Whether it is due to the lower temperatures or the shorter days, new figures demonstrate that winter is a low-point for property sales. How can you increase your chances of selling your home in winter?

NAEAs President, Wendy Evans Scott, sees the low winter sales as an opportunity, arguing that as well as there being fewer homes for sale in the winter, there are also fewer buyers “which means less competition for both parties.”

While the number of properties available remains reasonably stable, the winter months can provide an opportune moment for buyers to focus their property search.  For those willing to brave the chill, the winter market can also bring a greater sense of commitment from both sides to complete the sale,” said Scott.

Here are some considerations that winter house sellers should keep in mind;

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported that applications for a mortgage refinance rose by 26.4 percent during the week ending January 13, 2012 compared to the previous week.

The MBA’s Refinance Index reached the highest level since August 8, 2011 and the refinance share of mortgage applications rose to 82.2 percent.

“Interest rates dropped last week due to continuing anxieties regarding the fragile economic situation in Europe,” said Michael Fratantoni, MBA’s vice president of research and economics.  “With mortgage rates reaching new lows, refinance volume jumped and MBA’s refinance index reached its highest level in the last six months.”

According to HSH.com, the average rate for a 30-year fixed-rate home loan was 4.19 percent. Mortgage rates

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Millions of consumers worldwide are moving into the cyber space era, where millions of transactions between a seller and a buyer are conducted online without the either of the parties ever meeting. The internet has made it possible for buyers and sellers in different parts of the world to carry out business as though it were really over the counter, and not overseas. This trend has impacted too the auto credit sector, where a consumer now has the option to apply for some form of auto credit online, then on approval receive the funds to purchase a car.

Most consumers prefer to deal with online auto financers because there is some level of anonymity. As much as the borrower would provide the required documentation and identification details, they would not have to sit face to face with the lender and suffer the public humiliation of being denied a loan. Online auto credit applications save the consumer from this potentially embarrassing situation, as they can apply from the privacy of their own homes.

In addition, online auto creditors have more competitive rates and terms as compared to traditional ones.

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Alternatives to Filing Bankruptcy

There is just no easy way to get out of debt, you have to face up to the consequences. A bankruptcy is not always the answer, as the effects are long lasting. There are four ways to handle debts that are out of control, listed in best to worst in regards to the effect it will have on your credit:

If your credit isnt in terrible shape, can you reduce your other expenses, even if it means making hard choices or just change your lifestyle to fit your ie? Some ways to do this:

1. Selling the second car
2. Pulling equity out of your home
3. Applying for a non secured signature loan
4. Obtaining a loan from a relative
5. Selling your home and paying off your debts with the proceeds and then renting
6. Cashing out your 401K/retirement benefits
7. Selling family heirlooms, jewelry, etc…

If your credit is already gone or one of the above isnt an option, go through Consumer Credit Counseling Services (CCCS). Check your yellow pages for the local number.

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There was a little bit of good news yesterday, for all those home owners in the UK who are struggling to pay off their personal loans and credit card bills after their Christmas overspending, when it was announced that the base rate of interest for loans and savings was to remain on hold for another month.

The announcement was made following the regular monthly meeting of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), when it was decided to keep loan rates on hold and also not to extend the current programme of quantitative easing.

The base rate of interest will therefore have remained at its historically low level of just 0.5 per cent for a total of 34 months now, since March 2009, when most people thought that the cheap loan rate would only last for a very short time.

Although the level of quantitative easing has remained at £275 billion for the time being, it is widely expected that this will probably be extended next month, as the Euro zone crisis deepens.

The announcement that the base rate of interest was to stay unchanged has come as no surprise to financial experts or borrowers alike, many of whom are now taking cheap loan rates for granted, as the current level of inflation is still well above government target figures and the UK economy is too fragile to tolerate a rate rise just yet.

Ben Thompson of Legal & General Mortgage Club said “The Christmas period and start to the New Year kicked off with all manner of negative predictions and forecasts, however there have been some glimmers of hope as well. Thes

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In yesterday’s post of Tips to Save Cash we talked about how you can make some extra cash in the snow season.  In this segment I want to talk about setting up savings accounts and setting up savings for tuition for your young ones.  There are many ways to save for college and I would like to show you a few.

Each state has what is called a 529 Savings Plan.  The details differ from state to state, but all of the plans offer a non-taxable interest on the money put in.  Meaning if you put money in the account you will not be charged a tax on the interest.  There are states out there, like Arkansas, who will match the contributions to the plan up to a certain limit.  In order for me to go more into detail with how the plan works I would have to talk about all of the states, but I will say that a 529 Savings Plans is a must if you want to set something up for your children to get a further education.  There are two different 529 Savings Plans; Savings Accounts and Prepaid Tuition Plans.

In my opinion the Prepaid Tuition Plan is the better of the two.  It is safer and it gives you the freedom to reclaim the assets for any reason.  It is safer because it has a fixed interest rate.  Like I said earlier, there are differences to the plan state to state but I assure you that a 529 Savings Plan is the best way to go when saving for schools.  Check out what your state offers for the 529 plan.

People generally have savings account to save money.  Others put money in their savings account and transfer it to their checking when they need it.  There is no wrong way to manage a savings account, in my opinion.  I do personally think that a savings account is there to sort of take your mind off of the money you have.  If you take 20% of your check each week and put it in a savings account over a year’s time you will have 20% plus interest saved up.  It’s that simple!  When you need to dip into the savings account you will have funds available.  To me taking out a percentage of each check and placing it in a savings account is the best way to save money.  If you have something you would like to share we invite people to comment on our blogs…