Strong #GrandRapidsMI Job Growth Means Better Mortgage Down Payments

We at #CBB  take pride in the job economy. It fuels #business. Brings more to the table in terms of ROI, job growth, workforce stabilization and competition. It's healthy.

So when we see that a beautiful city like Grand Rapids in Michigan growing their employment economy, ranking 22nd in the entire nation (and that's saying something for being in Michigan) and a 3.5% job growth rate, you know what that means: better down payment competition between buyers looking for a home.

What's great for real estate is great for business.

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Truthfully, we hate labels. And titles. And name placements. Political correctness: it’s a fickle beast, especially when talking about something as touchy as credit repair. But no worries — we’re not going to sugar-coat or bounce around the topic like some organizations or professionals out there, and we’ll tell it like it is. It’s very simple: when talking to a credit counselor, you have to ask specific questions just to be sure you’re talking to a real credit counselor for the right reasons. Why? Just remember this important fact: credit repair walks a fine legal line. You want to make sure you stay within it.

Here Are Eight Real Questions You Absolutely Must Ask a Credit Counselor — Just to Be Sure You’re Dealing With the Real McCoy

There are a lot of credit repair scammers out there, in other words. Many will label themselves as a credit counselor, but that’s not what they do. As a consumer, you have a right to know what you’re dealing with before potentially getting yourself in hot water, so ask the potential credit counselor you’re consulting with, and interviewing, these specific questions:

• Can You Approve My Bankruptcy Filing? — What we mean by that are the legal requirements to filing for bankruptcy. The credit counselor you’re talking to has to have the certified approval to sign off on the legally mandated requirement to seek credit counseling before filing for bankruptcy. So make it a point to ask this question immediately.
• Are You a “Debt Counselor” or a “Credit Counselor”? — Like we said, we hate the labels. They may sound so similar; but in truth, they’re very different. You ask this question just to be sure you are dealing with a real-life credit counselor. What are the differences? Find out right here.
• Are You a 501(c)(3) Organization and Can You Prove It? — Now you’re getting tough with the prospective credit counselor, and you should. Grill that credit counselor to the bone with this one. Why? Why does it matter that the credit counselor’s a 501(c)(3)? Here’s why.
• Are You Accredited? — Almost seems like a no-brainer of a question, but would you like to know exactly what kind of accreditation you should be hearing from a credit counselor? Read about it right here.
• Are You Professionally Trained? — Remember this important fact: you are interviewing the credit counselor. So you’ll make that professional sweat. Ask them the tough questions. Knowing the ins and outs of credit repair and restoration is one thing — being completely certified is a whole ‘nother ballgame entirely.
• Do You Have Any References? — Honestly, a true credit counselor would, and should, lick his or her own lips at this question, frothing at the mouth at the opportunity to show off the praise and positive reviews from prior clients. So go ahead and ask. Specifically, there’s one other big reason why a credit counselor would love to offer up references….
• Can You Guarantee Success? — AHA! Another ‘trick’ question here. The fact is no credit counselor in the galaxy — nay, the universe — can guarantee anything. Here’s why.
• And, of Course, How Much Do You COST? — Shop around and you’ll find the fees jumping left and right. Obviously, go with the most beneficial solution for the consumer to a certain extent, and you’ll learn why right here.

Just Remember, Though: They’re Not Doing the Credit Repair Work For You….

Rather, they’re pointing you in the direction of what you need to do and maybe even assisting in the legal process. There’s value in that, something not only we at ICS do, but other reputable agencies and organizations like ITPN would do on a regular basis, so it does exist.

You just need to make sure you’re actually talking to a real deal, and not a real poser in the business. You accomplish that, of course, by asking these questions. Because, after all, this is your credit report we’re talking about! And your credit score is the difference between getting that job, or landing the home mortgage, or securing an auto loan.

Make sure you’re talking with a real professional.

The post 8 Real Questions to Ask Your Prospective Credit Counselor appeared first on Independent Credit Solutions.

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Why is #creditrepair  so important? Think about it…. What's one thing you need in order to get that home mortgage secured: a GOOD CREDIT SCORE! That's why #realestate  plays a massive role for us at #ICS, whether it's #RTO  or simply standard home ownership. We'll help you get there.

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Is there any wonder why we have such programs like H.O.P.E. to Own? Home ownership, the ultimate goal, the American dream. And it’s not just about the prestige about owning a home; it’s about so much more: The Fact Is This: Owning That Home Actually Benefits Your Taxes Here’s how our budding real estate market, […]

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Talk about killing two birds with one stone: the 529 college savings plan, operating very much like a retirement plan, not only saves up some on the expense for college later on life, but cuts down on your taxes over time. A nice little tax shelter benefiting you in the long run and ensuring your kids get the quality college education they deserve.

But How Does the 529 College Savings Plan Work?

Also known as qualified tuition programs (QTPs), the way contributions work for these types of plans is that it allows you to defer your taxes. All your contributions to these ‘accounts’, if you wish to call them that, are tax-free. It, therefore, means that when it comes time for your budding college student to leave the family nest and venture out into the unknown, you can pull the funds out and not pay any federal tax for the tuition costs, room, and board. Even better is the benefit that you most likely won’t even have to worry about any state tax if the beneficiary, your child going to college, sticks with a university that’s in the same state. Like we said: killing two birds with one stone, education and finances.

This ultimately saves you on the taxes, as a veritable tax shelter, cutting down with these beneficial credits. Plans do vary, so sign up with the Income Tax Planning Network right away and then consult your ITPN specialist to see what your options are. You may have a variety of lifetime contribution limits, some ranging around $200K, so crunch your numbers and see what you’ve got.

Because the Future of Your Child’s Education Ultimately Revolves Around Your Future Finances

Click here for more information about other tax shelters you can take advantage of, plus some information about tax advice when divorcing, or other business tax write-offs you need to know about. Remember: information is power. Planning is power. And here’s where you get a bunch of it.

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ShareFollow UsWe’ll be honest here…. No one needs any identity theft protection for this. We’ll never forget our heritage. Our American dream. We’ll always have that for ourselves. And there’s not one single criminal out there who can ever steal that from us…. Remember 911DAY. #NeverForget. ShareFollow Us

The post 911DAY: an American Identity That Will Never Be Lost appeared first on Ultimate Identity Protection Services.

The post 911DAY: an American Identity That Will Never Be Lost appeared first on INTERNET LEGAL PLANS.

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Even When #Credit Goes Down, Our #Hope  Continues to Go Up!

Yes, it's really easy to fall off the bandwagon and get way in over your head when it comes to credit and #finances. We don't deny that…. BUT THAT IS WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO.

In the midst of all the turmoil we're seeing (#Paris, #Beirut, etc. etc.), one thing's for sure: we can't be distracted. We have to do our jobs. And we're going to do our jobs in repairing your credit, ensuring you'll always get approval for loans — car loans, credit lines, and even a mortgage — without running into brick walls.

Brick walls, be gone.

The post Even When #Credit Goes Down, Our #Hope  Continues to Go Up! Yes, it’s really easy to fall off th… appeared first on Cloud Based Bookkeeping.

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Crazy #Presidential #Pardons: the Draft Dodgers

We at #ILP  love the #law — and it's obvious that the likes of President #Carter  was fairly liberal with it in a huge way. How? Ever heard of the "presidential pardon"? Carter did. The man issued well over 500 pardons in just one single term!

But the most controversial pardon he ever issued was to those "draft dodgers" back in the day who tried avoiding the inevitable Vietnam War draft. Of course, when you look back on the Vietnam War, you'd be at least a little forgiving of their decision!

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#Tax Penalties: Something We at #ITPN  Like to Avoid

Just so you know, we understand: you might think there won't be any tax refund in your immediate future despite having some income your way (maybe you're self-employed with no deductions or credits?). So you're hesitant to even file for a tax return for that exact reason. You may even rightfully think you won't be able to pay that tax bill!

We urge you to consider this: the tax penalties for not filing are much worse. Here's why: let's say you end up with a balance that you have to pay. Know that the IRS will work with you if you work with US. Penalties, though? Once you're hit, you're hit. And there's no getting out of it.

Always file your tax return. Because when you do, you've locked our services in for good, making sure your taxes are paid up through collaboration, installments, payments, communication (if they need to be). So sign up today with the Income Tax Planning Network!

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Your 401(k) Isn't Just About Your Savings: It's About Your #Taxes, Too

Here's why — a true company-matched 401(k) will result in what we call a 100% investment return. That means your money will actually GROW as you go along with your career, and with stock market returns doing what they do, expanding an average 8%12% annually – and here's the kicker, TAX FREE or DEFERRED — that's a lot of money in your pocket as income you would otherwise NOT have to pay income tax for.

Moreover, investing in that 401(k) in the long-term would allow you to reduce the annual income, decreasing you on the tax bracket and relieving you of more of that tax burden. Simply put, the less money you have to work on making, the less taxes you'll end up paying.

Learn more about how to maximize your taxes right here as well! And if you own a business and need bookkeeping services, sign up right away with the #CBB!

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