Credit Settlement Options For Consumers

By Layla Vanderbilt

A lowered economic situation and the explosion in the real estate market bubble has forced borrowers to the breaking point so they aren?t able to make the payments on their credit cards and consumer debt. For people in this situation trying to find a way to fix their problem, they often decide the only thing they can do is decide between assorted debt relief possibilities. These possibilities include counseling, consolidation, bankruptcy, and settlement. Out of these, debt settlement and filing for bankruptcy are what most people chose because of the pros in regards to getting rid of their existing payments and the amount they can reduce their existing debt.

For clients, the two most used bankruptcy types are Chapters 7 and 13. Out of these, Chapter 7 gives users a more superior outcome and it still gets rid of most, if not all, of the existing debt. Before the bankruptcy code was overhauled in 2005, Chapter 7 bankruptcy was very popular due to that very reason. After that, a court now makes the decision as to which type of bankruptcy is the best for the customer depending on the outcome of a means test, which must be done prior to getting a bankruptcy.

The required mean test is an evaluation of the petitioner?s income and expenses which is compared against debt redemption standards as determined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). If the petitioner?s income falls short of the IRS standards they are eligible to file under auspices of chapter 7, however they may elect to file under the reorganization standards of Chapter 13. Chapter 7 guidelines are very strict. If the means test shows that the petitioner has the ability to pay any amount towards debt repayment, the filing will automatically be entered as Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

Debt settlement, also called debt negotiation, is a somewhat new and hard line way of debt relief that gives a lot of advantages over counseling, consolidation, and bankruptcy. First, the benefit the borrower sees immediately is that their payments are about half when all their bills are put into a settlement compared to their current payments. The types of credit accounts that you can place into a settlement are credit cards, department store accounts, unpaid utilities, doctor bills, and additional kinds of unsecured debt. Additional pros of this method are: If you get your debts settled, you can stop your salary from being attached or garnished - If you let your creditors know you?re trying to settle your bills with this procedure, they will be assured they will get at least some of the money you owe them. Because of this, they aren?t as likely to sue you while the settlement process is ongoing. Debt elimination ? Existing amounts can go down by between 40 to 70%, depending on your account holder. Most of the time, the combined accounts in a settlement get taken down by 50%.

Added security for secured assets ? Getting your payments down and getting rid of some of your unsecured debt helps you get rid of the pressure on your secured assets. For instance, debt settlements are mixed in with loan modifications to assist homeowners in lowering all their payments geared towards their debt and thus, improve their chances of being able to get new terms on their mortgage.

Completely paying off your bills ? When the debt reduction is done, the schedule set up to pay it off is variable, but usually is about 48 months. However, if you only made minimum payments on the previous accounts, it may take more than 25 years to get rid of it.

This article has spent a fair amount of time praising debt settlement and pointing out the disadvantages of bankruptcy. But the truth is, there is no one right procedure that fits all people in all circumstances. You should analyze your situation either on your own or with the help of a financial expert, and then make a decision about what procedure is most likely to give you the best possible outcome. - 23199

About the Author:

Layla Vanderbilt is the content coordinator for a leading website that offers for debt consolidation advice and guidance.

Forex Trading Strategies for the Best Trading Results

By Steve Maenshel

Forex trading strategies are one of the most crucial tools for determining when exactly to buy /sell currency. This most important and decisive moment is also the most difficult to define. Different Forex trading strategies, based on technical analysis, will help a trader to accurately determine the time of purchase / sale, thus providing maximum profits.

Determining the exact time of entry into the market and exit from the market is defined often within minutes or hours, with the use of technical analysis tools and sound Forex trading strategies.

Main Forex trading strategies are:

1. Support and Resistance

Forex trading strategies, based on the break of a resistance, often give a great signal to buy. Buy and protect your position by the stop-loss order, which should be placed below the level of the occurred break (break level now turns to a new level of support). A new position can also be opened, if in the downward trend the price went up to the line of resistance, or if at the time of a rising trend the price fell to support.

2. Scanning for the intersection of trend-lines

Looking for the price to cross the trend line is yet another one of common Forex trading strategies. Prices crossing the lines of the trend allow a trader to enter the market or to exit the market early enough, especially when the crossing has occurred on a "proven" trend-line. However, do not forget the other indicators of technical analysis. When using the trend line as the level of Support and Resistance, long positions (Buy) should be opened on the fall of prices to the level of an upward trend, and short positions (Sell) should be opened with the rise in prices to the level of a descending trend-line.

3. Trading in the break

Three Forex trading strategies for trade at the time of breaks:

- Open the position prior to an anticipated break;

- If you see an unfolding break, open your position at the time of its occurrence;

- Wait for the inevitable roll-back after the break, because in the market after a break, there is usually a correction.

Forex trading strategies in this case can include a combine approach - a trader can open one position in each of the three phases. You can open a small position before the break, then buy another position immediately after the break and, finally, open an additional position at the time of a small fall in prices during the correction, following the break.

4. Trading time frames

1). Forex trading strategies, based on long positions, i.e., ranging from several days to several months. It is best to use this tactic in the presence of strong trends. At the same time, analyze short-term scales. Be sure to use in addition to technical analysis also the fundamental analysis, which is perfectly suited for long timescales.

2). Forex trading strategies, based on medium-long positions, i.e., few days. Also analyze short-term scales. Such positions are likely the most stable for profit, but their analysis is a bit trickier. Look, as usual, for the best time for the opening / closing positions. Again, use in addition to technical analysis also the fundamental analysis, which is perfectly suited for longer timescales.

3). Short-term positions, lasting from several minutes to several hours. Pluses: there is no risk of fundamental news and the changes in prices at the time of your absence. Disadvantages: high risk of adverse movements in prices requires constant monitoring and concentration throughout the day. Basically, if a trader uses the data on a number of sellers and buyers in the market, that data will give the trader the needed information about where the market seems to go. Super-short-term trading could also be used with breaks and rollbacks. Super-short-term trading is highly risky, and thus it better suits professional traders and market-makers. This is the least safe Forex trading strategies.

Forex trading strategies based on technical analysis indicators will help you achieve the best results. Forex trading strategies are especially useful for choosing the right time to enter and exit the trades. - 23199

About the Author:

About the author: Steve Maenshel has been a professional trader for ten years. He can help you better understand forex trading strategies. For more forex trading information, visit his forex resource center.

What Is All The Fuss About 4x Currency Trading?

By Sam Nelly

In the age of electronics one of the fastest growing markets is the 4x currency trading market. Volume in this arena is higher than any other market in the world. With the increase in international trade it is currently estimated that over $4 trillion dollars worth of currencies exchange hands each day. The high level of liquidity in the market means that there are always buyers and sellers willing to trade. The level of risk is high in the currency market. Leverage is where a large portion of traders get their trading capital. Only a small percentage of the funds traded are needed to begin. This can cause excessive profits as well as excessive loses depending on trade outcomes.

Currencies trade in pairs. Some of the most common pairs are the U.S. dollar and the euro, the British pound and the dollar, the dollar and the Japanese yen and the dollar and the Swiss franc. The currency listed first is the base. This is the currency to be bought or sold. The second currency is the quote and is used to buy the base. In order to make a profit a trader has to either buy the base currency at a low price and subsequently sell it at a higher price, or sell the base currency at a high price and later buy it back at a lower price in order to cover the position. The profit or lose is the difference between the two prices.

Participants in the 4x currency trading market vary widely. The group that maintains top trading priviledges is the inter-bank market. The members consist of the largest investment banking firms globally. The reason they have top privileges is that they make up over 50% of the daily trading volume. They have access to the best prices in the market. Prices for other participants can vary although not significantly. The firms in this market trade for their customers but their primary goal is to trade successfully for themselves.

The Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank as well as other central banks are active in the 4x currency trading market. Their objective in buying and selling currencies is to counteract world events that may affect inflation and other conditions in their countries.

Speculation is believed to make up 70% or more of the transactions in the currencies market. Hedge funds are a fast growing segment of the speculators. They handle funds for investors who are able to take on more risk in the investing. They cater to higher net worth investors.

Predicting price changes up and down is essential to success in the currency market. Knowledge of the factors that control prices is of paramount importance. Looking at a countries economic policies, budget surplus and deficit levels, levels of employment and political stability are all a part of the equation.

Surviving as a trader in the currency markets is difficult. There are so many factors that need to be considered in decision making. Markets trade 24 hours a day, 5 days a week.

Finally, trading profitably in 4x currency markets requires a lot of hard work. Having a high level of understanding of the factors that move the market is important. Having a level head in making trading decisions is also helpful. - 23199

About the Author:

Then be sure to read up on 4x currency trading at CurrencyTradingABC

For Seek And Scalp Profits Test Forex Trading Robots Yourself

By John Eather

Foreign exchange day trading is no great challenge. Millions of traders are doing a similar thing during certain hours of the day. This is where forex trading robots have their use, they look at the trends, and are set to seek and scalp profits. While this is a relatively risk free way of building up reasonably large incomes over time, the challenge lies in finding a robot that will perform.

All traders have different skills, aims and trading systems in place, as soon as you understand this you will be able to see how predictable they are. It is a little bit of a challenge to undertake this yourself however, because of the randomness of volatility in short time frames. Support and resistance levels are therefore not valid and using a robot could mean losses to the trader.

Forex trading robots come in all shapes and sizes, there are loads of these products available. While day trading can mean the trader earns regular small profits which add up in the long terms. Most day trading robots have simulated "back tested" data available. This is base on historical information which may not apply in a real time situation. The only way for the trader to know if these products perform is to test them with real data in real time.

Certain factors have to be taken into consideration when applying a forward test to a robot to see if it performs on a brokers margin account in changing market circumstances. It must be able to offer more win trades than losing trades on a consistent basis. It also has to show money management skills on the margin account and protect the equity in the account as well as not allow large draw-downs.

Ideally forex trading robots should be tested while the market conditions are exactly the same, or at least similar. The capital deposit in the margin account must be the same and more than one product should be compared during these conditions. Some traders believe you should stay away from day trading, while others believe it. - 23199

About the Author:

Learn more about forex trading robots. Stop by John Eather's site where you can find out all about forex trading systems and what it can do for you.

Get Rich Through Property Investments

By Layla Vanderbilt

A residential investment property is a real estate property which is not occupied by the owner. Acting as a landlord, the owner rents out the property to tenants, or contracts tenant management to a property management company. There are a number of different types of residential investment property, and many people are introduced to the world of real estate investing through such properties, gradually acquiring skills which allow them to invest in bigger projects and to explore other types of real estate investment options.

While it is good to have luck on your side, you need more than luck to make this work. The more information you have when making an investment, they better off you will be. You must research the residential property investment that you are considering. Your money is valuable and you will want to protect yours with a well-thought out strategy.

Managing a residential investment property can be a lot of work. In addition to finding and keeping reliable tenants, a landlord must also be involved in the maintenance of the property, responding to tenant complaints and providing routine maintenance which keeps the property in good shape. Landlords must also be concerned with servicing a mortgage, keeping property taxes current, and obtaining the appropriate insurance for their property. The amount of income which can be generated from such a property varies, depending on whether or not it is mortgaged, the size and condition of the units, the area, and the landlord's abilities. Expenses associated with residential investment properties are considered write-offs for tax purposes, just like the expenses associated with running any business. For example, when a landlord pays to have a house painted, hires a plumber to fix a backed up shower, or pays for the installation of landscaping at an apartment complex, these expenses are all write-offs Purchasing residential investment property is a major commitment and it can be tricky to make good investment decisions.

Landlords need to consider issues such as potential depreciation, development around the property, and socioeconomic shifts. A house may be in a very desirable area when a landlord buys it, but the community could change and the home could end up in a depressed neighborhood where it will be difficult to make a profit from the property, let alone meet the costs of the mortgage. This type of investment is also a lot of work; while tenants often bemoan their lazy landlords, landlords with a number of properties are often constantly on the go to deal with ongoing problems, routine maintenance, tenant turnover, and the myriad issues associated with property ownership.

A property that you buy with the purpose of generating financial returns is called an investment property. This property could be land, a single apartment or house, a block of flats, a commercial or industrial building. Investment properties generate profits through rental income, capital growth or both. Investment properties are generally not used for residential purposes.

You can also generate rental income from your residential home by renting out spare rooms, but this is finding compatible and reliable tenants can be tough. So, buying a separate investment property and using this to generate rental income is usually a better option.

1. You can ?Flip Property? - make repairs and profit from the sale. 2. Buy ?Income Generating Property? ? Single family and multitenant units. 3. Buy Undeveloped Land ? to profit from the subdivision are sale of lots. 4. Invest in Property Development Company ? let a Pro do all the work!

After you have figured out a strategy that works with your circumstances and one which will help you achieve your goals, you will need to think about these things: you need to consult with professionals in this field. Consult with a lawyer for legal advice, see a banker to get some pointers in the area of finance, talk to your accountant so you don't make errors in the area of taxes and you will want to work with a real estate agent so you can find the best investments. Get advice from professionals who are specialists in their area. Watch out for media and false, misleading information. Use only the best sources for your property market information. - 23199

About the Author:

Layla Vanderbilt is the webmaster for a leading property management software review website which connects people with the leading property management tools.