Good Mortgages Still Available
January 18, 2008
It seems as if there is nothing but bad news when it comes to the housing market, but that is not exactly true. There are actually some good bargains out there for those who qualify for them.
Help with Student Loans
January 17, 2008
Parents and college students may find some relief soon in college tuition levels. Many schools are deciding to either completely eliminate student debt or at least decrease the amounts of debt students carry. Some of this decision can be attributed to pressure coming from Washington.
Consumer Confidence Takes a Nose Dive
January 16, 2008
Consumer confidence has never been lower, at least not since records have been kept. High energy bills, loss of jobs, and massive home foreclosures have eroded whatever confidence people had in the past and replaced it with concerns on the nation’s economy.
Insurance Prices May Fall
January 15, 2008
There may be some good news for those who are paying high insurance premiums. For the first time since WW II, some premiums for certain types of casualty and property insurance are expected to decrease. This could happen as soon as fall of 2008. The exception to this may be those areas that are located in flood planes and hurricane zones.
Consumer Banking Help Called For
January 10, 2008
There was recent testimony before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit by the Consumers Union and Consumer Federation of America, both of which endorsed the Financial Consumer Hotline Act of 2007. This Act would establish a single toll-free bank complaint hotline, as well as other improvements that would make it easier for consumers to voice their banking complaints.
Some Home Buyers Waiting
January 9, 2008
There is an upside to the current housing market mess and that is many homes that are on the market are much less expensive now than they were a year ago. Cheaper home prices, however, seem to be regional in nature with some areas seeing less of a decline than others. Some areas such as Las Vegas, south Florida, and central California are seeing big dips in prices, as much as twenty percent in some cases, while other areas of the nation are only experiencing moderate to small reductions in home prices.
Paying for the Holidays
January 8, 2008
For those consumers who used their credit cards to pay for their holiday shopping, the bill man cometh. There is a tendency among some consumers to avoid opening that credit card statement when it hits the mailbox, but that could be a big mistake.
Slight Improvement in Home Sales
January 7, 2008
Some good news in the housing market was released recently. In November, sales of previously owned homes rose slightly. This came amid record foreclosures and tightened credit standards.
Credit Card Fees Inching In and Up
January 4, 2008
Credit card fees are nothing new, but they are changing. Many credit card companies are new levying big fees for late payments, cash advances, and just about anything else they can think of. In some cases, the fees can be incredibly high with some companies charging as much as forty dollars as a late payment fee.
The Best Methods For Foreclosure Prevention
January 3, 2008
The US housing market has taken a tumble and millions of homeowners may be facing foreclosure within the next year or two. What can these people do to avoid that?