If you suspect that you cannot get a decent loan because of your credit, or would like to qualify for a better interest rate than you would with a cloud on your credit, there are steps that you can take right now.

A number of credit services, some funded by debt carriers, offer personalized service to help you organize your funds and reduce or pay off your debts. Depending on the exact nature of your credit problem, you may be able to get quick help, or you may need counseling, assistance, and a plan to follow.

Taking the first step is the important thing. The worse your credit is, the longer it may take, but you will definitely feel better when you whittle away at your mountain of debt and unpaid balances. The trick is to manage your credit rehabilitiation in a way that improves your credit score, one of the means your credit is rated.

The Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) provide free professional counseling and some low cost services including budget counseling, debt management planning, educational services, housing counseling, and phone and mail counseling.

Debt management counseling will help you determine how much you really can afford to pay on your bills; arrange affordable repayment plans that creditors will accept; and develop a personalized budget.

Of particular interest is housing counseling that the service offers. The CCCS is HUD-Certified on the home ownership readiness; default resolution; delinquency and foreclosure prevention, and rent/lease delinquency.

You can find more help at Debt Counselors of America which has an estensive list of free editorials and suggestions about controlling debt and offers numerous programs that assist in debt restructuring. which offers a variety of publications and debt restructuring programs, including programs for people who are current on their bills as well as for those who are behind.

Like the CCCS, the National Foundation for Consumer Credit is funded by lenders, credit unions, community groups and other contributors. This nonprofit network also provides credit and debt education and counseling for repayment and debt restructuring.

Published: February 9, 1999

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Blanche is a renowned author of five real estate books. Her newest, Bubbles, Booms and Busts: Make Money In Any Real Estate Market, McGraw-Hill, was rave-reviewed by The New York Times. She was also selected from hundreds of real estate experts to contribute to Donald Trump's book, Trump: The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received: 100 Top Experts Share Their Strategies, Rutledge Hill Press, and is featured on page 68. Order Now Review - Honors In 2006, Blanche was selected among scores of candidates to author two consumer real estate guidebooks for the National Association of Realtors: The NAR Guide to Home Buying, and The NAR Guide to Home Selling, Wiley & Sons. She is currently planning two new books for the NAR and its members.       Known for her keen insight into real estate industry issues and for her ability to make complex subjects easy to understand, Blanche is a sought-after keynote and continuing education speaker. Real estate organizations from MLSs, to brokerages, to franchisors, to associations hire her to provide up-to-the-minute analysis of real estate industry news and advice on how to improve revenues. Her passionate delivery, peppered with stinging wit, is a huge hit with audiences and fans. Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors, Blanche Evans, Richard Courtney, president 2007, GRAR "The GNAR membership meeting last week featured Blanche Evans as the keynote speaker. Her comments and insights resonated extremely well with those in attendance and we have had many requests for copies of her PowerPoint Presentation. She was a terrific part of the membership meeting and convention program!" - Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors Coverage from WSMV, Nashville - 8-14-2007 That Interview Guy - Get Inside The Head Of Today's Generation 2007 AE Institute Session - To purchase 2006 AE Institute Session - Parts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 HouseValues Mastermind call - Parts 1 2 Blanche's fireside chat with Jeremy Conaway, HAR - Click here. For more articles by Blanche, click here.