Tag: Interest Rates

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

5 Times you should Never Use a Credit Card

Posted on by Admin

Using a credit card responsibly is an excellent way to boost your credit score, build your credit history, track spending, even take advantage of cash-back and other reward programs.  However, if you are unable to pay your bill off every month the high interest rates will cost you.

Here are five times you may want to put the credit card away and opt for another method of payment:

Paying for a BIG expense– Moving to a new city, remodeling your home or going on a vacation are all purchases you will want to save up for ahead of time.  Using more than a third of your available credit on a card can have a negative effect on your credit score.

To consolidate credit card debt– If you are trying to consolidate all of your consumer debts into one payment, the best option depends on your credit score, how much debt you have and, most importantly, your ability to pay down the debt.  If you cannot reasonably pay off your consumer debt in five years, most experts advise debt reorganization or bankruptcy. If your credit score is average, you can tap into your home equity or take a loan against your retirement account or life insurance policy. However, the consequences of defaulting on these loans come with severe penalties.

To fund emergencies– In an emergency situation, a credit card should be your last resort. If you do not have an emergency fund, start one today.  Budget to have the money automatically transferred from your checking account into a savings account- even if it is only $50 a month. This can add up over a year.

To pay for your wedding– Do not start your married life in debt.  Taking out a  personal loan to help pay for a portion of the wedding expenses is a smarter option because these come with fixed interest rates, making it easier for the payments to be factored into your monthly budget.  Depending on your credit, these can come with lower interest rates and allow you to pay overtime.

To pay your taxes– Avoid using a credit card to pay your taxes.  It is better to take from savings or utilize the IRS installment plan option to avoid paying a fee on top of your tax bill. Vendors that the IRS authorizes to accept card payments charge a convenience fee of 1.87% to 2.25% of the amount you owe. E-filing software companies charge even higher rates for credit card payments.

If you are in financial crisis and considering filing for 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.

Related Resources:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2016/08/20/5-times-you-shouldnt-use-credit-card/88945872/

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Americans Underreport Credit Card Debt by $415 Billion

Posted on by Admin

A recent study conducted by NerdWallet showed that consumers are underreporting their credit card debt. In December 2013, lenders reported approximately $683 billion in outstanding credit card debt, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. However, Americans only reported having $268 billion in credit card debt.

The $415 billion discrepancy in reported credit card debt was far greater than any other type of debt, including student loans and mortgage debt. The reasoning is likely due to the stigma surrounding credit card debt, according to NerdWallet.

According to the study, 70 percent of Americans think credit card debt has a more negative stigma attached to it than any other type of debt. Mortgage and student loan debt is often considered “good” debt and credit card debt is considered “bad” debt. As a result, consumers may be underreporting credit card debt because they are ashamed of the amount of credit card debt they have. The survey also found that 35 percent of Americans would be embarrassed to tell others they have credit card debt, significantly more than any other type of debt.

How to pay off your credit card debt

Credit cards typically have the highest interest rates among other types of debt, therefore it is important to pay them off as quickly as possible. The first thing you need to do is figure out exactly how much you owe. You can do this by logging into your credit card account’s website. While you are logged in, note the balance, interest rate, minimum payment and due date.

Once you have determined how much you owe with each credit card account, make the account with the highest interest rate your top priority. Pay any extra that you can each month on that account. Once it is paid off, move on to the account with the second highest interest rate, and continue paying off each account by the highest interest rates.

Click here to read more on this story.

If you have any questions on this topic or are in financial crisis and considering filing for 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, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Five Store Credit Cards to Avoid

Posted on by Admin

According to a survey of 61 major retail credit cards by CreditCards.com, retail credit cards are becoming debt traps for consumers. Many of these cards have an average APR of 23.23%, compared with 15.03% for other credit cards. This means a consumer who spends $1,000 on a retail card, and made only the minimum payments, would spend more than six years repaying that balance and end up paying a total of $1,840 for the $1,000 item. That is equivalent to an 84% markup!

Retail credit cards sometimes have benefits that may be worth it to consumers who frequently shop at the store and pay the balance off in full every month. Many of these cards come with perks like store discounts, special sales and rewards for cardholders. But miss one payment one month and you run into trouble on most of these credit cards.

Below are the retail credit cards to steer clear of, according to the CreditCards.com survey:

1. Zales has up to a 28.99% APR.
2. Office Depot Personal Credit Card has a 27.99% APR.
3. Staples Personal Account has a 27.99% APR.
4. My Best Buy has up to 25.24% and 27.99% APR, depending on your credit score.
5. My Best Buy Preferred has a 25.24% and 27.99% APR, depending on your credit score.

Bottom line: Retail credit cards are a bad idea for anyone who does not pay their balance off in full every month, because the interest rates are so exorbitant.

If you are in a financial crisis and considering filing for 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.

Related Resources:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/don-t-credit-cards-5-134815527.html

Credit, Foreclosures, Timothy Kingcade Posts

3 Reasons the Housing Market Recovery Might Not Last

Posted on by Admin

The housing market has made a big comeback this year! Home prices have increased approximately 8 percent and interest rates have hit record-lows. However, some experts worry that the housing market will crash just as quickly as it has surged.

Below are three main reasons industry experts worry the recovery might not last.

1. Investors are leading the housing market recovery. Investors have been taking advantage of low interest rates by buying up a huge portion of the real estate inventory. However, when prices begin to rise, economists believe that investors will likely pull back. Many believe an investor-driven boom led to the original housing bubble.

2. The economic recovery is not strong enough, yet. There are many factors within the economy that can still hurt the housing market, such as employment. After gaining some momentum during 2012, the job market has been showing signs of weakness in recent months. Once the job market picks up, the housing market should gain some strength.

3. Government cuts will hurt homeowners. The housing market recovery will be greatly affected by the $85 billion worth government spending cuts. The cuts include unpaid days off for federal workers, cuts in unemployment compensation and decreased military spending. All of which will lead to job and income losses.

Click here to read more on the three reasons why the housing market recovery might not last.

Choosing the right attorney can make the difference between whether or not you can keep your home. A well-qualified Miami foreclosure defense attorney will not only help you keep your home, but they will be able to negotiate a loan that has payments you can afford. Miami 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 website, Kingcade & Garcia, P.A.

Credit, Foreclosures, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Now is the Time to Buy – Mortgage Rates Fall to Historic Lows

Posted on by Admin

Last week, mortgage rates fell to historic lows after a slight uptick the previous week. The average mortgage rate on a 30-year loan fell to 3.54% for the week ending March 21st, after reaching a year-high 3.63% the week before. According to mortgage giant Freddie Mac, 3.63% was the highest rate since August 2012. Rates have also dropped considerably from one year ago, when a 30-year fixed-rate was 4.08%. The average mortgage rate on fifteen-year loans fell to 2.72% last week, after reaching 2.79% the week before.

As a result of these record low mortgage rates, home sales have modestly boosted. The National Association of Realtors reported that in February, existing home sales reached a 3-year high, running at a 4.98 million annual rate. These historic low rates and increasing home sales are good indicators of economic growth. However, a forecast issued last month by mortgage giant Fannie Mae, estimated that 30-year fixed-rates would exceed 4 percent during the fourth quarter of 2013 and would average 4.4% by 2014. If you are planning on purchasing a home, it is better to buy now when you can take full advantage of these historic low interest rates.

Click here to read more about why NOW is the best time to purchase your new home!

Related Resources:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/03/21/mortgage-rates/2006235/

Choosing the right attorney can make the difference between whether or not you can keep your home. A well-qualified Miami foreclosure defense attorney will not only help you keep your home, but they will be able to negotiate a loan that has payments you can afford. Miami 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 website, Kingcade & Garcia, P.A.

Credit, Foreclosures, Timothy Kingcade Posts

‘Shadow Inventory’ May Ease Shortage of Homes for Sale in Florida

Posted on by Admin

According to RealtyTrac, there are more than 56,000 homes currently in the process of foreclosure in Palm Beach and Broward counties. That is a 55 percent increase from this time last year. As a result, there has been a shortage of homes for sale, which has been frustrating for prospective buyers. Homes that are lingering in the foreclosure process are also known as ‘shadow inventory.’ There is currently such a great amount of shadow inventory that it suggests that buyers will eventually have a greater supply once the courts begin streamlining the foreclosure process. Another reason there has been a shortage of homes is because lenders have been holding back inventory that is available to sell in order to encourage a recovery and avoid a loss on the property.

Many individual buyers are being outmuscled by large investment firms in South Florida that are buying up millions of dollars of distressed real estate. In many cases, these large firms are buying up properties before they make it to multiple listing services, leaving individual buyers little chance at all. Investment firms bought more than 5,200 properties during 2012 and are reportedly still on the market for good deals. Therefore, when the ‘shadow inventory’ homes do make it to the market, it is not likely they will hurt home prices because there are so many individual buyers and investment firms that are looking to buy right now.

Click here to read more about shadow inventory and how it may ease the shortage of homes for sale in Florida.

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 website, Kingcade & Garcia, P.A.

Bankruptcy Law, Foreclosures, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Floridians Take Advantage of Low Interest Rates This Year

Posted on by Admin

Florida has experienced a mortgage boom this year, due to eager home buyers taking advantage of lower interest rates. According to statistics released by JPMorgan Chase last Friday, Floridians have been getting new mortgages nearly double the national average. A Chase spokeswoman said that the mortgage giant has helped more than 56,000 Florida residents get new mortgages in the last year. The numbers of Floridians getting mortgages are up 52 percent this year, compared to last year. This is a 21 percent hike compared to the national average, meaning Florida doubled the national trend in originations. Many Floridians are rushing to apply for a mortgage so they do not miss the record low interest rates. Interest rates on a 30-year home recently jumped to 3.63 due to the strengthening economy. The 30-year fixed interest rate reached an all-time low in November 2012 of 3.31 percent.

Much of the dramatic increase in residents applying for mortgages is coming from South Florida. Analysts believe the hike can be attributed to many who lost their homes to foreclosures during the recession a few years ago. They are getting back on their feet and able to qualify for new mortgages after spending a few years restoring their credit scores. These buyers are known as “boomerang buyers.” In some cases, they may have lost their jobs but now have new ones and are able to buy again. Analysts also believe some of those helping the state’s mortgage market are snowbirds looking to move to South Florida now that the economy is improving.

Click here to read more about Florida’s mortgage boom.

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 website, Kingcade & Garcia, P.A.

Credit, Foreclosures, Timothy Kingcade Posts

4 Tips to A Smooth Home Purchase

Posted on by Admin

Since the housing bubble burst, Americans are wary about purchasing a new home and banks are cautious about lending money, as well. However, there are four things you can do (or not do) to ensure your home purchase goes smoothly.

1. Avoid other major purchases before closing on your home. Banks can pull out of mortgages at any time, even moments before closing. If you buy a new car just before closing, your bank might become concerned and pull out of the mortgage.

2. Try to avoid any big career changes before closing on your home. Your salary and job stability are extremely important to mortgage lenders. The bank may delay the loan until after they are sure your new job is stable, however they may pull out of the mortgage altogether.

3. Prepare your finances for a last minute credit check. Since rules initiated by Fannie Mae went into effect in June, most lenders run a second credit check just before closing. If you mistakenly miss any payments, the bank might pull out of the mortgage. You also want to avoid applying for a new credit card, which could reduce your credit score if you are not approved.

4. Be aware of all of your closing-costs. Many homeowners put every penny into their down payment and do not have enough to pay closing costs. Closing costs can be as much as 3% of the cost of the home. You can lose the home if you do not have enough set aside for closing costs.

To read more on this story visit: http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=26146302

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

Mortgage Interest Rates Frozen – Money Tips for 2013

Posted on by Admin

It’s been reported that the Federal Reserve will likely keep interest rates regulated throughout 2013. In order to spark housing market growth, the Federal Reserve will keep the lending rate between banks in the 0% – 0.25% range until mid-2015.

Below are some savings and credit tips for the 2013 economic climate:

• Freeze your mortgage rate. Mortgage interest rates are at a 40-year low; therefore, you can lock in your mortgage with a fixed-rate. The interest on a 30-year fixed mortgage has been 3.57% throughout January.

• Lower your mortgage term. If you are planning on refinancing your home and might be moving within a few years, you should consider an adjustable-rate mortgage. During January, initial rates on five-year ARMs were 2.68%.

• Open long-term CDs. Place your cash in a long-term CD with low withdrawal penalties. This will give you the opportunity to make thousands of dollars in just a few years time.

• Avoid rising-rate CD lures. If a bank offers you an option for a higher yield on a CD if rates rise, you typically get a low initial rate. It is better to shop around and compare other rates with the fixed equivalent.

• Use local banks. Online banks sometimes have the best rates. However, if you prefer a bank you can physically go to, community banks are a great choice. Most local banks are less affected by the Federal Reserve and offer great rates. Visit www.findbankrates.com for the best rates in your area.

• Transfer a balance. Average interest rates on credit cards are extremely high right now. You can transfer a balance from a card with a higher rate to a card with a lower rate and save money.

• Carry rewards cards. If you are usually able to pay off your credit card balance, you are best suited for a rewards card, rather than an extremely low interest rate card.

To read more on this story visit: http://money.cnn.com/2013/01/01/news/economy/interest-rates.moneymag/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.