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Jewish World Review March 25, 2002 / 12 Nisan, 5762

Bruce Williams

Bruce Williams
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MUGGER
Kathleen Parker
Wes Pruden
Sam Schulman
Roger Simon
Tony Snow
Thomas Sowell
Cal Thomas
Jonathan S. Tobin
Ben Wattenberg
George Will
Bruce Williams
Walter Williams
Mort Zuckerman

Consumer Reports


Securing credit after a rough ride; does size matter --- in banks?; acting as our own general contractor


http://www.NewsAndOpinion.com | DEAR BRUCE: Does it matter if a bank is small, local or out of town when searching for the highest return on a CD? Since CDs are insured, my money should be safe. -- D.A., Holder, Fla.

DEAR D.A.: As long as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insures your CD, there shouldn't be a problem. I would be leery of investing with privately insured institutions. Whether it is small or large, local or out of state, is irrelevant. The only thing that is absolutely important is that you stay within the limits established per depositor, which is ordinarily $100,000. There are ways to title accounts for larger amounts that can be insured by the FDIC. While there may be other perfectly acceptable insurance agencies, the only insurance that I would be comfortable with is one that has the full faith and credit of the federal government.

DEAR BRUCE: I was divorced two years ago and my credit suffered horribly. I could not afford to pay all the bills and my ex paid none. Even though my credit is in horrible shape, my American Express account is paid in full, and I have never been late. My parents bought a small home, and they are selling it to me on a contract for deed. I have a new job with a base salary of $75,000 a year, which will be increased by commissions. My new employers told me that I need a Visa or Master Card for my travel expenses, which will be reimbursed by my employer. For some reason they will not allow me to use my American Express. I know my credit score will not allow me to qualify for a regular credit card. Is there a legitimate secured credit card issuer? - Allison, Dallas, Texas

DEAR ALLISON: Getting back on the credit track is a painful process, but, trust me, there is life after bad credit. I know from personal experience. The secured credit card may very well be one way to get you where you want to go. The bank that I currently do commercials for and am a stockholder in, New Millennium in New Brunswick, N.J., does issue collateralized credit cards. There are application fees, and you will be required to deposit an amount equal to that which you need for credit, up to $5,000. While this can be a bit of a burden, it does allow you the ability to have a Visa and/or Master Card. No one with whom you charge will know it's secured. As long as you make your payments in a timely fashion, your security will not be attacked.

DEAR BRUCE: We want to get a construction loan and build a house acting as our own general contractor. What can you tell us about this endeavor? -- M.A., via e-mail

DEAR M.A.: The problem here is that it is frequently less cost effective to be your own general contractor than to hire one who has a good reputation in your area. One of the reasons is that the general contractor may be able to buy a great many components for your house such as central air, heat pumps, plumbing fixtures, etc., at a considerable savings that would not be available to you because his company is a regular customer of the vendors. When you are a one shot buyer, you are not going to get the same price advantage. Beyond that, building a home is not the easiest of tasks. Unless you are able to devote a good deal of time to it, you will find that it is simply not cost effective to do it yourself. If you are still of the mind to do so, get on the Internet to search out resources to give you some insight as to what has to be done. Perhaps the most important area to become familiar with is the selection of sub-contractors in your immediate area.

Reputations can sometimes be misleading, and one bad sub-contractor can wipe out any possible savings that you might otherwise reap.



Send your questions to JWR contributor Bruce Williams by clicking here. (Questions of general interest will be answered in future columns. Owing to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.) Interested in buying or selling a house? Let Bruce Williams' "House Smart" be your guide. (Sales of the book help fund JWR).

Up

03/20/02 A lesson in student loans
03/18/02 Will power; paying mortgage payment before the end of its grace period
03/15/02 Home-buying advice; watch out for million-dollar airline policies
03/13/02 Avoiding Enron-like losses; buying substantial seven-figure firms
03/11/02 Finding a reputable mortgage lender; making money requires some risk
03/08/02: Evaluating a business; accidents where damage doer is off the hook; company demands interest-free loan from workers
03/06/02: Watch fine print in 'same as cash'
03/05/02: Retiree needs supplemental insurance; Should I file for bankruptcy, or will the hospital let me pay in installments?
03/01/02: How to best buy a new car
02/27/02: Revocable trusts; Are insurance proceeds taxable?; rental property guidelines
02/25/02: Use caution with patent placements; best way to purchase a personal use airplane and protect personal assets
02/22/02: Hospital sends bill to wrong place. Privacy violation?; Getting around paying federal, state and wage taxes
02/21/02: Are work-at-home ads worth it?; a home equity loan
02/19/02: $1 million coverage recommended; when the consumer is a leased car's "upside"; under-insured
02/15/02: Have your house and rent it too; parents deducting gifts to kids
02/11/02: Is 401(k) enough? best approach to maintain the spread between the loan and CD; senior citizen home v. condo
02/08/02: Financial planner con man takes life savings
02/06/02: Widow still uses husband's credit card
02/04/02: Hotel requests verification of checkout; avoiding capital gains on house; irresponsible step-daughter
02/01/02: Reverse mortgage advised; Will I be liable for any of his credit card debt if hubby dies?; What percentage of the purchase price should I receive in rentals?
01/31/02: Multi-level marketing; Are correspondence courses worth it?
01/30/02: Avoiding estate taxes; debt consolidation
01/25/02: Deal with firing head on
01/24/02: Drop collision coverage on older cars
01/21/02: Leveraging equity in real estate; about using equity in rental
01/17/02: Consider Roth for grandchildren; "throwing money away on renting;" make dealership honor their sticker?
01/15/02: How much down payment for car?
01/10/02: Rate jumps when account closed; when you go over the maximum allowable income for a Roth IRA
01/09/02: Air fare 'bargains'; changes to 'living trust'
01/07/02: Insurance for long-term care
01/04/02: Renting to college children; buy or rent house for newlywed?
01/03/02: Gift certificate about to expire; we were never billed
12/31/01: Cashing in 401(k) is bad idea; fed up with shipping charges
12/27/01: For young people to borrow cheap money to invest is a wise idea; traveling with pets
12/24/01: New or used car -- which is better?
12/21/01: Keeping accounts separate; buying a home after foreclosure on credit record bankruptcy
12/19/01: Is refinancing best?
12/17/01: Long-term health insurance
12/14/01: Using home equity to buy car
12/12/01: Roth IRA's are good idea
12/10/01: When bankruptcy is an option
12/07/01: Reverse mortgages boon for seniors
12/06/01: When to drop collision coverage; deductible and nonreimbursed expenses in condos
12/05/01: Use broker to move retirement fund; a lawyer to refinance home and check the papers?
11/30/01: Joint ownership of CDs; sick spouses
11/28/01: Refinancing student loan possible
11/26/01: Gift or loan?; Stick with penny stocks?; How much of a premium should I negotiate above my regular stateside wage?
11/19/01: Replacing oil tank; Why am I penalized for bettering myself?
11/16/01: An RV is quite a different breed of cat; Keep or sell old car?
11/14/01: Wife's name left off deed; tax-deferred interest in your case certainly has an upside?
11/12/01: Appraising stamp collection; financial advisor changes his mo; an enforceable loan to a son?
11/08/01: IRAs for needy children; Sell or become a landlord?
11/05/01: Advice for seniors; when fighting over a will isn't worth it
11/02/01: Giving money to grandchildren; condo tax write-off
10/31/01: Example of air travel safety; renting as a waste of money; defaulting on a credit card
10/26/01: Is unused credit a bad thing?
10/24/01: The mysterious safe-deposit key
10/22/01: Options available for 401(k)s
10/19/01: Use caution with viaticals
10/18/01: 403(b)s; Whole life or term insurance?
10/15/01: Getting your credit report; Private Mortgage Insurance ; Are those ads on TV about help with IRS debt legitimate?
10/11/01: Good time to buy?
10/08/01: Annuity a poor decision
10/04/01: Taxes on game shows; contractor and mechanics liens
10/01/01: 'Bridge' loan explained
09/26/01: Friend has good deal
09/24/01: Consider the franchise option
09/17/01: Single vs. multi-family rental
09/14/01: Buy house or invest?; Universal insurance v. a mutual fund?
09/12/01: Safe investment, modest return
09/10/01: CD yields little return
09/07/01: Sending funds overseas
09/06/01: Contracts v. mortgages; What is a nice nest egg?
09/04/01: Senior likes entering contests
08/31/01: Rental property return
08/23/01: House too large for widow
08/22/01: Second thoughts about gift; Why should I have to pay for a sewer line that I neither want nor can afford?
08/20/01: Consider used cars over new; outsource billing; careless mechanics
08/16/01: Investing an inheritance
08/14/01: Government grant availability
08/13/01: Roth IRAs for education
08/08/01: Refinancing small mortgages
08/06/01: Bi-weekly mortgage payments?
08/02/01: Refinancing dilemma
07/31/01: Annuity advice; living trusts
07/30/01: Helping kids save money
07/27/01: Down payment or retirement?
07/24/01: Law suit "buy-out"; lease or buy vehicle?
07/19/01: 401(k) concern at age 70
07/18/01: Spouse responsible for debt
07/16/01: Refinancing to get investment money
07/12/01: Renting in retirement communities
07/10/01: Refinancing mobile home advice; why single house rentals are generally a poor investment; how determine if income is decent in condo
07/06/01: Property burned on day insurance issued; paralegals and wills
07/03/01: Converting stamps to cash
06/29/01: Puppy swindle; buying v. renting; too goods
06/27/01: Keeping an older car; dad's dead and he left everything to mom; brokers and "captive agents"
06/25/01: What's a reverse mortgage?
06/22/01: Bonds for college a bad bet; debt consolidation loans
06/20/01: Guidelines for refinancing your home
06/18/01: Keep or sell rental property?; 27-year loans; turning 401(k) into a Roth IRA
06/15/01: Investor worries about stock loss
06/11/01: Second marriage wills
06/07/01: Title insurance on new home; loan against primary residence; shares and class action lawsuits
06/05/01: Must we have a real estate lawyer? Fences make .... trouble
06/04/01: Ring no longer needed; "cherry pickers"
06/01/01: Dad responsible for son's damage
05/31/01: Avoid will kits
05/30/01: Where there's a will ...
05/25/01: Best way to pay for remodeling
05/23/01: Medicaid took my mother's home
05/21/01: Trouble with undeclared tips; Cheaper to rent than own?!
05/18/01: Construction and cash; qualifications for rates for first-time home buyers
05/16/01: Salesman or financial adviser? What is a title policy and how does it work?
05/11/01: Gift money for children
05/10/01: Advice for seniors
05/08/01: Investing 101
05/07/01: Should I rent my house out?
05/03/01: Retired citizen wants to pay off mortgage; boyfriend/girlfriend accounts
05/01/01: Roth Educational Account explained; recouping losses
04/25/01: Parent wants to invest
04/24/01: Mortgage lengths; my granny has hefty credit card debt
04/23/01: What is PMI and how can I get rid of it?; Credit card account services
04/19/01: When to incorporate; you may be breaking up my marriage
04/18/01: I'm an heir to an additional monthly income , but it's becoming a tax burden
04/17/01: False promises to clear bad credit
04/13/01: Back-to-back ticketing dilemma
04/12/01: Using home equity to buy a car
04/10/01: Sister wants Mom's house
04/05/01: Should I pay or stay?
04/04/01: How should we invest $40,000?
04/03/01: Size
03/30/01: I want to be a real estate agent; surviving siblings stocks
03/27/01: Seeking financial literacy
03/20/01: Pay off the credit card?
03/15/01: Just wait 'til you sell...
03/13/01: They're trying to give me a better car; I'm not filing
03/12/01: Timeshares not worth your time
03/09/01: Your tax protection is maxed-out; ealry birds and audits
03/08/01: How old is too old for a Roth?; laws on landlords investing your money
03/07/01: New job, old 401(k); buy v. leasing car
03/05/01: Basement swimming, anyone?
02/27/01: Don't take mommy's money!; livid at landscaper
02/26/01: Teach your daughter to be responsible
02/22/01: Go get a(nother) job; Change a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA?
02/21/01: Stocks buy a 'piece of America'; everyone needs at least $1 million worth of liability insurance
02/20/01: No hassles bring low return; 'repo' houses
02/15/01: Term insurance on what terms?
02/13/01: Must I charge tax? Can dotted property line stop us from building on our land?
02/12/01: Picking the 'best' lawyer
02/08/01: Who has the best mortgage rates?
02/05/01: No life insurance to cover a loan; notch babies and social security; avoiding paying a lot of tax on severance pay
02/02/01: Life insurance for regular people?
01/31/01: Debt free
01/29/01: A house divided; I won the jackpot --- but the IRS took the winnings
01/24/01: Sons as landlords
01/23/01: Pitfalls of buying land; cleaning up a financial mess
01/22/01: Aiming for partnership; Have investments in the child's name?
01/19/01: Roths and young people
01/17/01: Home-sellers must disclose; IRS can still get you --- even after a divorce
01/15/01: Advice on buying a business
01/11/01: Credit cards and 401Ks
01/09/01: Power of Attorney questioned
01/08/01: An 8-year-old unpaid bill
01/04/01: Accidents where the victim is responsible; health club heartache; laptop lunacy
01/03/01: Towing a new car; Must reveal my insurer's name?
12/28/00: Paying off a mortgage; Borrow yourself to prosperity?
12/26/00: My dad won't make a will
12/22/00: Most work-at-home offers cater to fools; trust deed investments
12/20/00: Your son needs tough love
12/18/00: Time to move on
12/14/00: Should we move retirement account?
12/13/00: U.S. notes can be the answer
12/08/00: Series EE, I, EE, I, Oh!
12/07/00: Paying mortgage twice a month instead of once
12/05/00: IRA vs. 401(k) investing; "gofer" gripes
12/01/00: Those credit card "checks"; non-compete agreements
11/30/00: Dumped by insurers when I did nothing wrong
11/27/00: Collision insurance is a waste?
11/23/00: Rent our house or sell it?
11/21/00: Fixed or adjustable rate?
11/20/00: Debt consolidation requires discipline
11/16/00: Ten-year fixed-rate mortgages
11/15/00: Higher interest means higher risk
11/10/00: Maybe a mobile home
11/09/00: At 21, save for today and tomorrow
11/08/00: Can I shelter my severance pay?
11/06/00: I don't wanna save for retirement!
11/03/00: Getting your money back is enough
10/31/00: Employment ads that make you pay
10/27/00: Reader takes on Bruce
10/26/00: Tell your kids to 'get real'
10/25/00: Don't pay 'the rascals'
10/23/00: Mickey Mouse tax steps
10/18/00: Economizing is not always wise
10/17/00: Young investors should start a Roth IRA
10/13/00: Maybe your prices are too low
10/12/00: Dealing with underground home oil tanks
10/11/00: Go with simple interest!
10/05/00: When property is worth more than the home
10/04/00: Put part of windfall in a Roth
10/03/00: Not paying taxes on interest from house sale
09/28/00: Protection by Medicaid and Medicare
09/27/00: Refinancing home without alerting crooks
09/26/00: Base investments on trust
09/25/00: Do we really need a will?
09/21/00: She took off with the car
09/20/00: Diversify your financial advisers?
09/18/00: How to inherit a house
09/15/00: The tax scoop on student loans
09/14/00: House buying only for the young?
09/13/00: No reason to give credit
09/11/00: Must I pay for my gifted child's college tuition?
09/08/00: We got bitten on purchase of dog
09/06/00: Pools can soak you
08/28/00: When the insurance company has an 'out'
08/25/00: When to buy a home
08/24/00: More 'interest' to live on
08/22/00: Paying for private school
08/18/00: Don't make huge down payments
08/16/00: IRAs for people with pensions
08/15/00: She doesn't deserve a break
08/11/00: Her shopping will ruin us
Yes, a contract means something
08/10/00: Her shopping will ruin us
08/09/00: A $1,500 car ... for $3,000
08/04/00: Time to take on the airlines
08/02/00: How can I retire at 62?
08/01/00: Cash in your savings bonds
07/28/00: Hold onto a mortgage under 7 percent
07/26/00: I want my partner to buy me out
07/25/00: Negotiate with your neighbor
07/21/00: How can I finally start saving soundly?
07/20/00: Where's my prize?
07/18/00: Getting out of an upside-down loan
07/13/00: Death is no escape
07/12/00: Multiplying dollars
07/10/00: Making sense of retirement investing
07/07/00: 'Bankruptcy does follow us around'
07/06/00: In which state should I file my income tax?
07/03/00: When to diversify assets
06/30/00: I'm buying my dad's house
06/29/00: How social security seniors should invest
06/27/00: Waiting before re-establishing credit
06/21/00: Insuring an older car
06/19/00: Take the money and run!
06/16/00: Utility company incursion
06/15/00: Insurance settlement is no bargain
06/13/00: A straightforward form of bankruptcy
06/08/00: In the computer's clutches
06/07/00: The trouble with tenants
06/05/00: Do I really need title insurance?
06/01/00: The truth about nursing home insurance
05/30/00: Keep mother-daughter loan simple
05/25/00: CDs for security, not investment
05/24/00: Battling with collection agency
05/22/00: Are callable CDs a waste of time?
05/18/00: Building a college fund
05/16/00: Even death brings no relief
05/15/00: House is 'worth' what's offered
05/12/00: Borrow from Mom and Dad?
05/11/00: Your heirs, your choice
05/09/00: Mutual-fund investigations
05/05/00: Credit cards vs. debit cards
05/04/00: Lawyer are good for something
05/03/00: The binding nature of contracts
05/02/00: You know you are in trouble when ...
05/01/00: Can primary residence be rented out?
04/28/00: A full refund after five years?
04/25/00: Get a homeowner's title policy!
04/24/00: Beware of errors in your favor
04/18/00: $10,000 limit on gifts
04/17/00: Invest or repay student loans?
04/13/00: Beware of Internet auctions
04/11/00: Six percent is a pittance
04/10/00: Married couples should share windfall
04/07/00: How not to blow an inheritance
04/06/00: Get genetic screening for Tay-Sachs
04/05/00: Beating the look-back period
04/04/00: Providing for retirement
04/03/00: Readers disagree on time shares
03/30/00: The road back to good credit
03/29/00: Pre-tax dollars in IRA taxed later
03/27/00: Gambling on business ventures
03/22/00: Old cars as hobby, not investment
03/20/00: Tax on foreign gifts?
03/16/00: How to buy government bonds
03/13/00: Buying treasury instruments
03/09/00: Subcontractors must pay S.S.
03/08/00: Real-estate lawyers are essential
03/07/00: Don't expect compensation for ideas
03/06/00: Too rich for a Roth IRA?
03/01/00: Is time-sharing a scam?
02/29/00: Paying for nursing-home care
02/28/00: Rely on a real-estate lawyer
02/23/00: Keeping child's money safe from divorce
02/16/00: Just how important is a 401(k)?
02/14/00: Shaky partnership buying house
02/11/00: Protection by residential zoning
02/09/00: Benefiting from a reverse mortgage
02/07/00: Ensure your insurability
02/04/00: Absurd community zoning laws
02/02/00: Money or securities?
02/01/00: Can we KO a custodian?
01/31/00: Why sell a home you love?
01/26/00: Everyone needs a will
01/25/00: Will splitting stocks affect rollover?
01/24/00: Should early retirees contribute to SEP?
01/21/00: Strategies for paying off debt
01/20/00: Is 15-percent growth achievable?
01/19/00: Selling a second home
01/18/00: Running from a time-share
01/14/00: Don't be a spendthrift!
01/13/00: Who gets the house?
01/11/00: It all depends on size of estate
01/06/00: Check references before hiring an advisor
01/04/00: Savings bonds a bad investment
12/31/99: Out of state ain't that great
12/29/99: Warranty rip-offs
12/27/99: Checking up on investment handlers
12/23/99: Options good only when company's strong
12/20/99: Capital gains tax sometimes best
12/17/99: Don't give up your nest egg
12/15/99: Small-claims court no panacea
12/13/99: Termite company not liable for termites?
12/10/99: Services provided must be paid for
12/06/99: How do we minimize house-sale gain?
12/06/99: Maximize your tax shelter!
12/02/99: My neighbor won't maintain even a modicum of civility
12/01/99: Long-distance rentals a bad idea
11/29/99: Mortgage strategy A-OK
11/18/99: Students can work and learn
11/16/99: Value is what will sell
11/11/99: Y2K: No big deal for real estate
11/08/99: Real life is tough luck
11/03/99: The right time to cash a savings bond
11/01/99: Slow road for savings accounts
10/29/99: What do you want from insurance?
10/27/99: You have a right to see your tax forms!
10/25/99: Why own a house at 65?
10/22/99: Online fine, but CDs?
10/20/99: Love, honor -- and separate credit
10/18/99: Find the value of your stocks
10/15/99: Property lien prevents trade
10/13/99: Clear up debt, only then tie the knot
10/11/99: If it ain't broke...
10/04/99: Should I stick with the company IRA?
10/04/99: Get a financial education!
10/01/99: Insurance: Not much one person can do
09/30/99: Lost tickets are lost cash
09/29/99: Trusting only one financial planner
09/27/99: Adult children should help out
09/24/99: Tips for first-time home buyers
09/21/99: Use the rule of 72s!
09/17/99: Legal strategy can be a pain
09/15/99: Teen drivers drive up insurance
09/13/99: Always use an attorney!
09/10/99: Whose taxes are they, anyway?
09/08/99: How do I roll over my 401(k)?
09/03/99: How can I work out my IRS payments?
09/01/99: When your company can't pay you
08/30/99: Beware of shady viatical investments
08/26/99: Landlords vary on security deposits
08/25/99: Educational IRAs must be spent on education
08/23/99: Finding out the value of old stocks
08/20/99: How to get an FHA refund
08/19/99: 100 percent financing is a scam
08/16/99: Will I have to pay a capital gains tax?
08/16/99: Thinking about PMI
08/13/99: Short-term mutual funds a-OK
08/11/99: It's your job to shop around
08/10/99: Sometimes, roots need to be uprooted
08/09/99: 'Pre-approved' doesn't mean a thing
08/06/99: Only you can determine your investments
08/04/99: Bank IRA the lowest-risk option
08/03/99: Reverse mortgages good for the elderly
08/02/99: Get the survey BEFORE you buy the house!
07/28/99: Get a lawyer -- it's worth it!
07/27/99: If it ain't broke...

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