Non-Smoker Ends Up Paying Less Insurance

Life Insurance Companies are following a core to end up paying of bad habits. Recently Birla Sun Life Insurance has launched a product which would reward people, who don’t smoke with a lower premium. Seeing this insurance company Religare Life Insurance, is also planning a product similar to the one mentioned above.

So if a person has quit smoking since past many years and have no family history of diseases then they would be charged Rs 11,500 as a premium for a term policy of 10 years with sum assured of Rs 1 crore against Rs 13,000 charged from a smoker.

Till then the life insurance companies asked the applicants to tick just on the option of smokers or non-smokers filling up a form without much distinction in terms of customization of the product.

A smoker is generally at a high risk as a result premiums would be charged up more than an normal person. The idea is to reward a healthy lifestyle and good habits which would in turn lower the premiums based on smoking habits and family background.

This gives us an idea that you pay less if you are a non-smoker and have a good family history. Such policies are very common in countries which have evolved themselves as life insurance market leaders with people having lesser amount of bad habits are rewarded with low premium.

To determine the effectiveness of a non-smoker person various tests would be done that will check the nicotine level in the body showing whether the person consumes any substance having tobacco in them or not.

Ayala Merges With AIG Insurance Unit

Top Philippines company Ayala Corp. said that its insurance unit would team up with local arm of troubled US firm AIG in a partnership. The AIG unit called Philippine American Life Insurance Co is there to acquire 51% stake in Ayala Life Insurance which is a part of strategic banc assurance joint venture.

Through this partnership, Philamlife would gain access to Philippine Island Bank for customer base across 800 branches and 1500 teller machines in Philipppines. The cost of the deal was not yet disclosed, AIG was on a verge of collapse when people began tracking trillions of dollars in the risky financial product with a meltdown that lead to triggering of financial turn oil.

This was largest recipient of US bailout with the government pumping for more than 170 billion dollars into the firm which would keep the stake group in the process.

This group which is being overtaken has a net worth at 49.4 billion peros with a spun which is banking unit.

Life Insurance- A Long Way to Go In For Companies

One needs to go in for a constructive session for life insurance sector. There is a low expectation combined with improvement in equity and credit markets which would prove to be a winning combination for performance across the group.

The third quarter macros continue to demonstrate for the positive trend in conditions which would provide a considerable improvement in the current valuations. With the life index trading at nearly 1.10times the third quarter profits the international accounting standards revealed a profit of 8.5 times earnings per share which made us think about the risk/reward systems in the group.

To maintain such a bullish view from the current levels would necessitate a willingness to take a longer term view with possibility for continued improvement in valuations which would make one approach the averages.

We would think that likelihood of meaningful accretive acquisition is far lower than today which would consider that improvement in capital and credit market will be largely removed from “fire sales” from the market. Many say that math behind earning of improvements would lead us to 12% return on equity which is reasonably good.
As a result of this MetLife’s sizeable option would do stock as far as defensive peers may be concerned which would find one a reason as to how one should make oneself insured.

Profit Rises for China Life Insurance

China Life Insurance Co the largest life insurer of China gained its profit by 29% from earlier this year which is due to the gains in securities holdings. The net profit for 6 months ended June 30 rose to 13.92 billion from 10.77 a year.

The company’s profit rose to 18.23 billion up 15% from 15.84 billion with matching up of the analysts surveyed by Dow Jones. The insurer said that they booked a profit of 1.52 billion yuan with the value on financial assets this year.

The company gained benefit with a sharp rise in China’s stock market along with the decision to shift some funds into shares for an expense of fixed-income products. At the end of June, the stocks accounted for 7.88% to the company’s investment portfolio with increase of 4.36% at the end of June. The investment income fell to 33.69 billion Yuan as the income from tradable securities dropped down to a significant income.

China Life said that the first half premium income fell to 172.31 billion yuan which is a 54% decline in premium from insurance contracts which is sold to groups.

Shared Life Insurance Plan Being Offered by Prospect zone

Prospect Zone is a Chicago based health insurance which is offering shared life insurance leads to agents and brokers across United States. The company said that the life insurance agents and brokers can take advantage of Prospect Zone’s exclusive Leads which would connect themselves to life insurance shoppers.

This company claimed that owing to life insurance the producers would have access to variety which on designing the insurance would lead to packages for statewide, countrywide, exclusive and shared filters for 25+ or 45+ included taxes.

Now it has been reported that with increase in volume of life insurance would lead to generation of increased demand for life insurance which would in a way move to offer shared life insurance to various insurance agents.

Insurance Company Accuses Of Fraud

If you are investing your stocks in safer instruments then you can erode the company with life savings to ensure that their life could go well in dupe with what has been alleged by city doctor.

The insurance company Aviva Life Insurance Co, has been accused of fraud by the company for charging against the policy which lead to major financial setback. The manner in which this was done lodged a complaint with the insurance regulatory and development authority leading to insurance company who had taken two policies with ABM ABRO Bank.

Aviva informed that this change would make them acquire about the reason as told by terms and conditions which were same and that IRDA with a circular had asked them to change the policies.

One need to get a shock of life when on completion of three years he asked them how to withdraw the partial process he made on assurity of whose pages would get them reduced. As this condition would mention the original policies, which would require them to stop payments after a heavy amount which would be deducted from the policies.

The official from insurance department of ABN ABRO Bank tied up banc assurance with Aviva which made a fund switching request four times in a year which would lead to company achieving the policies. This case has been referred to Aviva but Aviva has not been responding to complaint.

When contacted Aviva said that the reference number of the policies was changed as the system upgraded from them. The changes were the sum assured which the partial withdrawal has been done to do with accordance to the policy terms and conditions leading to customer communication.

Get Options With Life Insurance Policies

Many people don’t believe about the life insurance. This is because they don’t understand the concept. This is a type of life insurance policy which would replace the earning power or human value of a person if they experience death prematurely. It replaces the wage earners paycheck facility for family if that person dies early in life.

Such policies are called legal contracts. The policies with such value have a valuable section called as non forfeiture values. There are various choices within the life insurance contract. If the policy expires or lapse because of non-payment of premium, the insured would surrender the policy for cash value wherein one would elect to receive a paid up for policy for reduced amount with no action being taken and such policy would lead to a term-life plan for a certain number of years depending on the cash value left in the policy.


The most useful section for most life insurance contracts is the settlement options. Whether the insured died a life insurance benefit would be paid up. The settlement options would offer a choice of how to proceed being paid up for. The insured would select a choice before the death of the beneficiary which would lead to choosing up of insured. Such life insurance policies are normally income tax free to the beneficiary.

The settlement options would include a lump sum cash amount and interest all of which would proceed with the insurance company. It is normally for a short time period, with the beneficiary being given a decision making for permanent settlement option. A third option for the same is fixed time period option when the insurance company calculates the annuity payment which totals to all money at the end of the period. So the choices would be made before the first payment gets achieved. The final settlement option would be pay up a fixed dollar amount where the beneficiaries would be receiving money until they are paid out.

After this the final settlement option would be to guarantee the payments which would continue the payments till the second beneficiary proceeds are paid out.

Read More About Life Insurance:

• Liberty National Life Hopes To Find New Workers
• Phoenix Reveal Two-In-Life Insurance Policy
• Life Insurance Policy Needs To Be Converted
• Inflation Cover for Life Insurance
• Old Mutual Drive In $300 Million To U.S Life Unit

Liberty National Life Hopes To Find New Workers

Some things never change. As a result of which the people who die educate and raise children who work and get hurt leading to buying of things. This is the reason for insurance business booming with many sectors of the economy struggling with recession.

This is growing so aggressively that Liberty National Life Insurance Co held nationwide events trying to hire around 2,500 employees in just one day. The first thing one would look at is to protect the homes, children’s education and cars all of which would be at the cost of insurance.

There were people from all kinds of fields all of which were looking for a job and prospect for the carrier. The recruiters from this company had gone through 2 interview sessions. All of them were looking for hiring more than 100 agents for their project. This company has set up some facilities with which you would be required to work for specific goals and hours which would gain you full benefits. Each new hire would hit a “certain production level” before all of them are considered an employee. So this is a flip side view as the 90-day probation period would make salaried jobs be required.

As many insurance jobs, the agents would work on commission a fact which would make potential employees very nervous. This is a scary thing to note with many bills being definitely coming in for. Such news would really sound good for people who are single parents.

This liberty company offers life and supplemental health insurance. As a bonus they will speak to agent who would offer premium deferred policy which they would be comparing to pencils or coffee mugs for insurers. This is a gift of life insurance policy free for a year.

Whosoever attended the conference were all satisfied with the way and schemes being announced by the company for whoever enrolled into it.

Phoenix Reveal Two-In-Life Insurance Policy

A New Life Insurance Policy from The Phoenix Cos. Inc covers two lives under one policy, which is providing a death benefit for a spouse or business partner.

The Conn based insurer today released the first to die universal life insurance policy, which would provide joint coverage and payment on the death of insured person. With the release of Phoenix Joint Advantage Universal Life, the insurer targets couples who will need the cash upon the death for small business who would need the money to cover each other interest.

For one payment one needs a single policy which would provide joint coverage for 2 lives. This would provide death benefits if any of the main individual dies. The clients will pay with flexible premiums and then the policyholders would decide what coverage one would have for each insured person.

The clients can pay flexible premiums and policyholders can decide what the coverage level would be given to an insured person. The clients can add a survivor program option so that the surviving insurance person can buy out the new policy without undergoing medical exams for insurability.

A policy exchange program would allow clients to switch over to their policy or two for their individual life insurance contracts without taking tests for insurability with an over loan protection rider which would keep a policy from lapsing the event in an amount which a customer would borrow will lead to the cash value increment in the policy.

All this features are available at no additional cost.

Life Insurance Policy Needs To Be Converted

When a person buys a term life insurance policy, one needs to understand the details of conversion rights if possible. One need to understand the permanent insurance one may convert to for how much amount it will cost and the original timetable for making such conversion.

The most useful right is to convert anytime till the end of term. But with some policies the conversion window would be closing up at the age of 50. This would be a tough decision if the original term policy would extend long past that time who is an insurance advisor in New York city.

Some policies would convert the insurer’s permanent offerings. The whole life policies are generally all about fixed premiums and guarantees. The universal life on the other hand will let you specify how large a premium would be that you would like to pay.

If you would like to convert a permanent policy in the age of 50’s or 60’s to extend it for years you would be covered to build up cash value which would cost you less than out of pocket expenses. The variable life insurance would combine the premium flexibility of universal life with a shot at growth as its cash value would be invested in mutual fund like accounts. But if you have an account which is at low priority then your family members would get a tax-free cash at your death which is a poor option.

Inflation Cover for Life Insurance

The rising prices of essential items are not only affecting household budgets, but also eating up into investments. But there are a large number of insurance policies which ensure that increasing prices do not diminish the investment value at the end of year.

The experts states that the rising cost of inflation is forcing people to go for inflation coverage while buying insurance policies. Various companies like LIC, ICICI Prudential Life, Tata AIG Life and others are companies which offer such plans.

A life insurance policy needs to ensure that an investor gets more than Rs 100 invested in line with next year. So a life insurance policy needs to ensure that investor gets more than what has been invested by him.

This is a traditional phenomenon where the premium paid in the investment amount is invested in debt market. As it is a traditional product, one can take a loan against it.

In developed insurance markets, such as U.K and U.S we have indexed inflation life insurance policies. Many Indian companies are looking forward to providing products which aim at giving such inflation related products.

One of the leading insurance companies ICICI Prudential is offering a product which has seen many investors opting for a policy for inflation. Using this investment option an investor gets around 5 percent return in first year, 3 percent of 5 percent in additional returns in second year and another 3 percent in third year.

The returns which are guaranteed are cumulative. So on maturity one needs to take care of future needs. The premiums invested in such policies are basically into government securities (G-Sec) and corporate bonds.

When you decide which investment to opt for, equity or debt take care in mind erosion which would be real value over a period of time.

Old Mutual Drive In $300 Million To U.S Life Unit

Old Mutual is planning to inject around $300 million into U.S Life Insurance business at the beginning of next year. The U.K’s third largest insurance company has wrote down the market value to $474 million last year with the sub-prime crisis in mind. This is a 164 year old company which has been listed in London with a major overhaul in U.S division.

The insurer is also exploring into long term retail business with its European retail business with Cape Town which would help to reduce the costs. The more details regarding the same would be given by the company in second half earnings.

The company said that they are into maintenance of risk based capital ratio which is at 300 percent and one may need to inject around $200 and $300 million into the U.S business next year.

Liberty National Life Insurance Gears Up For Binge Hirers with State Regulators

Liberty National Life Insurance Co. plans to hire around 100 agents in Tampa Bay area which would call in for the most aggressive ramp-up in the area in its 109 history. There is a one side issue a jobseeker should be aware of which Florida insurance regulators have suspended to revoke the company’s license.

As a part of celebration of National Hire Day liberty says it intends to hire around 2500 agents nationwide in a single day stating the events at 125 locations across the country which would include 3 sites in bay area and venues such as Orlando and Florida.

The sales each year has been growing up substantially. The average annual pay for first year agent is $61,000. Currently the company has around 600-700 agents in Florida which includes 100 in Tampa Bay area which has 182,000 policies. But in June the state regulators warned that Liberty could lose the license in wake of 5 month investigation into alleged discrimination against consumers seeking policies.

The investigation with the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation said that they found around 1,149 violations in reviewing 7000 life insurance applications at Liberty’s former headquarters. Since then the company has relocated its headquarters to Tax structure.

After which Liberty has filed air to case before the state Division of Administrative Hearings.

National Life Group to Market Business Owners

National Life Group one of the leading life insurance groups enhanced its retirement website ExperienceRetirement.com which focuses on retirement strategies for the small business owners along with their employees planning.

This group recognizes the succession planning which was essential for thriving business. Through ExperienceRetirement.com business owners can learn to buy and sell agreements with qualified and non qualified plans along with how to transfer a business to small business owners.

Small businesses totaled to about 5.1 million who share an equal amount in strong goal for financial security, asset protection and retirement assurance which can be resolved in life insurance and annuity based solution.

National Life Insurance Company being a fortune 500 company is authorized to do business in all states expects New York. Marketing life group markets to small business through experienceretirement.com would definitely help business owners take a fully fledged advantage of it.

Friends Provident Fund Being Offered To Resolution

Friends Provident Fund a U.K Based life insurer said that it entered into discussions after receiving a offer at 1.86 billion pounds. Resolution the buyout company founded by insurance entrepreneur offered a share of around 0.9 percent for each friend provident share. This offer includes a partial cash alternative for as much as 500 million pounds which is 12 percent more than Friends Provident Fund.

The Resolution Company is making an attempt for the third time to buy out the insurer whose earlier offers have been turned down. Friends Provident Fund jumped 7 percent to 75 pence in London trading leading to its valuation at 1.76 billion pounds. But the share of this company declined to 3.5 percent as of this year.

Friends Provident is U.K’s biggest life insurer which if Resolution buys would in turn lead to a big enlarged company by 2012.

Other companies who are into this race are of the opinion that they see no immediate benefits which are arising out of consolidation into the resolution industry.

Friends Provident said in a consolidation that the revised proposal was sufficient enough to enter into discussion with Resolution on recommending a proposal to itself. A earlier resolution was being passed which offered 0.82 shares for Friends Provident share was being rejected. The insurer also rejected an approach which offered 0.8 Resolution shares for every share of the company.

Old People Keep Grip on Life Policy

The main purpose of life insurance is to replace out income of a person’s death who is bread winner of the family. Most families accept it as a necessary expense similar to other forms of insurance like auto or homeowners insurance.

The insurance company collects premiums for many years ultimately leading to dropping in of the policyholder. The insurance companies would count up on high lapse rates which would ultimately lead to lowering up of insurance premiums. From the past many years investors have realized that there is an opportunity and have began to step up the offering to purchase the policy from those who no longer wants the life insurance policy. This transaction can mean big money for the investors.

As a result the investor who purchase large baskets of policies, except a return profit on investment. This is a form of Life Settlement policy and there are a number of guidelines which need to be involved within it:

• The insured person’s age should be more than 65 years.
• The face amount of life insurance must be between atleast $200,000. It is because time and resources are required which are very case sensitive issues and not economical for smaller cases.
• Both the term life insurance and cash value policies are not eligible in this case.
• The payouts for the same vary based on the life expectancy of the insured person.

So if one is planning to sell the life insurance policy then they need to get several quotes which offers help from investors which vary widely. It is still an unregulated industry and one would need to get help from trusted life insurance representatives for the same.

Insurance Held for Prepaid Funeral Case

The directors of Austin based companies have been arrested on the fraud cases with the charge or sales of pre-arranged funeral services. The director’s statement was made public after recovering $600 million damages from the collapse of Missouri based National Prearranged services which said that the 2 companies have partnered each other.

The 2 companies were being closed down by Texas regulators last year after the regulators determined that National Prearranged, one of the biggest sellers of prepaid contracts were not able to meet the obligations. The announcement by Federal Government leads to a secret operation in which the documents of end user were modified upon death which lead to receivership programs proceeding.

The director who served as chief financial officer is accused of deleting names of customer’s beneficiaries from customers which has lead to insertion of company’s name. But after the company became the sole beneficiary the company would be able to convert the customer’s whole life insurance to monthly renewable policies. This company kept the difference between cash value of whole life insurance policy versus the monthly premium of renewable term policy which amounted to around $40 million which are taken from customers policies without their knowledge.

Recently the victims of the company collapse filed a federal lawsuit which was done to recover $600 million. The suit alleges that Cassity family members preyed on consumers and funeral homes which seek to recover missing money.

The fallout from the company has lead to collapse of Texas lawmakers which would change the state law so that the funeral contracts would be more tightly regulated. Along with that the FBI has began investigating three companies’ finances. There are major 3 players who are participating into it which includes IRS Criminal Investigation, U,S Postal Inspection Service, U.S Attorney with assistance from

Missouri attorney.

Dlf Not Planning To Enter Into Life Insurance Jv

DLF one of the biggest real estate player of India has cancelled the plan to exit its life insurance joint venture with U.S based Prudential Financial wherein the company said that it plans to sell 74% of stake into the insurance firm. Earlier the day many newspapers reported that DLF was planning to look out for a buyer for a stake into DLF Premerica Life Insurance.

Also a report states that the company is hesistant about spending money on business which is not a part of its area of operation. But the company executives said that insurance business is going very well and they don’t need to sell it off. There are lot of other business which is not area of their operations. But it doesn’t mean they are going to sell it of.

The company has invested much greater amount into such business before this fortnight.

Prudential Financial Profit Declined By 5%

One of the famous insurance and investment company Prudential Financial Inc on Wednesday reported a second quarter profit as it benefited from improving the financial market condition.

The adjusted profit topped the analysts expectations and the company shares rose to around 3% in after hour trading. The company’s financial service business earned around $538 million or $1.25 per share compared to around $566 million or $1.32 per share. The company’s adjusted income totaled to around $817 million. The annuity sales rose to around $630 million along with life premiums increase to $84 million.

Last month Prudential Financial raised around $2.4 billion from public stocks and notes which are offered at funding the government’s financial rescue program. The assets under management amounted to $580 billion compared to around $638 billion a year earlier.

Prudential said that the quarterly income which includes the results from financial services and businesses closed to around $163 million compared to around $581 million a year. The company closed block of business life insurance and annuity policies which were issued on December but still are at force which reported a loss of $375 million in comparison to $15 million last year. Prudential Financial shares gained $1.32 to $48.20 in afterhours trading following earnings release. The insurance division posted an earning of $243 million from $183 million.

As the reports state Prudential Financial earned adjusted operating income to $5.20 per share which would be an increase of upto 2 percent per quarter in index as of 31 December.

Homeowners Preference to Buy Mortgage Term Life Insurance

To pay up the mortgage can be really difficult but if one lose the sole owner of the family it can spell up the financial disaster. This is the reason why mortgage term life insurance is a popular option among people who want to ensure that their family stays in a home in case of their death.

There are people who would not pay or will not be able to pay up for mortgage term life insurance in their whole lives. So for such people is a great choice as they know they will be passing away mortgage to loved ones in case of their death.

There are various reasons why one should opt for term life insurance if one is cutting back money due to the current recession. Some of the reasons are:

With the current down turn there might be cut down in budgets for many people. In such a scenario mortgage term life would provide and support financial security for beneficiary.

The premiums for such type of insurance is lower and affordable compared to regular mortgage protection plans.

With this it will also allow one to honor the debt to lender in case of mortgage to be paid off. So one can say that mortgage life insurance has 2 different goals: one is to prevent financial hardship for beneficiary and second to protect lender’s investment in home. If one happens to pass away during policy term, the bank would be insured through term life insurance and able to get mortgage payments which are owed.

Oversea Chinese Banking Profits High In Life Insurance

The oversea Chinese Banking Corporation posted a 9.6 percent increase in second quarter profit on its income with most earnings from its insurance unit. The net income for the bank climbed to $466 million in three months ending June 30 this year. The average estimate for the profit was around $356 million. The oversea Chinese shares jumped directly to 57% this fiscal year.

Seeing this, the American Bank Corporations Merrill Lynch raised its holding into the company with larger DBS holdings. The net interest income rose to 5% in this quarter. The net interest margin had been widened to around 5 basis point. The banks insurance unit called as Great Eastern Holdings Ltd, had a increase in net income to around 5 times leading to $97.7 million. The profit from the unit almost doubled to $125 million which is 4 times compared to last quarter.

A report for the quarter ended June 30 states that the loans for Singapore rose to around $272.2 billion from $270.8 billion. Due to this the gross domestic product will shrink to 4 percent from 6 percent this year with a less forecast for contraction to as much as 9 percent.

Last Steps Before Heading out the Door on Vacation...

Finally, time for a real vacation! We are heading off to Berlin on a week-long glorious vacation! The weather promises to be idyllic and everyone's mood in the family right along with it. I'll be sure to blog about this dynamic city after I get back! Before heading out the door, remember these quick tips.

• I can't stand to "destroy" a book, even a travel book...just photocopy the pages you will need. This will also cut down on the extra weight you're dragging along. I've stopped buying travel books to an extent and just print some of the great travel pages online.
• Separate your money..have your partner carry some too...don't carry it all with you in one place. Hide some in your sock, bra or waistband in addition to that...not all in your wallet...I keep most of my money "under wraps" so to speak. I had a friend who just came back from Italy who carried about 15 wallets with notes in Italian inside. It's almost a given that you will be pickpocketed there. He came home with only 9 wallets and never noticed a thing!
• Call your credit card company ahead of time and let them know you will be out of the country. I've seen people's credit cards get denied..and then they wondered why...credit card fraud departments can be extra vigilant these days.
• Take a photo of what is in your suitcase...if it gets lost on the airline, they always want to know what's in there..it may help with your claim too (and don't put valuables in there..but you already know that).
• Make a copy of each traveler's passport and keep the copies separate from the originals. Also have another copy of your travel itinerary and flight information.

Don't forget to check out these tips as well. Any others to add?

Choosing Your Next Rental Home the Right Way

I've had quite a few friends ask me about choosing a rental house and what to look for. Many have never owned a home, and only plan to stay a year or two at their next duty station, so being smart, they are renting instead of owning. There are a host of lists going over the basic things to watch out for in renting a home, just google "renting a home, what to watch out for". After reading the articles, here are some points you may not have come across.

How many times in the news have you heard the story of a family renting a home, happily living out their life, dutifully paying there rent and then.....BAM.....an eviction notice is posted on their door? Why? Because the landlord had trouble paying their mortgage? Why? For a variety of reasons:

• They lost their job
• Their monthly escrow amount was changed to account for higher property taxes/insurance (I know our escrow payment on one of our homes is over HALF the actual mortgage payment that goes to principal and interest!)
• Other expenses have risen in their lives, and they can no longer keep up

How can you keep yourself from renting such a home?

• Be suspicious if they are over-anxious for you to move in and also don't require a credit check on you
• See if the house has some minor defects (or major) that have not been fixed and excuses are made
• See the condition of the yard (usually the first to go South)
  
• Ask them matter-of-factly where they work
  
• Go to the county property appraiser's website and check what they paid for their home, look up their mortgage amount and get a feel for what they are paying per month; see how much the property taxes have risen in this county (compare last year to this year)
  
• Go to the county's court website and do a search for the owner; if there are any filings against them, such as foreclosures, you will find them there (you can also find other cases to include criminal cases, which can give you a read on the character of the owner as well)
• Do work with a realtor, as they also can help you find the better rental homes, not just homes to buy; many owners pay a finder's fee to realtors who bring qualified tenants
• Have your realtor give you a list of all the foreclosures in the neighborhood; if there are more than a half dozen (depending on how large the neighborhood is), bypass that neighborhood; there are also numerous websites that list foreclosures filings (many don't list the address but will list at least the street)
  
• Check online for the homeowner's association if they have one; find their bylaws and read them; you may not want to live in a neighborhood with excessive restrictions; also read their community meeting minutes (many are online) and see if there is any bickering or or other issues the community is struggling with
• Find out if your state is one of the many that will not evict you, even if the owner is facing foreclosure and you continue to pay your rent (many states have recently passed such a law; many banks will also work with you and would rather you stay in the home rather than have it vacant and neglected); obviously this is the worst case scenario, but know that you have rights if you find yourself in this situation

Do you have any tips you'd like to share about renting a home or apartment?