Horse Guard and Insurance

A Short Sale Can Stop Home Foreclosure & Save Your Credit

Nothing is as detrimental to your credit rating as late mortgage payments and foreclosures. If you have fallen behind on your mortgage payments and are facing home foreclosure, you should consider using a short sale to sell your home now and avoid foreclosure.

One of the most common questions that homeowners ask is, “can I still sell my home if I am in foreclosure?” A Short Sale is simply selling your property for less than what is owed with the permission of your mortgage lender. It is not as complicated as many foreclosure advice experts make it sound, and is one of the best forms of foreclosure help available. There are three steps to closing a short sale: short sale pre-qualification, marketing the property, and closing the short sale.

The first step, short sale pre-qualification, is when you contact your lender and explain that your financial situation has changed and you wish to avoid foreclosure by selling your home. Most lenders have a short sale application that can be faxed or emailed. The application will tell you what documents you will need to gather and submit to your lender in order for them to determine if a short sale is an option. Common documents include paycheck stubs, tax returns, hardship letter, and bank statements. These items show your lender that you are not in a position to repay the loan.

Once your file has been pre-qualified for a short sale, you will market the property to find a qualified buyer. This means hiring a realtor and, if you can afford it, advertising your property in your local newspaper or other real estate publications. Remember, you are not trying to profit from the sale or cover what is owed to your lender. You are simply trying to stop home foreclosure and avoid have a foreclosure on your credit history by helping your lender recover as much of the money they loaned you as possible. It is also important to remember that the foreclosure process can be quite lengthy in some states, so don’t give up using a short sale to avoid foreclosure just because you do not find a buyer immediately.

Lastly, once you have found a qualified buyer, you will submit your purchase contract and the buyer’s credentials (pre-approval letter or proof of funds to close) to your lender. If your lender accepts the offer, then the deal is sent to a title company who will facilitate the closing of escrow. It is also important to order any city of point of sale inspections or other inspections as to avoid delaying your buyer from closing on time.

Once you have completed these steps, you will have stopped home foreclosure and your credit rating will be much better, in most cases, than if you had simply done nothing and lost your home through the foreclosure process. A short sale is a great option to anyone trying to avoid foreclosure.

The issue of prescription drug samples is one that is hotly debated. Some questions whether giving out samples to lower income patients is helping them by providing them with the medication they need or if it’s hurting them by giving them a sample of a prescription they can not afford in the long term. Here are some resources on the subject to help you decide what you think.

Dr. Wayne S. Strouse wrote a letter to the editor in response to a study that appeared in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine claiming that free drug samples are actually hurting uninsured patients. Strouse disagrees and points out that many of his Medicare and uninsured patients can barely afford to pay co-pays, let alone pay for a prescription. He also criticizes the study for comparing “patients [who are insured or on Medicare] to patients who have insurance (or with money)” saying that it “is comparing apples with oranges.” To read Dr. Strouse’s letter, go to http://www.jabfm.org/cgi/content/full/16/1/86-a.

The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle published an article by guest essayist Benjamin Cohen on the topic of free drug samples. Cohen, who is obviously in favor of the samples, lists the benefits of drug samples as relief for needy patients and education for doctors. He claims that pharmaceutical drug representatives are invaluable to physicians because they provide information about new drugs and advancements that many doctors do not have time to research. He also points out the benefit to lower income and elderly patients who cannot afford prescription drugs on a regular basis. By providing them with drug samples, doctors can ensure their patients are getting the help they need. To read Cohen’s article visit the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle online at http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080620/OPINION02/806200344.

David E. Williams wrote an entry in his Health Business Blog on a new study that was published in the American Journal of Public Health, The study claims prescription drug samples are more often given to wealthy and insured Americans than low-income, uninsured patients. Williams responds with little surprise, stating that drug samples are more of a marketing tool by pharmaceutical companies and are not intended to solely help low-income patients. In fact, he writes, many free clinics don’t even accept drug samples because they know that their patients cannot afford the high-cost drugs long term. Since drug samples are used as a marketing tool, it would make sense that they are made available to insured patients who could then purchase them after trying them out, says Williams. The read this blog post visit http://www.healthbusinessblog.com/?p=1589.

The Delaware County Office of Service for the Aging (COSA) posted a fact sheet on a Medicare Prescription Drug Program, Part D, which took affect January 1, 2006. This federally subsidized drug program for seniors, available through private insurance companies, helps seniors with the cost of their prescription drugs by giving them coverage for a monthly premium of between $11 and $35 a month. This fact sheet describes the benefits and gives instructions on how to enroll in the program. The informational Web page also gives other suggestions on how to save money on drug costs including asking for drug samples from their doctor, buying medications in bulk and using generics when possible. To learn more about the program visit COSA’s Web site at http://www.delcosa.org/site/389/medicare_prescription_drug.aspx.

Ken Johnson, a Senior Vice President in the pharmaceutical division at Research and Manufacturers of America wrote a letter to the editor of the New York Times in response to an article that questions the value of the distribution of free drug samples to doctors for their patients. Johnson argues that many uninsured and low-income patients depend on free drug samples and by discontinuing them it would take away a valuable safety net for these patients. Read Johnson’s letter to the editor here: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/09/opinion/l09drug.html.

A North Carolina resident wrote an opinion article for the News & Record on a current tax law in the state that taxes physicians for free drug samples. The article asserts that current tax laws consider free drugs samples part of the physicians “office supplies,” therefore making it taxable. The author points out that many doctors and patients depend on the free samples for affordable treatment and if doctors cannot pay the taxes on the medication they would not be able to accept them. To read this full article visit the News & Record’s Web site at http://www.news-record.com/content/2008/07/15/article/free_drug_samples_beneficial.

It is a good idea to have your puppy vaccinations at an early age since puppies are very susceptible to different diseases. This way your pet will be protected against infectious diseases. This is especially true for animals that may be spending time in kennels or travelling abroad.

 

If the mother of your puppy is immune your puppy should be protected against most diseases. For the first few weeks of their life they will be protected by the mother’s milk. However, this does not last for very long and then your pup will be susceptible to different types of infectious diseases. Since dogs are very social animals they need to be protected so they can play among others dogs.

 

Distemper is usually the first vaccination given to your puppy. Distemper is a virus that can cause respiratory distress and seizures which can lead to death. You pup will need to get a distemper shot through out the different stages in his life. Sometimes some of the symptoms are loss of appetite, a discharge from the eyes and nose, lethargy, and fever.

 

Kennel Cough is another vaccination that your puppy will need. It affects the bronchi and trachea of dogs and makes them have a loud dry cough. This is not a fatal disease but it is very contagious. This can be considered an optional vaccination. If you live in an area which has a high rate of Kennel Cough you will definitely want to get this vaccination to protect your pup. Consult with your veterinarian they will be able to tell you if the rate in your area is high.

 

The vaccination for Leptospirosis if given through out your dogs life and is usually given in combination with other vaccines. This is not a very common disease and larger dogs seem to be more susceptible to this disease. This disease affects the liver and kidneys of dogs.

 

The Parvovirus vaccination is recommended for almost all dogs. This is a very serious disease and can cause serious vomiting, dehydration and bloody diarrhea. This virus affects the white blood cells in dogs and can harm their immune system. It has been found that some breeds of dogs are more susceptible to Parvovirus than others. Doberman Pinscher’s and Rottweilers are two of the most common breeds that seem to be affected by this disease.

 

Most dogs are vaccinated for Lyme disease if the disease is prevalent in their area. Lyme disease is very prevalent in warmer climates and areas where it is warm and humid. Your pup should be vaccinated for this disease if you plan on doing any type of traveling with your pet. It will cause severe arthritis and lethargy in your dog and can recur once your pet has been infected. It is not a fatal disease and usually can be treated with antibiotics.

 

There has been some debate over whether dogs are being over vaccinated or given too many different kinds of vaccinations. You want to be sure that you protect your puppy from common diseases that can affect them over their lifetime. Talk to your vet and ask their advice on which shots they would recommend for your breed of dog. Where you live will also play a part in what vaccinations your pet should have.

 

Once a year when you take your pup in for their annual examination your veterinarian will administer booster shots to ensure your pet is protected against disease. Some vaccinations will provide three years protection such as the vaccination against parvovirus. Consult with your vet to see which booster shots are needed for your breed of dog and for the area in which you reside.

 

Pet insurance is like having health insurance on yourself, it is there when you need it for those unexpected large health-related bills. By having this kind of insurance you can ensure that your four-legged loved ones will get the best treatment if they are ever injured or seriously ill. They don’t have to be puppies to be eligible; as long as you keep the premiums up they will be covered for their lifetime.