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Friday, January 30, 2009

Skin Care Creams - A Beginner's Guide

The skin care creams you choose affect your skin condition. Using creams that have too much emollients will cause your skin to be oily whereas strong cleansers and exfoliating gels often result in dry, sensitive skin, if applied without knowing what your skin type actually is.

Before you choose a proper skin care cream suitable to your skin, you need to know what influences your skin, and in what condition is your skin is in. Evaluate your skin on a day when you have not worn any makeup or put on skin care moisturizer creams. The reason why you should carry out this assessment when you are not wearing any creams or makeup is that the nutrients supplied by the creams affect the sebaceous glands provide oil for your skin. This will not let you make a clear assessment of your skin.

Once you have assessed the needs of your skin, with proper skin care creams you can give your skin the right treatment whenever and however frequently it needs it. This treatment is much better than anything at an expensive medical facility.

People who frequently wash their faces will find the moisturizer creams effective. Individuals with advanced dry skin conditions can benefit from creams with active anti-puritic agents such as oatmeal and tar-based pine oil.

It has been confirmed by medical and skin experts that optimal skin regeneration can be achieved by applying topical skin care moisturizer creams.

Basically, these creams consist of substances that help the skin to regenerate its lost fatty tissues and elasticity. Specific areas are targeted by the medication with special components to stimulate the skin's collagen production and thus improve elasticity. The skin's innate moisturizing ability is restored by these two elements.

But not all skin care products are made with identical ingredients. Different kinds are produced to work with certain types of skin or to address specific skin conditions. In a future article I will cover some of the additional factors that need to be considered when choosing skin creams that will best work for wrinkles.

Rich Eng blends East and West in a unique way that captures the best of both worlds. At night he is an avid holistic martial arts enthusiast and Chinese medicine practitioner. By day he serves as the leader of a high growth healthcare services business for a Fortune 500 company. Go to http://www.soft-clear-skin.com to find out the results of his exhaustive research to discover the best antiaging skincare products in the world.

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Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate - A Win-Win Situation

Charlotte North Carolina real estate is a thriving business. Charlotte is the largest city among the Carolinas and is growing at a very fast pace. Roughly 20,000 people relocate to Charlotte every year. The cost of living in Charlotte is below the national average. It has everything that both young and old might seek with access to very good schools, great residences and good employment opportunities. Residents of Charlotte enjoy living here. Charlotte was voted among the ten best cities to live in the United States. It has one of the largest banking centers in the US, with some of the best-known Fortune 500 companies settled here. This makes it a great job market and as a result, ensures that there is a booming real estate market in Charlotte.

Charlotte boasts a high quality of life. The weather is mild without extremes and there are four seasons, with a fabulous fall. The area is green with foliage, most of the residents enjoy outdoor life with golfing, fishing, sailing and professional sports. Just a few hours from the Great Smoky Mountains, beaches and Blue Ridge Mountains, it is a pleasure to live in Charlotte.

You will find that websites related to North Carolina real estate agents contain all the information you need about various parts of Charlotte. It is a good idea to visit the website to request real estate agent assistance because these contain valuable information about buyer tips, property and Charlotte real estate agent listings. Moreover, signing up with these websites keeps you updated about new listings and keeps you notified about relevant details that match your specific search criteria by email. It saves a tremendous amount of time. Some Charlotte real estate agents even compare your home search with other listings in the area you desire.

Real estate-wise, Charlotte has nine zones - uptown, northeast, east, old south, new south, southwest, northwest, Lake Norman and Lake Wylie. The property around the lakes are said to be the most valuable. The northeast parts are less expensive. There are many exclusive buyer agents in Charlotte who earn their commissions from buyers. They work hard at getting the best price for their customers. Exclusive buyer agents in North Carolina are enrolled as members with the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents.

If you want to enjoy great weather, good people, good culture and a nice work environment, consider getting in touch with a North Carolina Real Estate Agent.

Visit: Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate to input your dream home specifications and request a real estate agent. Fernando Spindola is a licensed real estate agent with ERA American Dream Realty. He will locate an agent in the city you want to buy or sell your home without obligation. For more information, visit: Find A Real Estate Agent to help you buy or sell your home.

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Real Estate Market for Buyers in 2007

For the last five years or so, the real estate market has clearly been leveraged in favor of the sellers. As we turn to 2007, the market is changing in favor of buyers.

Real Estate Market for Buyers in 2007

The real estate market is a funny thing. While there are many factors that play upon it, it is essentially no different than other trade markets like stocks and commodities. The primary difference is trends tend to happen at a much slower pace than one would see in other markets. One just doesnt see one day corrections. Instead, things tend to move slowly, but definitively, in a particular direction. One such clear trend is developing now and for the rest of 2007.

2007 can be termed the year of revenge for people looking to buy real estate. After five to six years of skyrocketing home prices and massive demand, the market is flattening out in a major way. No longer can sellers simply put up a for sale sign listing any old price and expect to make a sale. Instead, they are going to have to work much harder to move their property should they wish to sell.

There are a couple of reasons why 2007 will be the year of the buyer. First and foremost is momentum. The sellers market had to peter out at some time and it finally has. The momentum caused by high demand and relatively low inventory just couldnt last, and it has now clearly run its course. In technical terms, this is primarily due to the raise in interest rates and the appreciation bubble bursting. Practically, this means borrowing money is no longer obscenely cheap and home prices are pulling back from their equally obscene appreciation rates which were as high as 25 percent in Las Vegas one year.

As a buyer, you have the opportunity to sit back and look for bargains in 2007. There are a lot of recent home buyers out there sitting in homes that have lost value. Throw in the fact that questionable financing loans were used to purchase them and you have a lot of nervous homeowners out there. As we move through 2007, these people are going to be looking to unload their property. This will ultimately create more inventory than there is demand and prices will tumble.

If you have cash set aside for the purchase of a home, your patience is about to pay off. There is no dispute that 2007 stands to be the Year of the Buyer.

Raynor James is with FSBOAmerica.org - save money when selling and buying with homes for sale by owner.

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Hydroponic Gardening Supplies - A Buyer's Guide

From the Latin, the word hydroponics means "water" and "labor" or, literally, "water working." Hydroponics is the practice of growing plants (including flowers and herbs) in either a large, medium, or small bath of water and nutrients. It can also refer to plants grown in a flow of highly oxygenated and nutrient-rich water, such as filtered ponds and fountains. Discovered by researchers in the 19th century, it was found that plants can absorb mineral nutrients in water and that soil was not an essential, rather the nutrients are what is vital. Along with nutrient-rich water and plants, hydroponic gardening supplies are available to help you get the most out of your hydroponic gardening system.

In soils, biological decomposition begins to break down organic matter slowly. This helps create the basic nutrient salts of which plants feed on. Water can dissolve these salts, which allows plant roots to take the nutrients in and absorb them. A well-balanced diet for a plant requires all soil components to be in perfect balance. Finding an ideal condition in soil alone can be hard because of the lack of organic matter in water and because of the contamination as well as because of biological imbalances.

This water technology of gardening enables water to be enriched with nutrient salts and creates a perfectly balanced nutrient solution. The system does not harm the environment because it is kept contained and does not use fertilized soil. Less water than watering plants in soil is used as well.

To support these systems, specialized gardening supplies are needed. Look for items such as fiber, sand, and stone. These are inert soil-free mediums which anchor the root. They are also designed to retain air and water when necessary.

Additional supplies include:

  • Air & Water Pumps
  • Baskets
  • CO2 Injectors
  • Cycle Timers
  • Drips
  • Filters
  • Fittings
  • Growing modules
  • Growing mediums
  • Lighting
  • Nutrients
  • Reservoirs
  • Sprays
  • Supplements
  • System Plans
  • Tubing
  • Water meters

There are several advantages to hydroponic gardening over soil gardening, which include faster growing plants. A hydro plant is more likely to grow faster (as much as 50% faster). Additionally, the yield of plant is always greater. The hydro plants are stimulated more by oxygen, which help it grow and grow healthy. There are fewer problems with fungus in this technology. In fact, these plants have fewer infestations and diseases as well. Finally, nutrients are sent directly to the root system; there is no need for the plant to sort nutrients from the soil. Instead, the nutrients are always readily available.

The benefits to the environment from this kind of gardening are also great. Less energy is spent on hydrating soil and maintaining a perfect solution balance in the soil. Less water is used as well because nutrients can remain constant longer in water. Hydro crops also require fewer pesticides, which help both the environment and the people around the plants. We also aren't using any topsoil so top soil erosion isn't a problem with this kind of gardening.

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for Web sites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background also includes teaching, gardening, and recreation. For more of her useful articles on hydroponics, please visit Hydroponic Gardening, supplier of information about hydroponic gardening systems and more.

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Thursday, January 29, 2009

Condominium Formation and Conversion - Rhode Island

Q. What is a condominium and how is it formed?

In Rhode Island, a condominium is any real estate project which includes individually owned units (i.e. a residential unit) and common elements (i.e. general common elements and limited common elements) that are owned by the unit owners as tenants in common.

A condominium is created in Rhode Island by recording a declaration of condominium with the appropriate office in the city or town where the project is located. The declaration must be drafted in accordance with the Rhode Island Condominium Act (the "Act") for all condominiums created after July 1, 1982.

Q. What are the bylaws?

The bylaws are the rules of the condominium. The bylaws are enforced by the association's elected officials. The bylaws can be changed with a certain percent vote of the unit owners of the association. A buyer should always review the bylaws carefully prior to entering into a purchase and sales agreement. Buyers are sometimes surprised to find out that representatives of the association are allowed to enter the buyer's unit; pets are not allowed; or a buyer is not allowed to alter the exterior of their unit without the permission of the association.

Q. What is a condominium unit? What is a general common element? What is a limited common element?

A condominium unit (i.e. residential living space) is the area that a unit owner has exclusive ownership interests in.

A general common element is owned by all of the unit owners as tenants in common with each other and all unit owners have the right to use and enjoy a general common element (i.e. a road).

A limited common element of a condominium is owned by all unit owners as tenants in common with each other. However, only one unit owner or a limited, specified group of unit owners have the right to use and enjoy a limited common element (i.e. a patio, driveway, or porch).

Q. What is a condominium purchase and sales agreement?

A condominium purchase and sales agreement is a contract to buy and sell a unit. Many residential sellers will use a standard purchase and sales agreement form. However, there are a many different purchase and sales contracts available. It is always advisable to have an attorney who is experienced with condominium law to review or draft a purchase and sales agreement prior to signing any such agreement.

Q. What is a public offering statement?

A public offering statement is a summary of the declaration and includes important information relating to the condominium. A public offering statement must be drafted in accordance with the Rhode Island Condominium Act for all condominiums created after July 1, 1982. A buyer has the right to cancel the purchase and sales agreement within 10 days after the receipt of the public offering statement. A seller who is required to deliver a public offering statement to the buyer will face penalties prescribed by the Act if the seller fails to provide a public offering statement.

Q. Is a public offering statement required prior to the closing of all condominiums?

A public offering statement is required by any declarant or person who is in the business of selling real estate when that declarant or person offers a unit for sale on his own account to a purchaser of a condominium unit.

A public offering statement is not required in the following instances: i. if the condominium contains 12 units or less, is not subject to further development rights, and the declarant has owned the units for more than 2 years from date of first sale; and ii. nonresidential projects where all of the units are nonresidential or in residential projects where waived by agreement; and in the following instances: disposition or transfer by gift; court order; by a government agency; foreclosure or in lieu of foreclosure; disposition or transfer to a person in the business of real estate who intends to resell the unit; and when the purchase and sales agreement may be cancelled without penalty by the buyer.

Q. What is a condominium resale certificate? When is a resale certificate required prior to the closing?

A resale certificate is prepared by the association upon the request of a unit owner who is selling his or her unit. The resale certificate contains important information and must be drafted in accordance with the Rhode Island Condominium Act.

A resale certificate is required for all sales when a public offering statement is not required. However a resale certificate is not required if a public offering statement is exempt as explained in the previous question.

The author of this article, Richard E. Palumbo, Jr. is a member of the Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Federal Bar. Richard is a frequent seminar lecturer and speaker regarding various issues relating to Condominium Law. The Law Offices of Richard Palumbo is highly focused firm concentrating on the following related areas of law: real estate law (including condominium law); business law; and estate planning (wills, trusts and probate).

For more information about our firm and the legal services that our firm provides, kindly visit our website at http://www.richardpalumbo.com or call us at 401.490.0994.

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A Holiday Villa in Paphos Cyprus, Amazing Value

Whilst it is cold, wet and windy outside, do you ever lie awake dreaming of your very own holiday villa in Paphos? Then Cyprus awaits you. Forget the wind and rain, forget the miserable dampness outside you window and jump on a flight to Paphos in Cyprus and come and enjoy some of our sunshine. At this moment in time, Cyprus property for sale is very cheap but the developer is not daft, he realises that there are many wanting to own their very own piece of the Island so he has started to put up his prices. So, if you don't want to miss out on a bargain you had better act now before it becomes too expensive.

A flight to Paphos Cyprus will not set you back much as prices have come down in recent months now that more budget airlines are flying to the Island. The cost of a flight to Paphos Cyprus has virtually halved over the last year, and according to the Cyprus Tourist Organisation they will come down even further. Now that can only be good news for those that already own a holiday villa in Paphos Cyprus, or anywhere on the Island really.

Cyprus is called the Island of love and you will fall in love with her, she is beautiful, hot, stunning and very elegant. She is fresh, diverse, cultural and extremely friendly. Now what more could you ask for? A holiday villa in Paphos Cyprus perhaps.

There are around 320 glorious days of sunshine on the Island and it can become stiflingly hot during the summer months sometimes temperature reach the high 30's and even low 40's. If you find this too hot, why not take a look at property for sale up in the Troodos Mountains, there are some beautiful properties to be had and temperatures are usually a few degrees cooler, this is extremely welcome on a hot summers day. If you are looking for a holiday villa, Paphos Cyprus is not the only place on the Island where they are available. Why not take a look at Cyprus property for sale in Larnaca or Limassol or even Protaras, in fact anywhere. They are all equally as cheap and there are some stunning bargain properties just waiting for you.

Did you know that there are over 50 blue flag beaches on the Island and they are superb, they never become overcrowded even on the hottest of days, there are some quaint little coves if you want some privacy and these are wonderful for families with children.

Children can play quite happily without any fear and they thrive on the food and atmosphere of the Island, the only problem you may have is getting them off the beaches and into bed. Your holiday villa in Paphos Cyprus will ring with your childrens laughter and fun and that will satisfy you knowing that they are safe and happy.

If you want to miss out on these superb bargains and don't want a holiday villa in Paphos Cyprus then just keep lying there listening to the wind and rain.

Adrian Jones recommends you buy Cyprus homes via a registered estate agent licenced to buy sell Cyprus property.

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Wednesday, January 28, 2009

The Silver Lining After a Loss

While a loss is always disappointing, the smart professional does not let all that time and effort go to waste. By asking the right questions in the debrief s/he can gain invaluable feedback for future improvements.

This checklist will provide a useful guide to what to ask in your next tender debrief: About the process ...

-How many firms tendered ?
-How many were appointed/selected ?
-Did the information presented by tenderers change the approach to the process or views about possible outcomes ?
-Were any of the tender offers surprising or remarkable in any way ?

About the tender ...

-Overall, how did our tender compare with others ?
-Was our approach an appropriate response to your needs ?
-Were there areas in which we were especially strong ?
-What were the areas where we were weak ?
-How did our response on conflict of interest measure up ?
-What feedback can you offer on our value added services ?
-How did our referees stack up ?
-How did our personnel measure up ?
-What is your assessment of our expertise and experience in each of the relevant areas ?
-Was our geographic coverage what you were seeking ?
-What feedback can you offer on our pricing ?
-Where were the gaps ?
-What separated our tender from the winning bids ?

About the future ...

-What would we need to offer to be the most preferred tenderer ?
-We would, one day, like to re-establish a service relationship with you. As a non-incumbent, how should we go about staying in touch and getting to know you better over the next couple of years?
-For us to optimally position ourselves for you next time round, what should we do ?
-What other advice have you for us ?

A loss can have a silver lining if you can obtain the right information on how to improve your service offering or tender process. One loss, approached the right way, can provide useful information and a greater opportunity to learn about your prospective clients and competitors than a series of wins. Information that may ensure a much brighter and more successful future for your practice.

Linda Julian is acknowledged as a leading authority on strategic practice development and how to win business for law firms.

Since 1979, she has consulted with lawyers and other professionals throughout Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific, and Asia on a wide range of business acquisition, client retention, and strategic management issues.

Her book The Passionate Professional: creating value, success, and prosperity has sold in 13 countries and has received wide acclaim. Linda lectures in strategic management and marketing professional services at post-graduate level. She leads the small and highly specialised Julian Midwinter & Associates consulting practice.

Read more business development tips at http://www.julianmidwinter.com.au/

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Spain Property Guide - Finding Real Bargains

When it comes to buying holiday property, who doesn't want a bargain? If you've always wanted to own a second home, buy to let or holiday property in Spain, now is the time to buy. Why? The housing market in Spain has been experiencing some decline. People just are not buying properties. This means that there are more properties on the market than there are buyers. When this happens, a buyer's market is created. In a buyer's market, you can buy virtually any house you want for a great price.

Currently, there are bargain properties to be found all over Spain. Whether you want to purchase an island property or an urban property with a quick train link to London, you can find it in Spain. Granted, one man's bargain is another man's "out of reach." So, you will have to do some research to find the best area, the best bargain and the best deal for your particular financial situation.

One of the cheapest places to buy property in Spain is Costa Blanca. Here flats start out at about 40,000 pounds and top out just a little over 150,000 pounds. Bargain prices on property can be found everywhere and a party atmosphere is a plus for some people. For others, the area is a little too thrown together and boisterous for their tastes. Properties here are not normally the highest of quality, but they can be purchased cheaply.

On the other end of the spectrum is Costa Brava. Property prices here start out at about 300,000 pounds for a standard apartment. Shops, transportation, culture and fine dining make this the hub of Spain for many people.

In addition to these two locations, there are properties all over Spain in virtually every price range. In order to find a bargain, you need to set a realistic budget. If you need help with this, you can talk to a financial expert or mortgage lender. You can even gain a lot of insight by using a mortgage calculator.

Once you have a clear budget in mind, start studying areas of Spain where you would like to live. Take everything into account including the cost of living, stability of housing market, location, amenities, lifestyle, etc. Think about everything that will affect your purchasing power.

When your budget and preferences agree on a particular area to settle, start looking for properties in Spain. The help of an agent located in Spain is invaluable. He or she can let you know about new properties being listed and give you an idea of what list prices are bargains and which ones are inflated.

Remember; the housing market in Spain is experiencing a slow period. If you do your homework and find a bargain in today's market, the property will appreciate substantially when the market turns around. You stand to earn quite a bit on your investment if you are willing to put in the time to find the property and hold onto it for a while.

Steven Clarke - Marketing Manager for http://www.spanishpropertyclub.org.uk

Spanish Property Club brings buyers and sellers of properties in Spain together and contains 1000's of Spanish properties for sale across all the top locations including Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca and Costa Calida.

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Fire Island Real Estate Agent - How Do I Find My Sales Or Rental?

I wake up each morning prepared to do battle. I know that by the time I get to my real estate office on Fire Island I will have anxious calls from both buyers and sellers and renters wanting to know when I am going to have the perfect prospect or summer home for them. Sometimes they even call me at my home early in the morning or late at night demanding to know when I am going to have the house of their dreams or the buyer that just can't live without their home at any price.

I am used to this by now, and to tell the truth I love it. That's right, I love matching buyers with sellers and renters with leasers. To me it's an art form. I love what I do, and I believe in my heart that I am good at it.

I get a tremendous amount of satisfaction out of putting the right people together, and helping them all achieve their dreams. It's wonderful to see the smiles on their faces when we achieve a meeting of the minds. It's great to be able to satisfy their wishes. But it doesn't happen automatically.

We have to do a lot of research into what the buyer wants in a home on Fire Island, and what the seller's objectives are before we can come up with the perfect match. What you don't want to do is waste a lot of everyone's time introducing people to each other that don't have compatible goals and objectives and price points.

We are not interested in making House and Garden type tours of the neighborhood. We want to concentrate on finding the right home at the right price for the right buyer, and at the same time satisfying the seller's goals and objectives.

What I have discovered is that there is almost always the right match for the right people if you keep in mind certain criteria that form the basis for making a happy transaction:

1. What are the buyer, seller, leaser, or renter's price points?

2. What type of community do they want to live in?

3. How ready are they to consummate a transaction

4. How closely does the prospective home meet their needs?

5. How well does the proposed transaction meet the dreams and objectives of the buyer and seller?

If you can answer all these questions affirmatively, you are ready to make a real estate match on Fire Island.

Hi, this is Arthur Levine. To find the perfect Fire Island real estate agent for you please contact http://FIHomes.net

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How to Avoid Surprises When Buying a New Home

Buying a new home should be an exciting time for you. What you do not want are some bad surprises that sometimes go along with the home buying process.

It is not funny when you find out that the house you just bought has squirrels living in the attic or the house has a leaky roof that has been leaking for a long time, or that water is spraying on the wall behind the tiles in the bathroom and as soon as you lean against it first time, the whole wall collapses. Or what if your new home is located in a bad neighborhood where drive-by shootings are a part of your Saturday night entertainment?

How about a different kind of surprise? You go to the closing and the contract you signed has some fees attached that you missed reading because it was buried in the fine print and you are responsible for several hundred dollars that you were not expecting to have to pay.

What about moving into your new home only to find out there are no appliances because you didn't read that the former owners were taking the stove and refrigerator with them? Or finding out that the storage shed in the back you thought you were getting is now gone? Or discovering that all the ceiling fans were removed?

These are the kind of surprises that new home buyers do not want. There are ways to avoid surprises like these.

First, learn about the neighborhood before you agree to buy a home. A quick Google search will take you to the chamber of commerce site which will tell you all the good things about an area. The chamber of commerce wants to sell the city, remember. Find the local newspaper and read it. Most newspapers in the US have online versions, so reading the newspaper several days in a row may give you an idea about an area of town, particularly if it is a bad area of town.

Detailed statistics on any town can be found at www.city-data.com. This site covers every major city in the US. For weather information, go to www.weatherbase.com. Additional information can be gotten from the chamber of commerce or from a local Realtor. Write down your list of questions before you call so you will not forget to ask something that is important to you. Ask about libraries, jobs, crime, shopping and restaurants, schools, parks, or anything else that interests you. When asking about neighborhoods, a Realtor or a city official may be reluctant to tell you if an area is bad. Ask some questions and then read between the lines when they answer: Where are there a great number of rentals? Where is the oldest section of town? Has it been restored? Is there a college or university in the area?

If you are able to visit a town before buying, drive around to find an area you may like. If you see someone outside in that neighborhood, stop and talk to them for a few minutes. Go to a local tavern or bar and talk to the people in there. You can get a lot of insight into an area this way. Just remember that people sometimes exaggerate, but you can still get a feel for an area.

It is a good idea get a home inspector's check list and take it with you while viewing a home. Use it as your guide to things to look for when viewing a home. You can pass any information you may find onto the property inspector.

Once you are fairly certain you want to buy a home, walk around the block and see if there is anyone outside that you can talk to. They will tell you about noisy neighbors, recent crime and other interesting information.

The most important thing many potential home buyers is to always have a lawyer look over the contract before you buy a home. This cannot be stressed enough. Always have a lawyer look over your contract before you sign. They can explain the contract to you, using simple terms that you can understand and you will avoid many legal surprises that way. You will know if the former owners plan to take the refrigerator, ceiling fans and the storage shed out back. Also you will know about any hidden fees or at the very least, you will know exactly what you have to pay at closing.

The folks at Nancy Chandler Associates, REALTORS, Licensed in Norfolk, Virginia, can help you with every step of your home buying process, including helping you determine if it really is the right time for you to buy.

Karen Vertigan Pope writes for Ciniva Systems, an award winning Virginia web design company. Ciniva specializes in web design and SEO. Ms. Vertigan Pope is an SEO Specialist with Ciniva. Ciniva Systems is in charge of SEO for Nancy Chandler Associates.

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Spanish Property - The Buyer's Checklist

The Costa del Sol has become in recent years, one of the most attractive places in the Mediterranean in which to buy property. With thousands of kilometres of sandy beaches, a laid back and relaxed lifestyle and within easy reach of most of its neighbours in Europe, it's no wonder that so many people over the years and even still today, are looking to buy Spanish property here, whether to live in, or for investment purposes.

Unfortunately a vast number of buyers seem to leave their brains on the plane or back home when traveling to another country to buy property, many of which have been stung by some of the less than honest agents that have been based on the coast in recent years.

This article has been written in order to help you as the buyer, to understand the purchase process and legal requirements, which you will encounter when buying Spanish property.

Before The Purchase

Find A Reputable Spanish Lawyer - The next quest comes when searching for a reliable and reputable Spanish lawyer. The reason that I say "Spanish" is that you really need a lawyer who is totally versed with the complexities of the Spanish legal system. This you will only find with a Spanish lawyer.

Although there are real estate agents out there who recommend a lawyer to you, this is generally due to the fact that they will gain a commission from the lawyer due to the business relationship that they have. It is important that you do not use a lawyer that is tied to a specific agent. Find an independent lawyer who is going to act in your best interests and hold your hand through the whole process.

Another important aspect of finding a Spanish lawyer is that they can converse well with you in your native language. This will be of obvious benefit when they need to sit down with you and explain the purchase process more detail or keep you informed of any news about your process.

Communication is a vital aspect of buying a property in Spain. If you are unable to converse with your lawyer effectively, this could lead to problems.

Find An Estate Agent - Finding an estate agent on the Costa del Sol is not a difficult assignment. You can find one on almost every street corner. The real problem is finding an agent that will represent your best interests, understand what your requirements and needs are and have a thorough understanding of the market and buying process.

Although there are many aspects to buying a Spanish property, this could be the most important aspect for you and can be the difference between a smooth buying process where your purchase goes through without a hitch or it could spell months or even years of heartache and misery and possibly a total loss of your money.

Although this sounds a bit scary (and it should be), it only serves to highlight what can and what has happened, to many buyers in Spain.

All this can be avoided though by finding the right agent, and size does not matter.

Some of the best agents on the coast you maybe surprised to learn, are the smaller agents. The advantage of using a smaller agent is that you get a more personal service, compared with the bigger real estate companies who tend to treat their clients like a piece of meat. With the smaller agents you are treated on a more personal level with the agent having more time for you, and taking more of an interest in what YOU want.

One way of finding a reputable agent is through word of mouth. Try asking friends and family or the local community, if they have had good experiences with any local estate agents and try and gauge which ones come out on top.

Another way to learn more is to hang out in some of the real estate forums that are focused on the Spanish property market. There are always are number of people who are only too pleased to share their experiences with you.

Which ever agent you choose, make sure that you feel totally confident in their ability to represent your interests and that they have sound knowledge of the Spanish real estate market.

During The Purchase Process

The Preliminary Contract - Once you have found your Spanish property, the next step is to place a formal offer with the vendor showing your intent to purchase the property. A preliminary contract is then drawn up by the lawyer, which means the vendor has to remove the property from the market. The contract that is known as the "Contrato privado de compraventa" and will contain the agreed selling price and other details on the property.

This stage of the process is also when you will need to provide a deposit of between 5 and 10% of the purchase price. This payment is kept in a lawyers bonded account and shows your commitment to buy the property.

The Final Contract - The Escritura de compraventa is the final contract and this is where you pay the final sum of money for the property, including fees minus any deposits already made.

You will then be issued with a public deed for the property which will be witnessed by the notary public. A copy of this deed is then sent to the tax office and to the property registry.

The whole purchase process can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months and can depend on many factors such as the efficiency of your lawyers and estate agents. It can also depend on the vendor and buyers desire to complete at the earliest opportunity.

Needless to say, during all aspects of the purchase process when buying Spanish property, it is highly recommended that your lawyer is on hand and that they guide and advise you at every single stage.

PGM Property World are a family run real estate agent on the Costa del Sol and have a wide range of resale and off plan Spanish Property on offer. PGM will also assist in every aspect of purchasing property in Spain.

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Why You Should Post Ads On Craigslist

Would you like to know a secret that most people have no idea about? Well then listen closely because what I'm about to reveal to you can skyrocket your business to a whole new level, and guess what? It wont cost you a signal penny. I'm talking about why you should post ads on craigslist.

Craigslist is one of the most visited sites on the Internet, and easily gets millions of searchs every month. What does this mean for you? This means your ads you post will be seen by millions and millions of people. Its completely free to post your ads to craigslist, and its probably one of the best things you can do for you business.

However there are a few things you should first know before you jump into the drivers seat and start posting ads. If you want to be successful, and get the best return for the time you put in there are some critical things you must first do.

1. Make sure you change your IP address every 5 - 10 ads you post.

2. Setup at least 5 - 10 different craigslist accounts.

3. Use one craigslist account when posting this way you wont have to verify your ad

4. Buy a domain name of Godaddy and create 90 sub domains.

5. Have all your sub domains redirect to your lead capture page.

6. Write your ad and make sure to use a different sub domain in each ad.

Following the above steps I'm able to draw in 20 - 30 optins to my lead capture page every day, and it doesn't cost me a dime. You too can start doing the same exact thing. This will without doubt help skyrocket your profits in your business no matter what it is you promote.

People every day log on the Internet and search a number of different topics on Craigslist, and if your ad is there and informational you'll get their attention. I find that the best places to posts ads for business opportunities are in the job section under sales, and in the small business section. You can also try the marketing and real estate sections as well.

So if your not yet posting ads on craigslist think about how it can help grow your business to a whole new level. I suggest you start posting ads right away, as it will only help you grow your business bigger and bigger as time goes on.

Chris Rohrer has been working online for over 3 years, and has been helping people make extra money working online. To learn more about Chris and how he can help you visit EDC Gold

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Buying Property in Greece - 10 Facts You Should Know!

Buying a property in Greece can be one of life's most exciting experiences - and one of the most challenging, so have you really thought about what's involved? Have you done your homework, research and planning? A little forward preparation will help you achieve your goal of successfully living in Greece. It's much better than leaving the purchase of your Greek property to chance.

One of the most common mistake people make when buying a property in Greece is to presume that the laws and property purchase procedures are the same in Greece as they are in their own country. They most certainly are not! Many people, who would like to buy a property in Greece, find that the Greek property market appears to be a daunting experience. At first the Greek property purchasing process seems to be a very complicated one, but, approaching the undertaking of buying a property in Greece step by step shows that it is easily achievable.

Purchasing property in Greece is generally safe, although it is wise to obtain legal advice and follow the rules provided for your protection. People that choose to ignore such procedures often do so at a financial cost.

If you have decided to buy a property in Greece there are a few fact you should know about before you buy your own property in Greece.

1. THE COST OF BUYING PROPERTY IN GREECE: When buying a property in Greece add at least 15 per cent of the purchase price for fees and taxes, including a property-transfer tax of 7 to 11 per cent. Lawyers fees 1-2%, other expenses approximately 1% for notary fees and land registry. Local municipal tax or community tax is currently calculated at 3% of the property purchase tax and is paid together with the property purchase tax. Annual taxes are payable in Greece on properties owned over the value of 200,000 Euros. The valuation of properties is carried out by the government which provides published values, announced for every type of property. This is known as the government objective price.

2. SETTING UP A BANK ACCOUNT: All transactions are conducted in Euros. You will need to set up a Greek bank account to pay for your legal advice, transfer money and pay bills. There are foreign exchange brokers that can transfer large amounts to Greece according to the business rate. Payment of utility bills can be set up very easily by direct debit via the bank, and money can be transferred online. To open a bank account you will need your passport and a utility bill with you address on it.

3. THE "PINK SLIP": The all important 'pink slip' for wire transfers of money from abroad. If the property buyer cannot justify the amount of money they have spent, the Greek tax authorities will assign it as unreported income and the buyer will be assessed income tax.

4. THE AFM NUMBER: All buyers of property in Greece must have a Greek tax roll number (AFM) which is issued by the tax offices. It's free and issued on the spot. Greek and EU citizens must show their ID card. Foreigners living in Greece are required to present their passport or another valid document of identification and their residence permit. Greek and foreigners who permanently reside abroad can also apply for an AFM. They must submit the application to a special tax office located at 18 Lykourgou St, Omonia

5. LAWYERS ('DIKIGOROS'): It is essential to get an English-speaking lawyer. The British Consul's provides a list of recommended lawyers, Tel 0030 210 369 2333. Beware of buying a property that belongs to more than three family members. And you will need a substantial file as you need to have photocopies of everything. The lawyer conducts the title search at the relevant land registry.

6. PUBLIC NOTARY (SYMVOLEOGRAPHOS): The notary public is independent of either the seller or the purchaser. He draws up the contract for transfer of property and the various terms and conditions contained therein. If you do not speak fluent Greek an official translator must be present for the reading and signing of the contracts and a small fee will be paid by you.

7. REAL ESTATE AGENT: The Real Estate Agent's fees are usually paid by the seller and the buyer. The exact amount of commission is a matter between the agent and the client. All expenses for the conclusion of the final contract, including the tax on property transfer will be borne by the buyer. Each party will pay the fees of their legal representative who must be present at the signing of the contract; this is required by Greek Law.

8. A CIVIL ENGINEER ('POLITIKOS MICHANIKOS'); may be hired to review a specific plot and to ensure the property's boundaries are within the description in a title document. They can also be consulted regarding specific building restrictions in place in your chosen area.

9 HOLIDAY HOMES:A common error made by many people is to over estimate rental potential. Do not count on holiday lettings for your property to tourists during the months you are not there. In the last two years there has been a decline in tourism in most parts of Greece, and income from letting property has declined with it. To let out rooms legally, you must have a license from the Greek Tourism Board. You must also fulfil fire and safety regulations, and you must pay tax on this income. Authorities are having a clamp down on illegal lets, and fines are enormous!

10. INSURANCE: Whether you intend using your property for holidays or as a permanent residence it is wise to make sure your home is properly insured. You can arrange insurance through a reputable UK broker or your Greek Bank.

Whether you are planning to buy a villa, village house or an apartment, I hope this information will help you avoid some of the pitfall of purchasing a property in Greece and that your path will be smooth, bringing forth many happy years in your new Greek home.

Good luck!

Claire May is a recognized author of articles about property in Greece and Messinia. An article of her successful undertaking was published in the Escape property magazine. For more information about Messinian properties come and view our website http://www.claires-messinian-properties.com

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Local Down Payment Assistance Programs

There exists, quite literally, thousands of city and county sponsored assistance programs available to eligible first time home buyers today. Generally speaking, local down payment assistance programs share similar program characteristics:

1. Assistance funds used in conjunction with purchase money first mortgages must be applied to down payment and, on some programs, closing costs are also allowed.
2. Assistance funds may not be used to pay off revolving or installment debt (credit cards, car loans, etc.), collections, judgements or charged off accounts
3. Cash back to the borrower is strictly prohibited however, in some cases, the borrower's initial deposit in escrow may be refunded to the borrower after escrow has closed
4. Income limits apply
5. Sales price limits apply
6. Geographic restrictions apply
7. Asset limitations (liquid assets) may apply
8. Equity share provisions may or may not apply
9. Interest rates vary and may run as low as 0% on some programs
10. Competing city specific programs and county specific programs (eligible cities) generally may not be combined on any one single purchase transaction (no double-dipping). The home selected for purchase must be situated within the funding agency's geographical jurisdiction, city/county border
11. Borrower must be a first time home buyer, that is, one who has not owned real estate as a primary residence within the most recent three years (mobile homes on wheels, time-shares, etc. are not considered primary residences) however, in some cases, exceptions may be made for displaced homemakers, those buying properties in targeted area census tracts, eligible military veterans, etc. Check program specific guidelines for the categories that qualify for the first time home buyer exception
12. Borrower must be a legal resident or legal resident alien
13. Eligible borrowers must provide full income documentation and qualify using tandem first mortgage financing insured through traditional prime insurers: FHA, VA, USDA-RD, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or as authorized by the city or county program administrator. In this context, sub-prime, Alt A, alt doc or stated income documentation programs are not acceptable
14. Home buyer education requirements vary by program. This item may not be waived if required according to program-specific underwriting guidelines.
15. Funds are allocated annually or as requested by a city or county housing program administrator. Funds are subject to depletion at any time depending on consumer and lender demand

If you are a first time home buyer of low to moderate income interested in purchasing an affordable, moderately priced home, there is a good chance you may qualify for any one of a number of down payment and/or closing cost assistance programs.

FIND A LOCAL DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

There are a number of ways to locate programs and corresponding eligibility requirements. A good source of information may be obtained through real estate agents, loan officers, family or friends who benefited from same programs. The most efficient methods I have found so far have been facilitated through internet search engines. I use a popular search engine (like the one that starts with a "G" and rhymes with "bugle"). If the internet is not available to you, simply contact your target city's or target county's housing department at City Hall. Utilize Exhibit B located at the end of this chapter to facilitate your search.

PROGRAM AVAILABILITY

Most city and county government offices have a Housing Department through which first time home buyer programs are administered. Some cities however do not offer such programs. As my daughter Marilyn (a third year student at the University of California Santa Barbara) recently discovered, her post-graduation target city, Beverly Hills, does not offer a first-time homebuyer program. The City of Los Angeles however, as well as participating cities in Los Angeles county offer first time home buyer programs. If, after going through the motions suggested below, your target city or target county results come up blank, it is highly likely a program is not currently available. In these instances, a phone call to the housing department should be made to confirm the availability of a first time home buyer program in their town, if any, and current funding status.

A. Enter the following search criteria for your target city or target county: Example: "City of Smallville Texas" or "Smallville Texas City Hall" or "Smallville County" B. Once linked to the county or state website, click any one or all of the following possible links: 1) Departments, Housing or Redevelopment or Community Redevelopment, First Time Home Buyer Programs

In most cases, specific program eligibility requirements will be posted to the housing agency's webpage listing the following program details: 1) Income Limits, Sales Price Limits, Geographic Restrictions, Miscellaneous borrower requirements, Miscellaneous program requirements

In the rare event program details are not posted, click on the "contact us" link located at the bottom of the web page or call the Housing Department to request current program information via fax, e-mail or regular mail.

MORTGAGE LENDERS

Some housing departments will provide, for the applicant's convenience, a comprehensive list of mortgage lenders certified and authorized by the program administrator to assist applicants with the initial loan application and conduct preliminary qualifying processes. Some housing agencies may instruct interested applicants to complete pre-screening (for compliance purposes) through the agency's housing department first to determine whether the applicant meets program specific eligibility requirements prior to contacting an authorized mortgage lender.

PROGRAM EXCEPTIONS

City and county sponsored down payment assistance programs are created to benefit first time home buyers of low to moderate income with limited cash assets. If, by median area income standards, you are an upper-income applicant, that is, one whose current annualized family income exceeds a program's low or moderate income limit, you will not likely qualify for that particular program (an exception may be made for target area properties however this exception is program specific and case-by-case). Also, if you owned real estate as a primary residence within the most recent three years, you will not meet the IRS' definition of a first-time homebuyer however, in most cases, an exception may be granted for applicants purchasing homes in federally designated "target area census tracts".

TARGET AREA EXCEPTIONS

A target area census tract is an economically depressed area in need of economic revitalization. Target areas are identified by six-digit census tract numbers and may be located using a census tract map or census tract search engine. Program specific guidelines will spell out under what circumstances exceptions to the first time home buyer rule may be granted and will also list eligible target area census tract areas and/or redevelopment area maps.

PROGRAM UPDATES

Income limits, sales price limits and maximum assistance dollars available to each purchase transaction are updated annually (or as changes to area median income and median sales price figures warrant necessary). It is prudent to verify through the housing finance agency or authority the accuracy of information reflected on the agency's website (specifically income limits, sales price limits) and confirm availability of funds.

PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY

The housing agency may provide an on-line work sheet to assist prospective buyers in prequalifying for the purpose of determining eligibility with regard to income limits and sales price limits. An eligibility work sheet has also been provided at the end of this chapter - see Exhibit B (available in the full book version located at FTHBGuru.com).

Upon locating a workable and fully funded down payment assistance program, the next step in the qualifying process is to obtain formal loan approval through an authorized mortgage lender or authorized mortgage broker. To this end, applicants should be prepared to provide, at minimum, the following income documentation: 1) Most recent paystubs (30 days worth) 2) Three years federal tax returns with all schedules

LOAN APPROVAL AND LOAN CLOSING

Borrowers who apply for first time home buyer program funds must pass two important tests.

First Test: The primary borrower(s) must satisfy insuring agency (i.e. FHA, VA, USDA/RD-GRH, Fannie Mae, or Freddie Mac, whichever applies) credit and debt qualifying requirements. This part of the first test is performed exclusively by the lender. City and county housing departments do not staff mortgage loan underwriters - they rely on the expertise of participating lenders to competently underwrite a loan file to insuring agency requirements.

Second Test: The primary borrower(s) must satisfy city or county program specific bond compliance requirements for A. Income Limits B. Sales Price Limits C. First Time Home Buyer Status

This part of the second test is generally not performed by the lender. The city's or county's housing department will determine who may review loan files for bond compliance purposes. Ultimately, one of the following entities must perform a bond compliance review prior to loan funding:

1) City or county in-house bond compliance department
2) An authorized independent contractor - bond compliance agent or agency

THE PROCESS Lenders must review all borrower provided documentation, credit reports, credit letters of explanation, verification forms, title, appraisal, etc. and issue a conditional loan approval before a loan may fund and close.

The sooner borrower specific documentation and all parts of the loan file are compiled and analyzed, the sooner a lender can issue a conditional loan approval, transmit loan documents and close the transaction.

In the context of city and/or county funded first time home buyer programs, under most circumstances, the lender does not fund the city's or county's subordinate loan. The city's or county's accounting department will cut a check or wire the subordinate loan funds to escrow/title after approving the loan for bond compliance purposes only. Failure to follow city or county specific procedure in this regard may result in an unsalable loan in the secondary market. Lenders should be careful to follow correct procedure which varies from one program to the next. Borrowers should check with their loan officer for established program protocols in this regard.

RESALE RESTRICTIONS

Please note, homes financed in part with city and county down payment assistance funds may have "resale restrictions" recorded against the home. These restrictions are often written into the deed of trust, mortgage, promissory note or as part of a separate attachment which becomes binding when recorded concurrent with the city's or county's trust deed or mortgage. In most cases, after reviewing a government entity's loan documents, most lenders will not approve a program if certain resale restrictions apply.

Generally speaking, some city and county programs include a resale restriction that legally limits future buyers exclusively to persons of low to moderate income (or other city or county-specific limitations and exclusions) regardless of the circumstances surrounding a sale in foreclosure. In the event of foreclosure, resale restrictions adversely affect a lender's ability to freely negotiate and sell the property to the highest bidder at a trustee's sale.

The good news is that many city and county department heads recognize the bind that restrictive covenants of this nature unfairly place on foreclosing lenders. Consequently, many housing agencies either do not include this particular resale restrictive covenant anywhere in their loan documents or, in some cases, any applicable resale restrictive covenants recorded concurrent with the deed may include a provision (out-clause) ensuring that the resale restrictions are terminated and have no further force or effect in the event title is acquired by a lender or insuring agency upon foreclosure. With that specific language, lenders in foreclosure are thus protected.

LENDER APPROVAL OF CITY/COUNTY SPONSORED PROGRAMS

Most lenders will require thorough review of city and county generated loan documents consisting of:

1. sample copies of the city's trust deed or mortgage
2. sample copy of the promissory note
3. program guidelines and
4. any applicable attachments recorded concurrent with the mortgage or trust deed (like the resale restrictive covenant document)

The review process is typically performed prior to approving a program for use in-house to ensure the program meets the lender's requirements and to also ensure the program satisfies insuring agency (FHA, VA, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, USDA/RD-GRH) requirements.

COMMUNICATION IS KEY

The best advice to prospective first time home buyers in need of down payment and/or closing cost assistance: get one step ahead of competing applicants by immediately communicating to your loan officer your desire to use a down payment assistance program and, if possible, provide your loan officer with all information accumulated concerning the desired program.

With advance knowledge, your loan officer may jump start the qualifying process and request reservation of city or county funds on your behalf at the earliest possible opportunity. For more information on programs created for first time home buyers of low to moderate income, go to FTHBGuru.com for a full version, electronic copy of the reference manual. Copyright 2007

Esperanza Creeger currently resides in Dallas, TX. A mortgage industry veteran for 21 years and counting, Esperanza's first original work "First Time Home Buyer's Guide: Below Market Interest Rate and Down Payment Assistance Programs" is available at http://www.FTHBGuru.com - Esperanza is currently working on her second original work written for the big screen, "An Akashic Tale". Contact (469) 438-9659 or write to Ecreeger@hotmail.com

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Lease Option Real Estate Investing

Lease Option Investing

Exactly what is lease option real estate investing? A lease option is basically a rent-to-own contract for a piece of real estate. The buyer signs an exclusive contract to have buying rights to a property after a given amount of time. When the allotted time expires, the buyer can do one of two things: buy at the price agreed on when the contract was signed, or don't buy the property and forfeit down payment.

To make this easier, let's take a look at this from a buyer's eyes.

Buyer

Why would anyone use a lease option for real estate investing? Try risk management. If you were shopping for a home a few years ago (before the market went bad) but were unclear if the area would be hit by recession, you could use a lease option to pay monthly 'rent' and then wait for the contract to expire. The next step would be to get the property appraised. As a buyer, a lease option means you do NOT have to buy the property.

So when you look at the home appraisal after a few years, you compare the current market value to that of the agreed upon purchase price. If the home is worth more than what you agreed, you can purchase and gain instant equity. But, if the property went down in value, then you can leave the deal with no ties and are only lose the down and monthly payments.

How about some real numbers to see how this works? You sign a lease option to buy a home for 100,000 after a 3 year contract. You put 3% down for the contract as you 'good faith', and agree to pay 100$, above current market rents (this excess going toward a future down payment when the real purchase takes place).

When the contract is over you have the home appraised. Luckily the home went up 10% over the last three years! Suddenly you have exclusive rights to buy the home for 10k below the current market value! Since you already put 3% down and can couple that with 100/month (2400) credited for the purchase, you have a total of 5400 (5.4%) toward the real purchase! Now, 10% of 110000 is 11,000 and you now have 5400+10k in equity for a total of 15400 towards buying this property! So, with 3% down and a little thriftiness you have gained a 15.4% down payment!

Yeah, but if the house went down in value? So the appraisal comes in at 90,000. Ordinarily, since the house went down 10k, you would have to shoulder that loss. But since you purchased a lease option, you get to walk away from the property instantly and with no further commitments. However, you do lose the down payment and the extra 100/month. In other words, you lose 5400$. Yes it's a loss. However, if you had bought the home for 100,000, you would be suffering a loss of 10,000 instead of 5400! This is a loss regardless, but you save yourself nearly double the loss by using a lease option.

But how does this benefit the seller?

Seller

During these poor economic times, it's very tough to sell your property since there are many sellers polluting the market and increasing the number of unsold houses. The excessive inventory lowers overall prices. Now, for some reason (personal or financial) you need to sell your property and fast or cover the payments.

Lease options can do both and here is how.

Thanks to the financial education available, many people want to buy a home but do not have the credit or the full down payment needed to buy a home. Seriously, how many people do you personally know that could be identified as one or the other? These people are ready and willing to buy a property but can't get a bank to look in their direction. Hence why a lease option for a low down payment that accepts medium to poor credit has such a strong customer base.

Okay, time for some more real numbers, this time from the seller's perspective. Let's assume you have a home that you paid 200,000 to buy. Then the market plummeted and now your home is worth 190k. You will have a 10,000 loss in combination with realtor fees if you were to sell your house. I doubt this sounds appealing. What about renting it out to cover the payments? Assume local rents for a 3/2 in your area average 1100. This would not cover your approximate $1400 payments. Are you screwed? No.

You jump on craig's list and offer to lease option you home. 'Rent to own this 205k house for as little as 6k down!' Then you detail the extra monthly amount that will go toward the future total down. Notice you asked for MORE than what the property is currently worth. Why? Because those buying the lease option are buying based on an ESTIMATE of what the home will be worth when the contract expires.

Now take a look at the monthly premium. Obviously the regular rents in the area will not cover you payments. So let's break the payments down a bit. Of the $1400, roughly 200 is used to reduce the principle, so you will get it back upon selling. So the1400 is really 1200. That's isn't too far from the1100 regular rent. Since you're doing someone a favor by carrying the contract, asking an extra 100 more should be reasonable. HOWEVER, the buyer will also be paying more to be used as a future down IF they decide to buy. If the buyer does not exercise the option, then you get to keep all the extra money (down and extra monthly payments).

What this means is that your monthly payment would be 1100 plus a 'fee' of 100. In addition, there is the negotiable amount toward the buyer's future down payment. Assume that extra payment is 200/month over the 3 year contract. The buyer could have the mitigated risk purchase of your home IMMEDIATELY for a paltry 6000$ down and modified monthly payments of 1400. Oh, but we aren't finished. That just happens to be the exact same amount you're paying and you have a real bank mortgage!! Hopefully you can see how this could be appealing to potential buyers that are lacking the down payment. And it's all mitigated for risk!

So how does that really benefit you? Well, the buyer agrees to a purchase price that is NOT impacted by the current economic slow down. You adjust the this price as if the property had never lost any value. In other words, you want a 3% annual appreciation on your home so you offer a 1 year purchase price of 200,000+3% or a two year buy price of (200k+3%)+3%. This would be 206k and 212180 respectively.

The 3% is really $6k. But, isn't that the same as the down payment for the option?! So if the buyer does NOT buy the house after 1 year, you STILL get the 3%!! Now, add in the extra monthly 200 and you get another 2400 per year! And if they DO buy the house? You get your 200k+3% anyway! Lease options are a win-win situation.

You get your % regardless of the market value and the buyer gets their purchase mitigated for risk at the same price while getting a potentially substantial gain in equity!

Conclusion:

Lease option real estate investing is a rent-to-own strategy that works through signing a contract for exclusive buyer privileges at the end of the agreed upon time period for an agreed upon amount. This contract can VERY easily work to the benefit of both the buyer and the seller, and allows for property sales at your asking price even in recessed markets.

Lease option real estate investing should definitely be considered by either the investor, the buyer, or both!

Author is a writer for Beginner Investing, passive income and Stock Market For Beginners a blog joint blog about personal investing and development of passive income.

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Tuesday, January 27, 2009

The Desert is Where It's at - Desert Resort Living That Can't Be Beat is Right Here Under Your Feet

You know besides being the who's who of the business world, Palm Desert, CA sure has a lot of things going for it. For instance, it does not have the negative stigma that comes with the persnickety complainers of Palm Springs, but still enjoys the World Traveler name recognition.

Palm Desert spells rest and relaxation in a desert paradise. Perhaps this is why so many people who could live pretty much anywhere in the world they want to, chose to hang their hats here, or at least make this one of their homes. Desert Resort living is a dream of so many and we all ought to be thankful to have this opportunity to enjoy all there is here.

The Desert is where it's at, away from the traffic and smog, parking hassles and congestion - those that can get away come here, if they have the intellect to realize that the rat race is over rated. Desert Resort Living cannot be beat and it's all here ready for you right under your feet.

Now I am not going to criticize all those who live in LA with 460 square miles of concrete under their feet or tell 13.5 million people that they have a few screws loose because maybe they are just waiting for the perfect opportunity to make their escape? For those who are ready to make the move, now is the perfect time while we are rounding out a dip in the real estate prices. I wonder how many others are thinking here?

"Lance Winslow" - Online Blog Content Service. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/

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How to Haggle - General Advice and Guide

Haggling is a concept which has been going on for hundreds of years in many cultures around the world. It relies on the basis that the buyer and seller can agree on a price which suits each of them before the transaction is sealed. The contention arises as the merchant wants to sell at the highest price but the buyer wants to deal at the lowest.

Before You Haggle

Think Before You Buy Ask yourself whether the item you are buying is sensible because you will have to carry it for the remainder of your journey. If you consider shipping it home by sea or air, ask yourself whether the cost of this will be too high.

Know What You Are Buying If you know what the product is worth at home you can gauge what the price should be. Always approach a merchant with a price in your head you would like to pay and one that is too much. If an item seems to be too low in price than it probably is not especially if it is a craft.

Observe The Location If you enter a big market that clearly is a big tourist trap then you may struggle to get a really good deal. The merchants in these areas know you are tourists looking to spend money, and they know that you have a lot of it. You will therefore not get as good a deal as you would in less tourist oriented locations such as side streets or on roadsides.

Appear Confident You should try not to appear nervous when haggling as the merchant may spot this as a weakness, try to take advantage, and rip you off. Show yourself as being confident and if you do not like where the sale is heading then walk away.

Consider Multi-Buys If the merchant has stuck at a price for an item and will not budge say that you will deal if you throw something else in too. Sometimes this technique works and so it is worth a shot. If they refuse turn to walk away and they may agree just to make the sale.

Keep your sense of humour Be prepared to banter. Nowadays, especially in tourist areas, the merchants like to have fun haggling with the tourists. If you are friendly and have a sense of humour then you are more likely to strike a great deal.

Get a pretty girl If all else fails, find a pretty girl to come with you during a haggle. Many male merchants tend to give better deals to pretty girls, I cannot understand why. Grab your mate and use her to get a bargain. It may be a cheap shot but worth a go.

Haggling In Steps

Of course every haggle will be different depending on the item, seller and location, but in my experience below is how it typically goes.

  1. Never accept the first offer The merchant will always start the haggle off with a price much higher than the product is worth hoping that you are naive and will take this as being a fixed price. You are foolish to settle at a deal here.
  2. Half the first offer This will inevitably cause the seller to say he cannot give the item to you at this price and normally some friendly banter follows. Perhaps after a while the seller gives in and agrees to this price. You then have an option of trying to lower the price further or sticking.
  3. Ask for a multi-buy If you are settled at a price more than half the original price then ask the seller to throw in another item you like. This can be a technique to get more for your money or it can show that you are trying to push your luck. Use this tip wisely
  4. Say it is cheaper elsewhere Tell the merchant that another stall is selling the same thing for a cheaper price. Sometimes the seller will drop to this price (whether it be true or not) in risk of losing the sale.
  5. Walk away and say you will buy elsewhere If you cannot get the price down to a range that you are happy with the begin to leave. Nine times out of ten this will prompt them to agree to your price otherwise they will lose a sale.

The Do Nots Of Haggling

Do not repeatedly say how cheap items are in front of the merchant as this can be insulting to them. It may also mean the haggle gets off on bad terms and reduce the likelihood of the merchant wanting to lower their price. If you are striking a good deal, hide your excitement and wait until the seller is out of earshot.

Do not show your money before the deal. Being a tourist you will have a lot of cash floating around your wallet. Make sure you do not count your notes or in anyway show the merchant what money you have as they will mark the item up and make a tough haggle. Only present the cash after the price has been agreed.

Do not be too pushy with the seller. Although they do like a playful haggle if you are too pushy they may not want to do business with you. Stick to your price, propose a multi-buy, halve their offer, but keep playing the game.

Do not haggle for everything you see. For example it is fine to haggle for a pair of shorts or a t-shirt in a market, but you will not get anywhere haggling for a bottle of water or admission to a shrine. Use common sense and judgment.

Remember, haggling is a skill which can only be improved with practice; the more you do it the better deals you will get.

By Alex Williams

For more backpacking information please visit the link below.

http://www.thinkbackpacking.com/ - Information, advice and news for first time and experienced backpackers including visas, insurance, handling money, hidden costs, travel guides, flights and more

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Estate Agents - 10 Simple Methods for Getting the Best Out of Estate Agents

Buying a property requires good research and project management skills and, above all, good acting.

  1. Look cool and aloof during viewings. A good estate agent will be able to pick up the signs from you that you really love the property. In that case it will be difficult for you to get much off the asking price. During the viewing never start switching off the lights as you move from room to room, it is a sure sign that you like the property and you are starting to move into it in your mind.
  2. Wait to make an offer. You will sound too keen if you make an offer directly after the viewing. If the agent wants you to offer or if you want to make an offer, ask how much do the vendors want. Ninety percent of agents will say "the asking price". Do not butt in when they are talking. Some agents will say "the asking price" and continue talking themselves down by several thousand pounds, a sign that they are under pressure to sell the property. In this case, wait until they have finished talking themselves down and then ask if the vendor would accept $10,000 less. They will possibly keel over horrified. 90% of them will say, "ok I'll ask the vendor" Say, "no, I'm not making an offer " but at least you will know a level that you can start negotiations at if you want to. Go away from the viewing and think clearly about whether you want to get into negotiations to buy.
  3. Offer 10-15% below the asking price. It is unbelievable the amount of people who come straight in with an offer at the asking price after seeing a house. The Estate Agent will often be able to achieve in excess of the asking price because of this without necessarily having anyone else interested in the property at the same time. As a general rule, offer between 10-15% below the asking price, although you must alter this depending on the market.
  4. Keep your maximum budget to yourself. The major rule of thumb for estate agents is that 90% of their registered buyers will eventually buy a property up to 10% more than the maximum they had registered to. Generally estate agents will ask the buyer fairly early on how many properties they have seen. This gives them a good indication of how close to actually buying a property the buyer is. For example, a young couple starting to buy their first home who have not seen any properties yet will probably be a prospect for buying in say 10-15 viewings. However, a second/third time buyer, under offer to someone keen to get into their house will buy within 2/3 viewings if the agent shows them something which slightly exceeds their expectations and if its within 5% of their registered max.
  5. Always buy a property within ten minutes walk from public transport. This is especially relevant when buying for investment. You can always change the presentation of a property with enough investment, but you will never change its proximity to transport. In London, for instance, 90% of short hold tenants want to be within ten minutes walk of tube or train.
  6. Think about resale. This is a critical point when deciding to buy. You have really got to put yourself in the shoes of the person who is going to buy the property from you when you are finished with it.
  7. Research the rental market when buying to invest. It may seem like common sense, but it is amazing the amount of people who have bought for investment and not researched exactly how much the property would rent for after they have paid for it. Do not just take the word of the estate agent about the local rental market.
  8. Look at more than one property. It happens quite often, that, when a buyer fails to find a suitable property in one area after tons of viewings, they go to a slightly different area, find fantastic value for money (in comparison to the last area) and fall for the first one they have seen. Research is crucial in a new area.
  9. Stick to your goals. Although everything an estate agent says or shows you about a property is covered under various legislation such as The Property Misdescriptions Act and The Estate Agents Act (UK), in certain circumstances, it is difficult to prove the agent was not truthful to you. Many agents use the "old ploy" that they have someone else very interested in the property and "they are going to offer the asking price in the afternoon" in order to stimulate you into making an offer. This is illegal.
  10. Make use of professional advice, websites, local information. It may be that if new to an area it makes sense to pay for the services of a property finder who has established relationships with local estate agents. Their fees are negotiable and they may even save you money in the long run if they are able to negotiate a good deal for you.

Pam Kennett is a business consultant with more than 20 years' experience working with organisations to help them understand the talent of their staff through the implementation of competency models. She has an MBA from City University Business School (London), is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and is a registered member of the British Psychological Society. She also manages a property portfolio worth over 2 million and is in the process of launching a wealth creation coaching business.

She is the founder and Director of Chiswick Consulting Limited and can be contacted at +44 208747 1886 or http://www.chiswickconsulting.com

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West Virginia Car Insurance Guide - How to Find Cheap West Virginia Auto Insurance in a Snap!

How does one find the best West Virginia car insurance rates? Is it possible to find cheap West Virginia auto insurance even if you are considered a high risk driver? What are the minimum auto insurance coverage requirements in West Virginia? It is important for all WV residents to understand some of the basics of how auto insurance in West Virginia works. After all, if you could learn a few new things in just a few moments that could save you $25, $50, or even $100 a month on your WV car insurance premiums then why not?

The automobile insurance business has been getting larger in the last couple of years. Reasons for this include that the automobile market has been moving at incredible rates and that in today's world a huge amount of people have access to cars. What before was a valuable possession that not many people could afford has now become a necessity for people around the United States to go to places of their choice. In cities where public transportation is not very viable, residents are being forced to purchase cars just to get from place to place; and of course in rural areas a car or truck is simply necessary to live. With the increase in automobile on the roads of the country the accident ratio has also become larger. The more cars out there, the higher the chance that one of them will get into a wreck and because of this auto insurance companies have started to charge slightly higher rates.

In order to prevent people from driving without being able to pay for damages that accidents may cause and to ensure drivers out there that their assents and themselves can be safe after an accident, governments in each state mandate a minimum coverage for every driver. Most of the states require a person to choose proof of automobile insurance coverage before even getting the title for the vehicle and this way they can be certain that all the cars being driven have insurance. One thing to note is that the mandated coverage changes from state to state because not every single state of the nation has the same population, accident ratio, theft ratio, and weather. In addition to these there are twelve states in the U.S. that are labeled as "No Fault" which means that after an accident the insurance companies of both parties have to pay instead of only the party at fault.

The state of West Virginia just like any other state has its own regulations and mandated coverage for people that want to drive. According to the United States Census Bureau this state holds approximately 1,818,470 and its population has remained steady through the year 2007 with only a 0.6% increase. This means that not many people live in the state and not many people move into the state year in and year out. This Appalachian state has a lot of mountain area and the weather here can be a problem to any driver while out on the road. Because of these reason in 2003 West Virginia residents paid much higher premiums compared to the nation's average.

This is a perfect example stating that although the population of this state is not large and the amount of big cities is not many, they still are paying higher rates than other states. This is where automobile insurance can get a little confusing. Although this people live in rural areas that are not highly populated, they still have to cope with the weather conditions. A lot of this state is situated in mountainous terrain, and for this reason roads can be subject to landfall, freezing temperatures and high winds. For this state unfortunately, weather plays a big role in the high auto insurance rates.

West Virginia law states that a person driving a motor vehicle should have at least what they call 20/40/10 coverage. This means that a person must have $20,000 bodily injury per person and $40,000 bodily injury in total in the case of an accident. The last number in the coverage refers to the $10,000 mandated in property damage by the state in case of an accident. It is also good to note that West Virginia is NOT one of the twelve "No Fault" states and for this reason a driver must always be found at fault in the event of a car wreck. After the accident it is the driver at fault and his or her insurance company who pays the damages caused by the wreck.

Another mandated coverage that West Virginia has is that one of $20,000 bodily injury per person and $40,000 bodily injury in total after an accident, in the even that you get in a car accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver (the coverage is called Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist or UM/UIM). However, the state does not require Personal Injury Protection (PIP) which covers you and your passengers for any medical necessities after an accident. It is entirely up to the driver to get the coverage if they want to be covered.

The Mountain State has an average premium of over $1,000, but people can definitely bring it down with a few tips. If you want a lower coverage you must shop around either online or in person. If you are doing the shopping online you can visit various insurance company websites or you can go to an online insurance comparison webpage. If it's a comparison website you will only have to fill in your information once and you will receive quotes from many different companies.

On the other hand if you are doing the shopping in person make sure to visit at least three local agencies. Get a quote from each of them and look at the best price and service. You can also try to negotiate a price with the agent! Keep in mind that you are the customer and they are searching for people to join their ranks, so use that as your advantage.

Another thing you can do to lower the cost of your West Virginia car insurance policy is to reduce your deductible. The higher the deductible, the lower the premium will be. A reason for this is that if your deductible is high, you will have to pay a little more in the event of an accident. You paying more simply means that your insurance company will have to pay less, so you will be able to save money on your premiums. A common deductible is that of $500, but if you can afford a higher one than go for it and start paying less.

As you can see the insurance business in the state of West Virginia is a very good one...for the insurance companies! Although the state does not hold a high population and the required coverage is in the middle pack when compared to those of other states, the weather and other factors bring the insurance rate sky high. It is for this reason that you must always find ways to save some money when applying for WV automobile insurance.

The choice is all yours, if you are satisfied with paying a high premium then just make sure that you have the required coverage. If on the other hand you want to save some money; shop around, try to lower your deductible, and apply for discounts. The chances for a lower policy are out there and it is truly up to you to make it happen!

Be sure and compare West Virginia car insurance quotes from top companies side by side in order to find the best deal. Get started finding cheap car insurance rates today!

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A Buyer's Guide to Radio Alarm Clocks

For many years, alarm clocks didn't change much and there were very few options to choose from. Nearly every alarm clock was a wind-up analogue clock, with a bell that made a loud ringing noise to wake you up at one specified time.

With the digital age, along came digital alarm clocks. These generally featured an LED screen with a digital clock, and sometimes allowed more than one alarm to be set. Nearly all digital alarm clocks also featured a 'snooze' button, which allowed you an extra few minutes of sleep before you woke up. Over the years, this 'snooze' button has been standardised at 9 minutes.

It was after the introduction of digital alarm clocks that radio alarm clocks first appeared. They generally took a similar digital format, but rather than waking up to a beeping sound, one could be woken up by an AM/FM radio.

As well as maintaining the 'snooze' function, radio alarm clocks also introduced a "sleep" function. This is ideal for people who like to listen to the radio to help them sleep. The sleep function normally has a default of one hour, but this can normally be reduced, if the user knows they will not be awake for too long.

While this was a huge improvement on the traditional alarm clock, radio alarm clocks were not always ideal. It was (and still is) not uncommon for people to wake up to the fuzzy sound of an untuned radio, because the tuner has been knocked, or the radio has just lost signal. This problem was solved, however, with the introduction of DAB digital radio alarm clocks. These allow the owner to choose the station of their choice, and they will then know they will always wake up to the sound they are expecting.

There have been even more innovations since the introduction of the DAB digital radio alarm clock, with alarm clocks that can be connected to an MP3 player such as an iPod - these are often known as 'next generation alarm clocks' or sometimes as 'progressive alarm clocks' - and various other novelty alarm clocks in all shapes and sizes.

Radio alarm clock features have increased too - these include...

  • decreasing snooze - so the owner gets less and less time each time they hit 'snooze'
  • customisable snooze - so the user you can have, say, 5 minutes or 35 minutes of snooze time
  • light sensitive time - so the time on the clock is always visible, but without it lighting the whole bedroom
  • self-adjusting time - so the time on the alarm clock is always correct
  • multiple alarms - so a different alarm plays each day
  • multiple pre-set radio stations - so the owner does not have to keep searching for their favourites.

Clearly, radio alarm clocks have progressed significantly over the years and the technology continues to evolve. This product area looks set to become more and more sophisticated in the future.

Looking for advice on radio alarm clocks and product reviews? Visit radio-alarm-clock.co.uk for tips and advice from Mark Gerrard, a writer on electronic products.

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