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(Most
current blogs are at the top)
Click Here for the Best
Blog Entries | |
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I Have Bounced a
Check (02/28/10) I have bounced a
check. I have not done that since probably college... |
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Going Without Health Insurance (02/28/10)
My COBRA insurance has lapsed. I am now
without health insurance for the first time since college... |
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Its Time for a
Change (10/27/09) ShortOnChange.com
has been up since 2008. The site has not changed a lot and
maintenance has gotten harder and harder... |
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Rentals
Cards and Debits Cards (09/27/09) I
recently had to rent a car on a business trip. I was surprised
to find that they pull a credit report if you use a debit
card... |
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Condo Foreclosure (08/17/09) I have
lost my second property to foreclosure. Read all about it... |
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Severance Package
Living (06/20/09) Since I was laid-off
last month, I have been living off of my savings and my
severance package. I can tell already that this will not last
long. |
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Condo
Foreclosure Delayed Again (06/10/09)
Wells Fargo has rescheduled my foreclosure sale date yet again.
This makes about five times now. |
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I am a Lay-Off
Casualty (05/29/09) I am officially
among the unemployed now. I lost a house last year. I lost a job
this year. What is next? |
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Foreclosure Sale Date Set, Again (04/26/09)
A foreclosure sale date has been set for
one of my condos. My last payment on this mortgage was about 16
months ago. |
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Federal
Income Tax Return Filed with 1099's from Foreclosure
(04/15/09) I have finally filed my federal
income tax return including two 1099 statements from the house
that I lost in foreclosure last year. |
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Renting Foreclosure Properties (03/12/09)
Even though my two condos are going back
in foreclosure, I have put renters in both of them. Some people
might consider this a scam, but I ... |
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Renewing My Lease Instead of Moving (02/26/09)
I have decided to renew my lease instead
of moving. Things are not final until the end of March. Wells
Fargo might decide to put me back in my house, but ... |
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CitiMortgage Homeowner Hardship Assistance Program
(02/16/09) CitiMortgage may have more
options for me to save my one bedroom condo. I think I will wait
though to see what the government is going to offer. |
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Foreclosures Halted by Several Large Banks (02/16/09)
The D.C. Administration is working on a new plan for avoiding
foreclosures. In anticipation, several large banks have
announced that they will be halting foreclosures until March -
long enough to get the details on the new government plan.
Unfortunately, Wells Fargo is not one of those large banks. |
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Debt-to-Income Modification Application (02/09/09)
Wells Fargo is sending me a Debt-to-Income
Modification Application. This is a new program started by the
government action lately. It just might save my home. It could
possibly save your home... |
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I Received Two Tax Statements from my Foreclosure (02/08/09)
From the foreclosure last year on my
primary residence, I received a 1099-A (Acquisition or
Abandonment of Secured Property) and a 1099-C (Cancellation of
Debt). These two statements have to be included on my U.S.
Federal income tax return. I could have a tax liability from
this foreclosure... |
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A Year
After Foreclosure and Moving Again (02/07/09)
It is hard to believe that I lost my home
in foreclosure just last year, and I am considering moving again
already - my lease is up soon on my rental apartment. Do I want
to renew it? Do I have other options? |
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For
Fear of Bank Failures, Keep Cash Handy (02/01/09)
The FDIC closed three more banks last
Friday. One of those banks could not find another bank to assume
its accounts. That puts the account holders in a bind if they
did not have cash on hand for an emergency. |
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I Paid Off My American Express Credit Card (01/31/09)
I have paid off my American Express credit
card again... maybe for the last time. |
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Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Not So Good (01/31/09)
A friend of mine filed for Chapter 13
Bankruptcy about two years ago and is now losing his home in
foreclosure. The bankruptcy repayment plan proved to be too
tough and not flexible enough. |
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Adding
a Layoff Clause to My Lease (01/31/09)
My lease is up for renewal at the end of March, but it has
nothing in it that will let me out of the lease if my employer
lays me off. Should I renew? |
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Unemployment, Layoffs, No Income (01/25/09)
My employer announced a few thousand
layoffs last week. My job might be one of them... |
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Noah's Legal
Bills Updated (01/25/09) My lawyer
sent me my latest bill for legal services rendered on my
foreclosures. In November, he only billed me for half an hour
for a total of $67.50. The grand total for legal services
rendered thus far is... |
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American Express has Lowered my Credit Limit Again!
(01/18/09)
While my credit score has steadily been going lower and
lower due to my outstanding mortgage payments and foreclosures,
my credit card limit has been doing the same thing. American
Express has just lowered my credit limit a second time... |
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Cashing
Out ALL Stock Market Investments (01/18/09)
A friend of mine (not me) cashed out all
of his stock market investments at losses of more than 50%! I
was amazed. He did not need the money. He just could not take
watching the share prices decline day after day after day. What
makes it so bad is that he is only 28 years old! |
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Getting a Jump Start on My Federal Income Tax Return
(01/12/09) I am getting a jump start on my
2008 Federal Income Tax Return. I hope to get a refund, but I
will not have a lot of the mortgage interest that I had the
previous year. Plus, I want to get my refund before any lawsuits are filed against me if I do in fact get a tax refund. |
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Maxing Out My Credit Cards Again (01/10/09)
I have maxed out my credit card, yet again. I did it last month,
and I have done it again this month. |
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Keep Your Bank Statements (12/21/08)
While most people probably do not make a habit of keeping their
bank statements and other financial statements, everyone should
be encouraged to do so. If you are ever taken into a deposition,
you might have to come up with statements for five years or
more. This might not be as easy as you might think. |
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Florida Suspends Foreclosures for 45 Days (12/15/08)
The State of Florida has, for the
holidays, suspended foreclosures for 45 days. Does this really
do any good? Noah finds it just an empty gesture. |
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Homeowners Association Dues 60-90 Days Past Due (12/12/08)
Noah keeps getting a bill from the
homeowners association for the first house Noah lost in
foreclosure for unpaid association dues. They are currently
60-90 days past due. Read Noah's thoughts on paying this bill... |
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Advice to
Others on Foreclosure and Bankruptcy (12/10/08)
A lady recently emailed me for advice on
how she might handle her own financial problems which involved a
possible foreclosure. Here is the email that I sent back to her
as I thought it might be helpful for others as well. |
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American Express Credit Card Declined (11/30/08)
American Express recently declined to pay
for a lunch bill for Noah. His card was declined, and it was a
little embarrassing in front of his family and friends. Read the
details... |
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What is
Next for Noah? Anymore Foreclosures? (11/30/08)
Noah has lost one house to a foreclosure
and is about to lose a second house to foreclosure. What is next
for Noah? |
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Noah's Second Foreclosure (11/29/08)
Noah moved everything out of his three bedroom condo today as
the foreclosure sale is scheduled for Monday. Read his take on
the situation in this year-long foreclosure... |
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Noah's Legal
Bills (11/25/08)
When your finances go
down, count on your legal bills to go up. Noah is keeping a
tally of what his are mounting to. See how much the bill is...
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CitiGroup
Bailout; Another Foreclosure for Noah (11/24/08)
Washington has handed CitiGroup billions
in another bailout. Meanwhile, Noah is losing his second condo
in foreclosure... |
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Holiday Gift Shopping on a Budget (11/22/08)
Christmas is just around the corner, and
Noah is thinking about what he is going to do for Christmas
gifts this year. |
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Comments from One of My Readers (11/16/08)
Obama; CitiMortgage; Overpaid CEO's |
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Changing Jobs in a Bad Economy (11/15/08)
I had a talk with my sister about changing jobs as I am
suffering a bit from burn-out. It was a short conversation. My
sister set me straight right away... |
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Credit Check for Utilities - Deposit Required (11/15/08)
I had to apply for an account at the
electric company today. They, of course, had to pull my credit
report and determine whether or not to charge me a deposit based
on that credit report... |
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My
Credit Report Added a Judgment Against Me (11/07/08)
My credit report just had a judgment
posted to it from my condo association. Funny, I just paid them
about $15,000 last month to bring them up to date... |
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A Slow Month
for Bill Collectors (10/30/08) October
has been a slow month for me and my financial situation. No
foreclosures. No real estate sold. No collection calls. |
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American Express Lowered My Credit Card Limit (10/17/08)
I received an email today from American Express that
they have lowered my credit card limit. The limit used to be
$13,000. The limit is now... |
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Mortgage
Discharge (10/12/08) A friend of mine
got a letter from his mortgage company stating that his mortgage
had been discharged. Discharged has a lot of implications... |
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Protecting My
Inheritance (10/08/08) My grandmother
recently passed away and left my mother several acres of land
and her house. My mother now wants to pass this on to me, but I
have creditors trying to collect money from unpaid bills
already. I am looking at ways to protect these assets and keep
them out of my own financial problems. |
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Getting
Back My Home (10/04/08) Noah's house
is now for sale as a foreclosed property (bank-owned) at less
than half the original price. Noah is considering trying to get
the house back, but there are several important points which
must be taken into account. |
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Noah's House Listed at Foreclosure Prices (10/02/08)
Noah's house is now listed in the
Pensacola MLS with foreclosure pricing. It will be interesting
to see if it sells at this reduced price. |
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Threatened with Small Claims Court Again (09/26/08)
My condo association has threatened to
take me back to Small Claims Court if I do not pay this month's
condo fees by the end of the month. They are fast! Its funny
considering that I just paid them $15,000 and have received no
bill from them... |
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Noah's
House on RealtyTrac.com (09/25/08)
Noah's house went back to the bank in foreclosure. RealtyTrac.com
sent me an email about it today. |
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You Are Not
Alone. (09/19/08)
Noah got an email today from a lady
possibly facing foreclosure. She was glad to see that other
people have very similar concerns and fears. It is important for
all of us to realize that we are not alone.
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Washington is Bailing Out Wall Street... Big Time (09/19/08)
Washington is set to bailout Wall Street's
mortgages and illiquid assets. Will this help Noah? Will this
help you? |
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Another Friend in Small Claims Court (09/15/08)
I heard today that a friend/neighbor of
mine is going to Small Claims Court for his unpaid condo fees.
We chatted for a bit. I feel glad that I was able to tell him
how mine went. |
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Stock
Market Investing with Pending Judgments Against You (09/12/08)
Noah had to sell a chunk of stock in order to settle a claim
against him from Small Claims Court (it was not so small at
$11,000). There are several important lessons that came from
this unfortunate and untimely event. Hopefully, you can avoid
them in a similar situation.
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Hurricane Ike
Heads for Galveston (09/12/08)
Hurricane Ike is about to make landfall around Galveston, Texas.
Noah has been through quite a few hurricanes himself. He shares
his best wishes for the people in that area and urges all of us
to donate to the American Red Cross. |
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Small Claims Court Judgment Paid (09/09/08)
Noah has paid
the judgment against him for unpaid condo fees - as much as he
hated to - all $15,000. He has learned, however, a few good
lessons from this fine mess. You might benefit from what he has
been through.
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The
House is Gone (09/07/08)
Noah's home has gone back to the bank in foreclosure. It took
almost a year. Noah knew it was coming. There were plenty of
notices and preparation, but it was still hard and emotional. |
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Last Ditch Effort to Avoid Foreclosure (09/04/08)
Noah has about 30 days before his house closes in foreclosure.
As a desperate last effort to avoid foreclosure, he has decided
to hand out fliers at real estate auctions in the area looking
for investment partners. He needs about ten of them at about
$100,000 each. It is a long shot, but it could happen. |
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Back After Hurricane Gustav (09/04/08)
Noah is back at his house after Hurricane Gustav came ashore as
a Category 3 hurricane. See how his property fared and read his
insights on natural disaster preparation. |
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Not Paying the
Piper Just Yet (08/29/08)
Noah is facing Foreclosure, Bankruptcy, a Small Claims Court
judgment...and now Hurricane Gustav. His luck is just getting
better and better. With the real estate market doing so poorly,
another hurricane like Hurricane Ivan in 2004 which wiped Noah
out the first time will surely do little to improve his chances
of pulling himself out of this mess... |
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Paying the Piper (08/26/08)
The opposing
attorneys from the Small Claims Court judgment have scheduled a
deposition with Noah. Noah, however, has other plans...
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Property Taxes on Foreclosure Properties (08/21/08)
Even though Noah
has three properties in foreclosure, he is still liable for the
real estate property taxes on these houses (and condos). He got
the bills today... |
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Deposition
Paperwork (08/20/08)
Noah received a notice
from the Small Claims Court case asking for documentation of his
assets for the upcoming deposition. They are asking for a lot of
documentation...
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Filing
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy (08/18/08)
Noah looks again
at the options for filing bankruptcy. He would have to file for
Chapter 13, and Chapter 13 certainly does not look
appealing... |
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Noah Needs a
Bailout (08/17/08)
With all of the bailouts going on in Washington and on Wall
Street, Noah needs one on Perdido Key... and he needs it soon.
Every little bit helps. |
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Find Low
Gas Prices in Your Area (08/14/08)
This nifty little
widget looks for gas prices by your zip code. Maybe it can help
you save a few pennies a gallon.
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I
tried to buy a new home. (08/11/08)
Back in January
of 2008, just a couple of months after he stopped making his
mortgage payments, Noah tried to buy a cheaper house as a place
to move while his home went back in foreclosure. Read how it
went...
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Book Section
Added to Website (08/10/08) |
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Credit Management Section Added to Website (08/10/08) |
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Is
bankruptcy really so bad an option? (08/06/08)
With all of his
legal problems mounting from his financial problems, Noah is in
a constant re-evaluation of bankruptcy.
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Noah's Legal
Bills (08/02/08)
When your finances go
down, count on your legal bills to go up. Noah is keeping a
tally of what his are mounting to. See how much the bill is...
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Deposition Requested (07/30/08) |
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Notice
of Foreclosure Hearing (07/29/08) |
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Noah
Made it to National Television (07/24/08)
Canadian national
television is worried about the U.S. real estate and mortgage
problems spilling into their markets. Their worries got Noah a
spot on their national television.
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Freddie Mac and
Frannie Mae Bailout Legislation (07/23/08) |
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Notice of Compliance to Request for Production; Legal Jargon
For... (07/22/08) |
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Wells
Fargo's HopeNow Letter (07/22/08) |
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Budgets Suck!
(07/21/08)
Noah is quick to
notice that budgets are not nice. He has instead resigned
himself to moderate his spending and strive for making more
money...
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Absolute
Auctions - Cheap Real Estate! (07/20/08)
With an
absolutely awful real estate market, real estate auctions are
taking place more and more often, especially along the Gulf
Coast. There are deals to be had if you have money.
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How will I
ever pay off all this debt? (07/19/08)
Noah explores
his ideas for making tons of money to pay off his tons of
debt...
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BIG Lesson from small Claims Court (07/18/08) |
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Consequences of Small Claims Court Judgment (07/17/08) |
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Banking
without a Bank (07/15/08) |
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Short
Sales by Bank's Local Attorneys (07/15/08) |
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Point your finger all you want. It is going to effect you, too.
(07/13/08) |
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Foreclosure
Hearing (07/13/08) |
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What Should Noah
Pay Off First? (07/13/08)
You can cast your vote
on what Noah should pay off first if he starts liquidating his
assets.
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Short Sales
- No Longer an Option (07/11/08) |
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Liquidating
Assets Before Bankruptcy (07/06/08)
If you do not
liquidate your assets and pay off your debts first, the
bankruptcy courts and lawyers will do it for you. Take action
while you can, but be sure to consult with a lawyer first. There
are serious legal implications...
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Judgment
from Small Claims Court Case (07/03/08) |
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Update on Noah's
Foreclosures (07/03/08) |
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UPDATE:
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Meeting with my Lawyer (07/03/08) |
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Worries (06/30/08) |
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Chapter 7
Bankruptcy Meeting with my Lawyer (06/28/08) |
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Bidding Wars on
Real Estate Once Again! (06/26/08) |
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Reverse
Auction House Sale Update (06/2608) |
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FED Funds
Rate Unchanged (06/25/08) |
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I Received a 'Lien
in Progress' Notice (06/24/08)
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Investing in
Real Estate and Foreclosures? (06/22/08) |
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Small
Claims Court Update (06/17/08) |
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Small
Claims Court (06/13/08) |
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Reverse Auction House Sale (05/31/08) |
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Another Call
from a Debt Collector (05/30/08) |
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Letter to
My Lawyer (05/28/08) |
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I tried
to refinance today. Read how it went. (05/27/08) |
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Being Served Foreclosure Papers (05/23/08) |
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U.S.
Mortgage Legislation by Chris Dodd and Richard Shelby
(05/19/08) |
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Are You Interested in Investing with Others in Short
Sale and Foreclosure Properties? (05/18/08) |
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No Mortgage Payment in Six Months and Still No
Foreclosure (05/13/08) |
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U.S. Senate Votes to Suspend Oil Purchases
(05/13/08) |
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Bank Fees
(05/10/08) |
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Should I Use My Credit Cards for Everyday Expenses?
(05/09/08) |
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Before You Face Foreclosure and Before You Miss a
Mortgage Payment (05/08/08) |
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Freddie Mac and Loan Counseling (05/06/08) |
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I
Received a Charge Off as Bad Debt Notice Today.
(04/30/08) |
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Gas Prices!
(04/30/08) |
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Foreclosure and Keeping Your Home Due to Technicalities
(04/18/08) |
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Tax Time
(04/14/08) |
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From Mortgage Payments to Rent Checks
(04/10/08) |
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Senate Passes Economic and Housing Stimulus Bill
(04/10/08) |
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PennyMac to the
Rescue? (03/24/08) |
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We Are Moving
(03/19/08) |
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Federal Reserve Offers $200 Billion Bailout
(03/11/08) |
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War Bill Tops $12 Billion Per Month (03/10/08) |
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I May Have a Short Sale Buyer! (02/28/08) |
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4
The Banks on a Short Sale (03/04/08) |
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4
Taxes on a Short Sale (03/04/08) |
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4
No Sale
(03/24/08) |
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Bankruptcy Links (02/28/08) |
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Seeking Legal Counsel (02/21/08) |
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What is Noah losing?
(02/15/08) |
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Senate Hearing on U.S. Economy
(02/14/08) |
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Noah's Foreclosure (02/13/08) |
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Project Lifeline (02/12/08) |
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Homeowners Mortgage Preservation Corporation |
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Noah's Investment Properties |
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Mortgage Debt Forgiveness and Tax
Exemptions |
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Lax Lending Practices |
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Sub-prime Mortgage Interest Rate Changes |
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Foreclosure Information (03/05/08) |
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U.S. 2008 Stimulus Package
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The above blogs are available for comment. Please
be constructive. This site is to help and encourage others, not
to spread ill-will.
All
blogs
are listed at
http://blog.shortonchange.com
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