Jul 30 2010

Using Federal Government For Small Business Loans

Category: Small Business Informationadmin @ 8:14 pm



When you are in business for yourself, you need to realize that you have to take full advantage of EVERYTHING that is available to you. I understand that locating money for your business needs is not as easy as ordering a grant book from a guy on television with question marks all over his suit, but the truth is YOU CAN INDEED use the federal government to grow your small business.

The government backed loans that you want to look into is the Small Business Administrations (SBA) GAAP loan used for business expansion. Now, you may be thinking that obtaining Federal Government small business loans through the SBA would be terribly difficult, but what if I were to tell you that 99.9% of EVERYONE that applies gets the loan immediately? Truly amazing isn’t it. For many years, the Federal Government small business loans have been granted to the general public, it’s simply a matter of locating the one that is best for you.

Getting back to the GAAP line/loan, there is not a better or easier way for you to fund your business. Here are a few of the points why it is such a good thing to go after.

1. It is an unsecured line, which means that there are no assets or collateral needed to obtain the loan.

2. It is quick. The approved funds can be in your account in 10 business days.

3. Extremely low interest rates , because they are government backed.

4. Almost everyone is approved.

The trick to obtaining these loans is to find them. We have made our business out of jus locating these sources and you would be surprised at just how many government backed programs are available. All are nationwide and you simply have to know the right person to contact and let them know what you need.

So to wrap things up….Can you locate and use the Federal Government to fund your small business in the form of a loan? Yes indeed you can.

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Mar 01 2010

Are Your Bank Deposits Safe? Financial Facts – What You Need to Know About Your Savings

Category: Banking / Loansadmin @ 5:05 pm



If your bank deposits are covered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), your money is safe up to $100,000 personally and $250,000 in eligible retirement plans. In fact, depending on how you have structured your accounts, coverage can significantly exceed $100,000 per bank. We have been negative on the outlook for U.S. Bank stocks since early last summer, but FDIC insurance has added a level of safety since its inception shortly after the Great Depression. Social Security and greater flexibility by the Federal Reserve to inject liquidity into the financial system are two other key safety measures helping to prevent another 1929-type collapse.

One of the biggest risks regarding this country’s current financial malaise is more from a “crisis of confidence” in which worries about the banking system creates a run on certain banks, forcing otherwise solvent banks into insolvency.

This is one reason the Fed acted so swiftly when problems erupted with Bear Stearns in March, and more recently, took measures to instill confidence in both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac with promises of financial backing. Only a year and a half ago, the number of troubled banks on the FDIC list were at record lows, as most banks were enjoying record earnings and soaring stock market valuations. Excess liquidity brought on by historically low interest rates coupled with relaxed, or non-existent, loan covenants created a massive bubble in real estate that has pushed a growing number of banks to the edge. This problem was many years in the making and with real estate representing approximately 60% of all bank assets, investors should not expect a dramatic turn around anytime soon. It is important to keep in mind that the plight of many bank stocks, with many down 70% or more over the past year, does not necessarily correlate with the safety of your deposits in these banks. As long as you make sure all of your bank accounts are FDIC insured you will be fine, and there is definitely no reason to panic. But what are the rules and stipulations of FDIC insurance?

FDIC insurance was started in 1933 after thousands of banks failed following the stock market crash of 1929. The deposit insurance coverage was initially set at $2,500 and steadily increased until it was raised to the current amount of $100,000 in 1980. The FDIC has the power to increase the insurance limits on all deposits every five years, based on inflation, but has demonstrated a very conservative stance by electing not to do so.

In April of 2006, the FDIC established $250,000 of insurance coverage for deposits that are held in IRA and select other retirement accounts. It should be noted that accounts not covered by FDIC include mutual funds, annuities, life insurance policies, stocks and bonds. In addition, an uninsured money market mutual fund should not be confused with an FDIC-insured money market deposit account.

After the first quarter of 2008, the FDIC released its list of 90 troubled banks, up from 53 in the first quarter of 2007 and 76 in the fourth quarter. Very few banks that make the list are destined for failure. Among all the troubled banks listed last year, only three actually failed. The recent collapse of IndyMac was a shocker to many, as the bank wasn’t even on the FDIC’s watch list. After its failure, it was reported that IndyMac received 100% of FDIC insured funds, and 50% of non-insured funds. Many times in the past, uninsured deposits have been partially insured, but there is no guarantee that trend will continue. For trust account holders, depositors have to wait to get their deposits until the beneficiaries of trusts can be verified.

It is important that you take the necessary steps to help navigate through this crisis:

1. Don’t panic. Confirm that all of your assets in banks (savings accounts, checking accounts, money market deposit accounts and certificates of deposits) are insured up to the $100,000 per account and $250,000 per retirement account. For example, make sure if you have a joint account with over $100,000 that it is structured properly to receive up to $200,000 of coverage.

2. Establish a secondary banking relationship to have liquid assets (emergency money) available from two separate sources, should your bank become insolvent. This can also be helpful to compare yields and fees to make sure you’re getting the most from your bank for every dollar of savings. Remember that insured deposits in trust accounts may not be immediately accessible and recovery of broker CDs may also experience delays.

3. If you have considerable assets, consider the Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service (CDARS), a program designed to accept deposits of more than $100,000 and still receive FDIC coverage by spreading funds among many FDIC insured institutions. Your deposits can be insured for up to $50M with CDARS without having to set up accounts at multiple banks.

One final point – as with all banking relationships, yields are negotiable. The current credit crisis has created strong demand for loyal “credit worthy” clients so investors have never been in a better position to negotiate the best rates, and lowest fees, for each banking deposit or service.

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Mar 10 2009

New Commercial Equity Loan Creates Liquidity

Category: Small Business Informationadmin @ 2:35 am



Commercial building owners have struggled for decades on how to effectively and economically tap their commercial property’s equity. This lack of liquidity seems to be one of the biggest complaints in commercial real estate ownership; equity rich, cash poor, as the saying goes.

There are a few new options however for the small commercial property owners (both investors and users) that are turning heads. Historically, accessibility to commercial equity via loan products has been very limited, and for good reason. Second lien position behind a separate financial institution is one of the riskiest positions for a commercial lender to be in.

However, in the past, small local banks have been known to take on these types of loans assuming that the combined loan to value and debt coverage ratios were strong – typically less than 60% LTV and over 1.4 on a DCR. Banks wrote these lines almost like a business loan that happen to be secured by the commercial building. The banks also, wanted a depository “relationship,” as bankers always say, with the borrower.

Developer of large sophisticated projects also have had 2nd lien position loan options, called mezzanine loans. But these types of loans are normally only available to highly experienced and successful developers working on projects over $5,000,000.

Interestingly, a few lenders have recently stepped up and created commercial equity lines aka commercial lines of credit. The result is liquidity never before known for small building owners. Highlights include no upfront fees to close loan (no appraisal, no title, and no environmental fees), combined loan to values up to 75% and relatively low interest rates at Prime plus .75% – 1.25%.

We will see in time how much of an impact these commercial equity lines make on “Main Street” USA, but one thing is for certain: commercial property owners have more loan options now, than ever before.

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Feb 17 2009

Types Of Collateral For Secured Loans – Getting a Home Equity Loan With Low Credit Scores

Category: Banking / Loansadmin @ 9:46 pm



You don’t have to have perfect credit to get a loan. If you’re a homeowner–or the owner of a valuable asset–you can get a Secured Loan. Your asset will be used as collateral, and if you default on the loan, your lender can take your asset and sell it to cover the cost of the amount you borrowed. Secured Loans often appeal to folks with low credit scores, since even bad credit borrowers can usually qualify. One type of secured loan available to homeowners is a Home Equity Loan. Here’s how it works:

THE HOUSE IS COLLATERAL:

You tap into your home’s equity–the value of your house minus any amount you still owe on the mortgage–and receive a lump sum of cash in return. You must make monthly payments on the loan until it is paid off, or you risk forfeiting your home. Essentially, your loan is “secured” with your house.

THEY’RE OFFERED BY MOST LENDERS:

These types of loans are available from many lenders, including your bank, your current mortgage holder and online loan companies. When searching for a Home Equity Loan lender, it’s always wise to shop around to find the best deal. Your current mortgage lender may not be offering the lowest interest rates or the lowest fees. Compare costs between multiple lenders, including both regular brick-and-mortar banks and online loan companies.

THEY’RE AN INEXPENSIVE LOAN:

In general, Home Equity Loans offer low interest rates. They’re almost always the cheapest Secured Loan, offering lower rates than personal loans or loans that have been secured with a different type of collateral, such as a car or jewelry. Moreover, in many states the interest you pay on a Home Equity Loan is tax deductible at the end of the year, which also helps lower the cost.

A Home Equity Loan is an example of a Secured Loan that uses your house as collateral. Before you borrow, however, you should be certain that you will be able to make the minimum monthly payments, since you may forfeit your home if you default on the loan.

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