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Today it is the taxpayer who stands to lose as states try to artificially suppress growing insurance rates. An honest assessment by all parties including state and federal government, insurers and homeowners, as to each party’s share of the risk is required. We also need to consider reaching long-term solutions. The business of assessing risk needs to be returned to private the insurers and involve those customers who are exposed to hurricanes, and away from taxpayers who are not at risk.

There is a need for a government industry partnership that does the following: First, states must act to enforce tough building codes and land use planning. Second, homeowners who act to reduce their risk should be rewarded. Third, private insurers must be allowed to reflect the true risk of insurance through their rates. Fourth, federal reinsurance should be provided for the extreme storms, the hundred year storms. Lastly, those living on the coast who cannot afraid the rate increases should be given assistance.

The coastal states are the ones that should be the most directly involved in this effort. To be a part of any assistance program by the federal authorities that should be required to reduce potential costs from major hurricanes. They would do this by managing coastal over - development, through the adoption and enforcement of building codes and through the development of adequate disaster preparedness and recovery plans.

Those homeowners who live in the high-risk areas have their role to play as well. For example, there should be tax deductions or credits offered to those who retrofit their homes to minimize losses. In addition, those homeowners who live in coastal flood zones should be required to buy federal flood insurance in order to cover possible damage from flooding.

The role of the federal government in a partnership such as this would be to offer the public reinsurance for extreme, rare catastrophic events. In any case, it is always the private insurers who absorb the initial smack before the government program comes into play with reinsurance priced to bear the cost of the risk. Without this added layer of protection, insurers' will continue to exit coastal areas.

For a robust and healthy private market of insurers to continue to the in coastal regions the pricing of homeowners policies must be allowed to reflect the real risks those homeowners face.

There is another Katrina coming around the corner and it is certain that we will pay the price if we don't act soon. To find a solution however, we must first move past short-term interests and invest in a long-term permanent solution.

Insurance Program Will Cost Billions

In addition to the adding of windstorm coverage to the National Flood Insurance Program, losses covered by current federal proposals include the creation of a system of loans and reinsurance to state residual market mechanisms in addition to catastrophe funds, all of which could come to $230 billion during the next five years. According to a report sponsored by the group Americans for Smart Natural Catastrophe Policy, the new policies could also add $332 billion within a decade.

In the report, the possible effects of another hurricane season that is similar to the one seen in 2005 would have assuming that the federal programs that are being proposed by H.R. 3355, the Homeowners Defense Act, and H.R. 3121, the Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act, were already in place.

Passed by the U.S. House in November of 2007, the Homeowners Defense Act, is designed to allow for state-sponsored insurance structures to include catastrophic risks in a National Catastrophe Risk Consortium. The cost of the program is to be met the capitalization acquired by the issuance of catastrophe bonds. Included in the proposal is a system of short-term Treasury loans along with reinsurance contracts to be used for state catastrophe funds.

The flood insurance bill is designed to make possible the purchase of coverage for hurricanes, typhoons, tornadoes, cyclones and other wind events through the NFIP, which was also passed by the U.S. House last year. Another version of the legislation however, was posed by the Senate earlier. This version does not include the windstorm provisions. The statutory language that currently authorizes the NFIP is going to expire on September 30th.

The authors of the report are Robert J. Shapiro and Aparna Mathur, who are former Clinton administration officials and who are now working with the American Enterprise Institute. They estimate that a reoccurrence of the record 2005 Atlantic season would mean that the U.S. federal government would be responsible for anywhere between $140 billion and $161 billion of losses in the year of 2009. The losses for 2013 would come to between $197 billion and $230 billion, and by 2017 it would be between $278 billion and $332 billion. In 2007 there were 27 storms that were named, and 15 hurricanes, seven major hurricanes and four Category 5 hurricanes.

The proposed bills would mean a cost to taxpayers in New York for example, of between $11.2 billion to $12.7 billion, according to the study. In California, for example, the expense brought about by potential losses would be between $19.2 billion and $22.1 billion. In Iowa however, it would be between $1.2 billion and $1.4 billion. According to the report, there are altogether 20 states that would face potential new burdens of at least $2 billion.

Insurance for Small Manufacturers

The range of different products manufacturers produce is huge, and with only a few exceptions the risk exposures differ more in degree than in kind.

Generally, the most cost effective and efficient way to provide property and liability insurance for your small manufacturing operation is with a Businessowners Policy (BOP). This type of policy offers a package of different coverages for a single premium. Insurers have put together packages tailored to many specific types of small manufacturers. Though marketed under a variety of names, these policies will typically have provisions similar to the property insurance and liability insurance sections of the BOP, with the option to add various other coverages that you may need.

Property coverage
The package policy covers real estate your business owns. If your plant rents or leases its premises, the policy provides coverage, in the event of a covered cause of loss, for tenants' improvements and betterments. These are fixtures, alterations, installations or additions that you have put into the space that cannot legally be removed from the landlord’s premises.

The policy also covers your other business property—equipment, machinery, raw materials, inventory, etc. The insurer will require you to report periodically on values in raw materials, goods at various stages of production and finished inventory so that if there is a loss, the claim can be settled with correct values.

The basic policy usually includes two types of coverage related to electronic data. Computer Operations Interruption Coverage pays for business income lost and extra expenses incurred as a result of many computer problems. Electronic Data Loss Coverage pays the cost to replace or restore electronic data destroyed or damaged as the result of causes of loss named in the policy. These include a computer virus or harmful code. For more coverage, there are several endorsements you can choose to add to your BOP. You should discuss what electronic data your business uses with your insurance agent to assure you have the right coverages.

The basic policy usually includes two coverages that can be vital to your business survival if there is a disaster: Business Income and Extra Expense Insurance (also known as Business Interruption Insurance). Business Interruption Insurance helps pay ongoing expenses while your business is unable to function after a loss and also helps make up for lost profits. Extra Expense Coverage helps you recover as quickly as possible by paying extras expenses caused by the loss—such as rent for temporary quarters. If these aren’t part of your basic policy you can probably add them for an additional premium.

There are numerous types of property coverage some businesses need that are not included in the basic policy. Among others, these include coverage for theft and burglary, employee dishonesty, mechanical breakdown or property of others in your care, custody or control. Be sure to discuss with your agent what additional property coverages you may want to add.

Home Insurance

This marketing opportunity sounds too good to be true. The vast majority of Houston insurance agencies have yet to tap the tremendous opportunity of local search. Houston agents are still using the traditional and expensive marketing channels including yellow pages, local print, direct mail, telemarketing, radio and TV or using online lead generation schemes to sell home insurance Houston insurance policies. Clients using the Local Search Engine Marketing Saturation (Local SEMS) program are finding home insurance Houston insurance policies much more quickly. This is where the Houston insurance companies are advertising. It will pay you to search here first.

Why online car insurance?

It is obvious why any owner of a vehicle being used should have car insurance. This is for the security of both yourself – the driver – and others such as the passenger and other drivers. The most convenient way of getting this insurance is through the internet. Online car insurance is available all day and night – twenty-four, seven. The convenience of the internet is not the only benefit. The immediacy of applying for online car insurance and receiving the coverage is also especially useful. Online car insurance companies will maintain informative websites catering to their existing and potential client base.

Debt consolidation

Debt consolidation is an option available to the person who takes one loan to pay back all of this past loans. Debt consolidation is an easy opted method in which a person can get relaxation by lowering the rate of interest. The rate of interest paid in such kind of debt consolidation tends to be of a particular rate of interest. It depends on the person who picks debt consolidation and in this process he combines all his unsecured loans into a single unsecured loan. This helps him in getting the loan deal at a reasonable rate of interest but when taken against an asset, i.e. secured loan, then the rate of interest charged comes bit decreased as compared to unsecured one.

Debt consolidation can be taken against any of your asset such as home, property papers, business papers, jewelry and other valuable assets. The collateral provided helps in getting the loan at an affordable interest rate. In such cases, the lender gets an assurance of getting back this loan amount, and if he fails in repaying back, there are chances of selling the asset (foreclosure) to get back the loan amount. The risk of the lender in such cases is reduced and he tends to give the loan at an affordable interest rate. But selling of asset generally does not take place and the lender gives chance of repaying back. But in this process the person lands up paying higher rate of interest.

The finance market has changed a lot in its perception and there are wider chances of getting loan deal at a reasonable price. There are many cases when the debtor is found to be falling in the grip of bankruptcy. In such cases, a debt consolidator comes with a helping offer in which they purchase your loan at a rate of discount. Debt consolidation is an effective tool in hands of debtor who can clear your debts paying the loan amount without any hassle, even when you are going to be engulfed in bankruptcy this comes a relief. Debt consolidation comes as a great tool of relief. So when a person is planning to sell his loan he must shop around and settle down selecting a reasonable debt consolidation loan deal.

Debt consolidation again comes as a choice for those who make their payments with credit cards. The credit card payment makes a person pay more than unsecured loan. This occurs when a person pays more than what his saving is. In such case, the person is found to be pay more and when he chooses debt consolidation the whole process come in a friendlier manner and gives a solution to the debtor.

Bad Credit Loans

Do you have bad credit loan and you need a second chance to a credit? We are here to evaluate all the possible solutions, collaborating with each financial institution which is our partner, and all this in order to help you get a new credit which can allow you to purchase the car of your dreams or whatever you want. Our company is focused on the customer and we also take into account any ethical aspects, therefore each file is checked by our staff in a dynamic and personalized manner. It doesn’t matter which your credit problem is, we can use our knowledge and experience in order to make you trust again financial institutions. Say good bye to your bad credit loans and get a second or even a third chance to a credit.
We are an independent company which keeps updated files concerning any individual’s or company’s credit administration and we respect national and local regulations, which stipulate how we can store and update this information.

Our customers are individuals, financial institutions and other organizations which distribute credit. Before offering you credit, all the financial institutions want to know how you can administrate your credit. Instead of checking each organization which offered you credit we can require a solvability report or a credit report from a credit office.

Your credit file evaluates your capacity to reimburse your debts. This capacity is not established by any bank or by the society which issues credit cards, but it’s you who establishes it.

Your credit file contains your date of birth, your address and information related to your employment, in order to identify you, as well as a complete history of the credit you use currently or you have sometimes used lately or a bad credit. This file is updated by all the organizations which offered you credit: banks, credit card societies, auto location societies and many others.
Your credit quote corresponds to the evaluation of your ability to administrate the financial value of your credit at a given moment. It is important to know that your credit quote might vary. It changes according to the fluctuation of your financial situation.

Even if most of the financial organizations offer comparable products and collect similar information during the approval process, credit distribution policies are different according to the products and the loaners.

Your global credit quote is an important factor in order to determine the credit type and the sum which can be offered to you at any time. This is why it is important to establish and to keep the best quote possible.

Mortgage Refinancing Can Be Confusing

Mortgage refinancing is frequently the solution to a homeowner’s financial problems. It can also be done primarily to lower monthly payments, reduce the mortgage term, increase personal financial flexibility and consolidate debt. Whatever the motive for seeking mortgage refinancing, finding the right lender to issue the best mortgage terms can prove a complex scenario at best.

In certain economic climates, mortgage refinancing can open the door for unscrupulous individuals whose sole interest is their own quick profit and not the lenders well being. Prospective refinances would be wise to limit their choice of lenders to well-known banks and lending institutions under these circumstances.

What a legitimate lender will do to aid in mortgage refinancing depends on a variety of factors including the assessed valuation of the home; the cost of paying off the existing loan; the economic climate at the time; the homeowners credit status; job history and the risk factors incumbent to the terms the homeowner requires. The condition of the home and grounds at the time of the application may also have an effect, as will any add-ons or improvements made to the property since the existing loan was written. An example of the latter might be the installation of an in-the-ground swimming pool or an extra room, patio or deck having been added, since all of these increase the overall property value.

What the homeowner wishes to gain by mortgage refinancing is also dependent on many different conditions. He may have as a primary motive, the desire to significantly lower his monthly payments; he may wish to recoup some cash equity for investment reasons, or he may wish to either extend or reduce the term of the original loan. There are also less obvious income tax considerations that may come into play for him.

Mortgage refinancing should be undertaken by homeowners only if the economic conditions in the market make it likely that he will succeed, and if the resultant change will actually provide him with the financial advantages he thinks they will. A good attorney should always review the terms and conditions of any new mortgage along with any penalties that might occur as a result of paying off his existing loan early. A home mortgage is almost always the biggest personal debt an owner will ever have and should be undertaken only after very serious research and consideration.

Mortgage Down Payments Are Equity Investments

The term mortgage downpayment defines a percentage of the property’s value that a borrower contributes in order to secure a long-term mortgage on his home from a lender. The amoung that a lender requires varies with the type and length of the loan, the economic climate that exists at the time and the lender’s credit worthiness. In reality, it is not a down payment on the mortgage loan, but a payment representing a percentage of the property’s purchase price and therefore the owner’s equity at the time of the sale. From the lender’s perspective, the down payment lessens the risk but assigning that much of it to the purchaser.

The amount of a mortgage down payment generally varies between 5% and 25% of the total property assessed valuation. During the past five “boom” years in America, many lenders started offering sub-prime mortgages even to high risk lenders with little or no down payment. Regrettably, these mortgages were structured to require increased interest over time and when the interest finally rose, most of these loans went into default because the owner could no longer make the payments. While variable-rate loans looked good at the time, they became nightmares in the economy of 2007.

In the current climate even people with excellent credit and high credit scores are having a problem obtaining mortgages. The normal 20% down target for people with good credit and stable situations has become 25% or more. Even the biggest and best-known banks and lending institutions are running scared and are hesitant to write these long-term fixed rate loans. Notwithstanding this, we can generally say that the best chance for a credit worthy person to obtain a 25 or 30-year fixed-rate mortgage today is by making the biggest-possible mortgage downpayment and thus sharing more of the risk with the lender.

The smaller down payments for less credit worthy people usually required mortgage terms with bigger monthly payments which the way mortgages are amortized, meant that the payments were 90 or 100% interest during the first 5 or 7 years of the loan. This assured th lender of extra protection, since if in default, he could always sell the property and recoup his loan value plus any equity remaining over and above the loan principle.

A mortgage on a home is, for most people, the single largest debt they will ever acquire.
It should be undertaken cautiously and is best reviewed by an attorney prior to signing on the dotted line.


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