Avoiding Mistakes - Commercial Real Estate Financing

Avoiding Mistakes - Commercial Real Estate Financing
Avoiding critical commercial mortgage mistakes is an
important but potentially difficult requirement in
obtaining appropriate business finance terms. Commercial
borrowers should expect to secure improved commercial loan
terms and avoid potentially devastating commercial real
estate financing problems by taking some extra time and
caution when using specialized investment financing.

While we will not be addressing all possible commercial
mortgage mistakes in this article, we will include several
of the most severe issues to anticipate. In our experience,
the potential difficulties involving factors discussed
below are more serious and common than most commercial
borrowers are likely to expect.

Inexperienced Business Finance Brokers and Lenders -

Commercial mortgage financing has recently become more
popular with brokers and lenders that previously focused on
residential real estate financing. With the increasing
chaos associated with residential financing, many lenders
and brokers which primarily provided residential mortgages
have been forced to look for alternate sources of revenue.
Many of them are devoting increased attention to business
finance and investment loan services.

While this shift might eventually result in a positive
outcome for commercial borrowers, the immediate impact is a
sudden influx of inexperienced residential mortgage brokers
and lenders attempting to provide investment advice for
business financing and commercial real estate financing.
For most business borrowers, the use of inexperienced
business finance advisors will be a mistake of potentially
serious proportions. As we have written about extensively,
there are approximately 25 major differences between
residential financing and commercial financing, and most
residential financing experts are simply unprepared for
business loan complexities.

SBA Loan Refinancing for a Commercial Mortgage -

Because it is more difficult to refinance an SBA loan or
conventional commercial mortgage than many borrowers
realize, it is advisable to thoroughly review refinancing
options before completing the initial business financing if
at all possible. The biggest potential business finance
mistake involving an effort to refinance is likely to be an
assumption that refinancing can be easily accomplished and
whenever the commercial borrower chooses.

In reality most business and commercial mortgage
refinancing situations will require less attractive terms
than the initial business financing. This is especially
true with SBA loan refinancing because the acquisition
financing contains features that will not be available when
refinancing. Another potentially critical mistake is to
overlook short-term business financing options which will
eliminate refinancing problems.

A major obstacle to refinancing a commercial mortgage,
whether it involves an SBA loan or not, will be prepayment
penalties and other financial restrictions that effectively
prevent refinancing for several years. Even though there
are practical reasons to seek long-term business financing,
shorter-term options should not be overlooked if the
borrower wants more freedom to refinance in a relatively
short period of time such as the first three years of a
commercial loan.

Specialized Commercial Real Estate Investment Property
Issues -

With more specialized commercial properties and
investments, the potential for serious mistakes increases
substantially because of the advanced business financing
complexities. Commercial mortgage loan choices are also
likely to be more limited because there are fewer lenders
which will provide this kind of specialized commercial real
estate financing.

Businesses involving apartments, offices and retail space
are generally considered to be less specialized from a
commercial lending perspective. This is due to the
likelihood that potential users and renters of such
properties are more interchangeable than for a business
investment involving specialized uses such as a funeral
home, golf course and gas station.

The business finance costs for more specialized properties
are likely to be more variable and unpredictable than for
office buildings, retail stores and apartments. For
example, environmental and appraisal requirements for
properties such as funeral homes and gas stations will be
extensive and time consuming.

Solutions and Strategies for Avoiding Business Financing
Mistakes -

The potential business finance mistakes described above can
be overcome successfully. Commercial borrowers should look
for resources which will provide relevant strategies and
solutions for a business owner contemplating business
purchase or refinancing as well as facilitate a better
understanding of complex commercial real estate financing
issues. Business borrowers should thoroughly discuss
business financing options with a business loan expert
before refinancing or buying a commercial property or
business investment.

----------------------------------------------------
Steve Bush is a business finance and commercial real estate
investment property loan expert. Find out more about
commercial mortgage - business opportunity loan strategies
recommended by AEX Commercial Financing Group at =>
http://aexcommercialfinancing.com

Why not change to a tracker mortgage?

Why not change to a tracker mortgage?
Fixed-rate home loans may be in mode, but with a reduction
in rates imminent it would be advisable to consider the
tracker option instead. Fixed-rate mortgages have been very
popular in recently but with all the talk about interest
rate cuts, a tracker mortgage could be the way to go.

Even though interest rates were kept on hold last month,
there are indications that the short and long term trend is
downward. A tracker mortgage would be a sensible option as
it follows the movements of the Bank Of England base rate.

According to the Council of Mortgage Lenders, fixed rate
mortgages reached a peak in August 2007 and they accounted
for almost 80% of all mortgages taken out in the UK.

Fixed rate mortgages appeal to those who want to know
exactly how much their repayments will be each and every
month and are an attractive option in circumstances where
there is an upward trend in the interest rates. However,
most experts now agree that the interest trend will be
downward therefore the tracker mortgage will be the most
appealing as many will worry about fixing an interest rate
at the peak of it's cycle.

A tracker mortgage is named in this way since it tracks the
movements of the base interest rate from the Bank Of
England. In effect it calculates the mortgage repayment
based on the base rate of the day and adds a fixed
percentage to this rate. So as interest rates fluctuate the
mortgage payments move accordingly. This could be deemed an
ideal mortgage when the trend of interest is downward.
Since, when the Bank Of England rate falls the mortgage
payment also falls. The amount that is charged over the
base rate will vary from lender to lender.

With tracker mortgages you can choose to have a fixed
period, such as two or three years, where the mortgage
interest rate will track the Bank of England base rate.
Once this period had expired the mortgage will revert back
to the standard variable interest rate charged by the
lender.

With this kind of mortgage there are the options to revert
to a tracker for a fixed period which is usually 2 or 3
years. During this period the mortgage repayment will be
based upon the base rate from the Bank Of England. After
the agreed tracker rate period expires then the mortgage
will revert to the standard variable rate. The advantage of
choosing this product during a period of interest rate cuts
is that your repayments will decrease during this period
and after the expiry date you can review your options again.

----------------------------------------------------
Graham Bradlington is the marketing manager for Quickly
Finance Limited, a company which specialise in Fast track
Secured Loan & Remortgage applications for homeowners.
Quickly Finance is 100% independent & can search the whole
market for the best deals... quickly! For more info:
http://www.quicklyfinance.com

What is FICO score ?

What is FICO score ?
Ever wonder what a FICO score stands for? Obviously, this
is a credit score, but who determines what that score will
be, and what does FICO mean? By taking learning more about
the Fair Isaac Corporation, some of these questions can be
answered.

In 1956, and engineer by the name of Bill Fair and a
mathematician known as Earl Isaac founded the Fair Isaac
Corp., or FICO. FICO originally provided consulting and
decision management services, but in 1981 they developed a
system for scoring the amount of risk associated with
making certain loans and investments. The FICO score is a
number generated from an individual's credit history. By
statistically analyzing this report, the FICO system
assigns a value to the likelihood that an individual will
pay their debts. This value is noted by banks and other
lending institutions when determining the interest rates
and other characteristics of a loan, helping them to make
accurate and profitable lending decisions.

So is FICO a credit bureau? The answer is yes and no. It
seems we have all heard of the credit bureaus that gather
information about our debts and assign us credit scores. In
actuality, they are not credit bureaus at all. FICO and the
other similar companies are not associated with the
government but are in fact publicly traded companies known
as credit reporting agencies. Out of these companies such
as Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, FICO is the most
known and widely used credit-scoring agency in the United
States.

The Fair Isaac Corporation is headquartered in Minneapolis,
Minnesota but has offices throughout five of the 7 major
continents and turns a revenue of over $800 million dollar
per year. Beyond producing credit scores, their over 3,500
employees provide consulting and management services to
more than 200 international retailers, 99 of the top 100 US
banks, and over 100 international telecommunications
companies. FICO has become a cornerstone for the entire
American economy.

Getting your fico score is easy. You can buy your score
directly from FICO or you can receive a free credit score
report from various online providers. Once you know your
score, you can quickly assess what kinds of lending options
might be available. A score of 720 or higher is considered
worthy credit, or good credit, while anything that drops
below a 600 is considered bad credit. With bad credit you
will pay more in interest on loans and have more difficult
qualifying for certain loan packages. There are many things
you can do to improve your score, but the best one is to
simply pay you debts.

----------------------------------------------------
http://www.my720fico.com is the leading resource on the web
for credit reports and credit scores. We should know since
we are lenders.

Financial Education Needed 'More Than Ever'

Financial Education Needed 'More Than Ever'
More needs to be done to improve the nation's financial
knowledge, it has been suggested.

According to Alastair Mathews, director of policy at the
Personal Finance Education Group (Pfeg), education on
monetary topics, ranging from UK personal loans and savings
accounts to budgeting and mortgages, should be delivered
over the entire duration of time that a child spends at
school. Mr Mathews reported that, "like with a lot of
learning", teaching about money should play a role in each
of the four main stages of compulsory education and be
tailored towards the specific age of the recipient.

The director stated that financial education needs to start
with young children "because attitude formation starts
quite early and, even though this is very basic - about the
use of money and keeping it safe and saving it - it all
helps to set the attitudes in the right direction". As
pupils get older, Mr Mathews reported that such guidance
should become more detailed, so that by the time they reach
the 14 to 16-year-old age bracket they already have a
certain level of awareness about fiscal matters not only
from school but also from family members and their friends.
In turn this can help them to foster a more responsible
attitude to loans, overdrafts and other financial products
and so avoid developing unmanageable money problems in
later life.

He said: "Our approach to this is to emphasise the need for
financial education. Young people, more than ever, need a
foundation of financial education while they are still at
school. We think that basic financial education should be a
core and assured part of the national curriculum."

In addition, Mr Mathews asserted that levels of debt could
be on track to fall as "there is bound to be an increase in
caution" on the part of money lenders in terms of issuing
credit. He added that borrowers are also likely to take
steps to reduce their indebtedness, whether through a
consolidation loan or otherwise, as they realise that they
are struggling to manage their money.

The Pfeg director also reported that the nation's attitude
towards finances has changed over the last few decades as
Britain has "almost officially built debt in to the system
now". Instead of the traditional mindset of saving up money
over a period of time to fund a purchase, he claimed that
more people are looking towards various forms of "easy
credit", such as a quick loan, to help them to buy
something.

If such guidance on finance was implemented into the
national curriculum, it could well be possible that more
Britons will be able to manage personal loan payments in
later life. Earlier this month, Wendy van den Hende, chief
executive of the Pfeg, reported that although a lot of
children are interested in money they need to receive
relevant teaching to help them become financially sensible
with personal loans and other economic products when they
reach adulthood. She pointed to research from the group
indicating that about two-thirds of teenagers have a lack
of understanding when it comes to loans, savings and other
financial matters.

----------------------------------------------------
Abbi Rouse writes for All About Loans where visitors can
apply online for cheap UK loans. We also specialise in
poor credit loans, and cheap consolidation loans. Visit
today http://www.allaboutloans.co.uk/

Buying French Property Think Loire Valley

Buying French Property Think Loire Valley
Buying property in France is still a desire by many
overseas property buyers this is despite the rise of
cheaper markets such as Bulgaria. The French way of life,
countryside and low property prices puts France on the map
for international property buyers. The UK overseas buyer
has traditionally been the middle classes seeking
retirement however recent evidence now suggests a change.
First time buyers unable to afford UK house prices are now
heading to France. Many see this as a way of getting on the
property ladder whilst still living and working in the UK.

France is a vast country and the first thing a buyer needs
to do is identify which region they favour. One region that
is becoming increasingly popular is the Loire Valley Region.

Covering much of two French regions and a number of
departments, the Loire River has several large cities along
its banks and not far from it. For centuries, the Loire was
one of the major highways of France, transporting goods and
people from the heartland of the country to the coast and
beyond. Although it is not the transportation route it once
was, the valley still holds a distinct place within the
country. The major part of the Loire valley runs through
the Centre region and westward through the Pays de la Loire
region to the ocean. The principle economic activities are
tourism focused on the chateaux and historic sites,
agriculture ' particularly vineyards and wines ' and light
to medium industry.

The Loire River is the longest river in France, beginning
in the southeast part of the country not far from the Alps.
It runs northward and then westward to the Atlantic Ocean.
The area that is commonly called the Loire Valley is
located along the central and western stretches of the
river, from Nevers to Orleans, then through Tours, Angers
and Nantes before emptying in the ocean. This is the part
of the river that has hundreds of the most famous and
spectacular chateaux in the world, as well as many other
historical and cultural sites and wineries.

The Loire Valley has enough major cities, countryside and
small towns to give just about anyone what they want for
real estate. Land, apartments, condominiums, country houses
and inexpensive places to spend a few nights a month or
year are all available here. Being such a popular area with
many well known historical areas and wineries, much of the
property is not cheap, though. Housing can be found in
cities such as Nantes, Le Mans and Tours, as well as the
many small towns in the country. Getting something along
the river will be more expensive, as the climate makes it
great wine country and the land comes at a premium.

----------------------------------------------------
Expert Author Nicholas Marr is the CEO of overseas property
portal

http://www.homesgofast.com and has a passion for
his subject. His views are formed from his numerous
relationships with real estate agents who are experts in
their own regions.http://www.frenchhomes4sale.com/

Young Money Rebel

Young Money Rebel
6 tips to afford life now and retiring young.

A Money Rebel defined.

Young (adjective yung) - being in an early period of life
or growth.

Money (adjective muhn-ee) - legal tender.

Rebel (noun reb-uhl) ' a person that exhibits independence
in thought and action.

The need to be a young money rebel.

The latest reports show that the average person today is in
poor financial shape. They may not be going bankrupt or
having their home foreclosed on just yet; however during
these uncertain economic times with rising oil prices and
the problems in the credit market many people are barely
getting by.

Unfortunately many people are living paycheck to paycheck,
are experiencing the stress associated with debt and are
often struggling to get out of grim financial
circumstances. Most of these same people share a similar
goal ' to experience financial freedom - but fall into the
traps plaguing so many people as shown in the examples
below.

-62% of graduates expect to have a student loan debt
averaging $27,236 ($101 billion nationally) and requiring
7.9 years to pay off. (Student Monitor)

-The American public has been spending more money than it
has earned after taxes since April 2005. (U.S. Commerce
Department)

-Some 40 percent of Americans are counting on the lottery,
sweepstakes, getting married, or an inheritance to fund
their retirement. (Were Not In Kansas Anymore)

-Household debt in 2007 is at record high levels relative
to disposable income. (Federal Reserve)

-Polls show that students (ages 15-21) feel unprepared to
face the complex world of the 21st Century (American Dream
Education Campaign)

Young money rebels avoid those traps.

Young money rebels, on the other hand, are able to avoid
debt traps, have money saved and are able to experience the
feeling of financial security at a young age. They have
money to live life to the fullest now while building
long-term wealth so they can retire young.

A young money rebel does not follow the norms society sets
when it comes to the handling of money and their personal
finances. They have a working budget, keep their spending
in check, are knowledgeable about personal finance, and
follow a consist investment plan.

A young money rebel understands that by investing at an
early age they have a huge advantage. Young money rebels
have compounding interest working in their favor. With
compounding interest the earlier you start investing, the
greater potential growth of your money. That is why
investing just $100 a month starting at age 18, and earning
the S&P 500 average return, will make you a millionaire
well before retirement age.

Young money rebels achieve financial freedom.

Anyone looking to achieve financial freedom should become a
young money rebel. This will give you more free time, the
ability to live the lifestyle of your dreams and avoid the
stress associated with living like most people do ' with
financial worries and stress.

Today it is more important than ever you do achieve
financial freedom. The large reduction in pension plans
and the uncertainty of social security means that young
adults today will need to be prepared to self fund their
own retirement. You will need to save and invest your own
money because the programs benefiting our parents will not
be around when we retire.

How to become a young money rebel.

There are simple steps you can take to fully enjoying life
by securing your financial future at a young age. Below
are six steps that will get you on the path to becoming a
young money rebel.

1) Educate yourself. Most schools do not teach practical
money skills so it is up to you. The good news is that
there are plenty of resources available for people looking
to take charge of their finances. Set aside 30 minute a
night to learning everything you can about personal
finances and you will be able to afford what you want now
while securing your financial future.

2) Financial goals. What motivates you? Is it a big home
steps away from the beach, a year off to travel the world
or is it just having enough free time to spend with loved
ones? It is your choice how you want to live life; so take
some time to think about it. You may not know exactly what
you want but you probably will have a general idea. So
write down financial goals that will encourage you to
achieve your dreams.

3) Team. Building a team of trusted advisors will be an
important part in achieving success as a young money rebel.
Your team should include a trusted tax advisor, financial
mentor, and personal growth coaches.

4) Financial plan. Develop a step-by-step financial plan so
you can achieve your life goals. Write down how much you
are going to save each month, where you will invest your
money and your desired results.

5) Saving. A savings plan is the backbone to your financial
success; so start immediately. Talk to your bank about
automating your savings plan so every time you deposit
money a portion of that is automatically transferred to
your savings account.

6) Investing consistency. A consistent investing plan will
lead to long-term wealth and financial freedom. Just like
your savings plan you can automate your investments so they
are made automatically for every month. It takes an hour
to set up then all you have to do is check your statements
from time to time.

By learning simple, practical money skills you will have
taken the first step to becoming a young money rebel and
enjoying life free from the financial worries that plague
so many people.

----------------------------------------------------
Vince Shorb, the leading young adult financial literacy
expert, prepares young adults for the financial real world.
His course 'Financially Free by 30' is the first
interactive, multi-media curriculum designed specifically
for high school and college-age clients. Get your free copy
of his latest book and instructional videos at
http://www.FreeBy30.com .

Corporate Finance

Corporate Finance
The field of corporate finance deals with the decisions of
finance taken by corporations along with the analysis and
the tools required for taking such decisions. The principle
aim of corporate finance is enhancing the corporate value
and at the same time reducing the financial risks of the
company. In addition to this, corporate finance also deals
in getting the maximum returns on the invested capital of
the company. The major concepts of corporate finance are
applied to the problems of finance encountered by all type
of firms.

The discipline of corporate finance can be split into the
short term and the long term techniques of decisions. The
investments of capital are the long term decisions relating
to the projects and the methods required to finance them.
On the other hand, the capital management for working is
considered as a short term decision that deals with the
short term current liabilities and asset balance. The main
focus here rests on the management of inventories, cash
and, the lending and borrowing on a short term basis.

Corporate finance is also associated with the field of
investment banking. Here, the role of the investment banker
is the evaluation of the various projects coming to the
bank and making proper investment decisions regarding them.

The Capital Structure:

A proper finance structure is required for achieving the
set goals of corporate finance. The management has to
therefore design a proper structure that has an optimal mix
of the different finance options that are available.

Generally, the sources of finance will comprise of a mix of
equity as well as debt. If a project is financed through
debt, it results in causing a liability to the concerned
company. Hence in such cases, the flow of cash has various
implications regardless of the success of the project. The
financing done by equity carries a lower risk regarding the
commitments of the flow of cash, but the result of this is
the dilution of the earnings and the ownership. The cost
involved in equity finance is also higher in the case of
debt finance. Hence, it is understood that the finance done
through equity, offsets the reduction in the risk of cash
flow. The management has to hence have a mix of both the
options.

The Decisions of Capital Investments:

The decisions of capital investments are the long term
decisions of corporate finance that are related to the
capital structure and the fixed assets. These decisions are
based of several criteria that are inter-related. The
management of corporate finance attempts to maximize the
firm's value by making investments in the projects that
have a positive yield. The finance options for such
projects have to be done in a proper manner.

----------------------------------------------------
My name is Tom Husnik. I live in Minnesota. My web site is
at http://www.bestfixitfinancial.com

7 Dishonest Home Refinance Tactics - To be forewarned is to be forearmed....

7 Dishonest Home Refinance Tactics - To be forewarned is to be forearmed....
Are you planning on refinancing your mortgage in the near
future? If so, keep reading because in this article I'm
going to expose seven different "insider" tactics used by
dishonest lenders and mortgage brokers that could cost you
thousands!

While the majority of lenders and mortgage brokers are
honest and often provide a positive experience, it's very
important that you be aware of some of the dishonest
tactics you may encounter when you refinance your home
loan. By avoiding these tactics you can save yourself
thousands of dollars over the course of your mortgage loan.
To be forewarned is to be forearmed....

1. Mortgage Penalties - If your current mortgage loan has a
prepayment penalty, some lenders or mortgage brokers will
promise you that they'll "handle" any penalties when you
refinance, just to keep your deal. What they fail to
mention is that you're actually paying them anyway.
They'll typically figure those penalty fees into the
interest rate that they offer you. So not only are you
actually paying them, you'll pay interest on it to boot.

2. Legal Fees - Refinancing often requires legal fees for a
variety of required expenses. In order to secure your
business, some mortgage brokers will tell you that they
will pay your legal fees when you refinance your mortgage
with them. Again, they'll more than make up for it by
giving you a higher interest rate.

3. Tied Selling - Unscrupulous refinancing tactics are one
thing; this crosses the line into being illegal. Up
selling and cross-selling frequently occur in business
today. So if you have a mortgage loan with a particular
lender, chances are you may have credit card accounts or
unsecured lines of credit with that same lender. When a
lender learns that you may be refinancing your loan with a
different financial institution, you may be told that your
credit card account or credit lines may be closed if you
refinance your mortgage loan with someone else. This is
called "Tied Selling" and is considered illegal.

4. Denigration of Funding Sources - In an effort to keep
you from refinancing, some lenders have also been known to
insinuate that your mortgage broker is funding your loan
with an unreliable or even illegal source of funds.
Sometimes they'll do anything to preserve their cash cow.
Their primary interest is in keeping you where you are,
overpaying on your loan.

5. Monthly Compounding - Some lenders will compound the
interest on your refinance mortgage loan monthly instead of
twice a year, while offering you a slightly lower interest
rate. This results in you paying much more interest in the
long run.

6. Come Again - If an institutional lender or mortgage
broker lacks the knowledge or product base to put you into
a refinancing vehicle that fits you and your situation,
sometimes they'll tell you that another lender or broker
won't be able to help you either and will suggest you come
back in a year or so. Not only does this keep you from
getting your refinancing needs met, it preserves you as a
potential future client.

7. Double Dipping - This last tactic is only dishonest if
the lender or mortgage broker does not fully disclose
additional service fees. Some mortgage brokers will charge
you an out-of-pocket fee as a means of compensating them
for obtaining your home refinance loan. I consider this an
unnecessary expense on your part because they are already
being compensated by the lender, so they are essentially
double charging for the loan - once by you and once by the
lender. You may want to consider avoiding mortgage brokers
that charge you an up-front fee to refinance your mortgage.

----------------------------------------------------
Darrin Roseborsky is a Refinance Specialist with OMAC
Mortgages, seminar speaker and president of
CanadianHomeRefinance.com. Darrin shows people how to
MAXIMIZE their equity PROPERLY and how to choose options
that make the MOST SENSE for their situation! An example of
exactly how this works, is at:
http://www.canadianhomerefinance.com

HELP - I Want My 401(k) Retirement Money Back!

HELP - I Want My 401(k) Retirement Money Back!
Here's the Internal Revenue Service's definition of a
401(k): "a tax-qualified deferred compensation plan in
which an employee can elect to have the employer contribute
a portion of his or her cash wages to the plan on a pre-tax
basis."

So, let's say you've got a nice 401(k) savings. What
happens if you need to withdraw that money?

Early distributions are those that are received before age
59 ½. To discourage them, early distributions are
subject to normal income tax plus a penalty of 10%
additional tax unless one of the following occurs:

1. You die or become disabled

2. Your employment ends and you roll over the
money directly to another qualified retirement plan

3. The plan ends for any reason including an IRS
levy and no other plan is established or continued
in its place

4. You need to pay for medical care up to the
amount allowable as a medical expense deduction

5. The distributions are part of a series of
substantially equal periodic payments over your
life expectancy after you no longer work for the
employer

Without one of these five conditions prior to reaching age
59 ½, the only way to withdraw money from your 401(k)
without having to pay it back is to qualify for a Hardship
Distribution.

So what qualifies as a financial hardship under the IRS's
rules? First of all, individual plans can vary greatly
from employer to employer.

If you own a business or manage a retirement account for
employees, you need to become familiar with your plan.
Many companies may have a 401(k) plan without really
understanding all the details.

So if you think you might qualify for a Hardship
Distribution from your 401(k), ask your employer if the
plan allows for these distributions at all.

Employers must adhere to the strict guidelines of their
plan documents and can not make loans or Hardship
Distributions if the plan doesn't allow for them.

If your employer doesn't know the answer or seems unwilling
to research this for you, ask them for a copy of the plan.
All participants are entitled to receive the plan document
in writing.

If your 401(k) plan does provide for Hardship
Distributions, here are the requirements:

(1) the withdrawal must be due to an immediate and heavy
financial need; (2) the withdrawal must be necessary to
satisfy that need (i.e. you have no other funds or way to
meet the need); (3) the withdrawal must not exceed the
amount needed by you; (4) you must have first obtained all
distribution or nontaxable loans available under the 401(k)
plan; and (5) you can't contribute to the 401(k) plan for
six months following the withdrawal.

The amount you can withdraw is usually limited to the
amount of your elective deferrals only. This would not
include any income earned on the deferred amounts or money
matched by the employer.

The following items are considered by the IRS as acceptable
reasons for a Hardship Distribution:

1. Medical expenses for you, your spouse, or dependents

2. Purchase of a primary residence or repair of a primary
residence

3. College tuition and related educational costs such as
room and board for the next 12 months for you, your spouse,
dependents, or children who are no longer dependents

4. Payments necessary to prevent eviction from your home,
or foreclosure on the mortgage of your principal residence.

5. Funeral or burial expenses for immediate family members.

You do not have to pay the withdrawal amount back to the
401(k) account. However, as I mentioned previously, you
can't contribute to the 401(k) plan for six months
following the withdrawal.

So when investing in a retirement account don't think of it
as a regular savings account. You won't be able to get
that money back into your hands before age 59 ½
without a significant penalty or hardship that you can
prove.

----------------------------------------------------
Laura Adams is the host of the popular MBA Working Girl
Podcast. The content combines brainy business school theory
with real-world business practice from her career as a
business owner, manager, consultant and trainer. Subscribe
for FREE to this top-rated show and get the useful MBA
Essential Tip at
http://www.mbaworkinggirl.com

Financial Freedom

Financial Freedom
Financial freedom no matter how much money you make!

You do not need to be rich to achieve financial freedom.
Financial freedom is simply living debt free and organizing
your money so that when the bills are due, you have the
money set aside to pay them.

About two years ago I realize that each and every month I
was going a little further into debt. I decided it was
about time to do something about it, so I went to a
financial seminar sponsored by my local church. This
seminar was pretty much what I expected, they reviewed
basic principles for handling money properly, avoiding
credit cards, being careful when purchasing a vehicle, and
living on a budget.

The approach that was used when discussing the budget topic
is what changed my financial life forever. The word
"budget" has such a negative connotation for most people
that it is an instant turnoff.

Most people believe that a budget is for people who don't
have much money, and it also tends to make people feel
restricted in their spending. Nothing could be further from
the truth!

A budget is simply a spending plan. Most people like to
spend money, so let's use the word "spending plan" and
leave the word "budget" behind us.

A properly used spending plan will provide a person or
family (with even a modest income) a true sense of
financial freedom. I am experiencing an awesome sense of
freedom myself since I have put my own spending plan into
place about two years ago.

What I am talking about is this sense of freedom that you
get when the mortgage comes due and you have the money
already set aside; when the kids have to go back to school
shopping and the money is there waiting; when you go
grocery shopping each week and you know exactly how much
money you can afford to spend because the money is already
set aside!

When we took one of our cars in for inspection, we were
told that it needed new tires. No problem! I had an
automobile maintenance fund set aside and we had just
enough money to cover not only the inspection, but a nice
new set of high-quality tires, all because we implemented a
spending plan with the help of some very powerful, yet easy
to use software!

I cannot tell you what a wonderful feeling it is to have
money set aside for just about anything and everything that
comes up!

An effective spending plan can be created by simply looking
at the money you have spent over the past year or so and
getting an estimate as to how much money you spend in each
area of your life. Then looking at your income and getting
an idea of how much money you would need to put aside for
each category for the coming year. If you have not been
keeping track of where your money goes, simply start now by
keeping a general record of where you spend your money.

This article will not go into too much detail about how to
do this, but I will give you an overview.

Sit down with your checkbook and make a list of all things
you spend money on. Then create 10-15 categories that all
those expenses would fit into.

An example would be:

Housing (mortgage, utilities, repairs, insurance,
furnishings, etc.)

Automobile (payments, gasoline, maintenance, insurance,
etc.)

Food (weekly groceries)

Entertainment (dining out, movies, golf outings, etc.)

Savings (investments, savings accounts, college fund, etc.)

Vacation (ALL vacation expenses including travel, dog
sitter, etc.)

Debt (credit cards, loans)

Miscellaneous (pretty much anything that does not fall
directly under any other category)

Charitable donations (tithing, other tax-deductible
donations)

Christmas (nothing is more awesome than not having to worry
about how you're going to pay for all those gifts!)

Once you have listed all your expected expenses into one of
the categories, you'll have to figure out how much money
from each paycheck you need to put toward each category.
For each category you'll have an envelope.

Right about now you are probably thinking, "Is this guy
nuts? Nobody uses cash anymore, and nobody keeps cash in
envelopes!" This is where software comes into play. There
are software programs available that will enable you to
have "virtual" envelopes to keep track of your money, which
is safely tucked away in your checking and savings
accounts. I am not talking about a simple Excel
spreadsheet or anything of that sort, I'm talking about
extremely powerful software (much better than MS Money or
Quicken) that can generate reports, track all of your
expenses,pay your bills online in seconds, make tax time a
breeze, automatically place the proper amount of money in
each envelope, and get you on the highway to financial
freedom.

It is probably best start out with a relatively small
number of categories. As you become familiar with your
spending plan you can expand the number of categories. For
example you may want your housing category to include all
the monthly bills associated with your home, or you may
want to have a separate category for mortgage payments,
utilities, homeowners insurance, taxes, etc. You may want
to add more categories such as taxes, birthday parties,
medical bills, hobbies, allowances, unexpected expenses,
etc..

It may take a little bit of time to set up your spending
plan, but once it is set up, it takes very little effort to
keep it in place. You won't do it perfectly the first
time, you will have to make adjustments as time goes on
because unless you are extremely lucky, you'll find out you
had too much money set aside in some categories and too
little in others. You can always change your spending plan
as your situation changes, your income changes, or your
spending categories change.

This may sound like a lot of work, but the concept is
simple, and the software will guide you through step by
step. Very soon, you will have total control of your money,
and will know what true financial freedom feels like!

----------------------------------------------------
David Monyer normally writes articles on Health and
Fitness, but has found a powerful tool for Financial
Freedom. Try the same software for FREE by visiting:
http://www.RockSolidBodybuilding.com/mvelopes

What is a Debt Consolidation Loan?

What is a Debt Consolidation Loan?
Do you sit down at the end of the month only to stress
about the shear number of bills you have? Are most of your
bills in the form of credit card payments or other debt
obligations? Are you noticing that your interest rates vary
for each different debt.? Would you like to potentially
save money? Would you benefit by having all of your debt on
one single account and by having only one bill to pay? If
you answered, yes, to any of these questions, then a debt
consolidation loan might be for you. Find out exactly what
a debt consolidation loan is in this article.

A debt consolidation loan is a type of loan that takes all
of your debt and consolidates it into a single loan. The
main advantage is that you have only a single payment to
make towards your debt each month. If you've had student
loans and have consolidated them into a single
consolidation loan, then you know the benefit already.
However, there are a couple different types of
consolidation loans that you need to consider. These are
secured and unsecured consolidation loans.

Secured consolidation loans are loans that you put up
collateral for such as real estate. There are several
advantages of a secured consolidation loan over an
unsecured consolidation loan. The main advantages include
having generally lower interest rates, lower monthly
payments and overall better loan terms. The major
disadvantage is that if you default on your loan, you will
lose whatever you put up as collateral.

The second type of debt consolidation loan is an unsecured
loan that puts all of your debt into a single loan. While
these generally have higher interest rates and less
favorable loan terms than a secured loan, if you have no
assets or are afraid of losing your real property, then the
unsecured loan might be for you.

Remember, taking out a debt consolidation loan should not
be a used to overcome poor debt management skills. If you
are having serious financial trouble because of your debt,
then you need to seek professional debt counseling in order
to find more long-term solutions such as learning how to
manage your money and your credit. If you don't learn to
manage your credit and money and minimize your debt, a
consolidation loan will not help you in the long run. In
fact, a consolidation loan has the potential to make your
debt situation worse if you are not practicing good
management skills.

----------------------------------------------------
For more ways on how to save money and manage your debt, go
to http://www.creditmanagement101.com
The author runs http://www.creditmanagement101.com - a
website dedicated to issues concerning debt and credit
management. Learn about responsible credit management, your
credit score, debt management plans and credit counseling.
Also find ways to save your money by maintaining a livable
budget that reflects your means.

Apply Online for a Credit Card: It's Safer than Ever

Apply Online for a Credit Card: It's Safer than Ever
Applying for a credit card has never been easier. Thanks to
the Internet, you can look through a wide variety of credit
cards, choose the right one, and fill out an application
right away. With today's security features, you don't have
to worry about your information falling into the wrong
hands. Here's what companies are doing to make applying
online for a credit card safer than ever.

Online Security Features

Protecting your privacy is essential for credit card
websites and issuers. Secure credit card websites use
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). This technology involves a
complicated encryption program. It protects your
information as it travels to the right place. SSL has been
improved over the years; today's version makes it virtually
impossible for the information to be intercepted.

To check for SSL, look carefully at your online credit card
application page. The site's web address on the top of the
page should begin with the letters https (as opposed to
http ' the s indicates the security measures). Also, you
should see a closed padlock on the screen. Many websites
offer detailed information on their security plan. Click on
the padlock or appropriate link to learn more about their
safety features.

In many ways, it's actually safer to send in a credit card
application through the Internet rather than the postal
mail. Consider this: your personal data travels through
cyberspace at lightning-speed. It lands, safely, in its
appropriate destination in less than a second. If you send
an application through the postal mail, it travels for days
between places. Numerous hands handle the envelope. Every
time it gets passed on, there are chances for identity
theft or fraud to occur. For these reasons, you might be
better off with an online credit card application.

Additional Online Benefits

Besides being safe, you'll enjoy other benefits when you
apply online for a credit card. First, you'll have the
chance to view many different offers. Credit card websites
are organized into categories such as "low interest,"
"balance transfer," and "rewards." All you need to do is
click on the type of card you're interested in and the
various options will appear. You'll be able to see
different credit cards right next to each other, making it
easy to compare their features.

For many credit cards, after you send in the application,
you'll get an email response. You'll know within minutes
whether or not you've been approved. This is much faster
than waiting weeks for the postal mail to arrive. It also
lets you start planning how you'll use the credit card
right away.

Filling out an application is just the beginning of what
you can do online with your new credit card. You can sign
up to receive your statements online. You'll also have the
option of accessing your account online. Making payments,
checking your balance, and redeeming your rewards can all
be done with a few simple clicks of the mouse.

Applying online for a credit card is another convenient
tool of today's society. With the safety features credit
card sites use, you won't have to worry about your
application falling into the wrong hands. And once the card
is in your wallet, you can continue to manage the account
through the Internet. It's safe, fast, and convenient.

----------------------------------------------------
To Apply For A Credit Card Today click the following link:
http://www.credit-card-surplus.com . Ed Vegliante runs
http://www.credit-card-surplus.com , a directory helping
consumers to compare and apply for credit cards.

Mortgage Refinancing Scams

Mortgage Refinancing Scams
Social, cultural, commercial and political integration have
created dramatic changes in all aspects of our life. As a
result, privatization became a reality and transformed
itself as the keyword to development. The real estate wing
of the commercial sector is all set for the major leap. The
money lending market, which is growing at tremendous speed,
is utilizing this opportunity to channel their resources to
the real estate field with all its might and distinct
marketing strategies.

In order to cope with the changing trends, the mortgage
refinancing companies penetrate the market by all means.
Mortgage refinancing scams also develop in parallel to the
above strategies. The mortgage refinancing scams result in
misleading the customers, way ward. This causes negative
impacts on the real business. Due to these scams people
lose their trust in the mortgage refinance system, thereby
giving a heavy blow to it.

Since mortgage refinancing is very widespread nowadays,
people have got different choices to deal with before
availing the service. The reasons for attracting people to
refinancing their mortgage is the financial gain coupled
with the service a person could get. And it is a fact that
the mortgage refinancing scams developers spread their
illusion- webs on the common people to thwart the intention
of the real mortgage refinancing companies, and to misguide
the people, and to make them prey to their swindles
unending.

People all over are on the look out for changes. They may
be attracted to anything that offers unique features. As
such the mortgage refinancing scams initiators will never
sit idle and invoke the facilities of the media, including
the Internet, print and electronic media to throw their
magic spell. The gimmicks they show will be taken as
granted by the customers and become prone to their whims
and fancies.

A certain extent of these mortgage refinancing scams could
be avoided if the customers are vigil on these scams and
possess a will not to be carried away by the dream filled
offers they spread before us. People opt for a particular
mortgage refinancing company considering different aspects
like promptness, performance, reliability,
customer-oriented service together with the interaction of
the companies and their application of the latest
infrastructure that streamlines the process of financing.

As the number of companies that are engaged in mortgage
refinancing is swelling day by day it is quite a task to
select a convenient company. Mortgage refinancing scam
developers intrude here with their tactics. It should be
kept in mind that the swindlers would never fail in making
us believe them and we follow their line like the children
moving under a magic wand.

The victims to mortgage refinancing scams are elderly and
minority people. Also, people of low-income group and bad
credit lines are affected by the scams. Most of the
refinancing scams are connected with home equities. Before
signing up a contact with any companies, one should be
vigil, otherwise you can lose your home.

Most of these mortgage refinancing scams penetrate the
people who are in dire need of money. In order to gain
some money they do whatever the scammers direct them to do.
Subsequently, they may land up in trouble and may lose
their dear home forever, and fall in more debt. So, beware
of these mortgage refinancing scams and the scammers.

Bear in mind not to lose your head and make a wrong
financial decision that is going to affect you for the rest
of your life.

----------------------------------------------------
Moses Wright likes to help home owners with refinancing
their house whenever he is free. He provides more info and
guide on mortgage refinancing on his site:
http://www.bulletpedia.com/refinance.htm

Why Choose A Secured Loan Over Remortgage

Why Choose A Secured Loan Over Remortgage
A remortgage is not always an appropriate recommendation,
as you may want to keep further borrowing secured on the
property separate from the main mortgage account.

There might be a number of good reasons. For example, there
could be a large redemption penalty when remortgaging, or
you may have secured a fixed rate in the past that is still
highly competitive compared to current interest rates.

By using a secured loan, the redemption penalties are
avoided and the current fixed rate will be protected, as
the original first mortgage will remain in place.

If you want to consolidate debt then a mortgage can work
fine. However, the majority of people are likely to want to
repay earlier than their existing mortgage term. By using a
secured loan you can select a realistic timescale to repay
the loan, and the original mortgage can stay in place for
the selected term.

Many people's circumstances change after arranging a
mortgage. If you no longer fit normal mortgage income
multiples, or have had some credit problems since taking
your mortgage, you might have to pay a high price for the
new mortgage, whereas a secured loan can mean receiving the
funds you need without losing the prime rate he has on your
existing mortgage.

Secured loans can be processed from initial enquiry to
completion a lot quicker than a traditional first charge
mortgage. Depending on the loan amount, the case could be
completed and paid out iine less than a week. This can be
advantageous if you have to raise funds quickly.

Secured loans can be used for many different purposes.
Typically, if the purpose is legal then the loan can be
processed. Many first charge lenders can be difficult when
it comes to the purpose of refinancing.

When you have made the decison to take on a secured loan,
you will need to search and comapre all the available
offers on the market to the find the best deal that suits
your unique requirements. Interest rates and repayment
periods will differ from lender to lender as well as the
borrowing levels and terms of the loan regarding early
redemption penalties.

It is wise to choose a broker who has the ability to search
the whole market for the best deal and not one who is tied
to a narrow group of lenders. Also there will be
limitations to the options available depending upon your
credit history so it is advisable to shop around to find
the optimum secured loan for your needs

----------------------------------------------------
Graham Bradlington is the marketing manager for Quickly
Finance Limited, a company which specialise in Fast track
Secured Loan & Remortgage applications for homeowners.
Quickly Finance is 100% independent & can search the whole
market for the best deals... quickly! For more info:
http://www.quicklyfinance.com

Boom in Foreclosures Is Some Investors Opportunity For Profit

Boom in Foreclosures Is Some Investors Opportunity For Profit
Across North America and the world, the market correction
has caused the biggest increase in Foreclosures in Real
Estate History, but is there any way for us, as Investors,
to profit?

The rate of Homeowners who are more than 90 days behind on
their payments has increased 164% from last year, and
experts say the worst is yet to come.

But can we as Investors save these homes and their owners
from Foreclosure and still be profitable? The short
answer... yes, we can.

While most Investors are still reeling from the blow the
market has dealt them, smart Insiders are cleaning up.

Insiders know that, especially in this current market,
banks DO NOT WANT Real Estate. They want money. And that
simple fact means banks will bend over backward to work
with anyone smart enough to know their simple formulas.

There are three Options to consider when buying
Foreclosures, and these factors will determine the exit
strategy. (And if you understand the House Business, you
know that the Exit Strategy determines the Buying Strategy,
right!!??)

Technique 1: Repayment Schedule or Loan Modification

In this simple strategy, if you come across a property that
has some equity, but may also have a TON of back payments
and attorney's fees, all you need to ask yourself is, "Will
it cashflow?"

If it will, simply contact the bank and ask for a Loan
Modification Agreement- which simply means that the bank
will add the missed payments to the back of the loan, and
structure a new debt, often without even increasing the
payments.

They add the additional monies owed as additional payments
to be made, lengthening the time of the original mortgage
by several months.

Technique 2: Short Sales

A Short Sale is simply contacting the bank and offering
less than what they are owed as full payoff of the
underlying financing. This technique works on properties in
foreclosure.

To decide if a property is a candidate for a Short Sale,
you need only ask yourself, "Do they owe more than it will
sell for quickly?" If so, a Short Sale is your only choice,
because there's no point in making up the payments if they
owe too much to make a profit anyway!

Technique 3: Just Sell The Darned Thing!

Since most Homeowners and Investors are struggling o sell,
it's an easy process to pick up houses at good discounts.
But can you make a profit?

See, an Outsider, who doesn't know what we do, has too many
costs, fees, risks, and BS to make any money off of a
so-called "Marginal" or "skinny" deal. But we have much
more to offer the Seller than they do!

Here's a Perfect Example:

Beautiful Laura, my wife, spoke with a Motivated seller
about a home just 2 miles from where we live, in a High-End
gated neighborhood.

The Property was in excellent condition, and worth
$575,000. The seller owed $490,000 on this 5 Bedroom 4
Bathroom house, was three months behind, and wanted $20,000
out of the sale to pay their back payments and closing
costs.

So what can we do? How could we possibly make a Profit?
Well, it's straightforward- Just Sell The Darned Thing!

Laura simply Optioned the property for the $510,000 price,
and Marketed it through a 7-Day Sale. At a sales price to
the End Buyer of $560,000, it's a fat $50,000 Profit.

See, most people get so caught up in fees, costs, carrying
costs, etc., that they can't move fast enough to capitalize
on a deal. This wasn't even a great deal, but $50,000 is a
nice paycheck!

In this Property, We paid the Seller 89% of Full Market
Value and still made $50,000! And by the way, the Seller
pays the customary Seller closing costs, and the Buyer pays
the customary Buyers' closing costs, so we pay... NONE!

Most people are so concerned about stupid little stuff that
they skip right over this 3rd technique, and walk away from
a HUGE source of CASH PROFITS!!

The current BOOM in Foreclosures is without a doubt THE
biggest opportunity to make a fortune in the history of
Real Estate, and smart Insiders are raking in profits by
the truckload in Markets where Outsiders are complaining
because they can't make any money!

----------------------------------------------------
Jason Loucks has mastered the art and science of retailing
properties through his "7 Day Sale" system. To get your
Free "Secrets of the 7 Day Sale" Audio, that explains how
you can sell houses in just 7 Days, just visit:
http://www.7daysaleguy.com

Accelerating Your Investments with Margin Lending

Accelerating Your Investments with Margin Lending
Margin lending means that you borrow some of the money that
you are going to invest, this means that you will be able
to take out larger investments which can add up to larger
returns on your investment. When deciding whether you
should use margin lending to accelerate your investments
though there are a number of things you should consider.

So How Does a Marginal Loan Work?

The way margin lending works is that the loan you take out
is secured against the shares or managed funds you invest
in. For example, you may decide to invest $10,000 of your
own money and then borrow another $10,000 via a marginal
loan so you can invest in $20,000 of shares or funds. It
is possible to invest without using any of your own savings
if you wish. For example, if you had equity in you home
you could use the equity in your home to buy the initial
stock and then take out a marginal loan to double your
investment.

Who Should Do Margin Lending to Accelerate their
Investments?

Margin lending is for those who want to have more to invest
and increase their exposure to the market, but you should
also preferably have a high disposable income and be
willing to take greater risks. You should also ensure that
you have enough to meet any margin calls that may be made
on you.

How to Protect Against Risks Involved with Using Margin
Lending

Although margin lending can help you to accelerate your
investments it also poses greater risks than simply
investing your own money. In order to cover these risks you
should not invest all your available funds and you should
spread your risk across different sectors. Due to the
increased risk you should also carefully consider how much
you are actually going to take in margin lending so that
you can accelerate your investments while still remaining
reasonably safe.

How to Choose a Margin Loan

If you are new to margin lending and are currently looking
for a loan, or if you are looking to renew a margin loan,
how do you go about choosing the right loan? You should
first look at what you want to invest in, what the
loan-to-valuation and buffer margins are, how the margin is
operated and what other fees are involved in the loan, and
the minimum loan amount. Carefully look at all the
information you are given about different margin loans and
way these up carefully before deciding which loan you are
going to work with.

Margin lending is valuable in accelerating your investments
as they allow you to invest more than you currently have
available and so get greater returns. There is however
greater risks involved with margin lending and steps should
be taken to minimize these risks and your margin loan
chosen carefully taking into consideration all the
information you can get on the loan.

----------------------------------------------------
Richard Greenwood is Author of the Ebook Finance Overhaul
which aims to show people how they can change the way they
work, earn & spend using online businesses and business
outsourcing - http://www.financeoverhaul.com.au

Retirement Planning - Take Your Health Condition Into Consideration

Retirement Planning - Take Your Health Condition Into Consideration
When we are privileged enough to be able to retire it is a
time for celebration. This is when we can relax and live
life with hopefully a little less stress and no schedules.
This time in our lives marks a changing point that we can
be satisfied with. If you have children by now they are
usually all grown up and living a life of their own. For
the most part we should no longer be needed to support them
and this is when we can really begin to focus our time and
energy on ourselves.

Although the majority of us will rejoice at the fact we now
have time on our hands, in some circumstances health can be
a major issue among the retirement community. It is
possible that your retirement was forced on you because of
health related concerns, and if not in many cases you might
find that your health is not quite what it used to be now
that you are aging.

It is possible that your health played a major role in your
decision to retire, as it does for a large portion of the
individuals that retire. If you are forced into an early
retirement odds are that you will be getting a smaller
pension. This can pose a problem for many. With a smaller
income being brought into the home it can be very hard to
pay your monthly bills. However, if you are prepared for
your retirement you will have an easier time supporting
yourself during your golden years.

If health issues were your main reason for early retirement
taking on a part time job might not be a feasible option
for you. However, if you are healthy enough you always have
the option of working in a different field, maybe a less
stressful one or one that only requires you to work a few
hours a day as opposed to working an eight hour day.
Another option that you might want to consider is
freelancing. This is a great way for you to work only the
hours you want to work. Freelance writing online can be
among the best ways to bring in a little extra money
without having to stress yourself out.

Regardless of your decision to go back to work or not to,
it should depend on how successfully you planned ahead for
your retirement days. Also, your health should always be
the top priority in any situation. Never over do your work
in order to make ends meet. If you health issue seems to be
worsening then your only option should be to stop the new
job and either find something better suited for you or give
up working all together.

Another reason many retirees go back to work is because
they are often forced to make a decision between buying
food, medication or fuel. In some cases this is because
they were forced into early retirement which caused them to
be penalized by their pension plan. However, this could
also be because of poor retirement planning or inadequate
retirement planning. With health related reasons for
retiring it is highly likely that the individual is going
to be forced into financial hardships.

In some cases if you are retired and find that you are
having serious financial problems as well as your health
problems you should contact your local elderly service
agency. It is possible that they can help you in finding
federal funding to assist you with your individual needs.
For example, help with the cost of medications,
transportation and even heating and cooling costs. If they
cannot be of assistance to you they might be able to help
direct you to someone that can help you.

----------------------------------------------------
Moses Wright feels that good retirement planning is
important for any working adult. He sets up a site to help
working adults learn how to retire with a peace of mind:
http://www.bulletpedia.com/retirement.htm

Online Share Trading ' Tips to Play the Market and Win

Online Share Trading ' Tips to Play the Market and Win
How do you succeed at online share trading? The truth is
that many of the principles that apply to playing the
online share market and winning are very similar to those
you use offline. You need to really know your market and be
constantly learning, you also need to be patient, develop a
good system and seeing the big picture.

Learn as Much as Possible

The first step to being successful at online share trading
is to spend time researching the market. Any business that
you get involved in requires learning about your market and
what you need to do in order to succeed in it, online share
trading is no different ' you need to invest in your
education, whether this means investing time, money or
both. Constantly be learning and growing and be prepared to
adapt as situations change.

Develop a System of Online Share Trading

There is no ideal system that always wins, but all
successful online share traders have some system that they
use to determine whether to invest in certain shares or not
and when to sell. You should work on creating a system that
works for you and stick to it even if there are sometimes
failures. Your system should tell you when to cut the
losses and you should know how much risk and loss you are
willing to accept before selling out.

Be Patient

Developing patience and learning to wait for the right
deals is another step to playing the online share market to
win. Don't take trades that are too risky just because you
feel you need to remain in the market at all times. Learn
patience to wait for the best trades.

Learn to See the Big Picture

Online share trading is a mixture of understanding the
details, as well as seeing the big picture. It is important
to understand the big picture so that individual losses do
not lead to you giving up when you could still see a profit
from persevering.

Being successful at online share trading means that you
should constantly be learning and growing and investing in
your education and personal development. You should also
learn to be patient and see the big picture so that
individual losses do not stop you making a long term profit
and so that you only accept the best trades. Develop a
system which dictates when you buy and sell and be
disciplined in this system.

----------------------------------------------------
Richard Greenwood is Author of the Ebook Finance Overhaul
which aims to show people how they can change the way they
work, earn & spend using online businesses and business
outsourcing - http://www.financeoverhaul.com.au

Can Canceling a Credit Card Hurt My Credit Score?

Can Canceling a Credit Card Hurt My Credit Score?
One of the most significant factors in your credit score
besides your payment history is how much you owe in
relation to how much credit you have. This accounts for 30%
of your credit score. However, the amount you owe is not
simply the total amount of debt, it's your debt in relation
to how much credit you have. This is referred to as the
credit-utilization ratio. The credit-utilization ratio is a
key factor in determining how you manage credit. The lower
the ratio, the more you are viewed as a responsible credit
user by creditors. Canceling a credit card can
significantly raise your credit-utilization ratio and in
turn lower your credit score.

For example, let's say you have $10,000 in credit on 3
credit cards and have a total amount of debt of $2500. Your
credit-utilization ratio would be 25%. If you cancel one of
your cards that has a zero balance and a credit line of
$5000, your credit-utilization ratio would increase to 50%.
The higher ratio would lower your credit score.

If you are having problems with debt, then canceling a
credit card can help by eliminating the temptation to
increase your debt. While canceling the credit card may
lower your score in the short term, the benefits of not
increasing your debt and paying down your current debt will
go a long way to helping increasing your credit score in
the future.

Additionally, if you do decided to cancel one of your
credit cards to help you better manage your debt, cancel
your newest cards first in order to avoid getting doubly
dinged on your credit score. Canceling older credit cards
can hurt you because the length of your credit history
matters in calculating your credit score. If you cancel
your older credit cards first, then you decrease your
credit history. However, if you are not using the older
card, then canceling that card can be beneficial if you are
paying an annual fee. You'll save the annual fee and also
not have a credit card around that you're not using, which
might help protect your privacy and the potential for theft.

Remember, your credit score is a reflection of how you
manage your credit. By adopting good credit and money
management skills, you won't have to worry about your
credit score. Pay your bills on time, don't be too liberal
with the amount you spend on your credit cards, and be
aware of just how much debt you owe will go a long way in
managing your credit.

----------------------------------------------------
For more ways on how to save money and manage your debt, go
to http://www.CreditManagement101.com - a website dedicated
to issues concerning debt and credit management.
At http://www.CreditManagement101.com you'll learn about
responsible credit management, your credit score, debt
management plans and credit counseling. Also find ways to
save your money by maintaining a livable budget that
reflects your means.

The 5 Year Bull Market Myth!

The 5 Year Bull Market Myth!
If you like to read about the stock market you may have
seen some recent articles about the so-called bull market
we have experienced over the last 5 years. One of the
problems with looking at the market with such a short term
view is we fail to see the whole picture.

I liken it to the horse wearing blinders effect. Not that I
get out to the horse races much but if you have ever been
to one you will notice that they put these things called
blinders on the horse's eyes so they will not get
distracted during the race. Well sometimes human nature
acts just like those blinders and we tend to only see what
has happened lately. This is exactly the case of the
mythical 5 year bull market and this phenomenon can be very
dangerous to the novice as well as the experienced
investor. Let me explain.

First let's look at this so called bull market and why it
has been deemed as such. Going back about 5 years ago to
September 30, 2002 the S&P 500 closed at 827.37. Flashing
forward just a little over 5 years to October 8, 2007 the
S&P closed at 1,554.41. If you do the math that equals an
attractive annual growth rate of 14.19% per year. Wow you
might say, what's wrong with 14%, sign me up! The problem
is this is not the whole story. In fact this is a dangerous
story if market makers and mutual fund promoters use this
information to influence countless investors to invest in
the market without considering the true risks and the
effects these risks will most likely have on their returns.
Let's take our blinders off for a moment and consider the
long term implications of this mythical market.

What if we were to go back just two years more to the year
2000. In fact let's go back to January 3, 2000 when the S&P
500 index closed at 1,441.47. Let's assume that this just
so happened to be the date that you decided to invest your
hard earned money into the market. Would you still be up
14.19% per year on average? Hardly. In fact you would have
spent two years with a stomach ache watching your money
decline as the market dropped to the bottom on September
30, 2002. In fact you would have lost 42.6% of your
investment. Could you afford to lose that much money in so
short a time?

But some may argue that this was only a paper loss and if
they would just hang in there until the market rebounded
they would be fine. The truth is the market did rebound but
with what effect?

If you would have invested your money directly in the S&P
500 on January 3, 2000 to October 8, 2007 for a little over
7 years your compounded annual growth rate would have been
.96% during the entire period. Not even one percentage
point.

Now that is a market that suddenly does not look so bullish
does it? And all we did was look back an additional two
years. What if we looked ahead?

What would the S&P 500 have to do over the next 26 months
so that by 2010 this hypothetical investor could actually
justify all of the risk that he just took over this 10 year
period?

If by the year 2010 the market increases by 50% this lucky
investor will have an effective 10-year rate of return of a
whopping 4.20%!

The bottom line is that the next 3 years have to be
phenomenal just to provide long term investors with
somewhat competitive returns. Returns that they could have
otherwise achieved with much less risk and much more
certainty.

So while the 5 year bull market did happen for a lucky few,
chances are if you have been a long term investor over the
last seven years you have barely broke even. How much
better off could you have been if you had invested in
safer, less volatile, or even risk free alternatives.
Before you get ready to listen to the market makers or
mutual fund marketers make sure you know the facts. Don't
get sucked into the hype of the mythical 5 year bull
market. If you are not sure exactly how well your
investments are doing you may want to seek out the
assistance of a qualified advisor who can tell you not just
what your fund has averaged over the last 5 or 10 years but
who can help you analyze what your true return has been and
if you are as far ahead as you think or if it may be time
to reevaluate your holdings. While blinders may work well
for horses they can be devastating to investors.

----------------------------------------------------
Antonio Filippone is a respected speaker on a wide range of
subjects. He has been published in the official journal of
the IARFC as well as interviewed on the Radio about his out
side the box financial strategies.Readers who are
interested in gaining more information on how to live debt
free and truly wealthy can request a complimentary copy of
Mr. Filippone's booklet by visiting his website at
http://www.tonyfilippone.com

How to Select a Mortgage Refinancing Company

How to Select a Mortgage Refinancing Company
In these days of ours, social, cultural, commercial,
political and educational systems have integrated to bid
goodbye to the geographical boundaries. Thanks to this,
the money lending market is growing at tremendous speed and
is catering to the different needs of the customers all
over.

Selecting a mortgage refinancing company in this context is
not a difficult task. We go for a mortgage refinance when
we face some money problems. Since refinancing a mortgage
is very widespread now, we have got different choices or
options to deal with before availing the service.
Different companies offer different services and therefore,
we have to exercise a little effort in selecting a mortgage
refinance company. While we do so, the priority shall be
given to the element of attraction towards the financial
gain, we could get hold of, on switching over to it from
the existing one.

The real estate market is ever changing. And the value of
the mortgaged home reflects such changes. These changes
motivate the companies to put forward different offers to
the customers. Therefore, selecting a mortgage refinancing
company is very important before going for the required
mortgage refinance.

The first step we have to adopt in selecting a mortgage
refinancing company is conducting a bit of research. We
have to collect relevant information about various
trustworthy mortgage-refinancing companies existing in the
money market. Information on this can be acquired from
sources like Internet, print and electronic media. While
doing so, priority shall be given to the local ones.

With this list we can amass more information about the
different mortgage products each company offers. Also, we
will become familiar with the company's credentials and
experience in the market. It should not be overlooked when
selecting a mortgage refinancing company that trust is the
most important point accredited to a money lending
institution whether it is new or old. It must not be
forgotten that the keys for selecting a mortgage
refinancing company are patience and persistence.

Almost all mortgage-refinancing companies do business
campaigns and seminars to enlighten the customers about
their financing products at different intervals of time.
Therefore, on selecting a mortgage refinancing company we
can attend the company's meetings in order to inter act
with the officials of the company for getting a clear cut
picture of the terms and conditions to the refinancing
mortgage and the interest rate along with the amount of
installment of repayment against the mortgage loan.

The characteristics of a good mortgage refinancing company
are its flexible ways and rigid terms. Selecting a
mortgage refinancing company shall end in selecting the
reputable and specialized mortgage refinancing company that
is rooted well in the public conscience. For, we do not
want to lose our home at the end of the day. After
selecting a mortgage refinancing company of our choice by
strictly adhering to the above guidelines, we can contact
the selected company for a mortgage refinance of our choice.

----------------------------------------------------
Discover how to refinance your house the right way - It can
save you thousands of dollars. Download your free Mortgage
Refinancing Report today:
http://www.bulletpedia.com/refinance.htm

Take Control of Your Finances With Debt Consolidation Loans

Take Control of Your Finances With Debt Consolidation Loans
Does it seem like your daily mail always brings a new bill?
Are you struggling to make the minimum monthly payments on
your credit cards? If so, you aren't alone. Every day,
people are faced with debt that seems to be quickly gaining
the upper hand. If this sounds familiar, it may be time to
consider the possibility that a debt consolidation loan
could be the answer.

You may be wondering what the difference is between debt
consolidation and a debt consolidation loan. The term debt
consolidation is often used to describe a service offered
by non-profit organizations to combine your debts into one
monthly payment, but without being granted an actual loan.
A debt consolidation loan is an actual loan that does not
require you to enter a debt counseling program or turn your
finances over to someone else.

One of the leading reasons that individuals apply for debt
consolidation loans is their desire to get ride of high
interest credit cards. With monthly payments that often
barely cover the interest rates, which can increase at any
time, credit cards account for a large portion of consumer
debt. A debt consolidation loan can not only offer a
single monthly payment, but it can also offer lower
interest rates.

A debt consolidation loan is much like any other loan. A
standard application will request contact information, the
applicant's social security number, employment information
and permission to access a credit report. In some cases,
depending on the amount requested for a debt consolidation
loan, the lender may also request collateral. This would
be common if the amount of debt to be consolidated were
extremely high or if the applicant has a very low credit
score. Applicants should carefully consider the type of
collateral granted for a debt consolidation loan,
especially if the lender requests that the applicant's
residence be used. If credit card debt is the main reason
for a debt consolidation loan and if that loan uses a home
as collateral, the applicant is basically turning unsecured
credit card debt into secured debt with their home as the
collateral. If something should occur in the future and
the payments cannot be made, the applicant runs the risk of
losing his/her home. If collateral is not available, some
lenders may agree to issue the debt consolidation loan if
the applicant has a co-signer.

After being granted a debt consolidation loan and once all
credit cards are paid in full, many experts have
recommended closing credit card accounts to avoid having
the temptation of using them again. If the debt problem
arose from excessive spending, the temptation of having
available credit may be too great of a risk to bare. It is
advisable to keep one credit card open for emergency
purposes and, if possible, this card should carry the
lowest interest and no annual fee. A debt consolidation
loan is designed to help individuals regain control over
their finances and, if used correctly, save some extra
money in the process.

The information contained in this article is designed to be
used for reference purposes only. It should not be used
as, in place of or in conjunction with professional
financial advice relating to debt consolidation loans. For
additional information or to apply for a debt consolidation
loan, check with a lender who specializes in this type of
loan.

----------------------------------------------------
Andrew Daigle is an author and creator of many
informational websites including
http://www.personal-payday-student-loans.com for different
types of loans and
http://www.auto-insurance-quotes-cheap.com for the cheapest
auto insurance, and many more.

Online Investing & Forex Trading

Online Investing & Forex Trading
Online trading has caused a major paradigm shift in
investing. At the turn of the millennium, there are over 6
million online investment accounts, up from 1.5 million in
1997. As a result, start-up firms now compete directly with
financial institutions to serve investors in the new
Economy, and the clear winner is the customer. The
competition between the brick and mortar institutions and
the Internet-based companies has dramatically lowered the
costs of investing, and empowered the individual investor
to take control of their own investment strategy.

On-line trading will revolutionize the currency markets by
making it accessible to the small and medium sized
investor. For the first time, these investors have the
ability to execute transactions of between $100,000 and
$10,000,000 at the same prices the Interbank market offers
for deals well over $10,000,000. This benefits both those
who wish to speculate on the direction of the currency
markets for profit, as well as the money manager or
corporate treasurer looking to hedge against unwanted
exposure to future price fluctuations in the currency
markets. I am going to discuss the Benefits of Trading
Forex.

Very few on-line brokers are able to offer their clients
real-time bid/ask quotes, which facilitates instantaneous
deal execution - no missed market opportunities. Real-time
prices also allow investors to compare an on-line broker's
dealing spread with that of other pricing services, to
ensure they are receiving the best possible price on all
their Forex transactions.

Many on-line Forex brokers require their clients to request
a price before dealing. This is disadvantageous for a
number of reasons, primarily because it significantly
lengthens the execution process from just a few seconds to
possibly as long as a minute. In a fast paced market, this
could make a significant difference in an investor's profit
potential. Also, some of the more unscrupulous brokers may
use the opportunity to look at an investor's current
position. Once they have determined whether the investor is
a buyer or a seller, they 'shade' the price to increase
their own profit on the transaction.

Timing is everything in the fast-paced Forex market.
On-line trades are executed and confirmed within seconds,
which ensures that traders do not miss market
opportunities. Even the incremental extra time it takes to
complete a transaction over the phone can mean a big
difference in profit potential. Introduction simply,
executing trades electronically reduces manual effort,
thereby lowering the costs of doing business. On-line
brokers are then able to pass along the savings to their
client base. The fast-paced nature of the Forex market
compels traders to execute multiple trades each day. It is
vital for each client to have real-time information about
their current position in order to make well-informed
trading decisions.

Access to timely and relevant information is critical.
Professional traders pay thousands of dollars each month
for access to major information providers. However, the
very nature of the Internet affords users free access to
reliable market information from a variety of sources,
including real-time price quotes, international news,
government-issued economic indicators and reports, as well
as subjective information such as expert commentary and
analysis, trader chat forums etc.

The main advantage of the Forex market over any
exchange-traded instruments is that the Forex market is a
true 24-hour market. Whether it's 6pm or 6am, somewhere in
the world there are always buyers and sellers actively
trading Forex so that investors can respond to breaking
news immediately. In the currency markets, your portfolio
won't be affected by after hours earning reports or analyst
conference calls. The ECNs (Electronic Communication
Networks) exist to bring together buyers and sellers when
possible.

----------------------------------------------------
Andrew Daigle is the owner, creator and author of many
successful websites including ForexBoost at
http://www.ForexBoost.com and
http://forex-trading-system.typepad.com , Free Forex
Training Resource for the Novice and Advanced Forex trader.

Houston Real Estate Information

Houston Real Estate Information
What to Look For in Houston Real Estate

It appears that Houston has been one of the few markets in
the country that has escaped to some extent the real estate
downturn seen in most of the rest of the country. Despite
the normal seasonal slowdown in real estate sales at the
end of summer, Houston remained ahead of 2005 in terms of
sales and pricing and its inventory of homes relative to
sales is still well below the 10 year average. This bodes
well for both buyers and sellers in the Houston market

The Houston real estate market is experiencing weakness but
it remains much better off than the national numbers that
have been reported and the numbers that are being forecast.
In major listing categories, Houston's overall housing
market has seen mixed results with increases in median
sales price and average sales price on a year-over-year
basis. However, a noteworthy decline is being seen in both
total property sales and total dollar volume. Total
year-to-date properties sales have been down but not too
significantly.

The sub-prime and foreclosure issues are still a drag on
prices and sales. Sales prices are holding up relatively
well, however, and the mortgage adjustments are working
through the system helping to create some stability in the
Houston home sales market.

To take advantage of the current real estate situation, you
should search out a realtor who has professional experience
in a wide variety of properties at different price points.
These professionals have the depth of experience to help
you determine what price range is right for you, what area
is appropriate and what the best strategy is for the sale
of your existing home if you are moving up to a larger home.

Establishing a relationship with an experienced realtor
will help to make the search for the right home much
easier. Real estate professionals make it their goal to
keep their finger on the pulse of the market in their area.
They know which areas are selling, which are steady, where
the best schools are and what the recreational activities
are in each area. Establishing your personal criteria with
a realtor will go a long way toward making your search for
the perfect home in the Houston area a simple job. In
summary, the Houston market is still a viable market for
both buyers and sellers. As always, the business community
is thriving which makes the Houston market even more
attractive.

----------------------------------------------------
Adam Alford
President
http://www.newhoustonbuilders.com

Why Everyone Needs Title Insurance

Why Everyone Needs Title Insurance
Every day, buyers put in offers on Philadelphia
Condominiums they would like to purchase. Such offers are
usually contingent upon certain inspections such as a
termite, mold, or home inspection. This is a great idea
especially because purchasing a home-whether it's an Old
City Loft or a Rittenhouse Square Condominium-could be the
biggest and most important purchase of someone's life. But
for some reason, no one ever seems as concerned about the
condition of their new condominium's title. Most people
may not even realize that purchasing a home with a "moldy"
title could end up causing you more financially, not to
mention emotionally, than having to replace a roof.

Before I continue, let me explain that in the State of
Pennsylvania, title insurance is a standard rate based on
sales price and regulated by the "Title Insurance Rating
Bureau of Pennsylvania" as you can see on most title
company websites like this one: http://www.rcatitle.com/.

Just Click on the "title calculator". Depending on the
transaction, whether the condo or home had a title
insurance policy in the last 10 years or if it is a new
construction or condominium conversion you may be entitled
to a discounted rate such as reissue rate (a 10% discount)
or substitution rate (a 20% discount).

Another important factor here is that if you are obtaining
a mortgage to purchase your condominium or home, your
lender will force you to obtain a "lender's title insurance
policy" based on loan amount but you will not be forced to
obtain an "owner's policy". Most of the time, your loan
amount is very close to your purchase price so if you must
obtain a "lender's policy" it would be very silly not to
spend the extra hundred or so dollars to go ahead and
purchase the title insurance policy for the entire purchase
price. For example: If your Society Hill condominium
purchase price is $500,000 and your loan amount is
$470,000, you would be forced by your lender to pay
approximately $2710 for title insurance that only protects
your mortgage company, not you. If you decided to obtain
an owner's policy for $2860, both you and your lender would
be issued an all-inclusive policy that would cover you
and/or the lender in the event that a problem came up on
your title. That is the best $150 you can spend, in my
opinion!

Now you may be thinking, "What exactly is this insurance
policy covering?" Let me give you a few scenarios I have
encountered while working with a title company:

Perhaps you are purchasing a brand new construction condo
in Old City. Well, perhaps the builder obtained a $2
Million mortgage to rehab the building. If you purchase
title insurance, your title company will force the builder
to pay a substantial amount of the mortgage which will then
force the bank to give your title company an original
"Partial Release of Mortgage" to file a on your unit with
the City of Philadelphia Recorder of Deeds. What this
means, is say Unit 302 (your unit) will be released from
any and all responsibility for the balance of that
mortgage. If for some reason, this does not occur and the
builder never pays his mortgage in full, when to sell your
unit in 5 or 10 years, an unsatisfied $2 Million mortgage
will show up on the new title report and you will not be
able to sell your unit until that mortgage is released with
the City of Philadelphia Recorder of Deeds.

Let's say that same newly constructed Old City loft
produces a clean title at closing. No liens, no judgments,
all taxes are paid. Well, not that you see the clean
report, you decide only to pay for the lender's policy and
save yourself $200. The report was clean so there is no
reason to pay extra for nothing right?.....wrong. Let's
say the sub-contractor still hasn't gotten paid for work he
completed in your unit 3 months before you bought the
place. Guess what? If you didn't purchase an owner's
title insurance policy, the sub-contractor can place a lien
against your specific unit and guess who will be legally
responsible for that lien. And if you don't pay it, you
will also be responsible for the interest and penalties and
court costs and you may be required to show up for a small
claims hearing. Your credit may even be affected. The
only way at that point to try and get your money back would
be for you to file a lien against the builder you purchased
from-that is, if you can find him at that point.

Another scary situation most people do not think about is
the fact that the person you are buying from may not be the
rightful owner of the loft or condominium you are
purchasing. Perhaps, the owner passed away and left the
home to his or her heirs in a will. In that case, the
title company would review the will and make sure the will
was filed correctly and be sure that every individual that
may be entitled to a percentage of the home signs the deed
and has their original signature notarized. Not to mention
that any and all inheritance tax that may be due and
payable is accounted for, collected, and paid. Unpaid
inheritance tax is something that could come up as a lien
or judgment against your Society Hill condo years down the
line and with no title insurance, you would be held
responsible to pay it as the owner of record. Not to
mention the fear of a long lost son or daughter of the
previous owner that you may not have known about coming
along and claiming to have rights to a percentage of
ownership of your home.

Powers of attorney can get pretty tricky too. Again, I
think the best bet when dealing with a seller that wants to
use a power of attorney, is to get a title insurance
company to insure the transaction. The thing here is that
if "Jane" has power of attorney for the actual owner of the
property being sold, "John", you want to be sure that
everything here is in order. I once encountered a
situation where the actual homeowner, John had passed away.
His passing actually made Jane's Power of Attorney null
and void. Jane went ahead and sold his property here in
Center City Philadelphia anyway. She signed over the deed
to an innocent buyer and the documents were recorded with
the City of Philadelphia Recorder of Deeds. The buyer
moved in and got himself settled and bought new furniture
only to check the mail a few months later and find a letter
from an attorney representing John's wife (not Jane, Nancy)
asking him to get out of her house or pay her for it.
Since she was John's sole heir, the house was hers and Jane
did not have any right to sell it. Because the buyer was
smart enough to have purchased title insurance, his title
company was able to negotiate a deal with Nancy and her
attorney and pay her a lump sum to rightfully sign over the
house to the innocent buyer. I wonder what would have
happened to him had he not purchased that title insurance
policy? Hopefully, you'll never have to know.

In conclusion, I'd just like to say that as a buyer, the
title company works for you. Do not allow any seller or
mortgage company bully you into using the title company
they have a relationship with. No matter which title
company you choose, you should receive the same insurance
policy and that policy should cost exactly the same. You
may want to shop around and look for a title company with
no closing fee like Trident Land Transfer Company. You may
want to see some references as well or maybe take a look at
the company's history and find out which is their
underwriter. Whichever company you decide to use, I urge
you to go ahead and protect one of your biggest investments
and purchase that title insurance policy. Remember, you
wouldn't buy a home with a bad foundation, so please don't
buy a Philadelphia Condominium or any other home with an
"unstable" title.

----------------------------------------------------
Mark Wade has been selling Philadelphia Condos and Lofts
for 19 years and is a Realtor with Prudential Fox and Roach
Realtors in Society Hill.
http://www.CenterCity.com . If you would like additional
information about title insurance or any other settlement
related topic, free to give him a call at 215-521-1523 or
send him an email at Mark@CenterCity.com