Welcome to my KCBCC blog (initials of my kids!), hope you like it.

It’s a family type blog concerning things around the home, like the garden (I hate it) , fire alarms, security, cooking, home crafts (we do a little pottery here and there), insurance..which we all need, the family car and of course our mortgage.

Thanks for visiting and come back soon.

Better Business Bureau offer advice about wedding insurance - Anderson Independent-Mail
Because of the economy, many small, independent businesses are filing for bankruptcy. Wedding insurance can help couples recover lost costs in the event that a vendor goes out of business. Tips from the bureau about purchasing wedding insurance

Warning on insurance premiums - Australian Broadcasting Corp.
Tasmanians are warned that insurance premiums could rise because damaging storms are becoming more frequent. RACT Insurance says it has received claims worth more than $500,000 from property owners affected by storms which struck northern Tasmania on

Wells Fargo Insurance nabs two related Novato firms for undisclosed - MSN MoneyCentral
Wells Fargo Insurance Services Inc., the fast-growing insurance arm of Wells Fargo & Co., announced late Friday that it acquired the assets of North Coast Surety Insurance Services and North Coast Surety Technologies earlier this month. Terms of the

Wells Fargo Acquires North Coast Surety Insurance Services - Businesswire.com
CHICAGO–( BUSINESS WIRE )–Wells Fargo Insurance Services, Inc. – part of Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) – has acquired the assets of North Coast Surety Insurance Services and North Coast Surety Technologies on April 1. Terms were not

Show-me a bank failure: Missouri bank is no.24 - CNN Money
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Another bank failed Friday bringing the tally to 24, according to the government. American Sterling Bank, based in Sugar Creek, Mo., was shuttered by the Office of Thrift Supervision and the Federal Deposit Insurance

Chrysler suggests eliminating life insurance, some benefits to cut - Metronews.ca
TORONTO — Chrysler’s leaders say they have put forward several cost-cutting ideas to the Canadian Auto Workers, but the union has so far been opposed to the suggestions. Chrysler president Tom LaSorda and CEO Bob Nardelli say in a letter to

GMAC Follows Wells Fargo Into ‘Warehouse’ Mortgage Resurgence - Bloomberg
April 17 (Bloomberg) — GMAC LLC , the auto and home lender that required a $6 billion government lifeline last year to stay afloat, said it’s taking advantage of record low interest rates by issuing more loans through independent mortgage bankers

Lang Realty, Prospect Mortgage host Helping Hands benefit at III Forks - Boca Raton News
Lang Realty has announced that Prospect Mortgage is the exclusive new mortgage partner for Lang’s five Palm Beach County locations.  A VIP reception to celebrate was held recently at the new III Forks steakhouse in Boca Raton, which opened to the

GMAC Mortgage Says It’s Hiring - Structured Finance News
GMAC Mortgage said it is hiring new staffers at its nationwide lending and servicing centers. On April 13, the company joined the Home Affordable Modification Program and the hires are needed to accommodate the increase in loan modifications, as well

Xceed Mortgage Trust Series 2006-T1 Notes in Early Amortization - CNW Group
TORONTO, April 17 /CNW/ - Xceed Mortgage Corporation (Xceed), as financial services agent of Xceed Mortgage Trust (XMT or the Trust), announced that today (a) the XMT Class A-2 Senior Notes, Series 2006-T1 (Class A-2 Notes) have matured but have not

Mortgage Fraud Crackdown Is Gathering Steam in Florida - Yahoo News
Florida ’s Gulf Coast was crawling with shady real estate investors like Neil Husani during this decade’s housing boom. According to the U.S. Attorney’s office in Tampa , Husani and three co-conspirators working with his Sarasota -based Capital Force

10-minute exposure to smoke enough to unsettle your heart - Times of India
WASHINGTON: All it takes is a 10-minute exposure to smoke from tobacco, cooking oil or wood to send your heart into an overdrive, according to a study. Accumulating evidence indicates that an increase in air pollution is linked with a surge in heart

Cooking at Home: Chicken, ham, Swiss cheese - News 14
Season the chicken cutlets with salt and pepper and use a non-stick pan, on medium high heat, with a splash of olive oil to sear them on the first side until it’s a nice golden brown. Then flip them over and put a slice of Swiss cheese on top, turn

Slow-cooker use continues to simmer with time - Dayton Daily News
You don’t have to look far to see how times change with each generation. The evolution of the telephone is a prime example. When I was very young, we had a party line, and I was afraid to pick up the phone. As I got older and talked on the phone

Cookin’ up food & fun at the ‘Home Again 2009 Cooking Show’ - Daily Jeffersonian
Photo By Ryan Pavlov/The Daily Jeffersonian A soldout crowd of more than 650 people begins to line up before the start of Thursday’s Home Again Cooking Show at the Pritchard Laughlin Civic Center. A capacity crowd filled the Pritchard Laughlin

Who cooks in your family - Vanguard
I met this young lady over the weekend, and she said she was rushing home. I jokingly said to her that she ought to rush off, so that oga’s dinner would be ready on time. What she said next shocked me. She said “ Aunty, I don’t cook”. I

Happy Hour Deals: Aunt Chilada’s - Valley Fever
Happy hour is odd at Aunt Chilada’s , but this isn’t a mark against the establishment. From 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, they offer a complimentary buffet that includes chips and salsa, a fruit and vegetable platter, as well as an

Heather Mills’ meat-free plea - Boston Globe
The staunch vegan will give her ‘Get Healthy With Heather’ speech at the Vegetarian Roadshow, held at the Royal Horticultural Halls in London. In addition to being a guest inspirational speaker, Heather will also promote her new food range Mighty

Bacon Blowtorch Cuts Through Steel - FOX News
Theodore Gray’s ‘Flaming Bacon Lance of Death’ in a YouTube still. Here’s how to fry your own bacon — and the pan it’s cooking in too. Popular Science columnist and author of “Mad Science” Theodore Gray has built what he calls the “Bacon Lance

Kai Celebrates Five Stars and Five Diamonds Rating - Valley Fever
Mesquite smoke rises off of a plate of pickled herring and Sea of Cortez smoked mackerel on artisan bread crisps seasoned with Bolivian rose salt. Surely even the most casual of Phoenix foodies will begin to salivate at the mere mention of Kai at the

Dutch oven cooking club finds new location for meetings - Argus Leader
The Dakota Dutchers Dutch Oven Club of Sioux Falls will be moving their monthly club meetings to a new location. The club’s next meeting is 2:30 p.m. May 3 at Nyberg’s Ace Hardware at 12th and Kiwanis. The club will meet at Nyberg’s Ace because

Smoke from cigarettes, cooking oil, wood harms cardiovascular system - Daily News and Analysis
Washington: Only 10 minutes exposure of small doses of second-hand tobacco smoke or smoke from cooking oil and wood could adversely affect the cardiovascular function in both men and women, according to a University of Kentucky study. The study

The Gelato Maker Opens in Scottsdale - Valley Fever
It’s going to hit 90 in the next couple of days; doesn’t some gelato sound good right about now? That’s what Yaron Cohen is hoping. The Israeli native and his Argentinian relative, Leo Faria, just opened their new shop, The Gelato Maker , last

Smoke from cigarettes, cooking oil, wood, shift male cardiovascular - Science Centric
Secondhand tobacco smoke and smoke from cooking oil and wood smoke affected cardiovascular function of men and women who were exposed to small doses of the smoke for as little as 10 minutes, according to a study from the University of Kentucky. The

Mortgage Rates Fall This Week; 30-Year Fixed At 4.82% -Freddie - Marketwatch
Mortgage rates fell this week as the average rate on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages remained below 5%, according to Freddie Mac’s ( FRE : Mortgage rates have fallen in recent months as providers try to entice buyers amid the housing market downturn and

Mortgage rates fall, shy of record lows - Everything Alabama Blog
WASHINGTON — Rates on 30-year mortgages dipped this week after rising a week earlier, and remain just above record lows. Mortgage finance giant Freddie Mac said Thursday that average rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages fell to 4.82 percent this

Meltdown 101: Is there a downside to mortgage aid? - Associated Press
BEIJING (AP) — Premier Wen Jiabao says China’s economy is showing “positive changes” but called for more efforts to combat the impact of the global financial crisis, state media reported Sunday. The economy showed “better than expected positive

Bankrupt GGP raises stakes in commercial mortgages - Reuters UK
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The bankruptcy of one of the highest-profile U.S. commercial real estate owners is raising the stakes in negotiations over billions of dollars in office, retail, and apartment property debt that must be refinanced in coming

Mortgage Rates Fall, Remain Higher Than 2008 - CNBC
U.S. mortgage rates fell back toward record lows this week and stayed a percentage point below levels a year ago just as the important spring sales season heats up, Freddie Mac said Thursday. Low mortgage rates are a boon for owners looking to cut

Pair gets prison for mortgage fraud scheme - Minneapolis Star Tribune
Jonathan Helgason and Thomas Balko were sentenced to eight and seven years in federal prison respectively today for their roles in the TJ Waconia mortgage fraud that enveloped 162 properties. U.S. District Judge Joan Ericksen sentenced the pair

Mortgage products and practices lecture - Napa Valley Register
Confused by all the recent changes within the lending industry? Wondering if you’ll ever be able to get a home loan? Concerned about your current loan and feeling a need to refinance? Find reliable information and answers in this class presented by

900,000 homeowners pushed into negative equity, says mortgage body - Guardian Unlimited
Falling house prices have pushed more than 900,000 homeowners into negative equity, according to the industry body representing mortgage lenders. The latest data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders issued yesterday, reveals that the north-east of

Mortgage rates fall shy of record - Contra Costa Times
WASHINGTON — Rates on 30-year mortgages dipped this week after rising a week earlier, and remain just above record lows. Mortgage finance giant Freddie Mac said Thursday that average rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages fell to 4.82 percent this

Treasury Defends Toxic Asset Plan After JPMorgan Opts Out - FOX News
The Treasury Department on Thursday defended the viability of its $1 trillion plan to get soured mortgage investments off of banks’ books after JPMorgan Chase’s chief executive said the company won’t participate. Some analysts said JPMorgan Chase

FICO Launches Mortgage Recovery Initiative - Structured Finance News
Fair Isaac Corp. is offering Mortgage Recovery Initiative (MRI), a foreclosure prevention and management tool based on consumer credit behavior feedback. The tool was developed to help facilitate mortgage modifications and mitigate new delinquencies

6 mortgage companies to get $9.9 billion - Santa Rosa Press Democrat
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration on Wednesday named the first six companies participating in a $75 billion program designed to help millions of struggling homeowners avoid foreclosure. The administration said the companies — including some of

Meltdown 101: Is there a downside to mortgage aid? - Associated Press
SHANGHAI (AP) — China’s latest economic data just came in, and the signs are encouraging. While the economy grew at its slowest pace in more than a decade in the first quarter, other indicators suggest a possible bottoming out of the slowdown that

GMAC mortgage unit: We’re hiring again - Reuters
NEW YORK, April 16 (Reuters) - GMAC LLC, the General Motors Corp ( GM.N ) financing affiliate that received a government bailout, said its mortgage unit is hiring 1,000 people to handle a surge in refinancings and jumbo loans. Earlier this year, GMAC

Pair gets prison for mortgage fraud scheme - Minneapolis Star Tribune
Jonathan Helgason and Thomas Balko were sentenced to eight and seven years in federal prison respectively today for their roles in the TJ Waconia mortgage fraud that enveloped 162 properties. U.S. District Judge Joan Ericksen sentenced the pair

Research and Markets: The Global Financial Crisis is likely to Affect - CNBC
DUBLIN, Apr 16, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/5552ce/taiwan_insurance_r) has announced the addition of the “Taiwan Insurance Report Q1 2009″ report to their offering. BMI’s Taiwan Insurance

Official: Health Care Reform Will Include Public Health Insurance - eMaxHealth.com
White House Office of Health Reform Director Nancy-Ann DeParle, discussion public health insurance option, on Wednesday said she believes that lawmakers will be able to work together this year on a health care overhaul bill that includes a public

AIG selling car insurance unit for $1.9 billion - MSNBC
ZURICH - Zurich Financial Services said Thursday it will buy American International Group Inc.’s car insurance unit, U.S. Personal Auto Group, for $1.9 billion. The Swiss-based group says its subsidiary Farmers Group, Inc. would acquire 100 percent

Technical Trade Alerts on Property & Casualty Insurance Stocks - Transworld News
DALLAS, Texas – Beacon Equity Research announces the release of Trade Alerts covering market movers: Today’s Trade Alert covers property and casualty insurance stocks: Progressive Corp. (NYSE: PGR), Allstate Corp. (NYSE: ALL), The Chubb Corp

Nationwide Insurance sued over health policies - Seattle Times
A national insurance company is being sued in federal court over health care policies in Washington state. The case was filed Wednesday by John Gabriel and Lauren Gustafson-Omer, both of Seattle, and Ruth Bjorklund of Bainbridge Island against

Trade credit insurance scheme - MSN UK News
Small and medium-sized firms could gain a vital Budget boost from new Government guarantees on trade credit insurance, it has been reported. Businesses use the insurance to cover themselves against the risk that they will not be paid for the goods

TheStar.com | Wheels | In vehicle crashes, size matters - Toronto Star
Science has finally confirmed what motorists have been saying for years: Minicars may be attractive in the face of rising gas prices and a faltering economy, but they perform poorly in crashes with larger vehicles. The findings by the Insurance

Insurers Violated MD Regulations - ABC2 News
BALTIMORE (AP) — Maryland insurance officials say 67 of 119 insurance companies mishandled vehicle insurance claims after there were changes to taxes and fees in the total loss of a vehicle. Insurance Commissioner Ralph Tyler said Wednesday that the

The Local Insurance Agency Hustles in a Slump - New York Times
WHILE the big insurance companies have been buffeted by the weak economy and investment losses, the industry’s front line, the insurance agencies, have generally been riding out the adversity. “This is a great business, because people always need

‘12 Insurance Calls An Hour Are Fraudulent’ - Ananova
Twelve fraudulent insurance claims are made every hour in the UK - or around 2,000 every week. The figures released by the Association of British Insurers shows that dodgy claims are at their highest ever. ABI’s Director Nick Starling said: “Fraud

AIG Nearing a Deal to Sell Car-Insurance Unit to Zurich - Wall Street Journal
American International Group Inc. is negotiating to sell a car-insurance unit to a major rival, Zurich Financial Services AG, and a deal could be announced as soon as Thursday. The price tag for 21st Century Insurance could fall within the $1.5

Perth rental prices cooling off as yields approach mortgage rates - News.com.au
IT’S good news for both renters and landlords, with figures showing Perth rental prices cooling off and rental yields approaching mortgage rates. The median asking rent for units stayed static at $350 from the last quarter, while houses rose by $10

Help Is on the Way? Obama Outlines Mortgage Plan - ABC News
Bruce Marks, CEO of the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America, a nonprofit community advocacy and homeownership organization, has been an outspoken critic of the Obama administration for not doing enough, sooner. “President Obama, when he

Six companies to get $9.9B under mortgage program - ABC 4
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Obama administration has selected the first six companies to participate in a $75 billion program designed to help millions of struggling homeowners avoid foreclosure. The administration says the companies will receive a maximum

6 companies to get $9.9B under mortgage program - Charleston Daily Mail
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Obama administration has selected the first six companies to participate in a $50 billion program designed to help millions of struggling homeowners avoid foreclosure. The administration says the companies will receive a maximum

6 companies to get $9.9B under mortgage program - WFAA
WASHINGTON – The Obama administration on Wednesday named the first six companies participating in a $75 billion program designed to help millions of struggling homeowners avoid foreclosure. The administration said the companies — including some