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Bank foreclosed homes are often offered at almost half their original market value. The longer they have been in the market, the more chances a buyer will have of negotiating for a low purchase price. However, these homes also often come with repair needs that can reach up to tens of thousands of dollars.

Impact of Home Condition on Price

Buyers should not expect banks and bank agents to tell them the extent of repairs required by the house, so it is their responsibility to find out how far the dwelling has deteriorated and to identify the areas that need adjustments. The more they know about the extent of repairs needed, the better they will be able to negotiate for an appropriate price.

People who have skills in home repairs would have an advantage since they can work on fixes themselves and would not need to hire someone else to do the work. That would be additional savings for them.

What Could Bring Costs Up

There are certain areas of bank foreclosed homes that would cost more to repair than other aspects. One of the most expensive repair jobs is home foundation. If the foundation of a dwelling has deteriorated to a point that it needs to be totally replaced, then buyers should not bother. This means that practically the whole house would have to be torn down to shore up the foundations. No matter how cheap the purchase price is, the cost of replacing foundations would not be worth the money and the trouble.

Plumbing, electrical and sewer systems that need to be replaced can also eat into the budget. If these systems require total overhaul, buyers should look somewhere else. HVAC and central airing systems are also expensive projects that might cost as much as half of the total purchase of the house. Roofs that need to be totally stripped will also entail costs that can reach up to tens of thousands.

When viewing bank foreclosed homes, a buyer should have a professional house inspector at hand. They might think that they are getting a bargain, but there are things, particularly inside the house, that might require excessive expenses that buyers can hardly afford.

If you are looking to open a new bank account, it is a good idea to learn about the different types of bank accounts available, to ensure that you get the right account for your exact needs.

There are several types of bank accounts available, each one being tailored to slightly different requirements and also varying from bank to bank. Each type of account offers different advantages and for many it might be beneficial to hold a combination of accounts.

Basic Bank Account

This type of account usually offers the customer the facility to have regular payments paid in free of charge, and to set up direct debits or standings orders. The customers bank should issue the account holder with a card to withdraw money, which may or may not be free of charge, depending upon where the money is withdrawn.

A basic account normally lacks the facility of a chequebook and an overdraft, the benefit of the latter being that the customer need not worry about accumulating debt. On the downside, the interest rate received by the customer may be lower than that for a current account.

Current Account

Like the basic account, current accounts are tailored towards everyday use such as paying in money, withdrawing money, as well as setting up standing orders and direct debits. Customers will receive a debit card with capability such as visa or maestro, enabling the customer to withdraw money where they find the relevant sign. The debit card for this account also permits customers to make payments via the chip and pin process.

A current account will typically also return low levels of interest on the money in your account, but unlike the basic account, may provide the facility of an overdraft which needs to be arranged with your bank. Customers are also usually entitled to a chequebook as a method of payment.

Savings Account

Savings accounts will offer a higher rate of interest to the customer and therefore provide a means of saving money and to see a return in the form of interest. This often means that you cannot move your money too often. In fact, some savings accounts require that you give notice before withdrawing money. Customers should also be ware that interest gains will be taxed, and are normally deducted before being received by the account holder. Non-taxpayers in the UK can claim back the tax on the interest gained, but for UK taxpayers, an ISA may be a better option for saving money.

Student Account

The main feature of a student account is that they normally offer an overdraft facility for students. The overdraft limit will vary between banks, but will commonly be a free facility. Banks also offer different incentives for students to open an account, which may include complimentary insurance, electronic devices, railcards and more.

People whose property are in danger of being foreclosed are understandably often on the edge and worrying about what they could still do to avoid what seems to be the inevitable. Of course, it is easy to lose hope during tough times especially for those who have been hearing a lot about Wachovia bank foreclosures. Many of them are wondering what else they could do to avoid losing their homes. Fortunately, there are available options for you as a borrower even as you are facing a possible foreclosure.

What You Can Do

The first thing that you need to do once you get wind of the fact that there might be a foreclosure on your property is to pause and let in some clarity of your mind. Do not let panic set in yet. What most people do not know is that they could actually take some immediate action to get help. Contacting your lender for assistance, clarification and possible solution is highly recommended.

If you are worried that you might not be able to make your payments and fulfill your obligations under your mortgage, you can always contact the number provided in your Wachovia billing. This is the most reasonable option for people who are foreseeing possible difficulties in the months ahead for their mortgage payments but want to avoid having their property join Wachovia bank foreclosures. The good news is that there no workout fees that will be collected from you when you contact the bank. It is just making sure that you know your options once the challenge has began.

Usually, a borrower would look for the loan collections department or even the loss mitigation department. The bank would then redirect you to these departments but you should be prepared to produce all your relevant financial information that can help you convey your message to the bank. Your income data, expenses and other financial information that shows your assets, balance and liabilities will help give the bank an idea on how to proceed with or work out your dilemma.

Wachovia will then assess your situation based on your circumstances. There is no one solution for all borrowers and cases are dealt with according to their own facts. But there are possible solutions that Wachovia can provide you including a short-term relief or a loan modification in case where there is a longer-term financial difficulty.

And you do not have to worry about calling Wachovia and finding unresponsive people on the other end. They actually have trained people who handle calls relating to Wachovia bank foreclosures and generally, they offer three possible solutions. First, you can increase your monthly payments for a specific period to cover any missed payment. You may also choose to put your missed payments at the end of your mortgage. And finally, you may want to altogether modify your loan to accommodate your present and pressing needs.

When your credit history is proving to be a hindrance to your financial well-being, perhaps it is time for you to get a secured credit card. One of the cards worth your consideration would be the Orchard Bank MasterCard secured card issued by the HSBC Bank of Nevada.

This card targets customers with poor or limited credit ratings, and aids them towards improving their credit histories. A secured credit card works by requiring the card holder to deposit cash into their credit card account prior to utilization. This way, this credit card prevents its card owners from incurring more debt whilst helping them re-establish their credit history.

An additional advantage unique to this card is that the deposits in the account are paid interests by the bank. In the effort to establish a healthy credit rating, customers must bear in mind that late payments must be avoided, and they have to be aware of the current annual percentage rate for the card as the APR of the Orchard Bank Secured Credit card is based on a variable rate. Although, the regular rate now stands at 15.90%, the actual rate is dependent on the Prime Rate. APRs for cash advances are higher than most cards at 23.40%, with a minimum rate of 19.99%.

Interestingly enough, the annual fees for the Orchard Bank Secured Credit Card is lower than other most unsecured credit cards. Balances above $1000 will only incur fees of $35 whilst card holders who have charged more than their credit limits will only be charged only $29. Also, there are periodic reviews of the credit limit for each account, so regular payments will enable the card holder to obtain higher credit limits and at the same time improving their credit history.

Finally, the Orchard Bank secured credit card also offers a lot of perks not evident in other competing credit cards. These would include Internet services, emergency replacements for stolen cards as well as numerous protection services against fraud and identity theft.