Buy a Brand New Home - Six Months No Payments Financing - Limited Time Only

By Lance Winslow

So, I am reading thru the newspaper the other day, yes with a pair of scissors and a highlighter, that's me, you know the type. Trying to keep a pulse on society, consumers and various industries, government agencies, politics and information, but unlike other people you know who do this, I have an excuse. I am the coordinator for the Online Think Tank, amongst other endeavors. Plus, you know it also allows me to monitor the mass media hysteria over the real estate market.

Anyway, yes, well, I am reading this ad in the Real Estate section of the LA Times, yes, they still have a real estate section, ha ha ha. One article in the paper, a PR fluff type article reads:

Six Months, No Payment Financing Attracts Savvy Buyers to Custom Homes

Is it just me or does anyone else see the problem here? First, off it is stuff like this that got the real estate market in trouble in the first place, apparently no one is learning any lessons here. Next, sure, it is a safer bet for the builder and the bank now with interest rates low and being close to the bottom to try this, but, please, its starting to sound like a GM, Ford or Chrysler Commercial to sell you an overpriced 2007 close out SUV?

Personally, I am almost surprised that the article did not have a tagline. After six months, you can make the first 10 payments with a special credit card offered by the builder's bank? Do you see what I see? Does it bother you? Do you think it is wise? Do you see this as a last ditch effort? Americans need to overcome these debt traps, but all too often they allow their need for instant gratification to get the best of them.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/ Lance Winslow's Bio

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow

Is Payment Protection Insurance A Good Option?

By Amenda Dorothy

Thousands of people lose their homes due to repossession. To a certain extent, payment protection insurance helps you in avoiding such situations. Some situations are covered under this type of insurance. Whenever you face these situations, the PPI policy ensures that you do not default in your repayments. The grounds covered under this insurance policy are loss of job, disability to work, illness, accident, death, etc. Different policies may have different terms and conditions.

The cost of taking a PPI policy is called premium. You are required to pay certain amount of money annually. The annual premium varies depending on the amount of loan that you want to avail. Sometimes, it is worth paying the premium. If you are taking a loan against property, PPI policy becomes desirable. If something wrong takes place, PPI policy may come into picture and save you from committing a default in repayment of loan.

In case of secured loans, your property is at stake. If you fail to repay the loan, the lender may repossess it. PPI takes over your repayment liability on the happening of any of the events covered under the policy.

So, you can get protection in such cases. Your home will remain safe with you even if you become jobless, ill or permanently disable to work. No doubt, PPI helps you in reducing the risk especially in case of secured loans.

Now, the question that arises is whether the premium that you pay to the insurer is worth the risk. Opinions may differ. It is entirely up to you to take a decision. If you feel that in any case you would be able to repay your loan, there is no need for PPI. But, if you are doubtful, the decision lies with you. Some borrowers prefer to take PPI in case of secured loans but avoid such policies when taking out loans where there is no danger to their properties.

About The Author: The author is a business writer specializing in finance and credit products and has written authoritative articles on the finance industry. He has done his masters in Business Administration and is currently assisting ask4loan.co.uk as a finance specialist.

For more information related to personal loans: http://www.ask4loan.co.uk

International Payment Processing - An Overview

By Sara K

Payment processing involves the exchange of payment, billing and transaction information between a customer, the payment gateway and the merchant. Payment processing may be local or international depending on the kind of business you have. Some International Payment Processing methods include:

1. International cards
2. Pay pal
3. E-wallets
4. Cash methods
5. Pre-paid methods
6. Check

Merchant Benefits with International Payment Processing With international payment processing merchants became capable of:

• Global acceptance
• Real-time confirmation of payment
• Processing speed is fast
• Internally accepted method
• Customer security
• Easy to use
• Can gain popularity
• Facilitate customers to shop without credit cards or bank accounts
• Excellent for small amounts
• No risk of any fraud or security

How Online Payment Processing Works? It may be tough to grasp how online payment processing is carried out. Various steps and terms might make this process even more complex to understand.

Once a customer has chosen a desired product, he will fill out the payment form with personal and credit information and submit the form after which a variety of backend processes are initiated.

• The Payment Gateway
• Payment transfers to Merchant account
• Payment Receipt and report
• Data transfer to merchant’s database
• Receiving the payment

Payment Gateway and International Payment Processing Payment gateway verifies the validity of the credit card. It manage the process of transaction, contacts to the bank, reports back the results and transfer the money to merchants account. A merchant account keeps the credit card payments. But merchants do not have the right to use these deposited payments until money is transferred to his bank from the merchant account. When the payment processing is completed successfully, then the customer receives a receipt and the report of transaction. All the payment data or record is then stored into the merchants database.

With Instabill merchant accounts you become capable of not just accepting credit cards online but it also allows you to offer various international payment processing options to your customers and provide safe online transactions.