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May: CAIR's Crusade against The Third Jihad Melissa Healy: Study finds jolt to the brain boosts memory Laura McMullen: 10 Least Expensive Public Schools for Out-of-State Students Kimberly Palmer: How to actually enjoy -- relaxing, financially -- your vacation Emily Brandon: 10 Necessities for a Great Retirement Spot The Kosher Gourmet by Diane Rossen Worthington: Winter Squash and Red Swiss Chard Risotto is Colorful Cozy Cold Weather Fare (includes detailed dos and don'ts) February 8, 2012 Rivy Poupko Kletenik: Tree hostility: The auspicious history of the evolution of Tu B'Shevat Steven Emerson: Planting Trees is Racist?! Warren Richey: Why momentous Prop. 8 ruling might not satisfy gay-rights groups Anne Applebaum: Russia's Potemkin democracy Menachem Wecker: Though Controversial, LL.M.'s Can Lead to Specialized Legal Jobs Emily Brandon: 10 Necessities for a Great Retirement Spot The Kosher Gourmet byDana Velden: Going to the bother of making soup? You know it better be good. This CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP certainly is! And it's a cinch to make, too (Includes techinques and serving secrets) February 7, 2012 Kathleen Hennessey and Christi Parsons: Obama not worried that birth-control move will hurt his re-election chances with Catholics, other faithful Caroline B. Glick: Obama's rhetorical storm Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Caught off-guard? President's Super Bowl interview with Matt Lauer gives those who need a reason not to vote for him, a darn good one Suzanne Bohan: Leaping lizards! Tiny reptiles advancing robot design David Francis: How to Avoid an IRS Audit The Kosher Gourmet by Emma Christensen: These homemade energy bars (3 recipes) are far better workout fuel than commercial ones, packing power and taste February 6, 2012 Scott Peterson: Iran's top ayatollah: We're trumping the West Jonathan Tobin: Iran Threatens Israel With Destruction, But the New York Times Doesn't Hear It Jeffrey Fleishman: In newly democratic Egypt, tens of democracy activists jailed, to stand trial; their groups are 'threatening the stability of the homeland' Julie Deardorff : Researchers say antioxidants may not be that effective and could do more harm than good Philip Moeller: Where Smart Investors Put Their Money Mark Clayton: How did Anonymous hackers eavesdrop on FBI and Scotland Yard? The Kosher Gourmet by Joseph Erdos: Vegetable Frittata --- leftovers never tasted so scrumptious February 3, 2012 Rabbi Dr. Warren Goldstein: Living with ideals --- in reality Caroline B. Glick: Fool me twice Jonathan Tobin : Adelsonphobia Strikes in Nevada Caucus Edmund Sanders : Israeli official says Iran is creating missile that could reach East Coast of US Kimberly Palmer : 8 Ways to Get Ready for Retirement Now Victoria Kim: Immigrant-smuggling ring used black drivers to avoid racial profiling The Kosher Gourmet by Faith Durand: A quick cookie recipe: Hazelnut and Olive Oil Shortbread: Sweet, Nutty, and Savory February 2, 2012 Rabbi Yaakov Rosenblatt : Welcome Home, Governor Perry Jim Carney: Wrong number call may have saved her life Reza Kahlili : Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: What Obama doesn't grasp about striking deals with Tehran Kelsey Sheehy : 5 Tips for Choosing an M.B.A. Concentration Rachel Koning Beals : Investors Increasingly Tap Social Media for Stock Tips Tina Susman: For woodchuck rescuer, every day is Groundhog Day The Kosher Gourmet by Leela Cyd Ross : Savory vegetable pie is a taste of European bistro with minimal effort and maximal flavor February 1, 2012 Nara Schoenberg: What to do when you've been dissed Michelle Malkin: First, They Came for the Catholics Brian Bennett: US officials see increasing threat of domestic attack from Iran Lisa M. 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Jewish World Review Sept. 10, 2008 / 10 Elul 5768 Just like that, home equity line cut in half By Vicki Lee Parker http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | (MCT) Carolyn and Joe Mottola signed a contract for a new house Aug. 14. They deposited a $5,000 check written on their home equity line of credit at Wachovia. That same evening, they opened a letter from Wachovia dated Aug. 11 saying that their $100,000 line of credit had been suspended. The reason, according to the bank's letter, was that the value of their Orange County, N.C., home had declined. It was, the letter said, worth $189,000. That seemed odd to the Mottolas, because they had just contracted to sell their home for $419,200. Mottola said he and his wife have excellent credit, that they had borrowed very little from the line and had never missed a payment. The couple immediately called the bank to offer their selling contract as proof that the home's value was much higher. They were told that they would have to submit an appraisal - at their own expense. Over the next few days, as the couple haggled with the bank, the $5,000 check was returned because of insufficient funds. The bank issued a new check, but not before the ordeal caused the couple headaches and restless nights. "This is the most frustrating thing I have ever been through," Joe Mottola said. "You are powerless to deal with these people." The Mottolas' situation is hardly unique. Over the past year, hundreds of thousands of people across the country have gotten similar letters from their financial institutions as home values decline and banks try to minimize their risk. Wachovia sent such letters to 3 percent of their prime customers, spokeswoman Christine Shaw said. These actions by the bank significantly reduce consumers' access to cash and in many cases affects their credit scores. Your credit rating drops the closer you get to your credit limit. So if the bank cuts your $100,000 credit line in half and you have a $30,000 balance, your credit score will be negatively affected. The trend has prompted both the FDIC and the Office of Thrift Supervision, which is in charge of savings and loan institutions, to issue guidance to remind lenders that if they decide to reduce or suspend a home equity line of credit, certain legal requirements designed to protect consumers must be followed. I reviewed some of those rules online at fdic.gov/news/news/financial/2008/fil08058a.html. They didn't seem to offer a lot of consumer protection. Besides requiring banks to notify you in writing, I saw no specific formulas on how a bank is supposed to determine the value of your home. Luke Brown, associate director of compliance at the FDIC, confirmed my impression. "It's done differently by different lenders," he said about the valuation process. Brown said that most banks use some type of automated valuation process. That's what Wachovia did to the Mottolas, Shaw said. Shaw said the bank's automated valuation was based on an internal formula that included the house's original value, the mortgage balance and information provided by an independent third party. She did not say who the third party was or what kind of information it provided. In the Mottolas' case, the new valuation dropped the couple's equity lower than Wachovia's guidelines allowed. Shaw said that when a customer's home equity decreases by at least 50 percent, the bank can suspend the line or reduce the amount of credit the customer can have. So what can consumers do to protect themselves? Apparently very little, according to Holden Lewis, a senior reporter at BankRate.com Consumers can challenge the value, but they will have to pay for the appraisal. Lewis recommends that before going out to have an appraisal done, you talk with your bank and ask whether it has a list of approved appraisers you can use. Even if your appraisal results in a higher value than the bank's, there is no guarantee that it will restore your credit line, Brown said. "At the end of the day, a lender has to make an underwriting decision." The Mottolas opted not to get the appraisal, because they had already sold the house, and Wachovia had already made good on their check. But Joe Mottola is still upset that the bank would do something like that to good customers. "This is just another example of how a large corporation can walk all over the little guy. They basically mess up people's plans and lives and do not respond to accurate and realistic information." Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here. Vicki Lee Parker is a columnist for The News & Observer. Comment by clicking here. Previously: Easier way to fight corporate abuses Before buying a car How to move it without losing it Want a free laptop? I'm still waiting Put an escape hatch in your travel plans Put up or shut up for card companies Don't fall for rebate check scams Recall agency needs help Account can help you save Gift refund made him feel cheated 7 gifts to build wealth Dump your bank escrow account, earn some interest Enticing e-mail may lead to viruses, ID theft, malware Ask to receive discounts Learn from a con man Nitrogen: pricey way to keep tires pumped Buying private health coverage Better Business Bureau ramps up Two beeps, one item: Listen for overcharges Recalls: What to do next Do your homework before home repairs To tip or skip it: Gratuity must be earned Advice is free, if you look Hire a cleaner who won't clean you out Teach children smart money tips that will keep them busy all summer long Warning: Don't trust the ATM Reasons to beware of ‘We Buy Homes’ Too wise to fall for a scam Untethering cell phone from carrier Re-check your credit card rewards Treasure might be buried in medical bills Tax-time saving tip: Free filing is available College money is waiting; don't procrastinate Extended warranties rarely worthwhile Too busy for tax planning? It'll cost you © 2007, The News & Observer Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services

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