Mar
2023

International Bank Transfers – Read More About It

People have been victims to fraud and scams in international bank transfers for quite awhile now. Still, almost every week you can read of some poor victim who has had their bank account drained to zero with no hope of every having their money returned. International bank transfers have become easier and safer than ever before. However, do not be lulled to sleep by a false sense of security.

In a tough economy many people are desperate to make money any way they can just to make ends meet. Someone comes along offering enormous commissions for just receiving money from a foreign bank and transferring it to another. For that favor you get to keep that whopping commission.

It sounds a lot easier than day trading or other risky alternatives. Do not be fooled. If you give up your valuable and private financial information to a stranger you have lost all security that you may once have had. We are talking about a lot of information to identify yourself such as: IBN of your bank, your bank account number, and your phone number. If you wouldn’t hand this information to a total stranger on the street, by all means do not ship it overseas to a stranger with access to countless ways to abuse the information and cost you money.

Many scams and fraud offers come to you via email, or even websites that advertise “overseas job opportunities.” Do not answer the emails and do not go onto websites of questionable nature. Trojan viruses can grab your information. Key logging is complicated and sinister internet activity done by hackers and malicious people and it can get your information. Best advice is to stay away from any of this questionable activity.

Be safe and only utilize an international bank transfer to someone you know and trust. If you do not have a relationship with the person, business or organization, try utilizing safer ways to transfer money. If you think you may have become a victim of scams or fraud, do not hesitate to report the activity to police and bank authorities. The main thing is simply to always use your best judgment. If something sounds too good to be true, then it usually isn’t. Use international bank transfers wisely and do not lose your cash or be sucked into illegal activity.

Mar
2023

Does the Auto Insurance Have to Be in the Name of the Car Owner?

This is one of those infrequent questions but the answer is really quite obvious when you stop to think about it.

Just think back to the time you asked to borrow your dad’s car – now dad may have added you to the auto insurance policy but unless you were one of the lucky few, he hadn’t given you title to the vehicle.

Now we have dispelled that myth you will probably be able to think of several other instances where the car owner and the insured driver are not the same people.

How many times have you rented a car on holiday or on business?
How many times have you borrowed a vehicle from a friend?
How about when you drive a vehicle provided by your employer?

The simple fact is that the car owner and the person with the auto insurance do not have to be the same person. This leads to some interesting and often overlooked practicalities with life on the road as well as opening up some opportunities to make life easier and cheaper for you as a non-car owner.

If you do not own your own vehicle, say because you live in a big city where there is a good mass transit system and parking your car would be difficult if not impossible, then you still can save a great deal of money and make your driving life that much better by taking out an auto policy. You may be thinking, “Hang on a second, I don’t own a car but I should take out an auto policy – that makes no sense!”

Try this for size; you rent a car when you go on vacation, occasionally for business and other odd times when you want a break from the city. Renting a vehicle requires you take out auto insurance and through the car rental agency this is both expensive and geared towards protecting the agency and the car while not necessarily giving you the cover you really need. It makes a lot of sense to arrange your own auto insurance policy that provides the coverage you really need and protects you first and foremost. Taking out auto insurance for yourself is also a lot cheaper than taking out the insurance with a car rental agency so it makes sense for your wallet too.

How about when you want to borrow a car? Your dad probably put you on the insurance for the old family car but what about when you want to borrow a friend’s ride? It’s not so simple to put you on the policy of someone else especially if it is a last minute, “Can I borrow your car for an hour?” type scenario. Having your own auto insurance prevents these complications right from the start and protects you, your friend and their car.

Finally, there is an additional incentive to take out your own auto insurance policy as a non-car owner. Premiums are calculated based on your age, location, vehicle and of course, how long you have held insurance and your claims record. Taking out a policy and establishing a track record for yourself is an excellent means of keeping premiums down in the longer term so it makes financial sense to effect a policy as soon as you start driving.

Feb
2023

Is There Money in Residential Real Estate?

Today there is a lot of money to be made from purchasing residential real estate. More and more people are looking to sell their properties with the economy being in poor condition. On the market today, there are some great deals that are hard to pass up. People are willing to take less on their homes then they normally would so that their homes will not go into foreclosure. If you can afford to buy property today, this is a good time to do it. Some people buy property for an investment and others buy it to make it their home. Whatever idea you have for purchasing residential real estate there are some great deals to be had.

Today you can get a real bargain by purchasing a home with so many to choose from. You can find bargain priced homes that you can buy and then turn around and make a nice profit from. You can find the home of your dreams for a fraction of the cost if you just look around. Some times, you have to do work and repair things in the home but that is just one more reason why you are getting these properties at a bargain price. Some people buy residential homes to have rental income. There are many ways to make money from purchasing real estate and many people are making a good living from doing it. With the economy in poor condition, families are downsizing their homes to make their living expenses more affordable. This is just another reason why the real estate market is going crazy right now.

People now days are moving more due to jobs closing down and from people being laid off from their jobs. They are moving to where the work is more plentiful and are purchasing real estate to settle down or use as an extra way of making income by renting out properties. If you are looking for a place to settle down with your family in a new area you will not have any trouble with all the homes that are being put up for sale. Purchasing real estate can be a wise decision. You can build up equity in the home to give you a more stable future. If you buy real estate to supplement your income this is also a good investment now and for down the road when the economy improves.

Jan
2023

Avail a Loan and Cater to Your Needs

Whatever the economic crisis may be, people still have to live decent lives. Loans are the only way salaried people can fulfill their desires in life. Starting from the household needs and going on to the transportation and finally owning one’s own home. These are the basic needs of any family or individual and it cannot be avoided at any time for want of money. For these reasons most people opt for a loan of some sort.

There are many types of loans that people can avail of. For instance, if you are planning to buy a house, no doubt, it is a major investment, but a useful one too; you can take a housing loan from the many banks and financial institutions. If you need is a new car you can avail of an auto loan, some household items you then can get a consumer loan, planning higher studies, you think of an education loan. Finally for a multipurpose like marriage, vacation, paying bills, buying jewelry etc. personal loans are ideal.

With the present financial scenario availing a loan is like eating a piece of cake. Thousands of banks and financial institutions are coming forward to offer loans to the public. This is a two sided benefit – by lending the lenders get enough of income by way of interest while the borrower is able to buy what they like and enjoy a luxurious life.

Loans allow immense amount of revenue into the country and hence government as well as private banks encourage the habit of giving loans to people. In fact they conduct loan campaigns to enhance the number of loans to people. There is no embarrassment in taking a loan for a purpose, but it is good only when the loan is repaid in time to avoid defaulting. If you start to default in your loan payments then it becomes difficult to pay the accumulated loan amount.