Finding a Reputable Mortgage Lender

Are you contemplating buying real estate in California's 'discount' market? If so, there's a good chance you'll need a Mortgage Lender familiar with the states current real estate market to help you with financing your new property. Fortunately, there are more options available to buyers than ever before thanks to the growth in real estate services offered via the Internet. Most lenders and loan officers maintain a very strong online presence for their local market and it is easy to locate a knowledgeable professional very easily. Here are 3 things you should consider as you search for a reputable mortgage lender:
Talk to your friends and family:
If you are already a California resident, it is likely that you know someone in the business, or have a relationship with someone who has used a mortgage professional when they financed or refinanced their home. Talk to family, friends, coworkers, and other acquaintances to see if anyone can refer you to someone whose knowledge and quality of work impressed them. Personal referrals are often a great way to learn about the good and not-so-good experiences people have had with various mortgage professionals.
Keep your eyes open for 'predators'
"Predatory lending" is a general term used to describe lenders who try to take advantage of a borrower. Examples of predatory lending practices can include charging excessively high, or even unnecessary, fees, convincing borrowers to take a loan they can't afford, or even using lies and deceptive practices to 'help' someone get a loan. By carefully reviewing all of the fees and charges contained in your lenders "good faith estimate," plus the fine print found on the documents you sign, you will dramatically reduce the chances of falling victim to a 'bad' loan. And, I cannot stress this enough, if the fees seem high or there seem to be too many of them, look for a second opinion.
Check for complaints
Every California Mortgage Lender and Broker should be licensed with either the California Department of Real Estate or the California Department of Corporations. To help ensure you are working with a legitimate lender with a solid track record, check with either those agencies through their websites to make sure your lender is licensed. Also, if their license is set to expire shortly, ask to see proof that they have completed their continuing education. If they won't, find another lender.

Personalized Embossers: Five Tips on Purchasing an Embosser That Meets Your Needs

Sales of address embossers, monogram embossers, library seals and other personalized embossers have skyrocketed in the past few years as monogramming and personalizing has become more popular. And as the demand has increased so have the number of options for those planning weddings or simply looking to add a personal touch to greeting cards. Understanding those options and determining what your needs are will make selecting the right personalized embosser easy. Below are five tips that will ensure the personalized embosser you purchase will be the right one:
Understand the Look You Want to Achieve
Many customers think that using an embosser will create the same look as having something professionally printed or embossed; this is not the case. The look produced will be different and knowing how you want to finished product to appear will help you determine which method to go with. The main benefit of purchasing an embosser is that it saves you money - you will have to do some of the work (like embossing each of the envelope flaps by hand) but you can make as many as you want and use the embosser for years to come.
Determine What You Will Be Embossing
There are many applications for specialty embossers and knowing what you will be embossing will help you choose the type of embosser that will work best for you. Commonly embossed items are: standard paper, envelope flaps (lined or unlined), napkins (through all 4 folded layers), light-weight cardstock, and thick cardstock.
Communicate Your Embosser Needs to the Company You Are Purchasing From
There are several types of embossers available and each has its benefits and limitations. When ordering make sure to provide information about what your main use will be and find out from the company you are working with what their embossers will and won't do. This will save you a lot of time and frustration. For instance, a handheld embosser is a good choice if you want something that is smaller, for easier storage, and lightweight, for portability. But a handheld embosser is not ideal for embossing thick cardstock because you won't be able to exert the pressure needed to make the impression clear. Another example is purchasing a seal to emboss standard 20 lb. to 24 lb. paper and then embossing napkins with it - the embossing seal is likely to produce small holes or tears in a paper napkin.
From a manufacturing perspective the engraving depth on the dies can be adjusted to accommodate different surfaces - a deeper engraving for thicker paper and lighter engraving for thinner materials, such as napkins. In order to get the best embosser for your needs it is important that you are specific with the company you are ordering from - otherwise you will receive the embosser and then find out it doesn't work for what you want to emboss.
See What the Embossed Image Will Look Like
It is good to get an idea of what your embossed image will look like; this presents a unique challenge since black and white text sometimes looks different when it is turned into an embossed image. See if the company you are working with can provide samples of embossers being used in a wide variety of applications and if they have close up shots of an embossed impression to give you a general idea of how your embossed image will appear. A company can also make you a "proof" so you can see the layout of your embossed information. It is important that you proofread the proof because you are responsible for making sure that the information you provide is correct. Most companies will inform you if you have too many lines of text but seeing a proof will let you double check to make sure everything you provided fits.
Go with a Manufacturer - They Have Faster Turnaround Times and Are Usually Less Expensive
When it comes to selecting a company to purchase your personalized embosser from you can choose to work with a specialty shop who resells embossers or work directly with an embosser manufacturer. Going directly to the manufacturer gives you more choices when it comes to type face and layout. Price-wise a manufacturer will save you money because the cost isn't being marked up by the specialty shop that needs to make their profit on top of the original cost of the embosser. Also, a manufacturer will be able to provide the embosser to you faster because they can send the embosser directly to you and cut out the time spend sending it to the middleman.
No matter which you decide, keep in mind, you can choose to work with a company through their website, at a brick-and-mortar store location or over the phone. Choose whichever method works best for you but keep in mind placing an order online or working with a representative over the phone will save you the travel time to and fro the store.
When purchasing a personalized embosser it is important to remember that it is a customized product so getting a full refund if you are unsatisfied may not be an option. That is why assessing your requirements and communicating with the company you are buying the embosser from is important - this will ensure that you receive an embosser that meets your needs.

Need Legal Forms - Legal Form Craze

Legal forms today have become the most readily accessible form of doing it yourself legal work. Lawyers can be overpriced and overrated in some aspects for basic stuff such as preparation of an affidavit or a motion in a bankruptcy proceeding. Whatever the case, it all depends on the situation of the consumer. In some cases it is absolutely necessary to obtain legal counsel as the UPL is very strict on the guidelines of what you can and can't do. Paralegal services are a new craze it seems.
Paralegals have always been around doing the basic work for the lawyers to help them do there job. It now seems like they have branched out and are using there knowledge to benefit those who can not afford an attorney and just need a basic legal form for there circumstances. Independent paralegal services are a wave of relief as in most small business and low income families we know what we want and we do not need anything fancy but we can't afford the attorney's price which base out in the low 100's for nothing at all really.
A lot of websites now days offer legal forms fully customized within UPL standards for you at a cost as low as 5.00 per form. The problem is that most of these sites do not aid to a growing population of Hispanics. [http://www.needlegalwork.com] is a great site that offers customized legal forms delivered to you via email as well as in person at unbelievable prices. Most of the work is done locally as notary services are offered as well. Need Legal Forms? is a company that is trying to aid basic needs for low income people who need a basic form and who may need it in Spanish or just feels better about talking to someone who knows Spanish instead being confused the entire time the process is being ordered. This website offers forms in all areas of law including Probate, Business, Administrative, Bankruptcy, Real Estate, Rental, Property Management, Auto and More.
The reason I target is the Hispanic Population is because of the growing need for people to help this large sector. Most Hispanic populations in Florida especially in South Florida are workers and entrepreneurs that have business and no way or have no knowledge of the vast opportunities and availability of legal forms and document preparation that is online. Included in this is that some of them having no English speaking skills at all? We saw this big debate on TV recently with all of the new laws passing. This is actually a handicap to them in some ways as they do not understand the vast potential that they can reach online. Of course for the most part there are a lot that do speak English and are just not internet savvy or feel uncomfortable ordering and paying for something online that they may not like in the end. That is why I think legal form preparation and filing should be available on a more personal level. The Consumer should be able to view the form before purchasing it and some online form websites do not allow this for obvious reasons. Whatever the case is it still seems like a great idea having all of these websites offering legal forms for free and customized ones for dirt cheap, helping to raise the awareness on this availability to the lower class is the next step as they are the ones that need it the most.

What is Your Business Brand? It's Not What You Think

What is a brand?
Brand is the proprietary visual, emotional, rational, and cultural image that you associate with a company or a product. When you think Volvo, you might think safety. When you think Nike, you might think of Michael Jordan or "Just Do It." When you think Hooters, you think big beautiful...well I think we know what we think of, at least us straight guys!
When you think IBM, you might think "Big Blue." The fact that you remember the brand name and have positive associations with that brand makes your product selection easier and enhances the value and satisfaction you get from the product. That at least is why Fortune 1000 companies literally spend hundreds and billions of dollars in "brand advertising and marketing."
While Brand X cola or even Pepsi-Cola may win blind taste tests over Coca-Cola, the fact is that more people buy Coke than any other cola. Most importantly, they enjoy the experience of buying and drinking Coca Cola.
Why?
Coca-Cola is without a doubt one of, if not they most recognizable brand in the world.
The fond memories of childhood and refreshment that people have when they drink Coca-Cola is often more important than a little bit better cola taste with another brand. It's this emotional and mental relationship with brands that make them so powerful. Read that line again very carefully, because it's the reason people pay $500 for a pair of designer Gucci sunglasses that are made in the exact same sweat shop overseas as the $20 pair you can buy at Sunglass Hut. The only difference is the branding and image surrounding it.
Branding sells like water in the desert.
What makes up a brand identity?
A typical brand identity includes a brand name, positioning statement, category descriptor, organizational values, brand archetype, and the brand's key purchase factors with their tangible and emotional benefits (brand associations).
A good brand name gives a good first impression, is easy to remember, and evokes positive associations with the brand. The positioning statement tells, in one sentence, what business the company is in, what benefits it provides and why it is better than the competition.
Imagine you're in an elevator and you have 30 seconds to answer the question, "What business are you in?" The category descriptor lets your customers know what "hook" to put your branding on in their racing minds.
Linking your internal organizational values with your brand builds trust with your customers. Brand archetype and personality adds emotion, culture and myth to the brand identity by the use of a famous spokesperson (Bill Cosby - Jello), a character (the Pink Panther), an animal (the Merrill Lynch bull) or an image (You're in good hands with Allstate).
Brand associations are the attributes that customers think of when they hear or see the brand name. Ideally, you want customers to think of what they want from the brand (e.g., reliability and the benefits of reliability) and then associate that attribute with your brand name.
In closing what is YOUR brand?

How Did We Get Here - Subprime Loans?

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We as a community need to understand that subprime has noting to do with the borrower, except they make payments. It is all about the investor. He, who has the GOLD, writes the RULES. Investors know if you have the propensity to always pay your mortgage on time, you will continue do to do such! You might be late or behind on something else, but you'll handle the house note or you have no roof to live under. Consider owner occupied rates are lower than non-owner occupied rates, down payment requirements and underwriting guidelines are more favorable toward owner occupied properties than on investment properties. Finance 101!
There was a lot of loose money in investor's wallets as we moved into the 21st century and investors are always looking for rates of return that exceeds current market rates. These investors invest in loan pools as historically they tend to be safe investments, and all of the professional real estate guru's were predicting continually increasing appreciation in real estate prices. On the other hand you have Congress had changed the deductibility of interest charges, except mortgage interest. This was a keg of dynamite with Americans trying to live the American by using their home's equity as a credit card.
Quiet as it is kept, you also had the credit repositories manipulating and adjusting their credit models in creditor friendly ways. I can't give you an estimate on the number of loans originated where the credit scores were based on an antiquated FICO model. Back in 1999 I was fighting tooth and nail with wholesale lenders as to their credit scores differed significantly from reports I pulled from my credit vendor. I quickly learned lenders preferred using older credit models and they resulted in lower credit scores, therefore they justified higher interest rates and consequently they were able to generate higher loan fees and higher premiums yields when the loan pools were sold in the secondary market.
I shortly (2 months) worked for a company when I first started in the mortgage business (a large national firm), which had developed a software application that would essentially take any loan and compute the loan fees applicable to a Section 32 loan. Then it would adjust the fees downward to display on the estimated HUD1 such that they were slightly below the Section 32 triggers. Clearly, predatory lending at its finest! We were selling high rate loans with exorbitant fees to desperate borrowers who had experienced life issues that required an influx of cash with severely damaged credit.
There is a lot of history that MUST be understood before one can just spew words or wisdom as to how we reached the current state of affairs. It started with the deregulation of financial institutions under the Regan Administration and the weak oversight provided to the activities of these lending institutions. Can we say Savings & Loan crisis? Then to light the match, you had a bunch of individuals to come into the mortgage finance business with neither training nor experience, with their only goal being to make a quick buck! Pair that combination with homeowners who were gullible for what sounded good and what provided a momentary relief from their financial pains. You get sick and tired of collectors calling you daily to make delinquent payments when your money is funny and your change is strange.
No COST, No FEES! Complete joke, the costs and fees are bundled into the loan and rate such that the lender take care of the charge on behalf of the borrower in exchange for accepting a much higher interest rate. Look at your HUD1 and look for entries that indicate Paid outside of closing or (POC). Consumers must understand and realize there are no FREE lunches and if it sounds too good, it probable is. Raise your hands! How many loan officers have originated loans that the exclusive benefits were for the lender and not the borrower? Yeah, the borrower got $25K cash-out of the loan but it cost him/her $17k in equity to do the deal. Sounds quite expensive to me!
Borrower's beware, read and understand the fine print! Don't take the word of a commission grabbing loan officer, but seek to identify responsible trusted professionals who have your best interest as they advise you. Also remember, your home is not your personal credit card to be used to buy toys or go on extravagant vacations! That's marketing that make those claims and not Money 101. Marketing will keep you broke, with bad credit and a borrower instead of a lender; Money 101 will make you the lender one day and not a borrower for life.

Choosing A Process Server

The fast, professional and reliable service of process from trained process servers is vital to the smooth operation of the legal system. The employment of process servers groomed in proper courthouse protocol and in the rules of service of process guarantees that there will be no undue procedural errors that could result in costly delays for attorneys and their clients.
When a law firm or pro se litigant is seeking to employ an independent process server or serving firm with several servers, there are some factors that should be considered. The first consideration is to find a server who can provide quality and timely service. This means that the server has the latest technology in order to maintain the highest quality of service while, at the same time, keeping costs down. Because of the rising cost of gasoline, many servers are utilizing advanced technology in order to maintain reasonable prices. Some of these suggested technologies are the GPS navigation systems, mobile Internet, fax to email capabilities, cell phones, national databases for skip tracing, and online tracking of documents. The Internet has created the "Age of Instantaneous Communication," and it is imperative that the consumer in need of service of process utilize those servers who can not only deliver the requested legal documentation, but who can also provide the required proof of such service in a timely manner and an online record of tracking of documents relative to each case.
Attorneys and litigants can ultimately get a better bang for their buck by securing the services of a professional process serving firm. If the client selects a private contractor instead of a firm, he'll sometimes save a few dollars on the first few papers; however, the service level that he'll receive will be markedly decreased. Attorneys who choose to secure an independent process server also run the risk of not having the server available to meet all of the attorney's needs. No matter how reliable the server may be, he can not provide the emergency availability of service that is offered by a firm that utilizes the modern tools of the trade and has several process servers at their disposal. If an independent private contractor is not available for the emergency delivery of a subpoena, a pick up for emergency filing; a detailed skip trace on a hard to find plaintiff; how can he meet the client's needs? Most independent servers must be on the road serving instead of concentrating on all the needs of the client. A licensed, certified and bonded process serving firm may be your best choice, in order to ensure the timely and professional operation of your business. A full service litigation support firm can free up your personnel's time in order for your firm to utilize them better.
Imagine utilizing a server that offers mobile offices so that priority business can be handled immediately. With this option, a subpoena that has to be served today can be faxed directly to the server in the field and served within minutes or hours instead of days. By utilizing the latest technologies, the server and client receive faster more accurate information with less time spent on tracking each step of the process. With the availability of online tracking, the client no longer has to track down the server for status. On press of a button pulls up all needed information and is done at the clients convenience, not the servers.
Suppose you employ a local service of process firm that can meet all your identifiable needs but you need a subpoena served on a gentleman who is employed as a baggage inspector at Dallas International Airport. Can your server provide out-of-state service? The answer should be an emphatic yes. Process servers can deliver legal documents to individuals involved in various forms of litigation locally, throughout the state, or in any other jurisdiction in the U.S. Some jurisdictions allow legal documents to be served only by lawfully appointed sheriffs, while others permit the serving of papers by licensed servers only. An attorney can avoid spending the extra time to ensure the due diligence required in researching the rules of service in a particular domain by employing a full service firm that routinely provides this service for their clients. Since your server would need to employ a trusted server from the location to be served to perform the delivery, it is imperative that your server have established relationships with a network of servers throughout the U.S. These servers are acquainted with rules particular and distinct to their jurisdiction which saves time and money for the attorneys client. Once again, the utilization of a reputable firm will ensure that these matters will not interfere or delay your service of process.
It is important that an attorney or litigant secure the services of a trained server who has experience in court house procedural matters such as court filings, research and document retrieval. An untrained or inexperienced server could create additional problems and undue delays in service which will, inevitably, cost the client time and money and impede the progress of the case. In order to better educate their teams, professional service of process firms have implemented training programs in service and court house protocol, and also in the use of mobile office tools.
The service of process firm must also be knowledgeable in the area of skip tracing and in locating hard to find defendants/missing persons. Process serving firms use electronic databases to track down individuals who have "skipped' out, but also must be knowledgeable of in the field investigative techniques. Sometimes the electronic databases work and sometimes the old "shoe leather" must be utilized for those really difficult defendants. While the remarkable development of the Internet, and the many public databases now available, has propelled this field into an "electronic age", the old "gumshoe" approach is still a feasible method of locating people who, for one reason or another, can not be located or do not want to be located. A process server that uses just one of these techniques does not give their client the quality of service needed in todays fast paced world Thus, a server needs to be computer literate and able to access the modern technologies that are available and be trained in investigative techniques.
Before hiring a process server, be sure that they have the capability to deliver the following services:
· Quality and timely service
· Utilization of the latest technology available in the field
· Related services, such as skip trace, property inspection, document preparation, etc.
· Network with other trusted servers across the country
· Trained professional staff
· Licensed, certified and bonded
In today's world, you can't entrust your business and reputation to a server who doesn't utilize the necessary tools and equipment that will provide you and your clients with the competitive edge your business deserves!
This article was prepared by Colin Keogh of Salus Services, Inc. Salus Services is a professional litigation support company that offers service of process, mobile notary, skip tracing, courier services, document retrieval, demonstrative evidence preparation, copying and much more. Their team of highly trained professional customer service personnel have been trained to meet all the support needs of a litigation law firm.

Tie the Knot in Thailand

The first thing to do is to check your country's Thailand Embassy website to get the latest information on marriage requirements. I am from the United States, so this is written from an American's perspective. Your experience may vary slightly.
At your country's Embassy website, there should be instructions and some forms to download and print out. Make sure these are properly filled out but do not sign if the form requires a notary.
I downloaded two forms. One was an affirmation stating that it was legal for me to get married in Thailand. The other was an affidavit stating that I had never married or if I had, I would have to provide the documentation that I was divorced or my spouse was deceased. You will need documentary evidence.
At the American Embassy you can either make an appointment or walk in and take a number. I opted for the appointment.
Plan to spend an entire day getting through all the bureaucracy. Your future spouse may tell you that it is impossible to get everything done in one day on your own. He or she will insist that you need to use the services of an agency that will cost anywhere from $200 to $1,000. Do not listen to this.
Arrive at your appointment early. If no appointment, get to the Embassy one hour prior to opening. Lines can be extremely long and most likely you will have to go through a security check similar to that at an airport. Leave unnecessary items in the hotel.
For me, I arrived at 8:00 A.M. for a 9:00 A.M. appointment and was seen promptly at 9:00. I handed over the two forms and was told to go to the cashier and pay for the notary and then come back with the receipt. This cost 1,020 Thai baht, or about $30.
Five minutes later, I had my forms and was headed out the door.
The next place you have to go to is the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). The lady at the U.S. Embassy was nice enough to provide taxi instructions in English and Thai for me. You will most likely be approached by someone offering translation services. Ignore them and get in a taxi for the MFA.
The taxi ride is fairly long to the Chaeng Wattana Immigration building. Once you arrive and go through security, head for the food court, and you will again be approached by one of many offering translation services. The going rate is 300 Thai baht or about $10. This takes about 30 minutes to have your two forms translated. Enjoy some Thai food.
The next stop is the Legalization Division on the third floor of the MFA building. Pay the 800 Thai baht or about $25 for one day service. We hand in our English and Thai forms and are told to come back in two hours. It actually takes about 3 and 1/2 hours but we are done here.
You still have one more step to make it all legal. You need to register at one of the Civil Registry Offices (Amphurs). My almost wife decided on the Bangrak Amphur as the Thai word "rak" means "love". Another taxi ride and we check in at the Amphur.
Our documents are copied, checked, stamped and filed a total of 6 times. We actually had to go to six different desks to have the same thing done over and over.
We finally made it to the last desk and paid our 40 Thai baht or about $1.25 and we were legally wed. The traditional ceremony, party and reception would follow in a week.