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Oil and Gas Leasing

We may not think much about it because generally they are both under the same category as mineral rights leasing. But oil and gas leasing are actually different from each other.

The first obvious difference would be concerning their forms. Gas, unlike oil which is liquid, is first processed from its gaseous state and liquefied for transport. For the transport a network of pipelines is used. The liquefied gas is transported from its well and passed through a natural gas pipeline. This is because gas is not always used in the area where it is found. A network of pipelines had to be made as a means of transport.

Natural gas can either be intrastate or interstate. It is called intrastate gas if it is produced and consumed in the same state. If it has to be transported from one state to another then it is considered as interstate gas. Interstate gas is federally regulated.

For oil or crude oil, local refineries are often used. So there is not much of a transport issue when it comes to oil production, consumption, and leasing.

The different means of transport for oil and gas would create a significant difference in oil and gas leasing. Transporting gas along the pipeline means a more solid capital investment. The price and demand for gas is also influenced by the season and need for natural gas. This makes gas leasing much harder to regulate and measure than oil leasing.

The gas sales contract is also a factor in gas leasing. The price of gas was first regulated by the federal government. During this time, gas contracts were held with long-term commitments and the contracts could last as long as ten to twenty years. As time went by, the contracts became much shorter in duration, due mainly to the deregulation of the gas prices. Oil leasing, on the other hand, do not suffer the strains that gas leasing has to undergo since it has never had the same regulations as gas. The transport of oil to local and regional refineries also did not prove as troublesome as the transport of gas did.

Regarding royalties, it is easier to to offer royalty with oil leasing. Oil royalties can be paid in either oil or cash. The owner of the land can opt to receive oil from the oil company and market it himself. Most owners, though, still go for oil royalties in cash at the posted price of the oil.

This is not so for gas royalties. Gas royalties are usually paid in cash. This is because gas is more difficult to offer a royalty due to its gas-to-liquefied state. Its volatility makes cash the best option for landowners.

The price of gas is also difficult to give a solid value to because of the fluctuating markets for gas. Many landowners would go for gas royalty in market value, and ensure that the gas royalties are paid in cash.

Despite their differences, oil and gas leasing terms for the royalties can be negotiated in a similar way. Land owners can specify separate royalties for oil and gas production, and they can put in a due date for the receipt of royalty payments. They can also put in an interest charge for late payments.

Loan Modification, Workout Options and Other Ways to Avoid Foreclosure

Foreclosure is one of biggest problems the people of America are facing right now. Countless of homeowners default on their mortgages and thus find themselves on the brink of losing their homes, or are already facing the devastating situation already. This widespread occurrence is due to the dire economic situation the country is facing right now and people are simply not able to keep up with their financial obligations as money becomes harder and harder to come by.

The legal process of foreclosure is not sudden—it does not happen overnight. It generally takes place when a homeowner consecutively misses mortgage payments every month. These accumulating missed payments prompt lenders to take action. However, there’s still hope for those whose properties have not been foreclosed yet. There are in fact a variety of work out options and other ways for a person to avoid foreclosure altogether. A good example is loan modification.

(1) Loan Modification – This is probably the most popular and most effective solution to prevent foreclosure. It is a process wherein one or more terms of a borrower’s loan are permanently changed. If the loan is modified successfully, the person can expect to enjoy lowered monthly payments, reduced interest rates, a 30 or 40-year fixed loan, principal balance reduction, partially or completely waived past payments, credit preservation and home ownership preservation.

(2) Forbearance – This is an agreement with the mortgage company where the homeowner agrees to pay a portion of his or her regular payment or none of it for a certain period of time. The company will then offer that person a temporary reduction or suspension until he or she is able to sort financial matters out and be able to make regular payments. Usually, this is combined with a repayment or reinstatement plan to pay off missed payments.

(3) Refinance – As long as the property or home in question has enough equity, the homeowner can use his or her new mortgage to pay off his or her old loan along with any late or even attorney’s fees. If this is the chosen alternative to avoid foreclosure, then it is a good idea to look around for the best terms being offered and then compare the Annual Percentage Rate or APR.

(4) Reinstatement – A borrower may be given the chance to pay off the total indebted sum in a lump sum payment on a specific, negotiated date. This option is usually combined with forbearance because the person can show that funds from a bonus, tax refund or other sources will become available at a certain time.

(5) Repayment Plan – For this workout option, the mortgage company or lender can help the delinquent borrower catch up with missed payments with the creation of a feasible schedule for repaying past due amounts. The amount the borrower is behind can be combined with a portion of what is due on a regular monthly payment.

(6) Short Sale – The person can sell his or her home. In case the amount received from the sale is not enough to pay off the loan the mortgage company will be willing to accept a payoff amount that’s less than what is owed on the borrower’s balance.

(7) Deed-in-lieu Foreclosure – The borrower can voluntarily transfer the title of his or her property to the lender in exchange for the cancellation of the mortgage debt.