Mortgage Insurance explained

Getting a mortgage is bad enough – what with terms like fixed rate, discount, variable etc – so mention mortgage insurance and naturally your eyes will start to glaze over.

However, mortgage insurance is an extremely important insurance to have – in fact, it can the difference between keeping a roof over your head or ending up having your home repossessed.

If you recently took out a mortgage, you may remember the lender asking you whether you wanted mortgage payment protection insurance. It probably sounded expensive and unnecessary. And while, in some cases, there are companies who like to charge you too much for the product, it doesn’t have to be that way.

As for it being unnecessary – get the right policy and at the right price and it will be an invaluable safety net for you. So, what is mortgage insurance? It is a product whereby should you be unable to meet your mortgage repayments due to being made involuntarily redundant or due to being able to work because of sickness or maybe an accident – then it will cover your mortgage repayments.

Your mortgage repayments (and sometimes other mortgage related outgoings too) will be covered for up to a set period of time (typically 12 months but this can vary from provider to provider) to give you enough time to find another job, or get well etc.

Many people may think that mortgage payment protection insurance is a waste of money, using the old adage “It’ll never happen to me”. However, this is not true. Being unable to work – and therefore having to struggle on state benefits – due to involuntary redundancy, accident or sickness can happen to anyone. It does not discriminate and can strike anyone at any time.

Therefore, if you are in full time employment for more than 16 hours a week and you have a mortgage, then taking out insurance against the financial ramifications makes sound sense.

Despite what the press says, it doesn’t have to be expensive to take out this kind of insurance, and nor do you have to take out a policy with your current mortgage lender. This means you are free to shop around to get a policy that offers you comprehensive protection without a high price tag!

If you are looking for mortgage protection insurance, then do not automatically accept the first quotation you get – premiums can vary wildly, as can the terms of the policy and the benefits.

Do your research – the internet is a quick and easy way to compare policies – and then make a decision from there.

LG Nexus 4

On October 29th, Google will likely be showing off its new Nexus phone, a device that is widely believed to be the LG Nexus 4. The LG Nexus 4 has leaked out numerous times in recent days, culminating with a leak today that all but confirmed all of its major features. As a Galaxy Nexus owner, I’ve been interested to see what Google prepared for 2012 Nexus-wise. Here are my thoughts on the new Nexus phone.

LG Nexus 4 design

From the leaks, it appears that the LG Nexus 4 is going to be a plastic beast once again with a design that’s both heavier and thicker than the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. I am just going to assume that this was because Google wanted to keep the costs down. Something else? The phone looks almost exactly like the Samsung Galaxy Nexus.

Nobody gave the rumour that LG would be chosen as the new flagship partner for Google, but after a litter of leaks, the smart money is on the Korean brand as the next in the Nexus clubhouse.

But how will it actually look? Well, with a litany of leaks spewing from the internet with increasing regularity, it seems pretty likely we know what the Google Nexus 4 will actually look like.

One of the most interesting pictures of the Nexus 4 is one with a worryingly sparkly back, bearing the moniker 'with Google' on the rear.

LG Nexus 4 specs

Specs-wise, it seems almost certain the Nexus 4 will have quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, an 8MP rear camera, 2GB of RAM and of course the latest version of Android.

Wireless charging would be an innovative new feature for the phone too, but of course we'll have to put up with the same non-removable battery and lack of microSD card slot too.

Storage Doesn’t Cut It

It looks like Google might be mirroring its Nexus 7 with the amount of storage its offering with the Nexus 4. Sadly, that’s not a good thing. 8GB and 16GB of storage space is just not going to cut it for any smartphone of mine. I found out the hard way with my 16GB iPhone 3GS and 16GB iPad and I’ll never buy another device that has less than 32GB of storage space.

LG Nexus 4 release date

One thing we can pretty much agree on is the fact that there's a new Nexus phone in the offing, and right on cue Google has announced a special event on October 29 to show off something.

What does that mean for a Nexus 4 release date? Well, it seems that we'll get something in the region of mid-November before we get anything on the shelves in preparation for the Christmas rush.

Update: Carphone Warehouse has revealed various details on its website, including the Nexus 4 release date, which is has as October 30.

LG Nexus 4 price

If the Nexus 4 price is anything like the labels attached to previous Galaxy phones, then we're in for an eye-watering outlay to get your hands on the new handset.

The Galaxy Nexus came in at £41 a month before you could get a free phone, which would put it miles ahead of the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S3 or HTC One X, which are the main competitors on specs at least.

At least the phone would come down in price pretty soon, as that's what happened most of the time with the other Nexii… but perhaps the Nexus 4 can blaze a trail and, wow, we don't know: actually come in at market value.

Update:According to Carphone Warehouse the LG Nexus 4 will be available for free on contracts starting at £31 per month over two years.

LG Nexus 4 competition

There are many rumours about other handsets are launching at the same time as the Nexus 4, with a number of phones being unveiled at once.

The HTC Nexus 5 was one of the first mooted, but that has since been shown as the HTC J Butterfly, the super-phone that will only be available in Japan.

Next up was the Samsung Galaxy Nexus 2, but this was simply due to the model number that fitted in the Nexus line up being spotted online. TheSamsung Galaxy Premier was also 'shown' in benchmarks, but given the lack of Nexus name it's unlikel

source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/lg-nexus-4-release-date-news-and-rumours-1105898

http://www.gottabemobile.com/2012/10/19/5-thoughts-on-the-lg-nexus-4-googles-new-nexus-phone/

Bank of America wasn’t overpaid for servicing right, Fannie Mae audit finds

By Clea Benson, Wednesday, September 19, 5:40 AM

Fannie Mae didn’t give Bank of America special consideration in agreeing to pay more than $500 million to transfer servicing of 384,000 mortgages to firms more likely to prevent foreclosures, a U.S. auditor said in a report Tuesday.

Still, the taxpayer-owned company paid more than legally required to Bank of America and 12 other lenders when it spent $1.5 billion for servicing rights on 1.1 million loans from 2008 to 2011, the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s inspector general said in the report.

The transfers were part of a Fannie Mae initiative to cut losses on mortgages at greatest risk of default. The specialty servicers hired to handle the loans, including Ocwen Financial and Nationstar Mortgage, typically do more outreach to distressed borrowers and have a better track record of keeping loans current.

“The amount Fannie Mae paid was consistent with the amounts it had paid to other servicers from which it had purchased mortgage-servicing rights under the program,” the report said.

Bank of America ultimately got $421 million in the 2011 deal because some of the loans were paid off or refinanced by the time it was completed.

The transaction drew attention because it came after Fannie Mae had received $1.3 billion from Bank of America to settle claims over defaulted mortgages. House members, including Reps. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), sought the audit to ensure that Fannie Mae wasn’t funneling taxpayer aid to the bank.

Fannie Mae, based in Washington, and smaller rival Freddie Mac of McLean have been operating under U.S. conservatorship since they were seized by regulators amid soaring losses in September 2008.

The audit found that Fannie Mae paid lenders more than required in most transactions because it wanted to negotiate a smooth transfer. Holders of the servicing rights could have tried to sell them elsewhere if Fannie Mae offered the minimum price.

In the Bank of America transaction, Fannie Mae sought to buy servicing rights on a portfolio of loans with a delinquency rate of 11 percent and an unpaid principal balance of $73.6 billion. Fannie Mae estimated that it would lose $10.9 billion on the portfolio if the bank continued to service those loans and would cut that loss by $1.7 billion to $2.7 billion if the portfolio were handled by a specialty servicer.

The inspector general criticized Fannie Mae’s method of computing the value of the loans and suggested that the FHFA should step up its scrutiny of the servicing transfer program.

Jon Greenlee, FHFA’s deputy director of enterprise regulation, said the program was intended to help borrowers stay in their homes, not just to save money.

“The reason servicing transfer transactions such as the one at issue are expected to save money is that the new servicer is better equipped to work with troubled borrowers,” Greenlee wrote in a response included in the audit report.

The FHFA inspector general released a second audit Tuesday concluding that the agency should strengthen efforts to ensure that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are better prepared for the failure of the banks that sell and service loans. The enterprises have lost $6.1 billion from failures of four such lenders since 2008.

— Bloomberg News

source : http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/bank-of-america-wasnt-overpaid-for-servicing-right-fannie-mae-audit-finds/2012/09/18/2cdf0f98-01d5-11e2-b260-32f4a8db9b7e_story.html

Zesty Slow Cooker Chicken Barbecue

Ingredients

• 6 frozen skinless, boneless chicken chest halves
• 1 (12 ounce) bottle barbeque sauce
• 1/2 cup Italian salad dressing
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

Directions

1. Place chicken in a slow cooker. In a bowl, mix the barbecue sauce, Italian salad dressing, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Pour over the chicken.
2. Cover, and cook 3 to 4 hours on High or 6 to 8 hours on Low.

Nutritional Information

Zesty Slow Cooker Chicken Barbecue

Servings Per Recipe: 6

Amount Per Serving

Calories: 300

• Total Fat: 8.1g
• Cholesterol: 61mg
• Sodium: 1058mg
• Total Carbs: 32.4g
•     Dietary Fiber: 0.3g
• Protein: 23g

Published Septembe

Fart jokes - Farting All the times

Farting All The Time

Doctor, "What seems to be the problem?" Patient, "Doc, I've got the farts. I mean I fart all the time," The Doctor nods, "Hmm." Patient, "My farts do not stink and you can't hear them. It's just that I fart all the time. Look, we've been talking here for about 10 minutes and I've farted five times. You didn't hear them and you don't smell them, do you?" "Hmm," says the Doctor, He picks up his pad and writes out a prescription. The patient is thrilled "Great doc. This prescription, will it really clear up my farts?" "No," sighs the Doctor, "The prescription is to clear your sinuses. Next week I want you back here for a hearing test." source : http://www.flixya.com/blog/4830684/fart-jokes-farting-all-the-time

Life quotes - Fun quotes

Life Quotes

To solve the human equation, we need to add love, subtract hate, multiply good, and divide between truth and error. Janet Coleman The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability you'll get it wrong. Andy Rooney The day after tomorrow is the third day of the rest of your life. George Carlin If all the world's a stage, I want to operate the trap door. -- Paul Beatty In life, it's not who you know that's important, it's how your wife found out. Joey Adam

Quick and Healthy Dinner Recipes and Menus 1

Asian Salisbury Steaks with Sauteed Watercress

Back in the 19th century, an English doctor named J.H. Salisbury prescribed beef for all manner of ailments. We think he'd love this healthy update of the ground-beef-and-onions classic that bears his name. The sautéed watercress is an excellent foil to the meaty glazed beef.

2 servings

Active Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

INGREDIENTS

• 6 ounces 90%-lean ground beef
• 1/3 cup finely diced red bell pepper
• 1/3 cup chopped scallions
• 2 tablespoons plain dry breadcrumbs
• 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce, divided (see Note)
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
• 1 1/2 teaspoons canola oil, divided
• 8 cups trimmed watercress, (2 bunches or one 4-ounce bag)
• 1/4 cup Shao Hsing rice wine, or dry sherry (see Note)

PREPARATION

1. Place rack in upper third of oven; preheat the broiler. Coat a broiler pan and rack with cooking spray.
2. Gently mix beef, bell pepper, scallions, breadcrumbs, 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce and ginger in a medium bowl until just combined. Form the mixture into 2 oblong patties and place on the prepared broiler-pan rack. Brush the tops of the patties with 1/2 teaspoon oil. Broil, flipping once, until cooked through, about 4 minutes per side.
3. Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 teaspoon oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add watercress and cook, stirring often, until just wilted, 1 to 3 minutes. Divide the watercress between 2 plates. Return the pan to medium-high heat. Add rice wine (or sherry) and the remaining 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce. Cook, stirring, until smooth, bubbling and slightly reduced, about 1 minute. Top the watercress with the Salisbury steaks and drizzle with the pan sauce.

TIPS & NOTES

• Notes: Hoisin sauce is a dark brown, thick, spicy-sweet sauce made from soybeans and a complex mix of spices. Look for it in the Asian section of your supermarket and in Asian markets.
• Shao Hsing (or Shaoxing) is a seasoned rice wine. It is available in most Asian specialty markets and some larger supermarkets in the Asian section. If unavailable, dry sherry is an acceptable substitute.
• Sherry is a type of fortified wine originally from southern Spain. Don't use the “cooking sherry” sold in many supermarkets—it can be surprisingly high in sodium. Instead, purchase dry sherry that's sold with other fortified wines in your wine or liquor store.

NUTRITION

Per serving: 302 calories; 13 g fat ( 4 g sat , 6 g mono ); 56 mg cholesterol; 17 g carbohydrates; 21 gprotein; 2 g fiber; 391 mg sodium; 611 mg potassium.Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin C (120% daily value), Vitamin A (70% dv), Zinc (27% dv), Potassium (17% dv).

source : http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/asian_salisbury_steaks_with_sauteed_watercress.html