prudential http://www.artwoo.com Returned search results for prudential Copyright 2008 Sun, 23 Nov 2008 07:38:58 +0000 http://www.artwoo.com/rss/prudential Industrial Life Insurance http://www.artwoo.com/article/industrial-life-insurance http://www.artwoo.com/article/industrial-life-insurance#comments Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:57:30 +0000 prudential insurance companyprudential insurance company of americawage earnersindustrial insuranceequotemetropolitan historyinsurance service http://www.artwoo.com/article/industrial-life-insurance insurance service to the of the United States and Canada was the central theme of . It determined the character of the company's development as has no other single factor and its imprint is clearly marked upon the pattern of the Metropolitan's activities. It explains the development of the Industrial Department, which continued to be a very effective medium for meeting the insurance needs of this group. The Metropolitan was not the first company in this country to write .

The honor rightly belongs to the of America whose operations as the Prudential Friendly Society antedated those of the Metropolitan by four years. It is true, however, that the Metropolitan began to serve the wage earners of this country a full decade before the launching of its industrial business in 1879. Within the first years of its founding, the company underwrote the low cost life insurance of a workingmen's organization which received premiums weekly from its members and transmitted them quarterly to the Company. Thus the Metropolitan from its inception devoted special attention to working people, and has retained this as a primary and absorbing interest throughout the years.(.com/li/termlifeinsurance.html" title="http://www.equote.com/li/termlifeinsurance.html" target="_blank">http://www.equote.com/li/termlifeinsurance.html)

Industrial life insurance has been variously defined. It is essentially life insurance for the great majority of people who make up the industrial or wage earning population. It took form and direction as our mighty cities grew and as more and more people became wage earners. They had probably more need for life insurance than the better circumstanced groups, but they could buy it only in small amounts and could pay for it only out of wages usually received weekly. Experience has indicated that the families, for whom industrial insurance has been designed, generally did not find it convenient to remit the small premiums directly to the company, or found the cost of that method out of all proportion.

It was essential that someone receive the premiums each week at their homes. Here, then, is the essence of weekly premium industrial life insurance: insurance in relatively small amounts on the lives of working men and their families, paid for out of wages, to agents who personally receive the premiums weekly. Such insurance has the same objectives as ordinary insurance, but in more modest degree; and both forms are based on the same scientific principles of level premium and reserve.

In view of the pressing need of life insurance, especially no medical exam life insurance, by working people, it is surprising that this branch of the business developed so late in our insurance history. It was inaugurated in America, as we have pointed out, in 1875, by the Prudential of Newark. Workingmen, not sought by the insurance companies, at first attempted to meet their needs through cooperative assessment societies. Unfortunately, these societies suffered from the defects inherent in the assessment plan of operation, and they failed, as the assessment plan has generally failed, both in England and in America.

Following the Civil War, feeble attempts were made by one company or another to furnish insurance to wage earners, but they did not succeed, either because of the unsoundness of their plans or because they did not recognize the necessity of receiving the premiums at the homes of the insured. The fact is that Industrial insurance did not take hold in America until the Prudential, the John Hancock, and the Metropolitan launched it, following the essentials of procedure--actuarial, managerial, and administrative--which the Prudential of London had worked out during more than 20 years of operation.Sarah Martin is a freelance marketing writer based out of San Diego, CA. She specializes in finance, business, and low cost life insurance. For no medical exam life insurance, please visit http://www.equote.com/.]]> Critical Illness Insurance. How Critical Can You Get? http://www.artwoo.com/article/critical-illness-insurance-how-critical-can-you-get http://www.artwoo.com/article/critical-illness-insurance-how-critical-can-you-get#comments Sat, 16 Sep 2006 04:27:07 +0000 illnessesprudential policycritical illnessmedical conditionsregardillness policyfinancial advisers http://www.artwoo.com/article/critical-illness-insurance-how-critical-can-you-get critical illness policy on the market which attempts to go some way with to sorting out the perplexity regarding exactly what is, and is not, covered when it comes to claiming on the policy.

Traditional critical illness policies tend to cover up to 35 listed . Policyholders could become seriously ill with a condition that doesn't fall into the scope of the policy and find that their illness is not covered, whilst others may be diagnosed with a listed illness with a lower "grading" which is relatively easily treated, for which they get a full payout.

Because of this inequality, the Financial Services Authority is uneasy with regard to insurers failing to fully understand that cover is restricted to certain specific .

This new product is marketed by the Prudential, under the name of the Flexible Protection Plan, and is unusual in that it claims to cover an amazing 140 medical conditions. However, cover is based on the severity of the condition which could possibly cause some uncertainty regarding the grading of these illnesses.

This is how the plan works:

Listed in the policy are practically all serious illnesses and the payout when one these is diagnosed will be graded according to the severity of the condition. The Prudential says that by tying payments to the degree of seriousness of the illness means that more payments can be offered to people with debilitating illnesses, who may otherwise get nothing at all. An example of this is that should you lose the sight of one eye; the will pay 25% of the sum assured. Normally, critical illness policies would only pay out when total blindness occurs. In all, 140 severe conditions are covered.

A spokesman for one of the specialist welcomed the range of the policy, but voiced some concern regarding the implementation of these severity-based payments, saying that it would be open to argument as to what level of severity some illnesses would be graded as. It was felt that it would not be advisable to enter into this type of policy unless you had a very clear understanding of exactly how it would work. We quote "It will be up to the consumer to decide whether a guarantee of getting a smaller payment is better than possibly getting nothing."

The cost of this new policy is approximately twice as much as conventional critical illness cover.

If your main concern regarding insurance cover should you become critically ill would be the financial outcome, it might be better to consider life insurance. Particularly, if you have a family to support, you may need something that is going to guarantee their lifestyle in the worst case scenario and with the addition of some income protection cover, which would meet outgoings in the event of you becoming unable to work due to illness. This type of cover, unlike the critical , protects you against common conditions, which result in you being unable to carry out your work.

The best course of action would be to contact a broker and check out the alternatives. The internet's a good place to start and there are some good internet discount's available, along with plenty of advice. A good broker will be able to compare the products available and come up with the right insurance product for you. Get great articles on life assurance from Life Assurance Agent http://www.life-assurance-agent.co.uk . ]]> Critical Illness Cover -- A Wider Scope http://www.artwoo.com/article/critical-illness-cover-a-wider-scope http://www.artwoo.com/article/critical-illness-cover-a-wider-scope#comments Tue, 29 Aug 2006 02:27:18 +0000 black and whitecritical illness insuranceillnessescancerprudentialkidney failuresuccess rates http://www.artwoo.com/article/critical-illness-cover-a-wider-scope Critical illness insurance offers cover for certain specified conditions such as , heart problems, , loss of limbs, etc., The cover is quite simple and straightforward, in that if you are diagnosed with one of the severe listed in your policy a payment is made. On average 35 conditions would be considered as falling into this category with most companies. There is just one company, Virgin, who vary the cover by offering severity-based payments when cancer is diagnosed. Obviously with an illness such as cancer, there are various degrees of severity and with increasing in the treatment of this disease; this seems a fair way of dealing with the situation.

The Financial Services Authority are not certain that people realize the limitations on the number of severe medical conditions covered by their policies and that they could be in for a nasty awakening if they assume that every serious illness will be covered.

With this in mind, the have brought out a policy which lists 140 severe conditions, which will be covered by their plan. Rather than the "" decision made on diagnosis, this promises a grading of the payout according to the severity of the condition. A spokesman for the Prudential says the policy, named the Prudential's Flexible Protection Plan, will mean that more payments will be made to insurers with debilitating illnesses, whose illnesses would otherwise be outside the scope of the insurance and who would then get nothing at all.

An improvement then on "black and white", but could this leave a "grey" area instead? Apart from knowing that they are, in fact, likely to be paid out, the decision could be left open to argument regarding the grading of the level of severity of the condition: therefore consumers could be worried and confused about the final amount agreed. What insurers would grade as relatively minor may appear very different to someone newly diagnosed with a condition. It could be a case of accepting the fact that a smaller payment is better than nothing at all, but it could also be that the payment doesn't match expectations. It would be advisable to make sure that you thoroughly understand the full implications and terms of the policy before considering taking cover.

Conventional critical illness cover, for a typical 30 year old family man, who doesn't smoke would be around £24 per month, whereas it could more than double with this new plan.

It may be that critical illness cover is not the product for you. For financial security for your family, in the event of your death, life insurance would be the most important planning tool. To cover outgoings if you are incapable to working, income protection insurance could be useful. This offers cover for common ailments too, and not just the critical ones.

For advice and help on the type of insurances available, the easiest course of action is to find an internet broker, who'll be able to answer your questions and come up with a range of quotes with a minimum of trouble to you and ensure that you arrange the insurance cover which is right for you and your family. Get great articles on life insurance from the life insurance office http://www.life-insurance-office.co.uk. ]]> The Introduction of the Prudential of London http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-introduction-of-the-prudential-of-london http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-introduction-of-the-prudential-of-london#comments Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:57:23 +0000 cheap car insurancemortality experiencem craigbusiness in englandindustrial policiesindustrial insurancemetropolitans http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-introduction-of-the-prudential-of-london industrial insurance.

The records of the company show that the procedures and the forms of the Prudential of London were followed to a large degree, and these undoubtedly contributed to the immediate success of the venture. Of course, important adjustments to American conditions had to be made. There was a fundamental difference, for instance, in the basis on which the reserve liability was computed. To be permitted to transact business in the United States, regardless of whether it is life insurance or , a company was required to maintain reserves computed on the net premium basis, which made it necessary for American companies to maintain larger reserves than those on similar .

The computation of premiums in the earlier days, before the on this class of risks or the expense rate of conducting such business was known, was not easy. It was due to the good sense and skill of James M. Craig, Actuary of the Company, that the business was launched properly and safely. The Metropolitan's industrial business was begun with the issuance, on November 17, 1879, of 34 for weekly premiums totaling $3.95. Before the end of that year a total of 5,143 policies for $516,618 face amount were on the books, and those at the helm knew that their new venture was meeting a real need. By the end of 1880 the industrial business of the Metropolitan had already out¬stripped that of the two other companies then operating.

There was no sign of uncertainty as the new enterprise expanded in many directions. The greatest advantage which the Metropolitan enjoyed arose from the decision to bring from England a large number of men already well trained in the business of life insurance and home owner's insurance, a decision of historic interest, as the most direct transfer of old world marketing methods in the history of the industry. The first contingent of 21 men appears to have arrived early in the year 1880. All the men were expertly trained, most of them having previously been with the Prudential of London. (http://cheap-insurance-rates.com/home/)

Among these were the vigorous old timers Goldthorpe, Higginbotham, Booth, Selkirk, Shackleton, Roberts, Staniland--men who made Metropolitan history in the early days. Most of them were placed as superintendents or assistant superintendents of district offices in the larger cities of the country, and set to work at once to build up a solid field organization. The importations from abroad rapidly increased in number. Brice Collard literally commuted between New York and London, signing up more than 800 likely field men in the old country.

Altogether, including their families, it is estimated that some 2,000 persons came over in this directed migration. As Mr. Craig said in his company history of 1897: "To these, in addition to its own home force, was assigned the task of laying the foundation; of educating a body of efficient coworkers; training them to the best methods of house to house canvassing and collect¬ing; perfecting them in the intricate matters of bookkeeping, accounts, and the numerous forms inherent to a business of so much detail."Sarah Martin is a freelance marketing writer based out of San Diego, CA. She specializes in finance, business, and home owner's insurance. For cheap car insurance, please visit http://cheap-insurance-rates.com/.]]> Metropolitan Life Insurance Company's Competition http://www.artwoo.com/article/metropolitan-life-insurance-companys-competition http://www.artwoo.com/article/metropolitan-life-insurance-companys-competition#comments Sun, 21 Sep 2008 16:29:26 +0000 metropolitan life insurance companymetropolitan life insurancelife insurance companywage earnersimmense fieldtermlifeinsurancesummer soldiers http://www.artwoo.com/article/metropolitan-life-insurance-companys-competition Company had to overcome was the fierce competition of the older companies in the field. These could afford to pay higher commissions because their greater assets and surplus gave them a more solid financial position. The Metropolitan was unable to compete in commissions with these better established companies without seriously impairing its assets.

This situation was accentuated by the growing depression throughout the country. As a result, the company's business began to drop sharply in 1874, and continued downward for five years until 1879. In this short period, the number of policies issued annually declined from 8,280 to 510. The insurance in force decreased rapidly from $27,300,000 in 1874 to less than $12,000,000 in 1879. The company, to any outsider, would have seemed to be on the way to dissolution.

But even in these darkest hours the officers retained their vigor and faith. They were no mere . They had shown their confidence in the ultimate success of the organization by obtaining a leasehold and moving into the spacious building at Park Place and Church Street in 1876. They were confident that the company would soon return to the highroad of success.

It was the ever resourceful Mr. Knapp who pointed the way. He proposed opening a new and of operation--life insurance, .html" title="http://www.equote.com/li/termlifeinsurance.html" target="_blank">http://www.equote.com/li/termlifeinsurance.html, for and their families--where the Metropolitan would not be compelled to compete at a disadvantage with other companies.

In 1879 the company entered the field of industrial insurance. Thus began the establishment of the close ties it has always maintained with the working people of this country, a relation which has determined the distinctive character of the organization and its services. By entering this vastly enlarged theater of operations, the company was to influence the entire course of the business in this country. The year 1879 is indeed historic for American life insurance.

The decision to write industrial insurance was by no means a sudden inspiration, but a carefully planned move. Both Mr. Knapp and Mr. Hegeman were keen students of the business, and for a decade they had been following the discussions on the need for industrial insurance in this country in The Insurance Monitor, the Spectator, and especially in The Insurance Times under the distinguished editorship of Stephen English.

This branch had already achieved signal success in England, where the Prudential of London was carrying on a considerable industrial business and had home owner insurance, http://cheap-insurance-rates.com/home/, on the brain as well. Meanwhile American insurance officials had been warmly debating the pros and cons of Weekly Premium business.

In fact, by 1879, the Company already had had a decade of experience with life insurance on the lives of working people, sold on the basis of weekly premiums. It will be recalled that in 1869, almost before the ink on the new charter was dry, the Metropolitan underwrote a type of insurance on working people who paid their premiums weekly, and found this business both feasible and profitable. If the company only foresaw the future of life insurance--online life insurance quotes and all!

The most convincing argument for undertaking the new business was the success of the Prudential Assurance Company of London in popularizing industrial insurance among the wage earners in the cities of England. Both Mr. Knapp and Mr. Hegeman had watched this organization with avid interest. In the company's archives there is still an old scrapbook, big as an unabridged dictionary, labeled "Prudential of London," which contains booklets, pamphlets, correspondence, annual statements, newspapers, magazine and insurance paper clippings about the English organization.

It shows the evidence of painstaking study by these Metropolitan officers. They commented on the various forms of policies. They studied the annual reports of the Prudential. On its quinquennial report for the period ending December 31, 1876, are notations in Mr. Hegeman's handwriting, commenting on the vastness of the Prudential's Industrial compared with its ordinary business.

The premium income from industrial was 11 times that of ordinary. He noted the size of the average weekly Industrial premium, about 3 1/2 cents. "Very heavy loading," is his cryptic note on the figures giving the expense of the business. He underscored the stipulation that the full benefit was not to be paid if death occurred during the first year of insurance.

He studied carefully the ratio of expense to income. The Metropolitan officers learned also that while the Prudential had achieved phenomenal prosperity, it had gone through difficult years before the initial surplus was built up.Sarah Martin is a freelance marketing writer based out of San Diego, CA. She specializes in financial planning, business, life insurance, and home owner insurance. For free online life insurance quotes, please visit http://www.equote.com/.]]> Watchdog Wary Over Critical Illness Insurance. http://www.artwoo.com/article/watchdog-wary-over-critical-illness-insurance http://www.artwoo.com/article/watchdog-wary-over-critical-illness-insurance#comments Fri, 25 Aug 2006 08:27:17 +0000 critical illness insuranceassociation of british insurerslife threatening illnessinsurance policyinsurance industryinsurance policies http://www.artwoo.com/article/watchdog-wary-over-critical-illness-insurance critical illness insurance policy so that if you ever are in the unfortunate situation of developing a life threatening condition, you will be compensated.

But what if you wind up with a critical illness that is not guarded against on the ? What many people do not realise, and what can be of real concern, is that you may find that after you have purchased critical illness insurance you are only covered for up to 35 listed medical conditions. And this is the deal with most . So if you develop a not named in your policy you could be faced with the disastrous situation where you get no pay out from your insurance company at all.

On the other hand, it could be that you have an easily treatable sickness and because it is ranked with what the calls a "lower grading", you end up getting a full payout.

The Financial Services Authority and the are wary about whether insurance companies actually make these differences clear.

Jonathan French, a spokesman at the Association of British Insurers, says it is important that customers have an insurance policy fully explained to them before it gets purchased. "The situation we would not want to see occurring is for them to be buying a product thinking that it does something it doesn't do."

And for this reason, the ABI recently updated its codes of best practice for critical illness insurance. French says until recently, 35 conditions was the maximum number any company covered for critical illness insurance.

"What we set out are essentially the minimum standards companies have to apply to their policy. The guidance we have published improves the way the critical illnesses are defined. It makes it clear to consumers what levels of illness are covered and what aren't."

The cost of critical insurance varies. For someone in their late 30s for a 35-year term with a payout of £500,000, premiums cost anything up to £600. Scottish Equitable charges premiums of £290 and Scottish Provident charges £409 premiums for policies based on these conditions. Both these policies are reviewable. A guaranteed policy with Scottish Provident is £560.

So these figures give you an idea that the amount of money you pay out for this type of insurance can be expensive. You can imagine how infuriating it could be to find that you have paid out on the policy only to learn that when you do become critically ill your insurer will not pay you out.

There is now, however, a new critical illness product on the market. Prudential is marketing a new 'Flexible Protection Plan', which covers up to 140 medical conditions.

In the 'Flexible Protection Plan' there are partial payouts depending on the severity of the condition. If the condition worsens, there is more paid out to the maximum sum which has been insured. Most other policies do not offer partial payouts.

Take loss of eye-sight for an example. It would normally be the case with a critical illness policy that you would only receive a pay out if you became completely blind. But the Prudential policy will pay out 25% if you loose sight in just one eye.

But here is the catch. The cost of the policy is almost twice that of conventional illness cover and spectators worry that there will be some confusion about how the severity of an illness would be defined. Get great articles on life assurance from life insurance specialists http://www.life-insurance-specialists.co.uk ]]> Oakland Real Estate And The Lending Crunch http://www.artwoo.com/article/oakland-real-estate-and-the-lending-crunch http://www.artwoo.com/article/oakland-real-estate-and-the-lending-crunch#comments Tue, 28 Aug 2007 00:25:01 +0000 sub prime mortgagemortgage industryreal estate agentsloan documentsprudential california realtylast minuteprecarious situation http://www.artwoo.com/article/oakland-real-estate-and-the-lending-crunch mortgage industry, it's important for us to make sure our buyers are going to be able to get financing once they get into escrow. Today, because of the fallout of the sub-prime mortgage industry, lenders have tightened up standards and are examining borrowers much more closely.

One unfortunate result of this is that it can create a situation where a buyer can have their loan "pulled" at the even though the have already been signed. There was a recent case that involved an investor(who had great credit) made a $79,000 initial deposit on an investment property. After he signed his loan documents at the title company, the lender notified him the they are pulling his loan due to a change in underwriting criteria. Long story short, he had to forfeit his $79,000 initial deposit.

This is an extreme example, but one that is entirely possible in the new world of financing that we have. If you carefully read the loan documents that a buyer signs, it is made clear that the lender has the right to recscind the loan at any time before the close. This leaves buyers in a , especially if they have marginal credit and income. The fact that the lenders are experiencing hard times means that they are being much more selective with respect to who they lend to.

So the bottom line is, as real estate agents representing buyers, we must do what we can to communicate with lenders and try to avoid any surprises. The reality is, if the lender wants to pull the financing at the last minute, there is nothing the agent can do about it. So our job becomes to advise and make sure that our clients are getting financing from large, reputable lenders who are less likely to back off at the last minute. Hamid Grinage is a Realtor with in Oakland http://www.oaklandhomespecialist.com ]]> The Search For A Home http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-search-for-a-home http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-search-for-a-home#comments Thu, 20 Apr 2006 13:50:06 +0000 douglas elliman real estateprudential douglas ellimanprudential douglas elliman real estatepatiencemortgage brokerpricereal estate market http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-search-for-a-home
I bet you thought it was easy to find a home. First, you decided it was time to buy a home. You have general ideas of where to look and what you want. Then, you start looking and begin finding flaws with every property you look at. You then begin to wonder if what you want is even out there.

Well, this is the market nowadays. s are much higher than ever. But there are a lot of choices. Decisions become harder.

You will never get 100% of what your looking for at the best price possible. Because the best price possible is subjective to your circumstances. $559,000 dollars may seem like too much for one and not bad at all for someone else.

1. Make your list of wants, needs, must haves, and dislikes.

e.g. Must have 2 baths, must have a basement, etc.

2. Find an agent to work with. (it's Free) they have resources that save you time and money.

(statistics show you'll net more in your pocket with Realtor selling your home.)

3. Set a dollar amount. A proper range of Plus/minus $20-30,000 helps you find something you might not have noticed before. (don't miss a house because your price range was $1,000 less than the range your looking. It won't make a big difference in your mortgage per month.)

4. Seek financial advice: , banks, etc. Have preliminary steps in place before searching. Because if you find the right place to make on offer on, you want to be able to judge affordability and act quickly.

5. , patience, patience.

These steps above are simplified. But, they are proper steps to help you begin the process. And starting the process is half the battle.

You don't have to settle, but you do have to define your parameters.

Good Luck. Christine Boccio is a Licensed Sales Associate with Prudential in Long Beach, NY. For more information on the , free articles and e-books please visit: http://www.christineboccio.com.. and http://SummeRentals.ChristineBoccio.com.. - Web site SEO by http://TrafficXTC.com ]]> GreenPark Business Park http://www.artwoo.com/article/greenpark-business-park http://www.artwoo.com/article/greenpark-business-park#comments Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:58:22 +0000 cannons health and fitnesssir norman fosterthames valley areawaterside barm4 motorwaysuperb natural beautyriver kennet http://www.artwoo.com/article/greenpark-business-park
GreenPark is one of the largest business parks of its kind in Europe, covering an area of 180 acres, the GreenPark business development is set in the heart of the Thames Valley, about two miles from the centre of Reading just off the and around 30 minutes drive from Heathrow. The lies to the west of London and is one of the most prosperous business areas in Britain, second only to central London as one of the UK's leading wealth generators and is home to ten of the world's top 50 global organisations. Foster and Partners first brought forward the plan for GreenPark back in 1997 with the idea of creating a first class business environment that is both inspirational and stimulating. With the help of Prudential and PRUPIM this vision has gradually taken shape and grown to house leading companies such as Symantec, Cisco and Logica. The area where GreenPark now exists was initially low lying, agricultural land within the flood plain of the but has now been transformed into a mixture of stunning architecture and where native wildlife and the environment can flourish.

Facilities at GreenPark

The majority of facilities within Green Park are situated in Lime Square; these include the Club which consists of a gym, 20m pool, fitness classes and health and beauty studios. There is also the Isq2 and brasserie, which offers food and drink throughout the week and offers open air seating, alongside the 'Cafe 100' and the 'Bistro 100' on Longwater Avenue all of your food needs should be catered for. The Day Nursery on the GreenPark site offers pre-school children a stimulating and enjoyable environment, which includes secure play areas and rooms, sleeping areas and sensory areas.

Wind Turbine

Designed by , the GreenPark wind turbine is one of the largest land-based turbines in the UK and is easily viewable above junction 11 of the M4. The project is based around a partnership between Prudential and Ecotricity who are a leading electricity supplier who invest large sums of their profits into renewable energy wind turbine projects. The wind power project generates approximately 4.5 million kWh of green electricity every year, not only supplying the business park with power but also 1,500 local homes too and was completed in November 2005. Ecotricity has completed some of the biggest landmark wind turbine project over recent years, including several turbines at Sainsbury's stores, the Ford factory in Dagenham and the only wind turbine in the world that you can climb at the Ecotech Centre in Norfolk.

Further Expansion

The development at GreenPark is a long term to project designed to be added to as the demand rises. The development is set into three stages; Phase I and II consist of the construction of some 2.25 million sq ft of designed business offices that will eventually hold around 10,000 people, more than half of this space is currently occupied. As the business park offices becomes populated with professionals, there will be a continued growth in the construction of amenities, some of these amenities include cafe's, restaurants, banking facilities and a convenience store. Also planned in phase II is the construction of a new local rail station which will be attached to the Reading / Basingstoke line. During Phase III of the development of the site, there is a planned development of a further 1 million sq ft into business space and leisure accommodation including a hotel on the banks of the river Kennet.

With its central position in the Thames Valley business area, the quality facilities, its close proximity to the Madejski stadium (home of Reading Football club) and the leading example it sets in green energy, GreenPark has the ability to grow into one of the most important business areas in the UK.The author is a contributing writer for greenpark.co.uk. GreenPark Business Park Thames Valley is a leading Reading office. Providing quality offices in berkshire to let.]]> Long Term Care Provider http://www.artwoo.com/article/long-term-care-provider http://www.artwoo.com/article/long-term-care-provider#comments Tue, 08 Aug 2006 14:27:05 +0000 skilled nursing caremet lifeadult day carenursing homeshospice carehttpalzheimer http://www.artwoo.com/article/long-term-care-provider
To prevent this uncomfortable situation, many families who can afford long term care and have insurance to cover such, often place their loved ones in long term care facilities. Depending on the mobility and extent of illness of the patient, long term facilities can mean a few hours a day in an to 24 hour a day 7 day a week care in a nursing home.

There are several insurers that offer coverage for long term care such as , Prudential, and New York life, just to name a few. If your loved one had not planned ahead and purchased the necessary insurance, Medicaid (assuming they are eligible) will usually pay for most if not all of the expenses of long term care in approved facilities. Some of the long term care options are as follows:

•Adult Day Care: This service helps the caregiver by providing a nurturing environment where the loved one can be cared for during the day. This provides the much needed relief for the caregiver.

•Assisted Living: This is a facility for people who needs help with day to day living functions, but does not require 24 hour professional or .

•: This is care for the terminally ill, usually considered with cancer patients, but it should also be considered for and other patients with degenerative, debilitating illnesses.

•: A full time facility in which the patient is cared for around the clock by licensed professionals.

The key to providing long term health care is advanced planning. http://www.myquoteguide.com http://ezquoteguide.com/home/ http://ezquoteguide.com/car/ ]]> Child Insurance: A Threat? http://www.artwoo.com/article/child-insurance-a-threat http://www.artwoo.com/article/child-insurance-a-threat#comments Sat, 11 Oct 2008 05:57:30 +0000 legislative inquiriesstate legislaturespublic sentimentmassachusetts societypennsylvania legislaturemassachusetts legislatureextreme poverty http://www.artwoo.com/article/child-insurance-a-threat
In 1889 the introduced a bill to prohibit insurance on children. The idea spread to New York, Ohio, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and to Canada. For six long years into Industrial insurance continued their challenge. The most serious of these attacks was that of the of 1895. Charles Coolidge Read was spokesman for the for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and other organizations supporting the bill for the abolition of insurance on children. Sensational newspaper headlines inflamed with stories of starvation, , and suffering alleged to result from industrial life insurance.

When Mr. Fiske offered to answer the accusations through the columns of the newspapers, they refused to accept his statements except as paid advertisements. To put the facts before the public, his statement was printed at regular advertising rates. Next Mr. Fiske spoke in the chambers of many . With the tact and eloquence which had characterized him as a trial lawyer, he called attention to the flimsiness of the accusations, showed that even their few isolated cases when investigated had proved to be false. He successfully challenged his opponents to present one authenticated instance of the terrible effects they charged. His simple weapon was fact. He knew that ignorance and prejudice would be thrust aside by the power of truth. And it was.

In connection with the hearings, Mr. Fiske outlined the accomplishments and the benefits of industrial insurance and discussed the misconceptions that had grown up around it. He emphasized that a business which had been established for 40 years in England and which in two decades in the United States had resulted in the writing of nearly 7,000,000 low cost life insurance (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=er4uFwT0xvc) policies by the three leading companies must certainly meet a fundamental need. He proved that industrial life insurance was a real necessity to wage earners.

His review of the situation brought about a change in public sentiment. He cited previous investigations of Industrial insurance here and abroad. Pennsylvania had had a legislative inquiry in 1889, and after hearings were held, threw out the bill attacking industrial insurance. The movement in Ohio brought the same result. New York State had con¬ducted an investigation in 1890, and the Legislative Com¬mittees hearings convinced the man who introduced the bill that he had made a mistake, and the Committee then killed it. Mr. Fiske quoted the action of the province of Ontario, Canada, in which the bill to prohibit infantile insurance was not enacted into law. Connecticut, Illinois, and Tennessee all had had the same experience.

After weeks of the sharpest interrogation, the Massachusetts committee shelved the bill. Everywhere the inquiries that threatened Industrial insurance came to an end. At these hearings Mr. Dryden, of the Prudential, and Mr. Rhodes, of the John Hancock, gave valuable testimony, but it was Mr. Fiske who carried the main burden for the defense, and the signal victory was his.

Although the absurd charges that Industrial insurance led to crime and poverty were definitely and finally answered, there remained the hard core of truth in certain serious defects in the conduct of this type of insurance. It was true that the lapse rate was high and that the provisions of the policy were far from liberal. Mr. Fiske saw these as well as any of its sharpest critics, but he was also convinced of the essential good which industrial insurance was doing. He firmly believed that the weak spots in the Industrial business could, with time, be removed.Sarah Martin is a freelance marketing writer based out of San Diego, CA. She specializes in life insurance and the history of low cost life insurance. For a free no medical exam term life insurance quote, please visit http://www.equote.com/.]]> Shopping For Arnold Real Estate http://www.artwoo.com/article/shopping-for-arnold-real-estate http://www.artwoo.com/article/shopping-for-arnold-real-estate#comments Wed, 10 Oct 2007 14:20:03 +0000 real estate agentarnoldhave decided thatmultiple listing serviceaesales professionalestate business http://www.artwoo.com/article/shopping-for-arnold-real-estate Arnold real estate but you aren't sure where to turn for help? There are many homes in the area that may interest you, but if you aren't all that familiar with the real , you may not be sure how to get started or where to find these homes. It is true that the average person can feel very lost when it comes to finding a new home. If you you would like to buy in the area you have done enough, now you simply need to find someone to help guide you through the process. No need to get frustrated or overwhelmed, instead there are a couple of tools you can put to work for you so that you can find the type of homes you are interested in buying and living in.

The first tool that you might want to look into is MLS. This is short for , and it features all of the properties that are for sale in any given area. When you are searching for Arnold real estate, you can simply search for all of the homes in this area that fit your needs. The search tool allows for you to input all of your needs such as number of bedrooms, bathrooms, etc. so you only see search results that meet your needs. This is a fast and easy way to get an idea of what homes are on the market right now, and you don't even need anyone to help you do this. You can simply get online and look for yourself to see what is there. If you see something you like, then you can take the next step, or you can simply keep looking until you find some homes that pique your interest.

When you find some Arnold real estate that you find interesting, the next thing you may want to do is seek the services of a . A real estate agent can help first by showing you the home or homes you are interested in seeing in person. If you find that you really like one, the Realtor= can help you write up an offer. If you visit all of the homes that seemed interesting and you didn't quite like any of them enough to buy, the may be able to find some comparable homes that you didn't notice on the MLS or weren't yet listed. In short, a Realtor=AE can really help you get things going in the right direction because he or she will be familiar with the market and, once you are able to talk to them about what you are looking for, they can match your needs with their knowledge of what is on the market to find you the perfect home.

If you would like an Arnold real estate professional to help guide you through the process of finding and buying a home, you might want to log onto the Prudential California Realty website.

This website will give you access to all of the homes that are available in the area, and the realtors that are affiliated with the website can help you find and purchase the perfect home for you! Visit http://www.pcr1.com anytime to start looking for that new home and get in touch with a truly knowledgeable Realtor=AE today. http://www.PCR1.com was founded in 2002 by Broker/Owner Scot Patterson and has emerged as the industry-leading Real Estate provider in the Calaveras and Tuolumne county region, located in the Gold Country of the Sierra Nevada. For more information on arnold real estate please visit our site. ]]> Decision Finance http://www.artwoo.com/article/decision-finance http://www.artwoo.com/article/decision-finance#comments Tue, 03 Jul 2007 11:30:01 +0000 decision financefinance loansfinance loanpersonal loanssecured loansthis means thatboston consulting group http://www.artwoo.com/article/decision-finance Decision Finance was formed in early 2000 and is the trading name for Xbridge limited an online commercial, business, and financial intermediary for small to medium sized businesses.

DF has the backing of Prudential PLC, and Linklaters and Alliance, so you can be sure that with Decision s, you are being protected by some of the leading names in the financial industry. Over the years, as the needs of customers have grown, so has Decision Finance by offering ever increasing services to those in the small and medium business size brackets. Finding financial services on smaller scales can be difficult or worse, highly expensive, making them virtually impossible to afford for companies without a large profit margin. Decision Finance offers just about every type of financial service and insurance a growing business needs. This article provides an overview of the services they offer.

When it comes to business, having insurance is a necessary business expense. There are a number of options available for business owners. These insurances include public liability, landlord, professional indemnity, employer liability and wehicle insurance.

Decision finance loans are also available in both business and personal. There is a Decision finance loan for buy to let, and commercial options. If you are looking for a secured or unsecured personal loan, then Decision finance loans are also available. DF also offers lines of credit in the forms of credit cards if you need less than the Decision finance loan options available. Many business or have a set minimum limit: anything below that amount they will usually offer a credit card to provide the necessary loan.

offered by Decision finance are loans where some form of collateral is required to be attached to the loan. your property could be secured against the loan amount so that the lender would be able to reclaim any money owed if you default on your repayments. Decision Finance also offer unsecured loans which do not require collateral as security... however they will usually have higher interest rates and stricter guidelines.

If you are looking into options for a business rather than personal loan, Decision Finance loan options are open as well with commercial mortgages and buy to let options. Speaking with a representative of Decision Finance directly will provide you with more information on the details of these types of loans. If you are running a small business, it is usually more cost effective to try to get a buy to let mortgage which allows renting with the eventual purchase of a particluar property while a medium sized business may look into full-blown commercial mortgages in order to purchase space.

Which ever option you choose and whatever you are looking for Decision finance has options that can help you with your business needs. Remember though that Decision Finance also offers insurance as well as loans for both business and personal use as well as credit card services for those in need access to lower credit amounts. Don Whiting writes for a number of finance websites such as http://www.loan-seeker.co.uk. ]]> Oakland Real Estate: Short Sale vs Foreclosure http://www.artwoo.com/article/oakland-real-estate-short-sale-vs-foreclosure http://www.artwoo.com/article/oakland-real-estate-short-sale-vs-foreclosure#comments Wed, 29 Aug 2007 12:20:00 +0000 mortgage paymentsinterest only mortgageforeclosurerealtormissed paymentsfinancial hardshipbasis one http://www.artwoo.com/article/oakland-real-estate-short-sale-vs-foreclosure
For instance: A buyer purchased a property in 2005 using and adjustable rate or that was due to reset in two years. So today, the interest rate adjusts, causing the monthly payment to rise by 25-50%. This is one scenario, another one could be that the buyer simply lost a job or had some other which is causing them to have trouble paying the mortgage. In this situation, once three are missed the buyer is heading toward .

Sometimes a buyer can renegotiate the terms of the loan and have the lender add the past due amount to the "back end" of the loan and have you pay it off. This is done on a case by case basis.

One alternative is for the buyer to refinance into a better loan. Unfortunately this is rarely possible, because now the buyer has and has worse credit than when they started, not to mention there is likely no equity in the home.

Another alternative is for the buyer to file bankruptcy, which we all know is a serious endeavor which should be avoided if at all possible. It will leave the buyer with no credit for many years.

A third option is to simply let the house go into foreclosure and walk away. This option will leave your credit ruined for 7-8 years and make it highly unlikely that you will be able to to purchase another home within that time frame.

So in reality, the best option for someone in this situation is to hire a and try to proceed with a short sale. This way, you get the property sold before it forecloses and basically ask the lender to forgive any left over debt after the home is sold.

It's called a short sale because the lender will end up "short" on recovering the money they lended on the property. This however is good for YOU because you can get out of the property and not be responsible for the remaining debt. On the other hand, you may be subject to being taxed on the amount that you are forgiven. So if you owe $600k on your property, but that is all you can get for the property on the market, then after real estate commission and other fees you will end up with around $550k or so. This means the lender must agree to forgive the $50k balance, which would mean that the IRS will treat that $50k as taxable income. I would say that being taxed on 50k which is being forgiven, is better than having a foreclosure or bankruptcy on your credit any day.

In a short sale, the property needs to be priced attractively to make it move quickly. This doesnt hurt the seller, because remember they are facing losing the property anyway, and the money is going to the lender, not the buyer. For this reason, it's the lender who accepts or rejects the offers that come in, and they also must approve the commission being paid to both real estate agents involved. This is one reason why many Realtors refuse to work short sales, they can end up working for months and never get paid if the lender doesn't approve the commission (or the sale itself). Hamid Grinage is a Realtor with Prudential California Realty in Oakland. http://www.oaklandhomespecialist.com ]]> Omaha, Nebraska Flat Fee MLS http://www.artwoo.com/article/omaha-nebraska-flat-fee-mls http://www.artwoo.com/article/omaha-nebraska-flat-fee-mls#comments Wed, 15 Oct 2008 15:29:20 +0000 deeb realtynp dodgeberkshire hathawaymultiple listing servicebuyers brokercoldwell bankerpercentage commission http://www.artwoo.com/article/omaha-nebraska-flat-fee-mls NP Dodge, , Remax, Prudential, , Century 21, and many others. Some have just a few agents, some have hundreds, and others are even owned by Warren Buffett's ! Regardless, they all seem to be offering the exact same thing: a traditional real estate listing charging some at closing. While some will quote different prices for their services, few will offer a very small fee and no listing commission for the thing people want the most: a listing in the (MLS). For most brokers, offering something like this would make no sense. After all, they have office rent, multiple real estate agents, brokers, advertising, and a multitude of other expenses to pay. For flat fee MLS companies, however, there is potential to offer this option to consumers, while still eking out a small profit.

The way a flat fee MLS listing works is both simple and powerful. The listing appears as any other Realtor® listing on the MLS. Buyers browsing affiliated websites can find the property; Realtors® searching the actual MLS database for their buyers can find the property as well. So first and foremost, people will be aware that your property is for sale. Secondly, Realtors® show properties for a living because they want to earn money. The MLS is not just a database of homes for sale; it is a promise of compensation between brokers. If a buyer's broker brings a buyer that successfully closes escrow on the property, the buyer's broker is granted a commission at closing. This number is determined at the time of listing the property. Frequently, 3% is offered, although there is no hard and fast rule that any particular percentage or dollar figure is offered. While sellers would like to avoid paying commissions altogether, this figure will be significantly below the total commission if both a listing agent and buyer's agent had to be paid at closing. Because buyers' agents continue to have the ability to earn a commission at closing, they will show the property. In fact, no buyer's agent is fully aware of the amount that a listing broker is making on the listing side until closing.

As the largest city in Nebraska, Omaha's real estate market is not only the most vibrant in the state, it also has the largest number of sellers that have successfully used the flat fee MLS listing to sell their homes. There is no doubt that this option will become increasingly popular not only in and around Omaha, but also Lincoln, Grand Island, Kearney, Hastings, and around the state. On a final note, some may wonder if Warren Buffett should be concerned that there may be less revenue available for his realty subsidiary with the advent of flat fee MLS programs; our research indicates that he is going to be just fine. When he realizes how popular these programs are, he may end up purchasing a flat fee MLS company!Donald Plunkett is President of Congress Realty. Congress Realty is a flat fee MLS company in Nebraska and other states. More info: http://www.congressrealty.com]]> Mortgages: The Age Problem. http://www.artwoo.com/article/mortgages-the-age-problem http://www.artwoo.com/article/mortgages-the-age-problem#comments Fri, 25 Aug 2006 10:27:20 +0000 mortgage paymentspensionersniggardlyfixed incomemortgagesretirementpalatable http://www.artwoo.com/article/mortgages-the-age-problem Pensioners should be sitting pretty regarding shouldn't they? After all, they should by now have completed their payments and be the sole owners of their homes. Sadly, for some 600,000 pensioners this is not true -- they are still paying off their mortgages, and not just for a couple of years after . For example, over 20,000 who still have to reach the final payment are in their 80's.

Couple this with the research from the Prudential which reveals that almost 25% have insufficient funds to finance their retirement, and it becomes obvious that some serious problems exist. Having to find the necessary funds to cover the when on a inevitably means that some other parts of the living costs are not covered.

However, many pensioners would be pleased to be on a fixed income, provided that it was fixed at a point on the cost of living scale! When looking at the reality of an income which is usually increased annually, but by a amount which bears no relationship to the increases in costs generally (especially council tax), then the true effect is of a reducing income.

Inflation also takes its toll. True it is low at present, but even at 2.5% a year, the spending power of a fixed sum is down by virtually in just 9 years. So which way to turn? There are a few choices but none of them are particularly .

To provide funds for day to day living expenses it is possible to use the home as security for a re-mortgage up to the age of 75, but the interest rates are set at an expensive level. This is a route taken by many pensioners who can see no other way out of their problems, or are not prepared to take on the complication of other methods. Competition in the marketplace has resulted in more flexible products being available, and a lifetime mortgage may be rather more acceptable than it appears to be at first glance. It has the very positive appeal that it can solve the problems without the necessity to move home, and is worth investigating.

Equity release is another option which helps the homeowner to avoid the need to move, although there are usually conditions which have to be met before an agreement can be reached. For example, it is likely that the person wishing to release the equity on their house will have to be above a minimum age, and the house itself will have to exceed a minimum value. Also the value of the equity release will be only a percentage of the house value and some may find the figure to be disappointing. You would doubtless make your life a great deal easier when you bank the loan, but do not expect to live like a king! One advantage of equity release is that you remain the owner of a substantial part of the value of your house, and so will still have money which you can leave to your family.

Many will probably have contemplated taking in a lodger on a rent-a-room basis. This can work well but a lot depends on the lodger you get. Taking a stranger into your home is not easy, especially if you are of advanced age, and will require some give and take on both sides. Nevertheless, over 15% of pensioners would consider this as a way out of their financial problems.

You do need to carefully examine all aspects of taking in a lodger. Speak to your tax office to establish what the effect of the extra income would be on your taxable money. Also, if you receive benefits you may well find that the additional income has an effect on your entitlements.

If someone else (such as a mortgage provider or an insurer) has an interest in your house, you must get their approval before committing to anything. It would not do any harm to also have a word with the Citizen's Advice Bureau -- they would give sound advice, and could point you in the right direction should you need further information.

If you are reading this and you are well below 'pensioner' age, you should take it as a warning -- you could find yourself in this position unless you save hard for your pension and start doing so without delay. If you have been putting it off until you have 'got more time', you should realise that time is slipping by and you need to see a financial adviser and get things moving without further delay. Great mortgage articles from mortgage trail http://www.mortgage-trail.co.uk ]]> Critical Illness Insurance. Critically Important http://www.artwoo.com/article/critical-illness-insurance-critically-important http://www.artwoo.com/article/critical-illness-insurance-critically-important#comments Thu, 01 Jun 2006 12:32:09 +0000 critical illness insurancenon disclosureheart disease cancercancer research fundunfortunatelyimperial cancer research fundimperial cancer research http://www.artwoo.com/article/critical-illness-insurance-critically-important Cancer Research Fund stated that one in every three people in Britain will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their life. With rapid medical advances the chances of survival from a major illness are improving but the consequences of suffering such an illness continue to be substantial and life-changing.

policies are designed to help you cope with the changes which will be necessary should you be diagnosed with a "qualifying medical condition". Most policies will pay out following a diagnosis of heart disease, cancer, stroke, renal failure, paralysis, major organ transplant and coronary artery bypass surgery as well as a range of other conditions. There is normally a one-off tax free payment which is intended to assist you with costs, typically the need to adapt your home or car or maybe re-train for a different occupation. It's not only the bread-winner that can benefit from this type of cover and you should take account of child care and housekeeping costs which would be involved should Mum be out of action.

, at a time when most people are suffering from the shock of learning that they have been diagnosed with a critical illness, they and their families may learn some additional disturbing news. The insurance industries latest figures show that, on average, around a quarter of all claims are rejected!

As soon as a claim is made, the insurance company will request a huge amount of information from your doctor. It's quite likely that much of this information is not relevant to the illness for which the claim relates. The insurer is using this information to ascertain whether or not the insured has been completely truthful on the original insurance application form.

The reason for this is what the insurers call non-disclosure and if any medical information has been omitted, they can use this as grounds for refusing the claim.

It appears that the non-disclosure may not be related to the critical illness. Claims have been turned down for various reasons, including the case of a woman with breast cancer whose case was rejected because she hadn't listed treatment for depression on the original proposal form.

The rejection rates are shown as follows:

Company % of rejected claims Scottish Equitable Project 28% Norwich Union 26% Friends Provident 25% Legal and General 22% Bupa 21.5% Skandia 21% Prudential 20% Standard Life 20% Scottish Widows 18% Scottish Provident 11% Scottish Equitable Guardian 10% Average 23.5%

Despite the insurers claim that these rejections are perfectly legal, the Law Commission appears to think differently. There has been a consultation document published recently and the Commission makes the statement "It is possible for an applicant to act reasonably and honestly and yet still fail to meet the duty of disclosure." The conclusions of these consultations will be reported on as soon as they are available.

It is therefore extremely important that when applying for this very valuable form of insurance, you disclose all previous illnesses. It's probable that if you have to claim, then your medical records will be thoroughly examined and if the insurers consider you omitted medical information, they may "throw out" the request.

Compare companies for the best rates. Read the small print. Spend some considerable time in listing medical conditions. Relax -- it may never happen. Brokers Online offer access to great rates on Cheap Life Insurance ( http://www.life-assurance-bureau.co.uk ) and Critical Illness Cover ( http://www.life-assurance-bureau.co.uk/critical-illness-cover/ ) ]]> Mortgaging For Funds http://www.artwoo.com/article/mortgaging-for-funds http://www.artwoo.com/article/mortgaging-for-funds#comments Sat, 15 Jul 2006 12:27:12 +0000 equity releasemortgage lendersage concern englandpensionersretirement researchreversioncml http://www.artwoo.com/article/mortgaging-for-funds
Along with those forced to sell their homes, one pensioner in six would consider taking in a lodger.

But now, can obtain cash advances secured against the value of their houses through or home plans.

Under home reversion schemes, home-owners can sell all, or part, of their home, and receive a lump sum, an income or both.

The amount owed can increase quickly as interest is charged on the interest added to the loan each year, as well as on the original borrowed amount.

Interest rates on equity release borrowing also tend to be higher than on ordinary mortgages at around 7 per cent.

Unlike a normal mortgage, interest is added to the principal and paid back on the owners' death, rather than the borrower's lifetime.

But homeowners who take advantage of the scheme will not receive anything like the actually market price of their house. Instead, lenders typically pay between 40 and 60 per cent of the property's current value.

According to the Council of () nearly 12,000 plans were sold initially.

Overall, total borrowing by pensioners through equity release schemes now stand at £2.3billion.

But the CML believes that in future the equity release market could reach £100billion.

"Many pensioners are tempted by equity release as they are asset rich as a result of increasing house prices but cash poor due to low retirement income," a spokeswoman for said.

However, these plans are not to be entered into lightly it is important that people research the market. One of the main problems with equity release plans arise when borrowers' circumstances change.

For example, a borrower wishing to move to sheltered accommodation, or a cheaper property, may have to repay some of the loan upfront.

In addition, roll-up loans may leave borrowers with insufficient cash to buy the new property they want.

Borrowers who decide to pay off the loan early can also be hit with big redemption charges.

Also keep in mind while mortgage based products will fall within Financial Supervisory Authroity's (FSA) guidelines, the rules will not cover home reversion schemes.

However, the Treasury has announced plans to consult on the regulation of equity release schemes, often used as a means of achieving retirement income.

The Treasury added the review could mean the FSA will win the power to oversee the sector and ensure elderly people do not lose out.

But there are other ways to make money from your property without having to sell-up.

One home-owning pensioner in ten would consider equity release to top-up their retirement income. Equity release comes in two main forms, home reversion plans and lifetime mortgages.

"There are ways of using your property to generate income in different ways. A lifetime mortgage can suit people who do not want to leave their home in retirement," said Prudential's Mr Crossley.

"More people are considering this option nowadays, and this is in part because better, more flexible products have appeared on the market."

There is no substitute for planning and while obviously the earlier you start the better, there are many things you can do throughout your life to esure a stable financial situation for retirement. It's worth talking to a financial adviser to find out more about your pension options -- just don't get stuck. Express offer its clients access to home insurance ( http://www.express-life-insurance.co.uk/home-insurance.php ), car insurance ( http://www.express-life-insurance.co.uk/car-insurance.php ) and mortgages ( http://www.express-life-insurance.co.uk/mortgages.php ) ]]> The Foreclosure Process http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-foreclosure-process http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-foreclosure-process#comments Thu, 26 Apr 2007 18:45:00 +0000 contactinterest only loansavoid foreclosureadjustable rate loansballoon paymentsforeseeable futureappreciation http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-foreclosure-process appreciation is high for a sustained period, such as the Bay Area market from 2001-2005 people tend to be more aggressive and will go to great lengths to buy. In fact, lenders were going to great lengths to lend to those who maybe were not well qualified. In many of these cases, borrowers chose with and took out second, third and even fourth deeds of trust. Many of these buyers expected the market to continue the way it has, which would mean double digit appreciation for the . Of course we all witnessed the market come down in 2005, with appreciation coming to a halt in most areas, and prices even dipping in some other markets. The buyers who had with large balloon payments and/or interest rates that were set to reset after the first two or three years of the loan are the ones who are especially vulnerable. When the loan payments cannot be made, the foreclosure process looms on the horizon.

As a general rule, the lender would rather keep receiving the payments as opposed to taking the home and having to sell it. The lenders do not deal with selling real estate and will work with owners who are having payment problems. Sometimes the lender will restructure the payments for a certain period of time to allow the owner to get back on his/her feet. With this in mind, it's always best to the lender before problems arise. There is a chance that something may be able to be done that can help the owner .

However when a homeowner has missed several payments and has not contacted the lender to make some type of arrangement, the lender may decide to begin the foreclosure process. The lender could be a bank, savings and loan or private party. The first step they will take is that the lender will request that the trustee (which is often a title company) file a notice of default with the county recorders office. A copy of the notice will also be delivered to the owner. If the default is due to a balloon payment not being made by the due date, the lender can require payment of the full balance of the loan as the only way to remedy the situation. If the payments are not met, the lender can direct the trustee to sell the property at a public sale. Before the public sale takes place, a notice of sale must be published in a local newspaper and posted in a public place for three consecutive weeks. Once the notice of sale has been recorded, the homeowner has up until 5 days before the published sale date to bring the loan to a current status. If the owner makes the necessary payment, the deed of trust will be reinstated and the monthly payments will continue as they did before. Even after the 5 days, it's still possible for the owner to negotiate a postponement of the sale with the lender. However if there is no other agreement made, the property goes up for sale. At the sale, the buyers must pay the amount of their bid in cash, cashiers check or another form acceptable to the trustee.

With all the recent attention to foreclosures, many people have become interested in purchasing foreclosed homes. Any buyer interested in purchasing a foreclosed property needs to be aware of the risks involved. Foreclosed homes are very likely burdened with overdue taxes, liens and clouded titles. Any prospective buyer must do his/her homework and ask a local title company for all information concerning the outstanding liens and encumbrances. Another potential risk is that title insurance may or may not be available after a foreclosure sale, and if it is available then there could be exceptions included in the policy which will weaken the coverage. Hamid Grinage is a Realtor with Prudential California Realty-510-384-9424-hamid.grinage@prurealty.com http://www.oaklandhomespecialist.com ]]> Advantages Of Condo Living http://www.artwoo.com/article/advantages-of-condo-living http://www.artwoo.com/article/advantages-of-condo-living#comments Thu, 14 Sep 2006 10:27:04 +0000 detached single familyluxurious condominiumyard maintenanceempty nestercondo associationcondoslifestyle http://www.artwoo.com/article/advantages-of-condo-living
There is a home ownership option that is often overlooked by potential home buyers, and that is 'The Condo Option' . Traditional style homes are not always the ideal situation for many home purchasers.

Reasons for alternatives

For those who are just starting out, affordability may or may not be an issue. For the new '', downsizing and not having the 'upkeep', , etc., may be the key issue. Or, maybe if both spouses work, a traditional single family home may be just too much work and not fit your lifestyles.

are attractive to many buyers because they offer them a chance to own their residence and build equity at what is usually a lower cost than a detached single family home. Of course, there are exceptions, such as the purchase of a that many developers are building in downtown, affluent neighborhoods, beach sides, etc. For these buyers, the prices will seem almost comparable to buying a single family home, however size, area and amenities will determine the ultimate price on this type of purchase.

Security is also a preferred reason for purchasing a condominium as most modern complexes are located in private, gated and very secure developments. This is especially important to older residents and to single persons who live alone and want the added security to their lifestyle.

What's mine and what's yours

When you own a condo, you own the title to the space within the walls of your living quarters only. The hallways, (outside your condo), the roofs, parking lots, attics, the common green areas, (including lawns, etc.) pools, gyms and recreation rooms, are called 'common areas' and are owned, and maintained by the entire on a collective basis with maintenance costs covered by the condo association fees paid by each condo owner.

On some of the older condo units, or condos that have been converted from apartment buildings, you may have one or more condo units adjoining yours, to either side, on top, or below. On many newer complexes, the condos are designed more like town homes with single or multiple levels and there is a possibility that only one or two common walls will be shared with neighbors.

What's the added costs

One factor to consider when buying or investing in a condo is that condo owners generally must pay a condo association fee monthly. These fees defray the cost of most maintenance, repairs and upgrades to the common areas as well as for the overall management of the complex. They do not cover most everyday repairs, upgrades and maintenance for 'fixes or replacements' within your own condo unit, like electrical switches, plugs, most common plumbing problems, carpet cleaning, etc.

Some, more major maintenance problems, like plumbing drains, etc., where the clog is in the 'common plumbing' within the walls, or ground which serves many units, may be covered, however.

In Summary

If you would rather spend your free time doing something besides moving the lawn, painting the outside of your home, or waiting for the 'pool guys' to show up, then a condo might just be the thing for you.

Of course, there are other advantages to owning a condo. Most condos offer many modern amenities as part of the complex such as pools, Jacuzzis, tennis courts, fitness centers, or clubhouses. These are part of the 'perks' that go along with owning a condo and paying your association fees. If you owned a traditional detached single family home, you might not be able to afford any of these amenities, let alone the upkeep and maintenance on them.

Condos, in today's hot real estate market, are highly sought after for all of the reasons listed here.

It certainly is worth looking into before investing your hard earned money.

Many condominium complexes today are very 'family friendly' and these complexes are ideal for raising children, especially if your family is security minded and want all of the modern amenities for the family that most condo complexes offer.

Many, of course, are adult only, or are for seniors only, and, offer amenities that other complexes don't offer like golf courses, more traditional recreation rooms with billiards, libraries, card rooms, etc.

The 'Condo Option' is open and worth looking into. http://freesandiegohomesearch.com/homesrch.htm Prudential California Realty will assist in all your real estate need for the NOrth county of San Diego ]]>