If you have a mortgage on a home, flat or other property you’ve likely wondered if remortgaging right now makes sense. A mortgage is certainly one, if not the, largest financial obligation most of us will take on, so it is important to try and obtain the most advantageous loan for one’s situation. With interest rates at such low levels, one can save substantial pounds on the cost of the loan.

Typically mortgage holders refinance to get a better rate. This is especially important if one’s initial promotional rate period is over or if the current rate is well above market. If there is equity in the property, remortgaging can also unlock this value and help pay other debts or used in investment or other property purchase.

While many who have negative equity in their property may believe that remortgaging is not possible, this is not true. In this type of deal, one moves the mortgage to another home or property whilst maintaining the same mortgage amount. Full Post…

• 0 Comments

The best fixed savings account rates can be obtained online through comparison Website that allow you to compare different companies that offer this option. What happens is that you are able to obtain the same rate for your savings account for a specified period of time. The only thing is that you must be able to invest a significant amount of money into your account and leave it there for about 5-6 months.

However, the longer that you allow your cash to set in there, the more money you can accrue in the end. You can obtain the best fixed savings account estimates through banks, National Savings & Investments and building societies. There are even many people who choose to go with bonds because of the security and confidence that they provide.

Before you decide that obtaining the best fixed savings account options is what you need, determine what your goal is first. Full Post…

• 0 Comments

February existing-home sales declined from an upwardly revised January pace but are well above a year ago, while the median price posted a slight gain, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Sales were up in the Midwest and South, offset by declines in the Northeast and West.

The national median existing-home price2 for all housing types was $156,600 in February, up 0.3 percent from February 2011. Distressed homes3 – foreclosures and short sales sold at deep discounts – accounted for 34 percent of February sales , down from 35 percent in January and 39 percent in February 2011.

Total housing inventory at the end of February rose 4.3 percent to 2.43 million existing homes available for sale, which represents a 6.4-month supply4 at the current sales pace, up from a 6.0-month supply in January. Even

Full Post…

• 0 Comments

Q: I can’t afford to pay my taxes, if I set up a payment plan with the IRS, will that go on my credit report?

A: According to the IRS, it shouldn’t affect your credit score, as long as you set up a payment plan with them. However, if you have already received a notice from the IRS and decide to wait to pay your taxes or don’t contact the IRS right away, they will decide to put a Federal Tax Lien on your account. They will then send out a notice of public record about the lien and that will show up on you credit report and could do a lot of damage. You have only 10 days from the time you receive the payment notice from the IRS to set up the payment plan, so don’t wait too long.

The good news? Unlike other credit history, a Federal Tax Lien can be removed from your credit report as soon as the tax debt is paid off, or if you enter into a payment agreement with the IRS to resolve the debt and get them to agree to lift the Lien.

If you want to check your current credit scores or credit reports, check out our credit monitoring section.

Full Post…

• 0 Comments