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Many homeowners seeking a loan modification to lower their monthly mortgage payments and avoid foreclosure continue to find the application process a very complex process, often causing them to give up before their application is ever reviewed by their mortgag e company. Certified housing counselors for CredAbility, a national nonprofit credit counseling and education agency, speak daily with hundreds of homeowners seeking a loan modification or other solutions to keep their homes. The organization has several tips for people that will help them increase the chances that their application is reviewed as quickly as possible. A homeowner needs to collect and send several documents that tell the mortgage company why you need a modification, and it needs to be done in a timely, organized manner. Once a homeowner has submitted these documents, they need to stay in regular contact with the company. With hundreds of thousands of applications under consideration, homeowners must take matters i

SHOP AROUND Friends, family, the phone book and Internet are some of the sources you can use to find homeowners insurers. Get a wide range of prices from several companies. But don't consider price alone. The insurer you select should offer both a fair price and excellent service. Quality service may cost a bit more, but you buy insurance in case you need to make a claim, so it's important to get a company with a good reputation. Talk to a number of insurers to get a feeling for the type of service they give. Ask them what they would do to lower your costs. Check the financial ratings of the companies with AM Best or Standard and Poor's. RAISE YOUR DEDUCTIBLE Deductibles are the amount of money you have to pay toward a loss before your insurance company starts to pay. Deductibles on homeowners policies typically start at $250. Increase your deductible to $ 500 -- save up to 12 percent $1,000 -- save up to 24 percent $2,500 -- save up to 30 percent $5,000 -- save up to 37 pe

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is giving homeowners and buyers until October 4 to lock in a low monthly insurance premium. After October 4, the monthly insurance premiums on FHA loans will increase by over 63%. What does this mean for home buyers? A home buyer purchasing a $200,000 home using a $193,000 FHA mortgage before October 4 would pay an insurance premium of $88.46 per month. If the same home buyer waits until after October 4, the insurance premium would jump to $148.01. Although the upfront mortgage insurance premium is going down after October 4, the long term impact to the home buyer is actually a net increase in their out of pocket costs because the monthly premium is going up by 63%. Sellers can pay the upfront premium or it can be financed into the loan amount, so homebuyers rarely pay the upfront premium out of pocket. On the other hand, the increase in the monthly premiums will be paid right out of the home buyer's pocket with their mortgage payment each m

The Federal Reserve released a proposal earlier this week to give mortgage applicants three days to change their minds. The proposal was part of a 930-page document that clarifies and finalizes the new financial reform law. The Fed's document says that for closed-end loans secured by real property or a dwelling, a creditor must: "Refund any appraisal or other fees paid by the consumer (other than a credit report fee), if the consumer decides not to proceed with a closed-end mortgage transaction within three business days of receiving the early disclosures (fees imposed after this three-day period would not be refundable); and "Disclose the right to a refund of fees to consumers before they apply for a closed-end mortgage loan." The Fed says this proposal will make it easier and cheaper for consumers to comparison shop. It also acknowledged that borrowers who want to close a transaction in a hurry would be handicapped because most lenders will delay sending out an app

The economy is stabilizing. Home prices are holding. It's not just as good a time as ever to buy a house. It's one of the best times ever. ForSaleByOwner.com presents five overlooked reasons why now is a great time to buy a house. 1. Low mortgage rates serve as an equity shock absorber. When buyers borrow at today's record-low rates, they start building equity as soon as they close. That means they have a little give to absorb a few ups and downs as the still-recovering housing market gains traction. 2. Houses are in move-in condition. Homeowners have continued to spend on maintenance and repair, according to the Harvard Joint Center on Housing. Homeowners who have been holding back kept their houses in good shape while they waited. As those houses enter the market, they are in marked contrast to tattered foreclosures. 3. Terrific houses are coming on the market. Foreclosures are finally starting to clear the system - and this is just the opportunity that owners of many

Whether you're planning a move across town or across the country, making your move hassle-free is what it is all about. Besides the traditional garage sale and packing of boxes, there are a few details you won't want to forget before you begin loading the truck: Plan Ahead Experts recommend scheduling moves at least one month in advance, especially during the peak-moving season between May and September. Some estimates indicate 80 percent of all moving and storage business is done when schools are out. That's when employees are most likely to be transferred. Ask Questions Take the time to get as much information as possible from moving companies before selecting one. Check on truck size and availability. Ask about moving supplies, such as boxes, dollies and furniture pads. Find out about protection plans for your possessions. Ask about lost or damaged property claim procedures. Determine price differences in packing the truck yourself or having it professionally packed. Get

As the summer buying and selling season is nearing its end, it is even more important to create a lasting first impression with potential buyers. Here are 8 simple tips that will help your home stand out from the crowd. Clean up the yard. Curb appeal is so important. Many buyers will drive by a home and determine if they want to take the time to see the inside. Cut back overgrown shrubs, particularly those that obscure windows or make it difficult to get to the front door. Mow the grass, rake or pick up downed leaves and branches, put away lawn tools, kids' toys and discard or store any outdoor furniture that is rusty or ragged. Plant colorful annuals or put a few nicely planted containers on or near the front porch. Open the drapes and blinds . Sunshine is the world's best decorator and nothing is more depressing than walking into a home where shades, curtains and drapes are closed. Wash the windows - inside and out. For the same reasons as above, no other small improvement

Portable storage units for moving and storage have increased in availability and popularity in recent years. Portable storage units are a great alternative to traditional self storage and are perfect for a home remodeling project. Consider a portable storage unit the next time you need to do any of the following: Getting Rid of Clutter - Whether selling your home or hosting family for extended visits - a storage unit lets you temporarily store non-essential stuff and declutter your living space. Consolidating - Use a storage unit to store extra furniture or boxes when downsizing a home or office. Take your time in deciding what to do with your extra stuff. Moving - Take your time packing and unpacking, without the hassle of a moving van. After you load the storage unit, 1-800-PACK-RAT moves it to your new home or office. Renovations - Protect your belongings during repairs or upgrades. A storage unit helps you keep your furniture, electronics and other valuables safe and out of the

The restoration of the ingle-family rural housing program that would guarantee home loans for rural buyers was passed by the Senate this week and is on its way to President Obama. Rural Development's Single Family Housing Programs provide homeownership opportunities to low- and moderate-income rural Americans through several loan, grant, and loan guarantee programs. The programs also make funding available to individuals to finance vital improvements necessary to make their homes decent, safe, and sanitary. This is great news for home buyers who want to buy a home while the rates and prices are still low. And it is a huge relief for thousands of rural home buyers who need to close on their home purchases before Sept. 30 to take advantage of the home buyer tax. To learn more about a USDA home loan program, click here . Visit my website's Mortgage Center for more helpful mortgage loan information.

With home mortgage rates at historic lows, many people are eager to refinance their current mortgage loan to lock in a low rate. Existing home owners with adjustable rate mortgage may never get a better time to refinance out of their current mortgage and into a more conservative and consistent 15 or even 30 year mortgage loan. When deciding to refinance a home mortgage, be sure to understand the refinancing costs associated with doing so and then try to limit them as much as possible. Refinancing an existing mortgage is very similar to securing an initial mortgage. In fact, your new mortgage will be used to pay off your existing one, so it is just like buying your home all over again. There are certain costs associated with a refinancing, just as there was when the original mortgage was secured. Closing costs such as broker fees, appraisal fees, title search, inspections and various administrative fees are all part of the fee structure associated with a mortgage refinance. To reduce yo