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Job Growth Significantly Slows During March

Posted on April 12, 2013by Admin

The job market has remained steady through most of 2012 and the beginning of 2013. However, during the month of March employers added fewer jobs than any other month in almost a year. The numbers are discouraging because job growth is one of the greatest indicators of economic recovery. In February, 268,000 jobs were added to the market and in March, only 88,000 jobs were created. The unemployment rate dropped to a four-year low of 7.6% during March. Experts say the decline in unemployment was prompted by nearly a half-million workers leaving the job market and not by growth. This decline was the result of layoffs, retirements and other reasons.

The decline in job growth is not a new trend; it’s also referred to as a “springtime swoon.” It is not uncommon for hiring to start strong early in the year and wilt away as the weather warms. Some economists believe that March’s report may represent a payback for the significant growths during January and February. Others attributed the decline to budget turmoil in Washington or unusually cold weather in parts of the country. No matter the reason, analysts cautioned against reading too much into the rates from only one month. During March, employers added 20,000 temporary workers and 18,000 construction workers, which reflects the recovery of the real estate market. Sectors such as transportation lost jobs during the month of March.

Click here to read more about the decline in job growth during March.

If you are in a financial crisis and are considering filing bankruptcy, contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy 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 website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Foreclosures, Timothy Kingcade Posts

As the Economy Improves, Many South Floridians are Repairing their Credit Scores

Posted on March 22, 2013by Admin

Florida was one of the hardest hit states when the housing market crashed in 2008. As a result, many residents lost their jobs, lost their homes and were forced to file for bankruptcy protection. However, many South Floridians have made progress in repairing their credit scores since the recession. Approximately 40,000 people in Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties raised their credit scores to 620 or above in just one year. A credit score above 620 removes the individual from the Subprime or Risky category, meaning that they are more likely to be approved for credit cards, auto loans, mortgages, etc. Not only is it easier to be approved for a loan once you are out of the Subprime category, but it also enables you to get lower interest rates.

According to Equifax, South Florida is second only to the Los Angeles metro area in the number of people who have improved their once sub-prime credit scores in the year that ended September 30, 2012. In January, the average credit score for the three counties was 645, which is only three points below the national average. Much of South Florida’s successful recovery can be attributed to the large number of mortgage lenders that are trying to help out the community. Companies such as The Mortgage Firm, provide free counseling to help people improve their credit scores. As a result, many South Floridians have been approved for mortgage loans in as little as two years after filing for bankruptcy and as little as three years after a foreclosure.

Click here to read more about how South Floridians have successfully repaired their credit scores after the recession.

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Best Shopping Deals in March

Posted on March 5, 2013by Admin

March has always been a big shopping month, particularly for those looking for spring deals. Below is a list from Dealnews.com of the best products to buy this month.

PlayStation 3
Sony debuted the long-awaited PlayStation 4 in late February. In the past, prices on previous generation PlayStations have dropped between 60% and 64% just after the latest models were released. The prices of PlayStation 3 consoles are expected to do the same this month.

Chocolate
High-end chocolate shops, such as Godiva, are expected to have great deals on chocolates leftover from Valentine’s Day this month. Typically after a holiday, themed candy is discounted up to 50%.

Luggage
March is a great time of the year to buy travel gear. Last year, a number of stores had great luggage deals during March such as: Wal-Mart, eBags, Macy’s and Sears. These deals will likely last through spring.

Frozen Foods
March is National Frozen Foods Month. Although it was adopted as a marketing ploy, you will see special promotions from different food brands throughout the month on frozen foods.

Smartphones
In February, at Mobile World Congress, several phone manufacturers debuted new smartphones, turning 2012 models into previous-generation goods. This month will be a good time to buy last year’s smartphones at discounted prices.

Big-Screen TVs
TV deals were at all-time lows during February. These discounted prices are expected to continue into March.

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.

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Job Recovery Rate Higher for Workers with College Degrees

Posted on February 7, 2013by Admin

According to CNN Money, recent studies have shown that levels of job recovery are much higher for workers with a college degree. Workers with higher levels of education such as: master’s degrees, doctorates or professional degrees are a small part of the population and have been affected the least by the suffering job market. Unfortunately, those with a high school diploma or less have experienced the greatest job deficit and slowest employment gains.

Workers with master’s, doctorates or other professional degrees have experienced a 6.7% job market gain since 2010. Approximately 1.1 million more workers reported having jobs in 2012 than in 2010. Workers with bachelor’s degrees have reported a 5% gain since 2010. Workers with a high school diploma or less have been experiencing a loss in jobs since 2007. Approximately 767,000 fewer reported having a job in 2012 than in 2010. Experts say this is a long-running trend that has been shifting the U.S. economy toward more professional occupations. The health care and professional services sectors experienced the strongest job growth last year. Construction, a predominately blue-collar profession, experienced the biggest sector cut.

Bankruptcy Law, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Casey Anthony Files for Bankruptcy in Florida

Posted on January 30, 2013by Admin

Casey Anthony filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection last Friday in Florida. Anthony claimed approximately $1,100 in assets and $792,000 in liabilities. Her listed debts included: $500,000 for attorney fees and costs for her criminal defense lawyer during the trial; $145,660 for the Orange County Sheriff’s office for a judgment covering investigative fees and costs related to the case; $68,540 for the IRS for taxes, interest and penalties and $61,505 for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for court costs. Her legal debt accumulated when she was on trial for the murder of her daughter, Caylee. Anthony was acquitted of killing Caylee in 2011, however she is currently unemployed, with no recent income.

Aside from her financial troubles, Anthony is also facing a defamation lawsuit. Among many other civil suits, the defamation suit was brought forth by Zenaida Fernandez-Gonzalez in the Orange County Circuit Court. Fernandez-Gonzalez claims that Anthony defamed her when she told the detectives that a baby sitter with the same name kidnapped Caylee in 2008.

Credit, Timothy Kingcade Posts

6 Items You Will Pay Less for in 2013

Posted on January 23, 2013by Admin

Below are 6 pricy items that are expected to drop in 2013:

1. Used Cars: If you need a new car, consider purchasing a used car in 2013. Analysts project that used car prices will drop several hundred dollars this year. This drop is related to a spike in lease terminations resulting in extra inventory on used car lots.
2. Gas: Last year’s average gas price was $3.63 per gallon. In 2013, average gas prices are projected to drop to $3.43 according to the Department of Energy. A spike in fuel-efficient vehicles on the road will help keep gas prices lower this year.
3. Ultrabooks: Intel has predicted that laptops with “ultrabook” branding will see a major price drop in 2013. Ultrabooks are known for their slim, light exteriors and high-speed processors. Intel predicts these will retail for $599, approximately half of their normal cost, by the end of this year.
4. Vacation Packages: Vacationers can save more than $1,000 this year by booking their airfare and hotels together. Popular resorts in areas such as Hawaii and Mexico will offer major savings for those who book package deals.
5. Solar Energy Panels: Solar energy panels have become increasingly popular for those trying to heat swimming pools or large homes. Analysts expect these pricy items to decline by as much as 10% this year.
6. Flatscreen TVs: The prices of 50-plus-inch flatscreens are projected to drop nearly 11% during 2013. The bigger the TV, the bigger the price cut.

To read more on this story visit: http://money.cnn.com/gallery/pf/2013/01/22/pay-less-2013/6.html

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Rise in Unemployment in 2013

Posted on January 16, 2013by Admin

There has been a slight rise in claims for unemployment benefits just two weeks into the New Year. Economists say this is an indicator of the current state of the job market. During the first week of the year, approximately 371,000 people filed first-time unemployment claims, 4,000 more than the last week in December. Although the job market recovery has a long way to go, it has improved since the height of the recession when weekly unemployment claims surged above 600,000. There were roughly 12.2 million Americans jobless during December, meaning the unemployment rate for the month was 7.8%.

Unemployment claims seemed to have leveled off during 2012, ranging from 350,000 to 400,000 throughout most of the year. The U.S. economy has added an average of 150,000 jobs to the market each month throughout 2012; a rate that barely keeps up with the population growth each month. Economists say that if the market could reduce filings to 320,000 and 350,000 claims per week in 2013, this would greatly improve the economy. If claims were in this range, approximately 250,000 jobs would be added to the economy each month.

To read more on this story visit: http://money.cnn.com/2013/01/10/news/economy/unemployment-benefits/index.html

Credit, Foreclosures, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Home Construction – Slow but Stable in November

Posted on December 27, 2012by Admin

Home construction rates while still up from last year, slowed down in November. However, the three percent decline in new home construction is small enough that the housing market remains at a stable recovery rate. Economists believe a major contributor to the decline was Hurricane Sandy, the late October storm that devastated the Northeastern part of the U.S. The Northeast home construction rates dropped 5.2 percent from October to November after Sandy.
Builder confidence was also lower in the Northeast compared with other parts of the country, which is measured by the amount of applications for new building permits. In November, the rate of applications filed was down five percent compared with 2011 levels. The rest of the country saw major increases in applications. On average, applications for new permits increased 26.8 percent compared with November 2011 and 3.6 percent compared with the previous month.
In addition to home construction rates, the housing market has shown other signs of recovery, such as lower inventory, lower interest rates and lower foreclosure rates. An improving job market has also helped boost the economy.
To read more on this story visit: http://money.cnn.com/2012/12/19/real_estate/home-building-permits/index.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.

Credit, Foreclosures, Timothy Kingcade Posts

The Housing Market’s Impact on Economic Recovery

Posted on November 8, 2012by Admin

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.

Foreclosures, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Home Construction on the Rise

Posted on October 25, 2012by Admin

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.