Saturday, March 14, 2009 

All About Car Donations

Car donations have become a great way to help charity. People simply offer their unwanted vehicle to a charity. The charity either has a lot where the car is sold or has an auction company take care of the sale.

In the United States car donations are tax deductible. This has made car donations very popular. The IRS even has a form just for those wishing to get the tax deduction. Also the charity you are going to donate to have to have "non profit" status with the IRS.

In 2000 nearly 3/4 of a million people donated their cars with a tax savings of over $650 million. Generally when the value of the donation is under $4000 the donor determines the value. While donations over this value are sold and the donor gets the to right off the actual value the car sold for.

In the US donations are accepted in all 50 states. Pick up of your vehicle often occurs within 24 - 48 hours after arranging your donation. You can even donate your car if it isn't operating as long as the value is more then the cost to have it towed.

Donations aren't limited to only cars. Trucks, vans, RV's, trailers and boats are also accepted as donations. If you have any questions about if your vehicle will be accepted as a donation it is best to call a registered charity.

Some of the charities that benefit from car donations are:

1. Red Cross

2. Habitate for Humanity

3. Boy Scouts

4. Cancer Research Institute

To name a few.

For a complete list of charities that benefit from car donations can be obtained by doing a search on any major search engine.

Sam Smith writes for Cars to Charity. Visit her site at http://cars-to-charity.com

 

5 Ways to Help You Get a Lower Rate on Your Home Equity Loan

A home equity line of credit is a great way to consolidate outstanding debt. It can also be a tax deductible source of funds for home repairs, college tuition or other major purchases. While home equity lines of credit typically have higher interest rates than first mortgages, there are ways that you can keep your home equity loan rate as low as possible.

1. Higher Credit Score Lower Rate

Borrowers with high credit scores tend to get better interest rates than those with lower credit scores. Always pay your bills on time and be sure to pull your credit report before you apply for a home equity loan and make sure that your credit is clean. If there any issues make sure to get them cleaned up before applying.

2. Pay Off Existing Debt

Many lenders will cut you a break on the interest rate and qualification guidelines on the equity loan if the equity loan is going to be used to pay off all or some of your outstanding debts like credit cards, car loans, student loans, etc.

3. First Mortgage Position

If you do not have any other mortgages on the home and the equity loan will be in first lien position then some lenders will offer a lower interest rate than if the equity loan were going to be in second lien position.

4. Comparison Shop

Different lenders have different rates, terms and conditions when it comes to equity loans. Just like any major purchase, you should comparison shop and compare all of your equity loan options before choosing one.

5. Closing Cost Option

Some lenders have an equity loan option where you pay some costs associated with obtaining the equity line for a cheaper interest rate. You will need to calculate a breakeven analysis to see if the upfront costs will pay off in the long-run.

Low Interest Rate Home Equity Lenders Online - We maintain a list of recommended mortgage companies online and update the list regularly.

Bad Credit? See a List of Poor Credit Home Equity Lenders Online