If it is your first time applying for a mortgage,there are a number of terms you should know. Educating yourself on the various mortgage terms you will run into will help you make better decisions when deciding which home you want to purchase. When you sign a mortgage contract,your home is used for collateral and it is your responsibility to make sure your payments are made on time each month. -.

The first term you should know is principal. The principal is basically defined as the amount of money you borrow for your home. Before the principal is provided you will need to make a down payment. A down payment is the percentage you will put towards the principal. The amount of the down payment will often depend on the cost of the home. Once you pay off the principal,the home is yours.

The next term you will need to know is interest. Interest is a percentage that you are charged to borrow a certain amount of money. Along with the interest rate,lenders may also charge you points. A point is a portion of the total funds financed. The principal and interest makes up the majority of your monthly payments,and this is a method that is called amortization. Amortization is the method by which your loan is reduced over a given period of time. Your payments for the first few years will cover the interest,while payments made later will be applied towards the principal.  -.

A portion of your mortgage payments can be placed in an escrow account in order to go towards insurance,taxes,or other expenses. The next term you will hear a lot is taxes. Taxes are the amount of money that you have to pay to your state or government. When it comes to your home,these are known as property taxes. These taxes are used to build roads,schools,and other public projects. All homeowners must pay property taxes. 

Insurance is another important term that you will hear in the real estate community. You will not be allowed to close on your mortgage if you don’t have insurance for your home. Home insurance covers your home against floods,fire,theft,or other problems. Unless you can afford to repair your home if it is damaged,it is usually a good idea to get insurance for your home. If your home is located within a zone that is known for having floods,federal laws may require you to have flood insurance.  -.

If the down payment you put towards your home is less than 20% of the total value,you will often be charged additional premiums on your insurance by the lender. This is done to protect you in the event that you default on your loans and fail to make payments. Without this,many people would not be able to afford a house. Once you have paid off about 78% of the home,the lender will stop charging you insurance premiums.

These are the basic terms you will need to know before your purchase a home. Understanding these things will allow you to avoid many of the pitfalls that exist in the real estate field. You want an interest rate that is low,and you should always try to get a fixed interest rate if possible. This will allow you to focus your income on making payments towards the principal,and this will help you pay off the loan faster. A mortgage is an important part of your financial picture,and you want to make sure you pick a home that you can afford. If you fail to make your payments,you may lose your house.

A car accident is overwhelming, especially if your car is totaled. You might wonder if you can sue the person who caused it. The short answer is yes, you can.

What Does “Totaled” Mean?

When a car is totaled, the repair costs are higher than the vehicle’s actual value. For instance, if your car is worth $7,000 but repairs would cost $8,000, the insurance company considers it totaled. In such cases, your vehicle is likely beyond repair, and you’ll need a replacement.

Being left without a car disrupts your life. Losing a vehicle is a big inconvenience whether you need it for work, family, or daily tasks. The situation becomes more complicated if the at-fault driver’s insurance doesn’t fully cover the damages.

Who Pays for the Damages?

If the other driver caused the crash, their insurance should pay for the damages, including the value of your totaled car. Typically, they’ll offer the actual cash value (ACV), which your car was worth before the crash—not what you paid. The ACV is based on the car’s age, mileage, condition, and market value.

Sometimes, insurance companies offer less than what you believe your car is worth. You can negotiate with the insurer if you feel the settlement is unfair. However, you may need to consider filing a lawsuit if negotiations fail.

When Should You Sue?

Suing is an option when you can’t reach a fair agreement with the insurance company or the at-fault driver. common reasons to sue include:

1. Low Settlement Offers: If the insurance company’s payout doesn’t cover the cost of replacing your car, a lawsuit may help recover the difference.
2. Insurance Denial: If the insurance company denies your claim, you might need to sue the driver directly.
3. Uninsured Driver: If the driver doesn’t have insurance, a lawsuit may be your only option to recover damages.
4. Delayed Injuries: Even if you felt fine at the scene, some injuries, like whiplash, back pain, or Emotional distress, may appear days or weeks later. These delayed injuries can significantly impact your health and finances, making a lawsuit necessary.

What Can You Sue For?

In a lawsuit, you can claim several types of damages:

• Property Damage: The cost of replacing your totaled car.
• Medical Expenses: If delayed injuries appear later, you can claim for those medical costs.
• Rental Car Costs: Fees for a rental car while you wait for a settlement.
• Lost Wages: If you miss work because you don’t have a vehicle or due to injury, you can claim lost income.
• Additional Expenses: Out-of-pocket costs like towing, storage, or other related fees.

Delayed injuries can complicate the situation. They may require ongoing medical treatment, which could be expensive. Emotional distress from the accident can also be a factor, especially if it impacts your daily life.

Gathering Evidence

If you decide to sue, collecting evidence is crucial. You’ll need:

• Photos of the accident scene and the damage.
• The police report.
• Witness statements.
• Medical records, especially if you experience delayed injuries.
• Repair estimates or the valuation of your totaled car.

The more detailed your evidence, the stronger your case will be.

Small Claims vs. Civil Court

Where you file your lawsuit depends on the amount you’re seeking. In Washington, DC, small claims court handles cases up to $10,000. It’s faster, less formal, and you usually don’t need an attorney. If your damages exceed this limit or your case is more complex—especially if delayed injuries are involved—you’ll need to file in civil court.

Lawsuit Timeline

If you choose to sue, the process typically involves:

1. Filing the Complaint: A document outlining your claims against the at-fault driver.
2. Serving the Defendant: The person you’re suing must be formally notified.
3. Discovery: Both sides gather evidence and share information.
4. Negotiation: Many cases settle before trial. Your attorney can help negotiate a fair settlement.
5. Trial: A judge or jury will decide the case if no settlement is reached.

Delayed Injuries: What to Watch For

Even if you feel fine right after the crash, some injuries take time to show symptoms. Whiplash, for example, can cause pain that surfaces days later. Back injuries and emotional trauma can also emerge over time.   If delayed injuries appear, you’ll want to include those expenses in your lawsuit–this is why getting a medical evaluation soon after the accident is critical, even if you don’t feel hurt immediately.

Alternatives to Suing

Before heading to court, explore other options:

• Negotiation: Directly negotiating with the insurance company or the at-fault driver can sometimes lead to a better settlement.
• Mediation: A neutral third party helps both sides reach an agreement.
• Arbitration: A more formal process where a third party decides the outcome without going to court.

Consult an attorney specializing in car accidents to explore your options and protect your rights.

How can one register domain names? The first and the foremost step in the process is to check the availability of available domain names for the domain you wish to register. In this day and age,the World Wide Web offers several domains to choose from. Some of them may be available at a cheap cost. You may check the availability of those domains and contact the domain registrar to request for a domain that you wish to register. Another option is to go directly to a -.

It is important that you choose the right domain name because the domain name you choose for your site or blog can influence the ranking of your site or blog. If your site or blog has a good ranking on the search engines,you will receive more traffic. However,if your site or blog has a poor ranking in search engines,you may lose more traffic than you gain. Now that you have the list of available domain names,it is important to register domain names to your chosen ones. The easiest way is to visit the domain name registrar’s website. The web address of the web site will contain domain registration information. The registrar’s domain registration information will provide you the names you will be registered. The registrar’s domain registration information will also provide you with the price for which you will be registered.

Most domain registration websites offer registration for one,three,or five domain names. The domain names you choose should be easy to remember and easy to spell. You do not want to register a domain that is hard to spell or difficult to remember. You can also choose to register the domain names with hyphens in between the words,so that your website or blog will be easy to remember. When registering the domain name,do not forget to check the domain expiration date. If the domain name expires,you will need to renew your domain name with another company. It is important that you register the domain name so that you can have control over the domain. You want to keep in mind that you do not want the registrar to sell your domain name to another company for a lower price. After you register the domain name,you need to check the domain name for spelling. You do not want to register a domain that has misspelled words or phrases in it because your web site or blog could be banned. If you find the right domain name,it will give your web site or blog an identity. The domain name will also set a unique and identifiable URL for your site or blog.