A myriad issues have crossed into the political debate during this contentious presidential campaign. Although both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are weighing in on this broad range of topics, the economy is still the No. 1 issue on the minds of American voters. In fact, 44 percent say it’s their top concern.As the economy continues its slow, steady climb out of the Great Recession of the late 2000s, voters are left to analyze which candidate can spark major change in [...]
Source Business - poconorecord.com http://ift.tt/2d5zJjy
الأربعاء، 21 سبتمبر 2016
Matamoras celebrates borough hall's 100th birthday
Matamoras Borough Mayor Janet Clark spoke from the heart as she addressed a crowd gathered for Saturday afternoon’s 100th Birthday Celebration of the borough hall.“In 1916, newspaper reports referred to the opening of our borough hall as a ‘new beginning’ for Matamoras. Let’s take a little note from that and also make today a new beginning with this Grand Old Lady — our borough hall,” Clark said.“And it really was a new [...]
Source Business - poconorecord.com http://ift.tt/2cWqH3A
Source Business - poconorecord.com http://ift.tt/2cWqH3A
PMC Physician Associates Primary Care opens
Pocono Medical Center’s newest board-certified primary care provider, Dr. Mohammad Ali, will be seeing new patients at the new Physician Associates Primary Care location in Tannersville Plaza on Route 611 next to Weis Market.“As a husband and a father first and foremost, I understand the importance of having access to quality care for my family, which is why it is my mission to ensure I create that same opportunity for local families by delivering comprehensive care from [...]
Source Business - poconorecord.com http://ift.tt/2cuIjWT
Source Business - poconorecord.com http://ift.tt/2cuIjWT
Tannersville church's doors find new home at Pocono Heritage Center
The doors of the historic St. Paul's Lutheran Church building on Route 611 in Tannersville have found a new home at the soon-to-be-inaugurated Pocono Heritage Center. The doors will be moved from the old church and installed at the Center on Friday, Sept. 23.St. Paul's was built in 1910, and its distinctive red doors became a Tannersville landmark until the church moved to its current location on Fish Hill Road a few years ago. The doors from the historic church building on Route 611 [...]
Source Business - poconorecord.com http://ift.tt/2d0EKZK
Source Business - poconorecord.com http://ift.tt/2d0EKZK
Nordstrom is Hiring Seasonal Work-From-Home Reps (Includes Store Discount!)
In the market for a store discount…I mean, a job?
Nordstrom, my favorite retailer (especially during the Anniversary Sale), is hiring seasonal work-from-home customer care specialists in multiple cities in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas and Utah.
Check to see if your city is included before continuing on — unless you just want to drool over this job.
What Customer Care Specialists Do for Nordstrom
You know of Nordstrom, right? It’s a speciality retailer that offers the “best of what’s next” in fashion, according to itself. Pro tip: It has a bangin’ bistro, too.
As a customer care specialist for Nordstrom.com, you’ll help troubleshoot customer inquiries. In order to do so, you’ll need to be able to multitask, handling various software applications.
The Perks of Working for Nordstrom
I called the customer service line — where you’ll work — to get the answers to a few questions, including what pay is.
I’d say based on the 11-minute wait-time, it needs reps! However, I was unable to pin down the pay with the headquarter folks.
I do know, however, that if you complete the season, you’ll receive a $250 bonus!
The listing also notes the comprehensive benefits package, which includes medical, vision and dental coverage, a store discount (!) and a 401(k) plan — depending on your role.
Are You Qualified to Work as a Customer Care Representative?
Nordstrom prefers you have six months of retail experience and excellent phone and written communication skills.
You’ll have to take — and pass — two skills assessment and complete and online training class.
You’ll have to work a set schedule, though the representative I spoke with wasn’t sure if it was full or part time, and be flexible during peak hours and severe weather.
Interested in applying? You can find all the details on Nordstrom’s career page.
In the meantime, find more work-from-home jobs on The Penny Hoarder’s Facebook Job page.
Your Turn: Are you applying?
Carson Kohler (@CarsonKohler) is a junior writer at The Penny Hoarder. After recently completing graduate school, she focuses on saving money — and surviving the move back in with her parents. She (and her bank account) would love a Nordstrom discount!
The post Nordstrom is Hiring Seasonal Work-From-Home Reps (Includes Store Discount!) appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/2cmQvoW
This Study Says Americans Waste a Shocking Amount of Money on Premium Gas
If you use premium fuel in your gas tank, you might be one of 16.5 million Americans wasting your money, according a recent study by AAA.
The study confirmed what auto experts, apparently, have known for years that consumers are getting wrong: “Premium” isn’t higher-quality fuel, and your car probably doesn’t need it.
Then why did U.S. drivers waste, as AAA calculated, $2.1 billion dollars on unnecessary premium-grade gasoline last year?
The Myth of Premium Fuel
Many of us see three options at the pump and assume each higher-priced product is better than the last.
You may, like my dad has advised my sister and me, choose premium-grade, expecting to get better fuel economy, cleaner emissions and an overall better life for your engine.
Unfortunately, you’d be wrong, and it could cost you — and your unsuspecting daughters — almost $300 each year.
Premium costs an average 50 cents more per gallon than regular, CNN reports, and the average U.S. driver uses 583 gallons per year.
Normally I would take my dad on his word regarding basic vehicle maintenance, because that’s what dads are for. In this case, though, he’s probably acting on an enduring myth.
AAA’s recent evaluation measured vehicle performance, fuel economy and emissions using both regular-grade and premium-grade fuel.
“AAA’s tests reveal that there is no benefit to using premium gasoline in a vehicle that requires regular fuel,” said Megan McKernan, manager of the Automobile Club of Southern California’s Automotive Research Center, which partnered with AAA on the research.
“Premium gasoline is specifically formulated to be compatible with specific types of engine designs, and most vehicles cannot take advantage of the higher octane rating.”
What is Premium Gasoline, and Does My Car Need It?
“Premium,” in the case of gasoline, means a higher octane rating — not higher quality.
High-octane fuel can support better horsepower in high-performance cars, TPH assistant editor and former automotive mechanic/technical writer Justin Cupler explained to me.
And, in case you’re wondering, as I was, what horsepower actually means, Cupler (patiently) explained, “Horsepower is basically how fast the car is.”
Higher horsepower, in a nutshell, means your car will take off and get up to speed faster than a car with lower horsepower. It will also make your vehicle better for towing and in situations that require extra power, like climbing mountain roads.
Most likely, your vehicle is among the majority designed to run on regular fuel, and using premium can’t improve its performance.
Using premium fuel in a standard vehicle is kind of like taking a supplement with 300% of your daily value of Vitamin C. You don’t get three times the benefits; the extra is just flushed through your body unnoticed.
If You Drive a High-Performance Vehicle
If you drive a high-performance or luxury vehicle the manufacturer designed to take advantage of higher-octane fuel, you probably know it because you likely selected for that powerful engine.
Even many high-performance vehicles only recommend premium fuel, says Cupler, and that’s to ensure performance, not the safety or health of your vehicle.
For example, the 2017 Mazda CX-9 is equipped with a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine. It will run fine on regular (87 octane) fuel, but the engine’s electronic systems limit it to only 227 horsepower.
With premium (93 octane) in the tank, the engine can reach its maximum output of 250 horsepower (translation: faster).
Using regular fuel in a premium-recommended vehicle won’t cause damage or affect performance long term, because your car’s computer recognizes the potential engine knock caused by low-octane fuel and adjusts its ignition accordingly. This ignition adjustment is what often leads to the reduced horsepower output of the engine.
I could delve more into my newfound knowledge of automotive science, but I suspect you’re not as much of a nerd as I am. You’re just wondering WTF you’re supposed to do with this information.
Bottom line: Check your owner’s manual.
“When it comes to gasoline, ‘premium’ does not mean ‘better’ if your vehicle doesn’t require it,” John Nielsen, AAA’s managing director of Automotive Engineering and Repair, said in a press release this week.
Check the manual for your vehicle’s recommendations:
- If it doesn’t recommend premium or list a higher horsepower with the higher-octane fuel, you won’t get any benefit from paying more for premium.
- If it recommends premium, you’ll probably sacrifice performance if you fill up with regular.
- If the manual says premium is “required,” you should fork over the extra cash at least most of the time.
Occasionally using regular gas in a premium-required vehicle — if you’re low on funds this week, for example — won’t be a problem, Cupler explains. But over time, especially in older vehicles, it could cause engine knock that may result in damage over time.
If you hear that knocking, add premium fuel to your tank as soon as possible, Greg Brannon, AAA’s head of Automotive Engineering recommended to CNN.
New vehicles that list premium fuel as a requirement pose a different issue altogether. While they will likely run just fine with lower-octane fuel, you could end up with a voided warranty for picking the wrong fuel at the pump.
Only 16% of of U.S. drivers currently own a vehicle that requires premium fuel, according to AAA.
Why Does My Dad Think Premium Is Better?
So why did my dad, who is not a gearhead by any stretch of the imagination and has never owned a high-performance vehicle, tell me premium gasoline would be better for the 1980-something Buick LeSabre sedan I drove in high school?
Turns out, “premium” used to, in fact, mean “better” gasoline.
Before they became required and regulated in 1997, detergents and other additives that keep engine innards and emissions clean were only in premium fuel. When that was the case, springing for premium meant keeping your engine cleaner and your carbon footprint smaller.
Not anymore.
Now all our gas includes these additives by law. Octane level is the only remaining difference between regular and premium fuel.
Quality might vary by brand — not by grade — but all the fuel you get at any gas station has to meet basic modern requirements.
So, thank you, Dad, but I guess this is one opportunity to learn from the younger generation — and save a few bucks every time you fill up.
Your Turn: Have you been wasting money on premium gasoline?
Dana Sitar (@danasitar) is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She’s written for Huffington Post, Entrepreneur.com, Writer’s Digest and more, attempting humor wherever it’s allowed (and sometimes where it’s not).
The post This Study Says Americans Waste a Shocking Amount of Money on Premium Gas appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/2cRZTmx
This Seasonal Work-From-Home Skullcandy Job Sounds Like a Sweet Gig
Go ahead, pop in those earbuds.
Pick something empowering — like “Eye of The Tiger” or “Girl on Fire” or “Stronger.” (OK, those are just some personal favorites.)
Ready?
Skullcandy, the recognizable audio brand known for candy-colored earbuds and gaming headphones, is looking to hire work-from-home seasonal brand ambassadors — full and part time.
Pay is $10-$11 an hour — and performance bonuses are possible.
Just so I don’t waste your time, you must live in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas, Utah or Virginia.
You do? Good. Skip to the next song, and continue on.
What Will I Do as a Brand Ambassador?
Technically, you’ll be working for VIPdesk Connect, Inc., a company providing customer service solutions to top brands.
Current VIPdesk team members work in 20 different states from the comfort of their homes. Think: cat snuggled in your lap, favorite coffee mug in hand, a fire in the fireplace (or on the TV).
But don’t get intimidated by the fancy title. A brand ambassador is a customer service representative who assists customers via phone and email. You’ll answer questions about products, policies and promotions.
You’ll want to be a Skullcandy headphones fan so you can attest to the brand’s quality.
Am I Qualified to Represent Skullcandy?
Because this is a work-from-home position, you should meet all of the home office requirements, including internet, a USB headset, router and modem.
You should also be comfortable sitting in a chair — about 95% of the time — or else get creative and rig up a standing desk. My solution? Stack some books.
Once you acquire your part-time or full-time position, you should be flexible and able to work weekends and holidays.
Other qualifications include a high school diploma, although some college is preferred, plus six months of experience in consumer sales and two or more years in related customer service. You also need to pass a credit, criminal and employment reference security check.
You’ll get a gold star if you’re passionate about music, sports and gadgets; familiar with Skullcandy; have a grasp of audio technology; know your way around Microsoft Office Suite and capable of typing at least 35 words per minute (proper spelling and grammar included).
So Where Can I Sign Up to Work for Skullcandy?
Apply online at VIPdesk Connect Careers for the part-time and full-time positions.
Before you begin, you’ll engage in a live, paid virtual training, before being let loose. This training begins Sept. 30, so jump on the job application because attendance is mandatory.
Because this is a seasonal gig, you’ll likely work until mid-January.
Want to find more work-from-home jobs? The Penny Hoarder’s Jobs Facebook page is a great resource!
Your Turn: What’s your favorite brand of headphones?
Carson Kohler (@CarsonKohler) is a junior writer at The Penny Hoarder. After recently completing graduate school, she focuses on saving money — and surviving the move back in with her parents.
The post This Seasonal Work-From-Home Skullcandy Job Sounds Like a Sweet Gig appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/2cp1Auz
Want a Free Bottle of Coke? You Just Have to Send a Quick Text
Imagine a future in which you can think, “Hey, I’m thirsty,” then shoot off a quick text and have an ice-cold beverage magically appear in front of you.
It may not be quite so instantaneous, but in a way, that future is now.
How to Score a Free Coke With Your Smartphone
You may already know of the My Coke Rewards program, which lets you input codes from the bottoms of bottle caps to rack up points for various rewards.
What you may not know is you can now link your MCR account balance to your mobile wallet via Applet Wallet or Android Pay, giving you the ability to take your points on the go and redeem them for drinks at Coca-Cola vending machines.
How does this help your immediate thirst?
Right now, you can score enough points for one free Coke product by texting “wallet” to 2653 (COKE), as reported on Couponaholic. You’ll receive a link that lets you add a digital MCR card with 30 pre-loaded points — enough for one free Coke product — to your Apple Wallet or Android Pay account.
You can redeem these points for a complimentary beverage of your choice at participating vending machines.
Sounds pretty refreshing to us!
Your Turn: What do you think? Is this deal sweet enough for you to participate?
Kelly Gurnett is a freelance blogger, writer and editor who runs the blog Cordelia Calls It Quits, where she documents her attempts to rid her life of the things that don’t matter and focus more on the things that do. Follow her on Twitter @CordeliaCallsIt.
The post Want a Free Bottle of Coke? You Just Have to Send a Quick Text appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/2cQVthv
The Closet Lesson: What the Stuff in Your Closet Can Teach You About Personal Finance
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been working on a long-term project of cleaning out the various closets and storage spaces around our home, determining which if any of the things I find need to be kept, putting the things back in a sensible fashion, and then figuring out what to do with the remaining things. Yard sale? Craigslist? Goodwill? Trash can? Hand-me-down? There are a lot of options.
In the process, a lot of objects have passed through my hands. Virtually all of them were things that someone in our family chose to spend money on at some point, but eventually that item was pushed aside and essentially forgotten.
Perhaps the item wasn’t as useful as was originally thought. Maybe it’s a book that was read once and was recognized as probably not worth a re-read. Maybe it’s a movie that went through the same process. Maybe it’s an item for a baby or a toddler and now that our children are well beyond the baby/toddler stage, the item has no real use any more.
The worst items, in my opinion, are the ones that were never opened. There are a few scattered in there – movies bought that were intended to be watched with the family but other options won out on family movie night, for instance. I’ve found a few baby items that were never opened, like a bottle warmer, as well as a few gift items, both purchased and never given as well as received and never used.
There’s really no purpose in keeping all of this stuff. When I’m honest with myself, the truth is that we’re never going to use these things. They’re just stuffed into storage with reasonable intentions that will never be fulfilled.
But here’s the painful truth.
Each one of those items represents some amount of money that we spent. In a few cases, they’re items that we received as gifts, but we still usually had to give a gift in exchange.
That money spent was essentially wasted. Even when I’m looking at books that I read once and put aside, I can’t help but wonder why on earth I didn’t just check the book out at the library. Did I really need to own End of Watch in hardcover? No, no, I didn’t.
Even if I sell off all of this stuff, I’m not going to recoup nearly the cost of all of these items. It’s lost money, no matter how I slice it. It’s money down the tubes. There were so many better ways I could have used that money, too: saving for retirement, doing something meaningful with the kids… the options really are endless.
So, what I’ve been doing as I sell off or get rid of each item is to get a little bit of extra value from that mistake of a purchase.
First, I’m asking myself what on earth possessed me to buy this item to begin with. Why did we buy this movie? I suppose we thought it would be a good option for family movie night. Why did we buy this bottle warmer? I suppose we envisioned scenarios where we might want to warm up bottles in the night. Why did we buy this book? Sarah wanted to read it pretty urgently.
The answers go on and on and on like this, with every item pulled out and every item put aside to be sold or given away.
I follow that question with another question. What can I do, in each of those cases, to avoid making the same foolish mistake?
This is the real question here. Avoiding the mistake to begin with would not only have saved us money, it would have also saved me from this project of digging through closets and figuring out what to get rid of and what to keep. If I had simply made better decisions to begin with, not only would I have more money right now, I’d have more free time right now, too. I could be reading a great book instead of cleaning out this closet. I could be playing a game with my kids. I could be working on a couple ongoing hobby projects that I’d way rather be doing.
I don’t want to repeat this.
So, with each item, I’m trying to understand not only why I bought that item, but how I can avoid making that same purchasing mistake, and it turns out that each and every item that I pull out has a lesson to teach me.
The baby bottle warmer? It teaches me to actually look for real problems in the routines I have right now rather than guessing what kind of problems I might have someday. Don’t buy things just because you can visualize a use for it that hasn’t happened yet in your life.
The book? It teaches me to look at the library before buying a book. If I check out a book at the library, finish it, and then decide that I want to reference it again or even read it again down the road, it might make for a good purchase then. Now? I might as well go to the library. Don’t buy things if it’s trivially easy to borrow them.
The movie? It teaches me that buying more movies when we already have a flood of options isn’t always the smartest choice. We already have a ton of family movies available to us thanks to our already-existing DVD/Bluray collection and the flood of options on Netflix. We easily have a thousand movies available at our fingertips for family movie night. Why are we adding more to the mix? Don’t buy things if you have an abundance of similar options already underused at home.
The toddler toys? It teaches me that sometimes children outgrow things, and when they do they’ll almost never return to them unless it is a deeply-loved item. An attentive parent can tell when a child has outgrown an item, and once you’re sure that you won’t have more children, putting that item in storage is kind of wasteful. It also teaches me that children really don’t need that many things. They often have more things than they can ever truly enjoy, so adding more to the mix isn’t helpful. Don’t buy too many things for kids; focus on quality over quantity every time.
The pieces of exercise equipment? It teaches me that buying equipment isn’t going to start a new routine all by itself. If you have an exercise routine, that equipment might help enhance it, but all of the gear in the world isn’t magically going to create an exercise routine for you. Don’t buy things to create a new routine or behavior for yourself; only buy things to support a routine or behavior you’ve already established for yourself.
As I pull them out of storage and put them to the side to trade off or to sell or to trash, each of those items is giving me a valuable lesson about my own spending choices going forward. Often, the lessons are repeated over and over, but those are the most important ones.
Don’t buy things just because you can visualize a use for it that hasn’t happened yet in your life.
Don’t buy things if it’s trivially easy to borrow them and you won’t continuously use them.
Don’t buy things if you have an abundance of similar options already underused at home.
Don’t buy too many things for kids; focus on quality over quantity every time.
Don’t buy things to create a new routine or behavior for yourself.
Those are some great guiding principles when it comes to deciding whether or not to purchase something new. They guide you away from buying things that you’re not going to get full value from and allow you to instead focus on things you’ll actually use and which will provide a lot of value to you.
The next time you find yourself cleaning out a closet or making decisions about what to do with your abundance of stuff, take a look at each item. Why did you buy it? Why didn’t you use it very much? Why did it wind up in storage? And why are you now considering giving it away or selling it? Those questions, when answered, will teach you valuable lessons about your own spending behaviors and help you shape a better set of principles going forward.
The end result will be more money in your pocket and less unwanted stuff filling up your storage spaces.
Good luck!
Related Articles
- Some Thoughts on the Stuff We Own: Do We Have Our Possessions Backwards?
- The Challenge of Getting Rid of Stuff
- The Elves in the Attic: Making Old Toys New Again
The post The Closet Lesson: What the Stuff in Your Closet Can Teach You About Personal Finance appeared first on The Simple Dollar.
Source The Simple Dollar http://ift.tt/2d8Gpto
Concerns mount over secondary annuities market
Six months away from the launch of the market for annuity resales, concerns are mounting that there may not actually be a market, because insurers are shying away from involvement.
April 2017 is set as the date when retirees who bought an annuity with their pension fund will be able to put it up for sale in return for a cash lump sum.
Source Moneywise http://ift.tt/2d4lewz
Water companies warned to improve following rise in complaints
Four water companies have been singled out for improvement following a rise in complaints.
Independent industry body, the Consumer Council for Water has warned water companies Affinity, Bournemouth, Dŵr Cymru, and Southern to improve.
Source Moneywise http://ift.tt/2cRlGuJ
These 2 Websites Will Tell You Exactly How to Score (Nearly) Free Flights
I travel all the time. It’s my favorite thing in the world.
But rarely do I pay for flights — that’s one of my least favorite things in the world.
How so? By using travel rewards to fly for next to nothing. Here’s a primer on the strategy in case you’re not familiar with it.
And recently, I discovered two new websites making flying for free even easier…
2 Websites That Tell You Exactly How to Earn Free Flights
First off, know this: The easiest way to earn travel rewards is through credit card signup bonuses.
Here’s how it works: After signing up for a card, you spend a certain amount of money using it — never more than you normally would, never carrying a balance — and the issuer rewards you with a bonus in the form of points or miles.
Eventually, you can redeem these for flights, plus taxes and fees.
Note: If you can’t be responsible, don’t have good enough credit or simply don’t like credit cards, here are six ways to earn frequent flyer miles without them.
Credit card signup bonuses are awesome, but they can also be kind of overwhelming.
Which card(s) will help you go on your dream trip? How long will it take?
I recently discovered two websites that take the guesswork out of it — making them fantastic resources for aspiring travel hackers.
1. RewardExpert
RewardExpert is a matchmaker for travelers and credit cards. It “craft[s] a strategy using points and miles to get you where you want to go sooner than you think.”
You enter your departure city, destination and monthly spending, as well as your current miles and points balances.
Then, the site spits out all the different reward programs that could get you to your destination, plus the number of miles or points required — and time it will take you to earn them.
In exchange for your email address, RewardExpert will also reveal the exact credit cards with sign-up bonuses to help you achieve your goal.
2. SlingShot
Though SlingShot provides a similar service as RewardExpert, it doesn’t require you to have a specific trip in mind.
Instead, you answer over 20 questions about your favorite destinations, spending habits and credit — and the site creates a “custom-tailored, actionable plan” for you. While the plan is totally free, you can pay an extra $5 to get it within one business day.
Check out a sample plan here — it recommends both a destination and a path to get you there.
If you know you can be responsible with credit cards (seriously, no rewards are worth going into debt over), they’re absolutely the fastest way to accrue miles and points and start traveling for next to nothing.
And if you think the process sounds exciting, but also daunting, why not let these new companies hold your hand? (No, they didn’t pay me to say that!)
Your Turn: Have you ever used points and miles to travel for free?
Susan Shain, senior writer for The Penny Hoarder, is always seeking adventure on a budget. Visit her blog at susanshain.com, or say hi on Twitter @susan_shain.
The post These 2 Websites Will Tell You Exactly How to Score (Nearly) Free Flights appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/2cH2znN
First-Time Home Buyer? Check Out These Helpful Programs
If you’re a first-time home buyer, you undoubtedly have that mix of excitement and fear we all experience. The thrill of owning a house coupled with the anxiety of making sure you can afford it can lead you to the medicine cabinet for a couple of antacid tablets.
Before you pop open the Tums, take a look at the plethora of programs available to first-time buyers. Being able to take advantage of one of these resources will save you money as well as a case of heartburn. The internet offers a lot of information on these programs. A capable lender can lend further assistance.
FHA Loans
This is the most traditional type of loan program for first-time buyers. A part of HUD, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is a great resource if you’re looking to become a homeowner. Basically, a loan from this organization is insured through FHA, which can result in lower closing costs and low down payments. First-time home buyers can often get a mortgage with a down payment as low as 3.5% of the cost of the house.
- Related: What Is an FHA Loan?
VA Loans
To help those who have served our country, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers loan programs that are quite appealing, especially for first time home buyers. The benefits of a VA loan include competitive interest rates, small or even no down payment, and ease of qualification – including some flexibility when it comes to your credit score.
Fannie Mae’s 97% LTV Loan
This relatively new program, courtesy of Fannie Mae, which focuses on affordable homeownership for low- and middle-income Americans, gives first-time home buyers the option of putting as little as 3% down on the purchase of a house. This is a major boost for first-time buyers, many of whom, without an existing home to trade up from, struggle to save up the traditional 20% down payment that most conventional mortgages require.
Keep in mind that, because a down payment is meant to protect the lender, such low-down-payment loans require private mortgage insurance (PMI). PMI runs an average of 0.5% to 1% of the total loan amount, and can be paid upfront or monthly. You can visit the Fannie Mae website for more options for new and existing home buyers.
Freddie Mac First-Time Home Buyer Loans
Similar to Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac works within the secondary mortgage market to make home buying affordable for more Americans. A variety of mortgage programs sits under the Freddie Mac umbrella; many are ideal for first-time buyers.
Among these are the Home Possible Mortgage, which provides flexible credit terms and low (3% to 5%) down payments, and the Affordable Merit Rate Mortgage, designed for borrowers with credit challenges. Be sure to research all of the mortgage programs within Freddie Mac for eligibility and borrower responsibility.
USDA Loans
The United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides a variety of loan options for those purchasing homes in rural areas. Property and income eligibility requirements differ by state. It’s possible to qualify for a 100%, no-money-down loan backed by the USDA, and interest rates are often lower than those found in conventional loans, according to the USDA.
- Related: USDA Loans: Not Just for Farmers
State Programs
In addition to the above-mentioned programs, individual states have their own resources for first-time home buyers. For example, in Ohio, the Grants for Grads program awards borrowers who have obtained at least a two-year college degree. Georgia offers the Dream Program, a 30-year fixed rate first mortgage for buyers with a household income totaling no more than $69,000 for one or two people. The Energy Efficient Interest Rate Reduction Program in Alaska applies to new or existing energy-efficient homes.
Check with the state in which you plan to buy your first home to see what options are available to you. Every state also has a housing finance agency, which may offer low-down-payment loans and other help for first-time home buyers; you can look up your state’s agency here.
No matter the type of first-time home buyer program you seek, be sure to do your homework. Visit the sites of the programs to learn both the pros and cons and any criteria that determine your eligibility. Be sure that the loan rates, money down, monthly payments, and other requirements are within your budget. In addition, ask your lender about the programs that interest you to get professional guidance in making this very important decision.
Related Articles:
- How to Find the Best Mortgage Rates
- Best Mortgage Lenders
- 10 Tips for First-Time Home Buyers
- 12 Things I Should Have Considered More Carefully Before Buying My First Home
The post First-Time Home Buyer? Check Out These Helpful Programs appeared first on The Simple Dollar.
Source The Simple Dollar http://ift.tt/2damRJu
Scam watch: Prospective tenants - don't get hit by this £2,400 scam
Scammers are targeting people looking for rental accommodation.They demand deposits for properties that aren’t on the market and in some cases don’t even exist.
The average loss is £2,400, according to research by TheHouseShop.com.
Source Moneywise http://ift.tt/2d3VIHF
Economy Energy's sales practices to be investigated
An investigation has been launched by the energy regulator, amid concerns over Economy Energy’s sales practices.
Source Moneywise http://ift.tt/2d3WDYM
How 15 Minutes Can Secure Your Family’s Financial Future — Even If You Die
If you died tomorrow, what would happen to your family?
I know, it’s not something you want to think about… but it’s also not something you should ignore.
But many of us do — even responsible people, who love their families.
People like Ty, a 39-year-old from Seattle who’s been married to his high-school sweetheart for 18 years and has four kids under age 15.
As their sole provider, Ty recently realized ignoring the possibility of his death was like letting his family go skydiving — with really old parachutes.
Way too risky.
So he decided to secure his family’s future in 15 minutes with $52 per month. Here’s how.
Why He Decided to Secure His Family’s Future
Ty has a full-time job in marketing — his wife stays home to take care of their four children.
Although Ty says his wife “works a hell of a lot harder than I do,” it’s still his responsibility to financially provide for his family.
And if he passed away, he wouldn’t be able to do that anymore. Like many of us, Ty knew the solution… but never acted on it.
“I’ve always known I needed life insurance,” he says, “but I’ve never gone about getting it for several lame reasons.”
Reasons like: It was complicated. It took weeks to get approved. It required stacks of paperwork and signatures.
Since Ty’s best friend actually is, in fact, a life insurance agent, he’d made “a few feeble attempts” to get it in the past — but never completed the process because it was “such a pain.”
Eventually, though, Ty realized those excuses weren’t good enough.
“Even when I’m no longer here on this Earth making some corny dad jokes, I’m going to live on through my kids,” he says. “That made me wake up and realize I need to be a better provider for my family.”
How He Got Life Insurance… Without the Hassle
So when he read about Haven Life, an online life insurance agency promising a much faster, better life insurance buying process, he decided to give it a shot.
Ty knew how much coverage he wanted and immediately got a quote and, through Haven Life, compared the pricing of their policy to other insurers. He decided to move forward with applying online.
He answered some basic questions in the application — about his age, health and family history — and was approved for coverage instantly.
“I spent maybe 15 minutes on the website, and the end of it, I was approved for life insurance,” Ty says.
Ultimately, he chose a 15-year, $750,000 Haven Term policy with a $52 monthly premium.
Translation?
For the next 15 years, Ty will pay $52 per month to Haven Life. If he dies during this period, his family will receive a one-time payout of $750,000.
If he doesn’t, his term length will expire in 2031 and he can decide whether or not to extend coverage (likely at an added cost, though.) For many younger than Ty, life insurance can be even less expensive.
“My gosh, it was so slick and so easy,” he says. “Haven Life made it easy for me to do something I knew I needed to take care of anyway.”
Unlike traditional life insurance providers, Haven Life is an online-only platform (no scanning and faxing paperwork to an agent) that provides an instant decision on coverage (no waiting for weeks) and coverage begins that day.
Ty did need to take a medical exam to finalize coverage though. For Ty’s physical, a nurse came to his workplace.
“She drew some blood and 15 minutes later, she was gone,” he says. “I was really impressed that I didn’t have to take a day off or an extended lunch break.”
Today, Haven Life even announced that many qualified applicants won’t need to take a medical exam. Instead of needing a medical exam to finalize coverage, Haven Life bases approval on the health information provided in the application process.
Is it Worth the Cost?
Let’s be clear: Not everyone needs life insurance.
If you’re single or financially independent (we can dream, right?), there’s likely little reason for buying life insurance and paying a premium each month.
But, if you have people who depend on you, it’s worth considering.
“Really, it boiled down to love,” Ty explains. “I love my family and this is one way I’m trying to take care of them.”
Each month, his $52 payment automatically gets taken out of his bank account — an amount he said he hasn’t even noticed.
What he has noticed? He sleeps better.
“I know it sounds cliché,” he says, “but I feel so much better mentally, knowing my family is taken care of.”
So, for him, the added line on his budget has certainly been worth the price.
“At this point if I pass away, my family’s life gets better, financially speaking,” he says.
“As their husband and father, that’s a pretty great gift — and the peace of mind that brings me is worth a hell of a lot more than $52 per month.”
Your Turn: Have you considered life insurance?
Sponsorship Disclosure: A huge thanks to Haven Life for working with us to bring you this content. It’s rare that we have the opportunity to share something so awesome and get paid for it!
Haven Term is a Term Life Insurance Policy (DTC, ICC14DTC) issued by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual), Springfield, MA 01111 and offered exclusively through Haven Life Insurance Agency, LLC
The post How 15 Minutes Can Secure Your Family’s Financial Future — Even If You Die appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/2cCqHpz
Seven in ten Moneywise users pick packed lunches over eating out
Nearly seven in ten (66% of) Moneywise.co.uk users take the money saving option of bringing a packed lunch into work each day.
Whether it’s homemade sandwiches or leftovers that cause a stink in the office when heated up, our latest poll results reveal that a packed lunch still beats eating out – despite the choice we now have on the high street.
Source Moneywise http://ift.tt/2cJirJW
Vodafone blocks scam calls
Vodafone has introduced new barring technology across its mobile phone network to protect customers from nuisance and scam callers.
It says the new technology will potentially screen out hundreds of thousands of calls a day, including those from PPI and insurance claims handlers and missed call scams that trick people into calling expensive premium rate numbers.
Source Moneywise http://ift.tt/2cJhNvM
Unique Service Businesses You Can Start From Home
By Kimi Clark Many people these days want to start a business from home but aren’t exactly sure what to do. Maybe you’ve thought about it, but you don’t think you have the startup fees required to make your dream a reality. That’s the good thing about service-based businesses. They are typically cheaper and easier […]
Source The Work at Home Woman http://ift.tt/2dgbOKV
Source The Work at Home Woman http://ift.tt/2dgbOKV
الاشتراك في:
الرسائل (Atom)