INSURANCE POLICIES – COVENANT OF GOOD FAITH AND FAIR DEALING
In Texas, insurance companies are afforded protection to treat consumers fairly. This is called an Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing. It has been established by both judge-made and statutory law. The basis of this doctrine is that you pay a premium for coverage, and the carrier must deliver on promised benefits. Insurance…
Read MoreLIABILITY INSURANCE – WHAT IS IT
Texas requires that you have liability insurance on your car with a minimum coverage of $30,000. What is this? You are in an accident and the police find you are at fault (for example: running a red light, rear-ending someone), and someone gets hurt. You can bet your bottom dollar the injured person will file…
Read MoreWHY WON’T AN ATTORNEY TAKE MY MEDICAL MALPRACTICE CASE?
Texans experiencing bad medical outcomes which they suspect is due to substandard medical care find it extremely difficult to obtain legal representation. Why is that? A medical provider may be held liable if they fail to meet the accepted standard of care required for diagnosis and treatment of a particular condition, and the claimant suffers…
Read MoreWHAT’S IN YOUR HOME WARRANTY INSURANCE POLICY?
Home Warranty Insurance Contracts (HWI) are all the rage. Generally, they state if a covered appliance or system breaks down, they will pay for the repair. Do not be lulled into a false sense of security. The contract will list what is covered, but more importantly, what is not covered. Typically, ¾ of the text…
Read MoreINSURANCE What Does it Cover? What Does It Cost? Is It Worth It?
We all deal with insurance – auto, home, flood, renter, life, accident, and so-called “gap” policies. If you are going on a cruise, you’ll be told you had best get “trip insurance”. When you purchase an appliance, you’re asked, “Do you want “the insurance?” The types of insurance you’re offered are mind-boggling. And health insurance…well,…
Read MoreUNIQUE FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS IN PURCHASING A TOWN HOME
Thinking about buying a townhome? They are all the rage in Houston, springing up like mushrooms, especially inside Loop 610. What are the major issues you should be aware of? You will be buying into a community as well as a residence. Just as a residence needs maintenance and upkeep, so do the “common areas”…
Read MoreCREDIT REPORT / FICO SCORE
Your credit score is used by the financial industry in deciding whether or not to lend you money and/or what interest rate you are to be charged. It is a secret sauce algorithm that utilizes your past payment history, how much of your available credit you are using, and any defaults, write-offs, judgments, or evictions…
Read MoreBUYING A HOME IN A HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION (HOA)PROPERTY OWNERS’ ASSESSMENT
There is a growing trend that residential homes, townhomes, and condominium developments are part of a homeowners’ association (HOA). Anyone who buys a home in an HOA is bound by the terms and conditions of that HOA’s Deed Restrictions. HOAs typically involve ‘common property’. Depending on the situation, common property could be interior sidewalks, roads,…
Read MoreA WILL IS ONLY GOOD IF IT IS PROBATED
Some people think probating a will is too expensive, and decide not to probate it. Here is what can happen. A man is currently married, but had been married previously, and had children with wife #1, but is now estranged and loses track of them. With wife #2, things have gone much better, they buy…
Read MoreSOLAR PANEL SCAMS
Currently nearly one million homes every year have solar panels installed, and solar panel fraud is on the rise. The standard come-on is that solar panels will significantly cut your electric bills by at least 50%. Is this true? I have heard stories, where the savings are half of that or less. A solar panel…
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