Posts Tagged ‘mortgages’

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No Fee Mutual Funds: The Basics

Monday, April 23rd, 2012

There are numerous different mutual funds, thousands and thousands of them, in fact. Not just that, but there are tens of kinds of mutual fund companies as well. Most of the different sorts of funds diverge in what they invest in.

For instance, a general fund may invest in anything and an African fund may just invest in African businesses or businesses that are dynamic in Africa.

Then there are sector funds that may merely invest in modern technology stocks or alternative technology or precious gems. There are also funds that track indexes: for example a NASDAQ 100 tracker fund, which would have in its folder all the stocks that are in the NASDAQ Exchange top 100 and in the same proportions.

Lastly, another classification of mutual funds is in its fees: that is, how the fund makes charges for management and profit. These charges are known as ‘loads’. One interesting sort of fund are the so-known as ‘no fee mutual funds’ and one of the best sorts of no fee mutual funds are the ‘index funds’.

Index funds were the first type of finance tool to bring in the idea of ‘no fee to the benefit of the investor. No fee mutual funds have a tendency to perform better for the investor because they leave more money in the pot from day one, which gives that money the chance to increase for the entire length of the plan.

One aspect of most no fee funds is that the investor deals directly with the investment company, which means that there are no broker’s fees – no middlemen – to pay. The financial adviser’s fee could get very high, say 10%-20% of a lump sum investment or a whole year of monthly payments.

This money is shared, frequently 50-50, between the investment company running the no fee mutual fund and the investor. The investor’s share goes back into his investment pot, which means that it will go on growing for the full length of the plan.

So, how does the investment company get its earnings? Well, it has its fee the same as it usually would have; the only person who loses is the broker and the only one who gains is the investor. The investment company gains nothing immediately, but it does in the long term How?

Well, another aspect of the investment firm’s fees is the annual management charge. This management payment is a proportion of the funds under management, so if your investment pot is bigger, so is their charge.

There are also true no fee mutual funds where all your money is invested from day one – each penny of it with no commission deducted at all. This is all very good, but the investment company has to make money for itself somehow, so you will probably find that percentage rate for the annual management charges is higher.

If you are interested in investing in any form of mutual fund, take guidance first from a professional financial adviser, but do your own research as well.

Keep in mind that a broker does not normally charge a fee for investment advice because the investment company that he sells to you will pay him with your money.

Therefore, if there is no kick-back, he is not likely to recommend them and that includes no fee mutual funds. If you require financial advice, it is best to pay for it by the hour and get good advice – nothing is for nothing and that is especially true in the financial world.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on a variety of subjects, but is now involved with No Load Mutual Funds. If you would like to know more, please go to our web site at Mutual Funds

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Mutual Funds From Hartford

Saturday, April 21st, 2012

The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: HIG) was founded in 1810. It has grown throughout its history to become one of the largest insurance and investment companies in the United States.

Nevertheless, they also have international offices in numerous other parts of the world which assists them keep in touch with the global markets.

The forerunner to any financial decision always has to get homework and this is even more important when it comes to long-term investment, which is exactly what investing in mutual funds is.

Not just that, but most mutual funds investment groups, including the Hartford Financial Services Group, have an assortment of numerous mutual funds from which to pick.

The present economic crisis has proved to be a very difficult time for mutual funds and investors.

According to Barron’s list of best mutual fund families in 2010, the suite of funds at Hartford came in at number 31 with a weighted score of about 65% of that of the funds at the top of the list.

This was obviously very unsatisfactory for the Hartford investment managers and those who had invested their funds with them.

However, the firm is sure that it can reverse the fortunes of the Hartford investment group and make choosing to invest in one or several of their family of mutual funds a wise decision.

In order to make purchasing mutual funds simple for investors, there is lots of help on hand from agents and financial professionals on the Hartford website.

The first choice that you will have to make though, whether you go with one of Hartford’s mutual funds or not, is whether you are going to invest a lump sum or a monthly amount.

Next, you have to work out how much you are able to afford to invest. This is vital not least because there is frequently a minimum investment.

Keep in mind that saving for the future, particularly with stocks and shares and mutual funds is a medium to long term affair.

There will probably be monetary penalties if you withdraw your money before the termination of the plan.

In addition, weighty charges are normally levied on the early installments in order to cover fees for administration and advice. This is normal practice throughout the business world of investment services.

Charges for joining Hartford’s mutual funds are not significantly different from joining any other of the top mutual funds.

Anyway, you ought to discuss fees with your financial adviser before you enter into any contract

It is a good idea to examine the literature that the firm puts out about the group of Hartford’s mutual funds before you talk to your financial adviser or one of Hartford’s investment account managers. It is not wise to enter these discussions ‘blind’, as it were.

Luckily, Hartford’s website provides lots of data on all of their mutual funds (and the other services they offer) so getting the information is not a problem

Hartford’s mutual funds could be a clever choice for recovery, because their family of funds has a decent long term history of sound investment, although they had a bad year in 2010, making them seem fairly cheap for high performing mutual funds.

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on a variety of subjects, but is now involved with Hartford Mutual Funds. If you would like to know more, please go to our website at Mutual Funds

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Do You Have a Heat Pump?

Tuesday, January 17th, 2012

In these tough economic times, everyone is looking to save some money wherever they can. Additionally, most people are looking for ways to go green as well. Fortunately there are plenty of ways to go green and save some green as well. One of the biggest ways to do so is to make some environmental changes to your home. Here are a few.

In the right climate a heat pump is a great way to save money. Rather than use an expensive furnace or A/C, a heat pump transfers energy between the inside and outside. So on a cold day it takes energy from outside (heat) and pumps it inside and vice versa on warm days. If you live in the cold north or hot south, forget about it, but many parts of the country can really benefit from this energy efficient device.

Do you know about tankless water heaters? They are another great way to save money on energy bills. A standard water heater takes constant energy to keep its surplus water hot whereas as a tankless system only heats water as it is needed, that way it is not constantly using energy.

Natural daylight is is one of the best ways to save on energy and lighting. Natural sunlight is free but sadly many homes don’t take advantage of it. Installing skylights is a great way to go. Large, bay windows let in a lot of light and can look very cosmetically pleasing as well. North or South facing windows are the best for sunlight as east or west facing windows only catch a little sun.

Most everyone uses energy efficient light bulbs. Do you know that lighting alone can cost you about 10% of you electric bill, and the older bulbs can eat away electricity. Energy efficient bulbs can reduce this use by 50%-70%! They may cost a little more upfront but they save money and electricity in the end. They tend to last longer than normal bulbs as well. For a great home loan try FHA home loans today.

Water conservation is a huge issue, especially in the Southwest. Not only is saving water wise, but it will also save you money on lowered utilities. Design your yard with regional plants and greenery that will thrive in your climate. Don’t plant grass that requires a lot of water if you live in a dry climate. While it may not seem as pretty at first, a well-kept garden of cactus, wild grasses and scrub brushes can really add a rustic, native feel to your home.

Most lawnmowers are being switched to mulching blades. Rather than have the clippings be bagged and thrown away, mulching blades cut the thee grass clippings into tiny particles that get deposited back onto the lawn. This acts as a fertilizer to renew your growth. It also acts as a barrier to keep moisture from escaping and drying out your lawn, thus reducing the need for more water. It will save time on bagging and raking.

It doesn’t take much to make a big difference in the environment and you your wallet. You will be glad you did.

Take advantage of historic low rates at mortgage rates while they last.

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Motley Fool: Who Or What Is It?

Monday, December 19th, 2011

The Motley Fool is the name of a financial website that started in 1993, although it is now a lot more. From its early origin as the idea of two brothers in Virginia, the Motley Fool has developed into a multimedia financial services company which gets its point out via its web sites in the USA, the UK and Australia; books, newspaper articles, TV appearances and newsletters.

The publicity on their website says that the firm took its name from Shakespeare, who said that the king’s fools were allowed to tell him anything without fear of being beheaded, as long as it was in an amusing manner. The Motley Fool may have lost its head.

For while their personal investing advice is as helpful as anything else you will perhaps read anywhere, the comedy can become a bit tortured.

However, the advice is sound and the structure of the site with its discussion boards leads to many exciting, topical debates by knowledgeable (and much less well-informed) investors all keen to put in their two penn’orth.

There is info on most aspects of personal finance on the web site, ranging from loans to investments like stocks, shares, bonds and savings funds.

The web site is full of with hints and tips on how to make and invest money. You will find recommendations on things like finance software, dividends, stocks, and how much you should become saving from your monthly salary.

There are regular features on other aspects as well like which is the best electric or gas company, getting out of debt and credit repair. Another feature is their interest in stocks, shares and mutual funds.

The team at Motley Fool are managing a ‘million dollar portfolio’ of their own real money on line and members of the website are permitted to watch, discuss and duplicate each transaction.

Just a limited number of individuals are permitted in at any one time, so you may find this feature closed to you, but you can put your name down to be told if a space comes up.

In the meanwhile, you could become a member of one of the CAPS Contests which mock up gambling on the stock exchange with imaginary money in mock portfolios. That is, you play with make-believe money, but the prizes are real enough.

These contests are immense fun and the best fashion of being able to learn about the stock exchange and market movements without it ruining you.

All in all, it worth adding the Motley Fool to your list of Financial Favourites because there is such a lot of free financial knowledge there which seems to come from the heart of the managing, owner brothers and their colleagues. Sure, they get commissions on everything and attempt to sell a pro version of the web site, but there is still loads of free info there too.

One word of warning though: whilst the financial advice and suggested links are fairly good, do not go there expecting to have a belly laugh, because the comedy wears rather thin after around five minutes.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on a variety of subjects, but is now involved with Motley Fool. If you would like to know more, please go to our website at Mutual Funds

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Obtaining Cash Through Non-Traditional Lenders When Banks Will Not Lend

Friday, December 2nd, 2011

In this day of economic upheaval where traditional commercial and lending institutions have tightened their lending requirements, and now take longer to come to a decision on whether they are going to supply money for a particular project, there is till a possibility to receive funds for investment purpose from people involved in hard money lending.

These people have been around for a very long time and generally focus on supporting real estate transactions in the area where they reside. They can supply funds to help someone obtain a piece of property that the traditional banking companies now steer away from, because they may be worried about the credit worthiness of the person asking for money, or they do not feel comfortable with the value or type of transaction taking place.

Other times, the sale has to be completed quickly in order to receive a good price, and normal banks simply take too long to come to a decision. The buyer knows he must move fast and will search other opportunities to get the cash he needs quickly.

When situation like these arise, some people will seek out local local investors, who specialize in putting together short term lending opportunities, and see if they would be interested in providing cash for them to complete the real estate deal. If the investors feel the opportunity, then they will often supply the funding needing.

One of the situations that occurs with great frequency now a days is the short sale transaction. Essentially, the original mortgage holder allows the person who had owned the property to sell it at below full value and less than what the mortgage amount is worth. The one seeking to buy it knows that this has to happen fast or they will lose the opportunity to gain control over the piece of real estate. The people lending the money in the new transaction places a value on the property. They will lend a certain amount and no more.

The people supplying the bulk of the money will want to get it back as quickly as possible and will charge an interest rate that makes it beneficial for the new owner to pay it off. They will normally charge anywhere from 10 percent up to 15 percent, and they often only allow terms of repayment to last for only six years at most.

Another factor that helps the one needing funds is that their credit worthiness is not a consideration when deciding to lend the funds. The lenders will focus strictly on the value of the property and supply funds to cover only a certain percentage of the value. This way if the person defaults, then they have a built in margin to recover their investment if they have to foreclose on the property and sell it. Usually they will only supply up to 70 percent of the value.

These types of non-traditional lending sources means that people can still find funds in a tight financial market to complete real estate deals. Without hard money lending, this might not happen otherwise.

A lot more information can be discovered on the subject of commercial loans by going to the author’s blog.

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Ways Alternate Loans Can Help Individuals Secure Loans

Monday, November 28th, 2011

Corporate borrowers generally need to have liquidity but may well not meet the criteria for regular real-estate loans. Loans that are collateralized by home collateral are called hard money loans. A money lender is and person or business that grants these loans They’re happy to write a cheque immediately to the borrower once she or he is examined for credit risk.

Because the chance of default is much higher, hard money lenders charge higher rates of interest, and they’re the last collateralized lenders to get their money in a bankruptcy filing. Hard money loans are usually provided for just two thirds of the property’s appraised value in repaired condition. The borrowed funds contracts are written for short durations (sometimes called called bridge loans) while the property owner works out a more permanent financing situation or resolves the financial distress that prevents them from securing other financing. So more of these types of loan agreements end up in court to be contested if the borrower does not pay.

The high interest rate charged is to provide protection against the higher risk of default and the associated court costs with a default on a loan. Sometimes the interest rate can be high enough that certain localities enact usury laws which can effectively ban hard money lenders from operating.

Thus the lenders in the industry are highly local, highly segregated and small organizations due to local regulatory practices. Some oversight is provided to this unusual market by regulatory organizations which are few and mostly just known by professional real-estate financiers.

Loan sharks sometimes abuse the legitimate lending process by charging exorbitant rates of interest and pretending to be genuine hard money lenders. The victims of these kinds of lenders tend to be desperately in require of quick cash, and unsophisticated consumers who may not have the time to research the lenders or the technical understanding to know that they’ve signed their property as collateral to a 30% loan, perhaps with a quoted ARV lower than market, no prepayment allowed, or even worse lending terms.

Legitimate hard money lenders tend to charge rather high interest rates, however, the prime rate plus fifteen is common with five points on the borrowed funds. The rate a specific hard money lender will quote depends on the credit rating of the individual or company, the local real estate market for the type of property secured, local usury and bankruptcy laws, as well as the general availability of credit in the marketplace. Real-estate industry insiders usually know quite a few local hard money lenders and know how to shop around. Others with less experience should do a lot of research and fully understand what they’re getting into so they can find the best terms and get the best deal for their hard money loan.

To find out more concerning mortgages view Stephen Von’s internet site.

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This Old Castle

Tuesday, November 15th, 2011

The idea of England probably brings up many images. Literature, tea, Big Ben, cool accents, fish and chips and of course, castles. Every little kid has dreamed of living in a castle or palace someday. We see them everywhere. We romanticize them, put them in cartoons like Cinderella, jigsaw puzzles, and Disney even uses one for a logo. Often photographed and always iconic, England has some very famous ones.

The Tower of London – This is arguably the most famous castle in the world. Soon after his invasion of England in 1066, William the Conqueror began building the Tower of London. Originally just a wooden Motte (moat) and Bailey along the Thames River, he then expanded it into the rock walled central fortress and keep known as the “White Tower,” completed in 1097.

Over the hundreds of years of English history it was continuously expanded. Now it covers over 18 acres, boasts 21 towers, is home to the crown jewels, is guarded by the famous Beef Eater (who got their names because they were paid in beef) and is sometimes used as a Royal residence. It also has an infamous history as a prison and place of trials and executions. The most famous of which is the execution of Anne Bolin. The castle also is home to the famous “Traitor’s Gate” through which many prisoners entered, but never exit.

Windsor Castle – Windsor is the oldest and largest castle that can boast continuous occupation for over 900 years. Built upon the ancient royal grounds of the Saxon Kings of the dark ages, this fortress and palace was also originally constructed by William the Conqueror as a wooden Motte and Bailey used to guard London’s western approaches. It was soon converted into a stone structure. Despite numerous additions and changes the current wall and central mound stand over the exact ones built by William.

King Edward 1st built the stone fortress in 1283 but old Roman, Welsh and even Norman forts existed in the area long before. Caernarvon is what is known as a concentric castle, which features a round inner keep and a series of circle walls, each lower than the one before, expanding outward. The castle was strategically important in helping England keep control of Wales.

Caernarvon Castle – Caernarvon is a castle steeped in mythology and lore. The castle is said to be the original home of the Druid Merlin from the King Arthur legends. The castle is in Wales and lies upon the traditional road to Ireland.

During the long course of English history it was continuously expanded. Now it covers over 18 acres, boasts 21 towers, is home to the crown jewels, is guarded by the famous Beef Eaters (who got their names because they were paid in beef) and is sometimes used as a Royal residence. It also has an infamous history as a prison and place of trials and executions. The most famous of which is the execution of Anne Bolin. The castle also is home to the famous “Traitor’s Gate” through which many prisoners entered, but never exit. These three are just a few of the many historic and beautiful castles and this is just in England alone, there are tons more to read about and maybe someday even visit!

With super low rates, now is a great time to Refinance Rates while these rates last.

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Common Dream Homes

Sunday, November 13th, 2011

What would your ideal home be? Everybody has their idea of what would be the perfect place to live. Here are some common ones.

- The beach house- Drive down Malibu and you see the envy of many home owners. A house, right on the beach. Blue water, clear skies (okay maybe not in L.A.) the smell of salt water. Who needs AC when you have the ocean breeze? And you will sleep great as the peaceful sounds of the ocean lull you to rest, I am getting sleepy just thinking about. You step into your front yard and it’s sand and ocean, get your surf board and have some fun. Afterwards go back home, grab a Corona, take a seat and watch the day pass you by. This could be a town home type building or if you are feeling a little more iconic you could go for a Bungalow on the beach. Wooden frames, screens and netting with a near 360′of the water, crystal clear blue waters of the South Pacific. Either way, when they day is done you can head down the beach to a beachside barbeque. If you need a jumbo loans then we have great rates for you.

- Mountain Home – Maybe you aren’t a beach bum, maybe you are a mountain man. If so, get a lodge up in the Rockies or even Alaska if you are game enough, and settle in for a peaceful scenic life. Towering peaks, fresh mountain air, clear cold streams that run into a pond in the valley that your home up high has a brilliant overlook of. Oh it is filled with fresh Salmon as well. Don’t forget the wildlife you see every day. Elk, moose, beavers, eagles, bears and maybe even mountain lions. During the winter you can step outside and snowboard. When you are done, come home, drink some coco and cozy up by a fire in the fireplace. The nearest town is thirty minutes away and you go in once a week to get supplies. Sure, the snow might seem like a hassle, but deep down inside you know you wouldn’t trade it for the world.

- So Green Acres doesn’t suit your’ needs, you want Park Avenue. You crave the lights, the energy, the sounds, the city scene. If so a flat or a high rise is right up your alley. Contemporary furniture and design are your style. The view from your flat is over an artist square and music wafts with gentle in with the night sounds. Or your high rise has an amazing view of the city around you. Either way, when it is time to go out you won’t need your car. Just walk down the street or hail a cab and you are off for the evening checking out the hottest new venue or trying a new restaurant. Seen and be seen is your motto while you hang out at a cool roof top lounge. If you live in the Carlsbad or San Diego are come see San Diego new homes for sale for gorgeous new home.

These are just a few options that we can dream about. Of course, you could also live in a hacienda, English estate, cottage or RV. Heck, you could even live in a giant tree house or transform an old missile silo in your new pad. The possibilities are endless, as well the locations, so shoot for the moon, you might reach the stars.

If you live in the Carlsbad or San Diego are come see New Home for Sales San Diego for gorgeous new home.

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Go Away HOA!

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011

If you own a home at some point you will probably have to deal with the HOA. Some HOA’s are almost purely symbolic while others would wield their authority with iron rod. That being said, there are some ways not to draw their ire.

Nothing says “fine me” like a bad lawn. Keeping your lawn nice seems like such an easy thing yet so many people fail to do so. It should be mowed regularly and sure to edge as well. If you have any thin spots in the grass then sow some seeds or plant some sod. In the fall rake or mulch the leaves. Make sure you water the lawn regularly to keep it green and healthy and throw in fertilizer as needed. All of these things will help appease the powers of the HOA.

We have all seen the flower beds filled with dirt or dandelions and the HOA sees it too. By way of extension, this naturally goes with the lawn, but keeping your flower beds neat is crucial. If you don’t have a green thumb, try planting bushes or shrubbery. Rose bushes look great but do require some care. Another option is to fill it with rocks, lava rocks are cheap, but there are all types and the best part about rocks is they don’t need watering. Depending on where you live you might consider planting cactus or some other low maintenance plants.

Exposure to extreme elements works horrors on your paint and trim. Keep an eye out for spots that have peeled off or blistered in the heat. You might have to do some sanding to make it look even. Yes, painting is a chore, but so are fines, so a touch up here and there is at least a good idea. You might want to look into aluminum siding if your temperatures are extreme.

Trees can get you into trouble as well. Low branches that overhang sidewalks need to be cut clear. Dead branches also need to be cut away since they look bad. Web worms are a huge eye soar and look like something out of a horror movie. Spray for web worms and insects that might be eating away your trees.

Your home might be your keep, but it can also cause problems. Many HOA’s won’t let you put carpet on your garage floor. Others won’t let you install window air conditioning units either. This is usually done to keep people from living in the garage.

So there you go, a few basic ideas of how to stay in good standing with your neighbors. Basically try to fly under the raider and you will fine.

If you are in the market for a new home try Jumbo Loans for a great rate.

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Hard Money Lending Is Providing New Opportunities To Low Credit Score Consumers

Friday, October 28th, 2011

Since the beginning of the economic collapse and financial meltdown of 2008 standard banking and lending have been hit hard. As many of these people didn’t understand what exactly was coming they have endured the consequences of a depressed economic system, probable foreclosures on loans, loss of their job, or unreliable income. For credit seekers in this kind of situation, financial institutions are not conducive to assisting folks in obtaining financial loans. The rules are usually overly stringent to permit such consumers to meet the criteria for the loans they desire.

One option to low income or low credit prospective borrowers who own property is hard money loans. Private money lenders (or “hard money lenders”) can grant these loans. Hard money lenders provide bridge loans, which are short term loans based on a percentage of the total value of the borrowers property or real estate holdings. The borrower uses property or real estate holdings such as undeveloped land, business and/or commercial property, a personal residence or multi-family property as collateral for the loan. Should the borrower default on the loan payments, the hard money lender could become owner of the property used as collateral.

There is variable called the loan to value ratio which hard money lenders base the amount of the loan on. This LTV ratio allows the lender to determine the size of the loan based on a percentage of the total commercial value of the property being used as collateral. Frequently hard money lenders will offer only 65% or less of the total property value. If a borrower requires more money than that they can sometimes put up additional property for collateral.

More options can be offered by hard money lenders because they focus only on lending out money rather than storing or managing money as banks do. With hard money lending you can get around some of the onerous regulations involved with typical lending. For a borrower, this can be an advantage but regulations for hard money lenders vary state by state as well as by whether or not the borrower is an individual or a business.

There is always a price to paid for a premium service like that which you can receive with a hard money loan. Since the regulations applying to hard money lending are typically less strict that with conventional banking, many borrowers may get a loan where they were denied before. Of course the rate of default will be higher with less stringent application requirements and that higher rate is typical of the hard money lending industry. To compensate for that high rate of default, hard money lenders will charge a higher interest rate in addition to using collateral. But even with the higher expense, hard money loans are a very good option for many borrowers, including real estate investors.

Locating a an excellent hard money lending expert can definitely make a huge difference during your search for the best loan service.

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