Sunday, September 14, 2008
If You Can Pay Off Mortgage, Should You?
Paying Off Your Mortgage is a Mistake
If you are even thinking about paying off your mortgage, think again. Why is the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago reporting that Americans are making the "wrong choice" when it comes to pre-paying their mortgage and saving for their retirement? Find out EXACTLY why and how you can empower your financial future. Live event and financial workshop April 22, 2008, 7 p.m., Oakbrook, IL.
Oakbrook, IL - April 21 -- MatthewSapaula, Inc. will host an event April 22nd, 2008 to help middle class homeowners and real estate investors better manage their money more wisely. They will review strategies on how to maximize a homeowner's greatest asset-their home, protect them from dropping property values and explore options on how to secure their financial future during uncertain economic times. This event is one of more than 350 free classes, seminars and activities promoting financial education that will take place during Chicago's Money Smart Week April 20-26th, 2008.
"Many people today are feeling more isolated, confused and powerless as they are bombarded with negative news about our country and economy," says Matthew Sapaula, President of MatthewSapaula, Inc. "Our workshops will help shed a different light to allow attendees to rethink and redefine how to maintain control of their financial future during these unique times."
Their workshop, titled House Rich, Cash Poor
American Dream to American Trap and How to Avoid It, is sponsored by Wachovia and will be held at 7 p.m. CST at the Oakbrook Marriot, 1401 W. 22nd St., Oakbrook, IL 60523, intersection of Cermak and Route 83. Special guest book signings will be held by financial authors James Kraiss, CFP and David Muti, JD who wrote Discovering Life's Hidden Financial Treasures and Mortgages: What You Need to Know, respectively. For seat reservations, free report and audio download, call 800.955.0589 or visit http://www.moneyinmotionseminars.com
Coordinated by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and its Money Smart partners, Money Smart Week is designed to educate consumers about money management and create awareness of financial education programs on a wide range of topics such as budgeting, retirement savings and using credit wisely.
The educational activities will be carried out by more than 200 local community groups, businesses, schools, and non-profit organizations.
"Money Smart Week celebrates its seventh anniversary in Chicago and continues to provide many different opportunities for people to learn about managing their personal finances," said Chicago Fed President Charles Evans. "This year's calendar features diverse and numerous events for a broad range of consumers. During this week, attendees will have many chances to learn where good personal finance information is available."
Additional information and a calendar of events for this year's Money Smart Week are now available at http://www.moneysmartweek.org/chicago
Press Contact: Matthew Sapaula
Company Name: MatthewSapaula, Inc.
Phone: 708.236.1720
Website: www.matthewsapaula.com
Friday, September 12, 2008
Commercial Division Launched By Keller Williams Realty
Keller Williams Realty Launches Commercial Division
San Antonio, TX, September 12, 2008 -- Residential real estate firm Keller Williams Realty International announced plans on August 19, 2008 to launch a commercial division titled KW Commercial. Keller Williams, one of the largest real estate companies in North America, plans to become the company of choice in both the residential and commercial worlds by providing its associates with the technology, marketing tools, and resources to succeed in the commercial business. "We want to create synergy and referrals between the residential and commercial sides of our Keller Williams offices, increasing the income and production potential of all our agents," said Mark Willis, CEO of Keller Williams Realty International.
Commercial real estate veteran Tom Phillips has joined KW Commercial to assist in the launch of the division in the Texas marketplace. Phillips, a Realtor®, former broker with Marcus & Millichap, member of the Realtors Commercial Alliance and a CCIM Candidate is looking forward to the launch of the new division. "I am extremely excited about the launch of KW Commercial and the untapped commercial real estate opportunities that will be derived by networking with the more than 2,800 Keller Williams agents throughout Texas. Equally appealing is the opportunity to recruit other commercial brokers to a great company that offers much more attractive commission splits than traditional commercial brokerage shops and the ability to earn passive income."
Phillips serves on the newly created Commercial Leadership Council (CLC) - a group of 25 top Keller Williams commercial brokers from across North America selected to guide the launch and implementation of the new division. He will also serve as a KW Commercial Director in the IH-10 Keller Williams office.
For further information, contact Tom Phillips at 210-857-2375, or visit www.alamocommercial.com.
Contact Information
KW Commercial
Tom Phillips
210-857-2375
tomphillips@kw.com
http://www.alamocommercial.com/
Monday, September 1, 2008
Farmers Insurance Claims Mobile Claims Units Ready to Help Customers
Farmers Insurance Claims Teams and Mobile Claims Units Ready to Help Customers Suffering Damage from Hurricane Gustav
LOS ANGELES-- September 01, 2008 --Farmers® Insurance Group of Companies claims teams are preparing today to move into areas stricken by Hurricane Gustav. Once the areas are identified, the teams will deploy along with 2 Catastrophe Claims buses and 5 Customer Care Claims Vehicles.
"Our claims personnel and fleet of claims vehicles are gearing up to assist our customers in Louisiana, Texas and any other areas suffering damage from Gustav," explains Paul Quinn, Assistant Vice President of Claims Communications for Farmers Insurance.
The Mobile Catastrophe buses are equipped with state-of-the art satellite communications equipment; claims stations; water, supplies; laptop, satellite telephone capability; and have a built in grill to serve meals to Farmers' customers and others in need.
The Customer Care Claims Vehicles are smaller versions of Farmers claims buses and are ready to assist with claims and supply needs of Farmers' customers and others in need.
Note to Media: A press release listing exact locations of the claims vehicles will be issued as soon as locations are selected. For questions or information at any time, please contact the Farmers Media Team listed above.
Farmers Insurance customers who have suffered damage should contact their agent or call Farmers' 24-hour-claims hotline, 800-HelpPoint (1-800-435-7764) for immediate assistance.
"Farmers' customers who have moved to evacuation centers in Texas, Louisiana or other states, should keep the HelpPoint number handy if needed, when they return to their homes.
Foremost Insurance customers should file their claims by calling: 1-800-527-3907.
Flood victims who have flood insurance should contact the National Flood Program at www.floodsmart.com
Farmers Group, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Zurich Financial Services, an insurance-based financial services provider with a global network of subsidiaries and offices in North America and Europe as well as in Asia Pacific, Latin America and other markets. Farmers® is the nation's third-largest Personal Lines Property & Casualty insurance group. Property and casualty products are underwritten and issued by the Farmers Exchanges and their subsidiaries, which Farmers Group, Inc. manages but does not own. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the Farmers insurers provide Homeowners, Auto, Business, Life insurance and financial services to more than 10 million households. For more information about Farmers, visit our Web site at www.farmers.com.
Contacts
Farmers Insurance Group
Jerry Davies, 213-400-4459
jerry.davies@farmersinsurance.com
or
Michelle Levy, 512-791-7445
michelle.levy@farmersinsurance.com
or
David Bishop, 850-228-8997
david.bishop@farmersinsurance.com
Residential Solar Shade Structures Create 1.4 Kilowatts
Solar Power to the People: Modular Residential Solar Shade Structures Created by Envision Solar
LifeTreeT and LifeShadeT Solar Kit-Build Structures Offer Stylish Outdoor Living Space
LA JOLLA, Calif.-- September 01, 2008 --Envision Solar, the La Jolla, California based firm best known for its award-winning design of the Solar TreesT in Kyocera's landmark Solar GroveT, has expanded its product line of photovoltaic shade structures to include two "flat-pack" easy to install modular shade structures, each with eight solar panels providing 1.4 kilowatt of clean energy.
The LifeTreeT is a single post steel structure with a cantilevered canopy, and the LifeShadeT is a four-post structure made of Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) certified sustainable wood. Both are an attractive and functional application of solar power that provides recreational shade, without a requirement for a complex and invasive rooftop installation. The structures are shipped in easy to assemble components and include solar power modules, micro-inverters, and access to an online real-time tracking system to monitor production of clean energy. The structures are anchored in post-holes by concrete, in much the same way that basketball hoops or flagpoles are installed, and a local electrician can connect the AC wiring from the structure to the house meter.
At a price point of $15,500 for the LifeShadeT and $18,500 for the LifeTreeT, these new products offer a lower cost solar power option for homeowners and businesses. Envision Solar designers have focused on modularity as an important goal, because it offers price efficiency and accessibility to clean energy to more people. CEO Robert Noble adds, "We are committed to massive retail deployment of this product in a flat-pack format for local assembly and installation."
In addition to their attractive design and low price, The LifeTreeT and LifeShadeT products offer state of the art technical features; they were designed specifically for photovoltaic modules made by Suntech, and both the LifeTreeT and the LifeShadeT are equipped with "micro-inverters" from Enphase Energy. Micro-inverters convert the energy from the sun into usable alternating current at each module, eliminating the need for a bulky inverter on the side of the building at the meter and making connection to the meter a less costly undertaking. Enphase Energy also offers online access to a real-time monitoring package so that owners can track their clean energy production.
Noble describes the company's mission to employ the principles of sustainable design to innovate in the solar power sector: "We see renewable energy as an architectural element that be integrated into our spaces and our lives."
About Envision Solar International, Inc.
Envision Solar International, Inc. is a turn-key, solar integrated building systems developer. The company's mission is to provide aesthetically pleasing photovoltaic systems to increase the worldwide use of renewable energy. Led by a group of visionary architects, builders and engineers, Envision Solar transforms heat-absorbing parking areas into beautiful, efficient solar power plants. Learn more about us at: www.envisionsolar.com.
Contacts
Envision Solar
Pamela Stevens, 858-768-5151
pstevens@envisionsolar.com
Thursday, August 21, 2008
U.S. Real Estate Slowdown Positive Now
Positive Sign in U.S. Real Estate Slowdown
The U.S. foreclosure epidemic is reaching the halfway mark, signaling a positive sign in the nation's real estate slowdown, according to a new report.
Destin, FL, August 20, 2008 -- The foreclosure crisis has nearly reached the halfway point, marking a positive sign in the nation's real estate slowdown and the markets eventual recovery, according to a new report from Housing Predictor.
Researchers have determined that an estimated 3-million properties have been foreclosed since the start of the foreclosure epidemic nationally, but an onslaught of additional foreclosures are forecast. However, the acknowledgement of the mid-way point of the crisis should begin to give consumers a renewed confidence in the nation's economy, according to real estate analysts.
The report on the Housing Predictor web site, which includes its forecast of foreclosures into 2011 explores the foreclosure crisis and the pains that homeowners have gone through to hold on to many of their homes.
The foreclosure epidemic, first forecast by Housing Predictor has become the nation's worst housing crisis since the Great Depression with falling home values in the over-whelming majority of the country. An online survey just completed by Housing Predictor found that 85% of those surveyed feel they have been affected by the real estate crisis in some way. The nation's slowing economy is blamed on the real estate crisis.
As real estate markets begin to hit their bottoms and the inventory of foreclosures are bought up by bargain hunters and owner occupants the crisis will slowly begin to wither away. However, many economists expect a full recovery to take years.
To read the full report, search real estate listings and check the latest market forecasts visit Housing Predictor dot com.
Contact Information
Housing Predictor
Mike Colpitts
850-622-1016
yourrealestatepro@hotmail.com
www.housingpredictor.com
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Government Rejects Request to Clean up Asbestos
LegalView updated its mesothelioma blog to include news of the government denying federal funds to an area in Arkansas that was left tainted with asbestos after nearly 150 World War II structures were destroyed in a fire. The government rejected the requests from the town of Chaffee Crossing where citizens are currently at risk of contracting mesothelioma cancer.
Denver, CO - LegalView.com, the number one resource for everything legal on the Web, recently reported on its mesothelioma blog that federal funds were denied to cleanup an asbestos-tainted town in Arkansas. Chaffee Crossing is the site of a recent fire, which destroyed nearly 150 World War II (WWII) structures, releasing asbestos fibers and dust into the area potentially increasing the risk of citizens developing mesothelioma. The city requested federal funds from the government to assist the cleanup of the town, which is considered by several citizens there to be a Superfund Site. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is refusing to deem the site a Superfund because it claims that levels of asbestos in the air after the fire were too low to be deemed as such. However, the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality found asbestos contamination in some areas to be much higher than EPA tests recorded. For those who live in the area or who have previously been exposed to asbestos, using LegalView's mesothelioma portal to locate a mesothelioma attorney is the best way to protect oneself.
Asbestos is a material that is derived from vermiculate, a mineral often mined for uses in construction and as building insulation. Asbestos was widely used as insulation in many early 20th Century constructions, such as those burned in Chaffee Crossing. However, after discovering the link of inhaling asbestos to an incurable form of lung cancer, the use of asbestos was discontinued and the EPA has spent billions of dollars in the removal of asbestos across the country. Individuals who have been exposed to asbestos are advised to contact an experienced mesothelioma law firm to receive an attorney consultation on developing a mesothelioma lawsuit in which compensatory damages can be sought. Mesothelioma is a painful and deadly illness that takes decades to reveal itself, by which time it can be too late to find ways in paying for medical expenses. Use the mesothelioma portal to learn more about this and other recent asbestos-related news.
Additionally, LegalView offers several other information portals relating to a range of issues such as the Baxter Heparin recall, traumatic brain injury (TBI) treatments and Erb's Palsy jury verdicts. Heparin is a blood thinner injected into patients undergoing heart surgery or similar procedures. It is used to prevent blood clots, which can be fatal during surgery. Recently, the Baxter Healthcare Corporation issued a Heparin recall because several patients had reported severe allergic reactions to the drug, which has been associated with at least 19 patient deaths. LegalView.com reported updates continually to readers as this story unfolded, providing insightful and imperative news for victims of the Heparin recall. Similarly, individuals can use the TBI practice area to learn the most up-to-date news on brain injury lawsuits, jury verdicts, treatments as well as how to locate brain injury lawyers.
For information on Erb's Palsy, a condition that usually develops because of labor complications, visit Erb's Palsy lawsuit as the condition is usually preventable and caused by a physician pulling on a baby during birth.
About LegalView:
LegalView.com is a public service brought to you by Legal WebTV Network, LLC, a Limited Liability Corporation created by a group of the nation's most highly respected law firms: Anapol Schwartz; Brent Coon and Associates; Burg Simpson; Cohen, Placitella and Roth; James F. Humphreys and Associates; Lopez McHugh; and Thornton and Naumes. For more information on the accomplishments and track records of LegalView.com's superior sponsoring law firms and to get in touch with LegalView attorneys, visit LegalView at www.LegalView.com.
Press Contact: Katie Kelley
Company Name: LegalView
Phone: 720-771-3246
Website: http://mesothelioma.legalview.com
Friday, July 25, 2008
Homeowners Receiving Structured Settlement Payments Get Foreclosure Assistance
Woodbridge Investments, LLC. a structured settlement factoring company has today announced a new program designed to aid homeowners who are facing foreclosure.
Studio City, CA - March 15 -- Woodbridge Investments, LLC. a structured settlement factoring company has today announced a new program designed to aid homeowners who are facing foreclosure.
The newly implemented "Woodbridge Home Owner Relief Program" will allow homeowners who are receiving structured settlement, annuity, or lottery payments to instantly borrow up to $20,000 against their settlements to reinstate or pay delinquent mortgage payments.
Heading up the innovative new program is Sofia Ekberg, who has an extensive background in debt negotiation with banks nationwide. Sofia stated, "My experience with homeowner relief programs acted as the catalyst for the idea to offer loans to homeowners receiving structured settlements."
Ms. Ekberg further added, "Management at Woodbridge Investments was thrilled with the idea and has set aside a fund to immediately begin making loans."
To qualify, an individual must own a home and at the same time be receiving a structured settlement, annuity or lottery payment.
About Woodbridge: Woodbridge Investments and its predecessor companies have been purchasing Lottery Payments, Structured Settlements and other cash flows since 1993. Over a thousand individuals and families have relied on Woodbridge to realize a large lump sum from the sale of their long term payments.
Press Contact: Jennifer Fiero
Company Name: Woodbridge Investments, LLC
Phone: 1-866-865-7044
Website: www.woodbridgeinvestments.com
Structured settlements are when someone receives financial or insurance periodic payments that was accepted to settle a claim such as a personal injury tort or pay off a statutory periodic payment obligation. Structured settlements were first made during the 1970s as an alternative to lump sum settlements that might cause a large corporation to go out of business. Structured settlements is part of statutory tort law in the United States. Structured settlements may or may not include income tax and spend thrift requirements and benefits. The structured settlement payments may be called periodic payments and a structured settlement that is incorporated into a trial judgment is called a periodic payment judgment.
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