Tell Me No More Lies…Or Else!

By Heather Faucher | Posted on August 27, 2009 | Filed Under Patents 

The USPTO has awarded National Institute for Truth Verification (NITV) founder Charles Humble a second patent for his CVSA (Computer Voice Stress Analyzer) II.  The CVSA II accurately measures voice patterns for stress levels and then rates the person being tested as having “No Deception Indicated” or “Deception Indicated.”  Just what makes this device superior to polygraph testing in certain situations?  Several aspects.

Firstly, the embedded software–which runs on a laptop computer–can be used to test live conversations, telephone conversations, or even recorded audio files.  Also, with the new algorithm, Humble claims that “recorded audio is just as good as live audio.”  And more than 1,800 federal and local law enforcement agencies, not to mention the U.S. military, recognize its value for helping catch criminals and use the CVSA II already.

A second benefit to the CVSA II is the fact it has a reported accuracy rating of greater than 96 percent.  And since it allows for real-time or post-interview analysis and an evaluation of the entire exam, it does away with potential bias during the exam process.

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First-Time Homebuyers Q&A: Part 6..

By Heather Faucher | Posted on August 26, 2009 | Filed Under Real Estate 

Check out Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 and Part 5 of this semi-regular series.

Okay, so what steps can I take to protect my family and myself?

22. WHAT CAN I DO TO KEEP MY FAMILY SAFE FROM LEAD IN THE HOME?

For all houses built before 1978, it’s absolutely crucial to have an inspection for lead-based paint if you have children under 7 years old. Lead flakes from paint can be contained in both the home and the soil surrounding the house, so make sure all potentially dangerous areas are checked. Temporary solutions include repairing damaged paint areas or planting grass over contaminated soil, but a more permanent fix is hiring a lead abatement contractor to remove the lead-filled paint chips and seal all damaged areas.

23. SHOULD I BE WORRIED ABOUT POWER LINES?

There haven’t been any definitive findings in studies that indicate exposure to power lines brings about greater amounts of disease or illness. So the answer is, most likely not.

24. SHOULD I HIRE A LAWYER TO BUY A HOME?

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Back to School Basics: When Are Student Loans Dischargeable Through Bankruptcy?

By Heather Faucher | Posted on August 20, 2009 | Filed Under Bankruptcy 

Ahhh, fall is in the air. Back to school time for many across the land–including college students and recent college grads now swimming in student loan debt and struggling to make ends meet in the current economy. For those whose finances are dire enough, it may be time to consider bankruptcy. One often-asked question from people considering filing for bankruptcy is, “Can I get my student loans like the Federal Stafford, Federal PLUS and private loans forgiven through bankruptcy?”

Unfortunately, the answer to that question is probably not. Section 523(a)(8) of the US Bankruptcy Code, at 11 U.S.C. states that “an educational benefit overpayment or loan made, insured, or guaranteed by a governmental unit, or made under any program funded in whole or in part by a governmental unit or nonprofit institution; or an obligation to repay funds received as an educational benefit, scholarship, or stipend; or any other educational loan that is a qualified education loan, as defined in section 221(d)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, incurred by a debtor who is an individual” are not dischargeable through bankruptcy unless “excepting such debt from discharge under this paragraph would impose an undue hardship on the debtor and the debtor’s dependents”.

This means that all qualifying educational loans made solely to pay the higher education expenses of an eligible in situations where the student is the debtor, the debtor’s spouse, or the debtor’s dependent will not be forgiven during the bankruptcy process. The loans must apply to schools that are Title IV eligible and the student must be enrolled on at least a half-time basis. Of course, if the student used credit cards to finance tuition, that type of debt still will be dischargeable even if it was used to finance higher education expenses.

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Prenuptial Contracts Gaining Traction Worldwide…

By Heather Faucher | Posted on August 18, 2009 | Filed Under Prenups 

British law, which generally doesn’t recognize prenuptial contracts, is going to have to start taking them a whole lot more seriously now. An appeals court judge recently strengthened their status in the Britain when he ruled that a German heiress’ prenuptial agreement with her husband should influence how the couple’s assets are divided. Lord Justice Mathew Thorpe, who presided over the case of Katrin Radmacher and her ex-husband Nicolas Granatino, stated that the current low status of prenuptial agreements under British law reflects the moral and legal values of earlier generations.

“It does not sufficiently recognize the rights of autonomous adults to govern their future financial relationship by agreement in an age when marriage is not generally regarded as a sacrament and divorce is a statistical commonplace,” he said.

Thorpe overruled a lower court’s ruling that awarded Radmacher’s former husband Granatino 5.85 million pounds ($9.6 million US). The judge reduced Radmacher’s obligation to her ex-husband to approximately 1 million pounds ($1.6 million US) in place of maintenance and a 2.5 million pound ($3.6 million US) loan for a house that will be returned when the couple’s youngest daughter, now aged 6, reaches 22 years. Radmacher also consented to pay off 700,000 pounds ($1.15 million US) in debts that her ex-husband owes.

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There May Be Hope for the Real Estate Market Yet!

By Heather Faucher | Posted on August 13, 2009 | Filed Under Real Estate 

There may be hope for consumers who have spent months–if not years–trying to sell their homes in a housing market that has been not-so-hot for the past couple of years. According to the latest survey conducted by the National Association of REALTORS®, existing-home sales showed healthy gains in the second quarter versus the first quarter in most states. Additionally, the decline in home prices has increased the affordability in most metro areas.

Thirty-nine states showed increased sales compared to the first quarter, and nine states had higher sales than those from a year ago; the District of Columbia enjoyed both quarterly and annual increases. According to the survey, the nation’s total existing-home sales (which includes single-family as well as condo properties) increased by 3.8 percent in the second quarter compared to the first, although it remains 2.9 percent lower than the amount of sales in the second quarter of 2008. Still, the fact that sales are once again increasing is definitely a positive sign.

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