cost term insurance

On February 28, the American high-tech market research firm Forrester Research released the report that the U.S. e-commerce sales in 2010 increased by 12.6% to 176 billion U.S. dollars. At the same time, the research firm also predicted that in the next 5 years, the annual sales growth rate will remain around 10%, and thus the United States e-commerce sales in 2015 is expected to reach 279 billion U.S. dollars. Forrester Research’s report also said that in 2010 the growth rate exceed the rate in 2009 (11%). The report also pointed out, that the economic situation improves, that the number of consumers shopping first online increases, and that each consumer increases their online shopping investments are the major factors to achieve substantial growth of 2010 e-commerce sales in the United States. The report also said that as more and more consumers begin to spend more time and money on online shopping from the real store, so in the next five years, the U.S. e-commerce will continue to grow. In addition, with the growth of using smart phones and tablet PCs, many group buy sites, such as Groupon will also promote more e-commerce transactions.All these will further stimulate the growth of e-commerce in U.S.  However, Forrester Research’s report also noted that Internet sales in the U.S. retail market is still only a smaller part. For example, in 2010, the Internet sales account is only about 8% of entire U.S. retail revenues. Forrester Research expects that this year the share of U.S. Internet retail sales will be refurbished and reach 9%, and in 2015 it is expected to increase to around 11%. In view of Forrester Research, this growth trend of e-commerce sales may not be good news in terms of real store, not only because more and more consumers using online shopping, but also some consumers will use the smart phones to do better internet transactions. In this regard, the CEO of ePathChina released his comments that some real stores should carefully consider the long term impact of e-commerce’s growth, and think about how to use multi-channel innovations to avoid the impact e-commerce. As one reputable and reliable B2C online shop,ePathChina.com is very glad to see the continuing and steady growth of e-commerce in U.S. Under the good environment that more and more people are optimistic with online shopping, certainly, epathchina.com (http://www.epathchina.com) will not refuse the great opportunity. Although there is much increasing competition in the field of e-commerce, ePathChina.com will as usual strive for supplying fantastic ,high-quality and cheap china electronics for the old and new consumers all over the world.

Long Term Care Insurance is the type of care received either at home or in a facility, when someone needs assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing and dressing due to an accident, an illness or advancing age.A long term care insurance policy pays you a daily benefit to cover the cost of long term care. Long term care is ongoing care for people with chronic disabilities. It includes custodial care — assistance with activities of daily life like eating, bathing and getting dressed — in a nursing home, an assisted living facility or in the patient’s own home. The following four issues discuss areas you should consider before you purchase Long Term Care Insurance.Good Benefit Triggers Benefit triggers are what cause benefits to start being paid. Your policy benefits should be triggered if you need assistance to perform at least two of the activities of daily living (ADLs), which include bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, continence, transferring (moving from a bed to a chair) and taking medication. Another trigger should be “cognitive impairment,” which means coverage applies if you are mentally impaired (with Alzheimer’s disease for example) even if you’re physically able to take care of yourself.Home Health Care CoverageYou will want to make sure your policy pays benefits for care at home as well as in an institution such as an assisted living care facility or a nursing home.Guaranteed RenewableThis feature ensures that you will be able to continue your coverage without undergoing additional medical exams.Inflation RidersAn inflation rider will increase the benefit amount by either a simple or compound inflation rate each year the policy is in effect. This can be a costly feature, but it is protection against the rising cost of long term care. It provides that the policy is much more likely to pay an adequate benefit in the future.For over 60 years Southside Insurers has been an independent insurance agency serving Southside Virginia and Lake Gaston. We are located in South Hill, Virginia and have a close relationship with many neighboring towns. Our agency recommends and provides long term care insurance and services to our clients that will best meet their personal and business needs.

Insurance that is procured for use only for a short period of time is known as short term insurance. Not everyone might be eligible for insurance of this kind, but the ones who are should know about when it is suitable to go in for insurance of such a kind. After all, you wouldn’t want to be stuck on a plan that is not suitable for your requirements. With the following information, you might be able to decide on whether or not you would want to go in for short term insurance. Lower Coverage With short term insurance, you might not get a lot of coverage. It is usually much lesser than what you might be getting with regular kinds of insurance. Hence, you should be okay with not getting a lot of money. There are a few policies that do offer a high amount of coverage, but the premiums are also higher. Hence, if you want to go in for these, you should factor all of these into account. If you have no other insurance covering you at the moment, then the lowered coverage amount should not really be an issue, you should able to go in for them without thinking too much about it. Currently Unemployed For individuals that have recently lost their job and don’t have any other form of insurance, then this is a truly special option. Since the costs involved with long term insurance are generally higher, short term health insurance can provide for all the necessary benefits and not cost a fortune. Hence, to remain covered while out of a job, it seems like this kind of insurance is the perfect solution. After all, no one would like to take on more risks when they are out of a job and there is quite nothing that can match the benefits provided by this form of coverage. In Between Jobs If you are planning on shifting jobs and are only recently out of one, anticipating getting into another one within a short period of time, then you should consider going in for short term insurance. Since the costs are justified, there is no reason as to why you would want to think twice about opting for it. After all, being safe and remaining covered even for the brief period of time that you are out of coverage is considered to be a practical solution. You wouldn’t want to miss out on this unless you thing that you are brave and can take on more risks without any problems. For the individuals under 64 years of age, being on short term health insurance is highly recommended if they are currently out of all other kinds of insurance policies. After all, you are even saving a lot of money, which is something that you would want to do in this economy. Another important advantage is that you can get it on installments, in case you don’t have the money for it now. Hence, with all things considered, it is definitely worth the money and something that will hold good for a long time to come.

There is a list of top USA car insurance companies: GEICO, Allstate, Infinity, Progressive and Nationwide. Those five car insurance companies are the five pillars of the car insurance market with the largest amount of market shares according to the data collected from 2008 and still they remain the five best companies available for the USA drivers. They all provide great deals for the affordable prices, however each and one of them might offer something more for a specific customer’s needs.GEICOOut of all five of the insurance companies, GEICO insurance company is well-known for its life-long close collaboration with the Military and Veteran community. GEICO does numerous donations, scholarships and assistance programs to those who served or still serve in army. Consequently there are programs and plans for those who have served in USA army, i.e. premium and low-cost car insurance rates for veterans and veteran’s families.AllstateSurprisingly Allstate “takes promises” from teen drivers when offering a cheap auto insurance price. They push strongly onto the market of the teenaged drivers. One can find low-cost car insurance rates and what might appeal to the selected audience, free rewards and games, all considerably increasing the chances of young drivers to turn to Allstate. InfinityThe one distinct feature of the Infinity car insurance company is that the customer can receive his very own agent. That takes the stress away from the customer when a same representative is taking care of one’s claims over years, earning trust and backing the customer up. With the wide choice of low-cost car insurance rates and personalized services, Infinity distinguishes itself out of the others and that makes it one of the top insurance companies.ProgressiveProgressive auto insurance company tends to have a very wide variety of discounts. They change them every now and then, however long term conditions still operate for those who have applied when possible. When taking advantages of those discounts and special deals, customer might benefit tremendously with significant low-cost auto insurance.NationwideApart from the cheap and very competitive auto insurance rates, Nationwide provide extremely convenient services. They have number of facilities where the car can undergo a repair procedure with an option to follow the progress online. Those are top 5 auto insurance companies available for the USA market. The affordability, service level and options of coverage make them best choice for the driver. All the quotes are available 24/7 online, or for any concern their agents will gladly talk you through to satisfy your particular need.

Can you earn $2,000,000 in the next 30 years?  Should the current annual rate of a nursing home increase from $84,000 to $1,008,000, will you be able to get through three years?  If you answered no to both questions, then there is no doubt you can provide the answer to this question, too – what is long term care insurance? It is a safety net that you will need should you qualify for long term care because there is no way that the cost of care in the country is going down in the succeeding years.  In fact we have all been warned that it’s going to increase twofold in 2026 while in 2030 it’s going to be four times the current cost. Without long term care insurance (LTCI) none of us will be able to acquire decent long term care (LTC) someday.  Well, Medicaid is there all right but it does not promise to provide exactly what everybody’s health would require since it has yet to recover from its vast expenditures on LTC.  Buying an LTCI policy shall prepare us for the day that we would need LTC.  To better understand this, think about mundane activities and the consequence that we have to face for not preparing.   For instance, a week before Christmas you and your family march into a five-star hotel where you do not have a reservation.  Upon being told by the front desk officer that there is no more vacancy considering the peak season, you got upset and as you blew your top you directed all nasty remarks to the poor guy who was only doing his job. Now an LTCI policy can be compared to a hotel room reservation but this one’s specifically for our future healthcare needs.  Without a policy you cannot demand a home health aide to go to your house every day to assist you in your activities of daily living (ADL) unless you are willing to pay her out-of-pocket.  Without LTCI you also cannot force a nursing home to take you in and reiterate that apart from your functional limitations, your hypertension has gotten worse and your doctor’s recommendation is that you stay in a nursing home.  What is Long Term Care Insurance? With a comprehensive LTCI policy you can receive care in whichever setting that you choose after satisfying the elimination period which your policy clearly stipulates.  Your policy will cover your home care expenses, as well as those that you would incur in an assisted living facility or nursing home.  If you’re among the 90% of the country’s population that prefers in-home care, purchasing an LTCI policy will cover your home modification expenses up to your maximum benefit amount.  It will also cover your expenses on an electronic monitoring system, wheelchair ramp, and security grips in the shower room among others.      You will actually be able to continue your independence with an LTCI policy as you get to dictate where and how you want to receive care.  So next time somebody asks you what is long term care insurance, simply say it’s a product purchased by anyone who loves his family and life per se.

Many people don’t know enough about life insurance and therefore fall easy prey to myths and fallacies about life insurance that just aren’t true. Not knowing what or who to believe, a lot of people are afraid of buying life insurance for fear of being duped by an agent into buying a policy they don’t really need. What are some of the myths about life insurance you should guard against? Below we’ve called attention to a few you should be aware of if you want to make the best life insurance decisions. Myth 1: Everyone needs a life insurance policy! Contrary to what agents would have you believe, not everybody needs life insurance! If you don’t have any debts to pay, no dependents who rely on your income for their livelihood, and enough in your bank account to pay for your funeral and cover your liabilities, chances are you don’t need life insurance at all. However, if you have a large estate which may be liable to estate taxes after you die, buying a life insurance policy could help offset those taxes that a legal heir of your property would have to pay.If you’re young, just married, have a house loan, student loans, or other debts to pay off, you should definitely think of life insurance to cover those crucial years in your life that you would spend paying off your loans, putting your kids through college and building a tidy, secure retirement fund for your future. Term life insurance policies are available for 5, 10, 20 or 30 years and therefore, perfectly suit that temporary time period when you have debts to pay, savings to build and a tight budget to work with. Myth 2: People who don’t earn, don’t need life insuranceBecause the major purpose of life insurance is to replace loss of income should the breadwinner of the family die, it may appear as if those who don’t work, don’t need life insurance. But not everyone who works gets a salary. Stay-at-home moms, for example, work at home. Their multi-tasking activities include caring for children, cleaning, cooking, driving their kids all over the place and running all sorts of errands but they never receive a paycheck at the end of the month. If a stay-at-home-mom were to die unexpectedly, you may need to hire a whole battery of people ranging from housekeepers, day care centers, cooks and nannies—all of which cost money. Salary.com valued the services of a stay-at-home-mom at around $135,00 a year. While her worth is priceless, her monetary value should be covered under a life insurance policy. Myth 3: Term life insurance is better than whole life insurance There is a variety of life insurance products to suit a variety of life insurance needs. Therefore, no particular type of life insurance policy is better than the other. The type you choose is entirely dependent on your personal needs.If you’re looking for temporary, but cheap life insurance, then term life insurance is what you need.If you’re looking for a policy that would offer you lifelong coverage then a permanent life insurance policy would best fit this need. Because of the investment component attached to it, it is typically 5 to 10 times the cost of term life insurance. While it’s not the best way to invest your money since it does not yield the kind of returns you would expect, it does have benefits. You can borrow from the cash value of the policy without having to prove collateral, premiums never go up, and your children can use the death benefits to offset your estate taxes. Myth 4: Life Insurance through the workplace is all you needLife insurance provided by your workplace usually is 3 to 5 times your annual income. This may not be enough to meet your needs. Think about it – if you were to die today, would the coverage adequately meet your family’s financial needs?Other disadvantages of workplace life insurance are that it is not portable. If you quit or lose your job, you lose your life insurance.For the above reasons, it’s always better to buy an independent term life insurance policy. It’s cheap and ensures your family’s needs are met. Myth 5: Life insurance companies will deny coverage to people with health problems A recent survey showed that more than 90 percent of applicants received coverage. The truth is today, most people will find a policy to cover their life in spite of having blood pressure, diabetes, suffered through cancer, or been treated for a chronic disease. In fact, some life insurance companies specialize in certain health conditions and are more than willing to accommodate those who cannot find a regular life insurance policy. Get as many life insurances quotes as you canIf you know the coverage you need and the type of life insurance you want, just go online and ask for free life insurance quotes on reliable aggregator websites. Life insurance companies use different underwriting systems, and therefore, the more you shop the more likely you are to find companies that specialize in offering favorable rates to those with your specific needs. Online is easy, quick and convenient and increases your chances of finding the best life insurance policy at the most affordable rates.

As UK consumers try to save cash in the wake of the emergency budget Brits could save thousands by re-arranging their critical illness and life insurance with a discount broker.Online discount brokers are a relatively new concept in the UK and anyone who bought their life insurance or critical illness policy through their bank or a commission based financial adviser or mortgage broker they may well be able to get a much lower premium for exactly the same cover simply by rearranging their policy with a discount broker. Where people arrange their life insurance or protection policies through a bank or financial adviser the customer wouldn’t usually pay a fee. However, the salesperson or their employer will generally receive a commission. To pay for this commission the insurers increase the premium so that effectively the customer pays for that commission across the entire term of the policy. Discount brokers charge a low fixed administration fee in return for passing the commission back to the customer in the form of considerably lower premiums. Ray Black, founder of Money-minder.com said: “Unlike with car insurance, consumers don’t regularly review their life insurance and protection but they should seriously consider comparing the cost of what they have now compared to rearranging their insurance with a discount broker. Over 15 or 20 years the savings could be huge.”  For example, a 35 year old male choosing to take £200,000 worth of level term life insurance through Money-minder.com for 20 years with Legal and General could pay as little as £9.81 per month. Where as the same man could pay as much as £16.56 per month by taking face to face advice and a policy with Bupa. The Bupa premium is 69% higher meaning the customer could pay an additional £1585.00 over the term of the policy. For critical illness cover, where the premiums are generally higher, the savings could be even bigger. For example, a 35 year old male taking out £200,000 worth of life insurance with critical illness cover through Money-minder.com for 20 years with Legal and General could pay from £43.34 per month. Where as the same man could pay £70.78 per month by taking face to face advice and a policy with AXA. In this instance the saving over the 20 year term would be £6,550.00. Ray Black continued, “What a lot of people don’t realise is that even though they may have taken out a life insurance policy a few years ago they could be paying for the sales commission for the entire term of the policy. Potentially hundreds of thousands of UK consumers may be able to collectively save millions of pounds by rearranging their life insurance with a discount broker who charges an administration fee rather than taking a commission. If you know the cover you want, if you’re not too much older and your health and lifestyle hasn’t drastically changed since you took out your original policy, there’s a good chance you could get a lower premium by comparing insurers and rearranging your cover with a discount broker.” Money-minder.com offers a few additional words of advice to those looking to switch and save cash. 1/ If your health has deteriorated since you took out your original policy or you have taken up a dangerous sport or occupation you may find that your new premium will be higher even with a discount broker but it’s still worth checking, you still could be saving.2/ Don’t cancel the old policy until you know the new one is up and running3/ Make sure the new plan offers the same level of cover with at least the same benefits as your old plan. For more information on how to save money on your life insurance and protection check out Money-minder.com

Long term care insurance policies vary according to the needs of every insured individual.  Some policies are pricier than others due to certain components.  If you’re wondering how much does long term care insurance cost, it’s what you negotiate. That answer actually stemmed from what elder care specialist and author, Dr. Marion Somers, explained couple of months ago in the morning television program, The Morning Blend.  Prior to that episode of the said morning TV show, many people thought the price of a long term care insurance (LTCI) policy is solely dependent on an individual’s age and state of health at the time he purchased the product.  There’s this imaginary table in the heads of many which bears different types of long term care insurance (LTCI) policies, the ages of all policyholders and their corresponding annual premiums.  Thanks to Dr. Marion, that notion vanished for good and more people now understand that the annual premium of an LTCI policy is determined by numerous factors apart from age and health condition. One’s choice of long term care (LTC) setting and health provider, for instance, are vital factors.  If an individual prefers to receive care at home, he can cut down a huge chunk on his premium since the average daily rate of a home health aide is relatively smaller than that of a nursing home’s private room or semi-private room, let alone the daily rate of a licensed nurse.   His type of LTCI coverage will also dictate the rate of his premium.  This is the reason LTCI policy buyers have been advised time and time again to review their policies, especially the fine print, before signing it to be certain that they are investing their money into something which they can benefit from afterwards. If the policy buyer would opt for a longer elimination period he has greater chances of lowering his annual premium, too.  Inflation protection riders are also very important determinants of the annual premiums of LTCI policies as these keep the benefits at pace with inflation. How Much Does Long Term Care Insurance Cost? Aside from the maximum benefit amount, maximum benefit period, inflation protection, and elimination period, you should also factor in the mode of premium payment in the total cost of your LTCI policy.  You can give the insurance company the lump sum of your policy and this is called single-premium.  This mode of payment will subject you to a higher premium but the good thing about it is that it can no longer be subjected to inflation since you have paid it in full already.  You can also opt for the limited premium payment which requires the policyholder to satisfy the total price of his or her policy within a fixed period of time.  Most policyholders, however, prefer the continuous payment mode as this is the most affordable but the downside to it is that one’s policy can be subjected to premium hikes.  There are many creative ways to cut down the price of your LTCI policy especially if you know exactly what you need.  Truth of the matter is, asking how much does long term care insurance cost is nonsensical to individuals who have long planned their LTC as they consider it compulsory though no such law has been written yet.

The “Due On Sale Clause” is among the most frequently misunderstood and most-feared legal terms in American contractual law. In this article, we are going to take a look at what it is, what it is not, and how to avoid violating it.What Is The Due On Sale Clause?On nearly every home mortgage and loan contract written in the United States, the Due On Sale Clause is one of those fine print inclusions that a lot of home buyers overlook.In essence, the Due On Sale Clause is a legal term that means that if a mortgage holder transfers interest in a real property to a third-party, then the bank or other lender has the “right” to call the loan “due in full”, and if the mortgage holder cannot pay the loan in full at that time, the bank has the right to foreclose on the property.It must be noted however that many banks and lending institutions do not enforce their rights in association to the Due On Sale Clause. Banks and lending institutions are “not required” to enforce the Due On Sale Clause, but they have the “right” to do so at their discretion.Understanding The Foreclosure ProcessThis is an area that most consumers simply do not understand. In fact, just ten years ago, even I believed that if a home were foreclosed, the bank would hold the property until they could sell it at its full retail value.But the truth is that banks and lending institutions generally do not make money when they foreclose a property. Instead, most banks will lose tens of thousands of dollars if they are forced to foreclose on a property.Here is the reason why.When a bank forecloses a property, they cannot afford to have non-performing real estate on their books. Banks and lenders also borrow money and have debts to service. So a piece of real estate on their books that is not generating an income is contrary to the lenders business model.As a result, when banks foreclose on a property, they need to sell that property quickly. Foreclosed properties are sent to a sheriff’s sale, usually within 90 days of the completion of the foreclosure process.Now, here is where we get into the dollars and cents of why your lender is going to lose tens of thousands of dollars when they are forced to foreclose your property. The average property sold at a sheriff’s auction will only generate 20- to 40-cents return against the retail value of the property!So, if you have a 40% equity stake in your home at the time of foreclosure and your bank will only be able to collect 20% to 40% of the homes’ retail value at auction, your bank is still going to lose 20% to 40% of the retail value of the property at auction. If your home is worth $100,000, you will lose your 40% equity in the property or $40,000, and your bank will lose 20% to 40% of the retail value of the property or $20,000 to $40,000 when they sell your home at auction.When you begin to understand why a bank or lender would not want to foreclose your home, then you begin to understand why a bank or lender may choose not to exercise its rights under the Due On Sale Clause.The History Of The Due On Sale ClauseThe Due On Sale Clause began to work its way into mortgage contracts during the 1970′s. Homeowners who took loans in the 1950′s and 1960′s were getting really low interest rates on home loans. But, during the 1970′s, interest rates began to spiral upwards.Home sellers who were willing to entertain “creative financing alternatives” to sell their homes began to sell their homes to other parties through Contract For Deed arrangements. This enabled buyers to avoid going to the bank to get new loans, which would require a much higher interest rate than the rate the current homeowner was paying on the home. The math was easy to follow. The existing homeowner was paying 2% to 4% interest on his or her mortgage. Buyers getting new loans would be paying 8% to 16% to buy the same house. Assumable mortgages were a clear winner for homebuyers, due to the higher interest rates on new loans, and they were a clear winner for home sellers who would be able to sell their homes more quickly to motivated buyers.Banks viewed the Due On Sale Clause as a method to force buyers into a higher interest rate. So banks began to include the Due On Sale Clause on all mortgage contracts.Early on, a few states sided with buyers who felt that the Due On Sale Clause was tantamount to predatory lending practices. So in the late-1970′s and early-1980′s, state governments began to outlaw the Due On Sale Clause.However, the federal government sided with the banking and savings and loan industries and passed a law in 1982, The Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act of 1982, that made the Due On Sale Clause legal in all fifty states – with a few exceptions defined by the legislation: (http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode12/usc_sec_12_00001701—j003-.html)The Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act of 1982 ExceptionsAs with any document filled with legalese, the language can be somewhat confusing, leaving room for interpretation in the law. As a result, many real estate investors operate on the fringes of this legislation, doing things that some people consider legal and other people consider illegal.In the 27 years since this legislation was passed, the federal government has not taken steps to clarify any of the ambiguity in the legislation. As a result, it is entirely possible to find lawyers who argue for each side of the specific interpretation of the legislation.Although some elements of this legislation remain ambiguous, some elements of the legislation are crystal clear. (As always, you should consult with an attorney before signing any contract.)One point that is crystal clear is that any loan written on a manufactured home (mobile home) cannot include a Due On Sale Clause. All loans made on a manufactured home may be assumed by a third-party. Vanderbilt Mortgage, one of the largest lenders on manufactured homes, makes the process super easy. They will send you a credit application for your buyer, and if the person passes credit check, that person can take over your home loan immediately under whatever terms you set.Another exception includes the ability to sign a lease of up to three years, so long as that lease does not include an Option To Buy.Allowances for an exception to the Due On Sale Clause have been included to reflect the possibilities of the death of a borrower or a couple getting a divorce.One more important exception to the Due On Sale Clause has to do with Inter Vivos Trusts. Also called a Living Trust, the Inter Vivos Trust is a legal instrument that permits the transfer of the ownership of the property from the individual to a legal trust, managed by a trustee and held by the homeowner as beneficiary. This was important to note, because many real estate investors use this as a tool to protect the interests of the buyer and seller in the real estate transaction.If you want to know all of the specifics of this legislation, please refer to the Cornell Law URL included above.The Due On Sale Protects The Lenders’ InterestsAlthough banks and lending institutions have the “right” to enforce the Due On Sale Clause, most lending institutions will not exercise that right.Some of the ambiguity that accompanies the legislation regarding the Due On Sale Clause is whether a borrower is required to notify his or her lender of a transfer of interest in a property. While it is fraud and a crime to mislead your lender, some argue that if you don’t tell your lender, then you will have circumvented the legal ramifications of violating the Due On Sale Clause. After all, if you don’t lie to your lender, then you have not committed any fraud.The people who take this approach also believe that if the lender never figures it out, then nothing is lost if the buyer continues to make all of his or her payments on time every month.Personally, I prefer that you play straight with your lender. As someone who buys homes that have a mortgage, it is in my best interest also, if the lender is aware of our intent to do a transaction. I would hate to buy your house under contract, pay on that house for one payment or dozens, and then have your lender discover that you did not tell them that I was buying your house. If your lender calls the Due On Sale Clause after I have worked out a purchase deal with you, then that would be a pain in my you-know-what.Some lenders will not hesitate to call the Due On Sale Clause, although most are happy so long as they continue to receive on-time payments for the life of the loan.That is why I suggest always to call your lender with a “If I wanted to” scenario. Don’t tell your lender “you did it”. Tell your lender before you sign the paperwork “you would like to do it”.Test the waters with your lender before you venture into the deal. Chances are that your lender will agree, so long as the buyer knows that if the payments come late, that the bank may exercise its right to Due On Sale.One More NoteSomeone asked what a Demand Clause was and if it is similar to the Due On Sale Clause. It is similar, but very different. The Demand Clause allows the lender to demand full payment at any time for any reason. With the Due On Sale Clause, then full payment can only be required if the interest in the property changes hands.In ConclusionTens of thousands of deals are done every year, where the mortgage holder sets up a Contract For Deed deal with a buyer, and the lending institution permits the transfer to happen unimpeded – even though the lending institution has the right to stop the transaction at any time under the terms of the Due On Sale Clause.If you want to sell your home during this housing crisis and credit crunch, your first best bet is to call your lender and have a discussion about “If I wanted to sell my house through a Contract For Deed” scenario.If your lender says that they would call the note, then you know that this option is not for you. However, if they indicate that they would be happy to let you go through with such a deal on certain terms, then you will know that you have another option for getting out of that house that you do not want anymore.Author’s Note: This article originally published here:http://www.libertyhomesellers.com/blog/2009/02/due-on-sale-clause/

WELCOME TO TANZANIA:Tanzania is blessed with natural beauty and extraordinary wildlife. It is the largest country in East Africa–-nearly a million square kilometers (386,109 square miles). Agriculture dominates the economy with the vast majority of its crop exports consisting of coffee, tea, cotton, cashews, sisal, cloves and pyrethrum. While somewhat unreliable cash flows frustrate farmers, government intervention is having a significant and positive impact on the country’s economy.In 1986, to help improve the country’s economy, the Tanzanian government established new policies including reducing its budget deficit, easing trade policies and reducing food crop restrictions. In addition, as a result of significant U.S. funding and numerous international groups in the mining, agricultural, gas and oil, insurance and tourism industries increasing their staff and presence in the country, Tanzania enjoyed a 16% increase in Foreign Direct Investment in 2007.Tanzania has been growing at approximately 4% a year and is now a fully integrated democratic society that is developing into one of Africa’s most vibrant economies. Dodoma is the capital city and is home to the country’s parliament and government offices. It is situated 440 kilometers (273 miles) due west of Dar es Salaam, the commercial capital. Dar es Salaam is a city that is over five centuries old. It is a mix of African, Arabian, Asian and European cultures. Tanzanians are extremely friendly and will stop to assist foreigners in any way they can.For someone first arriving in Dar es Salaam by air, they will see a large area with high palm trees and mud dwellings as far as the eye can see. Once on the ground, the buildings are haphazardly constructed and not very clean. By contrast the international hotels are of good quality and well situated to take advantage of the seascapes.The city is divided into 4 distinct areas: The “town center” is a mixture of office buildings, hotels, restaurants, bars, night clubs, parks and sports facilities. The “peninsular” is where most of the diplomats and expatriates live. It boasts spectacular views of the sea, hosts local restaurants, shops, hotels and has a sailing club. Then, there are the coastal homes and resorts which span 20 to 30 kilometers (12 to 19 miles) north and south of Dar es Salaam. The remainder of the city, unfortunately, is characterized by low-cost housing, with a large population of three to four million people living close to the poverty line.Dar es Salaam has changed dramatically from socialism to a more capitalist-aligned government over the last 15 years. The influx of diplomats, big business and foreign aid donations have resulted in a gradual improvement in the living standards of the local population. The infrastructure and public facilities are also improving each year–frequent power failures of the past are becoming much less frequent. Water and sewage problems remain high on the government’s list of priorities.Swahili is the official language of Tanzania, but for business communications, English is almost always used. A person can function quite easily in the city without knowing Swahili, but learning it does make it easier to assimilate, shop and barter in the local communities.Being polite and greeting Tanzanians is the most important thing you can remember and preferably if it’s done in Swahili. Visitors should try not to raise their voices, even if patience is tested. Dar es Salaam is a Muslim environment and one should be very understanding of the Muslim customs.Dar es Salaam is extremely hot most of the year around and unless you have an office or house equipped with fans or a good air-conditioning system, you will feel drained by the high temperatures which are generally 30 degrees C (86 degrees F), and in summer, closer to 40 degrees C (104 degrees F) with humidity very close to 100%. Torrential showers come and go without much notice. One can escape from the heat on weekends by going to one of the many beaches.Foreigners seeking to enter Tanzania should have a valid passport. The passport is to be presented to an Immigration Officer at any entry point, border station, airport or harbor. It must be presented with a Visa, a Residence Permit or a Pass, which is for those in transit en route to another destination.There are five types of visas: The “Ordinary Visa” is issued at any Tanzanian mission abroad. However, if you arrive at the check point without a visa, you can obtain one at the entry point at a cost of US $50. The “Business Visa,” which is called a CTA, is issued to potential investors or business people trying to establish professional contacts. It is valid for two months. It costs US $100, in addition to the entry visa cost. If the business person leaves the country, they need to get the entry visa and CTA visa again when entering. The “Multiple-Entry Visas” are issued to foreigners who, due to business commitments, are required to make multiple entries. The validity can be from one month to one year. The “Referred Visa” requires special clearance from the Director of Immigration or Principal Immigration officer in Zanzibar. This is usually for people from Lebanon, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Somalia, refugees, stateless people and any other country as specified by the authorities. Applications are made to any Tanzanian missions abroad and cannot be obtained at entry points. Finally, the “Transit Visa” is issued for those who wish to cross Tanzania and the validity is two weeks. It is for those people holding onward tickets.Visas can be obtained at the airport and if arriving by land or sea, at the port of entry. Although the government has officially stopped asking for yellow fever certificates, it is still advisable to obtain and carry a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate. Weapons, pornographic material, fresh food and cars more than 10 years old should not be brought into Tanzania.There are two types of work permits, each requiring different documents including resumes, cover letters, academic qualifications and personal photographs. A special type of Work Permit is given specifically to those who successfully apply and possess rare qualifications or skills. These are usually granted to those in highly technical occupations that are not readily available in the local labor market including doctors, pilots, lawyers and accountants.With a residence permit, spouses and dependents are permitted to stay in Tanzania for the duration of the working relative’s stay. They generally do not work, but there are some exceptions based on specific criteria. A passport is the main document used to verify identity in Tanzania. Apart from getting a Tanzanian driver’s license, no other documentation is required.The local currency is the Tanzanian Shilling (Shilingi). The notes are TSH 10,000 (red, elephant), TSH 5,000 (purple, rhino), TSH 1,000 (blue, late President Nyerere), TSH 500 (green, buffalo) and TSH 2,00 (brown, Zanzibar Fort). The coins are TSH 200, 100, 50 and 25. TSH 20, 10 and 5 are out of circulation and while they still may be used in banks, are no longer issued or used. Bureau of Exchanges are located throughout the city. The rates vary so it wise to shop around. Hotels will also exchange foreign currency, but at higher rates. Cash is the most commonly-used payment for everyday purchases e.g., groceries, etc. It is essential for such things as cooking gas, fuel for the car, restaurants, drinks at bars, taxis and most other daily purchases. Recently, larger shops have started accepting Visa and MasterCard and some places will accept American Express, but it is still advisable to have cash available in case of problems with the unreliable machines. Credit cards are accepted in hotels and some very select restaurants, which will charge a 5% fee. In most instances, you will need Tanzanian shillings. Foreign cash is accepted, but at shocking exchange rates. Some institutions insist on being paid in U.S. dollars, but you have the right to pay in Shillings. However, you will more than likely get a poor exchange rate.As a foreigner you are able to open a private bank account with a minimum of 50,000 Tanzanian Shillings, 1,000 U.S.-dollars and sometimes with 1,000 Euros, but you will need a work/residence permit, two passport-size photographs, a letter of appointment from your employer and a cash deposit in order to do so. All banks use English and Swahili as the language of correspondence. Provided you have sufficient funds, you can transfer and remit any amount of currency out of the country. Conversely, you can transfer in as much as you want, but it will be converted into the currency of your accounts.Banking hours on weekdays are normally 08:30 am to 15:30 pm and Saturdays, from 09:00 am to noon. There are over 30 banks with Barclay’s, Standard Chartered, Stanbic, Bank of Baroda, FBME, and Citibank being the more well known internationally. Most banks have ATMs and offer Visa, and MasterCard facilities. Cash is dispensed in Tanzanian Shillings. TSH 400,000 is usually the maximum allowed to be withdrawn at one time. Traveler’s cheques are generally only accepted and exchanged at banks, hotels and bureaus of exchange. Credit cards are slowly being introduced but, when dealing with locals, cash is the only acceptable tender.When searching for a place to live in your city, the most important factor to consider is your budget. Accommodation costs are extremely high while the standards are comparatively low. The other factor to consider is the traveling distance to work and school as traffic congestion is problematic, especially in the morning.Oysterbay and the Peninsula are the two most popular neighborhoods for expats. Rentals in the Oysterbay and Peninsular vary from US $2,500 to $15,000 per month. The most prominent and sought after areas are Masaki (near the Yacht Club), Msasani Peninsular and Oysterbay. All are located near the most popular school, shopping centers, hospitals, hotels and restaurants. These areas have been developing at an amazing rate in the last five to seven years and you now have a choice of all types of accommodation. Many of them have swimming pools, gyms, tennis courts and security systems. Because these areas are in high demand, the rents are much higher and payment terms are seldom less than a year.Foreigners are not allowed to buy property. Only businesses are permitted to buy on a 99-year lease agreement. So as a general rule, accommodation is rented. Landlords of property on the Peninsular demand an advance payment for one year. In other areas, some owners ask for only six months in advance.While looking for your home, you may consider furnished accommodation on a short-term lease. Ask for a list of accommodations available, but book early because it is scarce in Dar es Salaam. There are only two international residential management companies: Knight Frank and Pam Goulding. However there are three to four good local firms. There are over 40 hotels and furnished apartments in Dar es Salaam and the surrounding areas: Holiday Inn, Movenpick, Kempinski, Protea and Sun International are the more commonly known hotel chains.Utilities are generally not included in the price of rent. Water is a factor to be considered when moving to an area. In certain areas, for example the Yacht Club and Masaki, a house for a family of four requires water to be trucked in four times a month at US $50 a delivery. If DAWASCO, the local company distributing water around Dar es Salaam is connected to your home it can cost about TSH 100,000 (US $85 per month).Electricity is another high-cost factor. A house that consumes electricity for air-conditioners and appliances can be as much as TSH 500,000 (US $430 per month). TANESCO sells prepaid electricity through its LUKU offices from Monday to Saturday. Some garages offer a 24 hour service for sales of LUKU. Gas is a very useful alternative to electricity and is readily available and most DUKAs (local shops) sell it late at night. The voltage system is 220 but because of the fluctuating .voltage, most households buy many protection plugs to prevent their appliances from being destroyed by the sharp peaks and troughs in supply. Most appliances function in Tanzania.Tanzania is considered safe, but there has been an increase in petty theft and some gang-related attacks on lone people. Burglary in the home is rare, but one should employ 24-hour security services.Expats in Dar es Salaam usually enroll children in the main private schools. There are more than a dozen schools to choose from in Dar es Salaam including IST (International School of Tanganyika) in Oysterbay for upper class children and IST Elementary school in Upanga. IST is by far the most popular school of choice for expatriates and for that reason alone, it is difficult to get students placed immediately. Sometimes your luck is determined by those leaving a particular grade. The school is extremely expensive but has the best record in the city. There are also seven selected schools in the Peninsular, Ada Estate and Upanga areas which cater to preschool children. School buses are available, but heavy traffic means that children spend a long time on the bus from very early in the morning. Hence a lot of families drive their children to and from school.All schools except IST start in January and finish in December. IST starts in September and finishes at the end of June. The schools as a rule, insist that their pupils wear uniforms. Sports are not a high priority, but IST does have some activities other than academic.It is recommended that you get Yellow Fever and Cholera vaccinations as a precaution, and speak to your doctor about medicine to prevent malaria. You would not be refused medical care, but in Aga Khan and government hospitals, admittance is relatively cheap. Most expatriates go to IST Clinic–International School of Tanganyika Clinic, which is run by professional doctors who charge in U.S. dollars for all services. The local institutions will refer patients to Kenya, South Africa if the situation warrants it.You can dial 112 for help due to a medical emergency, a fire or if you need to contact the police, however, these numbers are rarely answered. It is best to get the emergency numbers of the security company you belong to. There are three or four security firms that offer reliable ambulance and medical assistance services. Daktari” is the word for “doctor” in Swahili. “Duka la Dawa” is the shop for medicine. The water is not safe to drink from the tap. Bottled water is highly recommended.Dar es Salaam traffic can be very congested especially in the morning and evening hours. It is a definite advantage to have your own vehicle. If a company vehicle is not available to ferry your family around, you may require a second vehicle. Many expatriates use drivers to avoid the stresses of traffic and the perils of possible accidents. You may want to employ a driver to carry out both functions and, in general, these people are very reliable and prepared to work odd hours. Vehicles are generally a four-wheel drive type, because the roads are not in good condition. A new vehicle of that type sells for US $30,000 to $50,000 but good second hand vehicles are available for between US $8,000 and $15,000.A Tanzanian driver’s license is required within six months upon arrival. The licensing authority requires both a current driver’s license for verification; three passport size photographs and an eye test by a reputable specialist (at a cost of TSH 30,000 or US $26). Insurance is not mandatory, but it is highly recommend that you take out full comprehensive insurance as very few local citizens have insurance and you need to protect your assets.In Tanzania you drive on the left-hand side. Despite periodic complaints in the press about dangerous driving, dirty uniforms and unsociably loud music, Dar es Salaam’s public transport is surprisingly efficient and you can get almost anywhere within a twenty kilometer (12 mile) radius of the city for less than a thousand Shillings (less than a US $1). “Daladals” are shared minibuses which are all around the town and operate from 5am to 10pm. For short, frequently-used distances, the route is serviced by an inexpensive, three-wheeler motorbike, which accommodates two- to three passengers. Taxis can be found everywhere. Trips to the airport are between TSH 20,000 to 30,000 (US $17 to $26). In the city, the transport is safe but is generally very crowded and can be very hot and congested.Long haul buses are available to take Expats out of the city. They are of good quality and are fairly inexpensive, but the drivers are known to speed. If the distance is within 40-50 kilometers (24-30 miles), then taxis would be a good option. Because of the huge distances from Dar es Salaam to other major tourist spots, many travelers use local airlines and charter companies to go to these places.There are many grocery stores to buy food and toiletries including Shoppers Plaza, Shop rite (three outlets), Game, Village Supermarket and Shrijee’s (three outlets). For fresh produce, there are other “Dukas,” but one must be ready to barter for the best price, so most expatriates tend to shop at the main-stream shops and occasionally buy at the odd roadside Duka. Other than fresh food, all other commodities are imported and come with an inflated cost. You can get most things, including appliances locally and quite a variety too.There are also several brilliant furniture outlets. Tanzanians are very good furniture manufacturers and are renowned for Zanzibar beds, chests, bookshelves, side tables and coffee tables and much more. Zanzibar Doors are grand entrances for a great deal of houses.The expat community is very friendly and there are many activities available for entertainment. Clubs and groups are available to meet and mix with other expatriates and locals alike including Bridge Clubs, British Council, Dar es Salaam Yacht Club, Diplomatic Spouses Group, Irish Society, Little Theatre, Mah-jong, the Wildlife Conservation Society of Tanzania and many others. There are not many radio stations and apart from television, the social life is restricted to going to the movies and dining out. There are several groups who welcome (“Karibu”) newcomers. There are night clubs and many bars, but it is suggested that a newcomer only goes to these places once they get to know the city. There are a lot of single, professional expats who are on assignment for a contracted period.The list of things for spouses to do is almost endless. It is common for spouses to visit the islands near Dar es Salaam, enjoy the sunshine and eat freshly cooked fish and chips. The sporting activities are limited, but golf, tennis and cricket are all very popular social events. There is a bowling alley at the Sea Cliff Hotel on the Peninsular and scuba diving and sailing are popular activities on the weekends.Nannies are available and are generally have experience working with other expats families. They are very reliable and can double up as housekeepers. Domestic employment contracts are essential, the wages are very affordable.While Kunduchi Hotel and Beach Resorts are the most popular kid-friendly attractions in the area, other childhood activities are quite limited and families are expected to entertain their children most of the time. Other than school-organized activities, it is suggested that families remain involved with selecting the possible venues for their teenagers before allowing them to explore on their own. Discuss any safety issues for children in this city. There are no real fears for children, but it is recommended that teenagers do not go into the city on their own.Written by:Chris Draeger, Group Vice President, Crown RelocationsCrown Relocations has been providing international moving and relocation services since 1965. With 200 offices in 50 countries, Crown has “people on the ground” in all the major Expat communities around the world. Crown provides a range of services to help Expats and their families move and settle into their new home ranging from Orientation Tours, Home finding, School Search and more. Crown also organizes Expat Clubs with regular events to help people meet and socialize with other Expats.We also serve corporate clients as they develop and manage the relocation policies and employee benefit programs for the staff moving overseas. Services include expense management, program development, policy counseling, customized online reporting and full departure and destination services for the employees.Crown is a private organization headquartered in Hong Kong, with European HQ in London and Americas HQ in Los Angeles California.Crown provides free moving quotations on its website at http://www.crownrelo.com