| Travel Guard Offers Free Assistance To Greek Cruise Ship Evacuees
STEVENS POINT, Wis., April 6 /PRNewswire/ -- AIG Travel Guard announced that it will provide emergency travel services and medical assistance services free to evacuees of the Sea Diamond cruise ship and their families after it ran aground and began taking in water off the Greek Island of Santorini on Thursday, April 5, 2007.
Of the 1,200 passengers aboard, three-quarters are American, including many groups of U.S. college students. The services Travel Guard is offering to those affected include emergency medical arrangements, cash wire transfers from their families, passport replacement, translation services, message relay and emergency travel arrangements, such as airline or hotel reservations, and luggage tracking if items were left on board when they evacuated. Family members seeking these services for their relatives can call Travel Guard's 24- hour World Service Center at 1-800-826-1300.
That's odd: Home-builder survey doesn't match other one
Question: Our neighbor complained that some of our trees and a fence post are on his property. We had a survey done to confirm the boundaries. It differs from the improvement location certificate (ILC) our home builder provided to us at the closing.
Is it unusual for the survey and the builder's certificate to differ?
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Title insurance offers more than just fraud protection
When it comes to the single largest investment most of us will make - buying a home - consumers want to make sure they've protected that investment to the best of their abilities. As realtors, providing them with sound, knowledgeable advice will maintain their confidence, perhaps their business. When it comes to protecting that investment, one option to consider is title insurance - a cost effective protection that shields home buyers from many of the major risks that can affect the ownership and/or future marketability of title to the property. Like all insurance policies, title insurance is a contract of insurance that comes with terms and conditions. To get the most value out of the title insurance policy, it's important that buyers understand how title insurance works, and what risks title insurance does and does not cover.
Get to Know Home-Buying Fees
If you're about to buy a house, you're about to face a multitude of fees. It's valuable to take some time to learn what you'll be paying for. Take a deep breath and read on. Points or origination fees: Each point is one percent of the mortgage value, and the more points you pay, the lower your mortgage's interest rate should be. Sometimes you can get your seller to pay the points for you -- if you're the buyer, get your own broker to look into that possibility for you.Escrow fees: Depending on your lender and the terms of your purchase contract with the seller, you may have to pay money into escrow either before closing or while you're paying down your mortgage. There are fees for this service, though.Homeowner's insurance: Most lenders require insurance before you can take possession of your new home.Legal fees: Not everyone needs the services of a lawyer, but if your transaction is too complicated for boilerplate forms, you'll want an attorney looking out for you.Private mortgage insurance: This may be required if your down payment is less than 20% of your home's value.
Clerical error causes flood of pain for couple
VERNON TWP. -- On a good day, when the leaves are off the trees and the conditions are right, Alan and Barbara Edgeworth can see a short stretch of the Shiawassee River from their home near Durand. But the river is no threat to their property on higher ground on Geeck Road. It certainly isn't in a flood zone, the Edgeworths say. Yet now, after 23 years there, they are being forced to pay for flood insurance -- because of an apparent clerical error they haven't been able to rectify. And it's left them feeling like they're up a creek without a paddle. "There are five houses one way, six houses the other way and three across the street stretched out over a ways," Barbara Edgeworth said. "I am the only one (deemed to be on a flood plain)." .
BU project exceeding expectations
From brains to brawn, casual to elegant, there are 29 companies vying for money and assistance in the first Project Springboard business plan competition at Bradley University. That's about double what Project Springboard's chief sponsors, Bradley and Junction City Ventures, had hoped would enter the inaugural competition, said Alexis Khazzam, the Junction City president who brought the idea of Project Springboard to Bradley and financed the first year with a gift of $200,000. "This is taking off much more than we'd expected. Everyone has bought into it. It's exciting," said Khazzam. So exciting, he added, that he is arranging with interested central Illinois corporations to give $1.5 million to $2 million to Bradley to endow the program in perpetuity and plans to expand it to other colleges in the area.
Rep. Costa, FHLBank of San Francisco, Release Results of Financial ...
FRESNO, Calif., March 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Rep. Jim Costa (D-20th CA) and the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (FHLBank San Francisco) announced on Saturday that an innovative financial literacy initiative is helping Latino families throughout rural California become homeowners. The Spanish-language initiative, "Camino A Tu Casa" (Road to Homeownership), used radio broadcasts to reach prospective Latino homebuyers and follow-up workshops to educate them about the process of purchasing a house. Rep. Costa lauded the program at a Fresno event on Saturday, saying, "Through community outreach, the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco and its partners have increased homeownership." Rep. Costa also said that, along with Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA) and other members of the U.S.
Insurance Costs Become 3rd Storm
NEW ORLEANS -- Robert Lynn Green Sr.'s sign stands outside his FEMA trailer here in the Lower 9th Ward, a neighborhood flooded after Hurricane Katrina, proclaiming: "If You Build It They Will Come." It's a vision of hope, of faith, of recovery. Yet that vision is ever more elusive for people here. In this once-vibrant community, still largely shuttered 19 months after Katrina, empty tracts stretch for blocks. The rebuilding of Green's neighborhood and others in Louisiana and Mississippi hinges on many factors, including the need for more construction aid. But perhaps nothing has slowed rebuilding more than the rising cost and fading availability of insurance. Homeowners and business owners say their premiums have doubled or tripled since Katrina. Businesses are delaying rebuilding. Workers have been slow to return.
2007 Winter Equestrian Festival Week Seven Summary
Riding last in a three horse jump-off, Mario Deslauriers kept the Canadian flag flying when he and Paradigm raced to the win in the $150,000 CN U.S. Open Jumper Championship CSIO*****, presented by Cosequin. Todd Minikus of the United States finished second with Pavarotti, while Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil and Coeur were third. The track offered the most difficult challenge seen so far at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). The course designer for the week of the CN Wellington Open CSIO*****, presented by Cosequin was Jose Pepe Gamarra of Bolivia. The course had wide, rolling turns through 13 numbered obstacles. The open water was used, as was a triple combination and a tight time allowed of 74 seconds, which was then increased to 80 seconds after the third rider. Twelve horses had four faults, while 13 had time faults.
Governor, Lawmakers Question Agency's Deal With Insurance Company
DES MOINES, Iowa -- Gov. Chet Culver and lawmakers are asking questions about a settlement between state regulators and an insurance company that includes a $750,000 fine -- but no reasons for the penalty. The fine by the Iowa Insurance Division against Conseco Life Insurance is one of the agency's largest penalties. But the settlement said the records won't be made public. Culver spokesman Brad Anderson said the lack of public information is "unacceptable'' to the governor and he's looking into it. .
County Board approves permit for RV park
A recreational vehicle park will be established near Homestead National Monument of America following action on Wednesday by the Gage County Board of Supervisors.
The County Board unanimously approved a special use permit for Troy Stevens, 23436 SW 75th Road, to place an RV park about one-half mile north of Homestead National Monument.
“We want to give people the opportunity to enjoy rural America," Stevens said. “This will help promote agribusiness and provide a safe, secure environment for those using the site."
Earlier this month, the Gage County Planning Commission unanimously voted to recommend approval of a special use permit for Stevens' planned RV park with stipulations limiting the number of RV pads to 14 and requiring Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality approval of a septic system.
Don’t let Easter DIY or car breakdown ruin your Bank Holiday
Motorists should also take precautions this bank holiday and make sure they have comprehensive car breakdown cover for any road trips they may make. In fact, cover can start from as little as £31 a year.
Richard added: “Bank holidays are always a busy time on Britain's roads resulting in an increase in car breakdowns, but motorists can avoid wasting precious holiday time on the hard shoulder by ensuring they have adequate breakdown insurance. It is important to choose not only the most competitive policy, but one which is comprehensive enough for your needs.
“UK breakdown policies do not automatically provide cover for driving abroad so those planning to cross the channel or venture further afield should check they have the appropriate cover. After all, the last thing you want is to stump up an exorbitant call-out fee or organise your own recovery service while stranded abroad."
Breakdown cover checklist
moneysupermarket.com says drivers should consider asking these key questions when evaluating the level of breakdown cover on offer:
1.
Remedy sought for health premiums
Saying Starbucks workers get better health benefits, three state employees delivered 3,000 petition signatures to legislative leaders Wednesday in support of lower insurance premiums. "If baristas can make better health insurance than state troopers, that's just criminal," Lori Ganni told House Speaker Andrew Romanoff and Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald during a morning meeting. Ganni, who works for the Department of Labor and Employment, and two other state workers delivered the pile of petitions that Colorado Association of Public Employees gathered. This year's budget proposes increasing the state's contribution to employee health plans by 10 percent, but Fitz-Gerald and Roman off agreed the state needs to try to do more. "It used to be the state employee benefits package was so good it made up for the low pay," Fitz-Gerald said.
Planning for April 15, 2008
WHY NOT PUT THE MISERY of this tax season to work for you? Before the pain subsides too much, use it as motivation to tap into some Websites and programs that offer year-round tax help and can protect you from last-minute surprises. They might even save you some money. For active traders, GainsKeeper (www.gainskeeper.com) has always been a favorite of ours. It's actually a suite of products -- with portfolio-tracking tools that can adjust the cost basis for wash sales and corporate actions, or calculate capital-gains-related transactions. Another site feature offers portfolio strategies to minimize taxes and ... .
Two Minnesotans are at the White House Today, Representing ...
EAGAN, Minn., April 2 /PRNewswire/ -- A car accident left Heidi Searle with 36 stitches in her head, cracked ribs, and a dislocated shoulder. Because she couldn't afford health insurance and as an 18-year old was no longer eligible for her mother's plan, it also left her with around $10,000 in medical bills. As an uninsured patient, she was forced to give up college plans and instead work the graveyard shift at a bar in Las Vegas to pay collection agencies. Searle, now insured through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (Blue Cross), is at the White House today to share her story with President Bush. She is an example of the 4.5 million Americans and 129,000 Blue Cross members who now have HSA-compatible health plans. The announcement by President Bush is part of the release of a new study on HSAs released today by the America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP).
Proposed Springfield school budget would increase taxes
The total budget is $4.7 million, up from $4.5 million. The budget calls for $2.8 million to be raised by taxes. The tax rate would increase from 65.5 cents per $100 of assessed property value to 67.8 cents. The owner of a home assessed at the township average of $319,184 would pay about $2,163 if the proposed budget is approved. That same homeowner paid about $2,090 in school taxes this year. Business Administrator Barbara Harris said rising costs for salaries, insurance and utilities make up the bulk of the increase. There is no spending for new equipment or new programs, she said. .
Pregnancy weight linked to overweight kids
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