Tanuu Blog

In recent years, the mortgage industry has introduced dozens of new types of loans. The needs of every borrower are different, so the mortgage companies have tried to come up with an answer for every problem. They’ve introduced 40-year mortgages, promoted 15-year mortgages, and introduced the wildest array of variable-rate mortgages imaginable. There are mortgages that have interest rates that adjust every few months, every few years, or just once. A recently popular product that thrives on the East and West coasts is the interest-only mortgage, which reduces payments by not requiring payment on the loan’s principal for the first few years of the loan. The prospective homebuyer could have as many as one hundred possible types of loans to choose from when searching for a mortgage. Amidst this huge array of loan types, one type is growing in popularity faster than all the rest, and it may surprise you. The fastest-growing type of mortgage in America right now is the traditional 30-year, fixed-rate loan. Last year, only about 35% of all borrowers took out a 30 year, fixed-rate loan, but so far this year, the rate has increased to nearly 50%.

This may seem odd, as most everyone has been opting for adjustable-rate mortgages for the last few years. Adjustable rate mortgages tend to offer lower interest rates, and lower interest rates mean lower payments. These loans have been popular with buyers who move often, have lower incomes or buyers who simply want to invest their money elsewhere. So why is the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage back in style? Because interest rates have dropped to their lowest point in fourteen months, and they are nearly as low as they were in the summer of 2003, when they reached the lowest point on record. In short, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is not only seen as competitive with other types of loans, but it is actually seen as safer. Borrowers who have adjustable-rate mortgages enjoy their biggest advantage when rates are high, knowing that their interest rate is lower than a fixed-rate mortgage. But when interest rates for the market as a whole reach historic lows, the borrower with an adjustable-rate mortgage knows that their rate can only go up. At times like the present, when rates are only likely to go up, converting an adjustable rate loan to a fixed-rate loan is a smart move. First-time buyers can safely take on a 30-year fixed-rate loan and be comfortable in the fact that their rate will stay fairly low for the duration of their loan.

Sometimes, the way things have always been done turns out to be the best. While there are still some buyers who will benefit from adjustable-rate loans, most borrowers would do well to lock in their loan at a fixed rate now. Historically, fixed-rate mortgages have rarely been under six percent, so obtaining such a loan while they are available is one of the smartest moves a homeowner can make.

©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing.

Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro

How many leads do you pass on?

As a reminder, you must give a lot before you can expect any leads from the group. You must be able to define your best customer, give your pitch and describe what you do best. On top of this you must gain credibility. Then how do you know how many leads to expect? If you have done your homework, you will have a good idea about the expectations of each member in the group. If the group does an average of 1 lead per person in the group per week, then you have hit a high note. The biggest problem with getting a lead is the fact that you do not know whether that lead is actually qualified to buy your product or service.

Once you are an older member, you can expect to get more leads and better leads. You should make sure that the leads you do get are ones where you get an introduction. Without the introduction, the lead may as well be a cold call. Sometimes people bring in leads that have a potential but it has not been stated that they are looking for a particular product or service. You want to make sure that you do not get anything but a qualified lead. In order to make sure the leads are qualified, you need to let the group know exactly what you are looking for and how you can obtain that business. If you have helped the group help you, then you can expect to receive at least 3 or 4 good leads a month.

Bette Daoust, Ph.D. has been networking with others since leaving high school years ago. Realizing that no one really cared about what she did in life unless she had someone to tell and excite. She decided to find the best ways to get people’s attention, be creative in how she presented herself and products, getting people to know who she was, and being visible all the time. Her friends and colleagues have often dubbed her the “Networking Queen”. Blueprint for Networking Success: 150 ways to promote yourself is the first in this series. Blueprint for Branding Yourself: Another 150 ways to promote yourself is planned for release in 2005. For more information visit http://www.BlueprintBooks.com

Here they are, our Ladies of Mercy and Divine Benevolence. Petitioning the Saints for Special Favours has been a big subject in the chat rooms lately, so in the spirit of Christmas and the Goddess energies associated with these martyrs and popularized pagan deities, I have compiled a list that tells you how to use candle burning to request favours.

When you ask the Catholic Saints for help, it is common to write your request on a piece of paper and place it on the appropriately coloured candle. If a totem animal, emblem or object is suggested, you can also place that item, or a picture of that item on her altar as well. If you can find a picture of the Saint in a religious store and place it on the altar that is even better.

Saint Agnes

Burn a white or blue candle on a Friday to ask for her help to: keep a husband faithful, find a soulmate, or reveal dishonesty in a relationship (find out the truth about someone). Her animal is the lamb.

Saint Ann (also known as Anne and Ana)

Burn a white candle on a Monday to ask her for a peaceful and happy home. She is the patron Saint of grandmothers, housekeepers, housewives, mothers and women in labour. Petition her for help with the deaf and the blind.

Saint Barbara

Burn a red candle on a Saturday to drive a way evil, to protect your relationship from rivals, to protect yourself from meddling in-laws, to clear your path of obstacles, to help someone be released from prison and for protection from storms. She is also the patron saint of wives whose men are at war. Her emblem is the Tower.

Saint Maria Goretti

Burn a pink candle on a Friday to ask for fidelity in marriage, help with an abusive or battering male partner and a pardon from the death penalty.

Saint Brigid of Kildare

Burn a yellow candle on a Sunday to ask her: to become fertile, for healing, for happiness and health of pets and farmyard animals, to assist with breeding livestock, for inspiration, for literary gifts (especially poetry) and the gift of prophecy. Her symbol is a cow.

Saint Clare of Assisi

Burn a white candle on a Monday for protection against astral attack and for help overcoming addiction to drug and alcohol.

Saint Catherine of Alexandria

Burn a yellow or white candle on a Saturday to petition her for beauty, fertility, a peaceful death, confidence, seductiveness and confidence when public speaking. Her symbol is the wheel.

Saint Dymphna

Burn a blue candle on a Monday for help with nervous disorders, mental afflictions, epilepsy, insanity, obsession and astral attack. Her symbol is a sword pointed downwards.

Saint Cecilia

Burn a green candle on a Wednesday for success in a career in the arts, particularly if you are a musician, poet or singer. Her emblem is an organ.

Saint Francis Xavier Cabrini

Burn a white candle on a Sunday to help with matters of immigration, with moving to another city or state or for matters pertaining to health, education or insurance.

Saint