| The big housing slowdown
Slower house-price growth, repeated interest-rate hikes and uncertainty about new credit laws and systems have contributed to a slowdown in home-loan applications. Bond originators, however, see their industry becoming increasingly important. Six weeks after the introduction of the new National Credit Act (NCA) on June 1, its impact on the property market remains unclear. The housing market has been tightening for some months now, although the average price of a house is now R924 800, according to Absa's House Price Index. In June house prices grew 14,9% year-on-year in nominal terms, which does not take inflation into account. On a month-on-month basis, nominal price growth slowed to 0,6% in June. This is the slowest month-on-month growth since September 1999, when growth of 0,4% was recorded.
College graduate should pay down her student loans
Karen Wons of Maryland finds herself in a quandary that is confronting many parents.
She is struggling with how best to advise her daughter — a recent college graduate — on paying down her $25,000 in student loans.
Wons did what any wise parent would do. She asked for help.
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Weighing options of credit card debt consolidation effort
D ear Debt Adviser: I have consolidated all of our credit card debt onto two credit cards with APRs of 4.99 percent and 2.99 percent until it is paid off. My husband wants us to take out a loan with the bank so that we are making set monthly payments, even though the interest rate would be considerably higher, possibly around 11.25 percent. I have tried to explain to him that we would be paying more money that way, but he does not understand. Can you explain it in a way he can understand or am I somehow looking at this wrong? -- Susan Dear Susan: I can tell who's the most fun at your house. You clearly like an unstructured approach that allows for side trips when something interesting comes along. The old "ball and chain" likes a direct approach with few unknowns and a clear end to the journey.
Adknowledge Releases Rankings of Web Advertising Categories for July 2007
Adknowledge, a leading pay-per-click advertising marketplace, reported today the largest gains and losses in click volume for its online advertising categories. The rankings are based on over 50,000 advertisers that compete for traffic on an auction platform available at www.BidSystem.com. BidSystem advertising is sold on a category basis, giving an easy way to compare fluctuations in industries based on their monthly advertising spend. .
MortgageBrokers.com announces the expansion of its brand presence through opening new retail locations across Canada
MortgageBrokers.com Financial group of Companies Inc., a subsidiary of MortgageBrokers.com Holdings Inc. (OTC BB: MBKR - News) announced that the company through it's Managing Partner, opening of 2 new retail locations under the MortgageBrokers.com flag in Toronto, Ontario. These latest retail store front opening continues the company's expanding brand presence through store front retail locations across Canada. .
GE Money & Electric & Gas Industries Association Help Homeowners Save Money, Improve Environment with Nationwide Solar ...
ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GE Money's Sales Finance unit and the Electric & Gas Industries Association (EGIA), a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions, recently announced a new multi-year relationship to provide revolving and installment consumer financing of residential solar systems through EGIA's GEOSmart Sustainable Financing Solutions loan program. .
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