Pftown- Articles and Information about Business and Finance.

(ARA) – This year, Mother Nature has proven she’s a force to be reckoned with. Hundreds of households across the country have suffered water damage as a result of severe weather. Five hurricanes and two tropical storms have made landfall in the United States this year, bringing with them destructive winds, torrential rains and flooding in Florida and 14 other states. And according to the 2004 Global Register of Major Flood Events, non-tropical systems have caused notable flooding in California, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Kentucky, and 12 other states.

In the aftermath of all the storms, we’ve seen pictures of flood victims wading through their living rooms, salvaging what they can and putting the rest of their water-logged possessions onto the curb. “In many cases, the damage you see is just the tip of the iceberg. In homes that aren’t dried out completely within 48 to 72 hours after a flood event, there will be mold growth,” says Seth Norman, of Mold Free, a nationwide mold inspection and remediation service.

Dampness in basements, walls, carpets, and wood caused by flooding provides an environment for mold to flourish. If left unchecked, it can cause disease, trigger allergic reactions, and continue to damage materials long after the storm.

Firefighters in the Town of Palm Beach, Florida, were forced to evacuate their fire station in October 2004 after conditions there were deemed unsafe. Mold had started growing inside the building after Hurricane Jeanne’s storm surge left the carpets saturated. Water that seeped in through the roof and some windows didn’t help matters. Read the rest of this entry »

Making sure your home ‘shows well’ can speed the selling process and get you a higher sale price. Here are a few tips to increase your homes appeal. Read the rest of this entry »

The real estate market is soaring because of low interest rates that have brought home buying to average Americans. All over the country, more renters are buying and homeowners are upgrading their properties. In this hot seller’s market, a pre-approval letter from your mortgage lender can help you secure a winning bid on the home of your dreams. Read the rest of this entry »

The Secondary Mortgage Market is responsible for the setting many of the rules and common practices that determines who gets a home loan. The secondary market includes Fannie Mae (Federal National Mortgage Association or FNMA), Freddie Mac (Federal Home Loan Corporation or FHLMC), Ginnie Mae (Government National Mortgage Association or GNMA) and a variety of other investment oriented institutions. Read the rest of this entry »

There are hundreds of sources for home loans online and right in your neighborhood. Banks, Credit Unions, Mortgage Bankers, Government Agencies and Private Sellers all offer different sources of financing for anyone shopping for a mortgage. Read the rest of this entry »

Here to stay and firmly established in the U.S. mortgage market, biweekly mortgage payments are gaining momentum. First introduced into the U.S. in the early 1980′s by several small Northeastern Banks, the idea of biweekly mortgages has its origins in Canada. Read the rest of this entry »

A no income verification home equity loan is a second mortgage loan that does not require you to provide income documentation to qualify for the loan. This type of loan is great for homeowners who need a home equity loan but have hard to document income. Read the rest of this entry »

There are five major factors to consider when selling a home. These factors will greatly influence not only the final price you will get for the property, but also how quickly it will sell and how much grief you will suffer through the sale. Read the rest of this entry »