Articles Written by Mike Hamel From Isnare.com http://www.isnare.com/?s=author&a=Mike+Hamel Mortgage Refinancing Slowing But Still Popular Finances Mike Hamel Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=86108&ca=Finances Homeowners continue to use mortgage refinancing to cash out their home equity. In the first quarter of 2006, 44% of all Freddie Mac mortgages were refinanced loans, down slightly from 45% in the fourth quarter of 2005. “While more of the borrowers who refinance will be looking to cash out home equi... Tips On Buying Your Next Car Automotive Mike Hamel Tue, 12 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=85469&ca=Automotive When shopping for a car, new or used, start by asking yourself a few questions: • How many miles will you be putting on the car weekly? • What are the mpg ratings for the cars you are considering? • How will the car primarily be used—taking kids to soccer, commuting to work? • What features do you n... Dealing With Auto Dealers – Seven Safeguards Automotive Mike Hamel Tue, 08 May 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=81593&ca=Automotive Dealing with auto dealers can be the most daunting and frustrating part of buying a vehicle. Here are seven things you can do to tilt the playing field in your favor and help you get the most auto for your money. 1. Get your financing first: Smart buyers get their auto financing before setting foot... What You May Not Know About Bad Credit Finances Mike Hamel Mon, 07 May 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=82446&ca=Finances See how many of these questions about bad credit you get right: What exactly is bad credit? “Bad credit” is defined as a FICO score of 620 or lower. FICO (the initials stand for Fair, Isaac and Co.) scores range from 300 to 900. A score above 680 signifies good credit. Scores in the 620-680 range a... Bad Credit Second Mortgage By The Numbers Finances Mike Hamel Wed, 12 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=58892&ca=Finances Bad credit second mortgages make up a sizable part of the mortgage market. According to a recent survey by the Mortgage Bankers Association, the number of second mortgage originations increased by 13 percent in the second half of 2005 and closed-end second mortgages increased by 33 percent. The surv...