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There are several different types of investments, and there are many factors in determining where you should invest your funds.

Of course, determining where you will invest begins with researching the various available types of investments, determining your risk tolerance, and determining your investment style – along with your financial goals.
If you were going to purchase a new car, you would do quite a bit of research before making a final decision and a purchase. You would never consider purchasing a car that you had not fully looked over and taken for a test drive. Investing works much the same way.
You will of course learn as much about the investment as possible, and you would want to see how past investors have done as well. It’s common sense!
Learning about the stock market and investments takes a lot of time… but it is time well spent. There are numerous books and websites on the topic, and you can even take college level courses on the topic – which is what stock brokers do. With access to the Internet, you can actually play the stock market – with fake money – to get a feel for how it works.
You can make pretend investments, and see how they do. Do a search with any search engine for ‘Stock Market Games’ or ‘Stock Market Simulations.’ This is a great way to start learning about investing in the stock market.
Other types of investments – outside of the stock market – do not have simulators. You must learn about those types of investments the hard way – by reading.
As a potential investor, you should read anything you can get your hands on about investing…but start with the beginning investment books and websites first. Otherwise, you will quickly find that you are lost.
Finally, speak with a financial planner. Tell them your goals, and ask them for their suggestions – this is what they do! A good financial planner can easily help you determine where to invest your funds, and help you set up a plan to reach all of your financial goals. Many will even teach you about investing along the way – make sure you pay attention to what they are telling you!

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Do you have an adjustable rate mortgage? Have you seen your mortgage payment increase repeatedly over the last few years? Mortgage Expert Jim Kemish revisits the recent dramatic changes in the interest rate environment and discusses an exciting new mortgage product that just may offer the perfect combination of low payment and long term stability that you are looking for.

The Good Old Days
Ah, remember the good old days when the Federal Funds rate was 1% and the Prime Rate was 4%? This was the case in 2004. It’s amazing what a couple of years can do. The change began in June of 2004 with the first of the Federal Reserve rate hikes. We didn’t know it at the time but that rate increase was to be the first of many. By June of 2006 the Federal Reserve had increased the rates seventeen times. The Beginning of the End
As interest rates went up mortgage applicants began to turn towards adjustable rate mortgages to minimize their home payments. There is a bit of irony in this fact. Adjustable rate mortgages, by definition, adjust. And in an upward rate environment those adjustments will result in higher future interest rates for borrowers that opt for adjustable rate home loans. One might have expected borrowers to run in droves towards fixed rate mortgage products. But exactly the opposite occurred.
The Rush to ARMs
There were reasons for this behavior. As interest rates were moving up real estate prices continued to soar. Home buyers found themselves purchasing in price ranges that they never would have imagined just two or three years earlier. In order to make their new giant mortgages affordable these buyers resorted to any home loan that promised a low payment, even if it was for a limited amount of time.
The Price Paid
For a while these loan programs provided manageable payments, but the tides of change conspired to place these borrowers in unexpected discomfort. As the adjustment dates arrived borrowers found that their interest rates were increasing the maximum amount allowed. In some cases the increase was manageable, but in almost all cases the first increase was followed by additional increases scheduled to occur either every six or twelve months. Literally millions of borrowers have watched their mortgage payments double. Looking for a Way Out
Before long these home owners discovered that they needed to do something to relieve the budgetary pressure of their ballooning payments. We have seen many of our Florida mortgage customers in this situation asking to refinance into another adjustable rate mortgage for relief, only to discover that adjustable rates are no longer priced below fixed rate mortgages. Other borrowers have opted for negative amortization loans, temporarily postponing the day of reckoning when the combination of falling home values and their increasing principle balance force them to either face a much higher monthly payment, or sell their home.
A New Option
We have another suggestion. There is an exciting new hybrid mortgage product available. Say hello to the new thirty year fixed rate interest only mortgage. This program has a very attractive low interest-only payment combined with the stability of a 30 year fixed rate mortgage. In addition, the interest only period lasts for a full 10 years. This is a fantastic option for borrowers looking for affordability without the payment risk associated with an adjustable rate program. As one might expect from the above description, during the first 10 years of the loan the payment will be interest only. For the remaining 20 years the payment will include principle and interest and will amortize over the remaining term.
Principle Reduction for Lower Payment
An additional nice feature of this program is the ability to reduce your principle and cause a commensurate reduction of your monthly payments. These principle reductions may be made any time during the initial 10 year interest only period. The very next scheduled monthly interest payment will be calculated on the adjusted outstanding principle balance, allowing you to enjoy a reduced monthly payment. Any principle reductions made after the 10 year interest only period will not cause a recalculation of the monthly payment.
Never Worry About Rate Changes Again
It is worth emphasizing, that unlike the interest only mortgage programs of the past, when the interest only period has ended the interest rate does not change. From year 11 onward you can continue to enjoy the security of your fixed rate mortgage amortized over the remaining twenty years of the loan. As Florida mortgage brokers we have found that this feature is very attractive to our many retired customers that feel the need to have a predictable mortgage payment.
Are You Ready?
This program is available for both conforming loan amounts as well as for jumbos up to two million dollars. And, unlike so many of the adjustable rate products in the market, this mortgage does not carry a pre-payment penalty. So, if rates drop in the future you can refinance without facing a prohibitive penalty. If you have been on the roller coaster of an adjustable rate mortgage and are ready for some stability, but would still like to enjoy a minimal payment, this just might be the right choice for you.
Copyright © 2007 James W. Kemish. All Content. All Rights Reserved.

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