January 2015

Get Ready For Higher Insurance Rates In Ohio

Submitted by Cliff Ritter on January 31, 2015, 9:23 am

The cost of home and car insurance rises each year, though state governments attempt to keep rate hikes in line with inflation.  The Ohio government has been one of the most successful legislatures at minimizing the cost of higher premiums.

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Try To Qualify For Property Tax Payment Plans In Detroit

Submitted by Gary Parkinson on January 30, 2015, 12:25 pm

Detroit emerged from federal bankruptcy protection in time for the holiday season last year.  The city was the largest US municipality in history to declare bankruptcy, and spent nearly 18 months reassessing obligations to formally begin a turnaround period.

But even though the city itself emerged from insolvency, thousands of inner city residents continue to struggle to make ends meet.  Some homeowners have fallen on such bad times that they are facing eviction or foreclosure for failing to keep up with property payments.

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Clean Up In Massachusetts After Heavy Winter Storm

Submitted by Gary Parkinson on January 29, 2015, 12:11 pm

One of the heaviest blizzards on record in the northeastern United States buried large sections of New England in snow and ice over the last few days.  The storm dumped over 2 feet across the Greater Boston Area, and up to 3 feet on surrounding regions in neighboring states.

As the storm pounded the region, airports placed a travel ban on incoming and outgoing flights until after the weather calmed down again.  Boston even shut down the city’s transit system for a time before resuming full service Thursday morning.

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Mortgage Applications Fall As 30 Year Fixed Rates Rise

Submitted by Justin Leung on January 28, 2015, 11:25 am

The housing and mortgage market is a fluid sector that moves with the direction taken by posted loan rates.  Rates are trending near historic lows with slight movements up or down depending on the week.

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What Will The Federal Reserve Decide At The FOMC Meeting?

Submitted by Cliff Ritter on January 27, 2015, 12:59 pm

In the fall of 2014, Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen hinted that the central bank will stick to their plan, and raise interest rates in the middle of 2015.  Recent decisions by other central banks to cut their own rates or increase stimulus threaten to change the Fed’s agenda.

Yellen and other executives will meet for the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) today and tomorrow.  The FOMC meets for eight regularly scheduled meetings throughout the year to discuss factors affecting economic policy, including any adjustments to interest rates.

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Why Is Esurance Using Lindsey Lohan In Their Ads?

Submitted by Gary Parkinson on January 26, 2015, 10:42 am

Approximately one month into the new year and insurance companies are busy creating new advertisements that will appeal to drivers in 2015.  Some companies stick with traditional ads that educate viewers about coverage, while other companies opt for a more creative message.

One of the country’s largest car insurance providers decided to go very far out there in constructing a new advertisement.  Esurance has reportedly hired Lindsey Lohan as the spokesperson for a new advertisement that sources suggest could air during the Superbowl on February 1st.

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Robust Economy And Low Mortgage Rates All Good Signs

Submitted by Justin Leung on January 25, 2015, 9:46 am

Americans are feeling content with the current state of the US economy.  A study by Reuters found that consumer confidence is rising compared to the same period in 2014, and the markets trust that a turning corner has at last been made in the aftermath of the 2008 recession.

The confidence in the economy even extends into the housing sector, which is once again handedly contributing to the GDP.  Consumer demand for homes is maintaining strength, while builders continue to supply the market with new homes to purchase.

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Are You One Of 6 Million Americans Keeping A Hidden Account?

Submitted by Cliff Ritter on January 24, 2015, 10:07 am

Financial infidelity may be more common than people think, according to a new study.  As many as 6 million Americans conceal secret bank or credit card accounts from their partners, and the study suggests up to two thirds of those secret accounts are held by men.

Secrets surrounding money can place strains on marriages.  A similar study conducted in the UK found that 10 percent of marriage separations or divorces were either directly or indirectly related to a hidden bank or credit card account.

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Will The Federal Reserve Commit To Higher Interest Rates?

Submitted by Justin Leung on January 23, 2015, 11:36 am

The Federal Reserve ended its quantitative easing program known as QE3 in 2014, ending the stimulus inserted into the economy following the subprime mortgage crisis in 2008.  At the time, bankers and economists considered the end of QE3 as a signal that the Fed will increase interest rates sometime in 2015 as the economy continues to prosper.

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Too Many Floridians Continue To Tread Underwater On Mortgages

Submitted by Gary Parkinson on January 22, 2015, 11:52 am

Florida was one of the hardest hit states in the fallout from the subprime mortgage crisis that drove the country into the 2008 recession.  Thousands of homeowners across the state were left paying mortgages worth more than the value of their homes, forcing people to remain locked into their current environments for longer periods of time.

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