There’s only one way to discover the “health” of your credit. You need to examine your credit report. Your credit report is your “consumer identity” that potential lenders will use to judge your credit worthiness.

Use these tips to give your credit profile the “tune-up” it needs for 2004.

Tip #1- Check for Errors Your credit report or profile is more than just a collection of who your creditors are and how much you owe them or have paid them.

The first thing you need to do is carefully check that your credit report is accurate. Nearly 70% of credit reports contain errors. Read the rest of this entry »

There is an amazing story in the August 2009 issue of the California Bar Journal about the growing number of complaints against lawyers and law firms offering mortgage help to homeowners. From investigating nine such complaints for all of 2008, the California State Bar is now investigating 391 complaints against 140 attorneys. What is causing this huge increase in the number of borrowers complaining about attorneys? Read the rest of this entry »

The primary factor to keep in mind regarding a student loan is that it is not a determent or expense but rather an investment, for yourself. When you finish your college education, it will lead you to a satisfying job and more earnings during the course of your career.

Never let the weights of your student loans influence your credit. Take into consideration of consolidating your loans so it will be easier for you to pay them back. Read the rest of this entry »

Repairing your bad credit is never easy, but there are solutions that can help you get out of debt. Everyone has bills and sometimes bills can get out of control. Because paying your bills is an ongoing process, the best possible solution when you are in trouble is by asking for help and working to get your debt under control.

Since new laws make it difficult for consumers to restore their credit rating, it might seem impossible to get out of trouble. However, under the law it is possible to get all three of your credit reports free of charge. Read the rest of this entry »

A secured loan is one of the most basic loans you can get. These types of loans are typically only given when collateral has been secured. Many lenders see secured loans as being a safe investment, and they are often given to customers who apply for them and have some form of collateral. The collateral for these loans could include your home or car. They differ from other loans because they are much more flexible. Read the rest of this entry »

Overinflated job markets and overinflated housing markets went together during the real estate boom years of the 2000s. But too many companies believed in the Federal Reserve’s illusion of low interest rates fueling investment and too many homeowners believed in the same illusion of constantly rising home prices. Now all of that has changed.

Whether is has changed for the better or for the worse in the long run is yet to be determined, but during the current economic recession, the world seems to be becoming a much more dangerous place. And neighborhoods hit hardest by the foreclosure crisis are experiencing the most serious erosion of public safety and rising crime related to abandoned properties.

By pumping up the housing market with inflated dollars and below market interest rates, the Federal Reserve and the banks have turned communities across the country into ghost towns and best and crime-ridden slums at worst. Homeowners left in these towns and cities are facing more risk than ever before. Read the rest of this entry »