Cheap Satellite TV -- Who Has the Best Deals?

Just a few years ago there was no such thing as a cheap satellite TV system. A decent system cost anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000 for a satellite TV dish and the array of electronic boxes that came with it. Not only that, it cost hundreds of dollars to have a big-dish satellite TV system installed.

Today, because the satellite TV industry has become so competitive, dealers are giving away satellite TV systems to entice people to subscribe to their satellite TV service. Even the installation is free.

So when it comes to finding a cheap TV system, you're in luck. They're not just cheap, they're free.


Satellite TV Systems

Here’s what you get when you subscribe to either DISH Network or DIRECTV's satellite TV service:

* A free satellite TV dish and mounting stand.
* Up to four free satellite TV receivers plus universal remote controls.
* Free professional installation of your system in up to four rooms of your home.
* Free DVR (digital video recording) receivers so you can record your favorite programs.
* HDTV satellite TV receivers (optional) for high definition reception.

Note: DISH Network and DIRECTV offer bonus gifts such as a free DVD player and home theater system when you order their service. Click on the links below to see the latest offers.


Cheap Satellite TV Service

When it comes to satellite TV service, you can pay anywhere from $31.99 a month for 60 channels of programming, on up to $93.99 a month for 215 channels.

Both DISH Network or DIRECTV's satellite TV service includes the following:

* More than 225 program channels with digital-quality picture and sound.
* Up to 500 commercial-free movies per month.
* DVR (digital video recording) so you can bypass commercials and record your favorite programs.
* HD (high definition) programming.
* Up to 60 pay-per-view programs per day.
* Your local channels with digital picture and sound.
* Commercial-free music channels with all-digital sound.
* Toll-free and online 24/7 customer service.

Note: DISH Network and DIRECTV offer special introductory programming rates for new customers. Click on the links below for current offers.


The Bottom Line

Getting the cheapest price for satellite TV depends on whether you want the cheapest service, or you want the cheapest price per channel.

DISH Network has the cheapest satellite TV service. Their starter package -- America's Top Sixty -- gives you 60 channels of satellite TV programming, including your local channels, for $31.99 per month.

DIRECTV's Total Choice program package offers the cheapest price per channel at $0.31 per channel ($41.99 ÷ 135 channels). In addition to 135 program channels, you also get your local channels and 31 music channels.


If television is your primary form of entertainment and you want a wide variety of shows, movies, sports, and news ... if you're tired of fuzzy reception and want digital-quality picture and sound ... if your cable bill is beginning to equal your mortgage payment -- then I think you'll find satellite TV is a real bargain.

About the Author: Brian Stevens is a professional freelance writer and webmaster who has written extensively on cheap satellite TV.

Click on the following link for more information on free satellite TV systems and service, or these links for ordering information, the latest offers, and free bonuses from DISH Network satellite TV or DIRECTV satellite TV. Read More..

Free Satellite TV -- Is It Really Free?

You've seen the online and offline ads -- "Free satellite TV!" "Get a 4-room Satellite TV System Free!" and "Satellite TV Dish and Receivers Absolutely Free!"

But is satellite TV really free?

The answer to that question is yes ... and no.

Yes, the equipment you get -- the satellite TV dish and satellite TV receiver -- is free. But no, the programming service will cost you money.

Let's examine the facts.

Due to the demise of Pegasus and Voom, there are only two major satellite TV providers in the USA -- DISH Network and DIRECTV.


DISH Network Satellite TV Service

When you order a free satellite TV system from DISH Network, you will be asked to pay a $49.99 activation fee. This fee will be credited to your programming bill, so in essence, your satellite TV system is free. Installation of your satellite TV system is also free.

With DISH Network you have the option to upgrade to a DVR (digital video recording) receiver, or an HDTV (high definition TV) receiver at no charge.

DISH Network programming starts at $31.99 per month for 60 program channels, and goes up to $86.00 for 230 channels including Showtime, Starz!, HBO, Cinemax, and Sirius radio.

DISH Network offers more movies, shows, and HDTV than cable or DIRECTV, and with one of their free DVR receivers you can record, pause, and fast forward live TV with a click of your remote. All DISH Network programs are broadcast in digital format for crystal-clear picture and sound.


DIRECTV Satellite TV Service

Depending on your credit rating, when you order a free satellite TV system from DIRECTV you may be required to pay a deposit or prepayment. Because the deposit is refunded to you and the prepayment goes toward your programming fees, the DIRECTV satellite dish and receivers are free. Installation is also free.

If you want a DVR receiver you will be charged an additional $49.99. The charge for HDTV receivers is $299.99.

DIRECTV programming packages start at $41.99 per month for 115 channels (including 31 music channels), and go up to $93.99 per month for 185 program channels, including Showtime, Starz!, HBO, Cinemax, and 31 music channels.

DIRECTV offers more sports programs than you can get with cable or DISH Network, including the popular NFL Sunday Ticket, and is broadcast in all-digital format.


The Bottom Line

Both DISH Network and DIRECTV's basic satellite TV dishes and receivers are free ... but the service will cost you anywhere from $32 to $94 a month.

So if you watch just a few television programs a week and have access to over-the-air TV, or if you have cable TV and are happy with your service, then satellite TV probably isn't for you.

If, on the other hand, TV is one of your primary forms of entertainment and you want the biggest variety of shows, movies, sports, and new -- or if your cable bill is beginning to equal your mortgage payment -- then satellite TV may be just the ticket.

Click on the following link for more information on free satellite TV systems and service, or these links for ordering information, the latest offers, and free bonuses from DISH Network satellite TV or DIRECTV satellite TV.

About the Author: Brian Stevens is a professional freelance writer and webmaster who has written extensively on free satellite TV.
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WHY REFINANCE YOUR HOME

There are many reasons why you may be interested in refinancing you home. The biggest reason is to save money. When you refinance your mortgage, you are more than likely able to substantially reduce your monthly payments.
One tactic people use is to shop the rate around to several different lenders to see what they have to offer and what deals work for them. You may have bought your home in times of relatively high mortgage rates and therefore are locked into higher payments than you should be. If you qualify for a lower rate, you could lock in that mortgage rate and stretch out the payments so that every month you are paying less to live in your home than before. If you decide to refinance your home, you will undoubtedly be confronted with a variety of choices as to what sort of new loan you can get.

Refinancing your home mortgage can certainly free up a lot of capital, which gives you the opportunity to do many things, such as needed home improvements, travel, investments or your children’s college tuition. Many people who are deeply in credit card debt may want to refinance their homes in order to free up some of their home equity and pay off their other debts. This can be a good strategy if the debt is at a high interest rate. It makes good financial sense to pay off debt, which can be as high as 25% with a new loan at around 6% or 7%.
People who refinance their homes often come out better than before. Don’t forget to shop around and find the best deal your can for your mortgage and you may be able to have a lot of spare money every month.
https://www.imortgagefinancial.com

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The Ultimate Tax Planning Strategy

The taxes that are withheld from paychecks amount to about 25% of your gross pay (including federal tax, state tax, social security tax and medicare tax). But these taxes that are withheld could be working for you as investments if you employ what I call the ultimate tax strategy. This tax strategy consists of how you plan to pay no taxes just like all of the large corporations. Large businesses have teams of accountants and lawyers going over the tax code to make maximum use of legitimate deductions.

In my opinion, there is a distinct difference between an individual and a business in the U.S. tax code (others have called it the difference between the rich and the poor). Such as businesses are rewarded with tax deductions because they create jobs and engage in entrepreneurial activities that support individuals and government. But individuals are awarded few tax breaks because they don’t create jobs and don’t take risks that add substantial value to the economy. This is simply the fact and we just need to find a way to make the most of the few tax deductions that are available to wage earners as well.

When tax time comes around, the only substantial tax break most individuals have is a deduction for their home mortgage. This deduction is a social policy benefit to many people, but instead of helping people, it can motivate them to buy a larger home or higher mortgage than they would ordinarily afford. And unless you live in a neighborhood that continually appreciates, this is not a great strategy for you to target.

First, I need to make some big disclaimers about minimizing your taxes. There are many people in jail that have written books, tapes, websites and held seminars on how to never pay taxes. You can spot these people due to their focus on concepts that the IRS says are invalid; strained interpretations that haven’t held up in court, constitutional nonsense and a lot of straight fraud. Once the IRS audits these “patriotic educators”, the result is an invoice for back taxes, interest, penalties, and a jail or prison sentence. And illegal tax avoidance isn’t limited to wage earners. Nearly every month there is someone who tried to avoid taxes from a giant windfall (sold a company for millions, exercised stock options, received a large bonus) and paid some small shady offshore consulting company to create a fictitious tax loss to offset the big gain. The same thing happens; IRS files suit for back taxes, interest, penalties and possibly jail depending on the circumstances.

The ultimate tax planning strategy works when you buy investments that have a positive cash flow (before any tax consequences), and give you a legitimate tax deduction as an added bonus. Now it is just a matter of buying enough of these investments to reduce your tax liabilities close to zero. If you have too much of these investments, the IRS limits tax loss carry-forwards, and you may end up losing them. More reference material for this article is available at http://investing.real-solution-center.com.

The two legitimate deductions that I want to mention are real estate depreciation and oil well depletion. You are buying something that is going to put money in your pocket (or a very high probability of success), and because it is in alignment with government policy, they give you a tax deduction to take this risk.

To figure out how much of a deduction that you need, start with your 1040 federal tax form. Add together the Standard Deduction (which is around $3,000) and your itemized deductions from Schedule A. The difference between the number that you just calculated and your actual Adjusted Gross Income is the amount of depreciation you need to acquire for the ultimate tax strategy.

Investment real estate depreciation is calculated over 27.5 years right now, so take the amount of depreciation that you need and multiply it by 27.5 to calculate the purchase price you need to buy. (Note that depreciation is limited to $25,000 per year unless you meet the IRS qualifications as a real estate professional. The taxing authorities don’t like wage earners taking these types of deductions so there are many limits on them, including the Alternative Minimum Tax, to block you from taking excessive deductions).

Now even if you aren’t able to buy enough tax deductible investments to get your taxable income all the way down to zero, any investment that meets the IRS rules for a deduction, and is a positive cash flow investment, will increase your net worth, reduce your taxes and thus create more money available to you to spend or invest.

About the Author: Francis Kier has an MBA in finance and shares his two decades of experience with investing and personal finance. More of his articles are available at http://investing.real-solution-center.com. Read More..

Amortization Schedule: What Do Those Numbers Mean?

As you look at the amortization schedule that you have in front of you, it is likely that you’ll need to take some time to figure out what those numbers mean. After all, the schedule is an outstanding way for you to understand what you are agreeing to when you purchase that loan. Not only does it help you understand what you are paying for, it can be a way to find the best mortgage for your needs.

What The Numbers Mean

When you have the amortization schedule in your hand, you may have already signed on the dotted line. But, you can use tools online to help you figure out what it will be long before you even call the mortgage lender. There are some of the numbers you are likely to see on the screen when you use a product like an amortization calculator to help you figure your schedule.

The loan summary provided will tell you what the amounts are. Look here for some important information.

• The monthly payment. One of the first and most important numbers to look at is the monthly principal and interest payment. Simply, can you afford to make this sized payment monthly?
• The total payments. This will tell you how much you will pay completely when you have paid off your mortgage. This takes into account the principal as well as the interest you’ll pay.
• Interest paid is another number you’ll see. Yes, it's likely to cause you to grasp your wallet a little tighter but this is the amount that borrowing money for your mortgage will cost you.
• You will also see a payoff date listed. This is the final payment that you’ll make on your loan.

The Amortization Schedule Itself

The amortization schedule is provided next on this report. Here is what you’ll find there.

• It will list the month and the year of each payment you’ll make.
• It will list the amount of money that will go towards paying down the interest of the loan. Normally, you will pay a much larger portion in interest at the start of your loan and less at the end.
• It will list the amount of money you will pay monthly to the principal or the amount that you actually borrowed. Unlike the interest, the principal starts off low and ends up higher. That means you pay more towards interest than you do towards principal.
• Lastly, it will provide you with the estimated balance of the loan at each monthly level.

Lastly, when it comes to using this amortization schedule to help you to find the right mortgage lender use it to compare rates, terms as well as how much in principal/interest will be paid off monthly. See what happens when you change the numbers just slightly. Compare the rates of several companies and how they affect the payments you’ll be making for up to the next 30 years. The amortization schedule is a tool you have to consider when purchasing a home.

About the Author: Julie-Ann Amos is a freelance writer from London, UK, specialising in finance subjects such as loans, banking., mortgages, amortization schedules etc. She recommends use of an amortization calculator for calculations at http://www.amortization-calc.com. Read More..

First Time Real Estate Purchase

Nothing can be more exciting & terrifying at the same time than buying your 1st home. Everyone talks about all the advantages of buying real estate such as the tax benefits, appreciation etc. But there are some risks involved and the more knowledge you have before you start the process the less vulnerable you will be to those risks. Now that you have decided to take the plunge there are some things you can go to make the experience exciting and pleasurable.
One of the 1st things you should do is interview 3 Mortgage Specialists. This accomplishes 3 things, 1st you know in advance how much home you can afford. The worst feeling is to go out looking, find your dream home and then realize you cannot afford it. After that it will be really frustrating trying to find another home. Knowing what your price range is before you start looking assures that when you do find a home you will be able to afford it. 2nd, once you decide to put in an offer, being “Pre-Approved” puts you in a stronger bargaining position, especially it you happen to be in a multiple offer situation. 3nd you will have a relationship established with a mortgage broker. This will move things along much more efficiently once you have found your home.
Now that you have been “Pre- Approved” it is time to start the Search for your dream Home. 95% of people turn to the Internet to start that search. There are many options but realtor.com is probably the most popular. This tool can help you get to know the real estate market in the area you want to live. Check out the average home prices for the size of home you are looking to purchase in any given area. Real Estate prices can really fluctuate greatly even in the same city.
Once you have found a few homes that interest you, it is time to call a real estate agent. Having a buyer’s agent costs you nothing, the seller pays all the fees. So take advantage of all the benefits they have to offer. Here is a sample:
• Evaluate the specific needs and wants of the buyer and locate properties that fit those specifications.
• Assist the buyer in determining the amount that they can afford (pre-qualify) and show properties in that price range and locale the consumer has determined.
• Assist in viewing properties and either accompany the client on the showings or preview the properties on behalf of the client to insure that the identified specifications are met.
• Research the selected properties to identify any problems or issues to help the consumer in making an informed decision prior to making an appropriate offer on the property.
• Advise the client on structuring an appropriate offer to purchase the selected property.
• Present the offer to the sellers agent and seller on the clients behalf.
• Negotiate on behalf of the buyer client to help obtain the identified property. Keep in mind that the buyer agent will be doing so with their clients best interests in mind.
• Review and explain all legal documents to their buyer client.
• Recommendations and assistance in securing appropriate financing for the selected property. • Provide a list of potential qualified vendors e.g. movers, attorneys, carpenters if these services are needed by the consumer.

Now that you are ready to buy, you will begin the negotiating process. The seller wants the most money and the buyer wants to pay the least amount. This is where the expertise of your real estate agent comes in. Usually the seller gives a little and the buyer gives a little.

Knowledge is power when it comes to purchasing real estate, so educate yourself and the whole process will be exciting & pleasurable!
http://www.getanewhome.net

About the Author: Christine Hancock began her real estate career proving herself a top producer on a new high rise development. This experience gave her valuable knowledge of construction as well as the buying process and resulted in 4-million dollars in sales during her first year. Read More..

Home Improvement

Home Improvement

Many homeowners pursue home improvement projects, for different reasons. Replacing fixtures or appliances, updating the home with new decor, or investing money, upgrade or refurbish a home to sell. Certain upgrades or improvements will yield a higher return, while other improvements, may not be desirable, for a buyer. Average return of ninety percent or greater, when investing money, remodeling a kitchen, and adding a bathroom. Less then ninety percent return, when adding a room, remodeling a bathroom, and replacing windows. Adding a swimming pool may not be desirable to perspective buyers, considering, additional maintenance cost. Building a deck or enclosed garage, can add to the value of the home.

A budget should be considered, for home improvement projects. The budget should include some money, set aside, for unexpected, and over budget expenses. If the homeowner, is unable to pay for home improvements, than financial arrangements, maybe considered. Option Number one: Refinancing current mortgage, borrowing money for home improvement or secure a lower interest rate. Assuming, current mortgage has few years to pay off, and the interest rate is at least, two percent below, current mortgage. Option Number two: Take a second mortgage. However, interest rate will be slightly more, than the first mortgage, amount borrowed is a small amount, and will be paid back in less time, than first mortgage. Home equity loan maybe suitable, if the home is debt free of any mortgage. The homeowner can borrow, usually up to 80 percent of the value of the home. Must have a good credit rating, for home equity loan. Option Number three: Using credit card, which provides maximum amount, for unsecured line of credit. However, unsecured credit yields, highest interest rate, and should be paid off sooner than later. The interest rate payment is not deductible. Option Number four: Homeowner has a brokerage account is eligible, for a margin account. The margin account, allows the account holder to borrow money, usually up to fifty percent, value of the brokerage account of securities. However, if brokerage account falls below a certain amount, then client can get a margin call. The client would either pay back loan immediately or sell all securities, in account. Other financial resources include, Government Grants, and securing a loan, from a union bank, only for union members.

Home improvement projects, can sometimes include hiring an architect, Interior designer or contractor for a specific project. Always confirm, choose to hire, has a license from the state or county, and insured for liabilities. Confirm all references, and check with department of building codes for any violations. Always, obtain a written estimate of the costs. Remember, work has to be done, within a reasonable amount of time. Recommend getting referrals, for a contractor, architect or designer.

Home Owners may need landscaping, for a home improvement project. Possibly, adding flowers, shrubs, mowing the lawn, or cutting the edge. A landscaper maybe hired, for more extensive work, including cutting down trees, replacing or moving trees, adding a stone garden or any additions.

Home improvements, can be utilize by saving energy. Installing insulated windows, prevent heat from escaping, and cold from entering the home. Also, insulation in the attic, walls, and floors. Purchasing energy saving hot water heaters, appliances, toilets, that use less water, and installing solar panels, produce electricity, can save money throughout the year. The Federal Government has grants, offering energy efficient homes.

Upgrading the home for safety, for home improvements, very important for health of those living in the residence. Fire Detectors should be installed, outside of each bedroom, and in areas of the home. Checking them twice a year, make sure the batteries are working. Some fire detectors are hooked into the security home system. Also, installing carbon monoxide detectors is an odorless, and tasteless gas. Especially in homes, using gas ranges, and detecting any gas from automobiles parked, from an attached garage.

Other, types of home improvements Including: Purchasing decorative pictures, adding area rugs, posters, new shelves, pillows, and new furniture. Sometimes, simple home improvements have the most dramatic eye catching achievement.

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Interest-Only Loans Can Buy More House and More Trouble

They're spreading like wildfire--interest-only mortgages appear to be the panacea for rising home prices and the incomes that can’t quite catch up. You can buy "more house" and have a low mortgage payment and a big tax deduction. Who wouldn’t want one, right?

Well, a large number of consumers are getting into these loans when they shouldn’t. Interest-only mortgages work well for some individuals and are dangerous for most others, yet the number of interest-only loans is rising rapidly.

Take a look at San Diego. In 2004 almost half of the mortgages required interest-only payments in the first few years according to a study done by LoanPerformance, a San Francisco--based real estate information service. Could this have something to do with the housing market? You bet it does. Are home prices rising faster than salaries and incomes? They sure are. So how is one supposed to afford a house in such an expensive housing market? You guessed it--an interest-only loan.

Interest only-loans were originally aimed at more sophisticated investors who wanted to leverage their income by re-directing what would have been the principal portion of their payment to higher yielding investments that exceed the rate of their home appreciation. These types of investors typically have more assets and financial discipline than most and therefore aren't as likely to get in as much trouble with such a loan.

Today, interest-only loans are being utilized by borrowers who are trying to leverage debt. What they are doing is getting more debt for their buck; they're borrowing more money but keeping their payments low (initially) in order to compete with other buyers in sellers’ markets. Here are some of the potential dangers that face such borrowers:


• If the principal balance isn't being reduced, than no equity is being built, and if home prices are stagnant during the interest-only period and the borrower needs to sell, he'll need to be able to pay sales costs out of whatever equity there is in the house, if there is any. Remember, mortgage amortization is in the borrower’s control, appreciation is not.

• If there’s a downturn in home prices, the borrower could end up “upside down,” meaning the mortgage balance on the property could end up being greater than the property’s market value. In this case, the borrower would be responsible for sales costs and the remaining mortgage balance which could lead to foreclosure.


Interest-only mortgages make sense for borrowers:


• who have seasonal incomes or earn commissions and/or bonuses and have a desire to pay on the principal when it’s convenient.

• upwardly mobile individuals who expect to earn more in a few years and want to buy “more house” early on rather than later.

• who intend on investing their cash flow in higher yielding investments or paying down high-priced debt.


Make sure you know what you’re getting into with an interest-only loan. Consult with your mortgage broker or lender to know what the possible repercussions could be, and be sure you’re getting the loan for the right reasons. Eventually, you want to own your home, and it’s better to be planning on that sooner than later.

About the Author: Brian Daniel is a loan officer for http://www.bendmortgagegroup.com, a mortgage company in Bend, Oregon. He is also the company's marketing coordinator. For more articles visit http://www.bendmortgagegroup.com/Articles. Read More..

7 Simple Tips For Flipping Real Estate

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few years, you’ve probably either dabbled in real estate yourself, or at the very least, know someone who has. So, how does someone that’s brand new to real estate start flipping homes? (And let’s clear the air right now… IT IS NOT TOO LATE to start investing in real estate).

Follow these 7 tips to start investing in real estate today:

1. Look In Your Own Backyard
The grass is always greener in the other neighborhood, and it’s easy to keep looking for the “right” area. The bottom line is that any area is the “right” area. In order to be effective in the steps 2 through 7, you’ve got to get over the idea that real estate deals only exist in other areas. It sounds cliché, but there are plenty of deals in your own backyard. Not to mention, it’s easier to manage and you’re likely to know the values in and around your area.

2. Find the “Right” Property
Not every piece of real estate is a good investment – even if you can “steal” it! Make sure you look at things like:
• Property Location – Will you be able to sell the property once you’ve renovated it?
• Condition – How much work– and what kind of work – needs to be done and is it a project that you can afford to take on financially and from a management perspective?
• Seller’s motivation – Is the seller truly motivated enough to negotiate on price?

3. Have A Thorough Inspection
Unless you’ve been flipping real estate for a while or have a background in construction, then it’s a good idea to have a full home inspection. It may cost you a few hundred dollars, but will catch things that maybe you didn’t know to look for. When flipping real estate, it’s the “little” things that add up very quickly and can eat up your profits!

*** Bonus Tip*** Use a home inspection to help renegotiate the purchase price OR ask for a credit toward repairs.

4. Don’t Get Emotional
Real Estate is emotional by nature. Investing in real estate cannot involve your emotions. It’s got to be all business. If the numbers don’t work, move on to the next. So many times, people are so desperate to flip their first deal that they make bad decisions just to do something at all. Then, they’ve become so attached to the deal that they try to sell it for higher than the market will bear and end up holding the property longer, reducing their profit and getting left with a bad taste in their mouth.

5. Know Your Numbers – All of Them!
Late night infomercials will hype you up with pipe dreams of flipping real estate for millions of dollars in profits and no work. You’ve seen the testimonials that go something like: “Mary Smith purchased this property for $100,000. It cost $10,000 in repairs. She flipped the property for $140,000 and made $30,000”. Somewhere on the screen, you see in teeny tiny print: Results Not Typical. Your Results May Vary!

Of course results are not typical because those results assume that you buy the property for all cash and pay no closing fees and have no monthly costs. Be VERY cautious of deals that you see that sound like that!

In the real world, costs associated with flipping real estate are:
• Purchase costs: Upfront mortgage fees, attorneys fees, regular closings fees, title, survey, etc.
• Carrying costs: It’s more than just the repairs! When you’re flipping real estate, you’re likely paying higher interest rates than on, let’s say, a primary residence or second home. In addition to the repairs, you’ve got to consider monthly payments, taxes, insurance, utilities, etc.
• Selling costs: Again, you’ve got closing costs and possibly real estate commissions to consider.

Whether you’re flipping a real estate deal here and there or you’re looking to make real estate your new career, it’s important that you know – and figure – your costs into your calculations. Keeping this in mind will help you keep from getting emotional (See Tip 4)

6. Keep Track Of Your Progress
You can’t improve what you can’t measure! Throughout the entire project, you’ll want to constantly track your progress. This way, you’ll know, at any given time, where you stand on the deal. This will help keep you focused by keeping the bottom line in front of you all the time.

7. Expect the Unexpected
In virtually every single property you flip, you will run across SOMETHING that you simply didn’t expect. Whether it’s an issue that pops up 2 hours before closing that needs to be handled or a big surprise when you peek behind the drywall that you had to replace! You’ll almost always run at least a little over budget or hold it a little longer than you anticipated. But at the end of the day, you’ll have the satisfaction of taken an ugly house and turned it around and depositing a healthy check in your bank account.

About the Author: Heather Seitz makes it easy to get to the bottom line. Learn how to evaluate a real estate deal in less than 15 minutes. Get your FREE video on flipping real estate and uncover the top 5 secrets that you need to know to double your profits on every single deal. Get your free video and 5-part mini course at www.fixingandflipping.com Read More..

Good Mortgage Broker vs. Bad Mortgage Broker

According to the NAMB (National Association of Mortgage Brokers), two out of three Americans work with a mortgage broker to purchase a home because of the broker’s expertise and wide selection of loan products and lenders. However, with so many so called “experts” out there, how does one separate the wheat from the chaff? How do you know if a broker is honest? And how do you know they're an “expert” or not?


The NAMB says that over 70 percent of brokers are legitimate, that is they have safeguards and policies in place to make sure that they stay on the straight and narrow. So what about the other 30 percent? Well, the whole 30 percent isn’t bad, but just as in any classroom, you’re going to have those at the top, some in the middle, a few at the bottom, and others who simply don’t show for class. Obviously, those at the bottom and the no shows would not be your first choice if you were going into surgery and they were holding the scapel, nor should they be handling your loan when you purchase a home or refinance.


Because of the surge in numbers of mortgage brokers in the past few years, there are plenty of incompetent and dishonest brokers out there. In order to avoid the 30 percentile, I offer the following tips to help you find a mortgage broker that is not only an expert but honest and reputable as well:



Don’t believe everything you hear. Asking friends or family to recommend a mortgage professional is usually the first place people start. However, how do they know the broker is reputable and trustworthy? Check with your state regulatory offices and licensing bureau once you have some referrals. Better to be safe than sorry.


Use an NAMB certified mortgage broker. Brokers certified by the NAMB practice the highest ethical and professional standards in the industry. There is a “Find a Broker” link on the NAMB’s website at www.namb.org.


Use an Upfront Mortgage Broker (UMB). These brokers disclose their fees to customers in writing in advance at the customer’s request. They also disclose the wholesale prices they receive from lenders. For a list of UMBs visit www.mtgprofessor.com.


Honesty is the best policy. If a mortgage broker suggests that you lie on your loan application in any way, he/she is most likely in the 30 percentile. Walk away.


They need to show you the money. If a mortgage broker doesn’t disclose your closing costs in three business days, it’s probably best to take your business elsewhere.


If you’re not bleeding, they shouldn’t be applying pressure. A mortgage broker who pressures you into anything you are not comfortable with probably failed ethics. No reputable broker will pressure you into anything you don’t feel comfortable with.


There are no stupid questions. Does the mortgage broker answer all your questions to your satisfaction? Are his/her answers straightforward, honest, and respectful?


Do you have a reservation? If you feel comfortable with whom you’re working with and feel like they have answered all your questions and put all your reservations to ease, you’ve probably found a good mortgage broker.

About the Author: Brian Daniel is a loan officer for Bend Mortgage Group Ltd. a mortgage company in Bend, Oregon. He is also the company’s marketing coordinator. For more information or help with an Oregon home loan visit www.bendmortgagegroup.com. Read More..

Making Money With Real Estate

The many ways of making money with real estate include not only the various types of property. Of course you can make money with land, apartment buildings, homes, commercial buildings and more. But with whatever type of real estate, there are different ways you'll make your profits. Some of those ways, and how to maximize them, are listed below.

1. Pay-down on the loan. Equity builds with every payment you make. If you get the lowest interest rate you can, more of each payment will go towards the principal.

2. Cash flow. Buy income property the right way, and you not only have your tenants paying all the costs and paying down the mortgage loan, but you also have positive cash flow. As a rule, just don't buy properties without cash flow.

3. Value appreciation. Sometimes making money with real estate can be as simple as holding on and waiting. For the most appreciation in value, however, you should buy in an area where demand is growing faster than the supply.

4. Tax depreciation. After all the tax law changes, you still get to declare a loss for depreciation that doesn't really exist. Saving at tax time, means more after-tax profit. To maximize this, buy property that has its value primarily in the buildings, because you can't depreciate the value of land.

5. Get instant equity by buying low. Buy below market and you get instant equity that will be converted into a profit when you sell. Offer a reason for the seller to sell low: fast closing, cash, assume some debts or liabilities, etc. Alternately, just make a low offer. A seller may have his own reasons to sell it cheap.

6. Selling high. If you clean it up nice, make it easy to buy, and find the right buyer, you'll get top dollar. The following four on the list cover ways to create value, so you'll get more when you sell.

7. Finance the sale. You'll often get substantially more for a property if you offer financing. This is especially true if you let someone buy it with little money down. You can also get good interest on the loan.

8. Changing the use. Find a higher use for the property, and you can convert it to make it worth more to the next owner. This could mean making condos into apartments, or apartments into condos. Perhaps converting a home into office space will get the biggest return.

9. Improve and repair. Repairing anything that needs it is obvious, but you need to look creatively and carefully to find improvements to make. Concentrate only on those that will raise the value several times more than what they cost you.

10. Sell it in parts. Sometimes in real estate, the parts are worth more than the whole. For example, splitting off an extra lot to sell for $30,000 will rarely decrease the value of a home by that much, so you'll make more money in the end.

Look at the sources of profit listed here, and think of how you can use a few of them on your next real estate investment. You can get wonderfully creative making money with real estate.

About the Author: Steve Gillman has invested in real estate for years. To learn more, get a free real estate investing course, and see a photo of a beautiful house he and his wife bought for $17,500, visit http://www.HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com Read More..

Nothing Down

Nothing down? Exactly why would a seller want to walk away from closing with nothing? The truth is, they normally wouldn't, and that brings up the most important point about real estate investing with no downpayment: A seller almost always needs cash at closing, but it doesn't have to be YOUR cash.

Nothing Down - A Few Ways

Sometimes sellers are able to offer terms and a low or no downpayment, but often you have to find a way to get at least 70% of the price to them in cash. This is not only so they can get some of their equity out, but also because they will probably need to pay off the existing loan. So to get in with nothing down, you need to think in terms of how to get a primary loan, then how to raise the money for the remainder. A couple examples follow.

A few banks still do "no doc" loans, meaning they don't require any verification of income, source of downpayment, etc. Since they generally loan only 70% to 80% of the property value, you need a seller who is willing to take a second mortgage from you for the other 20% to 30%, to make it a nothing down deal. They get 70% or 80% in cash, and payments for years to come. Since you'll have two payments, you need to be sure the numbers work.

Another way to buy with none of your own money is to borrow against your home or other property to come up with downpayment. You might borrow for a "vacation," and leave whatever you don't spend in your checking account for a while. In this way, you can use it without violating bankers rules about borrowing for a downpayment.

Most towns have a few "note buyers." These investors buy land contracts, mortgage loans and other "notes" at a discount. When a seller takes a purchase money mortgage from you for $100,000, for example, a note buyer might pay him $85,000 for it. How does that help you or him? I'll explain with an example.

Suppose a seller prices his property at $195,000, expecting to sell it for $180,000. You offer $205,000 in the form of a mortgage for $160,000, and another for $45,000. As part of the offer, you have arranged for the sale of the first mortgage at closing for $136,000 to a note buyer. The seller gets that cash now, plus payments from you on the second loan for $45,000. $136,000 plus the $45,000 adds up to $181,000, which is about what he expected to get out of the deal.

A Personal Example

At the moment, I'm selling a small rental property, and will recieve payments of $400 per month. The buyer has good credit, and the $5,000 downpayment covers the closing costs and even the legal cost of a foreclosure, if necessary. So at this point, I really don't care where he gets the downpayment. Suppose he took a $6000 cash advance on a low-interest credit card? This would cost him about $135 per month, and give him enough for the downpayment and his closing costs.

The rent is around $600 per month in this case, so he would be okay. However, in some cases, that extra $135 might cause negative cash-flow. You have to be sure that however you do it, the numbers work. I should mention though, that I would have accepted payments of $350, if he had asked, because it's the price and the interest rate that mattered to me.

Are ther other methods? You bet. Creative real estate investing is all about making the deal work for all parties. If you can find a way to get the seller what he wants, you can buy with nothing down.

About the Author: Steve Gillman has invested in real estate for years. To learn more, get a free real estate investing course, and see a photo of a beautiful house he and his wife bought for $17,500, visit http://www.HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com Read More..

Repayment Mortgages (Amortization)

Qute simply, a repayment mortgage is an arrangement where the ultimate goal is to pay off the mortgage on a property. This is the most common type of payment agreement for both business and home morgages, as it gives the borrower the knowledge that they are working towards an end goal.

Most repayment mortgages involve the setting of a fixed future date when the loan will be paid off (although this can often be changed later via morgage refinancing). The most common term for these types of in the US, Canada, and the UK is in the range of 20 to 30 years, depending on the buyer's financial situation and prevailing morgage rates at the time.

About the Author: Jeremy Maddock is the webmaster of FinanceFacts.info, a useful source of finance articles. Read More..

Mortgage Agreement Participants

As with any other financial deal, the main participants in a mortgage contract are the two parties that the agreement is between.

In the case of morgages, one party that is always involved is the buyer of a piece of property. This is generally an individual, business, or corporation, which wants to buy a property, but doesn't have the means to completely pay for it right away.

The other major participant is the creditor, or the party who lends money to the property buyer. In most cases, the creditor is a bank or financial institution, although private mortgages certainly aren't unheard of.

Morgage rates must be agreed upon by both the creditor and the debitor (buyer). They can vary on a case-by-case basis, but usually follow a common market average or benchmark.

Other parties in a mortgage contract could include lawyers, mortgage brokers, and financial advisors. These additional parties help to establish morgage quotes prior to the signing of a contract, and then ensure that the entire transaction is handled smoothly and fairly.

About the Author: Jeremy Maddock is the webmaster of FinanceFacts.info, a useful source of finance articles. Read More..

Real Estate Team - Building One

I didn't understand the concept of a real estate team at first, so I had a hard time with real estate investment. I tended to be a "lone wolf," trying to do too much myself. I have since learned that in real estate, you need a team of people you can trust and rely on. Here are some possible team members, and what they need to be on the team.

1. A mortgage broker or banker. A broker can offer many options, but a banker can make the loan decision. They each have their advantages, and you could use both on your team. In either case it's important they understand what you want (fast closings, lower interest, corporate loans?)

2. An accountant or bookkeeper. To keep proper books for real estate investments is getting more complicated with all the tax-law changes. Find someone that understands the law, and understands what you want.

3. A real estate attorney. Find someone familiar with the laws and legal customs of your area, and that has experience with the type of deals you intend to do (If you are buying rentals, she should be familiar with doing evictions, for example.)

4. A good real estate agent. An agent with experience in the area you invest in and access to the MLS (Multiple Listing Service), can be a great help. If she is a seller's agent, she can still ethically bring the best deals to you once she knows you're a serious buyer.

5. An appraiser. A good appraiser can give you an accurate valuation of a property, but they can also suggest ways in which you can most efficiently raise the value of a property. Find someone that will talk to you.

6. An inspector. Some states make it too easy to become an inspector with little experience. You may want to find one that is or used to be a contractor, so he can find the problems AND give you some idea of the cost of repairs.

7. An insurance agent. Good ones will understand what you want, and find ways to save you money. Insure all your properties with one agent, and you're likely to have discounts available, aas well as better service.

8. An escrow officer. They'll usually be with a closing company. Find someone that's efficient, and can explain things clearly to both sides. If he is confused by a slightly creative contract, he should educate easily or be replaced.

9. A cleaning person or crew. When you have a trusted person or crew ready, it means a fast turn-around when you buy a rental or rehab project.

10. Rental property manager. Be certain that the company you hire has exerience, is responsive, and will have time when you call. Good property managers can tell you what you should get for rent in a given area BEFORE you buy.

Start building that team. Investing in real estate is a whole lot less stressful and more profitable with a good real estate team.

About the Author: Steve Gillman has invested in real estate for years. To learn more, get a free real estate investing course, and see a photo of a beautiful house he and his wife bought for $17,500, visit http://www.HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com Read More..

Can You Afford A House?

The time has come to buy a house. Questions buzz around in your head like a swarm of angry bees: “How much can I borrow? How much do I have to put down? How much will my payments be?” Well, let me suggest starting with the “How much can I borrow?” question. I know you should never answer a question with a question, but in this case we need to ask a few more questions in order to figure out the answer to our first question, and for those of you who would like start crunching numbers right away, try out these helpful mortgage calculators.

There are many factors you need to take into consideration when purchasing a home. First and foremost, ask yourself what size monthly payment you can afford. When determining how large a mortgage you can afford, be sure to factor in all your current expenses such as car payments, credit card bills, student loans, utilities, and the like. You may also want to factor in how much you spend on things like entertainment, eating out, and traveling. You don't want to add a mortgage payment and say goodbye to your social life. Instead, you want to make sure that you're not overextending yourself financially and thus ensuring the survival of your social life.


At the present time, most lenders will allow for a whopping debt-to-income ratio of 45% - 50%. Your debt-to-income ratio is the sum of your mortgage payment and any other credit card or loan payments, divided by your monthly gross income. Lenders use this ratio to help determine your credit worthiness. So, all of your revolving debts along with your mortgage payment divided by your monthly gross income should not exceed the 36% - 45% debt-to-income ratio. So, here’s a quick little formula to help you figure out how much you can afford to put toward your monthly house payment:

--Multiply your gross monthly income by 0.45
--Subtract your non-mortgage debt payments from the result
--What's left is your allowable mortgage payment
So, if we have a couple with a combined monthly gross income of $5000 and they pay $700 a month toward two auto loans and one credit card, they would qualify for a monthly payment of $1550. Also, be aware that not all of your monthly housing payment goes toward your principal and interest. A portion must go toward homeowner's insurance and property taxes. I mention this because on most mortgage calculators that’ll you use, you’ll need to enter these figures to get an accurate idea of what your real monthly mortgage payment will look like.

Property taxes are typically a percentage of your home's assessed value. To calculate property taxes, local jurisdictions generally multiply the tax rate by a home's assessed value. For example, if you pay 0.5% in property taxes of the assessed value, a home assessed at $250,000 would have a yearly property tax bill of $1,250. In order to find out the tax rate, you will need to contact your county tax assessor, or a local mortgage broker or bank may be able to assist you. As for the homeowner’s insurance, your best bet is talking to a local broker or bank to get a general idea of what it is for your area. Mortgage calculators will ask you for a percentage rate sometimes and others will ask for a yearly figure. It can be confusing for a new buyer, so don't be afraid to seek a little assistance.

Figuring out how much you can afford to put toward your monthly house payment is a start. Now, you want to know how much house you can afford. There are mortgage calculators galore that will help you do this, but, as I mentioned above, they will require you to enter real estate taxes, homeowner’s insurance, and interest rates. Some calculators will provide you with figures, but they aren’t necessarily correct, so I would suggest a little leg work. Once you know how much you can comfortably spend a month toward a home, and you’ve gathered your tax and insurance rates, you only need an idea of what kind of interest rate you’ll get (Oh, did I forget to mention that you can call your local bank or mortgage broker to get pre-qualified as well, and they usually don’t charge anything?). If you’re curious, try out some mortgage calculators. Once you have a good idea of what you think you can afford, call a local bank or broker and get pre-qualified to see if you’re in the ballpark, and soon you’ll be on your way to owning a home.

About the Author: Brian Daniel is a loan officer/marketing coordinator for Bend Mortgage Group Ltd. a mortgage company in Bend, Oregon. For more information or help with a Bend, Oregon home loan visit www.bendmortgagegroup.com. Read More..

Creative Real Estate Financing Methods

This is the age of creative real estate financing. Maybe you remember when financing meant you saved up enough to put 20% down on a house, and then got a mortgage loan for the other 80%? You can still do that, but there are many more options now. Here are ten of them.

1. Second mortgage loans from sellers. Many banks will allow you to have as little as 5% into a home purchase, but will then only loan you 80%. The seller can take payments on a second mortgage from you for the other 15%.

2. Manufacturer loans. Manufactured-home companies are arranging financing with 5% or less down for their buyers. This can be as little as $2,500 down if you already have a lot to put the home on.

3. State government housing programs. Most states have some sort of financing help in the form of a loan-guarantee program or outright loans for low-income buyers.

4. VA mortgage loans. If you have been in the armed services, have a decent job, and can save two or three paychecks, you can probably get a home with a VA loan.

5. Contract for sale. Called a "land contract" and other names depending on the part of the country you are in, this just means that you make payments to the seller instead of a bank. It's up to you and them to negotiate downpayment amount, interest rate, and the term of the loan.

6. Builders gifting programs. In some parts of the country, builders fund foundations that give you a portion of the downpayment, so you can get into a home with as little as 3% downpayment from your own pocket. FHA and other lenders have so far approved of or allowed this.

7. FHA mortgage loans. The Farm Home Administration doesn't actually loan the money, but guarantees your loan for the bank, so they can loan up to 97% of the purchase price, depending on the particular FHA program.

8. Friend and family loans. It may not be from charity that a brother or a friend lends you the money to buy a home. That 7% return might look awfully good if their money is sitting in the bank at 2%.

9. Bank no-doc loans. "No-doc" and "low-doc" loans, meaning no or low documentation requirements, are back, and you can find them through online banks. They are for those of you with bad credit but 20% to 30% to put down on a home. You don't even need a job.

10. Your credit cards. A risky way, but if you have a low-interest credit card, you can use it to come up with the downpayment, especially if you can pay it off soon, perhaps with a coming tax refund. The banks generally won't allow this, but you can combine this with seller financing.

So are there more ways to approach real estate financing? You bet there are. These are just some ways to buy your own home. When you start investing, you can use other techniques for really creative real estate financing.

About the Author: Steve Gillman has invested in real estate for years. To learn more, get a free real estate investing course, and see a photo of a beautiful house he and his wife bought for $17,500, visit http://www.HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com Read More..

Euro Property Prices To Drop In 2006

Some areas of Europe popular with second home buyers could see property prices fall by ten per cent or more in the year ahead, according to overseas property specialists Tribune Properties.

2005 saw the first signs of a property slow down, and even the reverse of sharp gains in holiday home prices over recent years in Spain and Portugal.

With owners unable to sell their property likely to drop their asking prices in 2006 to secure a sale, buyers will be in their strongest negotiating position since the mid to late 1980’s when prices dropped by nearly a third on the Spanish Costas.

Europe’s worst drought in living memory had an affect on the markets in Spain and Portugal earlier this year, with many would be buyers wondering if they would be able to use their pool in years to come, with consequential rentals possibly tailing off.

‘Some buyers rely on renting their holiday home out as they take out a mortgage to buy’, says Roger Munns of Tribune Properties, ‘and if they can’t rely on this it creates doubt as to whether to buy or not. Some buyers were taking the view that they should wait to see what happens’.

But it isn’t just the possibility of more droughts and unreliable rental income that is beginning to see prices drop in some areas, according to Tribune Properties.

The emergence of new European markets in the former Eastern Bloc has seen British, Dutch, Belgian and German buyers head for countries like Bulgaria where apartments and houses can be bought at a fraction of the price of Spain and Portugal.

‘Second home buyers are seeing properties offered in Bulgaria at less than half the price they thought they would need to own a home overseas, and the traditional markets of Spain and Portugal are losing out.

Already we have seen villas in Menorca drop in value by around ten per cent, and they could, and probably will, go lower still.

In addition the rate of new builds on the Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca hasn’t slowed down to any great degree, and before long there could be a price correction as there is going to be quite an oversupply in the market.’

European Tax Havens

In contrast to lower prices on the Spanish Costas and Menorca, Tribune forecast that prices on the Algarve and Malta are likely to stay steady or increase as their domestic markets are strong.

The two countries they see in Europe with growth potential for 2006 are the tax havens of Andorra and Monaco.

Monaco and lesser known Andorra both offer no income tax for residents, and Andorra has seen double digit property price inflation for the last two years, with the 2005 figures likely to match. After a slow start to the year Monaco has seen strong buying in the last quarter.

With the new government in Germany increasing the top rate of income tax, Tribune forecast demand continuing through to 2006.

‘Andorra and Monaco are small countries with little room to build new property’, says Tribune’s Managing Director Roger Munns, ‘Despite the German economy being slow for the last few years it remains a very important market. The raising of the top level of tax will mean more Germans seeking residency in a country with low tax levels. Andorra and Monaco are the two most likely candidates for them to buy in and take residency’.

Tribune’s advice to potential overseas property buyers is to find out how long a property has been on the market for, and to make provisional offers of between five and ten per cent off the asking price on a shortlist of three or four properties as one owner is likely to accept. Their longstanding advice is to always employ an independent lawyer to handle any sale and deposits.

About the Author: Tribune properties produce a guide for Monaco and Monte Carlo, including the weather, a Monaco map, hotels and the Grand Prix at www.yourmonaco.com

For a guide to Malta, including hotels, holidays, self catering holiday villas and apartments, a map of Malta, flights, the weather, car hire and details of Malta’s main towns of Valletta, St Julian’s, Sliema, Mellieha, St Paul’s Bay, Qawra and Bugibba visit
www.yourmalta.com

For property in Andorra
www.propertyandorra.com property in Malta www.maltaproperty.info , Menorca property www.menorcaproperty.info and for property and real estate in Monte Carlo and Monaco www.monacoproperty.net Read More..

Foreclosures and How to Prevent Them

It is common knowledge that being foreclosed upon is not a pleasant experience. It occurs when a person can no longer afford to maintain a house, commercial property, or piece of land, and is often a byproduct of bankrupcy.

People often ask about how to avoid forclosures, and it is possible, but prevention is always the best method of avoiding such as sticky situation.

Before you buy a property, it is a good idea to ask yourself whether you can really afford the costs associated with it, such as taxes and mortgage payments. Make a budget, double check the numbers, and take some time to think before plunging in to a making a major purchase. In truth, that is the best way to ensure that you will not face foreclosure.

About the Author: Jeremy Maddock is the webmaster of FinanceFacts.info, a useful source of finance articles. Read More..

Adjustable Rate Mortgages

An adjustable mortgage is an arrangement where a homebuyer takes out a loan with a variable or "floating" interest rate. This means that the interest rate paid will move up and down according to current conditions in the real estate market.

Borrowers usually pay slightly below the market average at the beginning of the term, which serves as an incentive to choose the adjustable rate.

In short, and adjustable mortgage results in a higher risk to the borrower, but also an opportunity to take advantage of lower rates in the future. In most cases, buyers are given the opportunity to "lock in" to a fixed rate at some point during the term of the contract.

To find out more about adjustable rate mortgages, and other types of real estate financing, you may wish to try using some mortgage information services.

About the Author: Jeremy Maddock is the webmaster of FinanceFacts.info, a useful source of finance articles. Read More..

Strategies for Saving Money on your Mortgage.

We all like to save money. Why pay more for something, when you can pay less? We could all use an extra few dollars in our pockets, couldn’t we? Most people don’t realize that there are a number of ways to save money on their mortgage. If you were to take out a mortgage on a 25 year term, chances are that by the time you repay the entire loan you will have paid the bank double the amount you borrowed. And you wonder how the banks are making record profits?

One of the best ways to save money on your mortgage is to put down the biggest down payment you possibly can. This way, the initial amount you are borrowing from the bank is lower and the interest you are paying back will be less than if you borrowed a larger amount. Most of us do not have tens of thousands of dollars sitting around. If possible, why not consider borrowing your down payment from a family member? The banks are not particularly keen on this practice, but if someone in your family can afford to loan you the money without interest it can be very helpful in the long run.

Another thing to consider, once you have been approved for a mortgage, is your repayment frequency. Most people opt for a simple monthly payment. There are other ways, however, to approach this. Why not increase the rate of repayment? If you can manage making a mortgage payment either weekly or bi-weekly, you will save thousands of dollars over the term of your mortgage. Many banks will also allow you to make an annual lump sum payment on the principle of your mortgage. It is wise to take advantage of this opportunity, as you are paying directly on the principle amount of your loan.

For most people, purchasing a home is the single greatest investment they make in their lifetime. Owning a home provides stability for your family, and in time you will have a significant amount of equity tied up. Buying a house can be considered an investment, and you should look at ways to maximize your investment. There are ways to save money on your mortgage, and you would be wise to consider all of your options. Wouldn’t you rather make your money work for you, than to always work for your money? Short term compromises can lead to long term savings. Think ahead!

About the Author: Seymore Hennigan has worked in finance for many years. When he is not crunching numbers or advising his family and friends on investments, he writes freelance articles for mortgageguide101.com – an independent mortgage guide filled with extensive information about buying a new home, home buying tips, first time home buying and more. Read More..

The Art of Using Blogs to Their Full Marketing Potential

As an Internet entrepreneur, you're more than likely aware of the ability of blogs to increase the bottom line of your e-business. Most everyone who sells online, either their product or someone else's, or runs a blog that they have monetized with ads from Google Adsense or some other source does some kind of blog advertising because it is free and eventually gets indexed by the search engines, especially when using Blogger.com blogs. However, there are a few ways that you can really use blogs to enhance your business online, and these tips can be used whether you are selling products on your own site or simply running your own monetized blog.

The first thing you need to think about when generating new blog entries is "how do people know that I have any/new content available here?" Luckily, most blog servers and software automatically create RSS site feeds (in the form of a file called atom.xml) that can be sent to the many RSS feed servers available online. Think of it is an announcement to the world through Really Simple Syndication that an update has been made to your blog and everyone should come and check it out. These updates are then posted on thousands of other websites and seen by people who are watching the site feeds for up to date news. This benefits you in two ways: First, it gets automatic traffic flowing into your site (you posted your web address in your blog post, didn't you?), and second many sites will carry your blog post creating one-way links to your web site. And just in case you don't know, one way links are the most powerful types of links to have.

However, doing so manually can be slow and extremely time consuming. There are many major RSS feeds available online, and posting your blog to each one each time can take forever. Fortunately, there is an easy way to automate it; a little piece of software called RSS Announcer. (http://www.easyrssannouncer.com) To use this software all you do is point it to the URL of your atom.xml file (which is created automatically with virtually all blog software and can be found in your setup), choose which RSS feeds you want to post to, and hit a button. The rest is taken care of for you automatically, and your blog posts are then syndicated across many thousands of web sites. Do you think that might make a difference in the number of visitors to your site?

The next important part of running a blog is always having new and fresh content for visitors to check out. When someone comes to your site or your blog, you want them to keep coming back, and one of the best ways to do that is to constantly update content. The problem is that even the most prolific of writers can't write more than one or two articles a day, and if you start running several blogs the amount of writing can quickly become overwhelming. I have run as many as 18 blogs at a single time and there's no way I would ever be able to create enough new content to keep users coming back. This is especially important if your blogs are monetized with Adsense advertising. Let's say, for instance, that you run a blog about Home Mortgages because it is a subject you know a lot about and are passionate about. In order to produce income you include Adsense on your site, and visitors to your blog read not only your content, but also see ads relating to Mortgages. Some of these visitors are going to click on your ads and generate income for you. In fact, if you're really good, 20% or more of your visitors will click on an advertisement and put money in your pocket. Soon some money starts coming in and you decide to put up another blog about Refinancing. After a while the blog starts to take off, and more Adsense revenue starts rolling in. At some point, you will find yourself trying to run so many blogs that there is no way you can write enough content for each of them.

Fortunately, there's an answer for the problem as well. It comes in the form of a piece of software called RSStoBlog. (http://www.dimasenterprises.com/rsstoblog.html) RSStoBlog will automatically, on a schedule that you decide, post relevant content to your blogs either from News sources, RSS Feeds, or search engines. If you're running a blog about Mortgages, instead of constantly writing new content for your blog, you can automate the posting of Mortgage information to your blog every day, several times a day. How does this benefit you as a blog owner? First, it relieves the burden of having to come up with so much original content by yourself. Second, it will send a "ping" to all the blog directories on every new post alerting them of new content at your blog. Third, if you are running a website relating to your blog, you can post the URL's of different pages of your website in your blog content, and those pages will quickly be indexed by the various search engines.
Have you seen those advertisements about "get your site indexed in 3 days for only $XX"? That's how they do it: add your page to a blog and ping the directories. If you're unfamiliar with this technique it is called Blogging and Pinging, and it is great for getting sites quickly indexed. RSStoBlog lets you do this quickly and easily. For all that it does, RSStoBlog is very under priced. It is definitely worth checking out if you are serious about marketing your websites or monetizing your blogs.

The last problem I'd like to address is that of link building. We all know that one of the keys to a long term search engine optimization strategy is high quality link building. This can include reciprocal links, purchased one-way links with related web sites, or even free links with unrelated websites. Many search engine experts agree that having some links, even if they're from sites totally unrelated to your own, are better than no links at all. Links to your site are like "votes" that the search engines see as your site containing real content. I assume that the people who run search engines feel that someone who takes time to build links to their site actually wants the site to stick around a while. However, as usual, link building can take a long time if it is not automated in some way.

Now, you're probably scratching your head and wondering "what does that last paragraph have to do with blogs?" Well, once again a piece of software comes to our rescue to automate our link building. It is called Blog Link Generator (http://www.cheapbloglinkgenerator.com), and can be used to quickly create hundreds or thousands of one-way links from blogs relating to your website (or even your own blog). It does this by searching for blogs relating to keywords that you input, and automatically posting to those blogs with a message from you and a link to your website. Let's say, for example, that you have a website or blog about Car Insurance. You enter the keywords "car insurance" into the software, and it will search through many thousands of blogs relating to car insurance and on each of those blogs post a message from you saying something like "I really enjoy car insurance blog. I have a website relating to car insurance you may find interesting at http://www.whateversite.com. Please come and visit when you have a chance." This is a piece of software you can use as little or as much as you want. There is no shortage of blogs on just about any topic imaginable, so creating one-way links to your site or blog on nearly any subject becomes extremely easy. Believe me when I say that you will quit before the software does.
So as you can see, there are several ways you can add to the power of blogs to bring more revenue to your e-business. Whether it is getting more people to know about your site or simply automating tasks that would normally consume too much time, software products are available to free up that time so you can get to the business of doing more business.

Suggested Resources:
http://www.cheapbloglinkgenerator.com
http://www.dimasenterprises.com/rsstoblog.html
http://www.easyrssannouncer.com

Yours in Success,
Peter Dimas

About the Author: Peter Dimas is a full time Internet and Affiliate marketer living in Las Vegas, NV. He also runs a Search Engine Optimization company which specializes in all types of SEO including White, Gray, and Black Hat tactics. If you would like more information, please contact him at seo@dimasenterprises.com and ask him how he can flood your site with targeted visitors. Read More..

All about Predatory Mortgage Lending

We have all heard the stories in the press about elderly people losing their homes due to unfair lending practices. Most reputable banks would never consider bilking their customers out of their life savings but there are many small, private lenders that would only be too happy at the opportunity to do it. The act of lending money under conditions unfair to the borrower is referred to predatory lending. Let’s examine the finer points of predatory mortgage lending.

Predatory mortgage lending has become a major policy issue for financial institutions throughout the nation. Nearly every federal financial services regulatory agency has denounced the practice, and has attempted to address the problem by pressuring legislators to enact laws that protect consumers from these fraudulent practices. Many states have enacted laws to protect their citizens from unfair banking practices, in part due to the policy papers issued by the major financial institutions

Predatory mortgage lending is characterized by the following: excessively high interest rates or fees, abusive or unnecessary provisions with no benefit to the borrower, large prepayment penalties, and underwriting that ignores the borrower’s ability to repay the loan in question. As the details and conditions of each financial transaction differ, high interest rates alone do not constitute predatory lending. To qualify as predatory lending, the transaction must contain three of the above stated conditions.

Many predatory lenders use fraudulent target marketing to identify their potential customers. These unscrupulous financial institutions tend to concentrate on people that are lacking a sound understanding of finance. Predatory lenders almost exclusively look for people with limited education that are unable to grasp the finer details of their loan conditions. They also regularly prey on the elderly, as they have limited incomes and significant equity in their homes.

If you or someone you know is considering borrowing for a mortgage, please take some time to educate yourselves about the potential pitfalls. Always deal with reputable financial institutions. If you have any concerns about the business practices of a particular financial institution, you can always try investigating them at the "Better Business Bureau". If you are not comfortable doing business with them, be sure that you do not sign anything. Take some time to speak with friends or family, and try to do business with companies that they trust and have put their faith in. In this day and age, it pays to be an educated consumer.

About the Author: Seymore Hennigan has worked in finance for many years. When he is not crunching numbers or advising his family and friends on investments, he writes freelance articles for mortgageguide101.com – an independent mortgage guide filled with extensive information about Countrywide Mortgage, GMAC Mortgage, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage and more. Read More..

Avoid the Trap When You Consolidate Debt, part iii

Avoid the Trap When You Consolidate Debt

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To consolidate debt is a great idea with a trap built into it. The technique described here helps everyone in debt, but if you have an ongoing credit card debt you desperately need this article.

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* Part I Don't get into debt. Ways to avoid it.

* Part II The big advantages of student loan consolidation

* Part III This article

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The Trap

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When you consolidate your debt, will you celebrate your freedom from credit card debt by going out and buying more on your credit card? Do you really want to live your life in debt, or would you prefer to take charge of your finances?

It's too easy to consolidate debt. If it hurts to get rid of your credit card debt you'll find it easier to resist getting into debt again.

Are you getting married? If your partner likes to live in debt, and you want to become a millionaire, who is going to give way? Most divorces are caused by money arguments. Discuss it before you marry.

You should consolidate debt if you have no ongoing credit card debt. The trouble when you consolidate debt is that the whole thing loses immediacy when you have thirty years to repay.

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List your debts

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Make a table showing all your debts, the amount still owing and how much you pay per month. Call the last column "Damage" and calculate it by multiplying your repayments by a hundred and dividing by the amount that you owe. The larger the damage, the more harm it is doing to your finances.

Imagine you had a fictitious list like this

Mortgage , $100000 , $500 , 0.5

College loan , $50000 , $333 , 0.66

Personal loan , $10000 , $100 , 1

Car loan , $10000 , $360 , 3.6

Visa Card , $4000 , $250 , 6.25

Master Card , $2000 , $200 , 10

You should realise if you consolidate debt then nearly all your monthly payments will be interest, so your debt won't shrink much. When you pay an extra $100 your debt shrinks by that amount, and you won't keep paying interest on it either.

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List your surplus

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Using the methods in part 1 to earn and economise. Work out your surplus each month after all your expenses. Suppose you can spare an extra $456 each month. If there are two of you working, try to use all of one income to get out of debt, because you won't always have both incomes.

See which damage figure is highest. That is the haemorrhage you must stanch first. In this example it is your Master Card.

Add your $456 to your monthly payment (mostly interest) of $200. You will shrink your debt by more than $456 because of paying less interest. You'll have smashed that debt in about three months.

Now your self-discipline comes into play. Don't go out on an expensive celebration! After 3 months you'll be starting to build the financial discipline to make you a millionaire.

You've been paying $656 per month that is now surplus, so you add it to your visa account. That makes your repayments $906 each month. You'll get rid of your Visa debt in a little over four months.

Now you can pay princely sum of $906 + $ 360 = $1266 per month on your car loan winning free in less than eight months... quite a lot less because of shrinking interest payments.

To cut a long story short, when you start to concentrate on your mortgage you'll have $1266 + $100 + $333 = $1699 to add to your mortgage repayment of $500 per month.

When you start making repayments of $2.2K /month your twenty year mortgage will suddenly shrink to less than four years. You'll have everything paid off before your first child is ten years old.

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Is it worth the effort?

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You may think that the big benefit is freedom from debt. The biggest benefit is the mindset that you've developed as you escaped from debt. You are now in charge of your finances... not letting the loan parasites continue to leech you of all your money.

But it gets better. An Australian kid used the above method to get out of hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt, then became a millionaire while still in his twenties. He no longer needs to work, but he has a hobby of showing people how to become millionaires.

There's just one problem. He isn't interested in helping people who can't save up $20 thousand to invest, because he says they aren't trying very hard. Now if you take your $2.2 thousand, and start saving for $20K that will take you less than ten months.

He says that mindset is everything. Now you have the right mindset and have saved up $20K...

About the Author: At 65, Ian McAllister has left his run a little late. He still intends to have a go, but wishes he had learned these ideas earlier.
Read more at
http://studying-techniques.com/student-loans.html
http://studying-techniques.com/student-loan-consolidation.html Read More..

Start Again with Mortgage Refinancing

Start Again with Mortgage Refinancing

If you are interested in optimizing your monthly payments on debt, or simply looking to stretch your income a little further each month, you might want to consider refinancing your mortgage.

There are two very basic ways to go about this. First, you might consider switching from a fixed rate home loan, to an adjustable rate home loan. A fixed rate home loan is a loan in which your interest rate is “locked in” and does not change from year to year. An adjustable rate home loan is a loan in which your interest rate is dictated by the market.

The other option is referred to as a “cashout” refinance, in which all your old loans are paid and new ones taken out. This is a sensible option, because the interest you are paying on the original loans is compounded and you eventually start paying interest on interest. A new loan can provide you with the fresh start you need.

When a lender is considering your mortgage refinance application they take into consideration a number of factors including current balance, monthly payment, and the remaining number of months on your current mortgage. Your household income and your debt-to-asset ration will also be considered.

If you are looking to consolidate your debt load or to simply maximize your disposable income, mortgage refinancing might well be your solution. There are few potential drawbacks to consider, mind you. Many lenders will charge extra fees for early or unscheduled payments, so be sure to ask your lender as many questions as you can.

In the case of mortgage refinancing, you may want to consider consulting a mortgage broker. A broker works for you, and not for any particular financial institution. He can take your application, and shop it around to various lenders. This will give you the freedom to determine, to some degree, the terms of your mortgage. It can often result in major cost savings, because you essentially pit one lender against the other for your business. It is definitely something worth looking into, if you are serious about saving some money. If you aren’t serious about saving money, you should be.

About the Author: Seymore Hennigan has worked in finance for many years. When he is not crunching numbers or advising his family and friends on investments, he writes freelance articles for http://www.mortgageguide101.com – an independent mortgage guide filled with extensive information about bad credit mortgage refinancing, Countrywide mortgage, reverse mortgages and more. Read More..

Mortgage Tips from Me to You

At some point in your adult life, you are likely to purchase a house of your own. Whether you are sick of renting, or you have decided to settle down and start a family, purchasing your first home can be an exhilarating and nerve-wracking adventure. In researching the best practices for new home buying, we decided to give you three of the most important tips.

Our first suggestion is to save, save, and save some more. The idea behind this is to enable you to make the largest initial down payment on your new home as possible. We know how difficult it can be to save, but this could save you thousands of dollars in the long run. Wouldn’t it be great to be able to save thousands of dollars to use for your own ends, instead of paying it to some faceless bank in interest payments?

Secondly, try to educate yourself about the types of financing available. Shop around, or speak with a mortgage broker who can act on your behalf. In my opinion, your best bet is to lock into a fixed rate mortgage. A new home is very expensive, and you are likely to be short of cash for the first couple years. A fixed rate mortgage will provide you with the peace of mind that comes with knowing exactly what your mortgage payments will be each month. Remember, you can always renegotiate the terms of your mortgage at a later date. Ensure you have the stability you need to get off on the right start.

Lastly, be sure you have a proper home inspection done before you complete the transaction. If you feel the price of the house you are about to purchase is too good to pass up, it is probably is too good to be true. It is worth taking the time to ensure things are done properly. If you have to move fast for fear of missing out, make an offer, but ensure that your offer is conditional on upon a successful home inspection. Far too many first time home buyers have gone broke fixing repairs that should have taken care of by the previous owner. And, please, do yourself a favor and find an independent home inspector that doesn’t have a relationship with the real estate agent!

About the Author: Seymore Hennigan has worked in finance for many years. When he is not crunching numbers or advising his family and friends on investments, he writes freelance articles for mortgageguide101.com – an independent mortgage guide filled with extensive information about Saxon Mortgage, second mortgages, mortgages and more. Read More..

Buying a Vacation & Retirement Home

Even prior to the financial planning phase, a vacation and future retirement home buyer should take a step back and make certain that there is 100% commitment. Ask yourself a few simple questions. First, is it possible that your financial position could materially change for the better or worse in the upcoming years? Have you decided on a location that requires a dramatic environmental change? What about relatives, does it matter that their next trip may require a flight instead of a drive? If you’ve answered ‘yes’ to any of these, our advice is to find a long-term rental in the area and give it a test drive. If, on the other hand, there are no doubts, it is time to set your financial parameters.

Once the decision is made to move forward, you need to figure out how much of a home you want and what type of home you can afford. The latter is a bit easier to quantify as most financial institutions prefer mortgage payments that are less than 29% of gross monthly income. However, if you have a good financial track record, banks will afford you some latitude. Obviously, lending rates are a crucial factor in this equation, especially if you go the adjustable rate route. A word of caution: be careful of Adjustable Rate Mortgages that look particularly attractive in today’s low interest rate environment as an uptick in rates could lead to a potentially unpleasant financial situation. Remember that buying now for a future retirement is a long term proposition and your new investment should appreciate with no financial carrying cost surprises.

An additional factor to consider is whether your prospective vacation property can provide rental income before it becomes your full-time retirement home. If so, you would be able to deduct a portion of your mortgage interest payments, taxes and property amortization against the rental income. In other words, it is a great way to build equity and create additional cash flows. It should come as no surprise that an increasing number of people have taken advantage of this strategy.

After defining your financial boundaries, it’s time now to come up with your wish list. What do you want in a home? How many bedrooms and baths? Do you want to live in a private gated community or out in the country? Does it have potential as a rental property? In addition, off-site criterion should be established to ensure that all aspects of your vacation home experience are amenable to your current and future retirement lifestyle. For example, are there property management services and what about local conveniences such as transportation and healthcare facilities?

Now that you are armed with your financial parameters and wish list it’s time to find a local broker and see what’s available. Almost 70% of home buyers leverage the internet to research properties so if you haven’t already, it’s time to start surfing the web. Simultaneously, you should be refining your financing plan by contacting a number of financial institutions and mortgage broker aggregators. Don’t be bashful, comparative shop with at least two or three companies to ensure that you understand the various financing options and are being offered the best deal.

As we all know, the relationship with a broker is extremely important. A broker must truly understand your financial parameters, desired home criterion and lifestyle objectives. Brokers are normally paid for by the seller. Therefore, it’s your job to establish the broker and buyer relationship that best works for you, not the seller. Remember, this is your vacation and future retirement home.

With a bit of good luck, buying a vacation and retirement home can yield some interesting financial benefits including long term capital appreciation and additional cash flows. Thorough planning can help mitigate future uncertainties and make the home buying process into a truly rewarding experience.

About the Author: Robert Flournoy is a staff writer for Golf Home Connect. For additional information on golf course community real estate visit Golf Course Communities Read More..

Term Life Insurance Defined

Term Life Insurance Defined
A look at the pros and cons of term life insurance to help find what is best for you.

Term life insurance is by far the simplest form of life insurance. Term life insurance is simply that, insurance for a term or specific period of time. It pays a benefit only if you die in the designated period of time. On the downside, it pays nothing if the policy expires before you die. It is often referred to as temporary life insurance.

Policies generally last for 5, 10, 15, 20, or 30 years. Many policies are convertible, which means that you have option of switching to a permanent life policy. The main advantage of a term life policy is that they generally have lower premiums. They are good for covering needs that may disappear in time, such as car or mortgage loans.

They also have some distinct drawbacks. Premiums generally increase with time. This means that you will be paying considerably more in your later years, when your need for protection is generally lower. Another factor to consider is that your coverage may expire at the end of your term, leaving you with nothing to show for your investment. You are essentially back at square one.

Insurance agents often recommend that customers switch term companies every couple years, in order to take advantage of promotional pricing. One should be mindful of doing this, as you will be subject to a new contestability period. A contestability period is normally two years. If you die during this period, the insurance company will likely review the statements you made on your application. If you have made any inaccurate or incomplete statements, the insurance company will likely refuse payment.

Life insurance is no laughing matter. When you are considering purchasing life insurance, please do some research first. Spend some time considering questions, and pose them to a trusted insurance broker. Be especially wary of purchasing insurance from a door to door salesman, as they are likely trying to sell term life insurance which may or may not suit your needs. After all, it is your hard earned money that is being spent. And it is the well being of your family that will be impacted by your decision.


Bill Mason is a retired insurance salesman, and is well versed in the ways of the industry. When he is not advising friends and family on the importance of insurance, he writes freelance articles for http://www.insuranceguide101.com – an independent insurance guide dedicated to helping you understand insurance, with information about cheap auto insurance, insurance for your boat, term insurance and more.

About the Author: Bill Mason Read More..

Sell Your Real Estate Notes

People sell real estate notes to raise cash quickly. A real estate note is just the loan document created when you financed the sale of your house or investment property. It could be a mortgage note, or a land-contract or contract-for-sale. The point is that the buyer is making payments to you, and you want to cash in.

You can sell the entire contract, or just a certain number of payments if you want. The buyer of your property will have the same terms and payments. He'll just be making those payments to somebody else.

Selling real estate notes can be an intimidating process. You know you won't get the full face value for your note, but will there be other fees you have to pay too? How do you know if the buyer is reputable? What is a normal discount on a note? Here are some guidelines to follow:

1. No upfront fees. If they ask, go someplace else. You should be able to find many note buyers who will check your buyers credit and give you a quote without charging you.

2. No other fees, with a couple exceptions. The buyer has already figured his expenses before making the offer, so there are only a couple fees you should have to possibly pay. First, you may have to pay for the title policy, if there are problems with the title that prevent purchase. Second, if the property appraises at less than the sales price, you may have to pay for the appraisal. You should only pay exactly what these cost the note buyer though.

3. Be sure that the note buyer gives you a written purchase agreement with the purchase price and contingencies. Ask questions about anything that isn't clear.

4. The note buyer should check the credit of your property buyer upfront. Unscrupulous buyers can quote one price initially, and then lower it later, using the excuse of the property buyer's bad credit score. This is called "bait and switch," and it isn't ethical.

5. Contact several note buyers for quotes. You'll need to provide information like the type of property, sale price, payment amounts, current balance, etc. They should respond within a day or two.

6. When you get a quote you like, you'll have to send copies of the Mortgage or Deed of Trust, the Note, the closing or Settlement Statement, and the Title Policy. If there is no recent appraisal, they will usually arrange for that.

7. Processing time varies, so ask. Usually, once you agree to the offer and send the documents (if done by mail), you can expect to receive a certified check or electronic transfer to your account within two to three weeks.

Get Top Dollar When You Sell Real Estate Notes

Notes with a balloon payment get a higher price. "Seasoned" notes sell for more too. Those are notes that have had payments made on them for a while. Some note buyers will buy new or "unseasoned" notes, but if you can wait until six payments have been made, you're likely to get a much better price.

Higher interest rates and shorter loan periods will get you more money too. This is something to consider before you sell the house, if you think you might sell the note in the future.

You can sell second mortgage notes, and other second-place real estate notes as well. Note buyers will look at these differently though. The first and second place notes can't add up to much more than 70% of the value of the property, or you'll be looking at a steep discount

Discounts, by the way, will almost always seem steep. It is common for note buyers to pay 20% to 30% less than the current balance on the note. I'll let them explain why. Suffice it to say, they need to make money on the deal, and you should be sure you have a good use for that cash before you sell those real estate notes.

About the Author: Steve Gillman has invested in real estate for years. See a photo of a beautiful house he and his wife bought for $17,500 on his home page, or go straight to the section on Investing In Real Estate: http://www.HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com
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