Finance

• Decision Time: Home Equity Loan Or Home Equity Line Of Credit?

  Home equity loans and home equity lines of credit continue to grow in popularity. According to the Consumer Bankers Association, during 2003 combined home equity line and loan portfolios grew 29 percent, following a torrid 31 percent growth rate in 2002. With so many people deciding to cash in on their home’s equity value, it seems sensible to review the factors that should be weighed in choosing between out a home equity loan (HEL) or a home equity line of credit (HELOC) loan.

• Determining Your Home’s Value

  Determining your home’s value, and setting a price, is probably the most important step in selling your home. Why? Because if your home is overpriced for your area, no matter what the cost of improvements that you have made on your house, buyers will shy away from it.

• Installing Ceramic Tile

  Ceramic Tile brings a texture, richness and color to a room that Linoleum has yet to truly mimic. Tile floors can be installed in any room, however they are most frequently seen in Bathrooms and Kitchens. I particularly like them in entryways, where they serve as a transition point from the outside to large carpeted or hardwood floored rooms. They make for easy clean up and are impervious to water damage.

• Advice For The Prosperous

  Not long ago I was asked to give a financial address to a local Rotary Club. When I inquired what particular subject the group might like, I was told that many of the members are at or nearing comfortable retirement, but expressed concern for their children and grandchildren whose futures seem not so promising. With that as my guide, I selected three issues I hoped would fit the bill. You may decide, as I relate the information I passed on to them, whether I chose appropriate topics.

• Living Beyond Your “Mean”

  We’ve all heard the phrase “Living beyond your means”. It describes someone who is living beyond their financial resources. Interestingly, there are other definitions of the word “mean”. One in particular can also be used here; the mathematical definition. This definition defines “The average value of a set of numbers”. It’s a statistical term. The “mean” or the “average”.

• Bargain Hunting Strategies

  Whether you do your shopping mostly in retail stores, thrift stores, or at garage and yard sales, there are some strategies that will work for you and help you to find a bargain every time!

• Helpful Hints For First-Time Home Buyers

  Buying a house can be a daunting task, even for someone who has owned several homes. My husband and I recently purchased our first home together, and it was hard to find good advice that we truly found useful. We had to learn a lot on our own, but at least now we feel comfortable and knowledgeable about the whole process. Here are some helpful hints we picked up along the way.

• Low Interest Balance Transfers

  According to Credit Cards Magazine, credit card profits in 2004 were the highest they’ve been since 1988. Experts believe that the credit card market is ‘saturated’. So on average for every new account an old one is closed.