What is a Federal Tax Lien?
A Federal Tax Lien (FTL) is a legal instrument that secures the claim of the United States in the right, title, and interest of a debtor taxpayer's assets. It is a public document and is recorded at the County Clerk's office or the Secretary of State, depending on local law. This is done to serve ... more...

Everywhere You Go, Your Credit Report Will Follow
Ever write your name in freshly poured concrete? Years later you come back, and there it is etched for every one to read. Credit reports mark your financial history like initials cast in concrete. Credit reports are more fluid since information about you gets added through your entire life. ... more...

Finding What is on Your Credit Report
A credit report is basically a file about you kept by lenders and banks. As annoying as it may be, it's still perfectly legal for them to gather all sorts of details about you. In turn, you have the right to check this file - and you should do so and inquire regularly about your credit report and ... more...

A No-Brainer Way Of Getting Credit And Credit Cards
What Is Your Credit Rating Now?If you have any charge accounts now, or have ever borrowed from the bank to buy a car, or if you ar paying on a mortgage, there is credit information on you.Up until a few years ago, you could only guess at what your credit rating was, because the credit bureaus who ... more...

Big Brother Knows What's in Your Credit Report - How About You?
Whether you are aware of it or not, credit bureaus have been keeping tabs on you and how you use credit. When it's time for you to apply for a mortgage, credit card, or personal loan, your credit report is what lenders look at to decide to approve you or not.Information about you is collected and ... more...

What's in My Credit Report?
Your credit report contains a list of every member creditor who has lent you money or provided you with credit in any way. It shows your charge accounts, automobile loans, bank and student loans, home mortgage, and any other credit-related transaction. It shows when the credit line was opened, the ... more...

Home Equity Loan Beware of the lingering lien!
A problem that often arises when people try to refinance their home is the discovery of a pre-existing lien from a previous loan that was not removed by the lending company. The cost of removing a lien and returning the title to the homeowner, a process known as reconveyance, is usually included ... more...

Understand a Real Estate Appraisal
Happy New Year. Make a difference this year. "Pay it forward" as in the movie. If you haven't seen it, WOW, do.If you buy a house or refinance one, through a lender, you will have to have an appraisal. The reason it is required is FHA insures the loan, VA quarantees the loan and conventional loans ... more...

What I Know About Trump, Koch and Anyone Who Owns Property
Did you know that Donald Trump and his companies have approximately 300 hundred files in New York public records. A lot of them were UCC initial, assignment, continuation or termination.Other files include mortgages, assignments, declarations, certificates and deeds. Some are condominium sales. One ... more...

Mortgage Glossary - A Glossary of Mortgage Terms You Should Know
Acceleration Clause A clause in a mortgage defining that the entire outstanding balance can become due and payable should mortgage default occur. If the entire balance is not paid, the property will be foreclosed.Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) Mortgage with interest rates that may be adjusted by ... more...

7 Mistakes You'll Want To Avoid Before And During The Mortgage Application Process
Heres a list of things you DONT want to do once youve decided that getting a new mortgage is something you need to do:1. Dont go out and buy a new car:Within the few months before applying for a mortgage, or during the mortgage process, avoid the urge to go out and make any large purchases such as ... more...

Understanding Mortgage Basics
As common as mortgages are, there are a surprisingly large number of us who are under false impressions about the way they function, and what they actually are. For one thing, though we do commonly call mortgages home loans, this is not at all what they actually are. In fact, mortgages arent ... more...