Archive for March 10th, 2008

The Profile Of A Payday Loan Borrower

Monday, March 10th, 2008

N.Chandumrongdej

People who borrow payday loans have a few characteristics in common. These people are more than just the average Joe who has hit a tight cash squeeze. A payday loan borrower’s situation is extreme. Thinking about a payday loan for yourself? First see if you fit into the profile of a payday loan borrower. Most payday loan borrowers have the following in common:

They frequently have many characteristics that show they have a credit problem.

Studies show that often payday loan borrowers are not really in a temporary crunch. They’ve actually been experiencing credit problems for quite some time. And a payday loan usually is a new thing the borrower has found out about that they believe will help them along in their long-term financial hardship.

They’ve usually borrowed from a pawnshop in the past five years.

This is a sign of the credit problems payday loan borrowers usually have. Pawnshops used to be one of the main places where payday loans were applied for before payday loans started becoming more commonplace. Pawnshop visitors are usually people who have been dealing with long-term financial hardship. And a pawnshop just might have the answer for some of these people.

They’ve often made payments 60 or more days late on a mortgage or other debt in the past year. People who seek out payday loans have already been late on their other debts. Because payday loans don’t have a lot of criteria for approving people for the loans, people who have a poor payment history on other debts are still able to take out payday loans. However, because payday loan borrowers have often been late on other debts, there’s a good chance they’ll also be late repaying a payday loan. Or they’ll end up just taking out another payday loan when the first due date arrives.

Payday loan borrowers are frequent borrowers rather than one-time borrowers

While most people think that the one time they get a payday loan will be the last time, studies show that most people who use payday loans use them often over a period of twelve months. Since the interest on a payday loan is very high, it may come as a surprise that people turn to this type of credit often, but it’s true.

They typically believe they’ll be using a payday loan for a one-time emergency and that’s it. After considering the APR on a payday loan, most people get a little scared about applying for one. But after they rationalize and tell themselves they’ll only be using it for one time, they’re on they’re on their way to the application office. But as mentioned above, studies show many people end up having to extend the borrowing period for their payday loans.

So after reading all of that, you have to consider if the above payday loan borrower profile fits your situation. Are you in long-term financial hardship? If not, you may want to consider other methods of making ends meet. Until then, just remember to research everything before making your borrowing decision.

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US FDA staff seeks input on Amgen clot drug risks

Monday, March 10th, 2008

WASHINGTON - United States drug reviewers will ask an advisory panel if an experimental Amgen Inc medicine for a rare blood disorder may carry a risk of clotting, cancer or other problems, documents released on Monday has said.

What Options Do First Time Buyers Have In The Current ‘credit Crunch’ Market?

Monday, March 10th, 2008

Joseph Kenny

The average cost of a house in the UK is now £130,000 this can be a pretty daunting figure for first-time buyers. But there are still options for first time buyers in the current market.

The first option may or may not be suitable for you, but it’s something worth considering. In the North of England, the average house is price considerably lower than in the south, especially compared to the southeast. The gap is nowhere near as great as it used to be, but 5% deposit on £90,000 may be an easier option, with lower monthly mortgage payments.

Under new tax rules, there is a tax exemption scheme known as ‘Rent-a-Room’, which will allow you to earn £4,600 each year by renting out one room in your home. This additional income is often taken into account when lenders are considering giving you a mortgage. They may allow you up to four times that income, which would add nearly £20,000 to the size of the mortgage you could obtain.

Another common practice is to buy a property jointly with a friend, or maybe your brother or sister. This requires a legal agreement properly drawn up which takes into account how much cash each person is investing in the property. This is in terms of amounts of cash deposit, and also if the mortgage payments are equally split or not. This is essential to avoid arguments, should you have a disagreement or when you sell the property.

If you’re fortunate and your family have a little money set aside. You may be able to ask them to contribute towards the deposit amount. Another way they could assist you is by acting as guarantor for your loan. But this would mean that if you cannot make the payments they would become obliged to make them for you.

One of the better options for first time buyers in the current market could be to purchase a brand new property. The advantage of a new property is that it comes with all new fixtures and fittings. And will be in good condition, requiring little maintenance. Many builders will now give very generous deals for first-time buyers.

Properties previously owned by the local council are usually of very solid construction with good size rooms. They potentially offer excellent value for money in comparison to houses that have always been private.

Shared ownership schemes are now becoming popular, and are run by housing associations all over the country. They are set up to help people on lower incomes who want to become property owners. Under this type of scheme, you only buy a share in the house of for example, 50%. You then only need a mortgage for 50% of the value of the property.

You will also have to pay rent on the other half of the house, but this is usually set at a much reduced rate. Over time you can buy more shares in your house up to the full 100%. When the house is sold you are entitled to your share, for example 50%, including half of the profit.

Auctions can provide interesting options for first time buyers in the current market. Properties that are sold via auction very often sell for far less than if the same house was sold by the local estate agent. It will be possible for you to view properties before they are auctioned. It is necessary to arrange a mortgage before bidding, and you will be required to put down a deposit if you are the successful bidder of around 10%.

The usual amount of the deposit required by banks and building societies is a minimum of 5%. They require this not so much because they want you to have the money to put down. It is more a case of you proving that you can put by a regular amount of money every month for a couple of years. That says to them that you are both disciplined and serious about your mortgage commitment.

Not all options for first time buyers in the current market require a deposit, someone lenders will now offer 100% mortgages to first-time buyers. Interest rates tend to be, slightly higher than if you had put down a deposit.

There are even a handful of lenders that may allow the first-time buyer slightly more than 100% of the value at the house. This is to cover such things as legal fees. On the surface this can be a good deal, the only drawback is that some companies will impose what are known as, indemnity premiums, which can be quite high.

As you can see from everything above, there are still options for first time buyers in the current market. And a capable broker should be in a position to assist you to find a suitable mortgage, depending upon your situation.

Joe Kenny writes for Glitec.org, offering cheap online mortgages and homeowner loans or visit Rebuild.org for great mortgages.

MBIA CEO: Credit markets are wrong about company

Monday, March 10th, 2008

NEW YORK - Some credit traders are betting that
MBIA Inc will default over the next year, but the
company’s chief executive has said anyone believing the world’s
largegest bond insurer is close to missing a payment on its own
debt is wrong.

Three Mortgage CEOs Spend a Day on the Congressional Hot Seat

Monday, March 10th, 2008

Three executives from major mortgage industry companies were on the
hot seat Friday. The committee, headed by Rep. Henry Waxman, questioned
Angelo Mozilo of Countrywide Financial, Stanley
O’Neal, former chief executive of Merrill Lynch & Co., and
Charles Prince, former CEO of Citigroup, Inc.

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Small Business Retirement Plan, A Good Business Opportunity

Monday, March 10th, 2008

John Chomsky

Many people belief that retirement planning is only for people who get a salary, but it is also necessary for who run their own business. There are many ways to do this, the better you are prepared for your retirement, the better you will be prepared for the future. And when the present is very important, your future, when your senior years come, living a life as independent and dignified as can be is also important. So if you want to live that part of your life financially comfortable the small business retirement plan, is a good place to start.

You need to think big when it comes to the small business retirement plan. In your working years you can prepare for your financial independence when retired. When you start with your small business retirement plan at the right time you need to keep in mind that saving a considerable amount of money for the future, can also save you a great deal on tax deductions in the present. With The small business retirement plan you can fill in any gaps in your personal savings and you can secure your retirement time.

Tax deduction on the amount of your savings for the future is a great advantaged of the small business retirement plan because:

- These savings will not incur tax until it is withdrawn.

- You can also include your spouse in to increase the amount you save when you are partners in business .

- By extending this plan to your small business employees there are more benefits.

Small Business Retirement Plan For Your Employees

The first small business retirement plan is the Savings Incentives Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLE) IRA. Your employees can contribute if they have earned more than $5,000 in any two years prior and who will earn at least $5,000 this year, and you as their employer need to match whatever sum they contribute with a ceiling of US $6000-10000. And your employees can contribute up to $10,000. You as their employer can provide up to 3% match or 2% non-elective match for all your employees up to $4,400 per employee. You can also contribute $10,000 to your own account plus a match of 3%.

When you are employing just a handful of employees, which is often the case with small businesses, then the Simplified Employee Pension Plan (SEP IRA) can be the right plan for you and your business. With this small business retirement plan your workers do not contribute, you contribute on the behalf of all of your employers. Any business owner or self-employed individual can start a plan. All employees who have worked for 3 of the past 5 years and who earned at least $450 last year are eligible for coverage.The contributions you make can differ from year to year and you can let it depend upon your business returns and the sum of these contributions is tax deductible.

The small business retirement plan provides benefits for your employees and for yourself. The plan also generates some major tax savings. This way you are creating a safe future for you, your family and for your employees.

John Chomsky worked as a consultant helping other people plan for their retirement. Almost forgetting his own. He helps people out at www.planning-a-retirement.com

Lehman cutting 5 pct of work force: source

Monday, March 10th, 2008

NEW YORK - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc , the Wall Street investment bank, is laying off 5 percent of its work force, or about 1,430 people, because of difficult market conditions, a person briefed on the matter has said on Monday.

American Axle, UAW talks carry on in Detroit

Monday, March 10th, 2008

DETROIT - Representatives of American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings and the United Auto Workers returned to the bargaining table on Monday for talks aimed at ending a two-week-old strike seen as increasingly costly for General Motors Corp and other suppliers.