another $8,523 will buy hand-held and mobile radios for theSabine Volunteer Fire Department.本文出自 Mr.J ....

In the United States, there are more than 34 million people with bad or damaged credit. There are a number of options available for those with bad credit who want credit cards. Secured credit cards and prepaid debit cards are good options.

There are many credit card lenders who are willing to give you credit cards. But you have to pay higher interest rates. At times the interest rate could be as high as 40 percent. Many lenders charge an extra fee of $35 for each late payment. Always pay your minimum payments on time and never break your credit limit. Pay your balance each month if possible.

For getting credit cards, apply at smaller retail stores. If your application is accepted, make a small purchase and pay a minimum amount every month, on time. Then approach your bank, credit union or savings institution.

If all these attempts fail, you can apply for a secured credit card. For this, you will have to open and maintain a savings account as security. Your credit line will be a percentage of your deposit. Ask a friend or family member who has good credit to co-sign for a credit card.

Before submitting any application for credit card, certify that you have read, understood, and agree to the rates, account fees, limitations, costs, available credit, and other terms. You will qualify for a lower interest rate and a higher credit limit in the future, if you show your lender you are able to meet all the terms.

Everyday new household appliances are invented or improved models are released. It is in our human nature to strive to be the best and this extends to all areas of our lives including shopping for the best products. When you buy a product online or from a store there are many payment methods you can choose. Such as credit and debit card payments, internet transfers, higher purchase and of course cash payments.

Today many people use credit card to pay for items and services depending on their credit card limit. Most restaurants, shops and companies have a credit card machine for clients and customers to make credit or debit card payments. As a credit card holder you have the luxury of making purchases and only paying for them later. Businesses have other benefits like merchant services , which make business banking easier.

Online shopping adds another level of convenience because you can use your credit card to do shopping from the comfort of your own home. However, Online shopping can be a dangerous tool because internet fraud is widespread. Internet fraud can occur in chat rooms, email,message boardsor on websites. When you see an item online that you what to buy, make sure the website is credible because you might give your credit card information and later receive the bill for fraudulent credit card charges.

Purchase fraudoccurs when a criminal conducts a business transaction and uses a stolen or fake credit card to pay for goods. As a result, the merchant might not get paid for the sale. A Business that accepts credit cards may receive achargebackfor fraudulent transactions. Merchants may end up losing money instead of making a profit. Businesses need credit card insurance to protect themselves against this type of credit card fraud.

Trading online and owning a credit card machine may work out to be an advantage for your business but it can also cost you dearly. Although everyone who applies for a credit card goes through a mandatory ITC check, there is no guarantee that the person you are doing business with is the owner of the credit card. Credit cards offer owners and merchants a welcome convenience making it easier to conduct transactions, but make sure you take the necessary precautions to protect yourself.本文出自 Mr.J ....