TIP #1

A Borrower can achieve significant cost savings on their real estate loans by contracting a certified notary on their own.

TIP #2

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has issued long-anticipated mortgage reforms that will help consumers shop for the lowest cost mortgage and avoid costly and potentially harmful loan offers. HUD will require that lenders and mortgage brokers provide consumers with a standard Good Faith Estimate (GFE) that clearly discloses key loan terms and closing costs. HUD estimates its new regulation will save consumers nearly $700 at the closing table.

TIP #3

When an insured bank or thrift closes, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) usually arranges for another institution to take it over, including branches where you might have a safe deposit box. In those situations, you should be able to conduct business as usual. If the FDIC cannot find a buyer for your bank, it arranges for you to remove the contents of your safe deposit box so you can obtain a box at another institution, if you wish. This is done within a few days after the bank fails.  It is imperative that your contact information is up to date: Your address, telephone numbers, etc.  By law the banking institutions are required make three attempts to contact you.  If they are unable to reach you, your contents may be placed on www.UnclaimedProperty.com  If this occurs you should check to verify if contents are there. If they are there, you will need to either call for or download a claim form from their website.

You will need to send two forms of ID, at least one of them must have a photo along with the claim form.  It is also required that the form is notarized before mailing to the required party.  So please, practice due diligence and safeguard your contents, make a list of your items that are stored and check with your elder family or friends to alert them of this information.

 US Passport Services Guide

TIP #4

Order your credit reports from the top three credit bureaus -- Equifax, TransUnion and Experian.  What are they saying about you?  More than likely they're all contain slightly different information.  In most cases creditors may only report to one or two of the credit bureaus.  There is no law requiring creditor to subscribe to a particular credit bureau.

If you've been denied credit, insurance or employment because of your credit report, you are entitled to a free copy of your report from the reporting agency. The company you applied to must supply the credit bureau's name, address and telephone number. You have 60 days after receiving the denial notice to request your copy.

Equifax
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
(800) 685-1111

Experian (formerly TRW)
P.O. Box 2104
Allen, TX 75013-0949
(888) 397-3742

Trans Union Corp.
760 W. Sproul Rd.
Springfield, PA 19064-0390
(800) 888-4213