Rebuilding After Katrina: Smart Energy Choices
Energy efficiency has been part of the American lexicon since 1978 when the Energy Policy Act was first enacted. Since then, energy efficient homes and increased use of renewable energy resources have become the norm in states like New York and California. Policies and programs have supported these ... more...

8 Tips for Keeping More of Your Hard Earned Money
Masters degree not required...just a little common sense, a $5.00 calculator and a realistic plan is all youll need.Theres got to be a better way resonates with many of us, when contemplating how frustrated weve become with our investment decisions. Too many Canadians are spending far too much on ... more...

Investing in Residential Real Estate: Achieving Positive Cash Flow
When investing in real estate, it is highly desirable to achieve positive cash flow on a month-to-month basis. This is true even if you are counting on property value appreciation to supply the bulk of your desired return on investment. If you are losing money month-to-month, you may find all of ... more...

10 Things to Look for in a Home-Equity Line of Credit
If you are a homeowner, you've probably received offers to apply for a home equity line of credit (HELOC). Handled with care, home equity credit lines can be an excellent way to improve financial flexibility, provide readily available cash reserves for emergencies, or pay for large expenses (like ... more...

Bad Credit Loans and Lender Questions & Answers
Q: What is a private investor and how do they differ from a hard money lender or a subprime lender?A: A private investor is an individual who lends out their own funds to borrowers who are unable to obtain a loan from a traditional lender such as a bank. It is also possible for private investors to ... more...

Reducing Debt Through Lower Interest Loans
It happens to the majority of us, credit card debt accumulates and before we quite realize it, we are carrying a debt load that is far beyond our means. When this happens, we need to take immediate positive steps to knock down the debt as quickly as possible. One of the most efficient ways to do ... more...

I Want to Buy a Home - Now What?
If you were to ask 100 women "What would you like to achieve financially?" Buying a home or apartment is usually one of the answers. Some women think that they can never own a home - which is not true! In fact, there are so many success stories of home buyers who never thought they would get there. ... more...

Home Loans
Buying a home remains the great American dream. Home ownership rates have been exploding in recent years, spurred on by the historically low interest rates in the home mortgage market. Home prices have been rising at far faster than inflation, especially in major urban areas such as San Francisco, ... more...

Refinance Your Home to Payoff Debt: Pros & Cons
If you own a home, you may apply for a refinance debt consolidation loan or I call it the (RDC Loan). This type of loan will allow you to have only one payment every month. This should give you a little relief and free up some cash for you. You may also be more attentive in paying your refinance ... more...

Home Equity Loans: Abusive Lending and How to Avoid It
Home Equity loans were initially designed to allow individuals who had not yet paid off the full amount of their home, the ability to borrow against what portion of the home they had paid for. So for example, a couple who had been making monthly payments for many years on their 30 year lease, ... more...

14 Common Credit Mistakes
Establishing credit and wisely managing your credit becomes easier when you know how. You'll feel empowered by taking knowledgeable steps towards good credit, and you'll be on your way to purchasing real estate and greater financial freedom.If you plan to finance real estate, either as a home buyer ... more...

Creative College Financing-The HELOC and the 529 Plan
Since HELOCs are excellent tools for handling irregular expenses, it makes sense that lots of people are turning to them to provide additional cash for college. Usually a student applies for as much scholarship, grant or student loan money as he/she is eligible, then the parent will make up the ... more...

Lions and Loans: Why Finance Should Always be Personal
Different types of loans are available for almost every aspect of your life: personal loans, car loans, secured and unsecured loans, home loans, homeowner loans, student loans, graduate loans and career development loans (CDL). If youve suffered from credit problems in the past and now hold ... more...

Guide to Bridging Loans
Here is a useful guide to bridging loans. This is a loan that is usually taken out to solve a temporary cash shortfall that may arise when buying a property or business. It's basically a very short term mortgage. Like a mortgage, it's a loan that is "secured" against property.A bridging loan is a ... more...

The Three Largest Factors In Your Interest Rate
There are three major factors that affect how much you pay for a loan. Understanding these factors can save you time, money and frustration.1. The Federal Reserve Discount Interest Rate.Banks and other lending institutions borrow money from the Federal Reserve Banks. The discount rate is the ... more...

The Three Factors of Credit-Worthiness
Between the Internet, well-meaning family and friends, and know-it-all articles in the print media, it's hard to know where the facts end and the nonsense begins. Facts are everywhere, but so are urban legends, hidden agendas, and opinions posing as truth. Fact or fallacy - it can be devilishly ... more...