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10 Ways to Avoid Foreclosure..Don\’t Lose Your Home

By: Patti Oar

In these days of sub-prime loans and the housing market in such a downturn, man people are in danger of losing their homes. Many lenders issued adjustable loans that re-adjust periodically and many people may not have been aware of how much their payments could go up. Some of these people may now be in danger of foreclosure if they?re unable to keep up with the payment increases.

In California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger made a bold move and announced a deal with four mortgage lenders to freeze adjustable interest rates for some of the state?s highest risk borrowers. These agreements are voluntary and include Countrywide Financial, GMAC Mortgage, Littleton Loan Servicing and HomeEq Servicing. These companies make up the loans for more than 25% of California?s subprime mortgage loans. These frozen rates will be available to homeowners who

1. reside in their property

2. are current in their payments

3. show they cannot afford a payment increase

This deal won?t help the hundreds of homeowners who are already in default or in danger of foreclosure. The following 10 items can help you avoid foreclosure and save your family?s home.

Don?t be in denial about your situation

Don?t ignore letters from your lender

Don?t assume you have no options

Don?t stop making payments

Don?t move out of your home (this could be considered abandonment)

Don?t be afraid to ask for help from loved ones

Don?t be afraid to contact your lender and ask for help

Don?t wait too long to try to sell the home

Don?t be afraid to accept a lower offer than you think it?s worth

Don?t allow your emotions to tie you to this home (it?s just a material thing)

This is a serious issue and you need to remember one very important thing. If you stubbornly hang on to this home out of pride or fear you may damage your credit history and prevent yourself from being able to buy another home. If this happens to you be sure and do something before it?s too late and you lose the home. It?s just a house and you can get another one. You might even be able to get another home sooner than you think, as the prices are at a low point right now.

Explore your options. Be pro-active and contact your lender right away and let them know you want to keep your home. If they don?t hear from you they won?t care about trying to help you. There are options they can help you with such as deed in lieu of foreclosure where you and the bank agree that you give the home back to them. They may even agree to forgive some of the loan. A similar option is a short sale. This is where the mortgage company agrees to settle for less than what you owe them. This can be a way out, but beware that this may have implications down the road and affect your credit when you want to buy your next home.

Late payments can and do affect your credit, but nothing hurts your credit worse than ?mortgage lates?. If you possibly can you want to pay your mortgage payments on time and in full. If this becomes impossible for you to do it?s time to do something serious in order to preserve your credit. At some point saving your home may not be the primary concern. Remember, it?s just a house and you can always get another house, but if you damage your credit you may not be able to do that. So make sure you have your priorities in order.

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/business_and_finance/article_8802.shtml

3 Advantages to Starting a Members Only, Membership Website

By: Ron Ruiz

Membership websites are one of the hottest Internet business models today, since there are many advantages to starting one. Here are the top three advantages to starting a membership website that are sure to get your creative and entrepreneurial juices flowing.

Advantage # 1: Steady Stream of Income

The first advantage-a steady stream of income-is also the most popular reason for starting a membership website. Many would-be Internet entrepreneurs search for business models that will bring them a steady stream of income, eventually replacing their full-time jobs altogether.

A membership website is the answer to those prayers.

Subscriptions to membership websites are usually set up for specified amounts of time: a month, quarter or year. During this time, you will have consistent income for the duration of each subscription’s term.

For example, let’s say you charge $14.95 per month for access to your membership website and have 250 subscribers, who continue their subscriptions for an entire year. That adds up to a whopping $44,850, which is more than a lot of people’s annual incomes and just enough to kiss that dead-end job good-bye!

Keep your content fresh and interesting, and you will have created a steady stream of income for as long as your customers are satisfied with their memberships.

Advantage # 2: Low-Start Up Costs

Another significant advantage to starting a membership website is its low start-up costs. Most people that are looking for an additional stream of steady income are doing so because their current income is limited. Because membership websites require a low initial investment, they are perfect for would-be entrepreneurs on a tight budget.

To start your membership website you will need a website design or template, website hosting, content management software, content, or membership software, which has everything you need, except content.

Membership websites are low-cost investments because you can do a lot of the work. If you’re a skilled web designer or writer-or are willing to learn-you can eliminate those costs. Also, website hosting services are minimal, some as low a $5.00 per month.

However, if this is your first Internet-based business, you may want to start with membership software, which provides everything you need in a tight little package. A good membership software package will have the following:

· WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) web design software

· Content Management

· Membership Management

· Payment Processing (including credit cards)

Using membership software streamlines the set-up process and allows you to start earning money faster.

To learn more about my content managment, membership site software go to: http://memberstar.com.

Advantage # 3: High-Profit Margin

The third advantage to starting a membership advantage is actually a combination of numbers one and two:

Subscriptions — Expenses = High-profit margin

Membership websites can yield high profit margins, even if you’re just beginning your membership website and only have a few subscribers.

For example, let’s say you only have 50 members during the first three months after your launch at $20.00 a month. That’s a $1000 per month. Now, deduct your operating expenses: $150.00 per month for website hosting and membership software subscription. After expenses, you’re still left with a nice $750.00 dollars per month.

See the high-profit potential of a membership website?

Remember with a membership website your income potential is unlimited. You can earn, as much or as little as you like, depending on how much time you’d like to devote to your site.

Now that you know the top three advantages to starting a membership website: 1) steady stream of income 2) low start-up costs and 3) high-profit margins, aren’t you ready to start your own membership website? Seek for financial freedom and spend more time with your family and friends.

Ron Ruiz

The Business Fastlane Blog

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Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/business_and_finance/article_8827.shtml