Providing Proof of Hardship | Loan Modification Part 3

After you determine you’re eligible

If medical expenses are making it tough for you to pay your mortgage, you could get help from the feds.

If you’ve read Part 1 and Part 2 of this series, you should already have a pretty good idea of whether you are eligible to take part in the federal Foreclosure Prevention Plan.

You also know that part of the process is including proof of hardship. This article in the Loan Modification series will discusses what that means.

The List

Federal officials have said only "at risk" homeowners can get government assistance. Applicants must prove one of these:

• serious hardship
• declines in income
• increase in expenses
• facing an interest rate hike
• high mortgage debt compared to income
• they owe more than their house is worth
• reasons for being close to default

Serious hardship

If you have had huge medical expenses or other emergencies that have hampered your ability to pay your mortgage, you can use these to appeal for government assistance. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Providing Proof of Hardship | Loan Modification Part 3"

If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is

Watch out if he looks like a legitimate businessman

Don't Be Fooled!

Rip-off artists relieve us of millions of dollars a year. They are smooth, clever and very accomplished at what they do.

Have you been taken by a scam artist?

We've all been taken and perhaps some of us don't even realize what happened. It was a new car battery or generator when we didn't need one, a charity collector who collected money for himself or a health freak who sold us expensive vitamins that we didn't need. We are surrounded by con artists who hover around like moths around a light bulb. No one is immune. The odds of becoming a scam victim are greater than the chance of being mugged.

It would take a major book to expose the many tricks and hoaxes con artists have used and it's important to learn to recognize some of the more common warning signs of scams.

Online Payday Loans are completely legitimate and work in your favor and to your advantage every time. Here are a few simple rules that everyone should know about the real scams.

There is no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!

• No one gives away something for nothing,
• There is no quick way to riches unless you inherit it.
• Anyone who dangles a diamond-studded chain in front of your eyes is certainly a con.

Don't be greedy – it destroys your normal thinking process; be cautious and skeptical. Watch out for the sales pitch that distorts the truth and don't be shy to ask a million questions – it's your money on the line. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is"

Aries: March 21 to April 19

ARIES is self-will in action; pioneering energy; new growth seeking to emerge

Maybe, just maybe, we are reading this economic tailspin thing all wrong. Perhaps it's ordained up there in the sun or the moon or the stars? Perhaps we should stop bowing and praying to Taurus the Bull who stands outside the New York Stock Exchange and start edging closer to Aries the Ram. On March 21 the sun moves from Pisces to Aries. Could this help the economy? March 21 is also my day for applying for my Online Cash Advance. Could this help my personal economy?

Aries, the ram, is the first astrological sign in the Zodiac. In astrology, Aries is considered a masculine, positive, extrovert sign. It is also considered a fire sign, and is one of four cardinal signs. Aries is ruled by the planet Mars.

Traditional Aries Traits

What we need to do is to align our economy with the Traditional Aries Traits, making it:

• Adventurous and energetic.
• Pioneering and courageous.
• Enthusiastic and confident.
• Dynamic and quick-witted.

March 21 is the beginning of the new zodiacal year and Aries, the first sign, is therefore that of new beginnings. The young ram is adventurous, ambitious, impulsive, enthusiastic and full of energy. The Arian is a pioneer both in thought and action, very open to new ideas and a lover of freedom. They welcome challenges and will not be diverted from their purpose except by their own impatience, which will surface if they don’t get quick results. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Aries: March 21 to April 19"

Anchorage Daily News to Eliminate 45 Positions

Print news headed downhill

Anchorage Daily News building

The Anchorage Daily News, Alaska’s largest newspaper, says it will cut 45 jobs from its payroll, about 17 percent of the staff.

The Anchorage Daily News is owned by McClatchy, one of the United States’ largest media conglomerates. CNN.com wasn’t kidding in its headline “Bad News Days for Newspaper Biz.”

Daily News details

Publisher Patrick Doyle announced the cuts today, and said the 45 positions would be eliminated through layoffs and leaving some unfilled jobs vacant.

Doyle also said in his letter that some remaining staffers would get wage cuts.

McClatchy’s big plan

McClatchy’s overall budget plan includes cutting $110 million in spending. The company is suffering because of declining advertising revenue. Short term loans don’t appear to be a good option for the company, which has been losing revenue since before the recession.

McClatchy is plans to cut 15 percent of its total workforce, which will amount to slashing about 1,600 jobs. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Anchorage Daily News to Eliminate 45 Positions"

Recession Might Claim Wolf Block After 106 Years in Business

Law Firm Could Dissolve

The recession is a bit more than a year old, but it is threatening businesses that have been around for more than a century.

Wolf Block, a 300-lawyer law firm, is holding talks today to discuss dissolving the company.

Company history

Wolf Block was formed in 1903, and it was once one of Philadelphia’s premier law firms. In its beginning it was a partnership between Morris Wolf and Horace Stern. The two lawyers could not find work in Philadelphia, so they started their own firm.

The firm rose in prominence during the first half of the 20th Century along with the local Jewish business community. It was able to attract some of the nation's top Jewish law school graduates until other firms changed their hiring practices in the late 1960s and provided more competition for their services, according to Philadelphia Business Journal.

21st Century Wolf Block

Trouble became evident in the fall when the firm announced it would delay start dates for first-year associates, sending many young lawyers with huge school debt running for payday loans or other law firms. In December, Wolf Block laid off 15 employees. The firm then had to make more cuts this year.

The company’s partners will vote today on whether to dissolve the company.

Not for lack of trying

Wolf Block will reach a verdict today on its own dissolution. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Recession Might Claim Wolf Block After 106 Years in Business"

Banned Credit Card Practices Linger, Pushing Consumers Further Into Debt

Anita Hare thought she was playing it smart when she took advantage of a low introductory interest rate on her Chase credit card to buy a Harley-Davidson motorcycle last spring. For four months, the 46-year-old from Baltimore County said, she paid her bill on time at a rate of 3.99 percent. Then …

Read more about Banned Credit Card Practices Linger, Pushing Consumers Further Into Debt…

With the Stimulus Come the Inevitable Stimulus Scams

QI’ve been seeing lots of ads suggesting that the government will be sending people big checks, usually of more than $12,000, as part of the stimulus plan. Is the Treasury Department really going to send checks of this size?

Read more about With the Stimulus Come the Inevitable Stimulus Scams…