What to Look for in a Real Estate Agent

By Mike Boman

Regardless of the real estate company, you will find agents of varying skill levels. Some agents view their work as a job while others are real enterprising people looking for the next opportunity. The most important thing when choosing a real estate agent is to ask questions and pay attention to the answers provided. The process of choosing should not be rushed in that you want someone you know is working for you, helping to get you the most money for the purchase or sell of your home while keeping expenses to a minimum.

Always remember that when creating a contract with the real estate agent, you want everything to have a positive spin on it for you. We greatly recommend that when an agreement is made with an agent, a timeframe be included after which you would have the right to review the situation and then decide later on whether to stay with the agent or choose someone different.

Although most real estate agents are honest, hard-working professionals, some are simply searching for prospective buyers and then offering some type of fast scheme. While a qualified agent would know the right moves to sell or close the deal quickly and for the most amount of money, any offer of moving things along extra fast for money should raise a red flag. You as the customer have the right to know exactly the things for which your money is paying.

In order to be able to choose the right real estate agent, you also need to investigate about his background. Spend time to research the company the agent works for, look at information for current listings being managed, and look at MLS listings on the internet of homes being sold.

Finally, before you start looking for a real estate agent, remind yourself that you are the customer. The real estate agent you choose will be making thousands of dollars for handling your property purchase or sale so you need someone that is dedicated and willing to work hard to make positive things happen. As a part of his or her job, you should be contacted regularly but you also have the right to ask for a status report. - 29971

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Legally Eliminating Credit Card Debt; Can You Do It with the Credit Card Debt Survival Guide?

By Will Manning

Eliminating credit card debt featuring "legal nonpayment strategies for those who cannot pay" sounds questionable. But, Mel Thompson, the author of the Credit Card Debt Survival Guide, put his credit card debt behind him when he could not pay it, and he shows anyone who reads his book how they can do the same for themselves.

This may sound like another credit card debt relief scam, but it is not. All the author's facts and recommendations are attributed to the original sources with links to main stream media stories and web sites.

The Credit Card Debt Survival Guide covers all the credit card debt elimination strategies including debt settlement with a negotiated monthly payment or lump sum, beating debt collectors, avoiding or winning lawsuits and arbitration, finding help, credit repair and debt relief scams. Its main emphasis is helping those who cannot pay eliminate their credit card debt.

While some readers may be initially intimidated by the guide's 240-page length, the quick links in the 76-item table of contents make navigating the information easy. On the other hand, the book has enough detail to cover most specific legal credit card debt elimination situations. The author makes the effort to attribute information to third party credible sources, providing live links to relevant web sites and original consumer forum postings for further investigation. As Credit Sabre, Thompson spent months monitoring those forums to add other credit card debtors' experiences to his own.

Bad information, guilt, ignorance and shame are the largest obstacles to eliminating credit card debt by not paying. The author puts you in a positive frame of mind by explaining what little power debt collectors really have and how hard it is for collection attorneys to legally document unsecured credit card debt.

Judging by the testimonials on the www.credit-card-debt-survival.com web site, the Credit Card Debt Survival Guide has been well the received. The acid test of the author's credibility is the book's no-questions-asked 90-day money-back guarantee. The e-book format of the guide makes it possible for the author to continually update it with the latest developments and to redistribute it to purchasers who receive six months of updates and a regular Credit Card Debt Survival Newsletter with the purchase price of the book, $47.00. - 29971

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Personal Finance Blogs: Are They Of Any Use?

By Asem Eltaher

How can personal finance blogs help you?

Indeed, they are a new way in which information about the confusing industry of how to keep your finances in check is being disseminated. There are a lot of people out there who have questions about hot topics like loans for bad credit, tips for frugal living, how to judge the finance market, etc. And these questions must be somehow well answered.

Reveal the most common problem that almost everyone suffers from!

These issues can often be very confusing to people who have no previous experiences in this field. There are many of us who are not sure of what we should expect when we go to a bank and there is a stigma attached so that we do not always ask the questions we should.

Who are the most lost people?

One group of society that is really impacted by the need to understand personal corporate finance is students. This is especially true if you consider that we are currently going through a major recession and that this is likely to be one of the most vulnerable groups when it comes to the issue of deciding what to do in the future.

This is not true only in terms of the decision itself but also in terms of finding the necessary financial aid for this. They all dream of the moment to join the college regardless the financial situation of their parents.

So, how can they get help for free in such a situation?

Personal finance blogs are an important source of information and they provide finance tips for young people. In addition, the information is addressed in a very interesting manner so that everyone can get it.

So, they learn about which banks they should invest with, they can also be told about what sort of interest rates they should demand. This means that they are better equipped when they go to the bank.

How can personal finance blogs of a great use?

As a matter of fact, there is a thought that there are plenty of loans for college students, which is basically true. However, the conditions that come with these loans are stricter than ever before. This is why the financial websites are helpful with letting students understand what to expect.

Given that there are some obstacles on the way, it is important to know that one can get a federal loan for college in case the banks are unable to help. This could mean that you would have to study in a particular industry but it presents a useful alternative.

So, when it comes to personal finance Google blogs, they do more than just help students with tips for saving money. They are a good source of information that students would otherwise not have and this means that they have a better chance of getting the type of loan that they really need.

What is your task now?

Now you have an idea how financial blogs can help you and it is your duty to find the one that fits to your interests. Check the most popular ones that are rich in comments. These comments will help you a lot and guide you to shorten your learning curve.

What would be my final significant tip for you?

It is really a good idea to be an active member in one of the online forums. This would help you to know others' mistakes and make the best use of your membership. In addition, you can find a complete guide about where to start to avoid wasting your time and energy. - 29971

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Long Term Care Insurance protects Senior Citizens

By Terry Stanfield

How does a long term care insurance policy protect Senior Citizens? Lets take a few minutes to look at this. Life is a journey full of surprises! No one knows exactly what the future holds. You worked hard to save and invest wisely for retirement. And, though it's impossible to predict what lies ahead, we can gain some control of the future by examining our lives and finding solutions that will protect our independence. The reality of life is that, despite everything you do to take care of yourself, your chances of needing long-term care steadily increase over time. The costs that go along with long-term care can exhaust your savings and impact your standard of living along with your independence. Fortunately, there's a solution. With long term care insurance, you can help ensure that if you ever need long-term care, you'll be better able to pay for it and help protect your family, your assets and remain in control of your future!

American's are living longer, leading healthier lives than ever before. We know what is healthy for us and what is not. We have access to medical advances and care that with each passing day we hear about another person celebrating their 100th birthday. Most never expected to live that long. Have you thought about living a long life and the financial and emotional risk associated with long term care? Chances are, you or someone you know has faced the issues involved with caring for a family member. Long Term care is the ongoing care for a chronic, long term illness or disability such as Alzheimer's, a broken hip or an inability to perform Activities of Daily Living (ADL's). Long Term care can include home health care, supervised adult day care, assisted living, residential care, respite care and nursing care.

When it comes to long term care, evaluate the impact on yourself and your family. Would you be able to stay at home to care for yourself or would your family care for you at home? How will you pay for it? Families often bear the burden. The majority of long-term care is provided by unpaid family caregivers to seniors living in their own homes or with their families. Discovering the benefits of long-term care insurance will help ensure your financial security and independence.

Reasons to own a Long Term Care Policy:

1. You can have a professional plan and coordinate your care at home. 2. Your family can be a part of your care plan, but they don't have to be the planners. 3. You will have the money to pay for the care without depleting your nest egg. 4. Your loved ones can carry on with their jobs and own family commitments. 5. Your family will help out of love instead of out of feelings of obligation. 6. You will have the funds to be better able to choose your own facility or stay at home, whichever is more appropriate. 7. You may be able to stay in your own home longer. 8. You may be able to stay with your children without depending on them for all of your care. There will be less strife between family members. One person won't have the sole responsibility of caring for you.

How does a LTCi policy protect Senior Citizens? by protecting your independence and family's well-being. Including Long Term Care Insurance (LTCi) in your financial plans is an important step toward making sure the high cost of long-term care doesn't take your choices away. Work with a Long Term Care Specialist who can answer your questions and help you obtain affordable protection best suited for your needs today! - 29971

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Home Business Opportunities Online

By Ericka Morrow

Home business opportunities abound on the Internet and there is just so much out there that there is something for almost everyone, regardless of their set of skills or knowledge of how the Internet works. You should be able to find something.

They certainly are there and with some patience and of course a degree of enthusiasm to be able to work at home and choose your working hours, is all that you really need. However, you should also not expect to quit your day job overnight. There are unscrupulous advertisers who claim that you can literally make hundreds of dollars per minute you start using their program. This is not true.

Genuine home business opportunities rely on a certain element of hard work, at least to begin with. However, in the longer term, you can make a lot more money than you would with any normal day job and also have a much more secure a income.

To make a decent amount of money from the Internet, it is a good idea to have multiple streams of income. These streams of income can be spanned over all sorts of different areas. For example, you can have money coming in from affiliate programs, more money coming in from advertising programmes and more coming from paid surveys.

Most of the money making ventures on the Internet involve some form of marketing and advertising. Whatever you do, you will no doubt be involved in certain aspects of marketing. Just a name a few popular possibilities, affiliate programs, advertising revenue, online surveys and freelancing are all very popular things.

However, to optimise your home based income, you really do need to have as many different streams of income as possible. Regardless of what your website is used for, it is a very good idea, for example, to use pay per click advertising on it and various other forms of advertising such as text link sales and others.

There you can get somebody to design your money making webpage for you, it will cost a lot of money and this is not necessarily required. You can design your own web page by using software which has a shallow learning curve and will be able to get you online very quickly.

If you are prepared to put the tie them into finding a good sites and providers, you might also want to consider doing online surveys. Online surveys can paid generous amount of money but it should generally only be considered as a secondary stream of income. Although you get paid a lot of money per hour, you will only ever get a limited number of surveys sent you per month, entirely depending on how many companies you sign up for.

If you want to start making money right away, then you might want to consider freelancing. If you already have a knowledge of web design, or a happy to do freelance writing, you should be able to find jobs very quickly which make paid by the week or even by the day. Much less risky, this is an opportunity that suits a large number of people. - 29971

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International Student Loan for Students Studying Abroad

By Charles Gloson

Were you planning to study abroad this year, but haven't been able to work out the financial part? Don't get discouraged. Approximately 175,000 other students are, also, planning to study abroad, and many of them are facing the same difficulty that you. There is a much higher financial commitment when you study abroad. Why not join the ranks, and apply for an international student loan?

Many of the students who study abroad apply for grants and scholarships, but even when they receive one, it doesn't pay for all of their expenses. The advantage of an international loan is that it will pay for all of your university expenses minus the grants or scholarships you have received.

The qualifications for an international loan are: Be enrolled full time and be working toward a degree in an approved foreign university or be enrolled part time for a short period of study with plans to earn your degree from a university in the United States. You will, also, need a FAFSA pin number. You can apply for that pin number on-line.

There are two types of international loans: federal loans and private loans. Most financial advisors advise their customers to obtain all of the grants, scholarships and federal loans that they can get before applying for a private loan. Private loans usually carry higher interest rates than federal loans.

Stafford loans are the most popular type of federal international loan. Both graduate students and undergraduate students can apply. Make sure the school you choose is on the approved list for international schools, and ask them to show that you have a financial need.

If you don't want to make payments while you are in school and for six months after you graduate, then apply for a Stafford loan. They even give you the benefit of paying your loan back early without charging you any extra. You can, also, follow and manage your account on-line. They will not do a credit check on you.

If you are a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident, you can qualify for an international student loan. Find an approved foreign college or university and begin the application process as soon as you can. - 29971

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Benefits & Drawbacks Of Low Cost Health Insurance

By J.D Theis

Low cost health insurance need not be better of worse than an all frills health insurance package. This is something that every one of us needs to keep in mind before we think about getting insurance. It all boils down to how much research you have done into the subject and what exactly you want from your health insurance.

The most obvious benefit of having low cost health insurance is the cost. You do not have to worry about the regular payments that you have to make out in the name of premium.

So what is low cost health insurance?

Low cost health insurance is that health insurance for which you do not need to pay as much as a all frill or full benefits health insurance.

How can you get low cost health insurance?

There is no such thing as low cost health insurance. It is about the choices you make. There is something known as fee for service health insurance. This provides a lot of flexibility and convenience, but is not cost effective. So remove this from your mind if you want a low cost health insurance.

The other two types of health insurance are managed care and HMO or health management organizations. We will first try and understand managed care.

Managed care is the cheapest of the lot and offers the least flexibility. In this type of health insurance, you need to get the prior permission from your insurance company before you even go for your treatment. This impedes the control that you have over your health care as you have to go only to those places recommended by your health insurance company.

The HMO's are slightly if not largely better. They are insurance companies with affiliation to hospitals and doctors. Sometimes, they will also have their own centralized health care facilities which will provide all sorts of health care related services under one roof. This is a good option, because you will have access to frequent check ups and tests. And the insurance company makes sure that your ailments do not lead to further complications. This would be a cheap and yet effective health care service.

So what are the drawbacks of this low cost health insurance?

Well, you would have to give up a few conveniences like being able to visit your neighborhood doctor. And you will also have to travel a long distance to the central health care facility. You might also end up spending a little more time than you would with a fee for service type of health care. - 29971

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The Keys to Prospecting Success

By Strong Vasquez

Ever notice how difficult it is to start a project? Then once you start it, it easily becomes a creature of habit. Take for example an exercise program. We keep putting it off but once we start, we ask ourselves, "why didn't do this earlier?" We seem to have the same mindset with proactive prospecting. We continue to find excuses not to prospect even though we know how productive and the positive results that will come from it. So why is it that we will make every excuse in the world not to do it?

Make an appointment with yourself for one hour each day to prospect using your sphere of influence. Prospecting, like anything else, requires discipline. (Seems like prospecting can always be put off until a later day when the circumstances will be better.) Make an appointment with yourself each day to prospect.

Know ahead of time exactly what you are going to say or discuss when you call someone. It is good to have a specific message. Most people are very interested in market conditions for example. Maybe they have misunderstood something in the news or need further explaining. This is where you can become the "expert", and provide them with a more accurate image of the situation.

Make as many contacts as possible. Before prospecting, you should always take the time to properly define your target market, and try to reach as many of those people as possible.

Be prepared with a list of names from your personal Sphere of Influence before you call. Not being prepared with a list of names will force you to devote much, if not all of your prospecting hour, to finding the names you need. Have at least a one month supply of names on hand at all times.

Work without interruption. Do not take calls or schedule meetings during your scheduled prospecting time. Take full advantage of the prospecting learning curveas with any repetitive task, the more often you repeat it during a contiguous block of time, the better you become. Prospecting is no exception to the rule. Your second call will be better than your first, your third better than the second, and so on.

When calling, decide on a time slot and try to stick with it. Maybe 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM or 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM. There will be customers that seem impossible to get a hold of. You will have to set aside another time of day and try to call those customers. We are all creatures of habit (Hint). They are probably in a routine between a certain timeframe, so you need to try and catch them at a different time or different day.

Don't stop. Persistence is one of the key virtues in selling success. Most sales/valuable contacts are made after the fifth call, and most sales people quit after the first. - 29971

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Bad Credit Auto Loans For People With Credit Problems

By Frank Falco

Auto loans for people with bad credit

Fast car loans online

People who have credit problems may find it very hard to get an auto loan with bad credit, especially when the lenders in this economy are closing the doors on people everyday. If this is something that has happened to you before, and you considered just giving up trying to get that auto loan with bad credit that you need, you should think again! For over a decade DrCarLoan.com has been helping people get the bad credit car loans they deserve even if they have poor credit. Not only are we experts in getting you approved for bad credit financing online but we also can make it happen very quickly.

Not getting approved for an auto loan for people with bad credit car be a bit embarrassing at times. No-one wants to get turned away for a car loan, especially in this day and age! DrCarLoan.com has been in business for years and we are considered experts in the field of auto financing for people with credit problems. We help you get the car loan you need fast, easy and without the hassle of waiting around. We can help you get the auto loan you need fast!

We consider ourselves set apart from other online auto loan services because of the way we deal with our customers. We appreciate your decision to work with us and try to show you our appreciation by working diligently on your online auto loan. We try and minimize the paperwork nightmare that usually follows when trying to get a bad credit auto loan. We usually have you driving out within 24 hours with a new car. We also are know to get people very competitive interest rates on auto loans for people with bad credit.

While most dealers will reject your application for auto loans for people with bad credit, there are many such dealers who can provide these types of auto loans. But you may not know where to find them. So we do the needful and forward your application to the dealers who might be able to provide you the auto loans for people with bad credit. These fast car loans online are easy to avail and save you the trouble of running around from one dealer to the other.

So apply for a fast car loan online today with DrCarLoan.com and let us help you get the car loan you deserve. We can help you get an affordable monthly payment, with a competitive auto loan interest rate. Its fast and the auto loan application only takes 60 seconds to complete. - 29971

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Know More about Personal Checks

By Jette Smith

Having your money with you as you stroll along the streets is a hazardous act since there is always the chance of getting mugged. And using credit cards is also dangerous because of scams and frauds. So really, nothing is better than using good, old-fashioned checks. Its safe, secure, and most of all, its stylish. There is just something about bringing out that checkbook and affixing your signature with a flourish that is incredibly suave, especially if your checks are personalized.

Defining Personal Checks:

Personal Checks, as the name implies, are checks that have been customized to suit a persons taste or style. Almost any design can be used for personal checks. You can have them printed with your favorite cartoon characters or you might like to go for a simple floral design or go for an adorable design with ribbons and baby animals. You can have your own picture printed on it or maybe your school seal. Or, if you want, you can show your support for your favorite band or favorite sports team by having their emblem printed on your checks.

Its up to you, really. The possibilities are certainly limitless. But whats really great about personal checks is that it provides you defense from fraud. If people know that you use a certain type of check for your dealings, then they are more likely to be suspicious if one has your name on it but has a different design.

Personal Checks also have different kinds. There are top-stub checks in which you will have a stub to write details about the transaction. There are also duplicate checks, which a lot of people prefer because of their handiness. With duplicate checks, you can get an instant copy of the check you just made at the next page. This way, you can easily keep track of all your transactions. And you will not get confused by your finances.

Where Can You Get Personal Checks?

There are many places where you can get a customized check. First, you could approach your city's printing press. They might be able to give you the service you need. But there is no assurance in that. The easier way would be to find a company that prints personal checks in the net. There are many companies that provide this service and you wont have trouble at all in looking for one. - 29971

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An Overview Of The Healthcare Job Market

By J. D Theis

The global healthcare industry is currently witnessing a revolution of sorts. There was a time when just doctors would be the only people dealing with the health of a person. But now that is slowly but surely being changed. There are a lot of ancillary jobs that are opening up and fine tuning the system.

We shall now look at what sort of jobs are out there. A doctor is now a person who diagnoses a condition and if necessary prescribes drugs and also conducts medical operating procedures.

A pharmacist is the person who actually invents the drug. This is known as drug discovery. But it is not only the pharmacist who does this. There are a lot of other allied streams of science which are also into drug discovery. And this is good because it makes it all the more better for the future of medicine.

There are biotechnologist, biochemists, and microbiologists who work on the cause and effect of diseases. They provide valuable inputs to the pharmacists who can actually concoct the drugs. Previously, doctors were the only people who were doing all this work. Lots of colleges and universities are offering each of these streams as a separate course.

There are others who work on the medical equipment. This includes biophysicists, radiologists, nuclear engineers, mechanical engineers, biomedical engineers and so on. They actually study the physical interaction between the machine and man. These machines could include artificial hearts, respirators, kidneys, and blood transfusion machines. And then there are X ray machines and even bio mechanical devices like artificial arms and legs called as prosthetic limbs.

There are also people working on the very code of human life. The DNA is the building block of humans. If this puzzle is solved, we can change our very perception of cure and medicine. There are genetic engineers, and computer engineers working in tandem to solve the complex structure of the human DNA chain.

And then there are also people who support doctors. Like nurses, physiologists, dentists, and other specialized streams. The health insurance industry is also huge these days. There are insurance agents who are actually doctors and they conduct tests to determine how sick a person is before getting them insured. There are allied streams like medical auditors, hospital managers, and medical risk analysts. All of these people are necessary for the smooth functioning of the system as it is now. - 29971

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Tips To Choose Good Individual Insurance

By J.D Theis

Hunting for good insurance policies is a long and stressful chore. There is no avoiding all the things that you have to do to get one. But there are a few steps you can take to make a bit easier, and you might in fact know most of what we are going to discuss. Implementing it is important.

The following are some tips to get good individual insurance,

The first step you must take would be to look for it over the internet. There are a lot of websites, belonging to both insurance companies and third party vendors that provide health insurance quotes for your individual needs. Go online and fill up your details to get a personalized health insurance quote from the insurance company. It's absolutely free; you do not have to pay any charges for your insurance quote. You don't even have to go around visiting insurance offices anymore, you can do it all from the comfort of your home. That is the power of technology.

Once you have done this, the next step is to talk to family and friends about health insurance. A lot of people would have gone through filing claims and getting check ups from health care facilities. These people will be able to guide you as to what you must do. They can tell you about their experiences in dealing with their health insurance company. And they will not be biased as they do not have anything to lose or gain by telling you to go to any one insurance company.

You can also try asking people who work in insurance companies. If they are really close to you and do not want to make a sale, they will be able to give you an insider's view point to the goings on in an insurance company.

The last step is that you must actually go and visit the health insurance offices. Or you can even call and ask for an agent to meet you at a time and place of your convenience. The agent will discuss the various options that you have and give you an idea of how to go about getting your individual health insurance policy.

But do remember, it is cheaper to get a family health insurance policy than an individual one. If you have a family, it is better to join their insurance plan rather than pay a separate premium. - 29971

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Take Your Company Public: Software Companies Can Raise Capital Fast!

By James Scott

Are you trying to raise capital for your start-up or corporation in expansion? Have you exhausted your traditional institutional sources and hedge fund contacts? Don't lose hope just yet! First of all, take all those pamphlets and brochures from banks and other traditional lenders that are lying all over your desk and toss them in the trash...they are absolutely useless.

Banks don't have your company's best interest in mind as they are hardly even staying afloat in this economy. Today's institutional financier isn't qualified to run a bath let alone a bank. Don't put your future in the untested hands of a 20 something knucklehead. After you've tossed all that useless info in the trash, clear your head and then look at your company and ask yourself a few tough questions: Is your company invest-able? Do you and your executive staff have a pedigree that investors deem as seasoned enough to take their money and make affective use of it and not lose it? What proprietary concepts/technology/patents do you have that give you a larger market share with the proper cash infusion? What is your current capital/debt situation?

If, after pondering these questions you've come to the conclusion you honestly, truly have something worth pursuing then the next step is to look at the reality that your company is worthy of a public offering. Stay away from Pink Sheets and be weary of reverse mergers and in reality your company won't qualify for the NASDAQ so the quickest way to raise public capital is the OTCBB (over the counter bulletin boards).

OTCBB is an SEC regulated platform that has a solid investor following and market makers that can effectively promote your stock to rapidly raise capital. Don't let these difficult economic times steal your dreams of corporate prosperity and personal growth.

If you have a solid business concept, there is a way to fund it. Look into the OTCBB, it's your best bet for an inexpensive public offering with a direct path to long term funding. - 29971

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3 Very Important Factors When Selecting the Best Credit Card Processing Service for your Small Business

By Alexander C. Hemenway

It can be a daunting task to choose a credit card processing service for your company. The industry is convoluted and can be complicated to understand. Here are 3 simple things to look for when choosing a merchant account provider.

What are the Costs

Cost is probably the most important factor when selecting a processing company. There are 2 main types of fees, Transactional Fees and Monthly Fees. In terms of monthly fees, pay attention for the monthly statement fee (around $10), monthly minimum fee(between $15-30), and if you are doing credit card processing over the internet the monthly payment gateway fee (between $10-$20).

Important transactional fees to consider are the discount rate fee (in the 2% range) and the account provider transaction fee (about 20-30 each transaction) and the address verification fee (5 cents each time).

Account Setup Ease and Speed

Being able to quickly and easily setup the credit card account is the next most important item to consider. Take note of the Average Approval Rating when shopping around. It is a metric that measures what percentage of merchants gets approved for credit card processing, the higher the better.

Another important service related item is how long it takes for the service provider to setup your account. The better ones can do this in 2 days. Also, pay attention to how long it takes for the money to settle into your account. A good provider can do this in about 2 days, obviously the quicker you get your money the better.

Customer Service and Features

Having access to good customer support for your merchant account can save you a lot of hassle. Find out if customer service is available 24/7, whether they have phone, instant message and email based support.

If you do business from a "brick and mortar" establishment you will need to check if the credit card service provider includes and Point of Service system to swipe credit cards.

Some due diligence in the areas of cost, setting up the account and customer service can result in finding the best credit card provider for your business. - 29971

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Take Your Business Public: How To Find a Consultant That Can Make The Process Fast and Easy

By James Scott

So many companies dream of going public to raise massive amounts of capital, as set up for an exit strategy, to make acquisitions with stock and for many other reasons. While your intentions may be pure and with genuine motives, you're entering shark infested waters of boiler rooms, crooked attorneys and underbelly consultants who have made careers off of taking well intentioned executives just like you for a 24 month rollercoaster ride while they take every penny you have as your company shrivels up like week old road kill.

Just and honest consultants in the 'public offering' industry are as rare as the illusive white elephant. This industry exists in a cesspool surrounded by rose gardens; from afar it looks amazing and an image of a dreamland but get up and close and the sludge and odor are enough to make you run and hide. So what do you look for in a consultant? The best consulting firms are the 'boutique firms' with minimal overhead that keep a low profile and are made up of 3 or 4 'partner' consultants.

These firms typically have the experience of working with the large consulting groups but for one reason or another have decided to leave and go out on their own. The great thing is, these small groups typically have massive contacts and process your entire public offering in-house. Offering a complete turn-key solution that is managed in-house offers a huge advantage because there is accountability and you can actually build a relationship with the people that are making your dream of a public offering come true.

These 'boutique' consultants will usually stay onboard as growth consultants for the life of the company in exchange for modest fees and a pre-IPO or pre-OTCBB equity position. The large firms will hack you out at the knees and gouge you with fees while they take massive amounts of equity in your company which takes away your bartering chip when you need to offer more stock to the public to raise capital.

The small firms will also work one on one with you to show you how to use your stock to grow through acquisition and other nifty ways to use stock to grow. Seek out the boutique consulting firm and save the attorney for spot audits. Hold on to your cash. Why pay outrageous fees to lawyers when you can pay 60% less with a small consulting firm that will add all the bells and whistles for free and actually get your stock trading, usually in half the time? - 29971

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How To Take Your Company Public

By James Scott

There are several reasons why a company would decide to go public; here are some of the advantages. Liquidity is a popular reason for going public via OTCBB or IPO, many global lenders and private equity groups will lend against stock collateral. Private companies lose time jumping through hoops with various FICO driven line of credit and lending programs with outrageous interest rates while a public company can strategically offer stock for sale or collateral. Run a solid company with growth and a sea of content stock holders and you've got your own cash register to grow your company.

Another popular reason for going public is to offer stock options to key employees which creates and retains loyalty while reducing cost of compensation. There is no better way to have employees go the extra mile day in and day out than rewarding them with a piece of the company. Stock options are also a way to attract those prized executives that are in demand.

Having a public company allows massive buying power from the perspective of growth through acquisition. Find a company that is the perfect strategic alliance and buy them with company stock. This method of expansion has served the interests of top tier companies since Standard Oil.

What about those companies owned by an individual or a close knit group of entrepreneurs who are getting up there in age and need to start thinking about an exit strategy? Public companies demand higher sale prices and sell faster because of the flexibility of the structure. We could go on and on about the advantages of going public.

Start-up companies wishing to investigate this concept of fundraising you may want to consider the OTCBB, this is a solid and regulated formation to trade your stock publicly with stock holder confidence as opposed to a lesser trusted option called Pink Sheets. For corporations with some age and capital and IPO may be the best way to go, though this process is expensive and can take more than a year, it's worth it for the right - 29971

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Finding Reliable Investments In Real Estate Properties

By Chris Channing

Few business categories thrive in a recessive economy. Real estate, when invested into properly, is one of the few forms of investment that can pose good returns on profit in a faltering market. The trick is to know how to determine which properties are worth the effort, and which are going to cause hardship.

Supply and demand works for real estate, and is influenced by the season, community developments, and the value of the surrounding neighborhood. Each variable can change from one season or one year to another. It's best to find real estate in a community you are familiar with for this reason, as you will be better able to judge the chances at garnering interest in a home.

House "flipping" is another way to make money if you are handy with construction and renovation. Home flipping can take several months to complete, so it's not the ideal solution for those with a full time job. Good real estate candidates for this type of investment would include homes that have exterior problems- such as needing paint, siding, or minor repairs.

Most investors want money quick, so they focus on short-term investments. The wise investors do consider short term investments, but also align their money-making interests with projects of the future. For instance, it is much more profitable to get a real estate plot outside a popular region for less money. In 5-10 years, the region grows, and the property can be sold much higher than what was originally paid.

Learn the tricks of the trade of inspectors and real estate brokers- then promptly cut them out as middle men. You make higher profits when you yourself do most of the work, and the reward is going to be that much greater. If you only plan on investing in a single property, this isn't such an important aspect, but otherwise this strategy can save thousands over the years of your investment portfolio.

The type of mortgage you obtain to finance a real estate property will directly influence your profit from the ordeal. The 100% mortgage is an example of how you can get started immediately in investing without money down, but may be subject to higher fees. Other types of mortgages may even include joining a money market or currency exchange program, which may lower overall costs. Loan officers are happy to help suggest ideas on saving money if approved.

Closing Comments

It's true that getting into real estate without knowing much about it can be a disaster. Starting small, educating yourself, and becoming certified in various fields of real estate topics is a good way to start. Be cautious in first investments- they are most likely to fail than subsequent ones. - 29971

The Starters Guide To Medical Insurance

By J.D Theis

Medical insurance is not rocket science. All it takes to get a good and affordable medical insurance is to do your home work well and a little bit of common sense.

There are two general types of medical insurance, family health insurance and individual health insurance. Family health insurance provides coverage for the entire family, but the policy is held by a single person. And also the cost of the insurance policy on a per person basis is much lower than an individual health insurance policy.

The other major types of health insurance policies are as follows. The fee for service health insurance policy provides for a great amount of flexibility but at the same time costs much more than most of the other policies. The benefit of this type of health insurance policy is that you can get treated first and then worry about your reimbursement. You do not need the approval of your health insurance company in order to get treatment from a hospital or doctor. The health care is your choice. All you have to do is attach the bills and submit them to the insurance company for reimbursement.

The other type of health insurance is the HMO or health management organizations. These are insurance companies which own health care facilities or are affiliated to some of them. All you have to do is get admitted or gain treatment at any one of these affiliated organizations and you will automatically be covered for it. You do not need to send the bills over to the insurance company. The health care facility will automatically do that for you. All you have to do is show your card when you get admitted. The only hassle with this type of service is that you will have to travel to the central health care facility in order to get your treatment. The greatest advantage is that the health insurance company will make sure that your ailments do not get aggravated and lead to complications, because then they must pay for it.

The last type of health insurance is managed care. This is a type of health insurance where you do not have control over your health needs. You must have prior consent from your insurance company before you even get admitted or treated. You need to contact you health insurance Company for even getting simple check ups. And you must and should go to the places recommended by the insurance company. You are not allowed to make your own choice. But it is the cheapest type of health insurance available. - 29971

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Meaning Of Using A Mortgage Rate Calculator.

By Jim Scott

Your dream house may not be everyone else idea of "Home, Sweet Home," but it's going to be all yours. Now if you can just figure out how to finance that bit of real estate. Not wanting to leave any stone unturned, you're on this site to get some background for your decision. One kind of mortgage calculator ("how much house can I afford" type) takes a look at your budget and, with your input, works out how much you can afford to pay, either monthly or annually. Some are not comprehensive enough to take into account taxes, insurance and the increased costs of home ownership.

Mortgage and loan calculators are tools to use when you want to know how much a loan will cost you. To use a mortgage calculator is one of the first steps in the mortgage process. First, find out what kind of mortgage works best for you. There are many choices for you. You can chose a fixed rate mortgage or an adjustable rate mortgage. Then use these mortgage calculators to determine the amount of mortgage you can afford. You can also choose to determine your new monthly mortgage payments. Mortgage calculators can also be used to calculate payments on debt consolidation mortgage loans and see your monthly savings.

Using the mortgage calculator, you can input these factors individually and see what happens to your bottom line. A small additional prepayment to your regular mortgage payment may be what pushes you over the top. A prepayment mortgage calculator can show you what it means over the life of your note. The beauty of the prepayment is that it is optional, not contractual. Unlike an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM), you are not locked in to an increase every one to five years. You're only responsible to make the original mortgage payment.

However, be aware that you should not count credit card payments if you pay off your balance each month without ever owing interest. Debts such as your current housing expenses, such as your rent or mortgage, should not be included the mortgage calculator. When you come to the option for the interest rate, you can either choose the default value or input your own. Be aware that a mortgage calculator wont produce accurate results if you use a rate on a 15-year loan or on a one-year ARM. The default value given is based on the current 30-year fixed rate with only one point.

When you decide to use a mortgage calculator like Mortgage Rate Calculator you will most certainly get accurate and good information about the actual loan. Just to make sure, enter the same figures in another company's calculator to check that the result is right. The figures are right of course but as an add on you can find that there are other options for a loan with that company. Do several searches to find the best possible. There can be a big difference and you can save very much if you do your calculations carefully. - 29971

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Intuit - Affordable New Tax Preparer's Software For Small and Home Based Businesses Preparers

By Sandor Lenner,CPA

During 2009, Intuit released a web based tax software, Intuit ProLine(TM) Tax Online Edition (beta) for preparers of tax returns and those individuals that need a comprehensive, low-cost and Web based 1040 tax program. This tax software is designed for low-volume tax preparers whose client base does not justify a more expensive PC or networked tax software. As is the case for many other web-based software programs, and similar to QuickBooks Online Basic and Plus versions, this program permits the tax preparers to work any time from anywhere with web access. Intuit has been in the tax business for many years and has its tax brands of TurboTax,Pro Series ,and Lacerte. Intuit is able to understand its customers' needs and has taken a pro active step towards "cloud computing" and this tax software is just another example of a Web enabled program.

How it Works- Behind this program is the concept of simplicity, and Intuit accomplishes this by setting up 3 basic workspaces for the tax preparer. These workspaces are "input"," review" and "file". The "input" workspace is where the preparer enters tax information such as W-2, 1099, Schedule A and B,etc ..It is easy to find the proper form. When you open up the form you're able to make multiple data entries by using a list and total feature in the software. The second workspace, is the "review" section which provides the preparer with a diagnostics summary and a list of tax suggestions. The third workspace, is "file", which permits the tax preparer to electronically file the return or to print out the tax return for manual transmission to the IRS.

It's interesting to note another reason for the creation of this software. Over the years, many small and home based tax preparers have purchased and used TurboTax software, and despite the controls embedded in the software limiting multiple use, some preparers have been able to "pirate" the software to prepare hundreds of tax returns by using TurboTax. So to capture this market, Intuit designed a low cost tax preparation software for an individual that wants to legally prepare tax returns, for instance on the kitchen table at a client's home or their own kitchen or from anywhere with web access. The value proposition here, is that this software is affordable and easy to use. Although the website currently offers the software for 2008 for no cost, I've been informally told that Intuit will offer the software on a pay per use basis of $16 per tax return. This price is currently not finalized nor reflected in the Intuit website. So for the tax preparers whose practice does not justify the purchase of the Pro Series or Lacerte brands, then this software becomes a viable and affordable alternative.

Some of the features of the software include the following: (a) 1040 only- single user (b) Pay per return (c) E - file or paper file for two states. It is expected that by the end of the 4th quarter 2009 that filing will be available for most of the other states. (d) Data conversion (e) Status tracking with the IRS (f) Notes and listing features and totaling capabilities embedded in the various forms and schedules(g) Diagnostics and suggestions and (h) Support from Intuit

Despite the hundreds of users that have beta tested this software, there are invariably issues arising from any new release and only with time, can the software achieve the goals of its developer. Also, similar to other web enabled software, the connection and performance may be dependent on the web connection, and may result in sluggish performance. Notwithstanding, the web-enabled software, there are taxpayer's homes, that may not have web access which would preclude the tax preparer from entering the tax information "on the fly". Not a great problem, since there are althernatives, such as entering the data at a later date, into the software.

I commend Intuit for producing a web-based tax preparer software for new low volume users as well as making it easy for those individuals that have used "pirated" versions of TurboTax in the past, to legally use a low-cost and affordable tax software. - 29971

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A Student Loan Refinance Keeps Money in Your Pocket

By Michael Considine

Most of us have gotten to the end of our educations with a huge amount of debt in student loans. Usually, they are with multiple lenders and at multiple interest rates. If you are in this situation, you will probably benefit by getting a student loan refinance.

When you refinance your student loans, you consolidate them into one, usually at a lower interest rate. You may also pay back your loan over a longer period of time. Both of these will result in a lower monthly payment. Bear in mind, though, extending the length of your loan repayment will result in you paying more money when you are done.

You will get the best deal if you go through the consolidation process while still in your repayment grace period. After graduating, you should have six months before repayment starts. Start doing your research before the end of this six months so you can make your decision prior to when your first payment is due.

There are many companies offering student loan refinancing, and offers seem to be thrown at you daily. However, some of these companies are not reputable and may end up costing you more. Check that the companies you are considering are licensed. You might also ask for recommendations from friends who have already been through the process.

Make a list of the student loans you have and their interest rates. You will need this information handy anyway for consolidating them. If you have both private and Federal loans, you will probably lose money by including the federal ones as they generally have a much lower interest rate already. Therefore, it is best to look into consolidating the two types separately.

Request a copy of your credit report. Loan decisions are partially based on credit history. If yours is bad, you will probably not be offered as good an interest rate. Do what you can to improve your credit rating before you go through your consolidation process.

As you are making your comparisons, check into what incentives are available with each company. There are often discounts, such as when you regularly make payments on time, or for making automatic payments.

Do you research carefully ahead of time, as you can normally only refinance your loans once. You need to be sure you have the best deal you can get. Also observe the customer service you are receiving. Some companies are impossible to get on the phone, for example.

It is far too easy to accumulate debt going through school. Most of us do not really think about the day we need to repay them until it arrives. And that day comes more quickly than you are planning on. Do your research now and decide on your best option for a student loan refinance before you are at the repayment stage. - 29971

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Fixed Annuity Insurance - Things to Consider When Choosing the Best Annuity

By John C. Ryan

A fixed annuity may sound confusing at first but if you understand how a CD works at a bank, you have the basic knowledge for fixed annuities. Annuities have other features besides a rate guarantee that make it an interesting choice over a CD. There's a little more information to look at to see if this type of investment vehicle is right for you.

Fixed annuities are also called immediate or deferred annuities. The difference lies in how you use the product. A person that wants a deferred annuity uses it more like a CD. They don't take payments from it. The immediate annuity converts to payments over a specific number of years, for a specific amount or payments that you'll never outlive. Some people like a guarantee that their heirs get any unused principal. That's available too.

The tax-deferred interest is a real plus for those saving for retirement, but as with any benefit has negatives also. If you put the money into a deferred fixed annuity and suddenly realize that you need funds, you have a ten percent penalty to pay on the growth you remove if you're not yet 59 . The tax laws do allow you to take substantial periodic payments penalty-free. The payments must last until you're 59 or at least for 5 years.

Penalties for early removal of money don't stop with the IRS, insurance companies impose them too. Just like a CD, a fixed annuity has an early withdrawal penalty. It often ranges between four and seven percent. This normally gets smaller the longer you wait to take money and eventually disappears on most contracts. Some contracts, particularly those that pay a high rate, always have a surrender fee unless you annuitize. Occasionally they impose the same fee on beneficiaries. If you plan to take payments, it's not a problem.

There are exceptions to the surrender charge. Many contracts offer the ability to remove funds of as much as ten percent without penalty. This amount may be available each year or once for the life of the contract. Almost every annuity allows you to take the interest penalty free each year and some people use the annuities that way, just as they'd use a CD.

Annuity taxation occurs in two ways. If you remove the money from a fixed annuity in a lump sum as a withdrawal, the government taxes it with LIFO rules. This means, last in, first out. Since the last in is always interest, you pay taxes on the interest you withdraw. Unlike a CD, where even if you reinvest the money, you still pay taxes, you only have taxation of annuity interest once you remove it.

Immediate annuities use a different, favorable set of rules. The good news is that if you decide to annuitize a deferred annuity, you get the favorable tax treatment. The tax law indicates that part of the payment on systematic payment for fixed annuities is principal and part of it is interest. This allows you to spread the taxable growth out over several tax years.

The calculation comes from your life expectancy and the amount you'll receive in payments over that lifetime. If you make an initial deposit of $100,000, with a life expectancy of 25 years and annual payment of $10,000, you'll make $250,000 (25 times $10,000) with $150,000 over your initial investment. Simply divide the initial investment of $100,000 by $250,000 and you'll get the exclusion rate of forty percent. That means you only pay taxes on $6,000 each year. If you've had the money in the fixed annuity and have big gains, it pays to spread it out over several years.

People often select fixed annuities because they either love the idea that they'll never outlive their money, find it a useful tax-planning tool or simply like the high rate and ease of use. Many financial planners suggest that individuals divide their funds into several different vehicles for higher returns and a safer investment strategy. Often seniors fin that a fixed annuity is a great way of establishing a base income in addition to social security or their pension. They know they'll never run out of money, have a higher payment than an interest payment and can allow other funds to grow at higher rates of return. - 29971

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Affiliate Marketers! Are You Learning Enough?

By Scott Price

If you're trying to make a full time income online as an affiliate then it's best to do so using free resources on the web. One of the most essential steps to becoming a successful affiliate marketer is to be constantly learning day after day. Learning something new day after day can help you to evolve into a much better marketer.

All great marketers constantly strive to learn new things day after day. A lot of them devote a certain time of the day to just reading marketing forums and replying to people's posts on these forums. There is a lot to be learned by reading through what other internet marketers have to say about certain topics.

What I like to do is I like to devote 1 hour each day to browsing internet marketing forums and responding to other marketers posts. I have a notebook beside my desk that I keep many posts that I found useful. When I find an informative post I will print it out and put it inside of my notebook so that I never forget the information.

Something else you can do to help your learning is be on a top internet marketers mailing list. They will probably sell you promotional emails every now and then trying to sell you something but most of the other emails are usually filled with excellent information. If you can keep yourself from purchasing everything that the marketer tries to sell you then this is an excellent way to obtain great information.

If you still feel like you would have trouble learning new things even with the tips above then you should look into signing up for a membership site that teaches you how to be a successful affiliate marketer. Most of these sites charge a monthly fee but the fee is well worth it for the information that some of these sites contain. - 29971

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Great Ways To Find Cheap Houses In Chicago

By Henry Jaramillo

The real estate market has plenty of cheap houses in chicago available for anyone interested in making an investment. Want to invest in your own property, then look out and you will find various options. If you want to find these properties, you can easily do that by looking through the many available markets.

You can look at various ways to make low cost investments including auctions and Bank REOs. You can familiarize yourself with these different funnels for real estate in order to bring in those numerous properties. The market is down and many auctions are taking place including properties that are foreclosed and properties owned by crisis-ridden homeowners. Homeowner auctions can be a great place to purchase properties at cheap prices and all you need to do is look out for them.

You can also look for bank-owned properties or Bank REOs. Visit your local bank and ask them if they have properties that they would want to sell at cheap rates. These are homes on foreclosure that did not sell on auctions. So, now the bank owns them and it is kept as part of its portfolio with a local trustee, such as an attorney.

You can also get your hands on cheap houses in chicago if you look for low cost homes with wholesalers. Other investors specialize in buying property and selling at wholesale prices to other investors. You can easily locate these investors since they give ads in newspapers saying that they are into selling or buying properties. If you want to search on the internet, you will also find their websites.

Get in touch with landlords who might be looking for buyers to sell their rentals to. Often, these investors with rental properties have various products that they are interested in selling. Often, these investors want to change properties and you can be the right buyer for them. Owners of rental properties are not very keen on holding onto houses that are old and tattered once the profit has been earned and are always looking for investors like you.

You will find many other avenues in the market to buy cheap houses in chicago. Use these tips to by your first house and then look for other markets in which to buy. If you are an investor, low cost real estate is an excellent avenue. - 29971

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What Are The Types Of Health Insurance Plans Available?

By J.D Theis

Health insurance is not just a very useful thing to have; it is a basic necessity for all. In fact there are a lot of countries where health insurance is compulsory. And there are others like the United Kingdom where health insurance is available to all the citizens free of cost. There are two basic types of health insurance. They are the family health insurance package and the individual health insurance package.

There are also many other types of plans. Let us take a look at what they are.

The first type is called managed care. This is the cheapest way of getting medical insurance. But it also gives you the least amount of flexibility. This type of insurance controls all your medical activities. Before you even enter a doctor's clinic, you must first have prior consent from your insurance provider. Only then will the insurance agency provide you with reimbursement for your medical expenses.

The other type is the fee for service medical insurance. This is the costliest type of medical insurance. In this type of policy, you would pay a monthly fee called a premium. And there is also a certain amount of money that is paid by you annually, known as deductibles. The fee for service type of medical insurance gives you the maximum amount of flexibility. You can choose which doctor or hospital you want to visit. And all you have to do is fill out some forms and attach the bills before you send them to the insurance agency.

The last type of medical insurance is HMO or health maintenance organizations. These are insurance companies which own a centralized health facility which can cater to all your needs. A few of them might also have doctors or clinics on contract, or that are affiliated to the insurance company. And you must and should choose your doctor from among the pool available under the company. There is not much flexibility in this deal because you might not find a doctor or clinic nearby which is under your insurance company.

But this type of medical insurance also has a lot of benefits. Firstly, it is a lot cheaper than going for the fee for service medical insurance. And a lot of people actually prefer HMO's because it is hassle free. You do not need to fill out forms to claim your reimbursement. You will be given a card which you can use to identify yourself whenever you go to the doctor. And the hospital will directly bill the insurance agency. You might have to pay a very small co-pay or co-insurance whenever you make a visit. - 29971

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Why You Should Use Unique Content To Build Your Affiliate Site

By Ron Cripps

Having good and relevant unique article content with your affiliate marketing campaigns helps to give you long term traffic and better search engine traffic. The information you are supplying should be directly relevant to the product or service you are promoting.This draws the searches to your sites informative articles, by doing this your affiliate links get more exposure which generally will generate more sales for you.

Many people will never even get square with their affiliate marketing efforts, its a tough business and you need to be mindful of this.There are some who are earning the lions share of commissions while others only see penny's in the dollar for their efforts. Always keep the Golden Rules of Affiliate Marketing in your mind and read them every day. Never stop searching for the top keywords that will draw potential or repeat customers to your site.

Once you have discovered the first profitable market find the next, always be on the look out for better and more effective keywords you can add to your list. Continue to rotate and write new content because the algorithm software of the major search engines will reward your site with better search engine positioning.

You must be thorough about testing and tracking. If you don't engage in tracking, you wont know which keywords are drawing in the business and your marketing efforts will be less effective. This means tracking everything including website copy or PPC (pay per click) ads. You should develop this data to refine your approach daily.

It's a never-ending story, and one that you'll be re-writing frequently. Keeping up on marketing industry trends is necessary. There are always articles in great quantity that will keep you well informed.

Go on the offense and test conversion tactics at every opportunity. Throw email advertising into the mix, investigate banner ads, classified ads, offline media, message boards, or anything you can think of. Use a article submission service to publish and circulate unique content to blogs and article directories with a link back to your site which will send leads and traffic through to you.

Make it a point to collect email addresses, and try different types of link headlines. You need to stay focused and remember that this is your business. If youre going to do well, you have to be on top of the affiliate marketing trends.

Affiliate marketing is not for the faint of heart. Sadly, too many people start out with the wrong attitude about what it takes to be a winner. Marketing other merchants products and services online can be challenging as well as rewarding, but theres a effortless formula that has to be followed - know the business and refine the game plan daily. It doesn't matter what the adventure is; they who succeed are the ones who are best prepared. - 29971

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Shared Equity or Shared Ownership Mortgages - Which One is Best for You?

By Jane Morgan

There are some distinct differences; with shared equity schemes, you purchase a share of the property, example 85%, the remaining 15% is owned by the builder or the Government. Shared ownership is different in as much as you will pay rent on the portion you don't own.

Yet another variation is in a share to buy mortgage. Rather than arranging a deal with a housing association or builder, individuals decide to get together and agree a share of the property. Normally, its family members or friends who decide to get together and purchase the property.

In other words, you still have a form of shared equity in that you do not own the whole property but have a share in it. The main difference is that you are sharing the joint ownership of the property with other private individuals rather than the Government.

How do you define a shared ownership mortgage?

These types of schemes work very well for buyers who are investing in their first property. You part own a property and part rent it. There is an added advantage that you only need a deposit for the percentage you are buying.

The rent calculation

Your mortgage broker will help to assess what you can afford and this is based on what housing association calculations, this really is about affordability!

As an example, rent was calculated as 211 pounds per month based on the share owned by the housing association. In this case the client would be paying a mortgage on top of this figure to a lender.

Are there any differences in mortgage products for these type of loans?

Best advice is to firstly find out what is available to you before looking for your new home. The unfortunate reality is that some lenders will consider shared equity or shared ownership and some will not.

Does what I earn affect my ability for a shared ownership deal?

How much you earn can sometimes affect whether you qualify for a shared ownership mortgages. It's always worth finding out first. I have had situations where clients had paid a non refundable mortgage booking fee only to find out later that they did not qualify!

Is there an easy way to determine the deposit needed?

There's no easy answer here as it depends on how much of the equity share you are buying. Some lenders will advance up to 95% of the loan to value of the share you purchase whereas others will not. Deposits will vary so you will need to check with your lender.

For example, if you bought a 25% share of a property valued at 210,000 pounds, then you would need a minimum deposit of 2625 pounds based on a 5% deposit rate, your share of the property would be 52,500 pounds. If you wanted to buy 50% then your share would be 10,5000 pounds and you would therefore need a minimum deposit of 5250 pounds.

Are mortgages for shared ownership easy or hard to get hold of?

No simple answer here, you will be assessed against the lenders criteria, if you are a good fit you will get a mortgage and if you aren't you wont. At any rate your mortgage broker should be able to advise you.

Lenders don't unfortunately have common requirements, they are normally very individual to each lender. Getting a loan can sometimes be fairly straightforward whereas at other times it is not.

We have a legal requirement to include the following statement:- Your home may be at risk if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

I have written several articles related to mortgages, you will find more dotted around the Internet. - 29971

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Single Moms Can Earn Their Money Working At Home

By James Fritz Carlson

Are you a single mother and you can't afford paying bills and buying your children what they need? You can't find a decent job or you don't want to let your children to a daycare center? Well, there's good news. You can earn enough money by working at home.

How to make money working at home

Avoid getting conned. There are a lot of companies who promise to give you a list of employees in exchange of a fee. Don't buy their words. The list they will give you is just a fake. Nobody on that list will hire you. Also stay away from companies that ask you to pay for equipments. You certainly know there are peoples who work from home and make a good profit too. You could be one of them if you're willing to work hard.

So, if you don't want to send your kids to a specialized children facility or you simply can't get a job you can opt for a home job.

You only have to write simple articles or reviews about some products. You can work when you want and you will be paid depending on how much you work.

You probably want to take care of your kids from home and don't want to put them in a daycare. Well what if you could do that and also afford to pay bills and buy everything you want wouldn't that be great? Think about the holidays and the happiness of your kids when you will give them the gifts they always wanted to get.

You could allow your children to attend lessons that you couldn't afford after you divorced. Your ex will probably wonder where you have so much money. Telling him that you earned it will probably leave him wordless. Your incomes could be even bigger them his.

Remember the days when you thought that having a family would be wonderful? Having enough time and money to spend with your children could bring those days back.

If you already tried to make money online but you failed you don't have to quit. Is not your fault you just picked the wrong product. The product you chosen was hiding important thing from you so thee was nothing you could do to earn anything.

A book is a good start especially if it gives you all the information you need. A video is even better and could really help you get going. - 29971

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Lessons In ETF Trading For Beginners

By Patrick Deaton

There will be a learning curve involved in becoming a successful ETF trader. A person will want to do the necessary research, take classes, and follow the websites, blogs, and forums of successful traders to learn the intricacies of ETF trading. When a person is learning to trade they will want to have a solid understanding of ETF and what to expect when they begin trading.

There are many Internet sites that offer information, materials, and courses on ETF trading. Some of these courses can be beneficial. However, it is important to do the research necessary to assure that the company or individual offering the book, course, or training is legitimate and has a history with ETF trading that will make the strategy or method they are teaching consistently effective.

The ETF industry is gaining popularity at a very fast rate. As more people and companies have learned of the many benefits and advantages of ETF training the industry has grown to almost twice the size it was in 2008. The flexibility offered to traders and the lower fees are just two of the benefits to traders in this market.

ETFs can be traded throughout the trading day. Unlike with mutual funds which can only be traded at the end of the day, this gives ETF traders a tremendous advantage and opportunity. Changes happen in fifteen second increments on the stock index. This means that a great deal of activity can happen during the day. This activity can provide a trader with opportunities to increase the gains and sell when it is most advantageous for them to do so.

Tracking an index like the S&P500 or MSCI EAFE makes ETFs very easy to work with. A unique symbol is given to each basket in ETF so that they can be easily identified. ETF values are based on the weighted average or price of the combined stocks and bond of the companies within a basket or sector. This can confuse some people who expect larger gains because they have not included the calculation for all stocks and bonds in their figures.

ETF traders are able to use all of the same orders as with other stocks. A trader can use a limit order, bracketed buy order, stop-loss order, etc. A great benefit of ETFs is the ability to short sell at any time. Stocks may not be sold short is the price of the stock is below it's last price. ETF traders can take advantage of a drop with a short sell when the trade is warranted without worrying about the last price of the stock.

Some people who are just learning about ETF trading have had an option for ETF included in their retirement portfolio. Many large companies are finding that long term ETF trading provide a steady growth at a low risk to the portfolio of the investor. Some of these companies are buying creation units to allow for more diversification within their programs.

Learning about ETF before one begins ETF trading will be very advantageous. An individual will find that the structure, methods and strategies for trading will be much easier to navigate with a solid foundation of knowledge regarding ETF. Talking with an individual who knows ETF, ETF trading, and the various types, methods, and strategies of ETF will help a person to move through their learning curve more quickly and begin successful trading. - 29971

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New Book Released by Denver Money Coach Brad Hawkins

By Brad Hawkins

A money coach such an important piece in your financial life. Period. Financial coaching is a process of looking at your financial life through long term thinking, where you not only create a budget, but you approach financial decisions in so that you do not get back into the same financial predicament you were in before.

Many people never look at the process they go through in their mind when they make financial decisions, and this is potentially a problem. And when there is something just a little wrong in our thinking it effects many areas in our life and it's hard to stop the incorrect path the process has begun.

So what can be done? Can you stop and eliminate financial problems that may have been years in the making? The answer is a resounding yes!

A new book was recently released on financial success principles and it's not like any other book on money you've ever seen. Finances are just a small part of your overall success, contrary to popular belief, because everyone seems to measure success by money.

You can relate to the example of Matt and Sandra whol live average lives but have accumulated credit card debts and the debt grows every year by at least $14,000 and the worst part is that neither one of them can find out exactly where all the money goes! This is so common because people don't want to know, they just think the problem will go away, really don't laugh this is true!

Many people never look at the process they go through mentally when they make financial decisions, and this is a mistake. And when there is something just a little off in our thinking it carries through many areas in our life and it's hard to stop the momentum - 29971

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5 Beneficial Tips To boost Your Credit Rating

By Marc Marseille

Your credit is the answer to the financial world and represents you everywhere you go. Once you have tarnished your credit score, there are a few critical steps you ought to take in order to get re-established. It doesn't matter what circumstance was accountable for harming your credit, the truth is repairing your awful credit is essential to recover value with the financial institutions.

Before you can start fixing your credit score, the initial step is to get a duplicate of your credit score. Once you obtain your score, make sure that you inspect it from top to bottom for potential errors. Examining your score may expose some accounts that have been paid off previously, identity theft, or even multiple listing of the similar accounts. When dealing with untrue charges on you score, it is more helpful if you seek out the recommendation of a credit attorney.

The next step in the process of raising your credit credit report involves putting some good items on your score. Your credit score may be clean as a whistle but without some active accounts, you will not be able to produce a credit rating.

One way of obtaining a high credit is by applying for a protected Visa or Mastercard. There are countless companies that are willing to open credit card accounts with a collateral deposit. A Secured card is backed by your deposit which will then become your spending limit. In several instances, the secured card company may even start you off with a balance that is $100 dollars more than your initial deposit. Make sure you find a company that reports your on time payments to all 3 credit reporting bureaus.

Step number three is a little method that is rumored to soon be outdated but for now still works. This strategy involves getting a husband or family member to insert you on their account as a co-applicant, assuming that they are paying on time. The only problem with utilizing this procedure is if they really stop paying on their account, it will also display negatively on your credit report.

The ultimate step is control. Making timely payments without fail is awfully important to raising your rating with the reporting agencies. The most important thing that banks look at when taking into consideration credit is your current payment record. The current status of your payments reflects enormously in the eyes of lenders.

The key to a thorough credit restoration is 2 years of on time bill payments. The credit reporting bureaus raise your score for each month that you constantly make payments. If you are able to pay on your bills for 2 years, you will be triumphant in entirely overcoming your awful credit days.

In conclusion, to take control of your financial outlook, you must first take small steps. These steps involve getting a copy of your score, removing bad accounts, including good credit history and paying your expenses in a appropriate way. You may also want to bear in mind step #5; getting identity security to protect your superior credit score. - 29971

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