February 16, 2001

Welcome to 0nly4Homebuyers Issue 29. Please send
your questions,comments or suggestions for future
issues to mailto:cmc@...
Your input is appreciated. If you would like to read more
articles about buying or selling a home, please visit our
website at http://www.creativemortgageco.com/
Cindy Snyder

************************************************
     $$$$$$$$$$$ ATTENTION  $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

It's tax time again!  Are you getting and taking all the tax
deductions that are available to you?  Did you know that
operating a Home Based Business is one of the best tax
deductions available? Why not start your own business today?

Start your own Home Based Business helping people save money
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****************************************************
In This Issue:
Bi-Weekly Mortgage Payments.
Bad Credit Removal
Is it a Good Deal?
********************************************************

Need help cleaning up your credit?  A Professional agency can help you
get things back on track! If you are having trouble paying your bills,
visit this site.
http://www.johnsonlane.com/creditcenter.asp?Tag=008055&Agent=127

*************************************************************
Bi-Weekly Mortgage Payments
Have you been thinking about signing up for one of those programs
where you pay your mortgage every two weeks?  If so, be sure
to read this article first.  Can you really save money by doing this?
How much is it going to cost you? I am not saying it can't be a
good thing.  But....it's also good to be informed! Very interesting
reading.
http://credit.about.com/money/credit/library/weekly/aa080598.htm

***********************************************
^^^^^^^^FREE, FREE, FREE^^^^^^^^^^^

FREE Magazine shows you how to start your own business from home.
Request a FREE copy of Home Business Connection Magazine @
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**************************************************

Negative/Bad Credit Removed Guaranteed! Call: 1-877-***-****.

Enticing ad isn't it? This ad sure grabbed my attention in the Tuesday
edition of my local newspaper. Knowing all that I do about credit, the
first word that came to mind was "How?" What better way is there to
find out how something is done than to go directly to the source. That
is just exactly what I did.

I picked up the phone and dialed the toll free number to get in contact
with Bad Credit Removal Services based out of Washington D.C. I first
announced myself as the owner of an Ezine that is aimed at helping and
educating consumers. No sooner did I mention that I was planning on
writing an article about this, did I get transferred to the general
manager, who never gave a name.

When asked how he could 'guarantee' removal of bad credit, he
replied with, "We actually guarantee that our contractor will get 50%
or slightly more of the bad or negative credit will be removed from
the consumer's report."

Next came the two most logical questions that a general manager
should have been able to answer, "How does your contractor do it?"
and "Can you tell me how I can reach your contractor?" I must admit
there was no surprise in finding out that this gentleman either could
not or would not reply to my questions other than to say "I don't know."

Are you wondering how much this company charges for it's 'services'
yet? How does $315 sound?  Never fear though, even though you
have bad credit, they will offer you payment plans! Getting excited
yet? Wait just a second there, I forgot to mention that in the state
of Virginia and 17 other states in the union, it is actually illegal to
demand money in advance for credit related services, aside
from receiving an actual report. I guess this company forgot to
think about that little law before placing an ad in the Virginian
Pilot and offering to do business in the state of Virginia.

My conclusion was that this amazing offer was a total scam. Not
only would you be paying them $315 for a service that they cannot
provide, due to credit privacy acts, but you would be handing over
your social security number, credit card numbers and a wealth of
personal information. Have you ever thought that you would be
paying someone to steal your identity? Of course not! If you took
advantage of this ad or any other ad like this one, that is just what
  you could be doing!

Some of you out there may be slapping yourselves on the head
because you have recently taken advantage of an offer like this.
Thanks to the rise in identity theft over the past 10 years, the
federal government and credit reporting agencies have teamed
up to prevent this type of theft from taking place.

If you fear that you have exposed yourself to identity theft, call
all 3 reporting agencies and have a fraud alert placed on your credit
file. "The fraud alert will tell the perspective creditor that in order
to
approve any form of credit for you over a set period of time, they
must legal contact you first by phone or request that you provide
much more proof of your identification. You choose a contact
phone number or address when you place the alert on your file
  that cannot be changed without going through a thorough
verification of identity process first." say M.B. of Trans Union.

Should a creditor not contact you if you have this alert on your
report, you can sue the creditor and be liable for absolutely no
balance what-so-ever of the credit extended. This is a federal
law that is reinforced by 41 states in the union.

The moral of the story is, not to sound like a cliche', if something
sounds to good to be true, it probably is. Do not be taken in by
these scams. If you have made a mistake however, there are steps
you can do to protect yourself.

Equifax: http://www.equifax.com/ (1-800-997-2493)

Trans Union: http://www.tuc.com/ (800-888-4213)

Experian: http://www.experian.com/ (1 888 397 3742)

Debra Vaughn is a stay-at-home mother to 3 young girls. She
is a freelance writer in her spare time. Debra also edits and
publishes The Family Budgeteer Weekly Online and Newsletter
  http://www.familybudgeteer.com/

*****************************************************
HOMEOWNERS!  DO YOU NEED HELP WITH....
Managing your debt, taxes, money or your business?
Most people do and now you can get help right on the Internet!
REQUEST FREE INFORMATION TODAY!
mailto:retirequickly@...
3 Minute Toll-Free Info Line:  1-888-304-3972, Code-324
Visit our website!  http://www.retirequickly.com/32995

*********************************************
Is it a Good Deal? Evaluating Your Future Home.

Evaluating the true value of a home depends on its physical
condition. A home that is in great shape is, naturally, worth
more than a home that is in poor condition.  The trick is in
figuring out if it truly IS in great shape.  This is not always
so readily apparent.

Look at it this way.  Let's go shopping for a mattress.  Now
we have here two mattresses.  They both look fine, but a
mattress of poor quality will need to be replaced much sooner
and may not be all that comfortable. Especially if the springs
are poking you in the back!  Same goes for buying a new sofa.
It might look great, but if the frame is poorly made, how long
before you will need to replace this sofa?

It's no different with a home.  A new coat of paint and some
new vinyl in the kitchen is great.  But what if, the foundation
is cracked?  What if the furnace is 15 years old and possibly
in need of repair or replacement?    The home may be
worth a lot less than the asking price.

The owners of the home are supposed to disclose problems.
However, sometimes they don't or maybe they aren't even
aware there is a problem.  You need to insist on a professional
  home inspection.  Your Real Estate Agent should be able to
recommend one.  If not look in the yellow pages under Home
Inspection.  Know what you are buying.
******************************************************

If you could save up to 80% on your family's healthcare
needs, with all pre-existing conditions accepted, for only
$40 per month (entire family). Would you be interested
in learning more?  http://www.firsthealthsource.com/

*******************************************************

DO YOU KNOW what's on your credit report?
Here's a chance to find out for FREE:
http://www.freecreditreport.com/index.asp?sourceid=00330369271252964074

***********************************************************
VivaRebates.com is giving away FREE credit cards with flight miles on
any airline, merchandise points, and more - all FREE.  And they’re
giving away millions of dollars to those who refer new Cardholders.
Learn more at VivaRebates.com
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*********************************************************
Please feel free to share this newsletter with your friends.
If you havea suggestion for an article, please email me directly at
cmc@... and tell me what you would like to see!
See you next month!

To subscribe--- mailto:0nly4Homebuyers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

To Unsubscribe--- mailto:0nly4Homebuyers-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Or go to -- http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/0nly4Homebuyers

If you have any problems with subscribing or unsubscribing,
please emai lme directly mailto:cmc@...

***NOTE**** The 0 in 0nly4Homebuyers is a ZERO!!

January 15, 2001

Welcome to 0nly4Homebuyers Issue 28

As publisher of this newsletter, I would like to take this opportunity
to wish each and every one of you a Happy and Prosperous New
Year!  I hope you all find some useful information in the articles that
are presented here.  Please feel free to write me with your questions,
comments or suggestions for future issues.  Your input is appreciated.
If you would like to read more articles about buying or selling a home,
please visit our website at http://www.creativemortgageco.com/
Cindy Snyder

************************************************
     $$$$$$$$$$$ ATTENTION  $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

There are 115,000,000 people in America that either have
NO insurance or are Under-insured. There are millions more
that can barely cover the costs of their premiums!

Start your own Home Based Business helping people save money
on their health related expenses! Doctors, Hospitals, Labs, X-Ray
Dentists, Drugs, Eyeglasses and Contacts, even Chiropractors.
Low Start Up fee. No insurance license required.  Start earning
Unlimited Residual Income helping people save 80% and more
on their HealthCare bills http://www.careentree.com/firsthealth

****************************************************
Specialty Homes have Special problems
By:  Cindy Snyder

Is your dream home a rustic log cabin by the lake?  How about
a circular shaped home or an earth home?  These types of homes
are called "specialty homes" and as wonderful and unique as they are,
they have special problems to go along with them.

In order to get financing you will need an appraisal.  If your dream
home is a one of a kind, it makes it hard to get it appraised.  The
homes very uniqueness is the problem.  An appraiser pulls what are
called "comps" which are other homes that are similar to yours that
have sold in your general area in the last few months.  The appraiser
will compare size, condition, amenities, acreage, etc of these homes
to yours and this is, at least partly, how they come up with a value.
If no other homes are like yours…..it makes it hard to set a value on
the house.

The second problem is that lenders prefer a more "generic-type"
house.  Why?  A specialty home will appeal to a much smaller
number of people, whereas a regular home will appeal to more
buyers.  Should you default on the loan, the lender may have a
harder time reselling the home.  Many lenders only offer ARM's
(Adjustable Rate Mortgages) on these types of homes.  Some require
a higher down payment and others will require a higher interest rate.

Another thing to consider is the resale.  It is estimated that a
"regular" house will appeal to 50% of the people.  A specialty
home will appeal to only about 10%.  Which means that you
may have a hard time selling it yourself when the time comes
so be prepared to wait for the right buyer to come along.

If you are dead set on that little log cabin nestled in the hills on the
lake, you may not be concerned with these things.  However, it is
certainly something to consider if you are thinking about a specialty
home.
********************************************************

Need help cleaning up your credit?  A Professional agency can help you
get things back on track! If you are having trouble paying your bills,
visit this site.
http://www.johnsonlane.com/creditcenter.asp?Tag=008055&Agent=127

*************************************************************
Understanding Interest Rates and Points
By:  Cindy Snyder

The interest rate that you are quoted by a lender is the number that is
multiplied by the loan balance to determine the interest payment.  The
rate quoted on a mortgage is an annual rate, but it is applied monthly.
This is called the  APR (Annual Percentage Rate).

On a Fixed Rate Mortgage, the interest rate is "Fixed" meaning it
does not change over the life of the loan.  If you keep the loan for
1 year or 30 years, the rate stays the same.  Many people prefer
the Fixed Rate over an adjustable rate because it can not ever change.

On an Adjustable Rate Mortgage, (ARM) it can change each year.
Usually the first year the rate stays the same.  After the first year,
it may go up (or down) depending on the current rates.  You can
get ARM's that are fixed for 1, 3, 5 and even 10 years before the
rate changes.  Usually this is a trade off since the  rate starts out
being lower than with a fixed rate, but it can end up higher, just
depending on the changes in the economy.  If you don't plan to
be in the house for a long time, this may be the way to go.

Points are related to the interest rate.  A lender may offer a fixed
rate at 7.5% with zero points or 7.0% with 2 points.  Each  "point"
will cost you 1% of the loan amount.  For example, with a $100,000
loan, each "point" would cost you $1,000. This is called buying down
the rate.  The points are paid at closing along with all your other
fees. Only you can decide if buying down the rate is right for you.
If you are planning to be in the home for a long period of time,
it may be worth it to you.  However, if you think you may refinance
at some point in the future, maybe not.

***********************************************
Come on over to the Awardwinning Mall of Treasures!
Hundreds of shops and services under one roof!
Our merchants are offering all sorts of specials!
Your one stop shopping mall http://www.malloftreasures.com/

***********************************************
If you could save up to 80% on your family's healthcare
needs, with all pre-existing conditions accepted, for only
$40 per month (entire family). Would you be interested
in learning more?  http://www.firsthealthsource.com/

*******************************************************

DO YOU KNOW what's on your credit report?
Here's a chance to find out for FREE:
http://www.freecreditreport.com/index.asp?sourceid=00330369271252964074

***********************************************************
Please feel free to share this newsletter with your friends.
If you havea suggestion for an article, please email me directly at
cmc@... and tell me what you would like to see!
See you next month!

To subscribe--- mailto:0nly4Homebuyers-subscribe@egroups.com

To Unsubscribe--- mailto:0nly4Homebuyers-unsubscribe@egroups.com

Or go to -- http://www.egroups.com/group/0nly4Homebuyers

If you have any problems with subscribing or unsubscribing,
please emai lme directly mailto:cmc@...

***NOTE**** The 0 in 0nly4Homebuyers is a ZERO!!

December 16, 2000

Welcome to 0nly4Homebuyers Issue 27

Happy Holidays!  We here at Creative Mortgage Co
wish you all a happy and safe holiday season.
http://www.creativemortgageco.com/
************************************************
     $$$$$$$$$$$ ATTENTION  $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Need Tax Deductions?? Start your own Home Based Business!
There is no better way to save money on taxes than operating your
own home based business. Turn everyday expenses into legitimate
business deductions!  Start the New Year off on the right foot.
Earn Residual Income helping the Millions of Un-Insured and Under-
Insured in the US save 80% and more on their HealthCare bills.
http://www.careentree.com/firsthealth or call 803-732-3908.
Be in business for yourself, but not by yourself.  We offer training,
marketing guides, mirror sites, and much more to help you succeed.

****************************************************

Your Ad could be here!  0nly4Homebuyers accepts paid advertisements!
Send an emailto:cmc@.../ for rate information.

*************************************************************
Reading Between The LINES
By Doris Dobkins
http://www.creativefinances.com


Dear (Insert Your Name Here):

Having more cash makes the holidays merrier. This letter and the
enclosed checks are a huge gift box to you brimming with CASH. Celebrate
the holidays just the way you want. Call a caterer and give yourself
and your friends a truly wonderful holiday party. Surprise someone
special with a gift everyone will talk about for years to come.

Use the enclosed checks and get a jump on the New Year. Whatever your
plans, the enclosed checks will make gift giving seem effortless.

We are giving you the spending power that’s bound to make the happiest
of holidays for those who mean so much to you. Get extra cash and have
peace of mind for the New Year. Wrap up holiday details quickly and
conveniently with the enclosed access checks, then sit back and enjoy
the holiday season.

Purchase new furniture or a computer… Make a down payment on a new car…
Take a vacation… Even write a check to yourself, deposit it into your
checking account to use however you like.

Sincerely,

Your Friend
Chief Marketing Officer
Your Credit Card Company

Translated Version:


Dear Naive Customer:

We depend on you to make us rich. Therefore, increase your debt and
have a miserable holiday. The enclosed checks are not a gift. They are
disguised as a gift and we say they are a gift for the foolish people
out there who will use them (and there are plenty of people who will).
They really aren't a gift, they are just credit offers to make you pay
more for things than you would if you were paying cash.

Celebrate the holidays the way you want. Spend as much as you can.
We'll get rich off of you. You should be paying off your mortgage but
we'll get you to pay us instead and then one day you'll wake up old,
still owing us lots of money and you won't be able to retire because you
have NOTHING.

So get yourself in more bondage this holiday season. Borrow from us to
consolidate your loans. Then you'll free up those other cards so you
can charge them up again. It works most of the time. If you have a lot
of debt, show your friends that everything is under control. Throw a
party and have it catered. We won't charge you anything until that
check hits the bank. Then we'll get you on interest from day one. But
your friends will be impressed and that’s what counts. Yes, increase
your debt. Everyone around you would be so much happier. It’s the noble
thing to do!

Set yourself back financially for the New Year. Go now, cash these
checks (that’s why we give deadlines to motivate you into quick
action). Work an extra 20 years to pay these bills off. Indulge
yourself now. You deserve to have everything you want right now. Self-
Gratification RULES! That’s our motto and we love it. It makes us RICH!

Get some cash now. You won't have peace of mind after you get our bill.
We will make money off of you even if you pay your bill in full, which
most of you won't do. We know that and that’s why we offer you the
promotional rate for a few months. You'll be so in debt it'll probably
take you 42 years to pay off the bill. That’s the average for most
people. Plus, we'll increase your interest rate after just a few months
and we'll always apply the payments you make to the lowest interest
portion of your bill.

We know you can't afford a fancy new television set or that expensive
new sports car but if you use these checks you can get them. You may
end up defaulting on the loan and losing the purchase but that’s ok.
We'll still make lots of money. Matter a fact, if you pay the item off
eventually, you'll usually pay 3 times the purchase amount because of
interest and WE get that money. By the way, if you can't think of
anything to buy and need a little extra time, just write a check for
the highest amount and put the money in your bank account. Sure we'll
charge you more interest than your bank pays but just think about all
the money you'll have in your account.

You probably won't enjoy the holiday season much worrying about your
payments and being slaves to your debt, but we really don't care.

Happy Debt-Ridden Holidays

Sincerely,
Disclosure Department of
Your Credit Card Company

** ++  **  +  **  ++

Learn how to get out of debt and stay out of debt.
Get your copy of “Financial Freedom From A-Z” from
Doris Dobkins today.

TRIPLE YOUR MONEY IN 45 DAYS OR she will PAY YOU THE
DIFFERENCE!  http://www.creativefinances.com/book
***********************************************
Come on in to the Awardwinning Mall of Treasures!
Hundreds of shops and services under one roof!
Our merchants are offering all sorts of specials!
Your one stop shopping mall http://www.malloftreasures.com/

***********************************************
If you could save up to 80% on your family's healthcare
needs, with all pre-existing conditions accepted, for only
$40 per month (entire family). Would you be interested
in learning more?  http://www.firsthealthsource.com/

*******************************************************
Holiday Home Sellling
by Cindy Snyder

Many people think that the Holiday season is not a good time
to buy or sell homes and it is true that only the hard core buyers
may be looking during this time of year. Many people will abandon
plans to sell during this time to concentrate on getting ready for the
holidays, but that just means less competition for you!  If you are
a couple or family, this may be the best time to take time off
together to look for a home.

We are very transient people.  Our jobs are moving us from city
to city and state to state every day of the year! Many people will
not want to wait to find a home for their families. Waiting until after
the holidays may mean months before the family can be together
again permanently.

For the seller, this is a perfect time to go all out with your
decorating! That catheral ceiling is best shown off with a
huge sparkling tree.  How about an elaborate garland wound
around the stair banister?  The dining room table set with your
best sparkling china and holiday linens? The wonderful smell of a
live Christmas tree and wreathswork wonders!  A roaring fire, candles
and all the wonderful scents of Christmas will enhance your homes
best features.

So, don't abandon your plans for selling your home until
after the holidays.  You may get less traffic, but that is okay.
The traffic you do get will be serious potential buyers!

******************************************************
DO YOU KNOW what's on your credit report?
Here's a chance to find out for FREE:
http://www.freecreditreport.com/index.asp?sourceid=00330369271252964074

*************************************************************

Need help cleaning up your credit?  These are the professionals!
Professional agency can get things removed or at least upgraded
that the average consumer is not able to do on their own.
http://www.johnsonlane.com/creditcenter.asp?Tag=008055&Agent=127
AOL Users should be able to click on this link
<a
href="http://www.johnsonlane.com/creditcenter.asp?Tag=008055&Agent=127</a>
***********************************************************
Please feel free to share this newsletter with your friends.
If you havea suggestion for an article, please email me directly at
cmc@... and tell me what you would like to see!
See you next month!

To subscribe--- mailto:0nly4Homebuyers-subscribe@egroups.com

To Unsubscribe--- mailto:0nly4Homebuyers-unsubscribe@egroups.com

Or go to -- http://www.egroups.com/group/0nly4Homebuyers

If you have any problems with subscribing or unsubscribing,
please emai lme directly mailto:cmc@...

***NOTE**** The 0 in 0nly4Homebuyers is a ZERO!!

November 15, 2000

Welcome to 0nly4Homebuyers Issue 26

Just a note to say Welcome to all our new subscribers, we
are glad to have you with us.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
Have a wonderful holiday!!

******************************************
Please visit our sponsor, Creative Mortgage Company
http://www.creativemortgageco.com/
************************************************

Come on in to the Awardwinning Mall of Treasures!
Hundreds of shops and services under one roof!
Our merchants are offering all sorts of specials!
Your one stop shopping mall http://www.malloftreasures.com/
Click on this link to go to our Christmas Coupon Specials!!
http://www.malloftreasures.com/Christmas/

****************************************************

Your Ad could be here!  0nly4Homebuyers accepts paid advertisements!
Send an emailto:cmc@.../ for rate information.

*************************************************************

Play it Safe-Get an Inspection
by: Cindy Snyder

It is a good investment for sellers to do cosmetic improvements
in order to enhance the visual appeal of the property, prior to
putting it on the market.  Most real estate agents will advise
sellers to fix up their homes in order to get the best possible
price. A fresh coat of paint or new carpet can often pay back
more than double the cost. But, before making cosmetic
changes to make the house "look good",  let's think about
what is really important to the potential buyers of your property.

Your home could be gorgeous on the surface and extremely
ugly underneath.  What do you think is more important to the
potential buyer?  Nice paint and wallpaper or a deteriorating
foundation?  Paint and wallpaper can easily be changed with
very little cost involved.  A deteriorating foundation is another
story altogether.

A smart buyer will ask for a professional inspection of the
property in order to check for hidden problems.  An
inspector will look for things like structural damage,
drainage problems, wiring and plumbing problems and
the like.

If  you are the seller of an older home, you should
consider hiring an inspector to check for hidden
problems before you start working on the cosmetics.
You may have problems that you are unaware of that
could cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars
to repair.

Even if the buyer is impressed with the carpet, paint and
"curb appeal", would they still be interested if, once inspected,
structural damage is found that will cost thousands to repair?
Probably not, at least not at the price you are asking.

Play it safe, get an inspector before you start working on
enhancing the "curb appeal" of your property.  If serious
problems are found, you may decide to offer it as a fixer
upper property at a discounted price taking the necessary
repairs into price consideration. If no problems are found,
great!  By all means, start working on those cosmetics!

***********************************************
Only 39 More Days til Christmas! Time to get started on your
Holiday Shopping!  Get it all here! Shop from the comfort of home
and avoid the crowds! Large selection of gifts and collectibles from
around the world!!  http://www.snyderhaus.com/

******************************************************
How To Beat The High Cost of Healthcare
by:  Cindy Snyder

Did you know that there are over 44,000,000 Americans
without any healthcare coverage, and that over  75,000,000
Americans are under-insured due to age or pre-existing
conditions? America is in a healthcare crisis! With the high
cost of healthcare, and the double-digit increase in premiums
that are currently being experienced, many individuals do  not
have access to the best healthcare in the world. Those that do
are paying a pretty penny for it.

  I learned about a different kind of program while searching for
an alternative to the high cost of health insurance my family was
experiencing. We were paying over $400 per month in premiums.
We are relatively healthy and really don't go to the doctor except
for checkups once a year. When I sat down and figured out that
the one visit (each) per year was costing me close to $5000......well,
I knew I had to do something. I signed up on this program. Now I
pay $40.00 per month for the whole family. We have access to doctors,
hospitals, labs, dentists, pharmacy, chiropractors, even alternative
healthcare providers.

Yes, I pay more than a $10.00 co-pay when I go to the doctor,
but I am not paying $400.00 per month anymore!  I have been on
this program for the last five months. Last month I went to the
doctor for an annual physical exam including an EKG and all the
lab work and so on, PLUS, I took my son for his yearly checkup.
Including the monthly fees for this program over the last five
months, I spent less  than I would have spent in just ONE month
of insurance premiums!

This is the  ideal solution to the high cost of healthcare for
my family. Everyone should have access to quality healthcare
at an affordable price, without the intervention of middlemen
(insurance companies). With my insurance plan, I used to have
to go to my Primary Provider just to get a referral, so I could go
to a specialist. Now if I need to go to a Dermatologist or an
Internist or our family doctor, I pick up the phone and make an
appointment with one of the providers in our network. I go for the
appointment, present my ID card and have them call the toll free
number on the back of the card. It's that easy.

For more information on this new and innovative program, I encourage
you to visit this website http://www.careentree.com/firsthealth
You can look up providers in your area and even enroll in the program
right on this website. If you are tired of the high cost of healthcare
and want to be able to manage your own health, (and your own money)
check it out.

*******************************************************
DO YOU KNOW what's on your credit report?
Here's a chance to find out for FREE:
http://www.freecreditreport.com/index.asp?sourceid=00330369271252964074

*************************************************************
Creative Gardening newsletter is a FREE and fun interactive
ezine.  Each Monday you'll be able read, answer or ask gardening
questions!  Also included in the ezine is a gardening article
and a seed swap.  To subscribe, send a blank e-mail to:
CreativeGardening-subscribe@onelist.com
*********************************************************
Need help cleaning up your credit?  These are the professionals!
Professional agency can get things removed or at least upgraded
that the average consumer is not able to do on their own.
http://www.johnsonlane.com/creditcenter.asp?Tag=008055&Agent=127
AOL Users should be able to click on this link
<a
href="http://www.johnsonlane.com/creditcenter.asp?Tag=008055&Agent=127</a>
***********************************************************
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October 16, 2000

Welcome to 0nly4Homebuyers Issue 25
Please visit our sponsor, Creative Mortgage Company
http://www.creativemortgageco.com/
*************************************************

STOP WASTING YOUR MONEY ON HEALTHCARE!!
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Life After Divorce
by Cindy Snyder
http://www.creativemortgageco.com/

When you get divorced and the decree is final, the first thing you want
to be
sure to do is close any and all joint accounts with your ex-spouse.
Otherwise
you will be liable for all charges.  It does not matter than you are no
longer
legally married.  When the account was opened and the credit was
extended,
you were married.  As far as the creditor is concerned....you owe the
money
and they don't care who made the charges.

For example, you have a  Visa in both names.  Now your divorce decree
states
that you are each responsible for your own debts, right?  Well if the
Visa card
happens to have both your names on it, then you are each, equally liable
for all
charges to that card.

So if your Ex decides to go on a spending spree and then not pay the
bill or for that
matter, just not pay the bills on time....it goes on YOUR credit
report.  So make sure
that ALL joint accounts are closed.


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Seven Ways To Make A Million
By Doris Dobkins

Do you want to have a secure retirement? Do you want to live
comfortably in your old age?  If so, the latest statistics say you need
a million dollars. Wow, a million dollars, that's a lot of money. Yes
it is but with inflation it won't even be worth as much as it is now.
So it's time to start planning NOW for your future.

To have One Million Dollars at a future date, if you average an annual
rate of return of 10% and make regular monthly investments, here is how
much money you need to invest each month to reach your goals:

$5,000 a month for 10 years = $1,024,225
$2,600 a month for 15 years = $1,077,623
$1,400 a month for 20 years = $1,063,116
$800 a month for 25 years = $1,061,467
$480 a month for 30 years = $1,085,034
$300 a month for 34 years = $1,027,617
$100 a month for 45 years = $1,048,250

The questions now are easy.  How old are you?
How many years until you want to retire?
How much do you need to be saving a month?

If you can't afford the monthly amount, start looking for ways to
increase your income or decrease your expenses to meet that monthly
goal.

Don't say you can't do it, say you can and find a way to make it
happen.

Creating a plan is the first step towards retirement success. Please
start now. Don't wait any longer until it is too late. $100 a month is
all you have to save if you are 20 years old. The earlier you start,
the better off you will be. Do whatever it takes to reach your monthly
investing goal.

If you like to forecast and plan with financial calculators, here's the
calculator I used:

http://www.homebank.net/workingCalcs/calcul3.htm

Remember to write down your plan, evaluate it on a regular basis and
rejoice in your success.

== ** == ** == ** == ** == ** == ** == ** == ** ==

Doris S. Dobkins, is a money saving expert and the author of the book
"Financial Freedom from A-Z". She is also the publisher of a weekly
online ezine $mart Money New$ full of financial strategies and money
saving tips. To subscribe, send an email to: news@...
or visit her web site today at: http://www.creativefinances.com
*******************************************************

DO YOU KNOW what's on your credit report?
Here's a chance to find out for FREE:
http://www.freecreditreport.com/index.asp?sourceid=00330369271252964074

*************************************************************
How To Deal With Debt Collectors

Debt Collectors are in a class by themselves.  These are people that
will say
anything, do anything to get you to pay them first.  They will tell you
how
they are going to take you to court, take your house, your car, ruin
your
credit rating and a whole slew of other nasty things.  Some have even
been
known to swear at you and not many are willing to work with you.

The first thing you need to remember about collectors is to not lose
your
cool and don't let them get to you.  Be straight forward, firm and above
all
polite.  When they call and start harassment procedures, simply tell
them
that you have had financial difficulties lately and you have had to
prioritize your debts.  Your mortgage and living expenses come first and
you
are not able to make payments right now.  As soon as you are able you
will
contact them to start making payments again.  They will keep calling,
but
this is basic response that you will need to use.  As the collection
procedure moves on, a creditor may transfer it to an outside collection
agency.

Third party collectors are the most brutal of the breed.  This is where
your
patience will be tested.  The following is a list of things collectors
cannot
do.  These are all violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

A collector calls you at work knowing that it is inconvenient or your
employer forbids it.
A collector calls before 8:00 am or after 9:00 pm.
A collector makes an excessive number of home calls to annoy or harass
you.
A collector knows you are represented by an attorney, whose contact is
easy
to locate, and the collector continues you call.
A collector tells someone, other than you, your spouse, or your attorney
that
you owe money.
A collector misrepresents the amount or legal status of a debt.
A collector give other creditor information about you that is false, or
should be known to be false.
A collector fails to honor your dispute or cease communication rights.
A collector threatens to take your property or garnish wages if they do
not
intend to do it.  Your property cannot be taken and your wages garnished
without a court order.  A judgment must be taken before a writ of
execution
can enable the collector to seize property.
A collector uses, or threatens to use, violence or any other illegal
means to
harm your family, your reputation, or your property.
A collector uses profane or obscene language when communicating with
you.
A collector threatens you with criminal prosecution or implies that you
have
committed a crime.  Debt and credit issues are a matter of civil law,
not
criminal law.
A collector tricks you into accepting collect calls or telegrams.
A collector cashes, or threatens to cash, a post dated check before the
date
written on the check, if it is postdated by 5 days or more.
A collector claims to be an attorney or sends letters made to look like
it is
from an attorney, unless they are actually an attorney.
A collector sends a letter that is made to look like a government or
court
document when it is not.

There are many things to remember when dealing with creditors, but the
most
important is that you are in no way required to speak to them at all and
there is no law against hanging up on them.  If you have told them your
situation and they are still berating you, simply tell them the
conversation
is over and hang up the phone.

The following are what collectors CAN do to you if you fail to pay your
debt.

They can cancel their relationship with you.  Your credit card can be
canceled or your doctor can refuse to see you again.
They can report your default with the credit bureaus.
They can begin legal proceedings to collect the debt.

As you can see there is very little they can do to you.  The most
worrisome
thing may be the legal proceedings.  There are a few things to remember
where
this is concerned.  First, it is expensive to take you to court.  So,
depending on how much you owe them, they may not even bother.  Second,
If
they do sue, you have the right to answer.  You do not need an attorney
to
let the court know you are having financial difficulties.  If the
creditor
sees you may contest the action, they may drop it all together.  Never
let a
court proceeding go on against you without responding.  Third, even if
they
do win all that happens is a judgment is entered against you.  This just
give
the creditor the ability to try to seize property or wages.  Most times
it is
just a judgment that sits there until you can pay it.  Again, this may
depend
on how much is owed.  Lastly, you may be judgment proof.  Some state
laws
protect certain assists and wages against judgments.  You would want to
find
out what the laws are in your state.

How To Stop Debt Collection Harassment

1)  Stop it before it starts.  If you find you cannot pay your bills,
you
want to call your creditors before they call you.  You can at least let
them
know your situation and see if there is anything they can do to help you
before the trouble begins.

2)  Sending a Cease letter.  Writing a letter to the collector can stop
them
in three tracks, up to a point.  This only applies to third party
collectors,
not collectors trying to collect their own debt, though some will honor
the
request.  What you want to explain in the letter is the difficulty you
are
having and what you hope to do in the future to get back on track.  Ask
them
to cease contacting you regarding the account and list the name and
account
number.  Sending a copy to the Better Business Bureau doesn't hurt
either.
Any illegal practices that they have used should be listed in the
letter.

3)  Letter from a lawyer.  If the cease letter does not do the trick,
then
you may consider contacting an attorney to help you.  Letters from
attorney's
tend to get more attention from collectors and once they contact AFTER
your
original cease letter, they are now in even more hot water.  This may be
a
very good tactic, but may cost money for the attorney.

4)  Work it out with the collector.  Working out some kind of agreement
with
a collector can work, but is not always the best idea.  However, what
they
want to work out with you is to get their payment in full and may ask
you to
borrow money from somewhere else to pay it off.  If you can hold off
their
suggestions you can get them to work out some kind of agreement with you
that
will work for you.  Remember to keep it within your budget.  If you
cannot
afford what they are asking for, then tell them you will have to
consider
other options.

5)  Go to a Government Agency.  There are agencies out there that govern
collection practices.  If you feel you have a collector that is
continually
abusing the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, seek out one of these
agencies and tell them what is happening with your situation.  The
Federal
Trade Commission is where you want to send your complaint.  Their
address is
Federal Trade Commission, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Washington, DC
20580.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Would you like a question answered? E-mail your question to
MNCred1@...
and type question in the subject field. Questions will be answered
anonymously in the next available newsletter and personally by e-mail.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Carolyn Baker, Vice-president
<A HREF="http://www.mncredit.com/">Minnesota Credit Association</A>
Your first step to becoming debt free!
  http://www.mncredit.com

*************************************************

Come on in to the Awardwinning Mall of Treasures!
Hundreds of shops and services under one roof!
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If you are in business for yourself or want to
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******************************************************
Please feel free to share this newsletter with your friends.
If you havea suggestion for an article, please email me directly at
cmc@... and tell me what you would like to see!
See you next month!

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September 15, 2000

Welcome to 0nly4Homebuyers Issue 24
Please visit our sponsor, Creative Mortgage Company
http://www.creativemortgageco.com/
*************************************************

FREE SHIPPING, FREE GIVEAWAYS, FREE GREETING CARDS!
Get a jump on your holiday shopping!  Large selection of gifts
and collectibles from around the world!!  http://www.snyderhaus.com/
2000-2001 Winner of the GoldenWeb Award

******************************************************
REDUCING YOUR BUDGET  A LITTLE AT A TIME

Budgeting is the art of managing the money you have.  Whether you have
extra money each month or are living from paycheck to paycheck, it's a
good idea to set some goals for the money leaving your house.

If you already have a budget but are looking for ways to reduce it, the
best way to start is by looking at the variable expenses in your
budget.  Anything that isn't fixed and can fluctuate from month to
month is an opportunity.

Start by making a list of all your expenses that fluctuate each month.
Rank them from highest to lowest.  What is your highest monthly-unfixed
bill?  Is it your food bill, utilities or gasoline expenses?  Mine is
probably my grocery bill so let's discuss that one.

Go back one year and calculate what you have spent on food each month
(include eating out).  Average the costs out to what you spend each
month and each week.  Now how much do you want to save a month in the
food budget category?  Divide that by 4 and try saving that much each
week.  What does that leave you each month and week to spend on food?

After you have a goal set, you will want to spend a few minutes
strategizing for ways to reduce that bill by 10-25%.  Saving just $25 a
week is $100 a month.

I just did this exercise myself and discovered I spend an average of
$245 a month on food for my family of four.  I think that is pretty
good but I know I can do better.  With some menu planning around weekly
specials and eliminating some of those last minute purchases, I could
probably save $10 a week and put that extra $40 a month into my
vacation fund.  There's nothing I love more than a good vacation in a
tropical place.  So with a few cuts in just one area of my budget, I've
got an extra $480 for vacation in 12 months.  See how simple it is.  If
you make a game of it and have goals, it can be fun and it can be done.

Here are some questions to help you with your plan:

* How much of your costs are from eating dinner out?
* How many lunches do you eat out during the week?
* Can you pack a lunch just 3 days a week and save the extra money?
* Can you begin creating weekly menus based on store sales to reduce
costs?

Need a few tips on eating for less?

1. Eliminate convenience foods (make your own as much as possible).
2. Have a soup and sandwich night once a week.
3. Make a weekly menu based on the sales for the week.
4. Buy things in bulk once a month when on sale.
5. Reduce your consumption of meat.
6. Freeze extra meals for another week.  i.e. make a big batch of
    soup and use half for a meal this week and the other half next week.
7. Buy what you can eat or freeze.  Don't waste food.  Every dollar
     in food that you waste costs about $1.25 to replace.
8. Cook from scrap as much as possible.  It is usually cheaper than
   buying processed foods and it is much healthier too.  Look for some
   older cookbooks whose recipes are made up of unprocessed foods to
   save even more.

Until you get used to these changes, you may want to take that monthly
amount out of your bank account each week and put it in an envelope.
When you go to the grocery store, that's all you can spend.  I
guarantee you'll be more careful about what you buy if you know you'll
be paying cash from the envelope when you get to the register.

In Summary:
Why do you want to save money? Why do you want to reduce your expenses?
What are your financial goals?  The answers to these questions need to
be clear in your mind so you can stick with your goals.  Look at these
methods as a way to reach your financial goals whatever they may be.
They are a means to an end, instead of something you are forced to do.

If you are a visual person, you might want to put the savings into an
envelope each week.  You'll immediately see the results of your efforts
and it'll keep you motivated.  Then, save the money for something
special - whatever fits in with your goals!!!

Happy Budgeting!!!

~~~ ** ~~~ ** ~~~ **

Doris S. Dobkins, is a money saving expert and the author of
the book "Financial Freedom from A-Z". She is also the publisher
of a weekly online ezine $mart Money New$ full of financial
strategies and money saving tips. To subscribe, send an email to:
news@...  or visit her web site today at:
http://www.creativefinances.com

*************************************************************

STOP WASTING YOUR MONEY!!
If you could save up to 80% on all your family's healthcare needs,
with all pre-exisiting conditions accepted, for only $40.00 per month.
Would you be interested in learning more? Visit this website
http://www.careentree.com/firsthealth  You will be amazed at how much
you can save simply by bypassing the insurance companies!

*****************************************************
You Can Replace an Electrical Outlet
by Bethanny Davis

I recently had a problem with one of the electrical outlets in
my home. When I tried to plug in or unplug something, or even
just wiggled the cord, the entire circuit would short out,
leaving me with no lights in three rooms, no electrical outlets
in two rooms and *gasp* NO COMPUTER!

Well, obviously this was a terrible problem. I mean, how can a
writer live without her computer? I had to do something, and
fast!

Unfortunately, as a single mother, calling an electrician was
just not in the budget. I'd have to figure out how to fix it
myself. I did it, for $11.11, and if you follow my
instructions, you can do it too!

WHAT YOU NEED

*A multimeter - This is a tester used to check to see if there
is electrical current running through the wires. I got mine at
Kmart for $9.99 plus tax. This was the most expensive part of
the repair for me. If you already have one, it won't cost much
at all. *A new outlet - Sells for $0.49 plus tax at Kmart.
*Screwdrivers

TURN THE POWER OFF

The first step is the most important: TURN THE POWER OFF!
Electricity is not something to play around with. Be very
careful. Before starting any electrical project, always turn
the power off. Go to the fuse box and find the circuit you will be
working on. Remove the fuse or switch the circuit breaker off.

TEST YOUR TESTER

Now you need to make sure your multimeter is working properly.
Make sure there is a battery in the multimeter. Now, find a
battery that you can use to test your tester. Set the unit to
the appropriate battery size, and touch the negative probe to
the negative end of your battery and the positive probe to the
positive end of the battery. The needle on the multimeter
should move. Now that you know it works, change the setting on the
multimeter to AC current, or DC if you are in a country that
uses DC.

TEST THE OUTLET

Before starting the repair, you need to test the outlet to make
sure the power is off. To do this, check to make sure your
multimeter is on and set to the correct voltage. Insert the
tester's probes into the outlet. The needle should not move. If
the needle moves, you probably did not turn off the correct
circuit. Go back to the circuit box and try another breaker.

WARNING: Do NOT continue with this repair if you are unsure
whether there is power going into the outlet. When in doubt,
call an electrician.

REMOVE THE OLD OUTLET

To remove the old outlet, use a screwdriver to remove the screw
in the middle of the outlet plate, then remove the plate. Now
unscrew the two screws holding the outlet and pull the old
outlet away from the wall.

CHANGE THE WIRES

Look at the back of the outlet. There are either three or five
wires. One wire (the ground) wraps around a screw. The other
wires stick straight into holes on the back of the outlet.
These wires can be disconnected by inserting a screwdriver into the
slot next to each wire, then pulling the wire out.

Disconnect one wire at a time from the old outlet, then plug it
into the same location on the new outlet. This will keep you
from getting the wires mixed up.

REPLACE THE OUTLET

Push the outlet back into the hole in the wall and replace the
two screws that hold it in place. Then screw the cover plate
back in place.

TURN THE POWER ON

Flip the circuit breaker back to the on position or replace the
fuse, then check your work. Plug something into your new outlet
and turn it on. It should work now. Congratulations!

WARNINGS

ELECTRICITY IS DANGEROUS. IT CAN SERIOUSLY INJURE OR KILL YOU.
ALWAYS BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN WORKING WITH ELECRICITY. IF YOU
HAVE ANY DOUBTS WHATSOEVER ABOUT YOUR ABILITY TO SAFELY
PERFORM THIS OR ANY OTHER ELECRICAL REPAIR, DON'T DO IT!
CALL AN ELECTRICIAN.

About the author

Bethanny Davis lives in Michigan with her two children. She
writes articles about money, parenting and relationships. She
also enjoys writing short stories and poetry. More of her work
can be found at http://writergirl.stormloader.com/.
*******************************************************

DO YOU KNOW what's on your credit report?
Here's a chance to find out for FREE:
http://www.freecreditreport.com/index.asp?sourceid=00330369271252964074

*************************************************************

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We feature some of the most specialized merchants in existence.
Visit us today at http://www.christmasgiftstores.com/ and
while you're there, be sure to sign up for our newsletter so you
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**************************************************

Come on in to the Awardwinning Mall of Treasures!
Hundreds of shops and services under one roof!
Our merchants offering all sorts of specials!
Your one stop shopping mall
http://www.malloftreasures.com/
Click on this link to go to our Christmas Coupon Specials!!
http://www.malloftreasures.com/Christmas/

****************************************************
RECOMMENDED E-ZINE  -- WELL WORTH READING:
   ** Colleen Mandato's All-Business E-zine --
             excellent source of ideas
             on how to make more money on the internet!
   Just send an e-mail to All-Business-subscribe@egroups.com

***************************************************

Creative Gardening newsletter is a FREE and fun interactive
ezine.  Each Monday you'll be able read, answer or ask gardening
questions!  Also included in the ezine is a gardening article
and a seed swap.  To subscribe, send a blank e-mail to:
CreativeGardening-subscribe@onelist.com

********************************************************

Are you taking all the tax deductions you possibly can?
I thought so too!! Wrong! Visit this site
http://www.ima.thetaxpeople.com/~csnyder
Or call 888--304-3972 CODE 106
Take the time to find out for yourself!

******************************************************
Please feel free to share this newsletter with your friends.
If you havea suggestion for an article, please email me directly at
cmc@... and tell me what you would like to see!
See you next month!

To subscribe--- mailto:0nly4Homebuyers-subscribe@egroups.com

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Or go to -- http://www.egroups.com/group/0nly4Homebuyers

If you have any problems with subscribing or unsubscribing,
please emai lme directly mailto:cmc@...

***NOTE**** The 0 in 0nly4Homebuyers is a ZERO!!
--
PS.  If you could save up to 80% on your family's  healthcare needs,
with all pre-existing conditions accepted, for only $40 per month… Would
you be interested in learning more?  If so, click on this link.
http://www.careentree.com/firsthealth or send a blank email to
mailto:creativehealthcare@...

Creative Mortgages are what we do!  http://www.creativemortgageco.com/
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Looking for a special gift?  FREE SHIPPING!! http://www.snyderhaus.com/
*****************************************************************
Are you taking ALL the tax deductions you can??
http://ima.thetaxpeople.net/~csnyder

August 15, 2000

Welcome to 0nly4Homebuyers Issue 23
Come over to Creative Mortgage Company and see what we have been up to!
Our site has been completely redesigned.  Come
See!http://www.creativemortgageco.com/
*********************************************************************
Contest just for moms!  Enter to win $75 in Baby Bucks, or vote in our
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Beat the Stress of Moving

Did you know that DEATH, DIVORCE, & MOVING are the three
most stressful experiences in life? Below are some tips to
help you beat one of the big three, moving!

1.   Be prepared.  There is too much to do to panic at this
last moment.  You will wonder if you will ever get this move
completed, you might feel sick to your stomach.....it will pass
if you have prepared yourself for the move.  Did you notify
  the utilities? The post office?  Make a list of all the things
that need to be done and cross them off once completed.
That way, you will know they are done.

2.   Keep that picture in your mind.  Your new home, once
you are in, all the furniture in place, your pictures up, the fresh
new paint, the kids in their new school, all that extra room you
are going to have for your growing family. Envision your happy
family in their new home. Get excited! This is a good thing!

3.  Be flexible with the amount of money you have available
for this move.  Keep an extra pad of a couple thousand dollars
if possible.  Moving is expensive and you are going to want to
buy new things for your new home.  That old rug just won't go
with your new decor!    Your now have four windows in your
kitchen instead of just two.

4.  If you are packing yourself, start early.  Begin with the
attic or basement and just pack up things that you are not currently
using.  Then move on to your closets, pack up your winter/summer
clothing.  Then go to the nick nacks and pictures.  If you start a
month or more ahead of time, it won't be nearly so bad!  If you are
using a moving company, call and arrange for pickup a month or more
  in advance.

5.  If possible, get someone to watch the kids on moving day.
A child under foot  is not fun when you are trying to pack up last
minute items (or unpack for that matter).

6.  Order dinner out.  Better yet, go out to eat and take some
time to unwind.  It will still be there when you get back and you get
  a chance to see your new surroundings.
*****************************************************
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Can Health Insurance Make You Sick?
by Tammy Harrison

If your employer offers you a health insurance plan, you may not
realize the entire amount of premiums that are contributed per month -
until you decide to quit your job to be self-employed.  My husband
received a nice benefit package from his previous employer (an
institution of higher learning) and when we decided to start our own
business after our first child was born, one of the major financial
dilemmas we had to face was what to do about health insurance.

After discussing our options with my doctor, she encouraged us to
participate in the COBRA plan offered by the university at least until
our daughter was three months old.  At that time, we had to pay $564 per
month to remain active with our health insurance company. Now, I don't
know how your monthly expenses add up...but we could eat, have air
conditioning or heat, cable television and water for that amount per
month!

During that three months, we had every insurance representative
we could find give us their sales pitch.  Knowing that we had to
cut back on expenses to make our home-based business a success,
we realized that  health insurance was unaffordable for the average
person starting out on their own.  Every insurance plan presented
to us wanted at least $300 per month in premiums, and most of the
plans would not cover our pre-existing conditions for one year.
In effect, we would be paying over $3,600 in premiums alone
(not counting the co-payments for doctor visits and prescriptions)
before the insurance would pick up the tab on my husband's
sinus allergies or my dermatological allergies.

After some serious number-crunching, we realized that ove
the course of a year we paid nearly $7,000 in insurance premiums!
Then, we added up the medical expenses paid by us and by the
insurance company (even the delivery and birth of the baby) and
it came to less than $5,000.  The reason for this is that as insured
on a group health plan, the risks are spread out amongst all of the
plan participant, some of who are using more health insurance and
some who use less.

We then began to look at our out-of-pocket expenses for doctor visits.
Our baby would need well-baby checkups every few months and I
would need my annual exam and my husband would need his yearly
physical.  All of those expenses added up to less than $500 per year.

We could well afford to pay the doctors directly for our care
compared to paying an insurance company "in case" we needed care.
With that decision made, we moved on to major medical insurance.
This insurance usually has a higher deductible than health insurance
in exchange for lower premiums. We found a well-known, reputable
company that offered us a major-medical insurance policy for less
than $110 per month with a $2,500 deductible. The only catch was
that the major medical would not cover pregnancy -but, we could
live with that while we raised our first child and our first home-based
business.

Over the course of that first year, we created our own medical savings
account and set aside $190 per month.  We were also able to take
some tax advantages by purchasing the insurance through our company.
At the end of that year, we had nearly enough saved for an emergency
deductible in case of hospitalization.

But, despite the shock of health insurance premiums making us sick...the
inevitable happened.  No, not an emergency appendectomy.  I became
pregnant with child #2 and we made the decision for my husband to return
to full-time employment.  The university he works for now picks up the
entire cost of premiums but we still have our medical savings account
that we started nearly five years ago just in case the high cost of
health insurance makes us sick again!
______________

copyright 2000 Tammy Harrison. Tammy Harrison is a wife and
mother of three children ages four and under. She has a degree
from Mizzou in Human Environmental Sciences, Consumer
Economics and Management, Personal Financial Management.
She is the Independent Creative Representative for
Home-Based Working Moms (http://www.hbwm.com), email
HBWM_Creative_Rep@... to HBWM free
eNewsletter at mailto:hbwmoms-e-news-subscribe@egroups.com
**************************************************
ATTENTION! Now there is an alternative to paying all those
High insurance premiums! Introducing Affordable Health Care!
Did you know that PPO's and HMO's are NOT insurance?
$40.00 per month covers the entire family.  No limitations,
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mailto:creativehealthcare@...
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of the art products you can trust.  For product info and specials visit:
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**************************************************************
FREE SHIPPING, FREE GIVEAWAYS, FREE GREETING CARDS!
Get a jump on your holiday shopping!  Large selection of gifts
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****************************************************
Take a stroll through Cranberry Village to visit quaint little shoppes
and meet the local townfolk. While you are there, be sure to read
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latest on our "eccentric" residents!
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***************************************************
Free to Enter! Contest Cover Girls "Puzzler"  http://www.cgafghans.com/
Win a Nap/travel set: includes pillow and afghan(completely machine
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********************************************************
Please feel free to share this newsletter with your friends.
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July 14, 2000

Welcome to 0nly4Homebuyers Issue 22
*******************************************************************
GRAND RE-OPENING SALE!!!!!  Use the discount code...grand...and get
15% off everything!!!! Plus FREE SHIPPING!!!  Be sure to register
for our free giveaways too!  Come on over!
http://www.snyderhaus.com/
**************************************************************
Your Ad could be here!  0nly4Homebuyers accepts paid advertisements!
Send an emailto:cmc@.../ for rate information.
*************************************************************
Need help cleaning up your credit?  These are the professionals!
Professional agency can get things removed or at least upgraded
that the average consumer is not able to do on their own.
http://www.johnsonlane.com/creditcenter.asp?Tag=008055&Agent=127
AOL Users should be able to click on this link
<a
href="http://www.johnsonlane.com/creditcenter.asp?Tag=008055&Agent=127</a>
***********************************************************
IS YOUR CREDIT BUREAU FILE HURTING YOU? - FIND OUT!

By Doris Dobkins
dorisd@...

I've received quite a few questions and comments over the past few
weeks regarding credit reports, credit ratings and questions on how to
improve information in the credit files.

It's not a surprise then that one of the biggest problems plaguing
over 260 million Americans is the negative and damaging information
about them in their credit file. And Americans aren't the only ones
plagues by this problems. People from all over the world are too!
While some of the information in your credit report may be accurate,
there are many times when there is false or inaccurate data. Has this
been your experience?

The first step you should take whether you have good, bad or something
in between credit is to find out exactly what is in your credit file.
You can do this by either contacting each of the three agencies
directly or ordering them through a service. (I'll list a few places
to do that below). It is a good idea to order a copy from all three
agencies so you can compare them and get a more accurate picture of
what is being reported.

Your second step would then be to review the information thoroughly
and carefully. It is as important to note the good and positive
things that are missing from your file, as well as any incorrect
information that might be present.

If you find some negative reports in your file, even if they are true,
there are times when they are misleading. There are several things
you can do to complete, correct and make your file up-to-date.
Matter-a-fact, it is your responsibility. The credit bureau's are not
going to help you out. Their basic responsibility is to collect
information about you. This would include things such as account
information and payment habits.

If the information in your file is accurate but doesn't tell your side
of, the story, it is important to get your story included. If you
were seriously ill or had some unavoidable circumstance happen in your
life, you might want to include that in your file. Definitely
emphasize all the positive's before the incident.

If there is inaccurate information in your file, challenge it. If
there are items in dispute status and that isn't indicated in the
report, be sure to inform the agency.

Complete a consumer dispute form that is available at any consumer
reporting agency. If there are errors in your file and you are able
to get them corrected, the consumer reporting agency is also
responsible for notifying all potential creditors and employers who
have inquired into your file the past few years about any of the
errors that have been corrected.

Don't let the credit bureau tell you that you have no right to request
changes. Section 611 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act states that you
do have the right to question your report and have it corrected. The
agency must investigate and either respond or delete the item within
30 days.

If you will need credit in the future to buy a home or vehicle, it is
a good idea to start this process at least six months before you will
actually need the loan. This will give you time to clean up any
problem areas and disputes as well as have any red flags removed that
might have been placed in your file as a result of the correspondence.

There are three main credit bureaus. Here is their contact
information:
1. Equifax
P.O. Box 740256, Atlanta, Georgia 30374-0256
Phone: (800)685-1111
http://www.equifax.com


2. Experian National Consumer Assistance Center(Formerly TRW)
P.O. Box 2104, Allen, Texas, 75013-2104
Phone: (800)682-7654 or 1-888-397-3742
http://www.experian.com


3. TransUnion
P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19022
Phone: (800)888-4213
http://www.transunion.com/CREDITREPORT


I also want to recommend a few sites for additional information on
credit.

http://www.CreditDefenses.com/ - a consumer website operated
by former credit collection pros! There's insider information,
assistance, credit law references, services and more. They also
have a FREE newsletter you can subscribe to. Check out their
RESOURCES section. You can also get copies of the following Acts at
their
site:

- Fair Credit Reporting Act
- Fair Debt Collections Act
- Fair Credit Billing Act

Another site for credit report information is:
http://www.mycreditfile.com

They will obtain your credit reports for you from all three bureaus
and you can access all three credit bureaus from their site.
FOR SOME CREDIT PROBLEMS, self-help may be best. Under the Fair
Credit Reporting Act, credit repair companies can't do anything that
you cannot do for yourself at little or not cost. You don't have to
pay a credit repair company to learn what is in your file or to
correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
    - per the Federal Trade Commission

This site has some great articles on credit as well as some credit
repair tools. Free straight talking info, advice and tips:
http://www.consumercreditrepair.com/default.asp?AffID=30003160


I challenge you to get a copy of your credit bureau report as soon
as possible and review it carefully. Take the necessary steps if you
find errors. Also, make a commitment to follow this procedure once a
year to keep your credit looking good.
* = * = * = * = * = * = ** = ** = ** = ** = ** = ** = **
Doris Dobkins is the author of "Financial Freedom From A-Z"
and publisher of the weekly ezine $mart Money New$
featuring financial strategies and money saving tips.
To subscribe, send email to: news@...
or check out her web site: http://www.creativefinances.com

**************************************************
Need to Re-Establish Credit?  Get your unsecured FutureCard.  Apply
online!!
Click here http://www.futurecard.com/un.asp?tag=008055
Good Credit or Bad!  This is the place to go.
***************************************************************************
The Three Biggest Seller Turnoffs for Buyers to Avoid
By Ted Iversen

Househunting? You'll find the meeting of homebuyer, real estate
agent and seller can be a complicated affair.  At any one time, there
are tons and tons of pseudo-homebuyers out shopping, wasting an agent's
time, while wasting their own time.  While home sellers actually see
less than one percent of the flakes and poseurs in the marketplace, that
is enought to ensure that, by the time you as a buyer deal with a
seller,
chances are he or she has had negative experiences.

By knowing and avoiding the following three biggest seller turnoffs, you
will
build cooperation and confidence, laying the foundation for a smooth,
successful
transaction:

1.  You cant get a loan.

You go through the entire "dance" of seeing properties, finding one you
like,
putting in an offer, having it accepted, getting yoru hopes up that you
will purchase it,
visualizing yourself living there, fantasizing about how life will be in
your new home--
only to be turned down by the finance companies and have your dream
crushed..

Look at this from the seller's viewpoint.  Imagine that yourare
acutioning an item.
A few people bid. You are excited about the winner.  Then you find out
that the buyer
doesn't have enough money.  What would you do?  How would you react?
Would you immediately
recognize that you are dealing with a turkey?

Avoid becoming associated with a Thanksgiving meal.  Here's how.  The
best thing you can do
is obtain a pre-approval by a lending institution.  Usually you pay a
processing fee, a credit
reporting fee and an appraisal fee upfront.  This often totals about
$500.  You fill out an
application, your credit is evaluated, your bank accounts verified and
the company gives you a
letter stating that you are pre-approved for a certain amount based on
this information and
your planned down payment.

A seller who sees this pre-approval letter knows that you are serious
and you have the money
to buy the home.  You have a lot more clout than someone with out the
Pre-approval letter.


2.  You fail to express appreciation
One hundred years ago people were born and died in the same house.
Today, people move every
three to seven years on average - depending on the state they live in.
Regardless, most
people have pride in their surroundings no matter how short-lived their
stay.

For example, you may meet a seller in a 3000 square foot house who is
trading up to a
7500 square foot home.  You hear him complain about his old home- how
small the rooms are.
The rooms seem big to you.  Then you notice some pink wallpaper in a
small room that you
don't like.  You get caught up int he seller's badmouthing of his own
house, and make comments
about the wallpaper.  Mistake.

Talk to your agent - not the seller - about issue that bother
you.  Your agent might tell you it will cost $1000 to have wallpaper
removed, use this as
leverage in the offer.  The seller might tell you he proudly put the
paper up himself for his
daughters bedroom, which you now want to use as an office.  You may
alienate the seller with
your comments.


It is better to try to look at the house from the seller's point of view
and express
appreciation for it, knowing that you can make changes later, than to
offend the seller.
You will lose points and create an adverse negotiating position.

3.  You are not willing to pay a fair price.
You can try to pay $500,000 for a million-dollar property.  You probably
won't get
too far.  Even worse, you probably won't get a second chance - at least
not with the
same seller.

If a home that you like is overpriced, it is better to avoid it.  The
seller has his/her
head someplace where the sun doesn't shine.  Don't waste your time
trying to bring the
seller into the light. Find another deal. Find a fair property that is
worth a fair offer.

Games Real Estate Agents Play is adapted from TEd Iversen's consumer
handbook by the
same name, a decade-long study of the real estate industry, available at
bookstores or
through at http://www.gamesplay.com/
(C) Copyright 2000 Theodore Iversen
Syndicated by ParadigmTSA
*************************************************************************
Creative Mortgage Company can do a Pre-Approval for you!
Go here and do an online application.
http://www.creativemortgageco.com/
************************************************************************

Christmas in July!!!Visit the Creative Kids Bookstore!!
Currently offering 30% off thru July 16th.
Enter the discount code 40434NWCT at checkout!!  Pick up some great buys
on
Books, Toys, Music and Software!!
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******************************************************************************
SUSPENSE!  ROMANCE!  TENSION!  ENTERTAINMENT!
Here's what people are saying about Love Has Many Faces -
"If you havea best friend, you shouldn't miss this one.  The story is
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Laugh,cry and reminisce about your own life's journey and friendships in
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movie
a variety of people, places and conflicts for days."  No Guilt Reading
Group -- Read the first 3 chapters of Love Has Many Faces online for
FREE at
http://www.chistell.com.  All orders come with FREE Priority Mail
Shipping and Handling.  Don't miss this suspense-filled, page-turner!
Call Toll FREE 1-800-929-7889 or Visit http://www.chistell.com
*******************************************************************
Are you tired of living Paycheck to Paycheck?  Would you be interested
in learning how to keep more of the money you are currently giving to
Uncle Sam?  The Tax People can help you put more of your money back in
your
pocket.  Call this number...1-888-304-3972.  Be sure to leave the
Code number 106 along with your name and phone number if you like what
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what you are looking for!Click here!
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///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


Please feel free to share this newsletter with your friends.
If you havea suggestion for an article, please email me directly at
cmc@... and tell me what you would like to see!
See you next month!

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please emailme directly cmc@.../

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June 15, 2000

Welcome to 0nly4Homebuyers Issue XXI
*******************************************************************
TIRED OF LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK?
Don't have time for another job?  Let our ex-IRS Agents
show you how to get an immediate pay raise!! 3 minute
recorded message  Call 1-888-304-3972 CODE 106
You have nothing to lose and Everything to Gain!

**************************************************************
Your Ad could be here!  0nly4Homebuyers accepts paid advertisements!
send an emailto:cmc@.../ for rate information.
*************************************************************
In this Issue:
The 100 Word Statement
I am drinking Water---not Juice!
Making an Offer
***************************************************************
Credit Repair-The 100 Word Statement
by Cindy Snyder

Do you have negative entries on your credit file?  Did you know that you
can write a statement concerning the issues surrounding this entry and
the credit bureau will include it on your file?  Keep the statement to a
maximum of 100 words, hence the title, "100-Word Statement.  Stick with
the facts and be sincere.

This statement allows you to tell your side of the story.  Many times,
your side of the story will convince a creditor that a negative entry on
your report was an unfortunate incident that couldn't be prevented at
the time.  This problem does not mean that you are not trustworthy, only
that you encountered a problem and was unable to do anything about it at
that point in time.

Let's say your company went bankrupt or you were injured in an accident
and was unable to work for a period of time.  This resulted in late
payments or accounts being turned over for collection.  By telling your
side of the story, you can counter any negative reports with a positive
entry.  Of course, this is assuming you now have a steady income and can
meet your obligations.

What if you had a dispute over defective or undelivered merchandise, or
a medical bill that your insurance was supposed to pay and you are still
working on getting the bill paid?  Explain your reasons for not paying
in your 100 word consumer statement.  Write the statement as if you were
talking to the creditor.  State the facts and don't get too wordy or
show anger.  You will be given the benefit of the doubt if you explain
your side intelligenty and clearly.

This is just one of the things you can do to clean up your credit
file.   The first step in clearing up your credit is to obtain copies of
the reports themselves.  Listed below are the names and phone numbers of
all three of the major credit reporting bureaus.  I encourage you to
call and order your credit reports from each because each can have
different entries.  If you have a spouse, get his/hers too.

If you don't have the time or inclination to clean up your own credit,
you may decide to get some professional help.  Many times, a
professional agency can get things removed or at least upgraded that the
average consumer is not able to.  I have not personally used this agency
but you can click on the link to see what they offer.
http://www.johnsonlane.com/creditcenter.asp?Tag=008055&Agent=127. AOL
Users <a
href="http://www.johnsonlane.com/creditcenter.asp?Tag=008055&Agent=127</a>
I know they also offered secured and unsecured credit cards if you need
them to build your credit file, as well as, information that can be
downloaded
on credit repair.

Here are the three major credit reporting bureaus phone numbers.

Experian (TRW)   800-682-7654

Equifax          800-685-1111

TransUnion       800-916-8800

Good luck!

***********************************************************
SUSPENSE!  ROMANCE!  TENSION!  ENTERTAINMENT!

Here's what people are saying about Love Has Many Faces - "If you have
a best friend, you shouldn't miss this one.  The story is great.  Laugh,
cry and reminisce about your own life's journey and friendships in the
company of likable, well developed characters.  Great content for a
movie -- a variety of people, places and conflicts for days."  No Guilt
Reading
Group -- Read the first 3 chapters of Love Has Many Faces online for
FREE at http://www.chistell.com.  All orders come with FREE Priority
Mail
Shipping and Handling.  Don't miss this suspense-filled, page-turner!
Call Toll FREE 1-800-929-7889 or Visit http://www.chistell.com
************************************************************

I AM Drinking Water - Not Juice
by Doris Dobkins
http://www.creativefinances.com/

You're drinking water instead of juice. You're cleaning your own house
and mowing your own yard.  Eating out is a twice-annual luxury and your
car looks older than you!

So what's the problem?  You're saving costs every way you can but your
bank account doesn't show it!

If you're like me, you tend to save a lot but then spend the savings on
other things instead of taking it to the "bank".

Here's a plan to help those of us who want to invest but don't quite
know how to start.

First of all, create a budget.  At the very minimum, write down on a
piece of paper how much money you spend on what each month.  This will
give you some guidelines to work with.  You don't want to save at the
expense
of creating debt but you don't want to under save at the expense of
wasting
money.

Step two.  Every time you save some money, whether it is through
coupons, eating at home versus going out, or whatever, calculate the
savings and put it aside.

If you go to the grocery store and your coupons save you $20, take the
$20 and put it in an envelope or specially designated savings account.
When you get a $10 rebate in the mail, put it in the same place.  When
you've
been frugal with your telephone calls and your bill is $50 instead of
$100, take the cash and put it aside.  Do this until you have $250 saved
up.

Step three.  Now, take that money and go on-line.  Find a stock that's
been performing well or a high growth mutual fund and buy $250 worth.
Two great places for on-line trading with this method are Ameritrade and
Suretrade.  You can find Ameritrade at www.ameritrade.com and they
charge $8.00 a trade.  www.suretrade.com is another great option at
$7.95 a trade.

If you've never invested on-line before, it's a piece of cake.  You can
place your order on the computer and then mail your check within 3
business days.  If you have any questions, give the organization a call
and they can walk you through the process over the phone.

So do it!  Make your $250 investment and feel good about yourself.  You
now have something to show for all your money saving efforts and
sacrifices.  It's a great tangible feeling of accomplishment and it's a
great start for investing.  If it takes you three months to collect the
$250, that's not bad.  If you can collect it in one or two month's even
better.  Maybe you have lots of money leftover each month and you can
save it every two weeks.

Step Four. Don't start spending your savings now.  We aren't done.  It
is time to start over.  As quickly as you can, save another $250 and
this time pick a DIFFERENT fund to invest in.  How about a technology or
telecommunications fund.  Always diversify.  Purchase your second batch
of stocks/funds from a different sector. (i.e. oil, drug, technology,
retail, banking, etc.)

Continue this pattern until you have 5-8 different investments, each
with $250.  Then repeat the cycle.  Add the next $250 to your first
investment for a total of $500. Then contribute to the second fund and
third and so on. You can repeat this cycle as long as you want.

Do you need some ideas on where to find more money for investing?  Here
are some:  Once your bills are paid off, invest your former credit card
payments, cars loans and/or lease payments.  Invest any raises or
bonuses you receive.  How about your income tax refunds? For more ideas,
checkout my web site.  It is full of articles on money saving
tips.  http://www.creativefinances.com/tips

There's a famous saying from Warren Buffet: "If you're not going to hold
stock for ten years, don't touch it for ten minutes."  Think long-term
and benefit from the wonders of compounding interest.  Saving $3,024
annually ($252/month) @15% return compounded annually will be $309,789
in 20 years.  In 30 years you would have $1,314,669.  In 40 years you
would
have $5,379,969.    15% return is very realistic these days.  If you get
better than 15% return, then you will achieve these results even sooner.

If you are young, you've got time on your side.  You can easily be a
multimillionaire by following this simple investment strategy.  If you
are a baby boomer, it is not too late either.  Start now so you won't
look back and wish you had!
********************************************************************
Making an Offer
by Cindy Snyder
http://www.creativemortgageco.com/

Making an offer can be nerve-wracking!  You really like this house.  You
want it bad.  How much should you offer?????  The art of writing a good
offer involves many elements.  You don't want to pay more than is
necessary and you dont want to be unrealistic either.  Be very sure you
want this house before you make the offer.  Usually you will be required
to pay earnest money if the offer is accepted.  In most cases, this
money is not refundable.  Typically earnest money required is about 1%
of the offer.  Below are several things you should consider.

1.  Consistency in Price.  How does the house compare in price to other
homes in the area that are for sale?

2.  Comparable Sales in the Area.  Your real estate agent should be able
to provide you with this information.  It is very important to consider
how much other homes that are similar to yours are selling for.  If you
are not using a real estate agent, you can check with the courthouse.
Be sure to look at only similar homes and only the most recent sales.

3. Length of Time on the Market.  A seller might be willing to negotiate
on your terms if the house has been on the market for a long time.  Or
if they are being transferred and need a quick sale.

4.  Get Preapproved.  Mortgage preapproval is a great negotiating tool.
If the seller knows you are already approved for the loan, he/she might
be willing to meet your terms.

5.  Condition of the home.  Consider the cost of what you will need to
do to the home.  Does it need a new roof?  Will you need to add a deck
or porch?  How old is the furnace and air conditioning unit? How about
the carpet?  Is it big enough for your growing family?

6.  If a New Home.   Is the building cost per square foot reasonable?
Check the local costs  per square foot by consulting with other local
builders in the area, but remember, the price of the lot also
contributes to the selling
price.

So by now you should have a good idea of what you think you want to
offer for the home.  In your offer you should include the following.

1. The amount of the offer.
2. The proposed closing date
3. Any contingencies that must be met.  ie..a satisfactory home
inspection.
4.  Items to be included with the sale of the home.  Specify all extras
in writing.  If you want the refrigerator, it must be included in the
offer.

If you are using a real estate agent, the agent will prepare the
document for you.  If you are making the offer yourself, it can be a
handwritten or typewritten document.  Just make sure you include all the
necessary information.

Good luck and happy househunting!


////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Need a great gift?  Stop over at Snyderhaus Gifts & Collectibles.  You
are sure to find something special.  Now offering FREE SHIPPING within
the US.  Go here! http://www.snyderhaus.com/
*******************************************************************
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Adwardwinning Mall of Treasures invites you to come on over for a visit.
Hundreds of shops and services under one roof!  We guarantee you will
Find what you are looking for!Click here!
*********Award Winning Mall Of Treasures***********
http://www.awardwebsite.com/awardmall.html
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Please feel free to share this newsletter with your friends. If you have
a suggestion for an article, please email me directly at
cmc@... and tell me what you would like to see!

See you next month!

To subscribe--- mailto:0nly4Homebuyers-subscribe@egroups.com
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May 15, 2000

Welcome to 0nly4Homebuyers Issue XX
*******************************************************************
Mortgage Rates are going up!!!  Don't wait any longer!!  Go to
http://www.creativemortgageco.com/prequalify.html
Get your application in now before they go even higher!
**************************************************************
Your Ad could be here!  0nly4Homebuyers accepts paid advertisements!
send an emailto:cmc@.../ for rate information.
*************************************************************
In this Issue:
Rates Shoot UP
Help! I'm facing Foreclosure
Property Taxes
Decorating- Sponge Painting
Check out the Mall!
***************************************************************
Rates Shoot UP!

Well folks, the worst has finally happened.  Over the last few weeks, we
have been watching the rates slowly start creeping up again.  As of
today, the long-term mortgage rate is at 8.625%.  This is the highest it
has been since 1995.  Short-term rates are the highest we have seen
since the Gulf War!

The Federal Reserve Board is meeting tomorrow and this could bring about
an even more substantial increase in the rates.  Many people have been
thinking that the Fed had things under control and that the economy
would respond in kind.  Unfortunately, rate increases may be the only
way to cool things off and keep inflation under control.

Read this great article.  It explains the "why" much better than I can!
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/fed/20000512.asp
***********************************************************
Help! I'm facing Foreclosure!
By Cindy Snyder
http://www.creativemortgageco.com/

I can't tell you how many times I have heard this statement.  It is
really disheartening to hear, especially when the person has been paying
on the home for years and never had any problem until now.
Unfortunately, once it gets to the point of foreclosure, there really
isn't much we can do for them.  You must start early.

The best thing to do is pay your house payment each month on time!  If
you have been paying on time every time and you run into a problem.
Contact your mortgage company and let them know!  They can look back at
your history and see that you are a good paying customer and will be
more likely to want to help you. If you are going to be past your grace
period date, call them.  Stay in contact with your mortgage company at
all times.

Most times, your lender will be willing to work out a repayment plan for
you.  You need only to ask. If you don't stay in contact, they can only
assume that you have no intention of paying.  The next thing you know
you have the sheriff knocking at your door.

If you can't get any help from your current lender, don't wait until you
are 3 or 4 months behind to try to get another loan.  I can tell you
that at that point in time, your current lender has been reporting you
to the credit bureau as late.  The new potential lender will look at the
credit history and immediately see that you have been 30, 60, 90 and 120
days late.  Most lenders won't touch it once it gets to the 120 day mark
because traditionally, foreclosure has now begun.

Another problem you will run into is the Loan to Value.  If you are 90
days behind on payments, depending on the rest of your credit, you may
not be able to borrow more than 65 or 70 percent of the value.  Unless
you have been in the house a long time, or you put down a large down
payment, you will be in trouble here.   For example, the house is valued
at 100K, you owe 90K, your loan to value is 90%.  If you are also 90
days behind, watch out.  You are going to have a hard time getting a new
loan.  That is why it is important to work with your current lender if
at all possible.

Believe it or not, most mortgage companies DO NOT want to foreclose. I
know this may sound surprising, but it is all about economics.  Each
step in the foreclosure process requires time and money. The foreclosure
paperwork, the eviction process, reselling the home, all that costs
money.  The end result is that they lose money on foreclosed property.
They really would rather work things out with you.  I know this may be
hard for some of you to swallow, especially if you have been in this
situation, but it costs the mortgage company money to throw you out.
So, before you do anything else, try to work it out with your current
Lender.
***************************************************************

PROPERTY TAXES  PART I
By Doris Dobkins
dorisd@...

Everyone who owns a home or property gets to pay property taxes.
Most people make monthly payments to a mortgage company to hold
in an escrow account until they are due.  "Isn't that nice
service for my mortgage company to provide," you might say.
Well, answer this question then.  Who is earning the interest
on that money every month until it is paid out? It most certainly
isn't you!  That is interest that you could be earning for yourself
instead of so generously giving away.

Why not start paying your taxes and homeowners insurance yourself
as they come due.  Property taxes in the United States are due
twice a year (in December and April).  Insurance payments are
also another area, which you can pay yourself and earn your own
interest on the money until it is due.  If the interest is
annually averaged at $250 on both policies (property taxes &
homeowners), and we considered a 40-year time frame (this could
be over several different homes) at an eight percent interest
rate, you could have saved over $62,000 in interest and earnings
just by writing those checks twice a year yourself.  Wow, and
think what the savings are if you had two or more houses.

Now if you spend the money instead of saving it and earning
the interest, you might not have the money when you need it
and that would be worse than paying it to the mortgage company
escrow account each month.  A simple solution is to set up an
automated withdrawal of the money from your account and have it
go directly into a mutual fund which you don't access except
for paying the property taxes.  Over the years, the account will
grow and grow and by starting soon enough, you'll have a great
cash value by retirement or when you need that new car or want
to take a vacation.

Property Taxes  (Questions & Answers)  Part II

QUESTION:  I thought it was mandatory that mortgage companies
collect monies for escrow accounts.  Am I really able to pay my
own taxes and homeowners insurance?

ANSWER: It depends! Most of you should be able to pay your own taxes and
homeowners insurance if your "LTV" is low enough and your mortgage
company doesn't have a policy against it.  If you own your home
outright, you most definitely can pay your taxes and insurance
directly.

QUESTION:  What is "LTV"?

ANSWER:  Your "LOAN TO VALUE" RATIO.  What percentage is your loan
Compared to your appraised value? If your LTV is below 80% (Which means
you have at least 20% equity) then you are usually allowed to pay
your own insurance and property taxes.  Each state may have
different regulations so check with your mortgage company what
their requirements are.


QUESTION: Do escrow accounts pay interest?

ANSWER:  Escrow accounts can be in either a non-interest bearing
trust account or an interest bearing account.  If they do pay
interest, it is usually very minimal, depending on the holder.
One mortgage broker I spoke with who has a $200,000 loan only
makes $50 a year in interest on her escrow account.  She feels
she could do a lot better investing the money on her own but her
LTV ratio is too high at this time.


QUESTION:  Is interest from an escrow account considered income?

ANSWER:  Yes, you will receive a 1099 at the end of the year
stating the earned interest for the year.


QUESTION:  If my LTV Ratio is below 80%, and I want to pay my
taxes myself, what should I do?

ANSWER:  Contact your mortgage company and discuss your options
with them.


QUESTION:  I have a LTV ratio of 75% so I could pay my own taxes,
but I'm not very good at saving and would probably spend the
money.  Should I still try to pay them myself?

ANSWER:  My first response is no because you definitely don't
want to get a loan to pay your taxes.  But there are so many
automatic investment plans that you can set up to have the money
withdrawn automatically to a special fund just for property taxes
and homeowners insurance.


QUESTION:  What about homeowners insurance? Do the same rules
apply.

ANSWER: YES, they will also look at your LTV.


QUESTION:  Can you give me an example of how much money I could
earn or make by paying my taxes and homeowners insurance myself?

ANSWER:  Given that there are 1000's of scenarios, I'll give you
an example based on a $170,000 home that has annual property
taxes of $2,124.  If this person were to put $177 a month into a
mutual fund from January 1 to December 1 of each year, at an
average of 10% interest, they would make about $120 a year.
If their homeowners insurance was $780 a year and they put $65 a
month into the same account they would make an additional $40 or
so a year for a combined interest of $160.  If this money were
just left each year for 20-40 years, it would accumulate from
$20,000 to $30,000 over the years, depending of course on
interest rates and length of time invested.  Think of this as a
long-term retirement plan.  You'll have enough money eventually
to take a dream vacation and buy a new car or whatever, and it
won't cost you an extra penny to get it.

So if it sounds right for you, go for it.  It can only increase
your wealth.  But check it out for yourself based on where you
live, what you pay in taxes and insurance and what your mortgage
companies policies are. It's definitely worth a $20,000 shot.  :)

Remember - think long-term.

* * * * * * * *

Doris S. Dobkins, is a money saving expert and the author of
the book "Financial Freedom from A-Z". She is also the publisher
of a weekly online ezine $mart Money New$ full of financial
strategies and money saving tips. To subscribe, send an email to:
news@... or visit her web site today at:
http://www.creativefinances.com


////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Need a great gift?  Stop over at Snyderhaus Gifts & Collectibles.  You
are sure to find something special.  Now offering FREE SHIPPING within
the US.  Go here! http://www.snyderhaus.com/
*******************************************************************

Decorating- Sponge Painting
By Cindy Snyder
http://www.creativemortgageco.com/

Have you tried Sponge Painting?  I just recently painted my kitchen
using this technique and was amazed at how professional it looks. It is
really easy to do and much less messy than the traditional way of
rolling it on. Let me say upfront that I do not like to paint.  I am
just not coordinated enough.  I always make a big mess, end up with
paint all over me, the floor, etc.  This was really the easiest paint
job I ever did and it was really simple. The best part was the clean-up!

All you need is a pan to pour small amounts of paint into and a sponge.
I was told that you can use just a regular household sponge, but I
splurged on the sea sponge since this was my first try and it was not
very expensive.  You can buy the sea sponge in the paint department of
Home Depot or Wal-Mart.  I cut mine in half since I wanted to go with a
smaller pattern.

First, wet your sponge and squeeze it out.  You don't want to get a lot
of paint on your sponge.  It should not be full of paint, just dab it in
the paint and then wipe off any excess on your pan.  If you have to quit
for awhile and then go back, wash your sponge out good and be sure to
wet it again before you start.

Start by dividing your wall.  I don't have a lot of wall space in my
kitchen so this part was easy.  But the idea is that you divide your
wall into four quadrants. Then start in your first quadrant.  Basically,
you just "dab" it on with your sponge.  How much?  It depends on how
much depth you want of the new color.  You should dab it in a criss
cross or X pattern.  Example, top left, bottom right, top right, bottom
left and just fill in so that it looks the way you want. Try less paint
at first pass, you can always add more if you think you need to fill in
the holes.

My husband was kind of leery of this paint project.  He tried to talk me
into trying it in the bathroom first.  (Less people would see it, if it
looked terrible, I guess).  I told him I was going to go for it.  If it
looked terrible, I could always go back and roll it on!  You should have
seen his face when he walked in the door.  He couldn't believe how great
it looked!  Now that I know how easy it is, I plan to do the bathroom
next, but I am going to try using two coordinating colors.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Joining our mall has never been so easy with the exciting...
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May showers by planting April flowers and GROW your business by joining
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///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Please feel free to share this newsletter with your friends. If you have
a suggestion for an article, please email me directly at
cmc@... and tell me what you would like to see!

See you next month!

To subscribe--- mailto:0nly4Homebuyers-subscribe@egroups.com
To Unsubscribe--- mailto:0nly4Homebuyers-unsubscribe@egroups.com
Or go to -- http://www.egroups.com/group/0nly4Homebuyers

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me directly cmc@.../

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--
Creative Mortgage Co
http://www.creativemortgageco.com/
Want to learn more about your mortgage options?
Free Monthly Newsletter for Homebuyers
http://www.egroups.com/group/0nly4Homebuyers

April 15, 2000

Welcome to 0nly4Homebuyers Issue XVIII
*******************************************************************
Are you getting a nice tax return?  Why not invest that money in a home
of your own? Creative Mortgage Company offers home loans for new
purchase, refinance, equity, home improvement or debt consolidation.
Give us a call at 1-877-355-9414 or use our online application form at
http://www.creativemortgageco.com/
**************************************************************
Your Ad could be here!  0nly4Homebuyers accepts paid advertisements!
send an emailto:cmc@.../ for rate information.
*************************************************************
In this Issue:
Why You Want a PreApproval(Not just a PreQualification)
Transform Your Bedroom into a Suite Retreat
Zero Coupon Bonds
Check out the Mall Offer!
***************************************************************

Why You Want a PreApproval
By Cindy Snyder
http://www.creativemortgageco.com/

Spring is in the air!  Bright bulbs are peeking through, getting ready
to burst into bloom.  The trees are getting their new growth. Children
are looking forward to school getting out.  We've jumped our clocks up
to daylight savings time. AND its prime househunting season!

What does this mean to you?  Well, if you are looking for your
dreamhouse, you better be prepared to buy it or lose it to someone who
can prove they are ready to buy.  In many areas of the country, it is a
seller's paradise!  Look at it this way, if you have a home to sell and
you have two prospective buyers.  The first buyer hasn't bothered to
check into his finances.  He hasn't been to the bank or mortgage company
yet.  Buyer #1 figures he will cross that bridge when he comes to it.

On the other hand, Buyer #2 has already been to the bank or mortgage
company to determine how much he can borrow, knows how much he needs to
put down and has a good idea of how much he will need for closing
costs.  In his hand, he is holding a CERTIFICATE stating that he is
PREAPPROVED for the amount needed to buy this house.

Now if you are the seller of this house.......which offer would you
accept?  Now remember, when an offer is made and you accept, you are
legally bound to the contract.  Sure you could have a backup offer, just
in case.  But Buyer #2 is probably going to go on about his business of
finding a home, since he is prepared to do so.  If Buyer #1 is not able
to obtaining financing, you are out of luck and must start over again.
Sellers, if you accept Buyer #1's contract, be sure to put a contingency
in the contract that he has so many days to obtain financing and be able
to prove it.

Buyers, get your preapproval ahead of time.  Be prepared to make an
offer.  Don't wait until the last minute only to find out that the home
you are looking for is just a tad bit out of your price range.  Maybe
you were not counting your son's car loan as part of your monthly debt,
but unless you can prove that your son is paying the payment.....it
counts against your debt to income and may put you over the top!  Many
Real Estate agents won't even show you houses these days unless you get
a preapproval.  They just don't want to waste their time showing houses
to people who can't buy!

A preapproval is just what the word implies.  You are actually
preapproved for a certain amount of money for a certain period of time,
usually 30-60 days.  This is not to be confused with a
prequalification.  With a preapproval, you actually APPLY for a loan.
We check your credit, verify your income, check to be sure that you have
the money necessary for the down payment.  Basically we do everything
except the appraisal on the house and the title search.  The great thing
about it is that when you find the home you want to buy, it is a quick
and easy process to close.  That is good for you as well as the seller!

Get your preapproval.  Carry it with you when speaking with prospective
sellers.  Show it to your Real Estate Agent if you are working with
one.  Be prepared to buy before you get out there.  Happy Househunting!

*************************************************************
Interested in some great books to help you learn more about Real Estate?
Personal Finances? Decorating that new home? Which plants will grow in
your area?  Click on this link to go to the Creative Bookstore.  You
will find a wealth of knowledge on just about everything under the sun!
http://www.vstore.com/vstorebooks/cmcbooks/

*************************************************************
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EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE?  Visit CreativeKidsBooks at
http://www.vstore.com/vstorebooks/cmckidsbooks/
FREE SHIPPING on all purchases thru April 30, 2000  Use this code at
checkout!  34181SHIP

*************************************************************
Transform your Bedroom into a Suite Retreat (ARA)

With today's hectic family schedules, the bedroom has become our haven
from the stresses of the day. The average person spends one-third of
their lives in bed. So decorate with care and choose furnishings that
surround you in comfort.

Begin with the bed. It's usually the focal point of the room so a small
change can have a big impact. Splurge on a set of lush linens.  One of
the most popular choices is cotton percale - the higher the thread count
the softer and smoother they will be. Top off luxury sheets with a
stylish duvet. Duvets are versatile and often easier to care for. Or,
pile on the pillows. Elegant accent pillows can transform an ordinary
looking bed into a centerpiece.

Mattress matters. Soft-as-silk sheets won't do you any good if you're
sleeping on a hard, lumpy mattress. A comfortable mattress is an
important, but often overlooked, part of creating a restful environment.
Look for a mattress that provides proper support. Can't decide on
firmness? One solution is sleeping on a mattress that adjusts. A Select
Comfort bed comes with a digital remote control that allows the firmness
level of each side of the bed to be adjusted independently - for
personalized comfort and support. Inside the Select Comfort bed,
"pillows" of air conform to your body reducing uncomfortable pressure
points ...making your bed an oasis of comfort. Improve your bedside
manner.

Give the top of your nightstand a makeover. Cast a critical eye at
clutter ... and rearrange your bedside table using a vase of fresh
flowers, scented candles and a decorative lamp. Add your favorite family
photos for a personal touch.

Floor decor. Add interest to your carpet or hardwood floors by adding
layers. Use a soft wool area rug angled next to the bed for a splash of
color and comfort. Other popular choices are sisal and seagrass. These
natural fiber rugs come in a variety of styles and sizes. Sisal floor
coverings are static free and do not attract dirt and dust particles.
Seagrass area rugs are a wonderful choice for a bedroom where the warm
hues of the grass will accent furniture beautifully.

Dress up your dresser. Group your favorite collectibles atop a dresser
for instant impact. Change the collection with the change of seasons and
the look won't become stale. In the winter, choose accessories that add
texture and warmth like wicker baskets or pottery. Come summer, sooth
your senses with pieces that have smooth, clean lines like glassware or
silver.

The key to creating your own relaxing retreat is a few, simple steps
away. So set the scene for a
more serene environment ... and get a better night's rest.

Courtesy of Article Resource Association, www.aracopy.com, e-mail:
info@...
***********************************************************
Zero Coupon Bonds
By Doris Dobkins
dorisd@...

Are you enjoying the ups and downs of the stock market these past
few days or does it make you a little nervous. Maybe you don't
mind the ups and downs so much with your play money, but what
about the important things like retirement funds or your
children's college education fund?

If you are looking for a "safe" way to put some money aside and
want to know exactly how much money you will have in a specific
number of years, try investing in zero-coupon bonds.  Zero coupon
bonds also pay slightly higher rates than traditional bonds, bank
CD's and money market accounts.  Many people like to invest in
the riskier type funds when they are younger and then as they get
closer to retirement and paying their children's education costs,
they tend to shift these higher risk investments into more stable
but lower yielding bonds.

If you know you will need a new car in five years or will be
making a final balloon payment on a vehicle or mortgage, zero-
coupon bonds are a great dependable alternative to "playing the
stock market".  You can also purchase zero-coupon bonds on a
regular basis, once or twice a year so that they will provide a
steady income as they come due in future years.

There are three basic kinds of bonds with some variations to
each.  They are: corporate, municipal and Treasury.  Bonds are
also known as debt investment.  Bonds are created when a
corporation, municipality, the U.S. government or an agency of
the government goes into debt to borrow money.  An entity then
sells what is known as a bond, and guarantees you a fixed rate of
interest for a specific period of time.  The interest is paid to
the investor on a regular basis, whether it is monthly, semi-
annually, or whatever the terms of the bond dictates.  Then when
the bond matures at the specified date, the issuer gives the
original amount of money back to the investor.

Zero coupon bonds have been one of the most popular bonds for the
last two decades.  They are different than other bonds because
the interest from the coupon rates is not paid out to the
investor but stays in the bond and earns interest at the same
coupon rate.  This is a great feature.  For example, if you
bought a bond with a coupon rate of nine percent nine years ago,
every time the bond paid you the nine percent interest payment it
is reinvested at that same higher rate of nine percent.  If
interest rates dropped, it might be difficult to find a fund
paying nine percent to reinvest the money into.  With a zero
coupon bond, you could continue to invest the interest at the
coupon rate throughout the life of the bond.

When you buy a regular corporate, municipal or Treasury bond, you
will pay full price for the bond (its face value), then receive
interest payments (which are also called its coupon) over the
life of the bond.  The number of payments per year depends on the
bond.  Most of them pay semiannually.  With the zero coupon bond,
you buy the bond at a discount from its face value but you don't
receive any payments (zero coupon).  The interest is reinvested
into the bond so you received the full face value of the bond at
maturity.  So a zero-coupon Treasury bond that pays you $10,000
in 10 years would cost about $5,500 today with a 6.2 percent
rate.

Some risks and things to watch out for with bonds:  If interest
rates rise and you sell your bond before it matures, you could
get less money than what you paid for it.  Also, corporations and
municipalities may default on their bonds, or not pay interest or
principal when it is due.  Another thing to be aware of with
bonds is what is known as the "call feature".  This is how
issuers of bonds protect themselves if the interest rates come
down after they issue a bond.  It allows them to cut their losses
by calling that particular bond in, paying off the investors and
then issuing a new bond at a lower interest rate.  So you would
have to find another bond to invest in at that time and it
probably won't pay as much as the previous bond.  Treasury bonds
seldom have this call feature but beware of it in municipal bonds
and corporate bonds.

Another thing to beware of is the fact that the interest on zero
coupon bonds is taxable and is considered current income even
though it is reinvested.  Two ways to avoid this is to purchase
your zero coupon bonds in your tax-deferred retirement account or
buy a tax-free municipal (Munis") zero coupon bond.  Municipal
Bonds are taken out with a state, county, or local agency.
Generally they are tax-free on the federal income tax level.  If
you buy a municipal bond from your state you can also avoid state
income tax.  The yield is usually lower compared to other bonds
because of the tax-free benefits. If you are in a higher tax
bracket, that may be an important benefit and factor in your
financial planning.

It is also a good idea to get insurance when you buy a zero
coupon bond since the interest is not being paid to you.  If the
bond defaulted, you would receive absolutely nothing without
insurance.

Bonds are an important part of every financial portfolio.  Take
some time to learn the fundamentals and then include them in your
financial plan.  Happy investing.

* * *
Doris S. Dobkins, is a money saving expert and author of the book
"Financial Freedom from A-Z". She is also the publisher of a
weekly online ezine $mart Money New$ full of financial strategies
and money saving tips. To subscribe, send an email to:
news@... or visit her web site today at:
http://www.creativefinances.com

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Joining our mall has never been so easy with the exciting...
Meet Me In The Middle Of The Mall Spring Fling Special! Get ready for
May showers by planting April flowers and GROW your business by joining
the Award Winning Mall Of Treasures.

For a limited time only.... just $9.99 per month.
We'll give you a 2 page design, 1 static banner, shopping cart
and a spotlight in our newsletter,  for one low price!
What are you waiting for?  Click here!
*********Award Winning Mall Of Treasures***********
http://www.awardwebsite.com/awardmall/


////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Please feel free to share this newsletter with your friends. If you have
a suggestion for an article, please email me directly at
cmc@... and tell me what you would like to see!

See you next month!

To subscribe--- mailto:0nly4Homebuyers-subscribe@egroups.com
To Unsubscribe--- mailto:0nly4Homebuyers-unsubscribe@egroups.com
Or go to -- http://www.egroups.com/group/0nly4Homebuyers

If you have any problems with subscribing or unsubscribing, please email
me directly cmc@.../

***NOTE**** The 0 in 0nly4Homebuyers is a ZERO!!

March 15, 2000

Welcome to 0nly4Homebuyers Issue XVIII
*******************************************************************
Are you getting a nice tax return?  Why not invest that money in a home
of your own? Creative Mortgage Company offers home loans for new
purchase, refinance, equity, home improvement or debt consolidation.
Give us a call at 1-877-355-9414 or use our online application form at
http://www.creativemortgageco.com/
**************************************************************
In this Issue:
TeleFile and Filing Taxes from your PC
Home Sales Profits and Tax Rules
Identity Theft- Protect your Identity
Top Ten Ways to Save on Gas
***************************************************************
Dear Readers,
Since it is so close to Tax Time, I thought it would be appropriate to
tell you about a couple different options available for filing your
taxes.  The articles below are very informative.

TeleFile: Your Easiest Way to File (IRS)

TeleFile, the IRS' file-by-phone option, offers many people the
quickest, easiest way to file a return. "TeleFile is easy. People who
use it, love it - they become our best ambassadors for the program,"
said Bob Barr, IRS e-file executive. Last year, 5.7 million people filed
their tax returns with a simple 10-minute phone call to the IRS. And why
not? It's fast, accurate, and TeleFilers get their refund faster. With a
touch-tone phone, TeleFilers enter interest income, any unemployment
compensation and the wages, tax withheld, and employer identification
number (EIN) from each W-2 Form. Those taking advantage of direct
deposit for a refund to be deposited directly into their bank account
and those choosing the direct debit option for the payment of tax due
also enter the required checking or savings account number. The call
takes about 10 minutes. TeleFile figures the adjusted gross income,
standard deduction, exemption, taxable income, tax, and earned income
tax credit, plus any refund or tax due while the taxpayer is on the
phone. A customer service number contained in the TeleFile package acts
as the taxpayer's signature. A confirmation number, before the call
ends, indicates that the IRS received the return.

Refunds arrive in half the time as with a paper return and any tax due
can be paid as late as April 17, 2000. The IRS sends a special
instruction booklet with easy step-by-step instructions to those who may
be able to use TeleFile. With this booklet and a touch-tone phone,
people can file their return at any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Only those who receive the TeleFile booklet can use TeleFile, so it's
important to keep the booklet in a safe place. Most TeleFilers will find
all the instructions they need on pages 3 through 7. Just fill in the
tax record in the booklet, pick up a telephone, and call the toll-free
number listed in the booklet. It's completely paperless - there are no
forms to mail, and it's absolutely free. The TeleFile idea is expanding.
Twenty-six states and
the District of Columbia also offer their own TeleFile program that lets
residents file their state returns by phone. The IRS is in the second
year of a successful pilot program that allows taxpayers in Kentucky and
Indiana to TeleFile federal and state returns with one call. Next year,
Georgia and Oklahoma will join the program.

Courtesy of Article Resource Association, www.aracopy.com, e-mail:
info@aracopy.



Filing Taxes from Home Means Quicker Refunds (ARA)

The Internal Revenue Service offers a convenient filing option for
people who wish to prepare their tax returns using a personal computer.
With tax preparation software available commercially and with their
computer modems, people can file their taxes with IRS e-file. IRS
e-file, the IRS' electronic filing program, offers people increased ease
of filing and speedier delivery of refunds. And since e-filed returns
are more accurate, there's less chance people will hear from the IRS
about mistakes on their returns.

People can e-file from their PCs whether they expect a refund or owe
money. Last year, almost 2.5 million people filed their tax returns
using this option - a 160 percent increase over the number in 1998.
Those who use e-file will get their refunds in half the time as paper
filers, even faster when deposited directly into a bank account.
Individuals who owe money and use IRS e-file can choose to pay
electronically by authorizing a withdrawal from their bank account to
make the payment to the U.S. Treasury. This feature will let people file
early, have the peace of mind of knowing their returns have been
accepted by the IRS, and manage their finances and time without waiting
until the last minute to file and pay. Any amount due must be paid to
the U.S. Treasury by April 17. The IRS has worked to make this filing
option totally paperless.

People who filed last year using their PCs have the option of using an
e-file Customer Number similar to a personal identification number. This
will eliminate the need to send a paper signature document. To take
advantage of IRS e-file, people can complete their returns using tax
preparation software and send the information electronically via modem
to a transmitter, who will forward it directly to the IRS. The IRS sends
an acknowledgment that the return was accepted. Check the IRS Web site
at www.irs.gov to find out more about e-file.

Courtesy of Article Resource Association, www.aracopy.com, e-mail:
info@... Image:

***********************************************************
If it was already paid for, would you have used a lawyer in the last 12
months? What if you could say, "You'll Be Hearing From My Attorney"...
AND MEAN IT? You don't have to be wealthy any more to get access to
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Act now and get your will created or updated at no extra charge.
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Home Sale Profits (ARA)

In 1999, taxpayers overseas may need to consider current and past tax
provisions to determine the tax treatment of home sales. For sales prior
to May 7, 1997 (or, at the seller's option, prior to August 6, 1997):
People who sell their homes at a profit may usually postpone payment of
taxes on the profit if, within two years of the sale, they buy a new
home. This replacement home must cost at least as much as the sale
price, minus certain adjustments, of the old home. However, U.S.
taxpayers moving overseas to work may be able to extend the replacement
period while they are out of the United States.

To qualify, taxpayers must move overseas to work within two years of the
time their home was sold. The time frame for civilian U.S. taxpayers to
replace their home is suspended while they are out of the United States
but, overall, cannot be longer than four years from the date they sold
their old home.  Military personnel overseas may have up to eight years
to purchase and move into a new home in order to defer paying tax on the
gain from the sale of their old home. This extension also applies to
those military personnel living in base housing at a remote site after
being stationed overseas.

For sales after May 6, 1997: Taxpayers can generally exclude up to
$250,000 of gain ($500,000 if married filing a joint return) realized on
the sale or exchange of the home. The exclusion is allowed each time a
taxpayer sells or exchanges a principal residence, but generally not
more than once every two years. The home must have been used as the
taxpayer's principal residence for a  combined period of at least two
years out of the five years prior to the sale. The exclusion does not
apply to any gain resulting from depreciation allowable with respect to
rental or business use of the property after May 6, 1997. Nor does the
exclusion apply to expatriates who are treated under the law as having
lost U.S. citizenship to avoid taxes. Expatriates who have rented their
homes in the United States do not qualify for the deferment of gain on
the sale of a personal residence. They may qualify for the nontaxable
exchange of like kind properties; however, taxpayers should carefully
check to see if the situation meets the qualifications. These rules are
described in Publication 544, Sales and Other Dispositions of Assets.
IRS Publication 523, Selling Your Home, contains details on this
subject. It is available by writing to the IRS Area Distribution Center,
P.O. Box 85627, Richmond, VA 23285-5627, USA or from the IRS Web site at
www.irs.gov.

Courtesy of Article Resource Association, www.aracopy.com, e-mail:
info@...

*************************************************************
Your Ad could be here!  0nly4Homebuyers accepts paid advertisements!
send an emailto:cmc@.../ for rate information.
*************************************************************
IDENTITY THEFT
  by Tom Koziol (c) 2000

Believe it or not, someone wants to be you. Not for the rest
of their life but only long enough to use your credit cards,
bank account and anything else you may have of value for
their own personal benefit.

They become you by stealing your identity. Although stealing
someone's identity isn't new (read your Bible),it seems it
has risen to new heights.

Identity theft occurs when someone steals your name,
address, credit card numbers and/or Social Security number
and use this information to open new charge accounts, order
merchandise, borrow money and obtain goods and services
posing as you.

The unfortunate reality is consumers targeted by identity
thieves usually do not know they have been victims until the
crooks fail to pay the bills or repay the loans, and
collection agencies begin dunning the consumer for payment
of accounts they didn't even know they had.

Every major newspaper, magazine and newsletter, both on and
off line, have done stories about this problem. However, it
doesn't hurt to raise the issue to the forefront one more
time. You just can't get too much information when it comes
to scams, frauds and ripoffs.

"When someone hijacks a consumer's identity, it can be a
nightmare," said Jodie Bernstein, Director of the FTC's
Bureau of Consumer Protection.  The Director summarized the
situation in one short sentence.

Imagine waking up one morning and discovering someone else
is you but you know they aren't you because you are you.
Confusing? Not to the merchants, banks, loan and finance
companies that extended credit or gave money to the "not"
you. They believed the "not" you was you since the "not "
you had the proper ID to prove (s)he was you.

Welcome to Nightmare Village. Unraveling this spider web of
deceit, lies and theft can take years with the "real" you
suffering tremendous damage. While all identity theft cannot
be stopped, consumers can take certain precautions to lessen
the chances of it happening to them.

For example, calling the FTC at this toll-free number,
1-877-IDTHEFT (877-438-4338) will accomplish two things.
One, victims of identity theft can report the crime to the
FTC and two, at the same time receive advice from telephone
counselors trained to provide assistance to ID theft
victims.

For those savvy on using the Internet, an online consumer
complaint form is located at www.consumer.gov/idtheft ID
theft victims can enter their complaint data directly into
the FTC's secure database from that site.

I am not advocating that you use only the FTC to solve your
problem. Heck, it is a government agency and government
agencies are notoriously slow in helping anyone but
themselves. However, before I wrote this article, I visited
their site and found not only the above information but also
that the site provides links to numerous consumer education
materials, as well as state laws governing ID theft,
articles and reports.

The FTC also provides a 21-page booklet that addresses
identity theft and is available at www.consumer.gov/idtheft

The FTC isn't the only consumer champion in the universe.
The American Association of Retired Persons, Kiwanis, Elks,
newspapers, television stations, your local District
Attorney, sheriff and police force all provide information
and/or direct help to victims.

Use your favorite search engine to find other agencies and
groups providing help and assistance. The Internet is one of
the best resources in the world because it gives instant
feedback. The moment you become aware you have been stolen,
contact your local authorities and start surfing.

Hopefully the following guidelines will prevent you from
becoming a victim. They are common sense actions but are
worth repeating if for no other reason than to keep them
foresquare in our minds when divulging sensitive personal
information.

1.  Be careful about giving out personal information such as
social security number, date of birth, mother's maiden name,
etc., to someone over the phone (or the Internet) when you
haven't initiated the transaction. Never ever give it to
someone who contacts you out of the clear blue trying to
sell you a product or service.

2.  Don't carry your Social Security card (or your
children's SSNs) in your wallet or anywhere on your person
or in your car. Take the time to memorize these numbers.

3. Put passwords on credit card and bank accounts, to make
it harder for an ID thief to make changes to, or "takeover,"
your account. One of the most common passwords is your
mother's maiden name. Identity thieves know this so select
another word.

4. Order your credit reports once a year from each of the
three national credit bureaus. They charge about $10 but the
$30 you spend could save you a lifetime of grief and
expense.  You can order the three  reports from:
http://www.icreditinfo.com/cgi-bin/RATS.cgi?21641   You can
also subscribe to a service on this site that will tell you
if someone has applied for credit in your name.

5.  Should you discover your identity has been stolen, call
the fraud departments of all three credit bureaus and tell
them to put a "fraud alert" on your file. This tells
creditors to call you before they open any more accounts in
your name.

6.  Ask for a copy of your credit report, and ask the credit
bureau to remove any fraudulent or incorrect information.

7.  Contact the credit grantors involved - e.g., the bank or
credit card issuers who opened the fraudulent account or
permitted access to your existing account.  Immediately
close all affected accounts. Yes, this is a pain in the
posterior but if you don't do it, you may be giving tacit
agreement that it was you who opened the account.

8.  Contact your local police, and ask to file a report.
This benefits you in two ways. One the police are now on
alert someone has committed a crime and two, having a police
report can help you in clearing up your credit records later
on. This is important.

Like I said at the top of this article, these precautions
won't stop a determined crook but it will make it harder for
him/her to succeed and may just save you a ton of hassle and
tribulation. Forewarned is forearmed someone once said.
Consider yourself forewarned.

Tom Koziol has over 30 years in the financial arena as a real estate
broker, stock broker, columnist (2 papers), radio talk show
host, seminar producer and host, public speaker, and now
full time Internet publisher and Associate Program creator. FREE
newsletter subscription at http://www.cashclique.com/page4.htm
*******************************************************
TOP TEN LIST TO BETTER GAS MILEAGE
By Doris Dobkins
dorisd@...

What kind of gas mileage do you get with your vehicle? Did you
know that there are a few simple things that you can do to
increase your fuel mileage?  Each one may only give you a little
improvement but if you do all of them, you can increase your gas
savings significantly - maybe by even as much as $500 a year.

So here they are!

#1.  The first thing you should do is watch your speed.  Your
traveling speed has a large affect on your fuel consumption.
"Traveling at 65 mph (105kph) instead of 55 mph (88 kps) can use
up to 17% more fuel."

#2.  Use cruise control whenever you can, especially on highways.
By maintaining a steady speed, you will improve your gas mileage.

#3.  Check your tires on a regular basis and keep them properly
inflated.  If they under-inflated, it can shorten the life of
your tires as well as reduce your mileage (up to 4% for every 5
pounds it is under-inflated).  Be careful not to over inflate
your tires where you will get premature and uneven tire wear and
have to replace them much sooner.

#4.  Clean out your back seat and trunk by removing unnecessary
items from the car.  All the extra weight reduces your mileage.

#5.  Do you ever stop for more than 60 seconds while your engine
is idling?  If so, turn it off.  It takes more fuel to idle
longer than a minute than for you to start your car.

#6.  The next time you are in the market for tires, consider
radial tires.  They can cut your fuel bill by 2-3%.

#7.  Use your air conditioner as sparingly as possible, because
your engine uses extra energy to power the air conditioner
compressor.  Fuel consumption can be increased by up to 10% on
the highway and up to 15% in the city when you don't use your air
conditioner.

#8.  Also, avoid driving with an open sunroof or windows at
highway speeds because it increases aerodynamic drag and uses
additional fuel.  It is best to use your air vents to provide
fresh air inside the car.

#9.  Have you check your filters and catalytic converters
recently?  They should be kept clean.  Dirty filters increase
fuel consumption by as much as 10%.

#10.  Use premium multi-grade oils to save on your fuel
consumption and be sure to change your oil every 3,000 miles.

*** So, for the sake of the environment AND your pocket book,
take a moment to assess your vehicle for optimum gas mileage.

Doris Dobkins is a money saving expert and the publisher of a FREE
weekly
newsletter called
$MART Money New$.  To subscribe, send email
to:  news@...  or check
out the Creative Finances web site at  http://www.creativefinances.com
       It's full of great money saving tips and financial strategies.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Please feel free to share this newsletter with your friends. If you have
a suggestion for an article, please email me directly at
cmc@... and tell me what you would like to see!

See you next month!

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February 15, 2000

Welcome to 0nly4Homebuyers Issue XVII
***********************************************************************
Got the Post-Holiday bills yet?  Get a debt consolidation loan and pay
off that high credit card debt!  Creative Mortgage Company offers home
loans for new purchase, refinance, equity, home improvement or debt
consolidation.  Give us a call at  1-877-355-9414 or use our online
application form at http://www.creativemortgageco.com/
***********************************************************************
In this Issue:
Less than Perfect Credit
Equity Loans
***********************************************************************
Less than Perfect Credit

When you go to get a mortgage loan, your past credit history is what
determines how good an interest rate you get and how much you will need
to put down in order to get the loan.  The lower your credit risk, the
lower your rate and the down payment needed.  Below are three items that
all lenders look for when determining how “creditworthy” you are.

1. Revolving Credit (ie..credit cards)  You can not have any 60 day late
payments and no more than two 30 day late payments on your report in
order to be considered “A” credit.
2. Installment Loans (ie..car payments, personal loans)  You can not
have any 60 day lates and no more than one 30 day late payments in order
to be considered “A” credit.
3. Housing Loans  You can not have any lates if you are to be considered
“A” credit.

But, many people are in a situation quite different from the above
criteria.  Take heart.  There may be a loan out there for you too.
However, you should expect to pay more for your down payment and expect
to pay a higher interest rate.  If you have any 60 or 90 day lates on
your credit record, you should consider a sub-prime lender.  Sub-prime
simply means that they work with people with “less than perfect” credit.

All lenders judge you based on your character (willingness to pay,
capacity (ability to pay) and collateral (value of the property). But,
different lenders have different criteria that they look for.  One
lender may require a credit score of 680 to even talk to you, whereas
another will work with someone who has a 580.

Remember, the lower your credit score, the worse you will be considered
as a credit risk.  These days, everyone is pulling a credit report.  I
recently decided to shop around for auto insurance and found out that I
couldn’t get a quote unless they pulled my credit!  Imagine if I had
gotten a quote from five or six different companies.  Each one would
have pulled my credit file!!  Guard your social security number and your
credit.  Do not let anyone pull your credit unless it is absolutely
necessary.  Every time your report is pulled, an inquiry is put on your
record and your score goes down.

**********************************************************************
If it was already paid for, would you have used a lawyer in the last 12
months? What if you could say, "You'll Be Hearing From My Attorney"...
AND MEAN IT? You don't have to be wealthy any more to get access to
justice! Get top-rated lawyers nationwide to protect your legal rights.
Act now and get your will created or updated at no extra charge.
http://www.equaljusticeforall.com/scripts/index.cfm?Partner=10192&Code=cmc1
**********************************************************************
Equity Loans
The majority of people getting Home Equity loans get them for the
purposes of Debt Consolidation.  Other purposes include Home
Improvement, Medical Expenses and College Education, as well as, Big
Ticket items like cars and boats.

A word of caution about consolidating debt with a Home Equity loan.  If
you have racked up your credit cards, take action to insure that you
don’t do it all over again.  Burn those cards!  Cut them up!  Keep just
one and don’t carry it with you, so you won’t be tempted to spend money
you don’t have.  Someone I know suggested putting it in a big plastic
bowl of water and freezing it.  Whatever you do, if you aren’t careful,
you can easily be back in the same situation as before.  Only now you
are paying for the Equity loan too.

An Equity Loan for Home Improvements can be a great idea.  Consider
this.  You can make your home more comfortable and possibly increase the
market value too.  This makes a equity loan for home improvements a good
deal. A word of caution here though.  Updating kitchens and baths will
raise the value more than any other type of improvements.  I know you
really want that inground swimming pool, but don’t expect the value of
your home to go up accordingly with what you spent on the pool.  It can
even be a deterrent to selling the house in future.  Not everyone wants
a pool.

College educations are very expensive these days and many people will
take out an equity loan to finance their child’s higher education.
Before you do this, try for scholarships or government backed student
loans first.  Many times the government backed loans carry a low
interest rate.  Lower than you can get on an equity loan.

Big Ticket items like cars and boats are other uses for your homes
equity.  If you figure that you will probably get a lower rate on an
equity loan plus you can deduct the interest from your taxes……it can be
a good deal.

Whatever you decide to use your equity for, use caution.  Remember that
you are putting your home up as collateral.  A job loss or extended
illness could cause you to lose your home!

***********************************************************************
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send an emailto:cmc@.../ for rate information.
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Please feel free to share this newsletter with your friends.  See you
next month. Wishing you a Wonderful New Year!

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January 15, 2000

Welcome to 0nly4Homebuyers Issue XVI!  Happy New Year!
***********************************************************************
Got the Post-Holiday bills yet?  Get a debt consolidation loan and pay
off that high credit card debt!  Creative Mortgage Company offers home
loans for new purchase, refinance, equity, home improvement or debt
consolidation.  Give us a call at  1-877-355-9414 or use our online
application form at http://www.creativemortgageco.com/
***********************************************************************In
this Issue:
Eleven Powerful Ways to Expand Your Life
Why Now is the Time to Buy!
What is Mortgage Escrow?
Places to Visit and Learn
***********************************************************************
Dear Readers,
Since this is the first issue of the new year, I thought this article
would be appropriate to start the new year off.  I hope you enjoy it!

Eleven Powerful Ways to Expand Your Life This Year
by Jim Cathcart

1. Define your future.  Describe the life you'd like to live.  The
future you see defines the person you'll need to be.  Identify the
traits and qualities you'd like to acquire.  Think bigger than
yourself.  An acorn that only thinks as an acorn will never become a
mighty oak.  Stretch yourself.  You are undoubtedly capable of more than
you ever dreamed is possible for you.

2. Become the person who would achieve your goals.  As you develop the
skills, knowledge, relationships and demeanor of the "future you," your
goals will be the natural by-product of your growth.  Spend an extra
hour each day in the study of your chosen field.

3. Give more than you must.  Nothing advances until somebody does more
than they are paid to do.  Always deliver more value than others
expect.  Don't require others to acknowledge your generosity.  Give with
"class."

4. Make time for what you love.  If you don't live fully, you deny the
world your potential contributions.  Your "play" sometimes contributes
as much as your "work".  What you love reveals the value you bring to
the world.

5. Refine your Inner Circle.  We define ourselves through our key
relationships.  Explore the mix and depth of those with whom you spend
your time.  Release those who limit you and conect with those who can
help you live more fully.

6. Resolve your unfinished business.  Either deal with it or discard it.
Say your apologies, face your fears, pay your debts, express your
gratitude and get on with living.  Don't let yesterday drain value from
today and tomorrow.  Break out of the limited world of your past and
start to grow.

7. Rethink existing habits and routines.  Describe your typical day and
then reconsider every aspect of it.  Change or expand the places you go,
people you see, things you do and the time you devote to each.  Try new
things.  Learn a new language, go someplace different, do some things
you'd typically pass by.  Find out what your possiblities really are.

8. Lighten up.  Stop stressing over things that only matter to you
emotionally.  When life isn't fair to you, get over it quickly.  Take
your misfortunes as "course corrections" rather than "catastrophes."
Let go so you can grow.

9. Tighten up.  Sloppiness in life allows more variables to creep in and
spoil your plans.  Stay on target, increase your self-discipline, master
the art of self-motivation.  Sometimes details matter a lot.

10. Profile yourself.  Keep a journal of your goals, concerns, fears and
dreams.  Review it at least once a year.  Look for patterns that reveal
your core values, natural velocity, natural intellegences and recurring
situations.  Realize how life ebbs and flows for you.  Notice the
natural cycles of life.  Know yourself.

11. Invest in yourself.  Set aside a portion of each year's income to
acquire new tools and teachers to increase your potential.  Refine your
systems, get expert coaching, attend special conferences, cultivate a
study group, appoint a board of advisors.  You are your only true
asset.  Send part of today ahead to the person you will be in the
future.

©1999 Jim Cathcart, La Jolla, CA
This article is excerpted from Cathcart's The Acorn Principle- Know
Yourself, Grow Yourself. With 21 years experience, La Jolla, CA-based
Jim Cathcart, CSP, CPAE is recognized as one of the worlds' best
speakers. As a psychological researcher and business consultant he has
helped organizations grow their sales and improve their performance in
virtually every type of industry. He is the author of Relationship
Selling(the key to getting and keeping customers), newly published The
Acorn Principle (discover, explore and grow the seeds of your greatest
potential), and many other powerful learning tools. His works are
published by the world's top publishers: Putnam-Berkeley, Prentice Hall,
and Nightingale Conant. For a free laminated reminder card with 11 Ways
to Grow Your Business and Expand Your Life contact the Cathcart
Institute (800-222-4883)www.cathcart.com email info@...
**********************************************************************
If it was already paid for, would you have used a lawyer in the last 12
months? What if you could say, "You'll Be Hearing From My Attorney"...
AND MEAN IT? You don't have to be wealthy any more to get access to
justice! Get top-rated lawyers nationwide to protect your legal rights.
Act now and get your will created or updated at no extra charge.
http://www.equaljusticeforall.com/scripts/index.cfm?Partner=10192&Code=cmc1

**********************************************************************

Why Now is the Time to Buy

According to real estate experts, now is the time for buyers to pounce!
Why?  During the Holiday season everyone is busy with parties and
shopping and all the holiday hulabaloo and homes are not being listed at
the same rate as usual.  Between December and February, homes on the
market are not getting the traffic they would at other "hotter" times of
year.  Sellers are getting antsy!  This is the time to get a bargain!

The home buyer season is traditionally, spring and summer.  Real Estate
Agents are experiencing a slow time as well and may work harder for
you.  Many people want to wait until the end of the school year if they
have children and besides, it's cold out there!  Who wants to move in
January?  You do!  People who sell at this time of year really need to
sell.  They don't want to wait or can't wait for spring.  Sellers that
need to sell are ready to make you a great deal.

Buyers can benefit from the decline in activity in more ways than one.
You may also be able to save a few bucks on the cost of the mortgage
because brokers and lenders have less traffic at this time of year. They
may be willing to give you a discounted origination fee in order to get
your business.
***********************************************************************
Your Ad could be here!  0nly4Homebuyers accepts paid advertisements!
send an emailto:cmc@.../ for rate information.
***********************************************************************
What is Mortgage Escrow?

Escrow accounts help borrowers accumulate money for property taxes and
homeowners' insurance premiums.  Escrow can help you avoid financial
surprises like your yearly Property Tax bill. Imagine going to the
mailbox and pulling out a tax bill for $1500 or $2000 due by the end of
the month! This could cause significant hardship for some people.

Here is how it works if your mortgage company handles your escrow
account.  Each month when you make your mortage payment you also pay
1/12th of your yearly homeowner's insurance premium and 1/12th of your
yearly Property Tax.  The mortgage company holds the money for you in a
special account and pays the bills when they come due.

At the end of each year, you should receive a statement from the
mortgage company detailing how much was entered into escrow, how much
was paid out and how much you have left over.  This is also the time to
make adjustments for shortage or overage.  So if you see a decrease or
more likely, an increase of a few dollars in your mortgage payment, that
is usually why.  Your insurance or taxes (or both) have probably
increased.  If so, your escrow will be adjusted to reflect the new
amount needed.

Homeowners have an obligation to keep an eye on their escrow accounts.
After all it is your money!  If your loan is sold to a different lender
for example, you want to make sure that your escrow balance transferred
along with the mortgage.  If you refinance, the old lender usually
closes the escrow account and either reduces the amount it gets at
closing or refunds the borrower by check.  The old company should
provide you with a short year analysis of the account, up to that point.

**********************************************************************
Places to Visit and Learn
Here is a great story  on the new rules about mortgage limits
http://www.bankrate.com/dls/story_home.asp?web=dls&story=news/mtg/19991216&prodt\
ype=mtg

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
It is tax time again.  I found this site called intelligent taxes.  They
have some great information!! You can look up tax information by State
and even download forms for filing both State and Federal taxes.  Also
info on Sales Tax and Property tax info by State.
http://www.intelligenttaxes.com/itax/default.asp
**********************************************************************
Please feel free to share this newsletter with your friends.  See you
next month. Wishing you a Wonderful New Year!

To subscribe go to http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/0nly4Homebuyers

To unsubscribe go to http://www.onelist.com/unsubscribe/0nly4homebuyers

***NOTE**** The 0 in 0nly4Homebuyers is a ZERO!!

December 15, 1999

Welcome to 0nly4Homebuyers Issue XV!  Happy Holidays to Everyone!
******************************************************************************
Creative Mortgage Company offers home loans for new purchase, refinance,
equity, home improvement or debt consolidation.  Give us a call at
1-877-355-9414 or use our online application form at
http://www.creativemortgageco.com/
******************************************************************************

In this Issue:
Motivating your Agent
Title Insurance..What it is and why you need it.
A Reader Asks
*******************************************************************************

Motivating your Agent

If you are going to work with a Real Estate Agent to help you buy your
home, here are a few tips to help make the relationship a successful
one.

Realize that you are, most likely, not the only customer the agent is
likely working with.
If you have found a really great Agent, that person is likely to have
many customers, both buyers and sellers clamoring for his or her
attention.  Arrange appointments with your Agent for showings. Work
together to find your dream home.

Get Pre-Approved for a mortgage. A buyer that has not demonstrated their
financial ability to purchase a home won't be a high priority for a top
agent.  That is another reason why a preappproval letter from a mortgage
lender is invaluable.

Be loyal to your Agent. Don't work with multiple agents in one area at
the same time.  Most likely they are duplicating each other's work
anyway.  If you decide to switch or if you are going to work with more
than one.  Be sure to let all parties know what you are doing.

Know your own priorities.   Make a list of your priorities before you
start househunting.  If you know that you are not going to be happy in a
1200 square foot home, put the minimum amount of square footage on your
list.  If you know that you want a certain school district, that should
be on the list.  Make sure your agent knows that this is what you want
and you will not accept less.

Be Open-minded.  Look beyond the yucky wallpaper in the dining room.
Ignore all that dead grass in the backyard and the holes the seller's
dog has dug.  Maybe the carpet needs to be replaced.  Visualize the home
the way it would look if you were the owner. What would you change to
make it yours?

Be ready to act fast. Some homebuyers will drag their feet for months.
They can't make up their minds.  They are waiting for.....who knows
what.  Agents do experience frustration too.  At some point they are
going to realize that they are wasting their time with you.  Some people
will never find the perfect home.  Sometimes, you must buy a "not quite
perfect" home and then make it into the showplace that you visualize.
********************************************************************************\
*********

Title Insurance

One thing that you want to make sure of when you are buying your dream
home is that you have a clear title to the property.  Errors don't
happen often, but when they do, it can be disastrous! Here is an
example.  A man decides to sell his house.  He has a buyer.  A title
search on his property is performed.  It shows that the a deed has been
recorded transferring the title from the previous owner to himself,
however, the previous owner's wife dod NOT sign!  The past owner's wife
is still listed as an owner of the home and could make a claim on the
property because she has not transferred her interest in the property.
Imagine the frustration! What if the previous owners could not be
located?  This is why you need a title search and insurance.

When buying a house, your real estate purchase contract should include a
clause that requires the sellers to provide you with good title to the
property at the closing.  If the seller can't to this, you should be
able to cancel the contract without paying any penalty.

Most buyers get a mortgage when they purchase a home but, before a
lender will issue a mortgage, they will require that they buyers show
proof of a good title to be transferred to the new owners.  The lenders
will also require that a title insurance policy be purchased (Usually by
the buyer).  The policy guarantees the lender's interest in the
propery.  Title insurance is paid on a one time only basis.  It is not
transferable from one buyer to another.

A lender's policy of title insurance does not protect the buyer's
interest, but buyers can get title insurance for their own protection.
Even if you are paying cash for a piece of property, it is best to
obtain title insurance to protect yourself.  Title insurance for the
buyer can be paid for by either the buyer or the seller.  The cost is
based on the purchase price, the higher the price, teh higher the
premium.

When issuing a policy of insuance, the title examiners will search for
liens, judgements and easements.  An easement grants the right to use
another person's property for a specific purpose such as a driveway or
road to get to another property.  Did you know that if you owe the IRS
back taxes, the IRS can put a lien against your property?  This can
cause you problems when selling or buying!  When selling, the title
search will show an IRS lien on the property.  If you are buying, the
mortgage company won't want to lend you the money since the IRS will
have the right to put a lien on the property.  In either case, you will
be required to pay off the lien in order to obtain clear title. Someone
who has a judgement against you can also put a lien against your
property.

If a problem is discovered during the course of a title search, the
company insuring the titlte will exclude the defect from its coverage.
Howver, if the title examiner makes a mistake and misses something, the
buyer is protected by the policy.

Make sure you understand the kind of title insurance you are buying.  As
your insurer or the closing attorney for an explanation before you sign
on the dotted line.

A Reader Writes:
We have two school age children.  Is it better to move in the summer and
avoid pulling them out of school in the middle of the year?

Answer:  Well that is certainly debatable.  I have heard some people say
that moving in the middle of the school year worked best for them
because the children were forced to jump right in and make new friends
and get to know the new school.  By the time summer came and school was
out for the summer, they had made new friends and the summer was not so
boring for them since they had already made new friends.

On the other hand.  By moving after school is out, you avoid the trauma
during the school year. It is stressful to move away from friends and
family for kids (or adults) of any age. Some children have a hard time
adjusting.  Grades could suffer.  Also, the school district you are in
now may be learning at a faster, or slower pace.

What is best?  That is hard to say.  You know your kids best and I think
age plays an important part.  A first grader may be very excited at the
prospect of moving.  A teenager probably will not be too thrilled about
it.  One tip I would give is to tell them you are moving as soon as you
know for sure.  Let them share in the excitement.  Turn it in to an
adventure.  Take them to visit the new area if possible.
********************************************************************************\
***

Well folks, that is all for this month. Please feel free to share this
newsletter with your friends.  See you next month.

************Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Wonderful New
Year!!!**********************

To subscribe go to http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/0nly4Homebuyers or
send an email with subscribe in the subject line to
cmc@...

To unsubscribe go to http://www.onelist.com/unsubscribe/0nly4homebuyers
or send an email with unsubscribe in the subject line to
cmc@...

November 15, 1999

Welcome to Issue 14 of 0nly4Homebuyers!

*****Announcement! Important!*********

0nly4Homebuyers will be going to a once a month format beginning
immediately!  The newsletter will now be published on the 15th of each
month, rather than on the 1st and 15th. I am sorry for any
inconvenience this may cause you, but time simply does not permit the
publication of the newsletter twice monthly at this time.

We work hard to bring you fresh ideas and informative articles that
will help educate you on the home buying process.  Please be assured
that we will continue to do so in the future.  Thanks for your
continued support.  Feel free to contact us directly if we can be of
any assistance to you.  mailto:cmc@.../
********************************************************************************\
****************

If you are in the market for a New Home Loan, Refinancing an Existing
Home or an Equity Loan, Creative Mortgage Company can help you!  We
write loans in 46 states!  Good Credit or Not so Good..   Now offering
an online application!!  Visit our website at
http://www.creativemortgageco.com/
********************************************************************************\
***************

In this issue:
Qualifying Debt Ratios
Relocation Tips
Readers Questions
********************************************************************************\
***************

Qualifying Debt Ratios

Have you ever wondered how that works?  Here is a "down and dirty"
explanation for you.  There are several different ratios that figure
into the scenario when obtaining a home loan.  The lender will have
certain guidelines that must be followed on this issue.  Across the
board, it is pretty much the same.  Your housing expense should not
exceed 28 percent of your gross income and your overall debt,
including the house payment, should not exceed 36 percent.  Here is an
example.

Lets say that you make $2000 per month before taxes.  Figuring 28
percent, your house payment should not exceed $560 per month.  If you
are trying to get a home loan for $90,000, at an interest rate of 8%
for 30 years, you could have a problem.  The payment on this example
would be about $660 per month.  You would need to be looking more in
the $75,000 range. Lets look at $75,000 for 30 years at 8%.  The
payment on that for principal and interest would be about $550 per
month. This would be much more mangeable for someone making $2000 per
month.

Another ratio is the the Total Debt to Income and the way to figure
this one is to figure all your monthly debt obligations, such as car
payments and credit cards and then add in your proposed house
payment.  The total should not exceed 36% of your gross income.  So
let's continue with the $2000 per month example. If your car payment
is $150 and your credit cards total $50, then add in the house payment
of $514.  Your debt to income would then be $714 divided by $2000, or
35.7%.  This would be within the acceptable range.

Some lenders do allow higher ratios.  Some sub-prime lenders will
allow up to 50% for your total debt to income ratio.  Of course, you
will pay higher fees to get this privilege, since they are taking a
greater risk of your defaulting on the loan.

When deciding how much house you can afford, you can do this.  Take
your annual income times three.  That is pretty close to the maximum
you could qualify for.  Still using the above example of $2000 per
month, that translates to $24,000 per year, times 3 would equal
$72,000.

********************************************************************************\
****************

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SnyderHaus Gifts & Collectibles!Now you can get 25% off
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****************

Relocation Tips

One Month Prior

1.  A month before moving, obtain an IRS Change of Address form.  Call
1-800-829-1040.
2.  Gather moving supplies...ie, boxes, tape, magic markers to label
the boxes.
3.  If you are moving to another state or city, make travel
arrangements such as airline and car     rental reservations.  Or plan
your travel route if you are driving.
4.  Call the moving company and arrange an appointment to get an
estimate on the costs of moving.     You will have several options
available.  Costs can be cut by packing and unpacking your own
possessions.
5.  Gather your legal, medical and insurance records and store in a
safe and accessible place.
6.  Make a list of everyone who will need to be informed of your
change of address.  Creditors,      family members, banks, insurance
company, etc.  Use the Change of Address kit, available at      the
Post Office to notify everyone.
7.  Start using up all the food in your freezer.
8.  Start packing up the stuff you won't be using between now and the
time you actually will         move.  For example, things in the
attic, seasonal clothes, nicknacks.

One to Two Weeks Prior

1.  Inform the gas, electric, cable and telephone company and don't
forget the trash company.
2.  Ask for service to be disconnected or discontined the day AFTER
you plan to move.
3.  Sign up for new services at the new location.
4.  If using a moving company, be prepared to pay by certified or
cashier's check.
5.  Cancel the newspaper delivery.
6.  Return library books and movie rentals.
7.  Pack clothes and essential items that you will keep with you for
easy access.
8.  If driving, get the car serviced, oil change, check the tires,
etc.

Moving Day

1.  Make sure someone is there to supervise the movers.
2.  After everything is moved out, make a final inspection to be sure
you got everything.
3.  Review the bill of lading carefully and make sure the moving
company has your new phone         number.
4.  Set the thermostat.  Check all windows and doors to be sure they
are locked.
5.  If you are leaving appliances at the old home, be sure they are
turned off.
6.  If the house hasn't sold yet, make sure the realtor has keys.
7.  Let the police know that the house is vacant.
8.  Remember the kids and pets!

Moving In Day at the New House

1.  Get there before the movers and decide where you will place some
of the larger items.
2.  Have your cashier's check ready for the movers.  They will ask for
it before they unload.
3.  As items are unpacked, check for damage and keep a pad handy for
notes.  You will need it.
4.  Carefully review your bill of lading and make sure that all your
furniture and boxes are         accounted for before you sign.

********************************************************************************\
*****************

A reader asks:
My credit report has some "bad" stuff on it.  Five years ago, during a
messy divorce, I got behind on my bills.  There were two credit cards
and some medical bills which were turned over to a collection agency.
How long will these items stay on my credit report? Jane K.

Answer:
It depends on how it is reported.  There are generally three different
ways.  A charge off, a collection account or a judgement.  Many times,
a creditor will simply "charge off" the account as bad debt and take a
tax deduction for it.  These will remain on your report for 7 years.
After which time it will simply drop off.

If it is reported as a collection account it can stay indefinitely.
When a collection agency is given the account to collect, they
sometimes "sell" these accounts to other collection agencies and the
cycle starts over again.  So for as long as it goes unpaid.....it can
continue to be reported.

If it is a judgement, they can be refiled, again and again until it is
paid.

In either case, you can contact the creditor and ask them if they
would be willing to settle the account for less than what you actually
owe. Many times the creditor will cooperate in order to clear things
If you decide to pay the account whether in full or in part, be sure
to obtain a letter stating that the debt is now settled. Keep a copy
for your records and send one to each of the major credit reporting
bureaus.
********************************************************************************\
****************

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MAD Collection Agency turns Bad Debt into Profit!
http://www.madagency.com
For instant info mailto:mad@...
On line placement of accounts available.
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***************

That's all for this month.  Hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Please feel free to share this newsletter with your friends.

To subscribe to 0nly4Homebuyers send an email to
0nly4Homebuyers-subscribe@onelist.com
To Unsubscribe send an email to
0nly4Homebuyers-unsubscribe@onelist.com

November 1, 1999

Welcome to Issue 13 of the 0nly4Homebuyers Newsletter!

This is a bi-monthly newsletter published on the 1st and 15th of each
month by Cindy Snyder of Creative Mortgage Company.  Please feel free
to forward this newsletter to your friends!!
********************************************************************************\
*****

If you are in the market for a New Home Loan, Refinancing an Existing
Home or an Equity Loan, Creative Mortgage Company can help you!  We
write loans in 46 states!  Good Credit or Not so Good..   Visit our
website at http://www.creativemortgageco.com/

********************************************************************************\
*****

Christmas Gift Stores.com Are you searching for a wide variety of
specialty merchants on line?  Do you want to find a unique gift for
that someone special this year?  Let us direct you to some of the
best shopping sources on the web!http://www.christmasgiftstores.com/
********************************************************************************\
*****

In this Issue:
Closing Costs and Prepaids
An Easy Way to Reduce your Mortgage Quickly and Save a Bunch of Money

********************************************************************************\
*****

Closing Costs and Prepaids

This is a continuing discussion about what funds are necessary when
you get to the closing process.  Please refer back to the last issue
for information on down payment requirements.  All past issues are
archived on the website at
http://www.creativemortgageco.com/newsletters.html/

Closing costs include what the lenders charge you for the loan.  They
are origination and discount points, filing fees, a title search,
title fees, funding fees, credit reports, appraisals, etc. Charges can
run anywhere from a couple of thousand to several thousand, just
depending on the amount of the loan, your credit history and other
criteria. It is impossible to list everything since many lenders
charge different fees for different things.

Prepaid items include your first month's interest payment and a full
year of homeowner's insurance.  You will most likely be expected to
place monthly amounts into an escrow account.  Each month when you pay
your mortgage payment, you will also pay a set amount into an escrow
account to cover your yearly taxes and homeowners insurance.  At
closing you will have to put (usually) 2 months of city and/or county
taxes and 2 months of homeowners insurance premiums into the escrow
account.  The lender holds this money in a special account and pays
these items for you when they come due.  Should your escrow experience
a shortfall or overage when the items are paid, your mortgage holder
will adjust the amount necessary for each month's payment.

Once you have applied for the loan, you will receive a Good Faith
Estimate of charges.  When you receive your Good Faith Estimate, all
the fees and charges will be listed on the form so you can see what
the loan is costing you.  Initially, this will be "estimated", hence
the term, "Good Faith Estimate".  I personally estimate high on this
form.  It is better to have too much money when you get to closing
than not enough!  For example, I always estimate a full 31 days of
prepaid interest, but if you close in the middle of the month, you
will only need 15 days.  Also estimated is your fee for the Title
Search, your Yearly Insurance Premium and Taxes.  These items can be
significantly higher or lower just depending on your area.  A couple
of days before the actual closing meeting you should be provided with
a settlement statement that is NOT estimated, but the true costs
involved.

Down Payment, Prepaids and Closing Costs have to be paid at the
closing of the loan.  Everyone has to pay these items.  Credit doesn't
enter into it except that, the worse your credit, the more you will be
expected to pay for certain items, including interest.  Even if you
get a 100% loan, you still have to pay for closing and prepaids at the
closing meeting.

You also need to be aware that when obtaining a mortgage loan for
whatever purpose, there are closing costs involved.  In the case of a
Refinance or an Equity loan, most of the costs are rolled into the
loan and it is not necessary for you to pay these fees upfront. Most
ikely, you will only have to pay for the appraisal and credit report.
However, they are a cost to you in order to obtain the loan.

********************************************************************************\
**************

Started your Christmas Shopping yet?  Head on over to
SnyderHaus Gifts & Collectibles!Now you can get 25% off
all purchases!  Do your shopping on our secure server.
At checkout enter the discount code..mjs.. and the discount
will automatically be deducted. Credit cards and ichecks
are accepted and be sure to sign up for our monthly giveaway
no purchase necessary.  http://www.snyderhaus.com/

********************************************************************************\
**************

A VERY EASY WAY TO REDUCE YOUR MORTGAGE QUICKLY AND SAVE A BUNCH OF
MONEY!
by Frederick Pearce

Amongst that pile of papers you sign when buying a house,is a little
chart that sets out what your monthly payments are, and how much each
month is interest and how much goes
towards paying off the loan. Most people put it aside with all the
other stuff and never look at it again.

Here's a good reason for you to get it out (or keep it out if you are
about to buy a home.)

    The chart will look something like this---

Month Mo.payment   Interest   Principle  Balance
  1      $620            $560.00 $60.00     ...
  2      $620            $559.40 $60.60     ...
  3      $620            $558.80 $61.20     ...
  4      $620            $558.20 $61.80     ...
  5      $620            $557.60 $62.40     ...
  6      $620            $557.00 $63.00     ...
etc....

Look at month#3. Payment $620 of which only $61.20 goes to pay off the
loan and a whopping $558.80 is interest (read profit) to the bank. Now
if you were to pay *next* month's principle $61.80 at this time, your
subsequent payment would be #5.

You would have saved $558.20 right there - month#4's interest payment.
They can't charge you interest twice in a month. Month 5 moves up to
month 4, you just knocked a month of your mortgage and you will never
ever have to pay that $558.20.  It cost you $61.80 to do that, not an
extra $61.80, because you would have had to pay it anyway. You just
paid it a month early.

Do that every month and you will soon have some equity in your home
and a fistful of money in your bank account!


Frederick Pearce is the author of THE BUSINESS START PAGE
http://www.bspage.com/ - a "virtual desk" - a mini-portal, a Daily
Starting Point for business. Use it as a base of operations. Have most
of what you will need close at hand. This business gateway site
features business news, a
virtual desk, business tips, an advertising depot, a financial
resources desk, an interesting joint venture resource page, an
excellent business reference library and loads of links to business
related resources. You can contact Mr pearce at
mailto:fpearce@... or visit his website at
http://www.bspage.com/pearman.html

********************************************************************************\
*************

Your ad could be here!  0nly4Homebuyers has over 1100 subscribers.
This newsletter is sent directly to the subscribers email box twice
per month. To check our ad rates send an
mailto:cmc@... with AD RATES in the subject line.
********************************************************************************\
***********

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********************************************************************************\
************

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That's all for this issue!  Hope you all have a great weekend!

To subscribe go here.
http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/0nly4Homebuyers

To unsubscribe send an email to
0nly4Homebuyers-unsubscribe@onelist.com

October 15, 1999

Welcome to Issue 12 of the 0nly4Homebuyers Newsletter!

This is a bi-monthly newsletter published on the 1st and 15th of each
month by Cindy Snyder of Creative Mortgage Company.  Please feel free
to forward this newsletter to your friends!!
********************************************************************************\
*****

If you are in the market for a New Home Loan, Refinancing an Existing
Home or an Equity Loan, Creative Mortgage Company can help you!  We
write loans in 46 states!  Good Credit or Not so Good..   Visit our
website at http://www.creativemortgageco.com/

********************************************************************************\
*****

In this Issue:
How Credit Counseling Affects Your Credit
Down Payment Requirements

********************************************************************************\
*****

How Credit Counseling Affects Your Credit

Many people get into trouble with their finances and can’t see how
they are ever going to get out of debt.  Some of these folks will end
up in bankruptcy court.  Others will seek help from credit counseling
services as an alternative. If you get into trouble and want to avoid
bankruptcy court, then by all means get some help.  However, you need
to know how this is going to affect your credit.


Many that go to the credit counseling services have a lot of credit
card debt.  As we all know, just by looking at the monthly finance
charges each month, those charges pile up pretty fast if you carry a
balance from month to month!  If you are just paying  the minimum
payment, you are going to be paying for a very long time.  By paying
the minimum, you aren’t really paying much of the principal at all.
You are just paying the interest charges.  Then the next month, the
balance hasn’t changed, so again you pay the minimum and that is
covering just the interest charges.  It is a vicious circle and I
might add, a hard one to get out of, especially if you have
overextended your credit and can only afford to pay the minimum.

What the credit counseling services can do is negotiate with the
credit card company to either reduce the interest rate and therefore
reduce the amount of interest charges you are paying each month or
stop the interest charges from accruing altogether.  This is great!
It will allow you to pay more each month toward what you really owe,
as opposed to just paying on the interest and never reducing the
principal amount.  Usually, you will be required to cut up the cards
or at least stop using them while you are in the program.  Also, if
the credit company has agreed to stop or reduce interest charges, they
may not allow you to use the card anyway.

So how is this going to affect your credit?  Well, it is noted on your
credit files that you are in credit counseling and the report will
indicate which accounts are affected.  What a lot of people don’t
realize is that when it comes to obtaining a mortgage, having your
credit accounts placed with a credit counseling agency is viewed the
same as a Chapter 13 bankruptcy!

While you are in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy or Credit Counseling, you
will have a hard time obtaining a mortgage loan.  That is not to say
that it can’t be done.  However, expect to pay much higher rates than
someone with a good history.  You will also need to be well on your
way to being finished with the program.  You can’t start this month
and expect to get a mortgage loan the next.  Expect to wait a couple
of years at least.  If you wait until you are finished with the
program altogether, you will get a much better rate.  Provided of
course, you have been and are making all your debt payments on time,
everytime.
********************************************************************************\
**************

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Down Payment Requirements

So you have decided to take the plunge and buy a house.  Great!  Now
you need to know what you are going to need up front to get into that
dream house!  Over the next few newsletters we will be discussing
closing costs and prepaid items.  This time we will discuss down
payment requirements.

For a down payment, you will need anywhere from 3% to 20% depending on
your credit history.  Obviously, the worse your credit, the more you
will need.  If your credit is good, you can go with an FHA loan at
only 3% down.  That is really the least expensive way into a home.
However, as discussed in previous newsletters, there are certain
restrictions on FHA loans, one of which is that they will only loan on
a certain amount for a home.  It depends on your state and county
guidelines.

There are also loans available at 100%.  This was discussed in a
previous newsletter. (Previous newsletters are archived on the website
at http://www.creativemortgageco.com/newsletters.html)   Basically
with this type of loan, you actually obtain two loans.  One for 80% of
the value and a second for 20%.  Thus you have a 100% loan.  You need
good credit to get one of these.

Many folks fall into the "Somewhere in between" category.  They don’t
really have great credit, but it isn’t all that bad either.  These
people may have had a few late payments in their past, but generally
keep it pretty well together.  They pay their bills on time 95% of the
time.  Maybe they missed a payment here and there, but caught it up
before it went to 60  or 90 days late.  They may even have an old
medical bill that went to collection and is still sitting out there.
Usually, we can get these loans in at about 90% of the selling price.

  If your credit is really bad you can still buy a house more than
likely, but you folks need to be saving some serious money for your
down payment.  Many credit problems can be overcome, even bankruptcy.
IF you have  re-established credit and have made all your payments on
time for the last year or two we can probably get you a loan.  But you
are most likely going to fall into the 20% down category.

One alternative to a large down payment is to find a seller who is
willing to take back a second mortgage for you. In this scenario, we
could loan you 80%, the seller could carry a second mortgage for say,
10% and you would only need 10% of your own funds.  These deals can be
found, but you have to really look for them.  Typically, this would be
maybe a retired couple whose home is paid for, that would rather have
the monthly income as opposed to a large bank account.

In our next issue, we will discuss closing costs.

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THE HERBS PLACE NEWS, mailed twice a month, is an email
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That's all for this issue!  Hope you all have a great weekend!

To subscribe go here.
http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/0nly4Homebuyers

To unsubscribe send an email to
0nly4Homebuyers-unsubscribe@onelist.com

October 1, 1999

0nly4Homebuyers Newsletter Issue 11

I would like to offer a warm welcome to our new subscribers.
Feel free to email me directly with any questions you may
have about this newsletter or mortgages in general.
If anyone has anything that they would like to see
covered please email me directly.
  mailto:cmc@...
*******************************************************

*** Free Cool-Sites Newsletter ***
You are cordially invited to subscribe to:
Rob's wURLd "Best of the Web"
This newsletter is family-oriented and features
best of the web, and cool-site selections
              for ALL ages!!
Subscription instructions:
     http://www.topica.com/lists/RobswURLd - OR -
     mailto:RobswURLd-subscribe@...
**************************************************
In this Issue:
Obtaining a 100% Mortgage
Qualifying for FHA/VA after Bankruptcy

*******************************************************
Obtaining a 100% loan

There are loans available for people that have no money down.
This involves actually obtaining two separate loans at the same
time.  The first loan is for 80% of the value of the home.  This
will be the first mortgage.  The second loan is for the down
payment and is considered the second mortgage.  Remember
that a second mortgage always carries a higher interest rate
because the first mortgage holder has first "dibs" on the house
should you default on the loan.

You must be able to pay the closing costs and prepaid items
up front at closing.  Closing costs depend on the lender and
what fees they charge you for the loan.  A 100% loan will
carry higher fees than a regular mortgage loan simply because
you are borrowing a lot more money and have virtually no equity
in the home, therefore the risk is greater to the lenders. Prepaid
items include your first month’s interest payments, insurance
and taxes which will go into an escrow account.


The 100% loans were started for the purpose of allowing people
who have substantial income, but lack the funds required for a
down payment. You must have good credit in order to obtain a
100% loan.  FICO scores have to be high.  There can be no
record of late or slow payments on your credit history.  You
must also have sufficient income to support two mortgage loans,
which means that you cannot have a lot of debt.
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Qualifying for FHA or VA loans After Bankruptcy

FHA and VA loans are the least expensive ways to get into a home of
your own.  FHA requires only a 3% down payment and VA requires
zero down payment in most cases.  However, there are restrictions.
Both FHA and VA want to see a pretty stable credit record.  That is
not to say that if you have ever had problems you would not be able
to obtain one of these loans. On the contrary, both can be very
forgiving of past credit mishaps. The key here is that if you have
had credit problems in the past, you have now recovered your
footing and can and do meet your credit obligations.

For example, lets say that 3 years ago, you became ill. You were the
main breadwinner for your family and were unable to work for a period
of  5 months. During that time, your wife/husband tried valiantly to
keep up with the bills but it was just impossible to do! As a result,
your car was about to be repossessed, you couldn't pay the rent, you
were evicted, all your credit cards were months behind. The interest
rate went up on them and the late charges were astronomical. What's
orse, you had no medical insurance to cover your illness. The
creditors were calling and driving you crazy.  Even when you were
able to return to work, you were so far behind that you couldn't see
a light at the end of the tunnel. So, you  filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

You felt that you had on choice.

That was over 2 years ago. Since the bankruptcy was discharged, you
have obtained a credit card and made purchases, but kept the balance
down and always paid the monthly bill on time. You had to let the car
go back with the bankruptcy,but since then you got another loan for a
car and have always paid the note on time. Your landlord will say
that you have always paid your rent on time over the past 2 years.
Notice I keep saying always?

In this situation, we could more than likely, get you an
FHA or VA loan, because these things can happen. You have
worked hard to rebuild your credit and your life! You have
scrimped and saved and have enough for a small down payment
and closing costs. You understand the importance of meeting
your financial obligations. You deserve an opportunity to own
your own home.

Even if it wasn't a medical problem that started this chain of events.

Maybe you just were overextended on your credit, you lost your job
and couldn't meet your obligations. So you got behind on your bills
for a period of time, but finally,you recovered and since that time
you always pay your bills on time. You "learned your lesson".

On the other hand, let's say you got into some financial trouble for
whatever reason and you ended up filing bankruptcy a couple of years
ago. After the bankruptcy was discharged, you went out and bought a
new car and boat, you obtained credit cards which you immediately ran
up to the maximum limits, you sometimes pay the bills on time and
sometimes, well.... you don't. Not only will you not be able to obtain

an FHA or VA loan, your chances of obtaining a mortgage loan of any
type without a very large down payment are next to none.  You have
not "learned your lesson".
********************************************************
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**Free Subscription to AC Home Inspector**
the ezine for homeowners and wanna-be homeowners.
Read articles by a home inspector with over 30
years experience in the industry.  Learn home
improvement tips in additional to tips on
home quality when buying or selling your home.
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If you have ever applied for credit, and received the dreaded
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***********************************************************************

Well folks.  That's it for this time.  I hope you gained some useful
information
and will join us again next  time.  Feel free to share this newsletter
with a friend!

To subscribe to 0nly4Homebuyers follow this link
  http://www.onelist.com-subscribe/0nly4Homebuyers/

If you have any problems subscribing or unsubscribing, please email me

directly and I will take care of it.
mailto:cmc@...

To unsubscribe go here
http://www.onelist.com-unsubscribe/0nly4Homebuyers/

September 15, 1999

0nly4Homebuyers Newsletter Issue 10

I would like to offer a warm welcome to our new subscribers.
Feel free to email me directly  with any questions you may
  have about this newsletter or mortgages in general.
If anyone has anything that they  would like to see
covered please email me directly.
  mailto:cmc@...
*******************************************************
**Free Subscription to AC Home Inspector** The ezine for
homeowners and wanna-be homeowners.  Read articles by a
  home inspector with over 30 years experience in the industry
  Learn home improvement tips in additional to tips on home
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++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
In this Issue:
How to Avoid Scams
How to Choose a Realtor
Sellers Beware
********************************************************
A few issues ago I wrote about why you need a home inspector.
This issue, we have a guest author who tells us how to avoid scams
when getting your home inspected!
********************************************************
"How To Avoid Scams"
  by Clifford A. Olson

"How to avoid scams" is a topic that the Minnesota
Department of Commerce is also concerned with.

Following are some tips to use when selecting a
contractor to do home repairs and/or even build
your house:

1.  Contact your local building authority to determine
     if the contractor is required to be licensed in your
     area.  Some states require a state license such as
     the State of Minnesota and some Cities require a City
     license such as the City of Minneapolis.  If the
     Contractor shows you his/her license, write down the
     number and call the issuing authority to find out if
     it is current and valid.

2.  Ask for references and then contact the references
     for their opinions.

3.  A contractor should have the company name on the
     vehicle that they are driving.

4.  Most states such as the State of Minnesota require
     that a contractor have a Federal I.D. number.  The
     number starts with "41-_______"

5.  Never hire a contractor who operates from a Post
     Office Box.  They should have a street address.
     Their address should be from the general location
     in which you live -- Not out of state or hundreds
     of miles away.

6.  Never pay a large down payment if requested.

7.  Always ask for a Lien Waver not only from the
     contractor but also from every sub-contractor and
     supplier who steps onto your property. If the sub-
     contractor or supplier is furnishing material
     or labor on behalf of the contractor, then the
     contractor must present you with a lien waiver
     (original) made out to you from the sub-contractor
     or supplier before you pay the contractor.

8.  Ask the contractor to furnish certificates of
     liability insurance and worker's compensation
     insurance.  They should also furnish you with
     copies of insurance certificates from their
     sub-contractors.

9.  Never contract with a contractor who wants you to
     pay in cash rather than by check.

10. If a building permit is required, it is the
     responsibility of the contractor to pull the permit
     and not the homeowner.  If a contractor asks the
     homeowner to pull the permit, then there is something
     wrong, such as the contractor does not have a license
     or has had problems with the building inspector on
     other jobs.

11. Contact the local better business bureau for any
     history regarding the contractor.  If they have no
     history, it does not mean that everything is alright,
     it just means they have no complaints.

12. Find out how long the contractor has been in business.

13. Ask the contractor if he has ever been in business
     under another company name.  If so, ask why the change.

14. Find out what other licenses the contractor has, such
     as Realtor, Appraiser, etc.

15. Do not respond to anyone who comes to the door and
     asks you if you want some repairs done to your home.
     If you need repairs, you will know it before someone
     comes to the door.

16. Be careful in responding to telephone solicitors.
     You should be searching for the contractor rather
     than the contractor searching for you.  When they
     say "we have a crew in your area ...." hang up the
     phone.  A reliable contractor will not try to use
     this method.  They will go where asked and not if
     there is a crew in the area.

17. When a salesman tells you that if you sign a con-
     tract for repairs within the next so many days, he
     will deduct a large sum of money from the cost, DO
     NOT USE THAT FIRM because they have already inflated
     their costs.

18. Do not sign a contract to do the work in you feel
     that you are being high-pressured to do so.

19. The contractor should give you a written estimate
     of the costs and what he/she will do for the amount
     bid.  The estimate should also state any contingencies
     on which the bid is based and also indicate things
     which are not included in the price.  When getting a
     price for a certain job, the price should include all
     materials.  If the contractor gives you a list of
     materials included in the bid, ask him who pays for
     the materials needed that are not on the list.  If he
     says "you do" then tell him to go back to his drawing
     board and give you an bid that includes ALL materials
     that will be used on the job.

20. If the contractor does not want to answer any of the
     above questions or if the answers are not what you
     would expect, do not use that contractor.

These are just a few comments -- There are more perhaps.
IF IN DOUBT CONTACT AND/OR VISIT WITH THE
BUILDING INSPECTOR AND OTHER CUSTOMERS
  THAT HAVE USED THIS CONTRACTOR.

As for Home inspectors:
Use the same general rules as noted above.  They all apply
in one form or another.

If a home inspector has just finished training, ask him/her
what makes them feel qualified to to the inspection.

Copyright 1999 Clifford A. Olson
Article by Clifford Olson of Clifford A. Olson & Assoc. Inc.
Clifford Olson writes from over 30 years of experience in
the construction business in addition to a Master’s Degree in
Business.  He is the author of several articles and also the
“Home Inspection Guide.”  Send for the Free checklist from
this guide - mailto:home_inspection@....  Also,
subscribe to his free ezine “AC Home Inspector” by visiting
http://www.caolson.com/ac-home-inspector/
*********************************************************

Creative Mortgage Company now offers FHA and VA
loans in addition to Conventional.  Give us a call if you
are interested in finding out more about your options at
  1-877-355-9414.  Toll Free
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
You are GUARANTEED to qualify for at least TWO unsecured
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If you have ever applied for credit, and received the dreaded rejection
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to extend you credit. Apply Today!! GUARANTEED ACCEPTANCE!
http://www.credit-search.com/cgi-bin/RATS.cgi?16794/
*************************************************************
How to Choose  A Realtor Whether Buying or Selling

Remember, first of all, that this is an employer/employee relationship.
No matter how emotional and intimidating the home buying/home
selling process, the agent works for YOU.  She or he can make
recommendations, suggestions, or even refuse to work with you
if you disagree on substantial points, but the agent can not require
you to do anything that you truly feel is not in the best interest
of you,  your family, or the purchase or sale of a home.

Objective considerations in the choosing of an agent include evaluating
them on their responsiveness.  Do they return calls promptly?  Do they
keep you informed and updated about the market activity?  Does the
agent have a system in place for coverage if he or she goes on vacation
or has a personal emergency?  Knowledge of the community is also an
important consideration, as well as the proximity of their home and/or
office - you want someone who can be available to you.  It is not a
"must" to have an agent who is a top roducer, but do choose someone
accessible and responsive.

Subjective considerations are also important - you will be spending
a lot of time with this person and you should feel comfortable with
each other.  You may or may not become close personal friends,
  but you should not enter into a business relationship with someone
with whom you are not at ease.

Don't be offended if your agent gives you, as a seller, tips on
changes that are necessary to make your home sell faster.  It is not
a personal reflection on you or your lifestyle.  The process of living
in a home is different from the process of selling it.  When you begin
marketing it, try to stop thinking of the house as your "home", but as
a business venture ofa "house for sale".The new house you will soon
buy is going to be your "home".

Buyers, in states that permit Buyers' Agency, a good agent may
point out negative features in a property you are considering for
  purchase.  Again, don't be offended.  This is not a commentary
on your personal taste, however the agent has an obligation to
make you aware of factors that might make a particular home a
more risky investment than others.  It does not mean you may not
be able to purchase the home of your choosing, however you should
be aware at the time of purchase that there may be problems should
you need to sell in the future.  I don't want to be in a position of
having
sold you a home and having to break the news to you a few years later
that I can not sell it for you because of things we never discussed.

Tammy Emam has been a resident of the Atlanta area since 1974.
Prior to entering Real Estate, she had in excess of eighteen years'
experience in the field of ACCOUNTING;  therefore demonstrates an
ANALYTICAL AND ORGANIZED approach to the purchase and sale of real
estate.  Representing buyers and sellers throughout the Atlanta
metro area, she can be reached twenty-four hours a day by e-mail
(Te2345@...) or voice mail (770/333-3100 ext. 8244).  Please e-mail
any
questions you have about real estate, which may become the subject of
future articles.
http://www.freeyellow.com/members/realte/index.html
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Warning to Sellers!!  Beware!!

I read an article the other day that said that the Florida Court
Of Appeals has ruled that noisy neighbors have to be disclosed
to potential buyers!!  I meant to save it and send you all the link,
but I lost it, so here is the gist.

In Florida, a couple sued because they had noisy neighbors.  It went all

the way to the Appeals Court and the court ruled in their favor!
The Court ruled that the homebuyer can rescind the sale because the
Sellers failed to disclose a nearby noise problem.  The sellers had
Checked the “no” box on the home disclosure form.  The records
Showed that this same couple had called the police on numerous
Occasions to complain about loud arguments and music being played
too loud.

This just goes to show how important it is to disclose everything when
you are selling your house.  Better to be safe than sorry!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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You'll get recipes, activity ideas, home tips, ways to
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******************************************************************
Well folks.  That’s it for this time.  I hope you gained some useful
information
and will join us again next  time.  Feel free to share this newsletter
with a friend!

To subscribe to 0nly4Homebuyers follow this link
  http://www.onelist.com-subscribe/0nly4Homebuyers/

If you have any problems subscribing or unsubscribing, please email me
directly and I will take care of it.
mailto:cmc@...

To unsubscribe go here
http://www.onelist.com-unsubscribe/0nly4Homebuyers/




--
***********************************
Creative Mortgage Company
We Work Hard To Get Your Loan!
http://www.creativemortgageco.com/
***********************************
SnyderHaus Gifts & Collectibles
Special Gifts for Special People
http://www.snyderhaus.com/
***********************************

September1, 1999

Welcome to Issue 9 of  0nly4Homebuyers Newsletter!

I would like to offer a warm welcome to our new subscribers.  We are
happy to have you with us.  Hopefully this newsletter will  help answer
some of your questions.  Feel free to email me directly with any
questions you may have about this newsletter or mortgages in general. If
anyone has anything that they would like to see covered please email me
directly.  mailto:cmc@...
*******************************************************************************

Momslove is an online magazine with an array of topics
and issues relevant to wahms, sahms, working moms with
momsbragpage, child of the week, safetypage,  fix-it page
and beautys back along with an online kitchen zine...
lots of contests!  http://www.amomslove.com/
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Grand Opening!! SnyderHaus Gifts and Collectibles
High quality gifts and collectibles at affordable prices!
Come visit and be prepared to stay awhile! Enter
The discount code...bks...and get 20% off
everything you buy! http://www.snyderhaus.com/
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

In this Issue:
What does your credit look like?
Avoiding Irreconcilable Differences
********************************************************************************\
*****

What does Your Credit Look Like?

That is one of the first questions I ask my customers.  It is amazing
how many really have no idea!  It is one of the most important things
you need to know!  Everyone needs to get copies of their reports at
least once a year.  Go over them and write letters explaining if
something is in error.

I see credit reports everyday.  Many of them have pages and pages of
open accounts with zero balances.  Maybe you used to have a car loan
with ABC Bank and you traded cars.  Well the account shows paid, but it
is still showing as an open account.  Maybe you had a charge card from
Lerner’s or Sears or some other department store that you stopped using
because you paid off the bill and realized the interest rate was 22%.
So you cut up the card…..Did you write to the store and ask them to
cancel the account?  You should have.  As long as the account is open,
it will appear on your credit report.  Did you know that each and every
one of them count against your credit score?  They do!

I urge each and every one of you to call or write today and get copies
of your reports.  Get this stuff off of your reports.  Be sure and send
a copy of each letter to the creditors to the credit bureaus as an added
precaution.  Be sure and tell them you are sending copies to the credit
bureaus too.  A little extra kick may spur them to take care of
business!  Here are the names and addresses.  Do it now.  This is the
first step, make sure you follow through and write those letters!

Major Credit Reporting Agencys

Experian (TRW)
PO Box 2104
Allen, TX 75013-2104
800-682-7654

Equifax
PO Box 105873
Atlanta, GA 30348
800-685-1111

TransUnion
PO Box 390
Springfield, PA 19064
800-916-8800

********************************************************************************\
***

Creative Mortgage Company now offers FHA and VA loans in addition to
Conventional.  Give us a call if you are interested in finding out more
about your options at 1-877-355-9414.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
You are GUARANTEED to qualify for at least TWO unsecured
MAJOR CREDIT CARDS  just by  meeting our basic requirements.
If you have ever applied for credit, and received the dreaded rejection
letter, you have been looking in the wrong places. The more times
you apply and are rejected, the less likely future credit sources are
to extend you credit. Apply Today!! GUARANTEED ACCEPTANCE!
http://www.credit-search.com/cgi-bin/RATS.cgi?16794/
********************************************************************************\
***

Avoiding “Irreconcilable Differences” over Money


Did you know that the “M” word (Money) is cited as one of the major
reasons for divorce?  That’s probably where the term “Irreconcilable
Differences” originated.  Couples have been fighting about money
forever. If you go into marriage or co-habitation with your eyes open,
you will have a more successful relationship in the long run.

It’s better to find out now if your soon to be spouse is a
spendthrift.   Many a blessed union has been spoiled by excessive
spending and bad credit.  You know all those flowers and candy and
nights out for dinner and dancing?  Can he afford it or is it draining
his finances?  Does he have any savings?  What about an IRA or 401K?
What about you?  Have you made plans for the future?  Discuss your
goals  and plans with your mate.  His goal might be a speedboat or a
Harley Davidson, while you have your heart set on the house with the
picket fence!

Does she go on shopping binges?  Can she afford those $150.00 shoes?
Does she has 5 or 6
Gold Credit Cards.  Are they all maxed out?   Have either of you claimed
bankruptcy or are slow to pay your debts?  Have there been prior
marriages?  If so, then is one of you required to pay alimony or child
support?  For how long?  Did the ex run up bills and then skip out?  If
so, your significant other may be responsible.

You should also decide ahead of time how you, as a couple, are going to
handle your finances.  Are you both going to deposit all your money into
one account and then pay the bills, etc and then whatever is left over,
you jointly spend?  Or are you going to have separate accounts and each
contribute equally?  Or is it going to be a percentage based on how much
each makes?  Who is going to be responsible for budgeting and bill
paying every month?  What about savings?  How are you going to handle
that?  Will you both contribute equal amounts to save for short and long
term goals?

How do you feel about credit?  What do you consider too much?  At what
point do you say, “Stop!”?  How does he feel about that?  What is his
comfort level when it comes to debt?  Credit can be a wonderful thing,
used carefully.  It can also be an albatross.  The credit card
companies, especially, make it so easy to overspend.  Cards arrive in
the mail with $5000 credit limits.  You get invitations to get this card
and that card and the interest rate is only 2.9 percent!! Great deal,
right?  Read the fine print.  The 2.9 percent interest rate is only for
the next 3 or 6 months and then the rate goes to 12 or 14 percent.  If
you are ever late paying your bill, it can jump up even higher!  Be
careful.  So many young (and old) couples get into debt over their heads
and end up with bad credit, or worse, end up having to claim
bankruptcy.  Don’t let this happen to you.

Obtain copies of your credit reports.  Go over the reports with a fine
tooth comb.  If there are any descrepancies, write the agencies and
explain what the problem is and ask them to remove that item from your
file or correct it.  Trade reports with your significant other.  Sit
down and go over each other’s reports.  Make sure you each understand
what you are getting into.

A couple with full knowledge of each others spending habits and
obligations will have a much better chance of avoiding “Irreconcilable
Differences”.


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Leather Spinsters Newsletter----"The voice of single
careerwomen."Newsletter dedicated  to the emotional,
physical, and spiritual needs of single careerwomen.
FREE to subscribe  send e-mail to:
  leather@... or visit the site at:
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***************************************************************************

Well folks.  That’s it for this time.  I hope you gained some useful
information and will join us again next
  time.  Feel free to share this newsletter with a friend!

To subscribe to 0nly4Homebuyers follow this link
http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/0nly4Homebuyers/

To unsubscribe go here
http://www.onelist.com/unsubscribe/0nly4Homebuyers/

August 16, 1999

Welcome to Issue 8 of  0nly4Homebuyers Newsletter!
Good Morning!  I apologize for the delay in getting this issue out.
Wouldn’t you know, my computer would pick this weekend to start acting
up?? Computers! Can’t live with them, can’t live without them!

********************************************************************************\
*****

Welcome to our new subscribers.  We are happy to have you with us.
Hopefully this newsletter will  help answer some of your questions.
Feel free to email me directly with any questions you may have about
this newsletter or mortgages in general. If anyone has anything that
they would like to see covered please email me directly.
mailto:cmc@...
********************************************************************************\
*****

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT! Creative Mortgage is proud to be recently named
the Memphis Branch Office of Dana Capital Group! This is wonderful news
as it will now enable CMC to work with FHA and VA loans and reach a
total of 42 states! If you are in the market for a New Home Loan,
Refinancing an Existing Home or an Equity Loan, Creative Mortgage
Company can help you! Visit our website at
http://www.creativemortgageco.com/
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Lifetime Solutions offers a variety of natural products, including
supplements and environmentally safe household solutions. If you care
about your inner and outer health, Lifetime Solutions is for you. Free
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ltskimh@...
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

In this Issue:
FHA Loans
Choosing a Real Estate Agent
Am I Poor?
********************************************************************************\
*****

FHA Loans

FHA stands for Federal Housing Administration.  It is a division of the
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  In 1934, President
Franklin D. Roosevelt created  FHA as part of his “New Deal” to lift the
US out of the Great Depression.  Today, the FHA insures loans made by
financial institutions to low-to-middle income families.

An FHA loan is a mortgage,  funded  by a local lender, just like a
conventional loan.  The difference is that with an FHA loan, FHA insures
the lender against loss on default.  FHA loans are not supported by tax
dollars, contrary to popular belief.  Borrowers actually pay the
mortgage insurance through funds obtained with insurance premiums.  FHA
holds these premiums in several different pools to insure future
generations that home ownership opportunities will continue.

There are several benefits of obtaining an FHA loan.  One of the most
significant is the low down payment required.  Usually only 3 to 4%
regardless of the price.  Conventional loans usually require a minimum
of 5%.  The entire down payment can be a gift from a friend or
relative.  Credit scoring is not considered when approving the borrower
and FHA will consider isolated, derogatory credit and non-traditional
credit sources.  This means that the borrower can get a good rate with a
less than perfect credit rating.

Now for the disadvantages.  Mortgage Insurance is not paid on
conventional loans with a Loan to Value of 80% or less, whereas, it is
paid on all FHA loans.  FHA loans are restricted to a maximum amount of
dollars.  The amount varies by state.  Also, HUD requires stricter
appraisal requirements.  HUD insured properties are intended to be owner
occupied, principal residences for the borrower, so that rules out
investment properties.

There are several types of  FHA loans available.  You can get a 203(b)
Fixed Rate loan for a 1-4 unit  primary residence.  You can get a 234(c)
loan for FHA-approved Condominiums.  There is the 251 Adjustable Rate
Mortgage and the 203(k) Rehab Loan Program which allows for simultaneous
purchase or refinance and rehab of an eligible property.  FHA also
offers the 203(h) for National Disaster Areas.  If your previous home
was destroyed by a disaster, such as a hurricane or tornado and the area
has been declared a National Disaster Area by the President.  Victims
are eligible for 100% financing on a new home.
********************************************************************************\
***

Creative Mortgage Company now offers FHA and VA loans in addition to
Conventional.  Give us a call if you are interested in finding out more
about your options at 1-877-355-9414.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
You are GUARANTEED to qualify for at least TWO unsecured MAJOR CREDIT
CARDS just by
  meeting our basic requirements.  If you have ever applied for credit,
and received the dreaded rejection letter, you have been looking in the
wrong places. The more times you apply and are rejected, the less likely
future credit sources are to extend you credit. Apply Today!! GUARANTEED
ACCEPTANCE! http://www.credit-search.com/cgi-bin/RATS.cgi?16794/
********************************************************************************\
***

Choosing A Real Estate Agent
Be very careful in choosing your agent!  You want to make sure that this
person is going to work hard for you.  The best way to find a good agent
is through a recommendation or referral from a friend or associate who
has used the real estate agent’s services in the past.  You will want an
agent who is familiar with home sales in your price range and in your
neighborhood.  It is absolutely essential that you feel comfortable with
your agent from the beginning.  It’s a good idea to interview two or
three and choose the one that you think is most knowledgeable and is
going to work the hardest for you.

During your interview, don’t hesitate to ask the agent about the number
of homes the agent has listed and sold.  However, the length of time in
business should not necessarily be the deciding factor.  Someone who is
relatively new to the business may be a good choice, simply because they
are just getting started and will work harder to please you.  Be sure to
ask about their commission fees.  The fees will average from six to
seven percent, but may be negotiable.  A good agent will advise you and
guide you.  Look for someone who is actively pursuing sales, returning
phone calls and aggressively working in your best interests.  The ideal
person is someone whose only job is real estate.

I want to share a personal experience I had a few years ago. The house
next door to me was up for sale and it actually sold rather quickly
within the first week.  I was impressed.  This same company had several
other listings in my neighborhood.  So I called company to schedule an
interview as we were planning to sell our home.  After a couple of phone
calls, I finally connected with this individual and arranged an
appointment at our home.   We ended up signing a three month contract
with this agent.  Big Mistake! My house was listed, finally, after
several days on the MLS.  They guy was so busy that it took almost 2
weeks to get a sign up in the yard.  What’s more, we waited and waited
for potential prospects to buy the home and guess what.  We had hardly
no lookers at all!  This company was not actively trying to sell my
home!  They had simply listed it and hoped that another agent or another
company would sell it through the Multiple Listings Service! As a matter
of fact, they never brought the first potential buyer to see it!  As it
turned out, the house next door was actually sold by another Real Estate
Company.  Since we had signed a three month contract, there was nothing
we could do but wait for it to expire.  The day it expired we listed
with someone else and the house was sold.  We wasted three months.
Don’t let this happen to you.  Be sure of what you are getting into
before you sign the contract.

Checklist for an Interview

1. Ask for a list of satisfied clients of comparable properties as
references.
2. Describe your listing/sales history. ( Most agents only sell 30 to 60
percent of their listing before they expire.  Choose an agent who sells
at least 80 percent of the homes they have listed.)
3. On average, what percentage of the asking price have you received for
the homes you’ve sold during the last year?
4. What is the average number of days your listed homes stayed on the
market?
5. How long will it take to get my home listed on the Multiple Listing
Service?
6. How do I know that you are going to ACTIVELY sell my home and not
just put it out on the MLS and hope for the best?
7. Why should I choose you over another agent?

Note:  A Real Estate Agent works for the SELLER of the property.  The
seller is who is paying their commissions.  If you are selling your
property, then by all means get an agent unless you plan to do For Sale
by Owner.  However, when you are the BUYER, I recommend you get a
Buyer’s Agent.  A buyer’s agent works solely for the buyer and has no
allegiance to the sellers of any property!  They work for you, the
buyer, exclusively.  Look in your telephone books yellow pages under
real estate. Then look for Buyer’s Agent.  Use the same checklist above
to interview your buyer’s agent.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Leather Spinsters Newsletter----"The voice of single
careerwomen."Newsletter dedicated to the emotional,physical, and
spiritual needs of single careerwomen.FREE to subscribe - send e-mail
to: leather@... with subscribe in subject area or visit the
site at: http://www.leatherspinsters.com/archives.html.
********************************************************************************\
****

Dear Homebuyers,
This article is not directly concerning the home buying process.
However, I received this article in another publication that I subscribe
to and I found it so uplifting that I asked for and received the reprint
rights from the author.  I hope you enjoy the article.
Cindy Snyder


Am I Poor?
by Pat Mestern

A number of people have asked for some words of wisdom about poverty and
being "poor." To respond, I visited Marie, who was a close friend of
grandmother's.

Marie is 103 years old. Although her eyesight is beginning to fail, her
mind is tack sharp.  In her own words, she raised nine children on
little more than spit and polish.  Marie was in her favourite place, the
solarium of the retirement home sharing a book on tape with  her
93-year-old friend. When asked to give her views about being "poor", she
happily did so.   Marie, one of ten children herself, raised her
children during the Depression on one of the poorest farms in the area.
Eight of her nine children are still living - two doctors, two lawyers,
three teachers and an engineer.   Marie says, "Consider this your pep
talk for the day."

"Being poor is the ultimate opportunity handed a person. Being poor is
no excuse for being filthy and uneducated. You have access to the same
libraries, soap and water and schools that others do.  Being poor is no
excuse for living in a dirty house and wearing dirty clothes.  Being
poor is no excuse for living
surrounded by clutter and garbage.  Being poor means that, if you can't
presently afford university/college, you can educate yourself until such
times as that goal is within your reach.

Being poor means being surrounded by necessities.  Being rich means
being surrounded by "things."  Being rich you can buy perceived
happiness. Being poor you make happiness happen.   Some are born with a
silver spoon in their mouths and some have to go looking for it. They
end up better people for  chasing after that silver spoon, because
they've had to learn valuable lessons along the way.  Sometimes they
turn that silver spoon into one of solid gold. Being poor means you
start at the bottom and work your way up.  Being rich means you start at
the top and slide your way down.

It's harder to work your way up, but the trip is worth the effort.
You'll never forget what you learned along the way. You rarely slide
your way down again.  Being poor means you have to give back to life,
you have something to look up to, something to achieve. Being rich means
you are always looking down.  For some being rich means that rather than
earn achievements, you try to buy them.

Stop saying I'm poor, poor, poor.  Pretty soon you'll begin to believe
it. Start saying I am at a temporary financial disadvantage right now.
I can do something about it. Stop saying, I can't even afford to put
food on the table.  My family ate  potatoes three times a day for more
than eight years and look at us today. I'm 103.  All my children would
still be alive if Charlie hadn't gone skiing at age seventy-four and
cracked his skull.

Stop saying the government has to do this for me, the government has to
do that for me. The government does not have to pull you up by your
bootstraps. You are master of your own destiny, digger of your own rut.
Destiny can be altered. Ruts are filled all the time. If you lie in
yours too long, someone will bury you in it.  Self pity is the cruelest
form of poverty because it is in your mind. If you don't like the word
poor, just substitute that fancy new term "financially challenged."
Keeping up with the Joneses is a game you cannot ever win. NEVER spend
more than you make. Save a bit from everything you make - one penny
today, two tomorrow. Tuck the money away and forget you ever saw it come
into the house.

My children went to university on money we tucked away, and good hard
work on their part to make it happen.  They never heard us say "we're
poor"   - "we can't do it."  We said, "that it might take awhile, but if
that is what you truly want, it is achievable."

When Marie did stop to take a breath, she asked what I was going to do
with the information.   I told her it was going on the Internet to be
read by hundreds of people. "They'll say.  Times change. She's an old
woman living in the past.  She is not in touch with reality.  Well, tell
them that when it comes right down to the crunch there are only six
basics that are really important - a roof over their heads, however
slanted or leaky it might be, something to put in their tummy, however
boring it tastes, clean water,  soap,  heat in a cold country, and love
of life and family."

Her parting shot was - " Tell them too that if they can afford a
computer to read this, they are definitely not poor as I understand the
term." Marie always gets the last word. And yes, before you ask, I know
where she's coming from. There was no silver spoon awaiting my birth.

********************************************************************************\
*

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REFINANCING YOUR HOME?

We Can Save You Money on Your Closing Costs. Email Jlbessica@... for
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have helped homeowners to keep more of their money while getting the
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***

Well folks.  That’s it for this time.  I hope you gained some useful
information and will join us again next
  time.  Feel free to share this newsletter with a friend!

To subscribe to 0nly4Homebuyers follow this link
http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/0nly4Homebuyers/

To unsubscribe go here
http://www.onelist.com/unsubscribe/0nly4Homebuyers/

Good Morning Everyone!  Sorry, I am a day late with the newsletter.
Enjoy!

August 1, 1999

Welcome to Issue 7 of  0nly4Homebuyers Newsletter!
This is a bi-monthly newsletter published on the 1st and 15th of each
month by Cindy Snyder of Creative Mortgage Company.  Please feel free to
forward this newsletter to your friends!!
********************************************************************************\
*****

First of all, I would like to offer a warm welcome to all our new
subscribers! I know that you will all find something of value in this
newsletter.  If anyone has anything that they would like to see covered
please email me directly.  mailto:cmc@...
********************************************************************************\
*****

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT! Creative Mortgage is proud to be recently named
the Memphis Branch Office of Dana Capital Group! This is wonderful news
as it will now enable CMC to work with FHA and VA loans and reach a
total of 42 states! If you are in the market for a New Home Loan,
Refinancing an Existing Home or an Equity Loan, Creative Mortgage
Company can help you!
Visit our website at http://www.creativemortgageco.com/
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Long Distance for 7.5 cents per minute 24/7!!!!!!
Have you checked your phone bills lately?  Are you paying too much for
Long Distance? You can get long distance service for 7 1/2 cents per
minute! 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!  Need an 800 number?  No
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Kim's Chuckle-A-Day... jokes that are 100% CLEAN!
One clean joke and a trivia question, sent on weekdays.
Email kimschuckleaday-subscribe@onelist.com to subscribe!
Visit the archives at http://www.chuckleaday.com/
********************************************************************************\
*****

In this Issue:

Today’s Rates
More on Credit Scoring
Credit Repair Help
Things to look for when inspecting the house

********************************************************************************\
*****

Today's Rates
Down Slightly!
30 year -7.325- with 2 points
30 year -7.625- with 1 point
30 year -7.875- with 0 points

15 year - 6.875- with 2 points
15 year – 7.125- with 1 point
15 year – 7.375 with 0 points

1 year ARM- 5.5- with 1 point
1 year ARM- 5.625- with .5 points
1 year ARM- 6.125- with 0 points
********************************************************************************\
*****

More on Credit Scoring
Last time we talked about Credit Scoring and how it is an essential part
of the mortgage process when it comes to determining your eligibility.
Your ability to manage your credit is a very important consideration in
determining whether or not you will repay your mortgage loan.  The
lender uses credit scoring to decide whether or not to consider you a
good credit risk.

A credit score is a summary of a borrower’s credit report and it is
given a numerical value.  Banks and other lenders have used credit
scoring for years and over time it has proven to be a reliable
indicator.

Now we are going to discuss some of those criteria.

Payment History
How you have paid your bills in the past gives the lender an indication
of how you can be expected to pay them in the future.  If your record
shows that you have a habit of paying after the due date, this can lower
the score.  How often you are late, how recently you have been late and
how long you were delinquent on any bill at one time are all determining
factors.  Make sure you mail those bills before the due dates in order
to allow for delays by the US Mail or delays in posting to your
accounts.

Outstanding Debt
The lender wants to know how much credit you already have and how much
of that you have used.  In other words.  You have 3 credit cards with
$5000 limits on each.  Ok, you have zero balance on one.  You owe $500
on another and then the 3rd  is maxed out.  You actually have $9500 in
available credit…should you decide to use it.  If you have cards that
you rarely use and and there is no balance or a very small one, you
should think about paying it off and closing that account.  You credit
score will improve because it is not only the amount of debt you owe….it
is also how much more debt you could rack up  that will lower your
score.

Credit History
How long have you had credit?  Generally the longer the better and the
higher your score…as long as you have managed it well.  However, people
with “new” credit histories or those with just one or two accounts can
get a good score too.  If you have just recently established credit or
only have a few references, that does not mean you can’t get a mortgage
loan.  There is such as thing as a “nontradional” credit report that is
based on how well you have paid other types of debt….Rent or Utilities
for instance.

Credit Inquiries
Did you know that everytime someone checks your credit report, it is
noted on your account as an inquiry and can bring your score down?  That
is because if you are applying for a lot of credit and getting it, you
could become a higher risk.  The report will not whether you got the
credit or not.  Only that you applied with a company for credit and they
checked your history.  So be careful.  Only allow someone to check your
history if you are really sure you want credit with that company.  I had
this happen to me a few years ago when we were shopping for our first
new car.  We went to several dealerships trying to get the best deal.  I
had no idea that they were checking my file at every single dealership!
Needless to say, my credit score plummetted!

Your credit score is based on all the above factors and others.  Having
established credit, paying your bills on time and keeping balances to
moderate levels will help to ensure that you have a strong credit
history and a good score.

So what is considered a good score?  Well that’s a good question.
Generally someone with “A” credit is between 680 and 800.  800 being
extremely good.  635 to 680 is “B” or above average.  600 to 635 is
average, “C” and below 600 is “D” or not too good.  Different lenders
may use different scoring methods and numbers so please don’t quote me
on this!  Good luck on getting anyone to tell you what your score is
anyway.  Lenders usually will not tell you what your score actually is.
 
********************************************************************************\
***

Credit Repair Help
What if you have already bit the dust on your credit?  Well, there are
legitimate ways to repair your credit.  Be careful of credit repair
offers.  No one can “remove” all the bad stuff from your record in one
swoop!  However, there are things you can do to help it along.  This is
a slow process, but you will be happy in the end!
1. Get copies of your credit reports and go over them….I know, I know, I
am saying it again.  If you find any descrepancies, write a letter to
the reporting agency and tell them about it!
2. Do not go out and apply for credit everywhere! Remember, all those
inquiries count against you.
3. If necessary get a secured credit card.  This is where you are
required to deposit a sum of money.  You then “borrow” against your
deposit.  Then each month you pay and it helps to build “good” credit.
There are several such offers out there, so if you decide to go this
way, do some investigation to make sure you aren’t paying extremely high
interest on your own money!
4.  I also want to let you know about an offer I just heard about.  They
offer unsecured cards guaranteed.  I have not used this service so I
cannot vouch for it, however, my understanding is that you pay a fee of
$29.00.  They then match you up with companies that will accept you.
You are then provided with a list of companies to apply to and you are
guaranteed that your application will be accepted.  You might want to
check it out.  Here is the link
http://www.credit-search.com/cgi-bin/RATS.cgi?16794/
5. Pay your bills on time, every time!  This includes your rent and
utilities.  Many times mortgage companies will ask for a letter from
your landlord stating that you have paid your rent on time for the past
12 months!  If you have no other credit references, many time we will
use the utility company.
6. If you have a lot of credit cards with balances, many times you can
contact the card company and ask them to reduce your interest rate.  If
you tell them that you want to voluntarily close the account and pay off
the balance, they will, sometimes, stop interest charges altogether.
7. Get a debt consolidation loan.  Pay off the debts and cut up the
cards so you won’t be tempted again.
8. If all else fails and you just can’t make the payments on time or you
just have too much debt to deal with…Contact a licensed credit counselor
such as Consumer Credit Counseling.  They really can help.
********************************************************************************\
***

ThingsTo Look For When You Inspect The House
Most sellers expect a potential buyer to bring a professional home
inspector through the house before closing.  And I can tell you that it
is a good idea!  When we bought our home, we got an inspector to check
it out.  He checked the wiring and told us which fixtures and outlets
didn’t work, he checked the plumbing and noted that the hot and cold
water was reversed in the shower, he checked for foundation problems,
the life left in the roof and just about everything you could think of!
He found that the furnace (gas) had a bad …something or other (sorry, I
am not very technically inclined)  and declared that it must be
replaced!  Needless to say, we refused to close the sale until they
agreed to replace the furnace.  That inspection, which cost about
$400.00 saved us over a $1000.00!  I highly recommend a professional
inspector.

There are many things that you will want to check on yourself that the
inspector does not/ may not look for.
1. Check the windows.  Are they in good shape?  Can you feel air blowing
through?  This is a sign of poor or worn out caulking or possibly poor
workmanship.  Do they have storms?  On all of them?  What about screens?

2. Are the door frames crooked?  That can cause you problems if you need
to replace a door or a storm door.
3. What about the closet and bedroom doors?  Do they open and close
easily?
4. If you are looking at a two story house….Do the upstairs floors
creak?  That can be fixed you know.  But it can also be expensive.
5. If it has hardwood floors, are they in good shape or are they warped,
cracked or separating?  Warping is a sign of moisture!
6. What about the carpet.  How long before you will have to replace it?
7. Same goes for the appliances. (If any)  How long will they last?
8. Do the bathrooms have good ventilation?  A good way to check this is
to look for rust spots on the vents.  Also look for peeling wallpaper
and a foul smell. Mildewy.
9. Flush the toilets and see if they flush properly.  You may have a
blockage.
10. How about the kitchen cabinets?  Do the drawers pull out and go in
properly?
11. Be sure to check the ceilings for cracking or water spots.
12. Lets go outside.  Is the deck or porch rotting?
13. What about the paint on the outside of the house?  Is it in good
shape or will you need to paint in the next year or two?  What about the
shutters?  Are they securely fastened to the house?
14. If there is a pool, be sure to ask about the age of the liner
(replace about every 6 or 7 years) and the pump and filter equipment.
15. Does the yard flood in a heavy rain
16. Check out the fence.  If it is wood, is it rotting and will soon
need to be repaired or replaced?

These are just a few suggestions for you to think about.  I am sure
there are many more to look for.  It is best to prepare a list and check
it off as you go along.  You will be a much happier homeowner in the
long run.  Also, if there are problems like we discussed above, you may
be able to negotiate a lower price on the house by pointing out these
problems to the owner.  Or they may be willing to fix the problems in
order to make the sale.
********************************************************************************\
***

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Well folks.  That’s it for this time.  I hope you gained some useful
information and will join us again next time.  Feel free to share this
newsletter with a friend!

To subscribe to 0nly4Homebuyers follow this link
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To unsubscribe go here
http://www.onelist.com/unsubscribe/0nly4Homebuyers/




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http://www.creativemortgageco.com/
********************************************
Free Bi-Monthly Newsletter on Home Buying
http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/0nly4Homebuyers/
*************************************************

July 15, 1999

Welcome to Issue 6 of the 0nly4Homebuyers Newsletter!
This is a bi-monthly newsletter published on the 1st and 15th of each
month by Cindy Snyder of Creative Mortgage Company.  Please feel free to
forward this newsletter to your friends!!
********************************************************************************\
*****

First of all, I would like to offer a warm welcome to all our new
subscribers! I know that you will all find something of value in this
newsletter.  If anyone has anything that they would like to see covered
please email me directly.  mailto:cmc@...
If you are in the market for a New Home Loan, Refinancing an Existing
Home or an Equity Loan, Creative Mortgage Company can help you!  We
write loans in 37 states!  Good Credit or…Not so Good.  We also publish
a  FREE bi-monthly newsletter with helpful tips for potential homebuyers
or anyone interested in learning more about their options.   Visit our
website at http://www.creativemortgageco.com/
********************************************************************************\
*****

In this Issue:

Today’s Rates
Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)
Credit Scoring
Major Credit Reporting Agencys
The Value Of  A Dime
Sponsor Messages
********************************************************************************\
*****

Today's Rates
Down Slightly!
30 year -7.125- with 2 points
30 year -7.375- with 1 point
30 year -7.625- with 0 points

15 year - 6.625- with 2 points
15 year – 6.785- with 1 point
15 year – 7.125 with 0 points

1 year ARM- 5.5- with 1 point
1 year ARM- 5.625- with .5 points
1 year ARM- 6.25- with 0 points
Private Mortgage Insurance

Mortgage lenders almost always require you to have PMI if you make a
down payment of less than 20 percent.  This insurance protects the
lender’s investment in your house.  The lender figures that if you have
invested a lot of money in the home, you are more likely not to let it
go into foreclosure because you will want to protect your own
investment.  Makes sense! The problem is that a lot of people can’t
afford a 20 percent down payment!  Nationally it is reported that about
40 percent of new homeowners are required to have PMI.  The bad news is
that you pay the payments even though the lender is the beneficiary.
What’s more, during the first few years of the loan, you are paying
almost exclusively toward interest and hardly any toward principal.  So,
you pay for years and you usually have to notify the mortgage company
that you are now under the 80% in order for them to cancel it.

The good news is that recently The Federal National Mortgage
Association, otherwise known as Fannie Mae, recently announced that it
will require that private mortgage insurance on existing loans be
canceled automatically once the mortgage reaches the half point.  That
would be 15 years on a 30 year mortgage.  This only applies to the
mortgages that are purchased by Fannie Mae, but others are expected to
follow suit.  Fannie Mae is the largest single holder of home mortgages
in the United States.

If you are a homeowner and you have had your mortgage for a long
time…say 10 years or if you have been making extra payments toward your
principle, it would be a good idea for you to check into this.  Call
your lender.

On the other hand, if you are thinking about buying a home, you might
want to consider saving more money to avoid having to pay PMI.  You need
to weigh the costs and long term benefits of waiting till you have
enough money saved against going ahead and getting house now and
realizing the tax benefits, quality of life and all the other benefits
of homeownership.

Credit Scoring

Your ability to manage your credit is a very important consideration in
determining whether or not you will repay your mortgage loan.  The
lender must decide whether or not to consider you a good credit risk.
When you apply for a mortgage loan, the lender will obtain a credit
report.  The credit report is provided by credit reporting companies.
(The three major ones are listed below)  These agencies provide
information about how you have managed your debt in the past.  Some of
the things they report are: How much credit you have, What types…ie
credit cards, car loans, personal loans.  How long you have had the
credit, how much you still owe on each loan (as of last report) and how
promptly you pay.

The lender receives the information from the credit agency and uses it
to determine whether or not you are likely to repay the loan.  Many
mortgage lenders, as well as other types of lenders,  who are
considering granting you credit use what is called “Credit Scoring”.

A credit score is a summary of a borrower’s credit report and it is
given a numerical value.  Banks and other lenders have used credit
scoring for years and over time it has proven to be a reliable indicator
of whether or not a borrower will repay the loan.  Several criteria go
into the make up of the score.  Payment History, Outstanding Debt,
Credit History, Credit Inquires and Types of Credit all are considered
in determining your score.  Over the next few weeks we will talk about
all these things.  There is just not enough time or space in this
newsletter to go over each and every item and each is equally
important.  For now, suffice it to say that the higher your score, the
better the credit risk you are.   We will discuss more on this in the
next issue.

I will, once again urge each and every one of you to contact the three
major credit reporting agencies.  Get a copy of your reports.  Go over
them.  If there are any discrepancies, write a letter to each agency.
Outline what the problem is and get it taken care of now.  I say this
whether you are considering buying a home, a car or getting a personal
loan.  Any problems can cause you to pay a higher interest rate which
computes to more money out of your pocket!  So contact them right away.

********************************************************************************\
***

Major Credit Reporting Agencys

Experian (TRW)
PO Box 2104
Allen, TX 75013-2104
800-682-7654

Equifax
PO Box 105873
Atlanta, GA 30348
800-685-1111

TransUnion
PO Box 390
Springfield, PA 19064
800-916-8800
The Value Of A Dime
  By:Sarah Kennington
http://www.thefrugallife.com/
I learned a valuable lesson last Saturday. I bought a Little Tykes chair
at a garage sale for $10.00.  I am guilty at times of not picking up a
penny on the ground or not cutting a coupon because it’s only worth 10
cents.  To live The Frugal Life trly means to do just that.  Live
frugally.

At home:
  Use half of a cup of detergent and vinegar for laundry.  This will
stretch the cost of soap and makes no difference on your clothes. In the
summer hang your clothes out to dry.  Saves a tremendous amount on your
electric bill.  Keep all doors in your house closed to help with the air
conditioning. Cook your own food.  If you can truly learn the art of
this your grocery bill will be cut in half. Set the thermostat as high
as you can and be comfortable. Learn to cook in bulk and freeze or can.
Try once a week or once a month cooking. When you've had a long day you
can just pull something out of the freezer. Grow your own vegetables. If
you have the space and sun why not grow your own.   I have 31 tomato
plants that I started from seed. The cost of all plants was about $3.00
and I am currently picking about 50 a day. If you grow your own you know
exactly what your family is eating.

Garage sale on a regular basis.
  Not only will this teach you the value of a dime but you can buy your
clothes, household needs, gifts etc. for a fraction of the cost. I
recently bought a pair of brand new Jones of New York sandals for $2.00.
I go on a consistent basis and am able to buy things throughout the year
for gifts. I've bought a case of hair conditioner for 1.00. I've bought
enough Olive oil to last me two years. Before I buy anything in a store
I think to myself "can I wait and buy this at a garage sale?". Most of
the time the answer is Yes.

Use your imagination when it comes to entertainment,
Go on picnics, go to the park, wait for movies to come to the $1.00
theatre, have friends over and everyone pitch in on dinner and a movie.
Trade babysitting with friends. Have your friends take your children to
their house and cook a romantic dinner.  Camp.  In starting with the
basics your imagination will enable you to carry it over into your
everyday life.  Chances are you or your spouse probably work hard for
your money so why not do the very best with it that you can. Don't give
it away make it work for you.  Being frugal doesn't mean living poorly.
It actually means just the opposite. Living within your means and using
what you can to save what you can. All you need is imagination and
skill. We all  have that.

Like I said, I learned an important lesson last week. Ten cents is a lot
of money.

Author Bio: Sarah Kennington, a mother of six, is the former President
of a small company in San                         Antonio, Texas and now
the Chief  editor of The Frugal Life http://www.thefrugallife.com
Subscribe
to the free newsletter at frugallife@... and learn how to do
more with your current                       assets.

And Now a Word from Our Sponsors!

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Ex-IRS Agents show you how to increase your take home pay by hundreds
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specifically allow those deductions.  Here is the address.  Check it
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Learn How to Market Your Online Business!  Do you have a website? Do you
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You and your pocketbook will be glad you did!  This is very powerful
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+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

To subscribe to 0nly4Homebuyers follow this link
http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/0nly4Homebuyers/

To unsubscribe go here
http://www.onelist.com/unsubscribe/0nly4Homebuyers/




--
Mortgage Loans Made Easy!
http://www.creativemortgageco.com/
********************************************
Free Bi-Monthly Newsletter on Home Buying
http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/0nly4Homebuyers/
*************************************************

July 1, 1999

Welcome to Issue 5 of the 0nly4Homebuyers Newsletter!
This is a bi-monthly newsletter published on the 1st and 15th of each
month by Cindy Snyder of Creative Mortgage Company.  Please feel free to
forward this newsletter to your friends!!
********************************************************************************\
*****

Creative Mortgage Company has a new site up on the web!! Go to
http://www.creativemortgageco.com/
Let us know what you think!
********************************************************************************\
*****

Homebuyers Newsletters has changed its name!! We are now
0nly4Homebuyers!

Happy Independence Day!!!

In this Issue:

Today’s Rates
Why is an Appraisal Important
Information Need for Loan Processing
How Much House Can You Afford
Major Credit Reporting Agencys
Sponsor Messages
********************************************************************************\
*****

Today's Rates

30 year -7.35- with 2 points
30 year -7.625- with 1 point
30 year -7.875- with 0 points

15 year - 6.875- with 2 points
15 year – 7.125- with 1 point
15 year - 7.375 with 0 points

1 year ARM- 5.5- with 1 point
1 year ARM- 5.625- with .5 points
1 year ARM- 6.25- with 0 points
********************************************************************************\
*****

Why is an Appraisal Important

Lenders evaluate the property with an appraisal.  Most mortgage
appraisal guidelines specify that the property be located in a stable
neighborhood where values are strong.  The top three criteria of the
home buying process, when it comes to appraisal are:  Location,
Location, Location.  Let’s look at the reason for this.

First of all, stable property will generate a stronger (higher)
appraisal for the transaction. The appraiser will look at other homes in
your neighborhood that are similar in size and amenities.  Part of the
appraisal will be based on the rest of the neighborhood!  Most loans are
contingent upon securing a certain loan size based on an appraised
value, an appraisal can make or break the sale.  Imagine what can happen
if you are trying to obtain a loan for a home selling for $100,000 and
the appraisal comes in at only $80,000!!  Think about it.  Do you really
want to pay $20,000 more than the house is worth?  I don’t think so.

Private mortgage insurance (PMI) and Homeowner’s Insurance will be more
readily available if the home is in a good neighborhood.   Any loan  for
more than 80% of the value of the home, you will be required to have
PMI.  Naturally, you will also need Homeowner’s Insurance to insure your
home against loss.  The insurers want to make sure that the home they
are insuring are in a stable neighborhood.  You will also pay a lower
rate on your Homeowner’s insurance if you live in what is considered a
good area.  The location of the Fire and Police Departments also figure
in prominently.  You will also have a wider variety of loans to consider
if the home and neighborhood are of good quality.

And finally, a home in a good neighborhood will have a strong potential
for appreciation making the resale value higher.  That looks good to the
lender but, it should also be important to you.  Your home is not only a
place to call your own….it’s an investment for your future.

********************************************************************************\
*****

Information Needed for Loan Processing

Here is a checklist of things you will need to provide to your Loan
Officer in order to obtain a loan.  The lender may need more information
than is listed here.  Items included are most likely to be requested.
This is a long list and I don’t want to scare you off!   These items
will be requested before the loan can be fully approved, however, you
won’t need ALL of this for the initial application!

Property Information.
1. Copy of the purchase agreement or if a construction loan; a copy of
the plans and specifications.
2. A legal description of the property
3. Multiple Listing Service (MLS) information sheet, if available.

Borrower Information
1. List of the borrower’s home addresses for at least two years.
2. Name and address of landlords for the last two years, if you are a
renter.
3. Names and addresses of all employers for the last two years.

Asset Information
1. IRS W-2 forms for the past two years.  (A borrower needs to
demonstrate two years of employment in the same line of work.)  Not
necessarily the same JOB, but the same type of job or same field.  For
Self-Employed we need two years of your tax returns in order to verify
income.
2. Two most recent paycheck stubs.
3. Bank statements for the past two months on all accounts.
4. Check and Savings account numbers and locations
5. Credit Union account numbers and locations
6. Mutual fund account numbers and locations
7. IRA and 401K information.
8. Explanation of any other income the borrower wants the lender to
consider toward qualifying.  This could be a number of things.  For
example, child support, alimony, bonuses, overtime, social security and
disability payments, pension income or rental income.

Debt Verification
1. A current listing of all debts owed.  This would include car
payments, credit cards, personal loans, student loans, etc.  You will
need account numbers, name and addresses of the creditors, monthly
payment amounts and estimated balances.
2. Documentation of any current mortgages and home equity loans
including any recently paid off mortgages.  If the borrower is in the
process of selling a home, be prepared to provide the lender with copies
of the HUD-1 closing statements.
3. If you are renting out your old home, you will need to provide a copy
of a one year lease, signed by the new tenant, prior to closing.
4. Information about outstanding student loans.
5. A copy of any divorce decree or separation agreement to document
alimony or child support.
6. If you are the co-signer on a loan, you will also have to include
that in your debts.  However, if you can prove that the main signer is
actually paying the debt, it won’t be counted.
7. Information about any automatic drafts from your checking or savings
accounts.
8. A copy of any bankruptcy proceedings, if applicable.
9. A gift letter or explanation of funds source for closing costs.  Ie.
Savings, sale of assets, etc.
10. If this is a VA loan, you will need your original Certificate of
Eligibility and DD214.
11. An explanation letter of any late payments, judgements, liens,
bankruptcy or foreclosure.
12. A check for the application fee and credit report, as well as, the
appraisal fee.


How Much House Can you Afford?

When you are shopping for a home, you need to know how much house to
shop for!  There are two very important factors that determine the
maximum purchase price you can afford.
1. The amount of cash you have available for the down payment and
closing costs.
2. The maximum mortgage amount you can qualify for based on your income
and credit history.

To figure out the largest mortgage you can qualify for try this.  Take
your total gross annual income (before taxes) and multiply that by
three.  That figure will be approximately your maximum mortgage amount.
Example:  You make $$30,000 per year, gross.  Times three would equal
$90,000.  That would be the most you could qualify for.  Of course, this
rule is not concrete.  If you have a $30,000 down payment, you could
qualify for more.  But it is a good “rule of thumb”.  Also, keep in mind
variables like the interest rates, they type of loan you want, your
outstanding debt, etc.

The outstanding debt is the “monkey wrench” in most of the cases I deal
with.  Generally, the guidelines say that your total outstanding debts
including your mortgage with taxes and insurance should equal no more
than 28% of your total income.  That is really hard to do these days.
Thankfully there are many programs out there that won’t hold you to
that.  However, keep your credit in good standing!  What your credit
report contains tells the real story and can make or break you when it
comes to a mortgage loan.  I will again include the addresses and phone
numbers of the three major credit reporting agencies.  I urge you all to
contact all three and request a copy of your report.  Go over it with a
fine tooth comb.  If you find any discrepancies, write a letter to the
credit bureau with that listing and tell them you are disputing!
Believe me, you will be glad you did!
********************************************************************************\
***

Major Credit Reporting Agencys

Experian (TRW)
PO Box 2104
Allen, TX 75013-2104
800-682-7654

Equifax
PO Box 105873
Atlanta, GA 30348
800-685-1111

TransUnion
PO Box 390
Springfield, PA 19064
800-916-8800
********************************************************************************\
*****

And Now a Word from Our Sponsors!

Leather Spinsters Newsletter----"The voice of single careerwomen."
Newsletter dedicated to the emotional,physical, and spiritual needs of
Single careerwomen.FREE to subscribe - send e-mail to:
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+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

$ave Money on Your Taxes!
Ex-IRS Agents show you how to increase your take home pay by hundreds
per month!  Cut your income taxes by as much as 1/2 or more and give
yourself and immediate pay raise!    Every deduction in the system is
directly referenced to the IRS Tax Code and Regulations that
specifically allow those deductions.  Here is the address.  Check it
out!  http://www.taxcutirs.com/tax/tax2783825/
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Learn How to Market Your Online Business!  Do you have a website? Do you
need help with starting and/or promoting your business?  Corey Rudel’s
course is a must have for anyone trying to market a product on the
internet.  Go check it out at http://www.marketingtips.com/t.cgi/25881
You and your pocketbook will be glad you did!  This is very powerful
information.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

If you are in the market for a New Home Loan, Refinancing an Existing
Home or an Equity Loan, Creative Mortgage Company can help you!  We
write loans in 37 states!  Good Credit or…Not so Good.  We also publish
a  FREE bi-monthly newsletter with helpful tips for potential homebuyers
or anyone interested in learning more about their options.   Visit our
website at http://www.creativemortgageco.com/

********************************************************************************\
****

We hope you all enjoyed this edition of 0nly4Homebuyers.  Feel free to
forward it to your friends and relatives if you so choose.

  To subscribe to 0nly4Homebuyers follow this link
http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/0nly4Homebuyers/

To unsubscribe go here
http://www.onelist.com/unsubscribe/0nly4Homebuyers/

Until next time, hope you all have a good Independence Day and agreat
two weeks.

June 15, 1999

Welcome to Issue 4 of the 0nly4Homebuyers Newsletter!
This is a bi-monthly newsletter published on the 1st and 15th of each
month by Cindy Snyder of Creative Mortgage Company.
Please feel free to forward this newsletter to your friends!!
********************************************************************************\
*****

Creative Mortgage Company has a new site up on the web!! Go to
http://www.creativemortgageco.com/   Let us know what you think!
********************************************************************************\
*****

Homebuyers Newsletters has changed its name!! We are now
0nly4Homebuyers!

In this Issue:

Today’s Rates.   Jumped Even Higher!!!
Renting vs Owning
How to Avoid Being Placed for Collection
MoneySaving Tips
Sponsor Messages
********************************************************************************\
*****

Today's Rates

30 year -7.25- with 2 points
30 year -7.5- with 1 point
30 year -7.625- with 0 points

15 year - 6.75- with 2 points
15 year – 7.125- with 1 point
15 year - 7.25- with 0 points

1 year ARM- 5.5- with 1 point
1 year ARM- 5.75- with .5 points
1 year ARM- 5.99- with 0 points
********************************************************************************\
*****

Renting vs Owning

There are many considerations to make when it comes to buying a house or
continuing to rent.  You should take both your financial situation and
your lifestyle into consideration.  Do you pine for a home of your own?
To paint it wild colors at your whim, to putter in your garden out
back?  Or are you too busy or not enjoy yard work and hate to paint?
Can you afford it?  Can you afford not to?  These are the questions that
you will need to answer before making that big decision.  I am going to
cover some advantages to both.  Only you can decide what is most
important to you.

Advantages to Renting

Less Expensive than Home Ownership.
Typically, you will pay less for rent than you will each month to buy a
home.  Plus, homeowners must bear the cost of repairs to the property as
well as, property taxes and insurance.

More Available Money.
  Renters will, generally,   have more available money for “toys” such
as, cars, mountain bikes, boats, etc.  Also they have more money
available for stocks, bonds and other investments.

Freedom
As a renter, you have a lease, generally for one year.  If you decide
you don’t like the neighbors, you can move!

Repairs and Maintenance
You won’t have to worry about that leaky roof or the backed up toilet.
Call the landlord.

Advantages to Owning

Your Own Place.
Its yours!!  You can do what you like.  Paint it, wallpaper it, put in
new flooring and carpet.  Build a deck.  Put up a tree swing.  Have a
garden and  pets!

Stability
When you  buy a home, you are also buying stability.  A place to come
home to that is all yours.  It’s a good feeling!

Build Equity
When you pay rent, the only person making money is your landlord.  When
you own your own home, you are building equity for yourself. Each month
when you pay that mortgage, you are buying a little piece of your home.
Once you have built up enough equity, you can use that equity as
collateral for another loan or when you sell the house you will have
profit.

Tax Breaks
The government encourages home ownership by writing it into our tax
laws.  Interest on your home mortgage is tax deductible!  Since most of
the interest is paid during the first few years of the mortgage, this
can be a significant sum of money!



********************************************************************************\
*****

Tips to avoid being placed for collection
Michelle Dunn, M.A.D. Collection Agency

If you try to use your MasterCard to pay off your Visa, need to decide
which bills to pay and which to let slide or have to much month left at
the end of the money, you may need some help getting your finances in
order.

Take a moment and list all the companies and people you owe money to.
Add it up exactly to find out how much you owe.  When you know how much
you owe in total and to whom, add up the payments you have to make this
month.  Then add up all the money you will make this month, including
salary interest on accounts, anything you can count on receiving.  Then
subtract the amount of money you will need to pay rent or make house
payments and pay the electric bill or phone bill, or for food, do you
have enough money left to make all of your payments this month?

If not, you will need to decide what to pay right way and then plan how
and when to pay the others.

The first step to take when you discover that you will not be able to
make a payment on time is to contact your creditor, or the person to
whom you owe the money, IMMEDIATELY!  Explain to them your financial
situation and set up a payment plan you can afford.  Your creditor is
more likely to understand and helpful if you contact them rather than
ignore them and become overdue without an explanation.

You can also try to come up with some extra money you might not have
considered, such as savings bonds, or stocks that can be sold.  Maybe
have a garage sale or list large items in a local paper for sale.
Another way to discover money is to decrease your expenses, try bringing
your lunch to work rather than eating out.

Keep track of all the money you spend.  You can write down everytime you
purchase something in a notebook, you will be surprised at how much this
can add up to!  It also helps curb spending, since you will think before
you purchase, I will have to write this down…hmmm do I really need
this?  You will never ask again, “Where does it all go?”

If you do have an account placed for collection remember that debt
collectors are trained to solve payment problems.  Be honest with the
collector about your inability to pay or not to pay and make a payment
plan and stick to it.  Always communicate with the debt collector.  If
you are not able to make a payment, call and let them know.

If you try all of these ideas and still have problems, maybe you should
consider calling a non-profit Consumer Credit Counseling Service.

M.A.D. Collection Agency also offers the following information that can
help you with your finances.
  Solving Payment Problems Brochure   Free
   Making the Most of your Money    $2.00
   Solve it! A Consumers Guide to Solving Payment Problems $3.00
Please send your check or money order to:

M.A.D. Collection Agency
PO Box 667
Holderness NH 03245

http://www.madagency.com
mailto:madclect@...
Phone (603) 536-4090

********************************************************************************\
****

MoneySaving Tip From our Readers and Friends

I am saving on my utilities this year over last year's usage for air
conditioning,  by utilizing my ceiling fan in the room I'm in most,
Dining/Living Room; this is where I work on my business at the computer
and
keep a watchful ear and eye on the kids playing in the back yard.
I am also keeping the windows closed.  I have shades and draperies on
the
windows; when the temperature rises to say 78 degrees, it's time to let
the
a/c run for a while.

Carol Whitenight
Cari's Christian Corner has Frames for those Mom's/Father's Day pics.
Come
visit us at http://www.cariscorner.com/
********************************************************************************\
****

Cindy’s Personal Top Ten Things to do to Cut your Household Expenses

1. Hang out the wash more often!  It smells wonderful!
2. Use less detergent.  You really don’t need the entire cupful and your
clothes will be just as clean.
3.  Turn off lights.  This is a biggie for me.
4.  Keep the doors and windows open, Use Fans.
5.   If you must use the dryer then dry one load after another.
6.   Watch the grocery store ads, go to 2 or 3 stores and only buy the
loss leaders
7.   Grow your own veggies.
8.   Get a freezer. (For bulk sale meats, cereal, bread, even milk!)
9.   Clean your own carpets.
10.  Make a budget and stick to it religiously.


********************************************************************************\
****

Do you have a moneysaving tip you would like to share?  Or a topic you
would like to see covered in this newsletter? If so, please send it in!
mailto:cmc@.../
********************************************************************************\
****

And now a word from our sponsors!

Long Distance for 7.5 cents per minute 24/7!!!!!!
Are you paying too much for Long Distance?  If you are interested in
saving money on your phone bill, this is the place to go!  You can get
long distance service for 7 1/2 cents per minute! 24 hours a day, 7 days

a week!  Need an 800 number?  No problem!.  Order online!
  Go to http://LD.net/7.5/snyd/ and sign up today!

********************************************************************************\
*****

$$$$Save Money on Your Taxes!$$$$$
Ex-IRS Agents show you how to increase your take home pay by hundreds
per month!  Cut your income taxes by as much as 1/2 or more and give
yourself and immediate pay raise!    Every deduction in the system is
directly referenced to the IRS Tax Code and Regulations that
specifically allow those deductions.  Here is the address.  Check it
out!  http://www.taxcutirs.com/tax/tax2783825/
********************************************************************************\
*****

Learn How to Market Your Online Business!  Do you have a website? Do you
need help with starting and/or promoting your business?  Corey Rudel’s
course is a must have for anyone trying to market a product on the
internet.  Go check it out at http://www.marketingtips.com/t.cgi/25881
You and your pocketbook will be glad you did!  This is very powerful
information.

We hope you all enjoyed this edition of 0nly4Homebuyers.  Feel free to
forward it to your friends and relatives if you so choose.

  To subscribe to 0nly4Homebuyers follow this link
http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/0nly4Homebuyers/

To unsubscribe go here
http://www.onelist.com/unsubscribe/0nly4Homebuyers/

Hope you all have a great two weeks.

Hello,

There is a new survey for the 0nly4Homebuyers community.

What have you found to be your biggest challenge in obtaining financing?

----

Possible answers are:

o Bad Credit
o No Credit
o Too much Debt
o Can't find a lender
o Not enough money for a down payment
o Not enough money for closing
o Don't really understand the process
o No one will work with me to obtain financing
o I get the runaround, ie..promises to call me back, etc
o All of the above


To vote, please visit the following web page:

http://www.onelist.com/surveycenter/0nly4Homebuyers


Thanks!

0nly4Homebuyers Owner

June 1, 1999

Welcome to Issue 3 of the Homebuyers Newsletter
This is a bi-monthly newsletter published on the 1st and 15th of each
month by Cindy Snyder of Creative Mortgage Company.
Please feel free to forward this newsletter to your friends!!
********************************************************************************\
*******

Creative Mortgage Company has a new site up on the web!! Go to
http://www.creativemortgageco.com/ Let us know what you think!  We would
love to hear your input!  Speaking of input, if anyone has any subject
they would like to see covered in this newsletter, please email us
here.  mailto:cmc@.../
********************************************************************************\
*******

In this Issue:
Today's Rates
So You Want to Buy a House
A word from our Sponsors
********************************************************************************\
*******

Today's Rates
30 year -7.125- with 2 points
30 year -7.375- with 1 point
30 year -7.5- with 0 points

15 year - 6.625- with 2 points
15 year - 6.875- with 1 point
15 year - 7.125- with 0 points

1 year ARM- 5.125- with 1 point
1 year ARM- 5.375- with .5 points
1 year ARM- 5.625- with 0 points
********************************************************************************\
********

So You Want to Buy A House

It really is not as hard as you might think. Today, there are many
different
loan programs to choose from. Almost anyone can qualify. The most
important criteria is your income and your outgo, but credit rating is
what will determine how good of a deal you can get on your loan.

Mortgage lenders and anyone else who is considering granting you credit
will check your credit report.  A scoring method is used.  Different
lenders use different scoring methods, but the higher your score, the
better credit rating you have AND the better interest rate you get.
This is true no matter what you are buying on credit.

I have listed a few tips to get your credit in shape before you start
house
hunting.

1. Get a copy of your credit report.  Go through it and understand what
it
contains. The credit-reporting agency will include a sheet explaining
what
all the codes mean.

2. If there is anything on the credit report that you feel is in error,
write
a letter to the credit-reporting agency informing them that you are
disputing
the claim and ask them to remove or correct it.  At the very least, they

are required to put a note on the account that you are disputing the
charges.

3. If there are old accounts on the report that have long since been
paid
off, ask for them to be removed from your report.  Believe it or not...
These will count against you!

4. Be careful what you ask for.  The more open credit you have.....the
lower
your credit score.  That means that if you have four or five credit
cards,
even if there are no balances, it will count against your score.  So if
you have
cards that you are not using close those accounts and be sure to notify
the
credit reporting agencies!.  Of course, if you have four or five cards
with
thousands owing on all....not good, work on getting those paid down.

5. Be prepared to write a letter to the lender explaining the
circumstances
behind ANY derogatory items.  Most lenders are understanding about past
problems..IF you have made an effort to clear these up!

6. Judgments and liens also show up on your credit report.  If you have
either of these against you, make sure they get paid immediately.

7. Bankruptcy will show up on your credit report.  Chapter 7 stays on
your report for up to 10
years.  Chapter 13, also called the Wage Earner stays on for up to 7
years.
Don't let that scare you.  There are  loan programs for people in
this situation.  Most lenders will require you to wait 2 to 3 years
after
bankruptcy is filed.  Of course, the best plan of action is never to get
to
that stage.  Work with a credit counseling service instead.  You will be
glad
you did.  It is a long uphill climb out of that hole.

8. Be careful how often you apply for credit.  Each inquiry will count
against your credit score, even if you decide against taking the loan!
Inquiries stay on your report for up to 2 years.  Lenders will see that
you applied for credit and assume that you have more credit available to
you than you may have.

9. Buying a house is probably the biggest and most important purchase we
will ever make.  Just go for it!  You will never know until you try!!
********************************************************************************\
****************

And now a word from our sponsors!

Long Distance for 7.5 cents per minute 24/7!!!!!!
Are you paying too much for Long Distance?  If you are interested in
saving money on your phone bill, this is the place to go!  You can get
long distance service for 7 1/2 cents per minute! 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week!  Need an 800 number?  No problem!  You don't have to dial any
extra numbers or anything, just pick up the phone and dial.  What's
more, you can order online!  Go to http://LD.net/7.5/snyd/ and sign up
today!

Note:  I personally use this service for my long distance and I have had
no problems at all.  One thing to note is that you do receive a separate
bill.  I am told that all the long distance companies are going in this
direction.
********************************************************************************\
**************

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$Save Money on Your
Taxes!$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Ex-IRS Agents show you how to increase your take home pay by hundreds
per month!  Cut your income taxes by as much as 1/2 or more and give
yourself and immediate pay raise!    Every deduction in the system is
directly referenced to the IRS Tax Code and Regulations that
specifically allow those deductions.  Here is the address.  Check it
out!  http://www.taxcutirs.com/tax/tax2783825/
********************************************************************************\
***************

The Ex-Wive’s Club is an on-line community for women dealing with a
broken marriage or relationship. We offer a safe environment of
resources
and friends to help you manage your life in a positive fashion.
Join The Ex-Wive’s Club and talk to people who truly understand what
you’re dealing with!
http://www.exwivesclub.com
mailto:editors@...
To subscribe to the Ex-Wives Club's Newsletter,
send a blank email to: exwives-online-subscribe@onelist.com
********************************************************************************\
****************


Mortgage Loans Made Easy!
http://www.creativemortgageco.com/
********************************************
Free Bi-Monthly Newsletter on Home Buying
mailto:homebuyers-subscribe@onelist.com/
********************************************

Welcome to the Homebuyers Newsletter!

Issue II, May 15, 1999
********************************************************************************\
**

In this Issue:
This weeks Rates
What are Points???
The Difference between Pre-Qualifying and Pre-Approval
Negotiating with Collection Agencies
********************************************************************************\
**

Conventional Loan Rates as of 5/14/99

30 Year Fixed……6.875 with 2 points
6.99 with 1 point
7.100 with 0 points

15 year Fixed…….6.375 with 2 points
6.625 with 1 point
6.626 with 0 points

********************************************************************************\
**

What are Points?????

Points are fees charged by the lender to pay for expenses in connection
with the processing of the loan.  Points are also called origination
fees.  You sometimes hear the term, “buying down the rate”.  That is
what you do  when you pay points.  Generally 1 point = 1% of the loan.
Look at the rates listed above.  You see that on a 30 year fixed loan,
the rate is 7.25 with 0 points.  But….if you want to get an even lower
rate, you can “buy it down” to 6.875 by paying points.  On a loan of
$100,000, 2 points would mean you pay $2000 to bring the rate down.
That may seem like a lot, but consider this.  The rate reduction would
save you $25.18 per month off your principle and interest payment.  Over
the 30 year term that is a savings of over $9000.00.  Only you can
decide if that is significant enough or not.  You really have to watch
the rates and see what kind of spread you can get.  Sometimes 2 points
will buy you a lot lower rate.
********************************************************************************\
**

The Difference between Pre-Qualifying and Pre-Approval

Pre-Qualifying is the process of providing information about yourself to
the loan officer for the purpose of calculating the dollar amount of a
loan for which you may qualify.  In Pre-Qualify you determine how much
house you can afford and whether or not you would likely qualify for a
loan

Pre-Approval is much more involved.  This process includes obtaining
information and completing the credit portion of the loan package
resulting in the borrower being approved by the lender for a certain
amount before the borrower has located a property to buy or before an
offer is made.  A Certificate of Approval is a valuable tool to use when
shopping for a home.  The seller knows that you are serious about buying
his property and there is no doubt that you will be able to get the
loan.  Many times you will be able to use this tool to negotiate with
the seller.
********************************************************************************\
**

I am turning over this section to my friend Carolyn Baker, VP of
Minnesota Credit Association.  Carolyn is an expert in this field.  She
in business to help you improve your credit.  If you are in trouble with
your credit, consider visiting her site at http://www.mncredit.com

Negotiating with Collection Agencies

  Can you ask a collection agency to remove an item and can the original
creditor list the original account if the collection agency is listing
theirs?  I will address the latter first.  The original credit account
can be listed separately from the collection account.  The original
creditor may have this listed as a charge off or profit and loss write
off.  But, it is still an account in and of itself and can be listed
separately as the collection agency purchases the account and therefore,
purchases the right to list it.

As you negotiate with the collection agency to pay this debt, you may
want to try to negotiate the removal of the item from the report.  You
can try this, but the collection agency has no control nor negotiating
power for the original creditor.  You cannot negotiate the removal of
the original item.  There is also some confusion as to the seven year
time limit.  The collection agency can report an item for seven years
from the ORIGINAL delinquency.  That is the delinquency that occurred
with the original creditor.  Even if payments are made to the collection
agency it will not restart that 7 year clock.
********************************************************************************\
**

Go to http://momsnetwork.com/suites/homeloans   Click on the Mortgage
Loan Calculator and calculate your home loan!!  Remember the calculator
includes only Principal and Interest.  You would need to also add in
Taxes and Insurance for your total monthly payment.

If anyone has any suggestions for subjects in future newsletters or to
comment on this one, please email me . mailto:csnyder1@...
I welcome your suggestions!!

Until next time…………………..Hope you all have a great two weeks!



--
Mortgage Loans Made Easy!
http://www.momsnetwork.com/suites/homeloans
********************************************
Free Bi-Monthly Newsletter on Home Buying
mailto:homebuyer-subscribe@onelist.com
********************************************
Get Long Distance for 7.5 cents per minute!!
http://LD.net/7.5/snyd

Welcome to the HomeBuyers Newsletter!

Issue 1,  May 1, 1999

This is the very first edition of this newsletter and I wanted to take a
moment to introduce myself.  My name is Cindy Snyder.   My company is
called Creative Mortgage Company and I am a Mortgage Planner.
********************************************************************************\
**********

Some of the articles in the newsletters will address credit and how to
get yours in shape for the loan process..  Over the years I have gained
a bit of knowledge about this subject.   However, I want to say up front
that I am NOT an expert in the field of credit or credit repair.
********************************************************************************\
**********

In This Issue:
Interest Rates Hit a 30 Year Low
Why Refinance
Let’s Talk About Your Credit Report
********************************************************************************\
**********

Interest Rates Hit a 30 Year Low
As of today. Conventional loan rates are as follows:
30 year…as low as 6.75% with 2 points
30 year…as low as 7.25% with 0 points
15 year…as low as 6.25% with 2 points
15 year…as low as 6.75% with 0 points

Folks, we have not seen rates this low in a long time.  Which is why now
is the perfect time to buy your dream house or refinance your existing
one!
********************************************************************************\
**********

Why Refinance?

Lower Interest Rates
One of the main reasons homeowners refinance is to take advantage of
lower interest rates.  For example, if you have a fixed rate mortgage
and the interest rates have declined since you obtained the loan, you
may want to consider refinancing for a lower rate.  Generally, you will
want to wait until you can lower the rate at least 1 1/2  to 2 percent.
For example, let’s say you purchased your home with a 9% rate 2 or 3
years ago.  At today’s rate of  6.75%,  you would save a significant
amount of money off your monthly payment each month.  On a loan of
$100,000 you would save $156.03 per month!!  Could you use that extra
money?
If you would like to try this yourself go to
http://www.momsnetwork.com/suites/homeloans and click on the Mortgage
Loan Calculator.

Of course, there are other factors to consider.  If you are planning on
moving within the next year or two, it may not be worth the costs
involved.  You would need to see how much the cost would be and make
your decision based on how long you plan to stay in the house and how
long it would be before you broke even.  Let’s say your cost of the
refinance was $3000.00.  Divide that by your savings of  $156.03.  It
would take you a little over 19 months to break even on the loan.  Of
course, you would also want to consider that most of the costs involved
can be rolled back into the loan itself, so you would have very little
out of pocket expense.

Build Equity Faster
Another reason to refinance is to build your equity faster.  Many
homeowners want to build equity in their homes faster and choose to
refinance in order to shorten the term of their loan.  For example, from
a 30 year loan down to a 15 year loan.  Let’s take same $100,000 loan at
9%.  The principal and interest payment would be $804.62 for 30 years,
but on a refinance for 15 years at 6.75%, the payment would only be
$884.90.   A difference of only $80.28 per month and you can pay off
your loan in half the time.

Switch from an Adjustable Rate to a Fixed Rate
During the times when interest rates were higher homeowners sometimes
chose an adjustable rate over the fixed rate because adjustable rates
can be so much lower.  Also an adjustable rate can get you into a larger
home right away, sometimes homeowners will choose the ARM because they
know that their income will be increasing significantly over time. Many
people will want to refinance when they see the rates start going up!
Personally, I prefer a fixed rate so I know it can’t go up.

Draw on Equity Already Built Up
A homeowner may want to refinance and get cash out with a refinance.  In
this way, you can tap into the equity already built up in your home.
This is especially nice if you are refinancing for a lower rate to
boot!  You can use this money for college, home improvement or debt
consolidation.  For that matter, you could take a trip to Tahiti!
********************************************************************************\
**********

Let’s Talk About Your Credit Report

So many people think that they can’t buy a house because their credit is
not in great shape.  Not true.  It is true that the better your credit
rating, the better interest rate you will be able to qualify for.

Recently, I wrote a loan for a single lady in Texas.  Her credit report
showed 7 unpaid collections totaling over $7000.  Not good.  It turned
out she had no idea!  This had all happened when she was married and
then subsequently divorced.  She had never bothered to check her credit
report.  All of the collections were at least 6 years old and one was
over 7 years.  We informed her of what the credit report contained and
she got on the phone to the credit bureau.  Come to find out, two of
them were already paid, two were reported as owing a lot higher than was
actually owed, one was well over the 7 year limit and had been charged
off long ago. (The agent at the credit bureau offered to challenge that
one for her.)  To make a long story short, she ended up only having to
pay a little over a thousand dollars to clear her report.

The moral of the story here is don’t let this happen to you.  GET A COPY
OF YOUR CREDIT REPORT.  Check it over carefully.  Write letters to the
creditors that are reporting in error.  Send a copy with a cover letter
to the credit bureau requesting that they put a note on your file that
the report is being challenged.  If you have old loans still showing up
that have long been paid off, ask for them to be removed from your
report.  Clear up all errors before you start the loan process.  This is
very important.  Do it now.

The good news is……. The Loan Was Approved!   She got a great rate (7
3/8) and will be closing in a couple of weeks.  So you see, her credit
was NOT spotless, but we were able to overcome the problems.  You can
too with a little advance planning!  Listed below are the three major
credit reporting agencies with address and phone numbers.  Call them and
request your report.

Experian (TRW)
PO Box 2104
Allen, TX 75013-2104
800-682-7654

Equifax
PO Box 105873
Atlanta, GA 30348
800-685-1111

TransUnion
PO Box 390
Springfield, PA 19064
800-916-8800
********************************************************************************\
**********

Go to http://momsnetwork.com/suites/homeloans   Click on the Mortgage
Loan Calculator and calculate your home loan!!  Remember the calculator
includes only Principal and Interest.  You would need to also add in
Taxes and Insurance for your total monthly payment.

If anyone has any suggestions for subjects in future newsletters or to
comment on this one, please email me . mailto:csnyder1@...

Until next time…………………..Hope you all have a great two weeks!
********************************************************************************\
**********

--
Mortgage Loans Made Easy!
http://www.momsnetwork.com/suites/homeloans
********************************************
Free Bi-Monthly Newsletter on Home Buying
mailto:homebuyer-subscribe@onelist.com
********************************************
Get Long Distance for 7.5 cents per minute!!
http://LD.net/7.5/snyd