tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41004810361703608582024-03-14T03:37:56.642-07:00Figeroux & AssociatesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger105125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100481036170360858.post-37207190485108378252018-11-29T08:56:00.000-08:002018-11-29T08:56:12.284-08:00Student Loans and Bankruptcy<h2 class="entry-title single-post-title" itemprop="headline">
Student Loans and Bankruptcy: Why the Student Debt Crisis Hits Black Borrowers Harder </h2>
<div class="entry-title single-post-title" itemprop="headline">
By Dana Mathura</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoaiBtJdQJV-jWxt_DAu4REJe7HlmALthWLh6IXH8QwijKT3SjQvS3BNlf3D-RXcSnpfy6zTaGpg4LIyONvhNvIBaoqM_HwzTGkoV2JHCp3vR0cBQJ8b0vMSS7J3l0TN6kXwTV3THugmHT/s1600/student_loans_quarter_page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1130" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoaiBtJdQJV-jWxt_DAu4REJe7HlmALthWLh6IXH8QwijKT3SjQvS3BNlf3D-RXcSnpfy6zTaGpg4LIyONvhNvIBaoqM_HwzTGkoV2JHCp3vR0cBQJ8b0vMSS7J3l0TN6kXwTV3THugmHT/s320/student_loans_quarter_page.jpg" width="225" /></a>By now, we have all heard how immense the student debt crisis actually is. So, it should come as no surprise that student loans continue to wreak havoc on the lives of students who graduate with loan repayments. What is more, though, is that the loans carry on their effect long after students graduate.<br />
In the mix of this predicament, black students who borrow funds for their college careers end up getting hit the worst by the effects of the debt crisis. Oftentimes, the black student-borrower who is in debt was a first-generation college student. What this has the potential to mean, is that their family did not predict the high costs of college and all that goes along with it. But even if they did, sometimes their family savings are not enough to send their child off for their studies without a loan.<br />
It all starts somewhere and in this case, there are societal reasons. Black borrowers have less wealth in their names compared to other races. This speaks to their lack of inherited wealth from parents, grandparents and other family members who leave items to them in their Wills and by other means. The lack of wealth also comes from how much they personally earn in their own jobs. Black students are not always afforded the same job opportunities or the same pay as their white peers.<br />
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According to a <a href="https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/loans/student-loans/black-student-debt-crisis/" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><i>Nerdwallet</i></a> article, there are more black borrowers than there are white or Latino borrowers. That number rounds off to 87% of black students who borrow, compared to the other two ethnic groups. “A quarter-million federal direct student loan borrowers see their loans go into default for the first time every quarter,” the <a href="https://www.urban.org/research/publication/underwater-student-debt/view/full_report" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Urban Institute</a> stated in their research. On top of that, black borrowers are more likely to default on their loans. A default on a federal student loan occurs after nine months of inactive payments. Once that goes into effect, the federal government then has the right to seize their paychecks. In addition to that, the student who has defaulted on their loan can be sought after by <a href="http://www.falaw.us/debt-collection.php" rel="noopener" target="_blank">debt collectors</a>.<br />
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This all puts a massive dent in the student’s <a href="https://goodcredithabits.nyc/index.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">credit score</a> and directly affects how they will purchase a home, vehicle or any costly item in the future. A year or two before the student defaults on their loan their credit score sees a 50 to 90 point decline, as reported by the Urban Institute.<br />
What further envelops black borrowers into more debt is their enrollment in graduate school after receiving their bachelor’s degrees. The need for more schooling after completing their undergraduate studies stems from the lack of opportunities offered to black graduates with just bachelor’s degrees. Black students typically decide that obtaining their master’s degrees will heighten their job prospects but in doing so, they have a wider pool of loans with higher amounts they can delve into. But, this puts them in the red zone for defaulting on their grad school loans more than they would for their undergraduate school loans.<br />
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It must be noted that, the reasons why black borrowers default on their student loans and fall into more debt are simply unavoidable, unless there is a complete overhaul of society. In the meantime, black borrowers should apply for federal aid before they decide on federal or private loans. This can be done through the <a href="https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)</a> application which not only issues <a href="https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/grants-scholarships/pell" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Pell Grants</a>, but also work-study opportunities. Secondly, it is best to seek scholarships which are handed out not only based on academic excellence, but according to different criteria met by the applying student. After trying the above methods and incorporating your own savings, if possible, and college is still too expensive, then opt for a federal loan before you apply for a private loan. Federal student loans for college include Direct loans (Subsidized and Unsubsidized), Perkins loans, Parent PLUS loans, and<a href="https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/loans/plus" rel="noopener" target="_blank">GradPLUS loans.</a> Typically, federal loans are favored because they offer lower interest rates and some recourse of forgiveness. They are aimed at making higher education a possibility for every student in the nation.<br />
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If you are a borrower, but especially a black borrower, be wary of your due dates and sketch a plan of payment so you keep on top of your loan before it gets out of hand. Should you foresee a missed payment or begin to fall behind on your loan repayments, reach out to the loan servicer. Loan servicers know you are not the first student to experience the hardship repayment brings. Reaching out to them could result in a collaborative plan of action you both put together. A lack of communication could end up costing you so much more.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100481036170360858.post-77536899692426123552018-11-20T11:42:00.003-08:002018-11-20T11:42:25.169-08:00How Can SIJS Help Immigrant Children Obtain a Green Card?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3FIJi1dgCyCi-PXv_3mBIbasD_MEIkmvwHWxdpYI7suNAQeo9X7Q9AYMOn94HuwM2PXXS_10_LtiCWr2dTVVkLLYxalrdCY4tXlIUhRzyFT_E0AlzhSfmCuKWE-I3N64gGb9rnXYGuH2/s1600/cutekid2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3FIJi1dgCyCi-PXv_3mBIbasD_MEIkmvwHWxdpYI7suNAQeo9X7Q9AYMOn94HuwM2PXXS_10_LtiCWr2dTVVkLLYxalrdCY4tXlIUhRzyFT_E0AlzhSfmCuKWE-I3N64gGb9rnXYGuH2/s320/cutekid2.jpg" width="320" /></a>Quite often, the welfare of immigrant minors is raised among news outlets. In recent news, we heard about an alarming number of children being separated from their parents at the U.S.-Mexican border and held in detention facilities. But what about children who overstayed their visa or were brought to the United States by other means? They too, can obtain permanent residency through a Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) proceeding.</div>
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SIJ status is granted to children who are under the age of 21, but preferably under the age of 18, as the Trump Administration threatens a restriction on the age limit. In order to obtain a Green Card through SIJ status, a Juvenile Court of their State of residence must deem those children as abandoned or neglected by their parents. A child can be deemed abandoned or neglected when at least one parent refrains from providing them with adequate food, shelter, education or emotional support, and other issues that can be brought to a Court to prove abandonment—including the death of a parent. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Once it is established that a child has been abandoned or neglected, the Court will order a guardianship or a related custody order so that their needs can be met. The guardian or custodian does not need to be a citizen of the United States; however, they must not have any criminal records neither should other members of their household. An Order from the Juvenile Courts will be used to petition USCIS for the child to be granted a Green Card.</div>
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In 2017, Eber, from Guatemala, was granted SIJ relief and obtained his Green Card after his older brother was appointed to be his guardian. He left his home because he was physically abused by his father and both parents abandoned him. He faced deportation when he came to the United States illegally. His application for guardianship, with the Court finding that his parents abandoned him, enabled him to receive Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, and thus he was able to obtain his Green Card.</div>
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Not all cases are as extreme. Sometimes a Court will find neglect if a parent passed away and there is no one else to care for the child in the home country. Other times, the Court will determine that an abusive parent is neglectful and will place the child with an appropriate guardian.</div>
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Brian Figeroux, Esq., the attorney who advocated for Eber’s SIJ petition, said, “too many children who are abandoned in the United States, don’t get proper advice either because the people they live with do not care, or they don’t get multiple consultations from seasoned AILA lawyers.” He also pointed out that social workers who work with immigrant children need to understand that SIJ proceedings are the solution to many of these children’s problems. He further said, “my concern is that those children are missing out on many opportunities to get a proper education and jobs, which can lead them to be frustrated, depressed and suicidal.” Mr. Figeroux extends a free consultation to anyone who needs advice on this matter. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Many children, who were brought to the United States by family members or came on their own, should know that there is a way to find relief and obtain permanent residency. The SIJ status is one way whereby they can remain with loving relatives or be appointed new guardians who would care for them in the United States. They can find assistance with an immigration attorney who also has experience with family law matters, specifically with the Special Immigrant Juvenile petition. A legal consult will open the door for a future without the fear of deportation. Call the Law Office of Figeroux & Associates at 855-768-8845 for a free consultation.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100481036170360858.post-30561816259832545042018-11-13T08:35:00.004-08:002018-11-13T08:35:58.965-08:00Workers' Compensation
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By Tatyana Bellamy-Walker </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmsxUqU-0A171PHQbs2DYRzb6P6JB9r3efA979-vNQ7GAnPrT-90-OiETsYLHTonsUvlb0JhFQk6OYXXY4bufFFVVmkOL5KURc4xeWyr6xsC2kPSjs2K7CvD8_oEpQi146onOEGmyX0XM/s1600/wcompensationlaw.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmsxUqU-0A171PHQbs2DYRzb6P6JB9r3efA979-vNQ7GAnPrT-90-OiETsYLHTonsUvlb0JhFQk6OYXXY4bufFFVVmkOL5KURc4xeWyr6xsC2kPSjs2K7CvD8_oEpQi146onOEGmyX0XM/s320/wcompensationlaw.jpg" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">More than a century ago, pirates were some of the world’s first advocates for workers’ compensation. Known for their trademark eye patches and wooden legs, pirates were paid for loss of body parts. While hopefully, your career is not as dangerous as a pirate, if you’re injured on the job, first check out your state’s local protocol.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Workers’ compensation is an insurance or wage replacement offered to employees injured on the job. Under New York State law, workers’ compensation covers employees working in for-profit businesses and excludes most independent contractors. Independent contractors are self-employed workers and not employees.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After an injury, it’s important to first receive medical care from a health care provider designated by the Workers Compensation Board. Within 30 days of the incident, notify the employer in writing about the accident. Then file a claim for worker’s compensation and mail it to the nearest Workers Compensation Board.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Whether you slipped on a banana peel, inhaled toxic fumes or strained your back while lifting boxes, there are rules to remember when filing a claim. Depending on the laws in the state, after a claim, a worker might be drug tested. If the injury was caused by the intoxication, then the benefits can be denied.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On the other hand, small businesses cannot forgo workers’ compensation and may face high fines as well as lawsuits for doing so. Uber is currently facing a class action lawsuit after one of its California drivers was allegedly attacked on the job. Since Uber classifies workers as independent contractors, the driver is not required to receive workers’ compensation. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is one of the drawbacks of Uber’s business model of employing independent contractors. While Uber can avoid insuring drivers, they also run the risks of costly lawsuits. This varies from state to state. In New York, however, Uber drivers are given workers’ compensation benefits under the Black Car Fund, which provides protection and insurance for drivers who are classified as independent contractors. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If an agency is concerned about the cost of workers’ compensation, the penalties for forgoing the costs are far worse. According to New York State’s Workers Board Employee Handbook, if you do not carry coverage and you have fewer than five employees within a 12-month period, then you risk a misdemeanor fine between $1,000 and $5,000. If you hire more than five employees and do not provide coverage it is a class D felony and you face a fine between $5,000 and $50,000. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If a business keeps inaccurate payroll records, that can affect workers’ compensation premiums, they may face a penalty of $2,000 for each ten-day period of non-compliance. These laws do not discriminate against celebrities either. In 2013, TMZ reported that Jim Carrey was fined $72,000 for not providing workers compensation for employees at a New York art studio. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Higher workers’ compensation premiums are most often seen in industries with more dangerous conditions such as construction zones, landscaping or other risk-prone locations. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here are some quick tips for reducing your workers’ compensation premiums. First, establish and maintain a safety program to reduce work-related injuries. For example, some employers join a drug-free workplace program regulated under Code Rule 60 of New York State’s Department of Labor. In addition, it is important to be aware of fraudulent claims. If someone is out of work for a knee injury – an investigator might expose that they’re engaging in activities that impede on their safety. Lastly, consider joining a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) to assist in loss control and safety. They are experts in providing administrative support such as payroll processing and human resources. Reducing injuries not only ensures a safer work environment but allows the owner to build a profitable and sustainable business. </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100481036170360858.post-9071775500778580072018-11-03T16:05:00.000-07:002018-11-03T16:05:05.797-07:00How to Avoid Legal Trouble When Renting to Immigrants and Non-Citizens How to Avoid Legal Trouble When Renting to Immigrants and Non-Citizens<br />
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By Tatyana Bellamy-Walker<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4llGI1Jdg29CxioSNFkGnDh8aCc-93-gO2qK-22JM6iBrAAZwGPGYm7wyz7DeIkNHn3J2mkbYDq5yw1MtgFAO1WKggM-9EsgX16l3Mo1kwb7zNiZhNMLBAblYMsFIHOnxZ3vci4VEQBvI/s1600/shutterstock_1217554606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4llGI1Jdg29CxioSNFkGnDh8aCc-93-gO2qK-22JM6iBrAAZwGPGYm7wyz7DeIkNHn3J2mkbYDq5yw1MtgFAO1WKggM-9EsgX16l3Mo1kwb7zNiZhNMLBAblYMsFIHOnxZ3vci4VEQBvI/s320/shutterstock_1217554606.jpg" width="320" /></a>Housing discrimination can take on many forms. According to the Fair Housing Act, landlords cannot project bias against non-citizens. <br /> Recently, in a one-hour live webinar, Douglas D. Chasick, the president of the Fair Housing Institute, instructed owners of multifamily housing properties, managers of multifamily properties, leasing agents and attorneys and other rental property advisors on ways to avoid violating U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and fair housing rules. <br /> Chasick also advised how to avoid lawsuits from applicants and residents who claim you discriminated against them on the basis of national origin, the challenges of implementing a policy restricting residency to U.S. citizens and dealing with complaints arising from cultural differences among residents. <br /> With more than a million undocumented immigrants living in New York City, thousands live in apartments and may face discrimination. Local legislation, however, can protect undocumented tenants. According to New York City’s Human Rights Law, it is illegal for landlords to discriminate against tenants based on their actual or perceived immigration status. <br /> This includes threatening to deport tenants or report them to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), retaliating against non-citizens by refusing to make repairs to their apartments and requiring tenants to provide proof of citizenship or documentation detailing their immigration status. <br /> A couple in Massachusetts is all too familiar with how these laws pan out. When a landlord asked the wife of a prospective tenant, “Where are you from?” it sparked a $60,000 rental discrimination lawsuit. The Boston Fair Housing Commission issued $10,000 in emotional damages, $44,000 in attorney’s fees and costs and a $7,500 civil penalty against the broker. <br /> “While the fine was eventually reduced it was not by much,” Chasick said. “[the landlord] casually said where are you from? And [the prospective tenant] said “Venezuela.” The prospect and her husband went on to find an apartment a month later — the prospect found the question about her national origin insulting and upsetting.<br /> When landlords are renting to undocumented immigrants there are some protocols to follow. It is important not to single out applicants who may appear “undocumented” or foreign-born. For example, if an application does not call for a prospect’s driver’s license — do not inquire about a driver’s license from someone perceived to be undocumented. Also, you cannot ask for extra information, unless you ask all applicants for this information. It is recommended to keep records of screening information for all tenants and prospective renters if a lawsuit or fined is pinned to a landlord. <br /> For undocumented immigrants, it is usually difficult to run credit history and background checks. Experts at Landlord Forums.com recommend looking at the last twelve months of bank statements to see their payment history. A County’s Sheriff’s Office is a good place to look up criminal records, especially because it is public information. Also, it is less likely that undocumented immigrants will be late on their payments because at court hearings they may risk deportation. <br /> If an undocumented tenant is having an issue with a landlord, they should call the New York State Office of New American’s hotline at 1-800-566-7636 or file an online complaint to the Attorney General’s Office.To file a discrimination lawsuit, call the Law Offices of Figeroux & Associates at 718-222-3155 to set up an appointment.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100481036170360858.post-25256337522800431672018-10-28T13:37:00.002-07:002018-10-28T13:37:51.223-07:004 Smart Money Habits That Will Help You Save Up a Mortgage Down Payment <h2>
4 Smart Money Habits That Will Help You Save Up a Mortgage Down Payment </h2>
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Are you ready for home ownership? The prospect of owning your own house or apartment is an exciting one, but with any financial transaction this large, there are some things to consider. The first is your down payment – that is, the initial payment you'll put against the cost of the house to reduce the amount that you're borrowing in a mortgage. Let's have a look at four habits that will help you to get your down payment saved up faster. <br /><b><br />Build (And Stick To!) a Reasonable Budget</b><br />The first and most obvious tip is to stick to a reasonable budget. Determine how much you have coming in and going out of your bank accounts and credit cards each month. Group everything into areas like 'food,' 'utilities,' 'dining out,' 'entertainment' and more. Then, reduce each area to a reasonable amount and avoid any overspending. <br /><br /><b>Figure Out Your 'Latte Factor' – And Eliminate It</b><br />If you're unfamiliar with the term, a 'latte factor' is that one consistent purchase that you make each day which, over time, drains your bank account. For example, if you spend $5 each day on your coffee habit that adds up to almost $2,000 per year in unnecessary costs. Pay close attention to your spending habits and try to eliminate anything that you can. <br /><br /><b>Make Automatic Payments to a Down Payment Fund </b><br />If you're working a stable job and have regular pay periods, you may want to explore setting up a separate savings account for your down payment. Once you have this account opened, set up automatic deposits from your regular bank account after each pay day. This limits your ability to spend your cash while building up your down payment fund automatically.<br /><br /><b>Don't Carry Credit That You Don't Need</b><br />Finally, try not to carry credit that you aren't going to use. This includes department store credit cards, extra bank credit cards or lines of credit. While it won't necessarily harm your credit score to have available credit, if you do have it you're far more likely to use it than if you don't. You'll need to be disciplined to save up your down payment. So, don't bother with extra credit that may be too tempting to resist using.<br /><br />These are just a few of the smart money habits that will help you get your mortgage down payment saved up as quickly as possible. When you're ready to discuss mortgage financing for your new home, contact our team of mortgage professionals. We'd be happy to share options that suit your budget as well as other tips for getting your down payment saved up. Call us at 888-670-6791Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100481036170360858.post-88781028840165176592018-10-28T13:25:00.002-07:002018-10-28T13:25:15.064-07:00Buying a Foreclosure: 5 Things to Know<h2>
Buying a Foreclosure: 5 Things to Know</h2>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW70spak2UruFrg5jjX90qCMWedpdNtAc4i1nZMNId98vHcZMN3T9iYj6e2wiK5bL0XzT0m0jJ9Ke_XJ32HPxPFXNsb-WAgQmqjcpBxbZMbIBPn481y9LzAeneORrPHdkUqwFLdPGl0Ike/s1600/shutterstock_27923266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW70spak2UruFrg5jjX90qCMWedpdNtAc4i1nZMNId98vHcZMN3T9iYj6e2wiK5bL0XzT0m0jJ9Ke_XJ32HPxPFXNsb-WAgQmqjcpBxbZMbIBPn481y9LzAeneORrPHdkUqwFLdPGl0Ike/s320/shutterstock_27923266.jpg" width="320" /></a>Buying a property out of foreclosure can be a very smart move, financially. But it can also be complicated, expensive, and stressful. Here are 5 things to keep in mind before you take a first step in that direction:<br /><br /><b>Cash or Pre-approval Required</b><br />Buying a house that has been returned to the lender through foreclosure means dealing with bureaucracy rather than with a motivated seller. Large lenders are notorious for taking their time to approve a contract, even if the offer is for the exact amount specified.<br />Then there's the paperwork, which can seem endless. Most lenders require that prospective buyers have cash on hand, or a pre-authorized loan in place in order to even submit an offer. <br /><br /><b>There's Little Room for Negotiation</b><br />Although in certain circumstances there may be an opportunity for some discussion about the price, that is not the norm in a foreclosure. The minimum price is usually written in stone, even during an on-site property auction, and the only direction is up! The days of buying foreclosures for a song are long past, if indeed they ever really existed.<br />
<b><br />As-Is Condition Means Just That</b><br />Some buyers specialize in foreclosures while other investors run in the other direction. There are pros and cons, of course, to every transaction. Sage advice is to always pay the fee for a property inspection on a foreclosed property, even if you have experience. A third-party evaluation is especially valuable if the home has been vacant for an extended period of time, if the utilities have been turned off, or if there are extensive visible defects.<br /> Foreclosures can be like icebergs: What you see may be nothing compared to what lies below the surface. Also, with the findings in writing, always confirm that your loan commitment and insurance quotes will be honored in spite of the existing condition.<br /><br /><b>The Need for an Experienced Realtor</b><br />Navigating the landscape of property foreclosures is a specialty field, and caution is the name of the game. As a prospective buyer of a pre-foreclosure, a short-sale or a foreclosed home, an experienced realtor is your best resource. A real estate professional will help you deal with all timelines and requirements, and has the knowledge and expertise to recommend lenders, inspectors, insurance agents and contractors to help you make a decision.<br /><b><br />Always Consider Future Value</b><br />Although the initial price might be right, there are additional variables at play in every real estate transaction. What can you expect in terms of appreciation over the short term? What is the long-term outlook for the neighborhood? Will needed repairs and improvements add to the home's value, or simply bring its condition up to standard? Do you plan to live in the home, or is it strictly for resale?<br /> Your trusted real estate professional is the best resource to help you thoroughly evaluate all the information about every foreclosure.<br /> We are happy to help and share our insight and experience to help you with the buying process. Schedule an appointment today. Call 888-670-6791.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100481036170360858.post-25154057735045687432018-10-16T07:37:00.000-07:002018-10-16T07:37:26.270-07:00Aretha Franklin Died Without a Will. Why You Shouldn't<h2>
Estate Planning Should Start Today</h2>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">By Dana Mathura</span></h4>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2euucYzMwBBVAv1GbgiwDrAEqISwTpxUwCLfLGf_JOTuu7OMQPZeRvmKVZEt1HPo_iGcAnY06P_h2hyphenhyphencqvMeahZOOq-pXoLrU3j10CH0F78h5_2xLU_cBf4eRKgUNaf_I9a7eI-ug1gtz/s1600/shutterstock_574803100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2euucYzMwBBVAv1GbgiwDrAEqISwTpxUwCLfLGf_JOTuu7OMQPZeRvmKVZEt1HPo_iGcAnY06P_h2hyphenhyphencqvMeahZOOq-pXoLrU3j10CH0F78h5_2xLU_cBf4eRKgUNaf_I9a7eI-ug1gtz/s320/shutterstock_574803100.jpg" width="320" /></a>You are growing older each day. As much of an unwanted reminder that may be, it too comes with the joys and woes you have experienced all throughout your existence. <br /> <br />
We all reach an age where we find ourselves inundated by the inevitable. Perhaps this has happened to you when the doctor provided some news about a condition or you looked down at your birthday cake only to see more candles than icing. As much as we shy away from talking about it, death is the one experience we all share in common.<br />
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As society has it, it is essentially too taboo of a topic. However, in not talking about it, we lose out on much needed information during our lives. By this, I am of course referring to the planning of an estate or a will. You may think the act is only regarded for the wealthy who have plenty to go around and need the organization that planning offers. But the fact of the matter is, you too could benefit from the organization and planning of an estate or will.<br />
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For one, it allows what you have—be it a little or a lot—to be allocated to the people you would like. No amount is too small because what happens after your death is a tale to be told. Time and time again, we hear the horror stories of one member of a family passing without a will and their money bringing horrific family feuds to the dinner table.<br />
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The simplest solution is to create a plan. An estate plan boils down to an arrangement outlining the future of your valuables and assets—think houses, cars, life insurance, pensions, stocks, even debt—after you are gone. Establishing one with a lawyer ensures there are no holes in your plan or desires. A will is not dissimilar, as it is a legal document ordering what items go to which loved one. An estate plan, though, takes the process further and incorporates some belongings a will does not cover. <br /> <br />
As painful as it may seem to contemplate your own death, you would be doing your family a great service. After your death, the division of property, funds, and other valuables could turn complicated and even aggressive in nature. Having your wishes visible in writing has the ability to hold up in court. Your family, friends and other loved ones you leave belongings to, will also be more likely to respect your wishes if you declare them beforehand. <br /> <br />
Pre-planning is always a good habit to get into. Luckily, if you do pre-plan your estate or will, it translates into direct savings for your loved one’s bank accounts. They will not need to take on the headache of paying a lawyer after your passing if you already did the bulk of the work while you were living. Money is also saved from having to pay probate costs when you draft a valid estate plan. Without one, the state you resided in will have a say in how your possessions are disseminated. This option does not even guarantee it will go to your family. <br /> <br />
If you are a minority, you might already be at a higher risk of not seeing the need to have these affairs in order. You would be making a large mistake and contributing to the $2 billion that probate fees cost families left behind each year, states <i>Black Enterprise Founder</i>, Earl G. Graves, Sr. It only goes to show that much is to be done on that front. Graves goes on to mention that collectively, African-Americans hold about 2 million businesses in the United States. If these businesses are not rightfully handed down to the next of kin, then they are subject to your state’s decision in who will receive it. This is a route no one should aim for.<br />
<br />
There is a dire need to protect minority-owned assets. In doing so, it will help contribute to the future of minorities as they use the funds and property gained from estate planning to attend college and build businesses in the coming age. This creates an ever-sustainable economy if the cycle can continue on. Preserving your family’s wealth could never be a bad idea.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100481036170360858.post-82272183029897195382018-10-12T16:24:00.000-07:002018-10-12T16:24:33.162-07:00Need to Change Your Name on Your Social Security Card?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Need to
Change Your Name on Your Social Security Card?</span></b></div>
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<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="color: black;">Social Security Administration</span></div>
<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNf8MQV1OxTVUn8oXP9BnTdPIHqcfNdSVk1TfXDvjn2uRt_gjgiQ-lnQke5HamNLaowj70ysWVgpAbFgPBQ781W8_6QPAPb64W0_ndw1Er8bLmsY3qPHCr8b9Gc8edYpbz8XkuTBFAQMo2/s1600/shutterstock_367548488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNf8MQV1OxTVUn8oXP9BnTdPIHqcfNdSVk1TfXDvjn2uRt_gjgiQ-lnQke5HamNLaowj70ysWVgpAbFgPBQ781W8_6QPAPb64W0_ndw1Er8bLmsY3qPHCr8b9Gc8edYpbz8XkuTBFAQMo2/s640/shutterstock_367548488.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Are you changing your name? If so, let Social Security know
so we can update your information, send you a corrected card, and make sure you
get the benefits you’ve earned.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To change your name on your card, you must show us documents
proving your legal name change and identity. If you are a U.S. citizen,
you also must show us a document proving your U.S. citizenship, if it is not
already in our records. You must present original documents or copies
certified by the agency that issued them. We can’t accept photocopies or
notarized copies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To prove your legal name change, you must show one of the
following documents:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Marriage
document;</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Divorce
decree;</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"></span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Certificate
of naturalization showing a new name; or</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Court
order for a name change.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To prove your identity, you must show an unexpired document
showing your name, identifying information, and photograph, such as one of the
following:</span></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">U.S.
driver’s license;</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">State-issued
non-driver’s identification card; or</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">U.S.
passport.</span></li>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you don’t have one of those documents available, we may
be able to accept your:</span></div>
<ul type="disc">
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identification card;</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">School
identification card;</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Health
insurance card; or</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">U.S.
military identification card.</span></li>
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following documents:</span></div>
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><ul type="disc">
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birth certificate;</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">U.S.
Consular Report of Birth Abroad;</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">U.S.
passport (unexpired);</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Certificate
of Naturalization; or</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Certificate
of Citizenship.</span></li>
</ul>
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Whatever your reason for your name change, Social Security
is here to help you with the new… you! Fill out the form <a href="http://www.socialsecurity.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf?utm_source=mip1018&utm_medium=online-media&utm_content=need-to-change-your-name-on-your-social-security-card-001&utm_campaign=ocomm-mip-fy19" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">online</span></a> and follow the
instructions to ensure your Social Security card is delivered in a timely
manner. You can also locate your <a href="http://www.socialsecurity.gov/locator" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">local field</span></a> office so you
can apply for your updated card and show your required documents in person.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For complete instructions, visit <a href="http://www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber?utm_source=mip1018&utm_medium=online-media&utm_content=need-to-change-your-name-on-your-social-security-card-003&utm_campaign=ocomm-mip-fy19" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">our website</span></a>, which includes
information for non-citizens. And remember, if you simply need to replace a
lost Social Security card, but don’t need to change your name, you can — in
most states — request your replacement card online using your <i><a href="http://www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">my Social Security</span></a></i> account.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Posted on <a href="https://blog.socialsecurity.gov/need-to-change-your-name-on-your-social-security-card/" title="2:10 pm"><span style="color: blue;">October 9, 2018</span></a> </span></span></span></div>
</span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</span></b><br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100481036170360858.post-22946280795174882182018-02-20T11:16:00.001-08:002018-02-20T11:16:20.325-08:00Ex-Spouse Benefits and How They Affect You<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Ex-Spouse Benefits and How They Affect You</span></b><br />
<br />
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<b>
</b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Just like during tax season,
it’s good to have all the information you need early so you can prepare and get
any money you are due.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqDTlFRVrMUlxyYViDlrys85aNUWYs6vAy3BIK31FzDp9jyNbTbIA1h_XwOYRywdWKS_sbxhJk9N2UWHgBFm9j__3JC9-zJmbrEjyoIbycWnkfr2kmhjQXuAC-nFE6vnrcQ-yB5iXlx74/s1600/couple3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqDTlFRVrMUlxyYViDlrys85aNUWYs6vAy3BIK31FzDp9jyNbTbIA1h_XwOYRywdWKS_sbxhJk9N2UWHgBFm9j__3JC9-zJmbrEjyoIbycWnkfr2kmhjQXuAC-nFE6vnrcQ-yB5iXlx74/s1600/couple3.png" /></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">If you are age 62, unmarried
and divorced from someone entitled to Social Security retirement or disability
benefits, you may be eligible to receive benefits based on his or her record.
To be eligible, you must have been married to your ex-spouse for 10 years or
more. If you have since remarried, you can’t collect benefits on your former
spouse’s record unless your later marriage ended by annulment, divorce, or
death. Also, if you’re entitled to benefits on your own record, your benefit
amount must be less than you would receive based on your ex-spouse’s work. In
other words, the higher of the two benefits for which you’re eligible will be
paid, but not both.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">You can apply for benefits on
your former spouse’s record even if he or she hasn’t retired, as long as you
divorced at least two years before applying. If, however, you decide to wait
until full retirement age to apply as a divorced spouse, your benefit will be
equal to half of your ex-spouse’s full retirement amount or disability benefit.
The same rules apply for a deceased former spouse.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The amount of benefits you
get has no effect on the benefits of your ex-spouse and his or her current
spouse. Visit Retirement Planner: If You Are Divorced <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>at <a href="http://www.socialsecurity.gov/">www.socialsecurity.gov</a>
to find all the eligibility requirements you must meet to apply as a divorced
spouse. This benefits planner gives you an idea of your monthly benefit amount.
If your ex-spouse died after you divorced, you may still quality for widow’s
benefits. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Remember, to visit <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.socialsecurity.gov,/"><span style="color: blue;">www.socialsecurity.gov</span></a> and visit Retirement Planner:
If You Are Divorced today to learn whether you’re eligible for benefits on your
ex-spouse’s record. That could mean a considerable amount of monthly income.
What you learn may bring a smile to your face … even on tax day!</span></div>
</span><b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100481036170360858.post-49761887248926738612017-08-17T09:22:00.002-07:002017-08-17T09:22:48.576-07:00Families Are Getting Savvier Paying for College<h2>
Families Are Getting Savvier Paying for College</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKWCVp2Sztt14MjCbumZYtfFx5XrXHgFSWRnXWuP91RZEYsM5Rur8vXQxWxT0tKMk6t3Ff79AFadquLXxG72fcT42yQHlSmdDVtnaprzgESbEHtCW7wYDGC_Z3RFDmNtJjtRReQ6tLBsdc/s1600/student_loans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1000" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKWCVp2Sztt14MjCbumZYtfFx5XrXHgFSWRnXWuP91RZEYsM5Rur8vXQxWxT0tKMk6t3Ff79AFadquLXxG72fcT42yQHlSmdDVtnaprzgESbEHtCW7wYDGC_Z3RFDmNtJjtRReQ6tLBsdc/s320/student_loans.jpg" width="320" /></a>College costs may be on the rise, but families are as determined as ever to make higher education a reality for their children. What’s more, families are becoming savvier about how they meet the expense, suggests a new study.<br />
According to “How America Pays for College 2017,” a national study from Sallie Mae and Ipsos, students and parents shared paying for college responsibilities equally in academic year 2016-17, each contributing about one-third of the expense, with scholarships and grants covering most of the rest.<br />
In addition, 98 percent of families surveyed took proactive measures in order to reduce college costs. That included choosing an in-state school, living at home, and enrolling in an accelerated program.<br />
“Throughout our 10 years of conducting this study, families have consistently demonstrated they are determined to make college happen, and they’ve also become more value-conscious as they pay for higher education,” said Raymond J. Quinlan, chairman and chief executive officer, Sallie Mae.<br />
For those families with college-bound students, Sallie Mae recommends a 1-2-3 approach.<br />
<br />
• Maximize money that doesn’t need to be repaid. Scholarships and grants paid 35 percent of college costs last school year; and scholarships were used by 49 percent of all families.<br />
<br />
You can get in on this action by utilizing free scholarship search tools from companies like Fastweb, Chegg, and Sallie Mae. To stay organized, maintain a spreadsheet of each scholarship’s details, including application due dates.<br />
<br />
• Explore federal student loans. All college-bound students should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, no matter what they believe their eligibility is – and repeat this every year they are in school. This is the key to securing federal and state financial aid for college. To learn more, visit fafsa.ed.gov.<br />
<br />
• Consider a responsible private student loan. Regardless of cost, nearly all families (98 percent) agreed college is an investment in a student’s future, and 86 percent of families said they expected their child to attend college since he or she was preschool age or younger. Even further, 59 percent said they expected their child to pursue a graduate degree. Making these dreams happen may require seeking out a private student loan. Be sure you turn to a responsible lender so there are no surprises down the line when it comes time to pay back the loan.<br />
Higher education remains an important aspect of the American dream for many families. As cost remains a deciding factor, more families are taking creative and proactive steps to make college affordable. (StatePoint)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100481036170360858.post-69856811834395782292017-08-07T14:25:00.001-07:002017-08-07T14:25:01.933-07:00Estate Planning: Selecting An Attorney<h2>
<b> Estate Planning: Selecting An Attorney</b></h2>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH49Xx4qA74p0Q-bKleMdGS-G6lkBgxr3xf0L66jUI51KmTbdoBYau19i-proTd0K_EsO9eiN0fTqN4PfnhQK6Tg3PQP0bAdDTOQa2jmF0UZDgNykgsS9eGZs4H-sYDh3HXf8z3k-_d_55/s1600/wills+%2526+etsate+planning+ad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="310" data-original-width="1600" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH49Xx4qA74p0Q-bKleMdGS-G6lkBgxr3xf0L66jUI51KmTbdoBYau19i-proTd0K_EsO9eiN0fTqN4PfnhQK6Tg3PQP0bAdDTOQa2jmF0UZDgNykgsS9eGZs4H-sYDh3HXf8z3k-_d_55/s640/wills+%2526+etsate+planning+ad.jpg" width="640" /></a>Planning what to do with your estate is no easy task. There are emotional and financial decisions that go into creating a solid estate plan, so hiring an attorney should be among your first steps. <br /> What exactly is your estate and why is it important to plan what happens to it after your death? Your estate is made up of all of your personal property, real estate, retirement accounts, investment accounts and other assets. While the law contains an official chain of events related to the disposing of these properties, it is best to figure out the details of what happens to your assets well before the task falls to the courts. <br /> This is where an estate planning attorney is key. You want your will and trust to be written in a way that covers all your bases. This can be a complicated issue, so it’s best to leave it in the hands of a licensed professional. <br /><br /><b>Research </b><br />When looking for an estate planning attorney, be prepared to invest significant time and energy to find the right fit for you. This is an important decision that requires diligent research on your part. Start by visiting your state or local bar association’s website, where you will find an active list of members that can be searched by specialty. <br /> You also can call a local attorney’s office for an initial consultation to go over your specific needs. Some attorneys will charge you for this session, while others won’t. Be sure to ask up front so you know what kind of investment will be required. <br /><br /><b>Board Certified Specialists</b><br />Some states allow attorneys to become certified specialists in a particular area of law, such as trusts and estates. If professional certification is available in your state, the bar association will have information about the requirements.<br /> Before applying for certification, an attorney must have a certain number of years of experience practicing law in a particular area, usually at least five. To become certified, an attorney must submit a number of professional references, take additional courses in that area of law and pass a lengthy written exam.<br /><br /><b>Ask Around </b><br />There are no better referrals than trusted friends and family members. Ask the people around you if they or someone you know has had a great experience with an estate planning attorney. <br /> Be sure to get all of the pertinent details from your connections, including cost of the estate planning process, the length of time it took to build the necessary documents and their thoughts about the attorney’s professionalism and communication skills.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100481036170360858.post-84314558649648235342017-06-30T09:44:00.002-07:002017-06-30T09:44:09.476-07:00Single Women Are Buying Homes Faster Than Single Men: Here’s Why<h2>
Single Women Are Buying Homes Faster Than Single Men: Here’s Why</h2>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnCslCTvo-L2RzE84TSx4ugMO0L-ZiyYlgxQR-7bVKAAkLUrt5V1KWilScLrquUV_DbPYYFTh298eHDqQgv7lDYP2m3yi0rmGTTihDlcRfyLNZdGYT6-jEB8cvA7mNUvhptTwggB7fcSrp/s1600/blackwomen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="375" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnCslCTvo-L2RzE84TSx4ugMO0L-ZiyYlgxQR-7bVKAAkLUrt5V1KWilScLrquUV_DbPYYFTh298eHDqQgv7lDYP2m3yi0rmGTTihDlcRfyLNZdGYT6-jEB8cvA7mNUvhptTwggB7fcSrp/s320/blackwomen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Skip the spouse. Buy the house. The news and research about women and money can be dreary. Women earn less than their male counterparts, pay harsher workplace penalties for pursuing parenthood, struggle more with debt, and save less for retirement. But there’s one area of personal finance where single women are outpacing men in the U.S., and it's a significant one: home ownership.<br />
<br />
With low interest rates and uncertainty as to where the real estate market will be in the next six months, many people are opting into ownership and investing in a home. Interestingly, according to the National Association of Realtors, approximately 17 percent of home buyers in the United States last year were women, which is a much higher percentage than the 7 percent of single men who invested in a home. While the statistics may be interesting enough on their own, here are some of the reasons why women may be opting in. <br /><b><br />Single Parent Security</b><br />The numbers don't lie, and it's a fact that there are a much higher number of single mothers in the United States than fathers, which makes home ownership that much more of a benefit. With low interest rates, it's common sense that many single mothers will be flocking towards the housing market to find stable housing for their family in a market that may fluctuate in the coming months. <br /><br /><b>Making a Lifestyle Choice</b><br />The days are long gone of women having to invest in a home when they get married, and for many women being single is a very popular lifestyle choice. This means that many single women are choosing to invest on their own terms and at their own time so that they can reap the benefits of home ownership. As Jessica Lautz of the National Association of Realtors says, "They really value home ownership, and they're willing to give up a lot to have a home of their own."<br /><br /><b>It's In the Numbers</b><br />There are certainly more than a few reasons why single women are flocking to the real estate market, but demographics are changing rapidly. While it was once the case that most people were married, or would marry, more single women are opting out of marriage and opening up a wider market for single-person home purchases. Given the low interest rates and the increasing number of women choosing to be single, purchasing a home offers a solid bet and a financial boon.<br />
<br />
With a home offering up the benefit of security and the advantage of being a good financial choice, it's no surprise that increasingly women are turning to home ownership on their own. If you're contemplating purchasing a home of your own, you may want to contact one of our local real estate professionals for more information about opportunities in your area at 888-670-679 <br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100481036170360858.post-65713793739654547662017-06-07T11:58:00.000-07:002017-06-07T12:01:34.812-07:00 DCA Warns Immigrant About "10-Year Visa Scam<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<h2>
<b>DCA Warns Immigrant About "10-Year Visa Scam</b></h2>
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Immigration Service Providers and Immigration Lawyers
Misleading Immigrant New Yorkers into Believing that they Can Obtain a Visa or
Green Card Based on 10 Years of Residency within the United States</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGgbPA4cr-sBvKWzTs5IQWdJhzydjLmhoKHTJtg6xnhdNxQrcRbSvPlzmrpieCH59fpTvarFfXM27-j4GkSVW5DR8wgHpEs8xwbcyEc4BdFr5pJ3DVuW-DMW45TpZ26PsdNoBjmJzwJ_Sb/s1600/immigration_ad+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1253" data-original-width="1600" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGgbPA4cr-sBvKWzTs5IQWdJhzydjLmhoKHTJtg6xnhdNxQrcRbSvPlzmrpieCH59fpTvarFfXM27-j4GkSVW5DR8wgHpEs8xwbcyEc4BdFr5pJ3DVuW-DMW45TpZ26PsdNoBjmJzwJ_Sb/s320/immigration_ad+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a>NEW YORK, NY—Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Commissioner
Lorelei Salas today issued a warning to consumers about an immigration scam
called the “10-Year Visa Scam.” Preying on fears and desperation to find a
legal way to stay in the United States, some immigration service providers and
immigration lawyers are telling immigrants, through word-of-mouth and deceptive
advertising, that they can obtain a visa or green card if they have lived in
the U.S. for 10 years. The scams are sometimes advertised under the banner
“easy way to obtain a green card!” What these individuals fail to disclose is
that, as part of the process for obtaining a green card or visa based upon
residency, the immigrant must first enter deportation proceedings. They also
often fail to explain the other requirements for this so-called “10-year visa,”
including that the immigrant must prove “extreme, unusual, and exceptional
hardship” to their family members, which is not “easy” to do. In at least one
example, an immigrant paid a provider approximately $25,000. As a result of
this scam, these consumers are left paying high costs for a service that they
have been deceived into believing is safe and easy – when in fact the opposite
is true.</div>
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This scam is placing immigrant New Yorkers at extraordinary
risk while grossly misrepresenting the visa application process. These
deceptive tactics violate the City’s Consumer Protection Law and DCA is
proactively investigating anyone who engages in this practice. We encourage
consumers who have witnessed advertisements promoting the 10-Year Visa Scam or
who have fallen victim to the scam file a complaint about “false advertising”
at nyc.gov/dca or call 311.</div>
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“Some immigration service providers and immigration lawyers
are preying on the desperation and fear of immigrants, all so they can turn a
profit,” said DCA Commissioner Lorelei Salas. “We want to make sure that all
consumers know the hidden risks involved in this 10-Year Visa Scam, which
requires immigrants to actually enter into deportation proceedings without the
guarantee that their visa application will even be approved. DCA encourages New
Yorkers, regardless of their immigration status, to utilize the City’s free and
secure services to ensure they are keeping themselves and their families safe.”</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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In addition to the 10-Year Visa Scam, DCA would like to warn
New Yorkers about illegal and predatory immigration assistance providers who
prey on vulnerable New Yorkers’ fear by luring them with false promises of work
authorization, green cards, or citizenship when they may not be qualified to provide
the services and do so in exchange for hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of
their hard-earned dollars. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>
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“The City is working to alert immigrant communities against
fraudsters offering this 10-Year Visa Scam,” said Nisha Agarwal, Commissioner
of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. “This scam, rather than granting
‘easy’ access to green cards, could in fact put more people at risk for
deportations. I thank the Department of Consumer Affairs and Commissioner Salas
for their help in informing immigrant New Yorkers of dangerous scams. And as we
have done through our Know Your Rights Forums across the city, I encourage New
Yorkers to call 311 to report fraud."</div>
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Additional information for immigrants:</div>
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<br /></div>
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·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do not
believe any provider that claims to have special influence with immigration
authorities.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In New York
State, a notary public, or notario público, is not an attorney. A notary public
cannot give legal advice, draft legal papers, or review documents for legality.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If someone
is not an authorized immigration service provider, they can only read the form
to you, translate, and write down information that you provide.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get a second
opinion before filling out any immigration applications.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Get a consultation from an attorney who is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Call right now to set up an appointment. Call 718-222-3155. Remember, the lawyer you hire, does make a difference!</b></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100481036170360858.post-60664785496033459462017-06-06T15:06:00.002-07:002017-06-06T15:06:52.095-07:00Immigrants’ Access to Counsel Topic of New Rulemaking Petition<div class="panel-pane pane-node-title">
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<h1>
Immigrants’ Access to Counsel Topic of New Rulemaking Petition</h1>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipdUP_gbrscvvhr7-FwuBmrwxCPPdVRav2FMjUKftFZIVNVdGXbu-sW8Wn9ARkoYsylTCPRouBX9bxC6X0PqQcena7LZASQsXa4FC1pYbkTm_k0eS_-R6WQhNTjWlSpQkg2MXSJw6WfcJy/s1600/immigration_ad+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1253" data-original-width="1600" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipdUP_gbrscvvhr7-FwuBmrwxCPPdVRav2FMjUKftFZIVNVdGXbu-sW8Wn9ARkoYsylTCPRouBX9bxC6X0PqQcena7LZASQsXa4FC1pYbkTm_k0eS_-R6WQhNTjWlSpQkg2MXSJw6WfcJy/s320/immigration_ad+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a><b>WASHINGTON, DC –</b> The
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the American
Immigration Council (Council) have petitioned the Department of Homeland
Security and the Department of State to issue new regulations that will
ensure all immigrants have access to legal counsel in secondary and
deferred inspection, as well as overseas consular interviews. If the
agency fails to respond or denies the petition, AILA and the Council may
pursue litigation in federal court.<br />
Benjamin Johnson, AILA Executive Director, explained:<br />
<blockquote>
“Due process is never optional but this is especially true in today’s
tumultuous atmosphere. Everyone needs access to legal counsel in
immigration proceedings, from start to finish – when applying for visas
at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate, when seeking recognition or
relinquishment of U.S. citizenship or nationality status, and when
seeking admission to the United States. Earlier this year, many
immigrants were detained for hours by U.S. Customs and Border Protection
(CBP) officers at airports around the country and denied access to
counsel even as officers were asking them detailed, complicated
questions about their immigration status. Immigration law is incredibly
complex and denying someone access to counsel is contrary to basic
American principles of due process.”<br />
</blockquote>
Beth Werlin, Executive Director of the Council, noted:<br />
<blockquote>
“Access to counsel in government proceedings is fundamental to
ensuring that our laws are properly executed and that due process is
afforded those navigating the immigration system. Barring lawyers from
participating—particularly when a complicated legal issue arises—can
result in both citizens and noncitizens being subjected to prolonged and
unnecessary detention and questioning at a port of entry. Moreover, the
lack of meaningful access to counsel can result in an unjust refusal of
a visa, denial of admission, or removal from the U.S. The presence of
counsel allows proceedings to move more efficiently and effectively, a
benefit for the government in a time of backlogs and delays in the
immigration arena.”<br />
</blockquote>
<b>Background:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>With few exceptions, lawyers are generally not permitted to
accompany their clients to visa interviews and other proceedings at U.S.
Embassies and Consulates, or during the secondary or deferred
inspection processes.</li>
<li>Even close relatives of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent
residents, as well as employees of U.S. corporations and non-profit
entities, are often denied access to their attorneys at critical stages
of the immigration process.</li>
<li>Further, individuals seeking to pursue complex claims to U.S.
citizenship or nationality, or to relinquish their U.S. citizenship, are
often denied access to counsel.</li>
<li>The presence of counsel could improve the quality and efficiency of
immigration decision‐making by ensuring that immigration officers have
relevant evidence and legal analysis and by encouraging clients to be as
forthcoming as possible.</li>
<li>Attorneys could also protect the rights of their clients, who often
lack the specialized knowledge required to properly present their own
claims, whether the issue is eligibility for a visa or admission, or a
claim to U.S. citizenship.</li>
<li>For example, a U.S. business may invest many thousands of dollars in
a process that ends in the unnecessary denial of a visa at the
consulate. A U.S. citizen can be separated from family for years due to
an easily correctable issue. While many consular adjudications and
admissions decisions are based on sound reasoning, there are also
countless examples of improper and unjust refusals of admission and visa
denials that are ultimately overturned. Access to counsel can make a
critical difference. </li>
<li>On February 9, 2017, Senators Harris (D-CA), Blumenthal (D-CT),
Booker (D-NJ), Carper (D-DE), Gillibrand (D-NY), Markey (D-MA), and
Warren (D-MA) introduced a bill to guarantee access to counsel to those
who are held or detained at a port of entry or at a detention facility
overseen by CBP or ICE. A companion bill was introduced in the House by
Representative Jayapal (D-WA).</li>
</ul>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100481036170360858.post-60930896003725181132017-06-02T17:43:00.000-07:002017-06-06T12:57:06.691-07:00Student Loan Debt Is Strangling GenerationsStudent Loan Debt Is Strangling Generations<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0uodAphdBI6EcbaiwfMBxKCE3iLHLpsK8h3v_p5RnDNRy8Cwjy7NQWcK5KZLWPPU79K8mGPIx_YxhgEJHm3fq6fRT5E2tFMwAm5cTyVFc9IXZ4fsveyAdmy-3gKt8WF4F7Wt-KgP8Cul/s1600/college4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="650" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0uodAphdBI6EcbaiwfMBxKCE3iLHLpsK8h3v_p5RnDNRy8Cwjy7NQWcK5KZLWPPU79K8mGPIx_YxhgEJHm3fq6fRT5E2tFMwAm5cTyVFc9IXZ4fsveyAdmy-3gKt8WF4F7Wt-KgP8Cul/s320/college4.jpg" width="320" /></a>Graduation season is in full bloom. And, many students are graduating into the doom of student loans. Student loan debt can be an albatross around the neck of recent graduates. Although the number of students with debt didn’t increase by much between 2004 and 2014, the amount of debt held by students did, according to the Institute for College Access and Success. About 69% of 2014 graduates from public and nonprofit universities and colleges had debt, compared to 65% in 2004. The average debt held by 2014 graduates was $28,950 per borrower, an increase that was twice the rate of inflation. It’s gotten so bad that student loans are now delaying the decision to get married which does not forecast a promising romantic future. <br />
Mike Kantrow, one of the nation’s leading financial experts, in an article, Why the Student Loan Crisis Is Even Worse Than People Think, Time.com, looks at the lasting impact of student lives stating: “I also found that students who graduate with excessive debt are about 10% more likely to say that it caused delays in major life events, such a buying a home, getting married, or having children. They are also about 20% more likely to say that their debt influenced their employment plans, causing them to take a job outside their field, to work more than they desired, or to work more than one job.”<br />
Soaring student loan debt also poses a risk to the nation's future economic growth. Before the Great Recession, total outstanding student loans ranked well below mortgages, auto loans, credit cards and home equity lines of credit as sources of household debt. Now it trails only mortgage debt, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. About 40 million consumers have at least one student loan, and the average debt was $29,000 last year, according to credit reporting firm Experian. Worse for students, delinquency rates on college loans are rising even as they decline for other types of household debt. The debt weighs down millions of Americans who might otherwise buy homes or start businesses. And the financial horror stories of debt-saddled students, combined with continued increases in tuition, could deter others from attending college and could produce a less-educated workforce.<br />
"The impact on future [economic] growth could be quite significant," said Cristian deRitis, who analyzes consumer credit economics for Moody's Analytics. The amount of outstanding student loans has skyrocketed, 76% to almost $1.2 trillion since 2009 as college costs have shot up and graduates have had difficulty finding good-paying jobs.<br />
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The strangulation continues. Retirees are now facing $36 billion in student loan debt. A recent report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York has people talking about Americans aged 60 and older who owe billions of dollars in student loans. Really? Senior citizens? Student loans? That’s right. And what’s more, older borrowers are seeing their social security checks garnished for repayment of delinquent student loans. Some of the debt is new, taken on when the borrower decided later in life to go back to school. Some of the debt has been hanging around for years, with balances growing while the borrower struggles to keep up with payments. Still others borrowed on behalf of a child or grandchild.<br />
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What can be done? How do we save generations from the strangulation of student loans? In a piece written for YES! Magazine, Raúl Carrillo, co-organizer for The Modern Money Network offered a solution that goes beyond debt forgiveness by arguing that instead of private or publicly funded college loans, the federal government should simply pay the tuition for those seeking higher education.<br />
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"To put it bluntly," writes Carrillo, "there is no fiscal reason why the U.S. student debt crisis should exist. You may find this argument hard to believe," he continues, recognizing that "the way most politicians and journalists talk about the national debt and deficit spending makes free higher education sound impossible."<br />
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Carillo says there's another way of looking at the crisis of student debt and funding of higher education—"a vision advocated by a growing movement of economists, lawyers, students, and financial practitioners who deal with the institutional nuts and bolts of the economy on a day-to-day basis."<br />
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In simplest terms, Carillo's argument rests on the idea that the U.S. federal government, capable of printing its own money, is simply "not broke" in the way that deficit hawks, who always find money for war and prisons and tax breaks for corporations, say it is. The demand should be that government print money into existence on behalf something good, a public investment, like education. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100481036170360858.post-44353297376183688992017-05-15T15:26:00.002-07:002017-05-15T15:26:40.782-07:00AILA Attorney Hosts Series of Immigration Training Seminars to Combat Deportation of Immigrants <b>AILA Attorney Hosts Series of Immigration Training Seminars to Combat Deportation of Immigrants </b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg836F0yCvv0fXCrIWUQgcPXiHuBjwabazF-o878qytbnaIIc3syqISW9kIzuo61YsefzukBFasJIWs7bpkySkW-trWY45Fyl9jU8Hu2R1Ypjz1YFsP06EXn0OssSIv7Lp8PR1pSZS6ZGDs/s1600/IMM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg836F0yCvv0fXCrIWUQgcPXiHuBjwabazF-o878qytbnaIIc3syqISW9kIzuo61YsefzukBFasJIWs7bpkySkW-trWY45Fyl9jU8Hu2R1Ypjz1YFsP06EXn0OssSIv7Lp8PR1pSZS6ZGDs/s1600/IMM.png" /></a>New York’s top immigration attorney, and American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) member, Brian Figeroux, launched a series of immigration forums in April to defend at least 2.2 million immigrants against deportation. <br />
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In February, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided parts of Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island to detain and arrest more than a dozen undocumented residents in their homes and workplaces.<br /> <br />
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According to the Pew Research Center’s five facts on illegal immigration, there were 11.1 million unauthorized immigrants in the U.S in 2014, accounting for at least 5 percent of the U.S. labor force. Some undocumented immigrants hope to receive permanent residency through a green card, a permit that allows a national to work and live in the U.S, the naturalization test, obtaining citizenship after an application and exam, enrolling in the U.S. military member or being a dependent of an armed forced member.<br />
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There are no shortcuts to U.S. citizenship. Some foreign-born residents, however, are lured to the U.S. by a company’s promise of jobs and economic opportunity. According to the Urban Labor Institute, employment-based green cards are sometimes used as a tool in labor trafficking, forcing undocumented people to work less than the minimum wage.”<br />
<br /> “Women and men subject themselves to green card slavery,” said Figeroux, who finds that immigrants only do jobs that Americans don’t want. “Go by Home-Depot, pick up workers for a day. If you need a nanny you’re not getting a U.S citizen or green card holder – you are hiring an undocumented person.”<br />
For years, the U.S. had a bittersweet relationship with the nation’s rising immigrant population. In the early 1930s, the Mexican Repatriation movement sent more than a million Latinos to the U.S. to work during a labor shortage after the Great Depression. Despite a history of using immigrants to work in the U.S. the anti-immigrant sentiment is growing in the country. <br /> <br />
“The atmosphere for immigrants changes from one decade to another,” Figeroux said. “Sometimes they like us. Sometimes they don’t. We want to look at immigration from a civil rights perspective.” <br /> <br />
If an undocumented person is served with a Notice to Appear (NTA), it means that they must appear in Immigration Court on the date specified or at a scheduled date in the future, according to Figeroux. The NTA will list the reasons for an alleged removal including if a person is not a U.S. citizen, citizen of a home country or if they entered the country through a different city and whether the entry was authorized. <br /> <br />
Figeroux advises clients to access the information or documents that U.S immigration officers have collected on them through a FOIA request (Freedom of Information Act), where they can request a copy of their immigration file. According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the FOIA requests can take up 35 days to process for individuals who are scheduled for a hearing before an immigration judge. <br /> <br />
For more information or immigration advice contact the Law Offices of Brian Figeroux and Associates at (718) 834-0916. Also, new immigration training sessions begin on Saturday, July 5, 2017 at 1pm. For more information, visit www.freeparalegal.org or call 718-722-9217.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100481036170360858.post-49381225455203381282017-05-03T14:08:00.004-07:002017-05-03T14:08:31.923-07:00Making the decision to rent or buy<h2 class="MsoNormal">
Making the decision to rent or buy </h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZYqMU9AF2KlAGTE0AL8QvK2WQEyA7Fkplk2JO7GmGNRt5KCMLB0bRlwqiWU8G0xZm8ca6AmyauTyS4rkvdY0OWCob8RMQ-sCOLLBZYhN28jH5beRBTGiU0uYoOdD4TDHiE8FzZ1xz_hQZ/s1600/firthome.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZYqMU9AF2KlAGTE0AL8QvK2WQEyA7Fkplk2JO7GmGNRt5KCMLB0bRlwqiWU8G0xZm8ca6AmyauTyS4rkvdY0OWCob8RMQ-sCOLLBZYhN28jH5beRBTGiU0uYoOdD4TDHiE8FzZ1xz_hQZ/s320/firthome.jpg" width="320" /></a>Buying a home is exciting. It’s also one of the most
important financial decisions you’ll make. Choosing a mortgage to pay for your
new home is just as important as choosing the right home.</div>
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Becoming a homeowner can be a great decision for many people, but it isn’t
the right choice for everyone. Home ownership makes sense for different people
at different stages of their lives. If you’re not sure whether you should make
the move to buy your own home, it makes sense to consider both your personal
and financial goals.<br />
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Buying a home is one of the largest financial decisions most people make and
it’s also a big personal decision. Some people buy because they want more
space, the freedom to decorate and renovate, or because they want to live in a
particular school district. Many people become homeowners because they want to
build equity and have stable housing costs. On the other hand, some people rent
for the flexibility of knowing they could move if they needed to, or because
they’re not ready to take on the financial and maintenance responsibilities
that come with home ownership, or because it is more financially advantageous in
their circumstances. Here is one common financial consideration to keep in
mind as you decide whether or not owning a home is the right decision for you
right now.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Understand when you will—and
won’t—build equity</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At some point, someone has probably told you that if you
rent, you’re “throwing away” money. When people say this, they’re usually
talking about the opportunity to build wealth in a home over time by building
home equity. If you rent, you won’t build wealth in your home over time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Home equity is the difference between the market value of
your home and the amount of money you owe on it. Essentially, it’s the wealth
you hold in your home. The equity in your home grows over time as you pay
down the balance of your mortgage. If the market value of your home increases,
your equity will also increase. If the market value of your home
decreases, your equity will also decrease.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Buying a home is a long-term financial commitment and you
will build home equity by paying down your mortgage over time. In the first
several years of your mortgage, you build equity slowly. That’s because your
monthly mortgage payments primarily go towards interest in those first years of
ownership—not towards building equity. That’s why you shouldn’t depend on being
able to sell your home to get out of a mortgage, especially in the early years. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you hold on to your home for many years, the share of your
monthly payment that goes towards paying down the principal—and building
equity—increases, and the share that goes to paying interest decreases. That
means that the longer you’ve had your mortgage, the faster you build equity
with your monthly payments. But remember: your home equity also goes up or down
as the market value of your home increases or decreases. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you decide, or need, to move and sell your home within
the first few years of owning it, it’s possible that after paying the
transaction costs of selling the home, you will not have any more equity than
you started with. In fact, you may even have <i>less </i>equity than you
started with. Keep in mind that if home prices go down instead of up—as they
did from 2007-2012—you could lose some or all of your equity, including the
initial down payment, when you sell.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Extracted from an article by Nicole Shea, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Next posting will focus on:<span style="font-size: small;"><i> </i></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Understand how having a mortgage
will—or won’t—affect your taxes</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">For assistance, contact Equity Smart Realty Inc at 888-670-6791</span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">.</span></i></b></span>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100481036170360858.post-59435925152271361862017-04-07T14:07:00.001-07:002017-04-07T14:07:07.457-07:00USCIS Reaches FY 2018 H-1B Cap <h1 class="title">
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USCIS Reaches FY 2018 H-1B Cap </h1>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEzcbYR7htpUsD-bHBdtajFVrJm-L8T0dKGq_D_Ej19GopZNLA1jRjwTgGn_lsiQxeE2sXZWs3lvA-6dGiLzPoEvfRPf_1nn6RxCyuo7Ao0vyir6juMQ3WIbWekwvBqvDVSYo12WSm9Rgo/s1600/college3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEzcbYR7htpUsD-bHBdtajFVrJm-L8T0dKGq_D_Ej19GopZNLA1jRjwTgGn_lsiQxeE2sXZWs3lvA-6dGiLzPoEvfRPf_1nn6RxCyuo7Ao0vyir6juMQ3WIbWekwvBqvDVSYo12WSm9Rgo/s320/college3.jpg" width="320" /></a>WASHINGTON - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has
reached the congressionally mandated 65,000 visa H-1B cap for fiscal
year 2018. USCIS has also received a sufficient number of H-1B petitions
to meet the 20,000 visa U.S. advanced degree exemption, also known as
the master’s cap.<br />
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The agency will reject and return filing fees for all unselected cap-subject petitions that are not duplicate filings.<br />
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USCIS will continue to accept and process petitions that are otherwise exempt from the cap. However, please keep in mind USCIS suspended premium processing
April 3 for up to six months for all H-1B petitions, including
cap-exempt petitions. Petitions filed on behalf of current H-1B workers
who have been counted previously against the cap, and who still retain
their cap number, will also not be counted toward the congressionally
mandated FY 2018 H-1B cap. USCIS will continue to accept and process
petitions filed to:<br />
<ul>
<li>Extend the amount of time a current H-1B worker may remain in the United States;</li>
<li>Change the terms of employment for current H-1B workers;</li>
<li>Allow current H-1B workers to change employers; and</li>
<li>Allow current H-1B workers to work concurrently in a second H-1B position.</li>
</ul>
U.S. businesses use the H-1B program to employ foreign workers in occupations that require specialized knowledge.<br />
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If you are interested in learning about Getting A Green Card Through Employment, please register for our FREE seminar at: <span class="short-url">goo.gl/qtvxWj</span> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100481036170360858.post-8975794798127281162017-04-07T13:57:00.000-07:002017-04-07T13:57:01.126-07:00Campaign to End Racial Profiling <h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
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Campaign to End Racial Profiling</div>
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Unless you have been living under a rock, we’ve all heard
the saying, “Driving While Black”. Deborah Jacobs, in her capacity as Executive
Director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Jersey, once said,
“We want to send a message to the victims about their rights, and to the state
about its obligations. We need real police reform and we need to answer the
suffering of the many victims of the New Jersey Turnpike."</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few years ago,
"Getting the State of New Jersey to stop racial profiling is like pulling
teeth," headlined a new advertisement unveiled at a press conference in
Newark. </div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>The ad featured
Orange, NJ dentist Dr. Elmo Randolph, an African-American man who was pulled
over approximately 100 times over a five-year period without ever receiving a
ticket. In the ad, Dr. Randolph describes his experience with the police,
stating that, "The police searched my car and I had to prove to the
troopers that being an African-American man in a nice car doesn't mean that I
am a drug dealer or car thief." Flash forward to 2017, not much has
changed. </div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>According to Civil
Rights attorney, Brian Figeroux, of Figeroux & Associates, the Campaign to
End Racial Profiling, failed because Congress, President Bush, Jr. and
President Obama, for “national security” purposes needed the cover of law to
“target” Muslims; consequently, African Americans, Hispanics, other minorities
suffered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Congress and the President
need to end racial profiling not ban Muslims.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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<b>What is Racial Profiling?</b></div>
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The term “racial profiling” means the practice of a law
enforcement agent or agency relying, to any degree, on actual or perceived
race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity or sexual
orientation in selecting which individual to subject to routine or spontaneous
investigatory activities or in deciding upon the scope and substance of law
enforcement activity following the initial investigatory procedure, except when
there is trustworthy information, relevant to the locality and timeframe, that
links a person with a particular characteristic described in this paragraph to
an identified criminal incident or scheme. – H. R. 1933 (End Racial Profiling
Act of 2015) </div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to One
America (www.OneAmerica.org), a civil rights organization, these communities
regularly experience the injustices of racial profiling:</div>
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•Members of African American, Native American and Latino
(Hispanic) communities are stopped and searched more often, for example, when
driving while black or brown, than whites;</div>
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•Since September 11, 2001, members of Arab, Muslim and South
Asian communities have increasingly been searched, interrogated and detained in
the name of national security, oftentimes labeled terrorism suspects when in
reality many were only charged with misdemeanors or minor immigration
violations, if they were charged at all.</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>One America, as a
civil rights organization, “advances the fundamental principles of democracy
and justice at the local, state and national levels by building power within
immigrant communities in collaboration with key allies.” </div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>The following is an
email interview with Rich Stolz, Executive Director of OneAmerica.org, concerning
his organization’s advocacy supporting the End Racial Profiling Act, Revising
the 2003 DOJ guide on racial profiling and eliminating the DHS programs.</div>
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1) Were the changes you recommended under the Obama
administration ever implemented? </div>
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The Department of Justice issued a revised profiling
guidance in 2014, and that guidance responded to the majority of our
recommendations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the guidance
excluded the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which raised significant
concerns over what accountability would apply to DHS and its various
sub-agencies.</div>
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2) If those changes were implemented, what is their current
status under the Trump administration?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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The guidance is still official policy for non-DHS agencies,
at least until the new Attorney General decides to rescind or change it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are additional profiling guidances that
agencies like Customs & Border Protection did adopt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are concerned, however, that the executive
orders recently announced under the Trump Administration contradict the existing
guidance. </div>
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3) Does your organization recommend the same policy advice
to the Trump administration? If so, what lobbying efforts are you currently
working on? </div>
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Our recommendations have not changed. From our perspective,
profiling is not only unconstitutional but it’s poor law enforcement
practice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will continue to advocate
for reforms at DHS and its element agencies, but the leadership of these
agencies have either been less open to these discussions, or there are still
positions not yet filled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our other
venue is Congress, where these issues can be raised in the context of oversight
and confirmation hearings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, we
anticipate that members of Congress will be introducing the End Racial and
Religious Profiling Act, which will be a vehicle to build coalitions and
advocacy against profiling in Congress and in the broader community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human
Rights is an excellent resource that provide more detailed information on the
content of that legislation.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>End Racial Profiling Act of 2015</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Prohibits any law enforcement agent or agency from engaging
in racial profiling. Grants the United States or an individual injured by
racial profiling, the right to obtain declaratory or injunctive relief. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Requires federal
law enforcement agencies to maintain adequate policies and procedures to
eliminate racial profiling and to cease existing practices that permit racial
profiling.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Requires state or
local governmental entities or state, local or tribal law enforcement agencies
that apply for grants under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant
Program and the Cops on the Beat Program to certify that they maintain adequate
policies and procedures for eliminating racial profiling and have eliminated
any existing practices that permit or encourage racial profiling. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Authorizes the
Attorney General to award grants and contracts for the collection of data
relating to racial profiling and for the development of best practices and
systems to eliminate racial profiling. Requires the Attorney General to issue
regulations for the collection and compilation of data on racial profiling and
for the implementation of this Act. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>End Racial and Religious Profiling Act of 2017</b> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This bill was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Ben Cardin
(D-MD) on February 16, 2017.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As stated by the Human Rights Watch: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The End Racial and Religious Profiling Act would prohibit
federal, state, and local law enforcement from targeting a person based on
actual or perceived race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, gender
identity, or sexual orientation without trustworthy information that is
relevant to linking a person to a crime. The bill would require law enforcement
to maintain adequate policies and procedures designed to eliminate profiling,
including increased data collection in order to accurately assess the extent of
the problem. The bill would also require training for law enforcement officials
on issues of profiling and mandates the creation of procedures for receiving,
investigating and responding to complaints of alleged profiling.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100481036170360858.post-68468324465543834522017-03-13T11:43:00.000-07:002017-03-13T11:43:02.135-07:00Dangers of Winter Weather<h2>
Dangers of Winter Weather</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrqq8UvREa2CLto8J3OUHhKX29ZzOKiL7hK1R31JoJE_Xx07JMqsUtHBMjvE13_VpQ-IoIkbHYHgIbW5YAcFACcClX290rg2enhstjfunw6_qLeQ-4y5qwrVSge6nAJ1rZNoGZyiIqbWK/s1600/winterstorm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrqq8UvREa2CLto8J3OUHhKX29ZzOKiL7hK1R31JoJE_Xx07JMqsUtHBMjvE13_VpQ-IoIkbHYHgIbW5YAcFACcClX290rg2enhstjfunw6_qLeQ-4y5qwrVSge6nAJ1rZNoGZyiIqbWK/s320/winterstorm.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There
are a number of different ways that winter storms can impact a region and the people
who live there. Winter storms are considered deceptive killers because most
deaths are not directly related to the storm itself. People could get in an
automobile accident on icy roads, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">have
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">or
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some
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blinding, wind driven snow, drifting, and </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">dangerous
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Heavy
snow accumulations can immobilize a region and paralyze a city, strand motorists,
stop the flow of supplies, and disrupt emergency services. Buildings may
collapse, and trees and power lines can be destroyed from heavy snow. In rural
regions, homes and farms may be isolated for days, and livestock could be lost.
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ice</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Heavy
ice accumulations can bring down objects like trees, utility poles and lines,
and communication towers. Power can be disrupted or lost for days while utility
companies repair the damage. Even a small amount of ice can cause hazardous
conditions for motorists and pedestrians. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cold</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Extremely
cold temperatures can accompany winter storms and be left in their wake. Infants
and the elderly are most susceptible to prolonged exposure to the cold, which
can cause potentially life-threatening conditions such as hypothermia and
frostbite. Below freezing temperatures can damage vegetation and cause pipes to
freeze and burst inside homes.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Exposure
to cold can cause frostbite or hypothermia and become life-threatening. What constitutes
extreme cold varies in different parts of the country. In the South, near
freezing temperatures are considered extreme cold. In the North, extreme cold
means temperatures well
below zero. Freezing temperatures can cause severe damage to citrus fruit crops
and other vegetation. Pipes may freeze and burst in</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> homes
that are poorly insulated or without heat. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Source: http://www.crh.noaa.gov </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Be safe. Be careful. stay warm.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you are in an auto or slip and fall accident, please call us at 855-868-8845. We will get the maximum settlement for you. </span>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100481036170360858.post-17202846206453325592017-03-13T11:28:00.001-07:002017-03-13T11:28:21.684-07:00 St. Vincent and the Grenadines Eligible for the H-2A and H-2B Visa Programs<b>USCIS Announces Addition of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to Eligible Countries for the H-2A and H-2B Visa Programs</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPMJa65D8jBOZdnvGrxOuGhiVZFxQop0C1d4Zwvu4lHdwO44sP4RKnYuKK1UjtbzGD2FA8r9oKgy1_6OoU0790VEkGinfuyp7e0BGsF9E9QfPaZ-2GrJ-zI1wBTpl8OzTu28Knm1DErOBM/s1600/corn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPMJa65D8jBOZdnvGrxOuGhiVZFxQop0C1d4Zwvu4lHdwO44sP4RKnYuKK1UjtbzGD2FA8r9oKgy1_6OoU0790VEkGinfuyp7e0BGsF9E9QfPaZ-2GrJ-zI1wBTpl8OzTu28Knm1DErOBM/s320/corn.jpg" width="320" /></a>The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in consultation with the Department of State, have added St. Vincent and the Grenadines to the list of countries whose nationals are eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B visa programs for the coming year. The notice listing the eligible countries was published on Oct. 26, 2016 in the Federal Register. DHS reserves the right to add countries to the eligible countries list at any time, and to remove any country at any time DHS determines that a country fails to meet the requirements for continued designation.<br /> The H-2A and H-2B visa programs allow U.S. employers to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary agricultural and nonagricultural jobs, respectively. Typically, USCIS only approves H-2A and H-2B petitions for nationals of countries the Secretary of Homeland Security has designated as eligible to participate in the programs. USCIS, however, may approve H-2A and H-2B petitions for nationals of countries not on the list if it is determined to be in the interest of the United States.<br />
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For a FREE consultation, call 855-768-8845.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100481036170360858.post-35792427430534282302017-03-03T12:06:00.002-08:002017-03-04T15:41:14.648-08:00Considering a Spring Home Sale? Learn How to Appraise Your Selling Chances Like a Pro<h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizC1P3LItBACvxsykIHBcnhhNMEYh9J53sH98ZViDlJJ8d2Kf-3rKBPrTm_MS987W46-Md2pQGmUyiTDT9xkfmQx1SMz7TnPIGGtv7Rcg3n4sU1SyzqypI0n2JoAx5PUir0YbMGJP9PYXX/s1600/equity+smart+realty+business+card+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizC1P3LItBACvxsykIHBcnhhNMEYh9J53sH98ZViDlJJ8d2Kf-3rKBPrTm_MS987W46-Md2pQGmUyiTDT9xkfmQx1SMz7TnPIGGtv7Rcg3n4sU1SyzqypI0n2JoAx5PUir0YbMGJP9PYXX/s320/equity+smart+realty+business+card+front.jpg" width="320" /></a>The springtime is known to be one of the best times to put your home up for sale. However, if you're not necessarily planning on engaging a real estate agent, it's important to be prepared for all of the hard work involved in putting your home up for sale. Whether you're new to the market or you've never sold a home on your own before, here are some questions to ask yourself so you're prepared for selling in the coming season.<br />
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<b>Do You Know the Market?</b><br />
The neighborhood you live in and the buying market you're dealing with are important factors in how your home is going to sell, so you'll need to know a little about both when determining your ideal price. By looking through the listings in the area and seeing what homes like yours have sold for, you may be able to give yourself a range for the offers you can expect.<br />
<br />
<b>How Will You Sell It?</b><br />
One of the added benefits of social media is that you can use sites like Facebook and Twitter to announce your home sale and even highlight its best features. While this may make selling seem much easier, you'll still need to make sure you have good photography that captures your home and a website where home buyers can learn more details. Be aware that while these items may seem easy enough, it can take a lot of time to manage these details on your own. <br />
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<b>Are You Prepared to Negotiate? </b><br />
It's a good feeling to get an offer on your home, but in all likelihood it will be less than what you're expecting and this means engaging in the art of negotiation. According to the National Association of Realtors, those who sell their home generally get 10-20% less than those who utilize an agent, so it's important to be comfortable negotiating before you dive in. If you're confident in your acumen, you may want to go it alone, but if you have doubts, it can be a better financial decision to engage the help of an agent.<br />
Before you decide to sell your home on your own, it's worth appraising your skills to determine if it will be worth the time and effort you'll have to put in. If you've come to the conclusion that you'd like to utilize an agent after all, you may want to contact one of our real estate professionals for more information. Schedule an appointment today. Call 888-670-6791<br />
not necessarily planning on engaging a real estate agent, it's important to be prepared for all of the hard work involved in putting your home up for sale. Whether you're new to the market or you've never sold a home on your own before, here are some questions to ask yourself so you're prepared for selling in the coming season.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100481036170360858.post-465382456034501322017-03-02T15:38:00.001-08:002017-03-04T15:42:32.227-08:00If Stopped by ICE Agents: Know Your Rights<h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSf6F9omnZcKg03HfHxWIRSSWM9bC0gjiDuL3RiWNMgxfmNdTSijQpmJewKDeHKdDBwX9rOorJ4aso8ke43QyX26aNtj_8Mx9KA4yLWKkHcDLsQRfAQfdj55FoFbXHqe6q3IEG1sbohkFG/s1600/ImmigrationReform2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSf6F9omnZcKg03HfHxWIRSSWM9bC0gjiDuL3RiWNMgxfmNdTSijQpmJewKDeHKdDBwX9rOorJ4aso8ke43QyX26aNtj_8Mx9KA4yLWKkHcDLsQRfAQfdj55FoFbXHqe6q3IEG1sbohkFG/s320/ImmigrationReform2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
If you are stopped by police officers, immigration agents or other public authorities, you have rights. It does not matter if you entered the country by crossing the border in Mexico, if you are an overstay, green card holder or citizen. As long as you are within the borders of the United States, you have rights. Know them. Use them.<br />
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The first step is to call your immigration law and deportation defense attorneys at Figeroux & Associates. The Law Firm team has represented clients across the United States and has a 24/7 emergency line, 855-768-8845. It does not matter what day or time it is — pulled over or stopped by Immigration Authorities, call Figeroux & Associates today. Here’s what to do if you’re stopped by ICE Agents:<br />
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1) No ICE officer should stop anybody based on appearance alone; regardless of your ethnicity, the color of your skin, the way you dress or talk or the language you’re speaking. It’s the law.<br />
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2) If an immigration officer asks for proof that you are a legal resident of the United States and wants to see some identification, you have the right to refuse to give them your ID. You can also refuse to answer any of their questions. Unless they have a warrant, you have no obligation to interact with them at all. You can ask, “Am I arrested?” If the answer is no, you do not need to give them any information regarding your legal status in the U.S. Showing them ID is totally optional.<br />
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3) If you are being interrogated do not give false information, and do not give them false documentation. You can be charged with identity theft if you show them forged documents, or someone else’s documents, even if you have legal status. Remember that everything you say or do can be used against you.<br />
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4) If immigration officials (ICE) begin to knock on your door, you have the right not to open the door. They only have the right to enter to your home if they have a warrant from a judge.<br />
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5) If you are arrested in an immigration detention center and you don’t want to return to your home country, you have the right to request a meeting with an immigration officer.<br />
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6) Do not sign anything you don’t understand. You might be signing a voluntary deportation order.<br />
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7) Some cases can be resolved with the help of an immigration attorney. The lawyer can request for a court date to meet with an immigration judge and help solve your case. You don’t have the right to an attorney provided by the state, but you do have the right to see your own attorney. Call the Law Firm of Figeroux & Associates, at 855-768-8845.<br />
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8) Who should you call: Your family member to contact an immigration lawyer. When you enter an immigration center, they will assign you an A#, which is your alien number. Make sure you give your A# to the people you talk to on the outside helping with your case. If you have no one else to call you should call the Law Firm of Figeroux & Associates at 855-768-8845.<br />
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THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE. CONSULT AN ATTORNEY. CALL 855-768-8845.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100481036170360858.post-50227887782965095422017-02-23T16:09:00.003-08:002017-03-04T15:42:56.827-08:00Uncontested Divorce Means that You Agree 100%<h2 style="font-size: 26px; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">If a couple pursues an uncontested divorce, they must agree on the
many complicated issues presented by their divorce. They each sign the
divorce papers and it is complete. Though uncontested divorce may be a
quick way out, there are many ways that it can backfire.</span></span></b></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUKX5Vws-HVFfFEjB93lhmcLoCdzIlR_kuYnJaHtXjvUyzXgo9NlZmIf92KiCkTmFWPHuu-bAXTNNbDTGLW11rdLZ-WFZk275c9GL4h_JyL1-6LhPuHER-7Kji2eXm_zClGPLD_LnmbvGC/s1600/divorce+businesscard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUKX5Vws-HVFfFEjB93lhmcLoCdzIlR_kuYnJaHtXjvUyzXgo9NlZmIf92KiCkTmFWPHuu-bAXTNNbDTGLW11rdLZ-WFZk275c9GL4h_JyL1-6LhPuHER-7Kji2eXm_zClGPLD_LnmbvGC/s320/divorce+businesscard.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>If you feel there is nothing to argue about right now,
you might get burned in the long run. Talk to an attorney at Figeroux
& Associates before pursuing an uncontested divorce.</i></b></span><span style="font-size: small;"> Contact our attorneys in Brooklyn, New York, at <b>1-855-678-8845</b> for a consultation. Don't get burned in an uncontested divorce.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The Drawbacks of Uncontested Divorce</b><br />
Though uncontested divorce has a reputation for being free or low
cost, many times this is not the case. The two main ways that an
uncontested divorce fails are as follows:</span><br />
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<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">An agreement blows up once the two spouses begin to discuss plans in detail</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Someone finds out too late that their former spouse did not disclose all assets</span></li>
</ol>
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</span><span style="font-size: small;">Both of these scenarios can be avoided by seeking proper legal representation from a skilled attorney from day one. </span><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Protect Your Future</b><br />
When making important life decisions such as divorce and child
custody arrangements, why leave yourself unprotected? A knowledgeable
attorney can guide you and provide advice to protect your future.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" id="_GoBack" name="_GoBack"></a>At Figeroux & Associates, we
will carefully assess the circumstances of your situation and advise you
on how to proceed. Call <b>855-768-8845. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Divorce your spouse; not your money or kids.</b></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100481036170360858.post-90610153267290743922017-02-20T10:36:00.003-08:002017-03-04T15:43:10.707-08:00Facing Foreclosure?<h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Br_a2q4CoaaLe3HDHsPJsweNMFcXFCqelOnrTC8NlqMcPjW7FYj2oU4Ynau2zP0ZLza6rgI1WpNsCiuKdIsitWq6hDWwPTZQosT1fBRDQRcVg-ouaonUvECSc0DJgaGVB0zHeoqwYbeR/s1600/bankowned.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Br_a2q4CoaaLe3HDHsPJsweNMFcXFCqelOnrTC8NlqMcPjW7FYj2oU4Ynau2zP0ZLza6rgI1WpNsCiuKdIsitWq6hDWwPTZQosT1fBRDQRcVg-ouaonUvECSc0DJgaGVB0zHeoqwYbeR/s320/bankowned.jpg" width="320" /></a>The possibility of losing your home because you can’t make the mortgage payments, can be terrifying. Perhaps you’re having trouble making ends meet because you or a family member lost a job, or you’re having other financial problems. Or maybe you’re one of the many consumers who took out a mortgage that had a fixed rate for the first two or three years and then had an adjustable rate – and you want to know what your payments will be and whether you’ll be able to make them.<br />
Regardless of the reason for your mortgage anxiety, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, wants you to know how to help save your home, and how to recognize and avoid foreclosure scams.<br />
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<b>Know Your Mortgage</b><br />
Do you know what kind of mortgage you have? Do you know whether your payments are going to increase? If you can’t tell by reading the mortgage documents you received at settlement, contact your loan servicer and ask. A loan servicer is responsible for collecting your monthly loan payments and crediting your account.<br />
<b><br />If You’re Behind on Your Payments</b><br />
If you are having trouble making your payments, contact your loan servicer to discuss your options as early as you can. The longer you wait to call, the fewer options you will have.<br />
Many loan servicers are expanding the options available to borrowers – it’s worth calling your servicer even if your request has been turned down before. Servicers are getting lots of calls: Be patient, and be persistent if you don’t reach your servicer on the first try.<br />
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<b>Avoiding Default and Foreclosure</b><br />
If you have fallen behind on your payments, consider discussing the following foreclosure prevention options with your loan provider:<br />
<ul>
<li>Reinstatement</li>
<li>Repayment Plan</li>
<li>Forbearance</li>
<li>Selling Your Home</li>
<li>Loan Modification</li>
</ul>
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<b>Bankruptcy</b><br />
Personal bankruptcy generally is considered the debt management option of last resort because the results are long-lasting and far-reaching. A bankruptcy stays on your credit report for 10 years, and can make it difficult to get credit, buy another home, get life insurance, or sometimes, get a job. Still, it is a legal procedure that can offer a fresh start for people who can’t satisfy their debts. <br />
If you and your loan servicer cannot agree on a repayment plan or other remedy, you may want to investigate filing Chapter 13 bankruptcy. If you have a regular income, Chapter 13 may allow you to keep property, like a mortgaged house or car, that you might otherwise lose. In Chapter 13, the court approves a repayment plan that allows you to use your future income toward payment of your debts during a three-to-five-year period, rather than surrender the property. After you have made all the payments under the plan, you receive a discharge of certain debts.<br />
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<b>Call 855-768-8845 for a FREE, no obligation legal consultation.</b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0