Big banks are offering some much needed financial relief to many East coast residents who were impacted by Superstorm Sandy. Banks such as Citi, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Chase and American Express have been sending out e-mails and posting alerts on their websites, notifying credit card customers that they may qualify for special credit offers if they were impacted by the storm. And in certain cases, banks are being a little more lenient with their lending standards. In some cases the banks are offering increased credit limits even after the customer has recovered from the storm, such as Bank of America. These are likely to last only through the recovery process. Wells Fargo is offering personal loans to customers in FEMA-designated areas. The loans range from $3,000 – $25,000.
However, accepting the increased credit limit from your bank may not be your best option. If you have a high interest rate, it may be a better option to apply for a new credit card with a promotion for 0% interest for a certain period of time. If you’re leaning toward taking out a personal loan from Wells Fargo due to your home or car being destroyed, check with your insurance company first to see what is covered. Another organization that can help is FEMA. Oftentimes, FEMA temporarily covers rental payments for storm victims. Many nonprofits- like the American Red Cross- are also offering free assistance to storm victims, including meals, shelter and transportation.
To read more on this story visit: http://money.cnn.com/2012/11/02/pf/sandy-banking/index.html?iid=SF_PF_River
If you are in a financial crisis and are considering filing bankruptcy, contact an experienced attorney who can advise you of all of your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. at www.miamibankruptcy.com.
The Housing Market’s Impact on Economic Recovery
Many Americans were worried by the lack of attention both presidential candidates devoted to the housing market in their campaigns this year. The collapse of the housing market was one of the main reasons for the recession in the first place. The housing market impacts the job market and many other sectors of the economy. When home sales are up, retail sales are up; this in turn has a positive impact on the stock market. When stocks go up, inventory becomes sparse, therefore developers begin to build and in turn, construction jobs are added to the economy.
Many parts of the country are now seeing economic growth in the housing sector. There are more buyers and inventory is low. In past recessions, such as during the 1970s and 1980s, housing played a major role in economic recovery. In the 1970s housing and cars accounted for 50 percent of the recovery and in the 1980s these accounted for one-third of the recovery. Today, housing and cars account for only 10 percent of the recovery. However, states such as Florida, Nevada, California, Arizona and Michigan- that were hit the hardest by the housing market crash- are seeing an increase in sales and home prices.
To read more on this story visit: http://www.npr.org/2012/10/27/163776531/bust-to-boom-why-housing-matters-economically
Choosing the right attorney can make the difference between whether or not you can keep your home. A well-qualified attorney will not only help you keep your home, but they will be able to negotiate a loan that has payments you can afford. Foreclosure defense attorney, Timothy Kingcade has helped many facing foreclosure alleviate their stress by letting them stay in their homes for at least another year, allowing them to re-organize their lives. If you have any questions on the topic of foreclosure please feel free to contact me at (305) 285-9100. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.
What Hurricane Sandy Means for the Economy
Economists are looking at previous storms such as Hurricane Katrina to predict how Hurricane Sandy will affect the economy in the coming weeks and months. According to the Washington Post, it is expected that industrial production will temporarily be suspended at factories along the east coast. Also expected, is a decline in retail sales due to consumers buying construction supplies to rebuild. Economic activity as a whole will likely slow down because many businesses have temporarily shut down in the northeast.
The hurricane has already caused a slight rise in oil costs because imports into New York Harbor were disrupted; however it will probably be short-term. Economists are having a hard time predicting the overall financial damage from this storm because it is without precedent. While the emotional devastation to the country is similar to Katrina, the physical damage is very different. Unlike Katrina, Sandy did not disrupt any actual oil drilling therefore the entire nation did not see a major spike in oil prices.
To read more on this story visit: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/what-hurricane-sandy-means-for-the-economy/2012/10/30/e6ef95ea-2293-11e2-8448-81b1ce7d6978_story.html
If you are in a financial crisis and are considering filing bankruptcy, contact an experienced attorney who can advise you of all of your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. at www.miamibankruptcy.com.
Sarasota Home Builder Files for Bankruptcy Protection
Jim Butler, president of Paradise Homes, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection last Thursday. Paradise Homes is one of the builders for Lakewood Ranch community in Sarasota, FL. The company is in various stages of building approximately a dozen new homes. Butler filed for protection for two of his companies, Extreme Remodelers of Sarasota LLC and Paradise Lifestyle Center LLC. Butler is expected to have assets and liabilities between $1 million and $10 million.
Some of the homeowners are likely to bring in qualified builders as completion contractors, according to Attorney Alan Tannenbaum who represents two homebuyers. According to a representative from another builder for Lakewood, many homeowners are angry at Paradise Homes. Aside from the dozen homes currently under construction, 18 others are yet to be started.
To read more on this story visit: http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20121026/ARTICLE/121029699/-1/news?p=2&tc=pg
If you are in a financial crisis and are considering filing bankruptcy, contact an experienced attorney who can advise you of all of your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. at www.miamibankruptcy.com
Foreclosures Expected to Deter Thousands of Voters in Upcoming Election
Thousands of foreclosure victims are expected to be absent from the polls next week, according to a study published by the University of California. The study showed that voter turnout was lower during the election in 2008 in areas struggling with higher foreclosure rates.
In every state, voter registration is tied to residency, but states vary in how a voter must establish their residency and re-register to vote. With some 1.3 million homes in some stage of foreclosure as of August 2012 and with approximately 3.8 million foreclosures already complete since September 2008, according to the market research firm CoreLogic, foreclosures could keep hundreds of thousands of voters away from the polls.
Swing states such as Ohio and Florida are also the hardest hit foreclosure states. Many voters are reportedly angry by the lack of discussion about the housing market problems by the candidates during their campaigns. This might also serve as a reason for low voter turnout by those affected by foreclosure.
To read more on this story visit: http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2012/10/25/foreclosures-expected-to-deter-thousands-voters/
Choosing the right attorney can make the difference between whether or not you can keep your home. A well-qualified attorney will not only help you keep your home, but they will be able to negotiate a loan that has payments you can afford. Foreclosure defense attorney, Timothy Kingcade has helped many facing foreclosure alleviate their stress by letting them stay in their homes for at least another year, allowing them to re-organize their lives. If you have any questions on the topic of foreclosure please feel free to contact me at (305) 285-9100. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.
Bank of America Sued for $1 Billion by Federal Government over Mortgage Losses
Last Wednesday, the federal government filed a civil lawsuit against Bank of America Corp. The lawsuit alleged that Bank of America misrepresented the quality of loans it sold to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, costing the federal government $1 billion in losses. The government is suing Bank of America under the Federal False Claims Act, which has become a popular tool for prosecutors seeking to hold banks accountable for alleged mortgage misdeeds and calls for triple damages when the government can show taxpayers were ripped off.
The government alleges Countrywide, which Bank of America acquired in 2008, dismembered quality control and checks on loan quality from 2007 to 2009, in a process called “the Hustle” that aimed to boost the speed at which it originated and sold loans to the companies. This procedure was created to speed up the selling process of mortgage loans. Wednesday’s suit was also brought under a federal statute known as the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act, which was enacted in 1989 following a wave of bank failures triggered by the savings-and-loan crisis. This action isn’t Bank of America’s first False Claims Act suit. In February, Bank of America agreed to a $1 billion settlement of False Claims Act fraud allegations tied to Federal Housing Administration-backed loans brought by the Eastern District of New York. The bank settled without admitting wrongdoing.
To read more on this story visit: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/u-s–sues-bofa-for–1-billion-over-mortgage-losses-24401588.html
Choosing the right attorney can make the difference between whether or not you can keep your home. A well-qualified attorney will not only help you keep your home, but they will be able to negotiate a loan that has payments you can afford. Foreclosure defense attorney, Timothy Kingcade has helped many facing foreclosure alleviate their stress by letting them stay in their homes for at least another year, allowing them to re-organize their lives. If you have any questions on the topic of foreclosure please feel free to contact me at (305) 285-9100. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.
Property Insurance Rates Greater Concern for Florida Homeowners than Property Taxes
A nonpartisan organization, Leadership Florida, recently released a survey that found 46 percent of Floridians say property insurance puts a greater stress on their finances than property taxes. In 2008, 36 percent of Floridians found property insurance was a greater stress on their finances and 31 percent cited property taxes.
Since 2008, property taxes have decreased along with property values due to the housing market crash; however, property insurance costs continue to rise. Many insurers have requested rate increases in the double-digit range in 2012, which have been approved. The growing rates could result in a political liability for Florida lawmakers in upcoming elections.
To read more on this story visit: http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20121021/ARTICLE/310219990/-1/sports?p=all&tc=pgall&tc=ar
Choosing the right attorney can make the difference between whether or not you can keep your home. A well-qualified attorney will not only help you keep your home, but they will be able to negotiate a loan that has payments you can afford. Foreclosure defense attorney, Timothy Kingcade has helped many facing foreclosure alleviate their stress by letting them stay in their homes for at least another year, allowing them to re-organize their lives. If you have any questions on the topic of foreclosure please feel free to contact me at (305) 285-9100. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.
Home Construction on the Rise
Home construction is on the rise in the U.S., which is good news for economic growth and recovery. The Commerce Department reports home construction rates during September were the highest seen in four years. The steady growth is due to record low mortgage rates, reduced home prices and a shortage of homes for sale on the market. Single-family home construction increased 11 percent in September and apartment construction increased 25.1 percent. Overall new construction has increased more than 38 percent in the past 12 months.
A rise in home construction rates will help boost the economy, not only from a housing market standpoint, but it will also create more jobs in construction, home improvement and retail. Employment in the construction industry took a major hit after the recession, dropping from six million employed in June 2009 to 5.46 million in January 2011. Housing is one of the most important contributors to economic recovery and economists expect the housing market will continue to improve for the next several years.
To read more on this story visit: http://www.wrex.com/story/19841616/us-housing-construction-up-15-percent-in-september.
Choosing the right attorney can make the difference between whether or not you can keep your home. A well-qualified attorney will not only help you keep your home, but they will be able to negotiate a loan that has payments you can afford. Foreclosure defense attorney, Timothy Kingcade has helped many facing foreclosure alleviate their stress by letting them stay in their homes for at least another year, allowing them to re-organize their lives. If you have any questions on the topic of foreclosure please feel free to contact me at (305) 285-9100. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.
Housing Crisis Goes Unmentioned in Presidential Debates
The housing crisis is widely considered the reason for the recession that hit the U.S. economy hard in 2007. However, President Obama and Governor Romney have avoided mentioning their plans for the future of the housing market during their recent presidential debates. The silence from the candidates is especially shocking considering the hardest hit states are also the battleground states such as Florida, Nevada and Ohio.
The plans and programs implemented by the President Obama administration have been slow to make headway. President Obama has been scrutinized for the slow pace of the improving conditions. Economists believe this is the reason the housing market has gone unmentioned by both candidates because Governor Romney’s plan for improving the housing market has many similarities to Obama’s. The third and final debate will take place this evening in Boca Raton, FL, but it is unlikely the housing market will be mentioned. The primary focus will be on foreign policy.
To read more on this story visit:
http://www.sfgate.com/business/networth/article/Obama-Romney-skip-housing-in-debates-3957782.php#page-1
Choosing the right attorney can make the difference between whether or not you can keep your home. A well-qualified attorney will not only help you keep your home, but they will be able to negotiate a loan that has payments you can afford. Foreclosure defense attorney, Timothy Kingcade has helped many facing foreclosure alleviate their stress by letting them stay in their homes for at least another year, allowing them to re-organize their lives. If you have any questions on the topic of foreclosure please feel free to contact me at (305) 285-9100. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.
Foreclosure Activity Varies Across U.S.
Foreclosure filings are down to their lowest levels since before the recession. But the declines in activity do not hold true for the whole country. The website RealtyTrac says the national average for the number of default notices, auctions and repossessions declined 7 percent. The operative word here is average.
The national average on foreclosure activity has fallen to rates last seen before the great recession. But that decline was driven by certain states, including California, Michigan and Arizona, where foreclosure activity declined by double-digits. Meanwhile, activity was dramatically up in some states, including Florida, Illinois, New York and New Jersey.
To read more on this story visit: http://www.npr.org/2012/10/11/162743637/foreclosure-activity-wildly-different-across-u-s
Choosing the right attorney can make the difference between whether or not you can keep your home. A well-qualified attorney will not only help you keep your home, but they will be able to negotiate a loan that has payments you can afford. Foreclosure defense attorney, Timothy Kingcade has helped many facing foreclosure alleviate their stress by letting them stay in their homes for at least another year, allowing them to re-organize their lives. If you have any questions on the topic of foreclosure please feel free to contact me at (305) 285-9100. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.