The sun may finally be coming up on the mortgage insurance horizon after a long, dark night during which mortgage insurance all but evaporated for coverage of loans above 80% loan to value (LTV).

In an effort to escape continuing problems by hurtling down the slippery slope of the housing market, mortgage insurers actually further crippled an already limping market by eliminating coverage for the majority of loans – not just non-conventional (otherwise known as sub-prime), but for borrowers who had strong credit and solid employment histories wanting to make less than a 20% down payment as well.

These same mortgage insurers have now begun loosening their tight restrictions on at least some of their loan programs, an indication that things may be taking a turn for the better in the relatively near future.  An example – loans up to 97% flex in stable markets granted to borrowers with a 700+ credit score.

Let’s take a look at why this will be good for the housing market as well as our economy. Let’s say a home seller transferring to another area has sold his or her home, but with a large loss of equity; perhaps this person even had to take money from savings to pay the difference between the existing mortgage and the money that was paid for the home when it was sold. This would, quite obviously, leave this individual – who is stable and credit worthy – unable to pay a 20% down payment on a new home.

Buyers who have had long-standing good credit and may have assets they do not want to remove from higher yielding investments are perfect candidates for higher LTV loans despite what still may be considered an uncertain market.

Despite the fact that we are likely facing yet another round of foreclosures and defaults because of resetting rates on conventional mortgages, insurers are feeling a sense of certainty that we have – or are about to – hit rock bottom. There’s nowhere to go from here but up!

Most people would probably agree that the Aflac duck is adorable and a great marketing tool; what everyone can’t agree on is whether or not it’s wise to choose one of their many insurance policies.

Aflac, a Fortune 500 company based in Columbus, Georgia and founded in 1955 by the Amos brothers, Paul, Bill, and John, is available to everyone in the U.S. as well as various overseas markets. In fact, Aflac is the insurance of choice for a fourth of the households of Japan.

Aflac shares have been performing quite well lately, proving that the company prides itself on offering and providing high-quality products and services at competitive prices. Additionally, Aflac is consistently reported to be one of the -most employee-friendly companies, especially so for working mothers and minority women.

Aflac offers term life insurance, whole life, or a combination of both. You won’t be required to have a medical exam or blood tests when applying for insurance with Aflac, so the company can’t disqualify you based on your current state of health. The coverage you’ll receive will include a Waiver of Premium Benefit and an Accelerated Death Benefit.

Aflac consistently receives grades of A+ (the best being A++) from a variety of independent insurance rating companies. Generally speaking, Aflac shows customers as happy with the insurance coverage they’ve received; they like the flexibility of its plans and the quickness of fulfillment of claims.

Aflac carries a wide variety of insurance including long-term care, life insurance that can be used to care for your family should you die or as retirement income, insurance that will cover your expenses should you be unable to work, cancer insurance (not available in all states), and supplemental health insurance (to work in combination with health insurance you already have or to diminish the costs of healthcare if you are not able to afford regular insurance).

As a former Aflac salesperson, I can personally recommend the company if you have a need for unique coverage; excellent and affordable, Aflac can be a great addition to the coverage you already have.

Two former Nebraska City brokers, Rebecca Engle and Brian Schuster (former football fullback for Nebraska), accused of defrauding investors out of over $20 million will be brought to trial due to Gage County District Court Judge Paul Korslund’s decision that prosecutors have enough evidence.

Engle and Schuster have been accused of selling risky investments to more than 130 investors improperly in a number of interrelated companies in Florida.

A majority of the investors involved with Engle and Schuster were near the age or retirement or already retired; thus, they were looking for conservative investments that held little risk. Their claim is that the two invested moneys into high-risk enterprises without fully explaining the risks that would be involved.

Court documents show Engle and Schuster, who both sold securities in American Capital Corp. and Royal Palm, as describing the Florida companies as “can’t-miss deals” or “mini Berkshire Hathaways,” referring to the Omaha-based conglomerate of the well-known billionaire, Warren Buffett.

Schuster, who became PrimEdge, Inc.’s president and chief executive when the company purchased American Capital and Royal Palm, is now a law student in South Dakota.

Engle, who has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Arizona, has stated that though she has assets worth between $500,000 and $1 million, she estimates that she owes an astounding $10 million to $50 million.