Loans

Seattle, WA, United States (AHN) – U.S. third quarter home values fell for the 17th consecutive quarter. Home values are now on average 25 percent below their June 2006 peak.

Rising from 22.5 percent in the second quarter, 23.2 percent of single-family homeowners with mortgages were underwater on their mortgage in the third quarter.

In some markets, as many as four out of five single-family homeowners with mortgages were underwater on their mortgages in the third quarter. Las Vegas had the highest percentage, with 80.2 percent in negative equity, followed by Phoenix with 68.4 percent.

“While not unexpected, the unceasing declines in home values signal that we’re in for a long, bleak winter of continued troubles for the housing market,” said Zillow Chief Economist Dr. Stan Humphries. “The length and depth of the current housing recession is rivaling the Great Depression’s real estate downturn, and, with encouraging signs fading, will easily eclipse it in the coming months.

In five California metro area markets- Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose and Ventura – home values began to fall again after five consecutive quarters of increases. Other markets such as Boston and Denver showed signs of stabilization in previous quarters but are now faltering by showing signs of flattening or becoming negative.

“The high percentage of homeowners in negative equity continues to be troubling, in that it represents a huge number of people who are not only more vulnerable to foreclosure, but who are essentially trapped in their current homes and are prevented from selling and buying a new home.”

View full post on Economy, Business And Finance Stories

Phoenix, AZ, United States (AHN) – A transportation strike may hit the city of Phoenix if worker union agreements fail to be met with the city’s bus transport contractor.

Veolia Transportation Services and two of the three unions affiliated with the firm will continue labor negotiations until the deadline extension ends at midnight.

The CBAs for each union previously expired on June 30.

Veolia operates bus service via a contract with Phoenix Public Transit Department in addition to select service into the cities of Glendale, Peoria, Scottsdale and Sun City.

Transit commuters who ride on the 33 bus routes operated by the city should have back up plans for alternative travel to work, school and other destinations beginning Monday, the City of Phoenix said in a statement.

“No agreements have resulted from the negotiations between Veolia and its labor unions. A number of actions could be taken including a call for a strike,” according to an official statement.

“If the strike is affirmative, Veolia is contractually obligated to provide 60 percent of current service, however, there may be a gap of time in which no service is provided,” the city advised the riding public.

“As soon as possible, contingency plans based 30 percent, 45 percent, and 60 percent of current service will be put into effect depending on the resources available,” it added.

A list of the affected routes can be found on the websites of Valley Metro and the city’s Public Transit Department.

Employers are advised to help their bus-riding employees in advance by providing them with alternatives for getting to work.

View full post on Labor Stories

Copiago, Chile (NewsBahn) – As three drills continued non-stop efforts to carve out escape tunnels for 33 miners trapped half a mile underground, the first capsule designed to lift the men out arrived Saturday at the mine site.

Painted in the red, white and blue of the Chilean flag, the slender “Phoenix Capsule” is designed to lift the miners one by one 2,300 feet to the surface and their loved ones, who haven’t seen them since the mine collapse on Aug. 5. Weighing more than 500 pounds, the 24-inch wide contraption can fit a 6-foot-4 person inside. It’s equipped with a supply of oxygen, communications equipment and retractable wheels. And an escape hatch.

Before any of the miners get inside, however, two people from the surface will ride down to join them. A rescue expert and a paramedic will evaluate the men’s physical and psychological condition to see who goes first.

Once on the surface, the men will be taken to a field hospital where they will be given antibiotics and fluids. Their eyes will be checked to ensure they’re adjusting after two months of darkness. After a brief visit with family, they will be choppered out to a nearby hospital where they will be get medical attention for at least two days.

First, though, the escape shafts have to be wide enough to accept the capsule and deep enough to reach the men. By early Saturday, one of three drills had created a 15-inch diameter hole about 1,400 feet into the mine, widening an earlier shaft. A second drill, which has been beset by technical issues, had created a tunnel wide enough for the capsule – about 28 inches–but it was only about 570 feet down. A third, of the type used to explore for oil, was about 200 feet below the surface.

Officials have maintained they will extract the miners by Nov. 1.

View full post on Economy, Business And Finance Stories

If you’re a graduate or college parent with any outstanding federal student loans, you may be able to lower your monthly student loan payments by up to 42% just by consolidating your parent or student loans. When you consolidate your college loans, you may be able to extend the repayment term on your parent or student loans by up to 20 years. With that longer repayment term, since you have more time to repay, the amount you have to pay each month will typically go down.

NextStudent, a leading Phoenix-based education funding company, offers a student loan consolidation program with no application fees, no processing fees, and no credit checks. By consolidating your parent or student loans, your monthly payments could go down by up to 42%.

Here’s an example: Estimated monthly payments on a $75,000 NextStudent Federal Consolidation Loan fixed at 7.25% and repaid over an extended term of 30 years are $512, versus estimated monthly payments of $879 on a $75,000 Federal Stafford Loan issued at 7.22% and repaid over 10 years — a 41.8% reduction in monthly payment amount. (Your actual payment reduction may vary and will depend on the terms of the student loans you’re consolidating.)

Replace Your Variable-Rate Student Loans With One Fixed-Rate Student Loan Consolidation

If you took out your Federal PLUS Loans or Stafford Loans prior to July 1, 2006, those student loans are subject to variable interest rates that will adjust every year. So when interest rates rise, your monthly student loan payments may also go up. Student loan consolidation puts an end to rate increases and rising payments.

NextStudent’s student loan consolidation program gives you the security of a fixed interest rate. By consolidating your federal college loans with NextStudent, you’ll replace your variable-rate college loans with a fixed-rate student loan consolidation loan and lock in your new monthly payments, so you’ll never have to worry about interest rates rising and leaving you guessing about your monthly payment amount.

Make Repaying Your Student Loans Convenient and Hassle-Free with Student Loan Consolidation

If you have multiple college loans in repayment and you’re dealing with the hassle of multiple bills, multiple due dates, and multiple monthly payments to multiple lenders, a student loan consolidation could help make your repayment easier to manage.

With a student loan consolidation program, you can bundle all your eligible federal parent or student loans into one single consolidation loan with just one monthly bill, one lender, and one monthly payment that’s fixed for the life of your student loan consolidation.

Apply in Minutes to Consolidate Your Student Loans

Typically, you can apply for a student loan consolidation in minutes. Just visit an online student loan consolidation lender or make a quick phone call to the lender of your choice. It’s fast, easy, and free to apply, and there are NO fees, NO credit checks, and NO co-signers required.

There are also no prepayment penalties. When you consolidate your federal parent or student loans with NextStudent, you’ll never be charged extra for paying more than the minimum each month or for paying off your student loan consolidation early.

Student Loan Consolidation for Private Student Loans

If you have private student loans in addition to (or instead of) your federal student loans, you won’t be able to consolidate your private student loans under the federal student loan consolidation program. But you may be eligible to consolidate your private loans separately with a Private Consolidation Loan, which offers the same convenience of a single consolidated loan for your private student loans.

NextStudent believes that getting an education is the best investment you can make, and we’re dedicated to helping you pursue your education dreams by making college funding simple. Learn more about Student Loans, Private Student Loans and Student Loan Consolidation at NextStudent.com.

Financing an education can be a challenging feat, especially when borrowers have exhausted their personal savings and their state and federal financial aid options and still have educational expenses left to cover. NextStudent, a leading Phoenix-based education company, can help. Whether you’re a higher education student or the parent of a K–12 student, you may be eligible for a NextStudent Private Loan, a credit-based loan that could help make financing an education a reality.

Are you a parent who dreams of sending your child to a college preparatory known for strong academics like Xavier or Brophy in Phoenix, Arizona? Or are you an undergraduate or graduate student who needs a little extra money to cover your education-related expenses? Or maybe you already have your degree but can’t afford the continuing education courses you need to maintain a certification. If any of these scenarios describes your needs, NextStudent Private Student Loans are designed to help borrowers like you achieve your academic goals.

Reap the Benefits

NextStudent offers credit-based private student loans that can help borrowers meet their education expenses while in school and pay for things like tuition and fees, school supplies and other education-related essentials. To be eligible, students must be enrolled at a participating school. Whether applying for one of our K–12, undergraduate, graduate or continuing education private student loans, qualified borrowers can benefit with:

Quick preliminary approval on most student loans
No application deadlines
No prepayment penalties
Generous borrowing limits
Deferred principal and interest payments on most student loans
Funds sent directly to the borrower, not the school
Interest that may be tax-deductible (please consult your tax advisor)

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Qualifying is simple: Borrowers must provide proof of student enrollment at a participating school and proof of sufficient income (a recent pay stub, or for self-employed or retired borrowers, the most recent two years of tax returns with schedules or 1099s). In addition, borrowers must have at least 21 months of credit experience and a satisfactory credit history, and they must demonstrate two years of continuous employment (with the same employer or in the same field) and two years of U.S. citizenship or permanent residency. Don’t meet these requirements? That’s OK, a co-signer can help. NextStudent Private Student Loans feature the option of applying with a co-signer, whether you need a qualified co-applicant because you don’t quite meet the qualification requirements, or whether you’d like to have a co-applicant with a little more established credit history.

Apply Throughout the Year

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Applying is fast and convenient. Some borrowers may receive a preliminary approval in minutes. In as little as five business days, parents and students could be approved and see their student loans disbursed, with funds sent directly to the borrower. Eligible higher education students or eligible parents of K–12 students who need additional financial assistance meeting their educational needs can apply for NextStudent Private Student Loans throughout the year. There are no deadlines or time constraints. That means students can receive the funding they need, no matter when they need it.

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NextStudent believes that getting an education is the best investment you can make, and we are dedicated to helping you pursue your education dreams by making college funding simple. Learn more about Student Loans, Private Student Loans and Student Loan Consolidation at NextStudent.com.

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The lender for the NextStudent Loan Program is Charter One Bank, N.A., Member FDIC and Equal Opportunity Lender.

? 2007 NextStudent. All rights reserved.

STUDENT LOANS FROM NEXTSTUDENT OFFERS AN ARRAY OF OPTIONS FOR COLLEGE, FROM FREE MONEY TO FEDERAL AND PRIVATE LOANS
 
College student borrowers who need help to fund their college education have a variety of options. Phoenix-based NextStudent, the premier education funding company, offers a host student loan options as well as advice for borrowers who are looking to achieve their dream of a college education.
NextStudent’s highly trained Education Finance Advisers are knowledgeable about the numerous student loan choices available to students and offers education finance counseling to help put students on the right educational financing track.

Prospective college students always are advised to begin with scholarships, get as much free money as possible. Through NextStudent’s Scholarship Search Engine, student borrowers have a host of available scholarships from which they can apply to see if they qualify for free money. The search engine is free of charge, private and updated daily so that students continuously can inquire. Students also should check about scholarships offered through other avenues, such as their college of choice, local community companies and community religious organizations.
After scholarships, student loan borrowers then should look to federal student loans to help fund their education. NextStudent offers competitive federally guaranteed student and parent loans, or PLUS Loans. Along with the set federal interest rate, the company always features a host of aggressive benefits and incentives to help make repayment both easy and manageable for the student.
Federal Student loans offered to college students include Stafford loans, which do not require a credit check, and payments do not have to be made until after graduation. Parents also can help to pay for their children’s higher education costs with a federal PLUS Loan Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students. Parents can take out PLUS loans and never have to dip into their savings. The loans are not based on financial need, so all parents are eligible, regardless of their income.
When scholarships and federal funds are exhausted, student borrowers can turn to NextStudent Private student loans, which are available to college students and graduate students. They are unsecured, credit-based loans that are available throughout the year for all related college expenses. They cover up to the full cost of education, less any financial aid received by the borrower.
Preapproval is fast and student borrowers can receive a NextStudent Private loan in as little as five business days. There are no payments until after graduation, no application fees or deadlines, and funds are sent directly to the borrower. Borrowers can apply for Private student loans with or without a co-signer; however, NextStudent approves more loans with a qualified co-signer. In addition, Private loans through NextStudent typically are a better choice than credit cards because interest rates are lower and the loans feature money-saving repayment options.
About NextStudent
NextStudent, federal lender code 834051, is dedicated to helping students and their families find affordable ways to pay for college. NextStudent offers one-on-one education finance counseling and has a portfolio of highly competitive education finance products and services including a free online scholarship search engine, federally guaranteed parent and student loans, private student loans, both federal and private /www.nextstudent.com/consolidation_loans/consolidation_loans.asp”>student loan consolidation programs, and college savings plans.
The NextStudent Scholarship Search Engine, one of the nation’s oldest and largest scholarship search engines, is updated daily, available free of charge, completely private and represents 2.4 million scholarships worth $3.4 billion.
For more information about NextStudent and its student loan programs, please visit the company’s Web site at http://www.nextstudent.com/.