Credit Traps Snag Consumers

Written by Gerri Detweiler


Continued from page 1
• The number of cards with $35 late fees has more than doubled from last year. • More than halfrepparttar cards surveyed require cardholders to pay only 2 percent ofrepparttar 112282 monthly balance each month – a disturbing trend that dramatically increasesrepparttar 112283 overall interest paid by cardholders. • More than one-third of surveyed institutions will not provide a firm annual percentage rate (APR) until they have screenedrepparttar 112284 applicant’s credit history. Instead, they give only a meaningless range of rates before screening, which makes comparison shopping difficult if not impossible. Don’t get me wrong I am not saying that credit card companies should not make money. In fact, easy access to credit has helped fuel our economy, especially whenrepparttar 112285 going gets rough. But many consumers now are literally trapped by high-cost debt with few options. I’ve spoken to consumers who feel they have no choice but to file for bankruptcy because their credit card companies all raised their interest rates to between twenty and thirty percent, and they simply cannot manage to payrepparttar 112286 balances down. With allrepparttar 112287 landmines out there for credit card users today,repparttar 112288 best strategy is still to pay down debt as quickly as possible and limit yourself to a couple of cards to avoid problems. Sometimes, of course, that’s easier said than done! For more information on ways to avoid credit traps and build great credit, visitrepparttar 112289 SuccessDNA Credit Center at SuccessDNA.com

Gerri Detweiler renowned credit expert and best-selling author on credit issues. She is the author of "Success DNA's Cutting Edge Credit Strategies" and created the Success DNA "Credit Center" to assist individuals and businesses succeed in todays tricky but winnable money enviroment.


5 Magic Points: Should I BUY or RENT my HOME?

Written by Tom Levine


Continued from page 1

c)Let’s see…$600 versus $11,500. Hmmm. I like that math. That equates to a nice healthy tax return for most of us, come April of next year.

Take those thousands of dollars in tax return, and go on a nice Cruise around Jamaica!

5.WEALTH:

It’s arguably much, much harder for a renter to build wealth. There is no built-in mechanism for appreciation, whereasrepparttar homeowner has postured themselves wisely forrepparttar 112281 future.

a)Let’s say we have a renter that wants to get wealthy. Great! They must go find a business to run, or a stock to invest in, or come up with a great invention, or berepparttar 112282 next rock star, or follow a family friends “tip”, and go do Cattle Futures from August to September (just an example, folks…I don’t know anything about cattle…). In any event, most people would be concerned that our renter is followingrepparttar 112283 proverbial “pipe dream” towards wealth.

b)But let’s say we have a homeowner who wants to build wealth. Great! What do they need to do? Simple….Nothing…Payrepparttar 112284 mortgage…Live inrepparttar 112285 house…Go work your job. That’s it. Real Estate appreciates in value, on average, overrepparttar 112286 long haul, like no other financial vehicle. It is a virtual certainty, and it is automatic. The homeowner controlsrepparttar 112287 total value ofrepparttar 112288 home. That’srepparttar 112289 magic of leverage.

c) Let me driverepparttar 112290 point home: Someone might buy a house at $150,000, let’s say, and overrepparttar 112291 course of 7 to 10 years, it is completely reasonable to suggest that this very same house could be worth around $600,000.

Renters do not have a built in advantage for building wealth, whereas Real Estate appreciates in value as a virtual certainty. They don’t call home-ownershiprepparttar 112292 “American Dream” for nothing!

SUMMARY:

The subject of deciding on whether to Buy or Rent, is not simple. Inrepparttar 112293 end, it boils down to a question of complexity. Being a Renter is simple. Being a Homeowner is more complex, and yet, that does not mean that it is not within your grasp. It IS!!! There are so many people that are just waiting inrepparttar 112294 wings, yearning to help you get there. Real Estate Agents, Mortgage Brokers, Friends, Family, etc.

With all of these resources around you, just about anyone can own a home, and in this great country,repparttar 112295 American Dream of Home Ownership is completely within all of our grasps!

But do me a favor. Give yourselfrepparttar 112296 time to examine these important questions first. Look within. As we all get older in life, we yearn for more. Buying versus Renting is a common theme in this journey. As we wave goodbye torepparttar 112297 younger years, we say so long torepparttar 112298 simplicity of life, and we say hello torepparttar 112299 promise of prosperity, wealth, and a better tomorrow. We also say hello to higher, more complex things. Often times, it’s simplyrepparttar 112300 willingness to accept complexity that will get you torepparttar 112301 understanding you need.

Best of luck on your journey, from Renting to Owning your next Home!

We’ve enjoyed providing this information to you, and we wish yourepparttar 112302 best of luck in your pursuits. Remember to always seek out good advice from those you trust, and never turn your back on your own common sense.

Publisher’s Directions: This article may be freely distributed so long asrepparttar 112303 copyright, author’s information, disclaimer, and an active link (where possible) are included.

Disclaimer: Statements and opinions expressed inrepparttar 112304 articles, reviews and other materials herein are those ofrepparttar 112305 authors. While every care has been taken inrepparttar 112306 compilation of this information and every attempt made to present up-to-date and accurate information, we cannot guarantee that inaccuracies will not occur. The author will not be held responsible for any claim, loss, damage or inconvenience caused as a result of any information within these pages or any information accessed through this site.

Tom Levine provides a solid, common sense approach to solving problems and answering questions relating to consumer loan products. His website seeks to provide free online resources for the consumer, including rate-watch, tips and articles, financial communication, news, and links to products and services. Visit Loan-Resources.Org , or you can email Tom at info@loan-resources.org .


    <Back to Page 1
 
ImproveHomeLife.com © 2005
Terms of Use