Bush And Hud Ease Loan Requirements, Thousands Helped

Posted on August 21, 2008
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A new law passed recently will undoubtedly help the struggling real estate market and it’s woes with record amounts of foreclosures and struggling families unable to make their mortgage payments. Continue reading this article and you will learn details of a new bill that has been designed to help families facing losing their home due to this situation. The New Requirements will be listed at the bottom of this article…

FHA Loan Requirements Relaxed

FHA Loan Requirements have been relaxed by the Recovery Act of 2008. The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 should provide relief of thousands of Americans that are facing foreclosure. Many homeowners with subprime loans are now able to refinance their subprime loan mortgages into more affordable fixed rate mortgages because of this new law.

fha loan

FHA Credit Qualifications and FHA Loan Requirements have now been relaxed. A borrower can now find it easier to qualify with a low down payment, lower closing costs, easier credit qualifying, and straight-forward mortgage terms that are easy to understand and won’t cause a major burdon if rates go up in the future. If you are in the market of refinancing your home, and because of the FHA relaxing the requirements, now may be the best time in years to qualify for your new fixed rate mortgage.

FHA Comes to the Rescue

President Bush recently announced that the Housing and Urban Development’s Federal Housing Administration, or (FHA), will attempt to help over 200,000 plus families try to avoid foreclosure by offering an enhanced refinancing program that becomes effective immediately. The New Program and enhancements will be called the FHA Secure plan.

The FHA Secure Plan will qualify applicants based on more relaxed qualifications in order to help those families that do make payments, but due to the continued increases in the monthly payment, have been strained by the continuous increases in monthly payments. Homeowners who made regular payments before the loans were reset to newer and higher payments, will usually qualify for the new FHA Secure Plan.

Higher Insurance Premiums for Higher Risk Applicants

Also, FHA has initiated risk-based premiums that match the borrower’s overall credit profile to an insurance premium that is base on their score. Therefore, riskier borrowers will have to pay higher mortgage insurance premiums. This should allow many Americans whose families who were having trouble making their payments under the initial “teaser” terms of sub-prime loans make consistent loan payments that don’t go up unexpectedly. So far the response has been overwhelmingly favorable from homeowners desperately seeking alternatives and solutions to their rising mortgage payments.
With the combination of the FHA Secure program and risk-based insurance premiums, the FHA will soon be able to return to the role that it was originally designed to play, whish is, bringing stability to the real estate market by helping break the current cycle of foreclosures, price depreciation, and debt, by creating much needed liquidity in the now overly strained real estate mortgage market.

FHA Secure Loan Qualifications….
To qualify for FHA Secure, eligible homeowners must meet the following five criteria:
1. A history of on-time mortgage payments before the borrower’s teaser rates expired and loans reset;
2. Interest rates must have or will reset between June 2005 and December 2008;
3. Three percent cash or equity in the home;
4. A sustained history of employment; and
5. Sufficient income to make the mortgage payment.

For Complete Rules and Information:
fha credit requirements

New FHA LENDER REQUIREMENTS Announced

Posted on August 16, 2008
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FHA lending requirements have been relaxed as part of the Federal government’s Housing and Economic Recovery Act, 2008. The purpose of the act is to provide some relief for home owners affected by the housing finance crisis, and to help stabilise the property market overall.

Relaxing the FHA lender requirements will allow more FHA insured loans to be issued, and in some parts of the country, will allow FHA loans to be issued for higher value properties than was previously premitted.

The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008

This legislation strengthens and modernizes the regulation of the housing government-sponsored enterprises involved with FHA loans – Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the enterprises) and the Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBs or Banks). In addition, it creates a new program at FHA (Hope For home Owners) that will help at least 400,000 families save their homes from foreclosure by providing for new FHA loans after lenders take deep discounts.

Summary of the HOPE for Homeowners Act of 2008

The “HOPE for Homeowners Act of 2008″ creates a new, temporary, voluntary program within FHA to back FHA-insured mortgages to borrowers at fisk of foreclosure. The new mortgages offered by FHA-approved lenders will refinance non-performing loans at a significant discount for owner-occupants at risk of losing their homes to foreclosure. In exchange, homeowners will share future appreciation in the value of their home with FHA.

Basic Principles

1. Long-term affordability. New loans will be based on a family’s ability to repay the loan, rather than the value of hhe home, ensuring affordability and sustainable homeownership. Of course, the original lender will be the loser in this deal, as the original mortgage was based on the value of the home.
2. No investor or lender bailout - wouldn’t that put the cat among the political pidgeons! Only owner-occupiers may apply. Of course some investors are holding non-performing mortgages, but investors and/or lenders will have to take significant losses in order to benefit at all from any proceeds of the loans refinanced with government insurance. However, these losses would be less than the losses associated with foreclosure, so it is likely that some investors - and many lenders - will agree to the scheme in order to avoid the foreclosure process.
3. No windfall for borrowers. If you suddenly write down a $400,000 mortgage to $200,000, because that is all the borrower can afford, that is effectively handing $200,000 to the borrower. To offset this consequence, borrowers will share their new equity and future appreciation equally with FHA. Borrowers will also pay for the FHA insurance.
4. Voluntary participation. Because of the massive losses these refinancing deals will cause for mortgage holders, this can only be be a voluntary program. No lenders, servicers, or investors will be compelled to participate. Otherwise, there would be rioting on Wall Street!

If you are suffering from mortgage stress, you should see whether the new FHA loan requirements will allow you to qualify for an FHA insured mortgage.

Dangers Of A Reverse Mortgage: The Main Pitfall

Posted on August 12, 2008
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Reverse home loans are becoming a very basic financial tool for seniors. Nevertheless, prior to choosing on obtaining one, you need to discover the dangers of a reverse mortgage. By knowing about these pitfalls, you may minimize them. In these paragraphs, we’ll talk about the biggest of all of these dangers.

When you obtain one of these home loans, you are receiving cash from the lender. In addition, you are not making any payments back to the lender. What this means is that the value left in your house is reduced as you receive the money from the lender.

When seniors live in their houses for a long period of time with this home loan, it will come a time when the value left of the property will be reduced almost to zero. It may come to a point when they have no value left in the house.

However, it is basic to remember that you can never owe more than your house is sold for. If you receive more money that your house is worth, the reverse mortgage warranty will give the lender so that you never have an up-front cost.

The lack of equity is probably the largest of most dangers of a reverse mortgage. This is so for two basic reasons. Although these two reasons won’t affect necessarily to all people, you could consider them before time.

First, if you receive a home loan and after a few years decide that you have to move to a retirement house, you may not have enough funds to pay for it. This may be the case if you have taken most of the funds from the house.

Second, by utilizing the value left of your house you leave little or no equity for your children. Now, this is fundamental if you feel like you have to leave assets behind for your heirs and your house is your only source of inheritance.

If you are in this second case, you may consider a couple of things. First, you might realize that you have made the privilege to take advantage these last years of your life. Second, your heirs desire the best for you and want you to be happy. In addition, by utilizing this money, your heirs know that they don’t have to give money to your retirement funds.

By thinking about these dangers of a reverse mortgage, you can make a more informative choice. Talking to your heirs to go over the consequences of obtaining a reverse mortgage may be the first step.

Miami Reverse Mortgage: Things You Should Learn

Posted on August 12, 2008
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When looking for a Miami reverse mortgage, you need to learn about how they work. Also, you need to know of the situations that make this area and this economic cycle different for seniors asking for any kind of mortgage. When doing so, you can learn about the advantages and decrease the disadvantages related with this kind of home loan.

First, this kind of loan is coming to be very common amid senior people because it lets them to stay in their homes by taking advantage of the accumulated equity and without needing to make any recurring payments.

In addition, it isit’s very easy to apply for a reverse mortgage. These are the basic conditions:

- All people in the title must be 62 years of age or older

- You must have enough equity in the home

- You must stay in your home

As you can see, income and credit are not requirements. This is so because you do not have to make any payments back to the lender. However, because of this, the equity in your home declines as you get these payments.

Regardless, prior to deciding to obtain a reverse mortgage in Miami, you should think about the results of doing so; specially, in this time when there are declining home values and mortgage banks are loosing on these kinds of mortgages.

Because of the falling home values, you may not get as much money as you had in your mind at first. This is so because mortgage banks take this into account before on deciding on the amount of money to lend you.

In addition, because of the hard economic times, there are some mortgage banks that are not giving this kind of home loan any longer. Although once you get the home loan, it’s backed idea to get it by going through a large and stable lender.

By doing so, you ensure that they’ll be there with you on the long term , and that you are obtaining a good deal. Big banks usually their profits by charging lots of loans.

Finally, ensure you get a FHA reverse mortgage. This kind of reverse home loan gives the best terms and it’s backed by the HUD. If you get a private home loan, you may be charged expensive costs since they aren’t as regulated.

Obviously, because obtaining a mortgage is an important decision, you should want to learn as much as you can about how a Miami reverse mortgage functions prior to choosing one. By doing so, you can know whether it’s the best kind of mortgage for you. In addition, it may help you get the right kind of local mortgage lender who can guide you throughout the whole process.

Methods To Preserve Money On Your Home Loan

Posted on August 2, 2008
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Whether you’re applying for your first home loan or looking to refinance an old mortgage, keep reading for 6 quick and easy tips that you can use to save money on your mortgage.

1. Maintain a good credit rating.

Though often easier said than done, prudent financial strategies will assist you in earning a good credit rating that helps to save you thousands of dollars over the course of your mortgage term. Lenders use your credit score to determine your interest rate, which means that a poor credit rating will translate into a higher interest rate on your loan.

If you’re worried about your credit score, take some time to work on improving it. Even just twelve short months of paying all your bills on time, correcting any mistakes on your credit report, limiting your use of credit, and paying down your bills can improve your credit score enough to qualify for a better loan.

2. Raise a larger down payment.

Because home buyers with limited down payments have to pay a private mortgage insurance premium, you can save a lot by opting instead to take a year, invest, and raise a large enough down payment (usually 10-20 percent) to avoid paying for this extra insurance. Most first-time homeowners who don’t have sufficient funds in savings receive the bulk of their down payments from savings and family gifts.

3. Make principal prepayments.

If you have extra cash and don’t incur penalties for extra payments, pay more than your monthly mortgage payment by using a second check that’s clearly marked “principal prepayment.” Doing this will whittle down your principal a lot more quickly and can save you thousands of dollars over the life of your mortgage loan.

4. Opt for bi-weekly payments.

Instead of paying your mortgage monthly, pay half of your mortgage payments every two weeks. You’ll end making 26 half-payments, which equals 13 payments each year. Though one extra payment a year doesn’t seem like a lot, it can surprisingly shave years off your mortgage and save you a lot of money.

5. Earn interest on deposits.

If you’re buying a home, make sure you get interest on any deposits during an escrow period. Remember, you’re putting away thousands of dollars and the interest on these funds can be substantial, so make sure you’re getting your returns.

6. Shop around.

Before choosing a mortgage provider and locking in on an interest rate, always try to get at least 3 quotes. Have each lender break down the quote on paper so you can easily compare them later at home. Don’t be shy about using available financial tools to help your decision-making.

Hud Reverse Mortgage: Selecting A Counselor

Posted on August 2, 2008
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A HUD reverse mortgage is a kind of home loan backed by HUD. This is the most common of the different kinds of reverse home mortgages. it’sIt is so because it offers lower rates and the guidelines are managed by the HUD.

One of the requirements for any owner who wants to obtain a HUD reverse mortgage is to go to a counseling session with an expert. This professional is a third-party professional and is there to help you with any questions you may have.

Since reverse home mortgages are so different from a regular home loan, it’s a good point to use this free counseling session to your benefit. The counselor can answer any questions you may have.

Ask your mortgage broker for a list of approved HUD counselors in your area. If there are none in your zone or you choose not to go physically to the office, you can ask for a list of telephone numbers.

The principal goal of the counseling session is to help you understand how a reverse home loan functions and what you can expect in the process. You may ask any questions you can have about this subject.

Usually, a session lasts anywhere between 30 minutes and a couple of hours. It all has to do with the amount of doubts you may have.

To make sure that you take maximum benefit of this session, ensure to write down your doubts before you get there. Research the subject and write down any doubts you may have as you do the research. This alone could save you hundreds of dollars.

Also, take all the needed documents with you. Usually, a copy of your current mortgage and the note is enough. Having this documentation may help the advisor give you a more realistic idea on what you can expect and how much money you can get.

Remember that the counseling is one of the safeguards mandated by the HUD to ensure that senior citizens understand the consequences of getting a reverse home loan. It helps you understand how a HUD reverse mortgage works before taking the choice to obtain one.

Of course, the mortgage lender that you use will also help you with any doubts you may have. Also, a good lender will guide you along the entire process to make sure that it becomes a stress-free experience. It’s up to you to select a mortgage lender that will help you get the best kind of HUD reverse mortgage for you.

Ideas For Real Estate Investment

Posted on August 1, 2008
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Because investing is not a sure thing in most cases, it is much like a game – you don’t know the outcome until the game has been played and a winner has been declared. Anytime you play almost any type of game, you have a strategy. Investing isn’t any different – you need an investment strategy.

See:return on investment

An investment strategy is basically a plan for investing your money in various types of investments that will help you meet your financial goals in a specific amount of time. Each type of investment contains individual investments that you must choose from. A clothing store sells clothes – but those clothes consist of shirts, pants, dresses, skirts, undergarments, etc. The stock market is a type of investment, but it contains different types of stocks, which all contain different companies that you can invest in.

If you haven’t done your research, it can quickly become very confusing – simply because there are so many different types of investments and individual investments to choose from. This is where your strategy, combined with your risk tolerance and investment style all come into play.

Also:investment in rental property

If you are new to investments, work closely with a financial planner before making any investments. They will help you develop an investment strategy that will not only fall within the bounds of your risk tolerance and your investment style, but will also help you achieve your financial goals.

Never invest money without having a goal and a strategy for reaching that goal! This is essential. Nobody hands their money over to anyone without knowing what that money is being used for and when they will get it back! If you don’t have a goal, a plan, or a strategy, that is essentially what you are doing! Always start with a goal and a strategy for reaching that goal!

Mortgage Interest Rate Predictions

Posted on July 30, 2008
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Even the best mortgage interest rate predictions can be like making weather predictions - it is impossible to be precisely accurate with the mortgage rate forecast, and the further in advance you try to predict mortgage interest rates, the greater the margin of error in the prediction.

On the other hand, even mathematically chaotic systems are predictable in broad terms.

If you predict the weather, you may not be able to predict the top temperature for a given day in July, but you can reasonably sure it will be within a certain range - say, if you live in Miami, between 80 and 95 degrees F, and if you live in Stockholm, between 16 and 25 degrees C.

Just as climate gives a broad indicator of summer top temperatures, economic climate gives a broad indicator of mortgage interest rates. Just as we can make moderately reliable weather predictions, we can make moderately reliable mortgage rates predictions.

Factors Which Make Mortgage Rates Predictions Rise: Inflation

So called “real interest rates”, the interest rates which move in response to supply and demand in the financial markets, are independent of inflation. They are calculated assuming that inflation is zero.

To get from the “real interest rate” to the “nominal interest rate”, which is what your bank will charge you for your mortgage, you simply add on the annualised percentage rate of inflation.

This means that if nothing changes whatsoever in the housing market, but something changes elsewhere to create inflation (like, for example, oil prices increase, raising the prices of gas at the pump, heating oil, and anything transported by road), then there will be upward pressure on interest rates, and mortgage rates predictions would have to take that upward pressure into account.

Factors Which Make Mortgage Rates Predictions Rise: Reduced Availability Of Credit

Financial markets operate on supply and demand. If there is a limited supply of anything, then it will go to those who are willing or able to pay more for it. The same is true of mortgage money.

Mortgage lenders generally borrow the money they lend for mortgages, or at least 90% of it. Because of their size and financial stability, they can get a lower interest rate than an individual home owner, and the difference between what they pay for the money they borrow, and the nominal interest rate they charge you, is the bank’s profit on your mortgage. Mortgage rates predictions will take into account whether the supply of money is increasing or decreasing, and likewise, the trends in demand for money.

Mortgage rates predictions are more complicated than weather predictions, because political factors influence mortgage rates predictions. This doesn’t make accurate mortgage rates predictions impossible, of course, but it requires more than just a mathematical model to make accurate mortgage rates predictions - it takes a good poitical “nose” as well! When the time comes, you can find good mortgage interest rate forecast at the Emergency Refinancing web site.

Mortgage Foreclosure In Real Estate

Posted on July 22, 2008
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Even if you are not defaulting on your mortgage, you still may be feeling the effects of other mortgage foreclosure in real estate markets. It’s estimated that multiple foreclosed homes in your neighborhood can affect a 1% drop in price, however, some neighborhoods in the states with the highest foreclosure rates have dropped drastically more than that. Is it all because of mortgage foreclosure in real estate or something more?

Additional Factors In Foreclosures

In addition to the loss for a lender, the reason most prices drop in neighborhoods is not only because one or two foreclosures. It’s mostly because of the interpretation of loss that is associated with mortgage foreclosure in real estate. Foreclosures are sometimes easy to spot as the bank with board up the house and eviction notices posted on doors. Once that happens to one owner, others may follow and that’s when it can become a neighborhood problem.

When there is a mortgage foreclosure in real estate, the owner who occupied the home often neglects the home or is evicted. Once they are gone, the mow doesn’t get cut and the house starts to deteriorate from lack of maintenance. If the house remains empty for a long period of time, it can attract squatters and vandals. The copper piping might be taken off and the house damaged, reducing it’s market value even further. Once there is more than one house that looks this way, nearby houses in the market can be seen as less desirable too – because the neighborhood has become less desirable on whole.

Effects Of Mortgage foreclosure In Real Estate For Homeowners Associations

Another, often overlooked, effect is that the homeowners are no longer around to pay homeowners dues to the homeowners association. This means that as the homeowners association fund gets drained trying to keep up with foreclosed homes, other homeowners in the association may be asked to make up the difference. This can put a strain on the entire community and eventually, if the homeowners dues get too large, they can be a source of default too.

In terms of comparable market value, most realtors will use homes in the same neighborhood to estimate the value of your home, especially if they are part of the same homeowners association group. Once there are multiple foreclosures in the area, this can begin to drag down the value of the homes within the same homeowners association group. Even with their ability to foreclose on properties that fail to pay homeowner dues, this would be considerably more expense than most homeowners associations can afford.

Death Clock

Posted on July 21, 2008
Filed Under Mortgage Smarts | 1 Comment

Deathclock.com: Nobody Can Tell How Long You Will Live! Useless => Death Calculator-How Long will You Live?

Take the Quiz!

Answer all quiz items as truthfully as possible – in other words, to the best of your knowledge. Don’t guess. Begin with 79 years, then add or subtract years based on the scoring of your answers on each item. Your completed (total) score is a rough estimate of your current life expectancy.

1. Where is your ancestral home? (if not given, enter a score of 0). US = minus 2. Austria-UK = minus 1. Canada-France-Italy = 0. Australia-Singapore-Sweden = plus 2. Japan = plus 3.
FACT: Life expectancy varies by nation due to genetic and cultural differences.

2. What is your gender ? Female = plus 1. Male = minus 2.
FACT: Life expectancy favors the female gender regardless of culture.

3. Do you have an annual physical exam? Yes = plus 3. No = minus 3.
FACT: Many diseases (cancers, hypertension) in later life are asymptomatic, go unnoticed and untreated.

4. Do you have parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents who lived to 85-plus? Add 2 for each 85-plus relative.
FACT: Research demonstrates that long-lived parents tend to produce long-living children.

5. Do you volunteer on a weekly basis? Yes = plus 2. No = minus 1.

FACT: Studies confirm that volunteering focuses attention away from ourselves and onto others.

6. Do you live alone? Yes = minus 3. No = 0.
FACT: Adults who live alone tend to be less well-nourished, more isolated, and less nurtured.

7. Are you able to laugh at and learn from your mistakes? Yes = plus 1. No = minus 3.
FACT: Laughter, humility, and a positive outlooks are linked to increased life expectancy.

8. Do you have a confidant who listens to your most intimate concerns? Yes = plus 1. No = minus 2.

FACT: Confidants offer emotional catharsis and a sense of personal worth to those in crisis.

9. Do you engage in daily mental exercises such as puzzles, games, learning or problem-solving? Yes = plus 4. No = 0.
FACT: Individuals that continually challenge their minds suffer fewer cognitive disorders.

10. Do you engage in some form of daily aerobic exercise such as swimming, jogging or biking? Yes = plus 2. No = 0.
FACT: Exercising at one’s target heart rate strengthens the heart and boosts metabolism.

11. Do you eat a balanced diet, including fresh fruit, vegetables, and whole grains? Yes = plus 2. No = minus 3.
FACT: Balanced dieters experience lower risk of both genetic and culturally related diseases.

12. Do you smoke a pack of cigarettes daily? Yes = minus 5 for men, minus 10 for women. No = 0.
FACT: Smoking causes nearly half a million cancer and lung disease deaths every year.

13. Do you live with, work with, or spend time with people who smoke? Yes = minus 1 for men, minus 2 for women. No = 0.
FACT: Although close association with smokers is thought to reduce a person’s life expectancy by one year, recent research suggests this association may reduce life expectancy by two years.

14. Does your body weight “yo-yo” as you go on and off diet fads? Yes = minus 5. No = 0.
FACT: Unorthodox dietary regimens stress the heart and immune system, increasing the risk of disease.

15. Do you own a pet? Yes = plus 2. No = 0.
FACT: Peer-reviewed scientific journals substantially support longevity benefits of pet companionship. (Note: Avoid exotic pets, such as parrots, monkeys, reptiles, or rodents. These animals have been known to carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans.)

16. When writing, which hand do you use? Left-handed = minus 1. Right-handed = 0. Life is stressful for lefties living in a made-for right-hand world.
FACT: Lefties live in a world where most objects are designed for right-handed people. Objects such as scissors, pencil sharpeners, door openers, and can openers are rarely designed for left-handed people.

17. How tall are you? For every inch of your height that exceeds 5’8” = subtract six months.
FACT: Size does matter, but not in any way you may have thought. Shorter people live longer.

18. Do you belong to any religious group, and do you practice your faith? Yes = plus 2. No = 0.
FACT: Attending to both physical and spiritual needs lowers morbidity and mortality.

19. Do you have two or more daughters? Yes = plus 3. No = 0. Daughters are elder caregivers.
FACT: Daughters provide the bulk of eldercare. Even daughters-in-law provide more care than do sons.

20. Do you use stress management techniques such as meditation, quiet time or visiting a spa? Yes = plus 4. No = minus 3.
FACT: Because there is no escape from stress in our modern society, stress management is the best response.

21. Do you walk to work? Yes = plus 2. Ride to work? Yes = plus 1. Drive to work? Yes = minus 3.
FACT: Walking offers fitness benefits, as well as a sense of self-reliance and personal freedom (no gridlock!).

22. Have you had cosmetic surgery? Yes = plus 5. (But subtract 1 for each additional surgery during the same decade.)
FACT: Cosmetic surgery reduces age phobia and age discrimination and evokes a positive response from a youth-obsessed world. Too many cosmetic surgeries (that is, more than one every 10 years), however, may actually accelerate the aging process.

23. Do you fear the uncertainties of growing old? Yes = minus 1. No fear = plus 0.
FACT: Fear of aging increases your risk of emotional illnesses such as self hatred, denial and depression.

24. Do you routinely use cannabis? Yes = minus 4. No = 0.
FACT: Scientific studies claim that frequent cannabis use increases the risk of physical and mental disorders—such as lung and heart disease and psychosis—by as much as 150 percent.

25. Are you sexually promiscuous? Yes = minus 6. No = 0.
FACT: Engaging in unprotected sex with multiple partners greatly increases the risk of sexually transmitted diseases.

26. Are you engaged in a long-term relationship of trust and mutual respect? Yes = plus 5. No = 0.
FACT: A relationship of this nature fulfills emotional, social, and physical needs and lowers morbidity and mortality risks.

27. Are all your friends the same age as you? Yes = minus 2. Do you have friends of different ages? Yes = plus 1.
FACT: Having friends from a younger generation counters an age-related decrease in your social network. Social isolation sets the stage for a variety of age-accelerating conditions. Those who live alone, for example, have a shorter life expectancy due to poor nutrition; the absence of companionship and someone who can intervene during periods of depression or physical illness; a decreasing need to get dressed and groomed; and safety issues (for example, the hearing impaired often misinterpret abnormal sounds, such as bathroom water pipes gurgling, as human voices whispering) and no one is present to tell them otherwise.

28. Do you keep a written list of specific life goals with time frames for completion? Yes = plus 1. No = 0.
FACT: Studies of performance behavior link specific goals and achievements to quality of life.

29. Do you have a family (blood relatives) history of cardiovascular disease or cancer prior to age 50? Subtract 2 per occurrence.
FACT: Family history demonstrates just how many cultural risks are increased by genetic predisposition. Culture (lifestyle) and genetics (inherited conditions) moderate the aging process. For example, some ethnic groups share a history of longevity, as do the children of long-lived parents.

30. Do you have a family history of obesity, diabetes, or chronic depression? Subtract 2 per occurrence.

FACT: Family history demonstrates just how many cultural risks are enhanced by genetic predisposition.

31. Do you take a once-daily dose (physician-approved) of an anti-inflammatory agent? Yes = plus 4. No = 0.
FACT: Scientific studies of anti-inflamatory drugs such as aspirin and statins show a reduced risk of cardio-vascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke.

32. Do you have an annual physical exam that includes a review of diet, over-the-counter medications, prescriptions, and dietary supplements? Yes = plus 2. No = minus 3.
FACT: Without oversight, combining prescription and over-the-counter medications with dietary supplements can be life threatening.

33. Does your dental care routine include daily brushing and flossing, plus a six-month checkup and cleaning? Yes = 0. No = minus 1.

FACT: A lack of preventive dental care and poor oral health habits raises the risk of infection elsewhere in the body, such as the heart.

34. Do you compute your daily caloric needs, then reduce caloric intake by 20 percent? Yes = plus 2. No = 0.
FACT: Research demonstrates a strong relationship between reduced caloric intake and longevity. If you answered “No” to this question, read the chapter, Thoughts for Food, for more information about computing your daily caloric needs and the benefits of reducing your caloric intake by 20 percent.

35. Do you have one daily serving of red wine (7 oz), purple grape juice (7 oz), or RDA grape-seed extract? Yes = plus 2. No = minus 1.
FACT: The agent in purple grapes enhances cardiovascular health by flushing cholesterol from the arteries.

36. Do you have one daily serving of oatmeal or oatbran (one -half cup, or one 70- gram granola bar)?
Yes= plus 1. No= minus1.
FACT: The fiber in oatmeal enhances cardiovascular health by flushing cholestoral from the arteries.

37. Are you involved in supervised strength training 3 times per week? Yes = 0. No = minus 1.
FACT: Muscular strength, flexibility, and coordination are essential to daily living and reduce the likelihood of tripping and falling.

38. Do you have a daily exercise routine that consists of at least 20 minutes of supervised cardiovascular training at your target heart rate, as well as warm-up and cool-down periods? Yes = plus 2, No = 0.
FACT: Cardiovascular and metabolic benefits occur when exercise is performed at your target heart rate. If you answered “No” to this question, read chapter five, Full Body Contact, for more information about calculating your target heart rate and the benefits of a regular exercise routine.

39. Is your home and indoor work space adequately ventilated by frequently opening windows, or equipped with air filtration that can filter microscopic particles? Yes = plus 1. No = minus 1.
FACT: Environmental studies have documented increasing evidence of cardiopulmonary diseases generated from indoor air and materials. Common items you have and use in and around your home – such as carpets and furniture, insecticides, cleansers, and paint and varnish – can release toxins into the air. In addition, all homes absorb toxins from the outside environment through normal cracks in foundations and walls.

40. Do you eat or drink more than two daily servings of caffeinated products, such as coffee, tea, cola, or chocolate? Yes = minus 2. No = 0.
FACT: Caffeine helps headache pain, but its toxic affect elsewhere elevates the risk of cancer and heart disease.

41. Is your BMI (body mass index) 25 or greater? Yes = minus 4. No = 0.
FACT: A Body Mass Index of 25 or above increases the risk of diabetes, heart attack, stroke, and hypertension. Clinical obesity has multiple negative and long-term effects on organs throughout the body. If you do not know how to calculate your Body Mass Index, read chapter five, Full Body Contact, for more information.

42. Is the average time you take to consume your meals more than 30 minutes? = 0. Less than 30 minutes? = minus 1.

FACT: Your brain requires 30 minutes to measure fullness, by which time you’re often on a second or third helping.

43. Do you eat, drink, or use a cell phone while driving your vehicle? Yes = minus 1. No = 0.
FACT: These distracting behaviors elevate your risk of frightening close calls and outright accidents.

44. Do you have a consistent work schedule (i.e., work 9 to 5)? = 0. Or do you have an inconsistent work schedule (shift work that changes schedule)? = minus 2.

FACT: One in four workers is in a shift-work occupation that results in chronic sleep deprivation.

45. Within a 24-hour day, do you sleep nine or more hours? Yes = minus 1. Do you sleep 6-8 hours? Yes = plus 2. Do you sleep 5 hours or fewer? Yes = 1.
FACT: On average, most people need between 6 and 8 hours of sleep. Sleep deprivation is associated with poor concentration, more frequent accidents, and substandard effort.

46. Can you list symptoms associated with colon cancer? Yes = plus 1. No = minus 2.
FACT: It is not necessary for this cancer to be so dangerous to your health. Get a checkup, now.

47. Can you list symptoms of adult-onset diabetes? Yes = plus 2. No = minus 3.
FACT: Genetics, lifestyle, dietary habits, or a combination of the three are all risk factors.

48. Women only: Can you list breast cancer symptoms? Yes = plus 2. No = minus 3.
FACT: Preventive measures such as breast self-examination and mammography remain under-utilized.

49. Can you list high blood pressure symptoms? Yes = minus 2. No = 0
FACT: There are no symptoms associated with high blood pressure; therefore, you should have your blood pressure checked regularly.

50. Women only: Have you had a bone density test as a preventive step against osteoporosis? Yes = plus 1, No = 0.
FACT: Osteoporosis is more prevalent in women and increases the risk of back and hip fractures. Start monitoring early. As a preventive health measure, women should monitor their calcium needs as early as age 23 and their bone density as early as age 30.

51. Men only: Can you list prostate cancer symptoms? Yes = plus 2. No = minus 2.
FACT: After age 50, your doctor should monitor prostate health by reliable digital or PSA testing.

52. Men only: Can you list testicular cancer symptoms? Yes = 0. No = minus 1.
FACT: Avoid clothing fabric or styles that elevate testicle temperature. Monitor on a regular basis by inspecting the soft tissue of the testicles for lumps and painful areas; if found, see your doctor for a professional examination.

53. Women only: Can you list ovarian cancer symptoms? Yes = plus 2. No = minus 2.
FACT: Early risks exist but increase after menopause, and in association with advancing age.

54. Can you list heart attack symptoms? Yes = plus 1. No = minus 2.
FACT: Learn the symptoms and immediate interventions. Learn Cardiopulmonary Resusciation (CPR) for protecting loved ones.

55. How would you rate your sex life? Satisfactory = plus 1. Not sure = minus 0. Not satisfactory = minus 1.
FACT: Overstimulation by advertising, entertainment, and fashion results in a genuine need for a positive sexual outlet. The many ways in which the body benefits from a satisfying sex life are well documented at the National Institutes on Aging Web site located at www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/sexualhealthissues.

Now add it all up. Your score is an estimate of how long you can expect to live. A score of less than 79 years should alert you to take positive action. In fact, 75% of longevity predictors are based on lifestyle, not genes. Remember, long life depends on seven factors: genetic inheritance (good genes give you a good head start), physical fitness, mental fitness (exercising your mind), emotional fitness (meaningful lives last longer), spiritual fitness (interpreting the purpose of life), food fitness (healthy nutrition and diet) and environmental fitness (limiting our exposure to toxic chemicals). Remember, the key to a long and healthy life is more than smart genes and dumb luck.

Low score? It’s never too late to make positive lifestyle changes. A complete lifestyle plan, in an interactive question & answer format is available in Dr. David Demko’s book, “Live Well Now, Dr. David Demko’s Anti-Aging Plan to Youth’n Your Life”.

Barbara Kimmel is a publisher and publicist. She is the publisher of David Demko’s book. For more information about this book and other healthy lifestyle publications visit http://www.nextdecade.com - To Read more info about Deathclock.com browse SpicyBuzz.com

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