Identity theft is the largest growing crime in America. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. In fact, you or someone you know may have experienced some form of identity theft. First, you need to ask yourself, “Is my personal information safe?” Do you own a home, have a credit card, are listed in the phone book or conduct purchases by check or online? Did you answer yes to any of these questions? Unless you take steps to secure your identity, you will probably become one of the next 9 million Americans who will have their identities stolen within the next year.

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Although it does protect you against identity theft, placing a credit freeze also means that your credit file cannot be seen by potential lenders, insurers and potential employers doing background checks, unless you give your consent. If you are worried about identity theft one effective way of protecting yourself against identity theft is to opt for a credit freeze. When you freeze your credit, no one can open new credit in your name and access your credit reports until the freeze is lifted.

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Buying a home can be a long and laborious process. With the country in the midst of a credit crunch, the housing market faces an uncertain period. After finding the property you want, sorting out the mortgage can be a confusing process, with lots of jargon involved. It’s always best to research as much as possible before committing to mortgages. But with so much jargon associated with the buying process it can be rather confusing.

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Identity theft is a serious crime and it can lead to individuals being devastated as a result. Several persons have committed suicide because their identity was stolen. Plans, relationships, and dreams can be destroyed because of identity theft.

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Although in the past switching to fixed rate or discounted mortgages every two or three years made financial sense, experts are now saying that this is no longer the case, and that borrowers would now be better advised to take out long-term mortgages.

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Most people are generally told that you should pay off the mortgage on your house as soon as possible. While this is generally sound advice, it is not always in your best interest, and can sometimes be harmful to your wealth.

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Your employment history is very important. It will be a key factor in determining if you are indeed qualified for a loan or not. A continuous employment of two years or longer is what you need to be dubbed of having a steady job.

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The year in Identity Theft 2007, scandals, breaches, drama galore!

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The number of identity theft victims is increasing everyday. Yet it is being so downplayed that most people think that it would never happen to them.

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If you work for yourself then getting a mortgage can be much more difficult. The reason is that being self employed means your income is not always regular and consistent. This means that banks and building societies are less likely to lend you a mortgage.

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