The Benefits of a For Sale By Owner - FSBO - Home Sale

Obviously, one of the most apparent FSBO benefits, at least
to many home owners, is that the act of sticking that 'For
Sale By Owner' sign in their front yard says that they
might save some money and have some control over the
selling of their home. However, what are some of the other
benefits of an FSBO home sale, and how do you go about
doing it.

While not a necessarily a 'benefit', one of the first
things to remember when contemplating an FSBO home sale is
that no matter where you are, it can seem somewhat daunting
and complicated. Adding to the complications is the fact
that not only are there all kinds of legal forms required
(and if you have ever bought a home you know what I mean),
but that requirements may vary state by state. A
California 'for sale by owner' home sale might be be
different from a Wisconsin FSBO transaction.

If taking the 'for sale by owner' route is so complicated
and messy, why am I including this comment in an article
for someone who is contemplating putting up their home in a
'for sale by owner' offering?

Let's talk about those benefits.

1. The FSBO Kit - There are many companies which offer
what can be called an FSBO kit of one kind or another.
Depending on the company, this kit will provide the
homeowner with the FSBO legal forms, and hopefully some
guidance on preparation and filing of the 'for sale by
owner' documents. These kits may range from simply the
basic or most common forms needed with some instructions on
how to fill them out and where to file them, to very
complete FSBO kits which include ALL the legal forms
needed, instructions on how to fill them out, where to file
them, instructions on how to prepare your home for sale,
how to advertise your home for sale effectively, and, in
some cases, contact with a listing service which will put
the home out in front of prospective buyers.

2. Growing Public Acceptance of the Process - Not too many
years ago, most people would have been wary of a home with
an FSBO sign in the front yard. However, since more and
more people have opted in for this type of home sale, not
only are many more people actually looking for those signs,
but an entire support industry seems to have sprung up to
assist the homeowner who has decided to try the 'for sale
by owner' route. Newspapers offer advertising packages and
guidance, for example, and even some realtors have jumped
on the bandwagon by offering assistance and guidance to the
homeowner - for a fee, of course.

3. Control Over The Home Sale Process - I hinted at this
earlier in the opening paragraph. Many people just want to
have some control over the process and not feel a pawn in
the hands of the real estate agent. Additionally, some
people want to be involved in showing the house, explaining
its values and even such simple things as 'how nice the
next door neighbor is' to prospective buyers. Some people
feel that this more personal approach may do more to sell
the house than a realtor's remark about how the owner
mentioned that it was a nice neighborhood to live in.

4. Savings - Actually, I do not necessarily consider
savings to be the main reason that ALL people choose to go
with an FSBO home sale. Many of us simply believe that we
don't mind paying if we know what we are paying for. When
that realtor walks off with a large commission, we often
wonder what he or she did to earn it. While 'for sale by
owner' will certainly very often offer savings, ranging
from small to large amounts, many of us are just happy to
know where our money is going. While there is almost no
concrete way to measure how much money is actually saved in
an FSBO home sale, there will almost always be some
savings, if the process is done correctly and efficiently.

For most homeowners, and buyers as far as that goes, the
FSBO home sale can be a rewarding experience if done
properly. If you are not an experienced home seller,
probably the best way to be successful is to do your
homework and get your hands on the best FSBO kit you can
find.

----------------------------------------------------
Donovan Baldwin is a freelance writer living in Central
Texas. He is a University of West Florida alumnus with a
BA in Accounting, and is a member of Mensa. He has a
webpage where you can learn more about one FSBO kit at
http://legal-forms-supermarket.com/about/for_sale_by_owner.h
tml .

Traveling with Credit Cards: What you Need to Know

As you make travel plans this summer, be sure to pack the
plastic. Credit cards are a convenient tool to finance your
trip. To make the most of them, it's best to keep a few
factors in mind. Here's what you need to know before you go.

Plan Ahead

As you prepare for the trip, take a look at the credit
cards you have. If you plan to travel abroad, consider
carrying cards that are widely accepted, such as Visa or
MasterCard. Taking along two credit cards is wise; this
way, if one of the cards is not accepted, you have a backup.

Most credit card companies and issuers charge fees for
international purchases. This expense, which covers the
fees incurred for currency conversion, is usually 2-3% of
the purchase amount. To find out how much you will be
charged, call your credit card company and ask before you
leave. In most cases, the fees you will have to pay will be
less than what you would spend exchanging dollars or
cashing in traveler's checks. This is because when you use
a credit card, you usually receive the best exchange rate
available.

A common problem for those traveling abroad involves
purchases being blocked. This occurs because the
international activity sets off a fraud alarm. For your
safety, the credit card company does not allow the
transaction. To avoid this potential dilemma, inform the
company of your travel plans before you leave. They can
make a note on your account that allows foreign
transactions to go through.

Finally, before you travel, send an email to yourself.
Include the toll-free number for customer service at the
credit card company. This way, if the card gets lost or
stolen, you can access your email and call the company
immediately to stop any account activity. Be a Smart
Traveler Even after proper planning, you will still want to
be careful when traveling with credit cards. Make sure all
purchase transactions are done in your presence. Most
restaurants and hotels will process the card in a public
place in order to avoid fraudulent activity. Pay with cash
if you have any doubts.

If the credit card transaction does not go through, call
the company right away. Occasionally, a purchase will be
blocked for security reasons, even after informing the
company of your trip. If you speak with a representative,
the hold can be released on the card. This can be done
within a few minutes, allowing you to make the purchase.

Should your card get lost or stolen, report it immediately.
You will only be responsible for up to $50 in unauthorized
purchases. In some cases, you won't have to pay anything.

If you need to, you can use the credit card for cash
advances. But remember that fees for these transactions can
add up fast. If you will be unable to pay off the advance
quickly, you may want to look into a different plan.

By preparing properly and taking safety precautions, you
can travel easily with a credit card. They are more
convenient than traveler's checks. And they offer you more
protection than cash, which disappears if it gets stolen.
By using a credit card, you can enjoy the many benefits of
carrying plastic on your trip.

----------------------------------------------------
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.

Bank of America Cash Rewards Platinum Plus MasterCard Credit Card - Review

Bank of America claims that the Bank of America Cash
Rewards Platinum Plus Credit Card is now the most
convenient credit card is also the most intelligent choice
on their website. This is indeed a bold claim and one that
I actually agree with. One can easily reach for the new
Bank of America Cash Rewards Credit Card to gain cash back
on every purchase that is made with the card. You can use
the card for your day-to-day needs including shopping,
groceries, gasoline, entertainment, as well as paying
household bills and insurance payments. All of this adds up
to cash back in your pocket.

Currently the Bank of America Cash Rewards Platinum Plus
MasterCard Credit Card offers an introductory 0% annual
percentage rate (APR) for cash advance checks and balance
transfers through your first twelve billing cycles. This is
subject to a 3% transaction fee, that can be no less than
$10. Basically, for every $2,500 you spend in net retail
purchases with your Bank of America Cash Rewards Platinum
Plus MasterCard Credit Card, you'll earn $25.00. This comes
out to be a full 1% cash back. Currently there is no limit
to how much cash back you can earn with the card. Whenever
it occurs that your new purchases total $2,500.00, all you
have to do is call and $25.00 is added directly to your
credit card account.

The Bank of America Cash Rewards Platinum Plus MasterCard
Credit Card features convenient account access as well.
Holders are entitled to their free online account
management service. This offers complete access right at
your fingertips to help persons save time and money while
they manage their account. Also it is most easy and simple
to pay your credit card bill online. At anytime you can
view your account information online including checking out
your balance, transaction activity, and payment due dates
whenever you like. If you would like to consolidate your
balances to your Bank of America Credit Card online that is
easy to do as well. To top all that off you can also
request credit line increases, order access checks, and
more. The enrollment process is fast and simple.

Customer Service for the Bank of America Cash Rewards
Platinum Plus MasterCard Credit Card is second to none.
Cheerful and helpful representatives have always been there
for myself when I have called concerning issues with my
personal account and I have no complaints. I have never had
to wait more than just a few minutes, and all of my
concerns or questions have always been addressed or
answered very quickly. This is most rare in this day and
age of automation, where it seems it is next to impossible
sometimes to get ahold of a real person.

At the time of the review of this credit card all
information presented was accurate and up to date. Please
be certain to get the latest terms and conditions for this
offer from the application page of the card issuer before
applying for this or any other credit card.

----------------------------------------------------
Sam Donaldson is the current writer for the credit card
rewards website located at
http://www.credit-cards-with-rewards.com/ . At this website
you can also review and or apply online for the credit card
reviewed in this article at
http://credit-cards-with-rewards.com/Bank_of_America_Cash_Re
wards_Platinum_Plus_MasterCard.htm .

History of the United States and Chinese Stock Exchanges

The American and Chinese stock exchanges have a rich
history. Both have had a phenomenal history with both
having great ups and very bad downs.

The New York Stock Exchange or NYSE was formed on May 17,
1792. 24 stock brokers signed an agreement called the
Buttonwood Agreement under of course but what else, a
buttonwood tree. This was the start of the New York Stock
& Exchange Board in its infancy. By March 8, 1817 the name
became official and later in 1863 to what we all know now
as the New York Stock Exchange. The NYSE location started
off in a small room rented for $200 a month in 1817 located
at 40 Wall Street. From then on it grew and grew out
growing that little room in to the building that we know
today.

The first share traded at the Shanghai Stock Exchange was
in 1866. In 1891 during the mining shares boom, foreign
businessmen founded the "Shanghai Sharebrokers Association"
headquartered in Shanghai as China's first official stock
exchange. In 1904, the association applied for application
in Hong Kong under the provision of the Companies ordinance
and was renamed as "Shanghai Stock Exchange" which we know
of by that same name today.

By the 1930's, the Shanghai Stock Exchange has become the
financial center for the far east, with people from China
and from other countries could trade stocks, government
bonds, debentures, and futures. The Stock Exchange was
halted for a number of years between December 8, 1941 and
sometime in 1946 when invading Japanese forces occupied the
Shanghai International Settlement. By 1949 the Shanghai
Stock Exchange was closed due to the rise of Communism.

In 1978 after the cultural revolution, Deng Xiaoping
re-opened China to the world. By 1990 the Shanghai Stock
Exchange was back in action after it was suspended of
operation since 1949.

Each stock exchange has endured many hardships over the
years. On October 24, 1929, The Wall Street Crash of 1929,
also known as the Crash of '29 and Black Thursday, was one
of the most devastating stock market crashes in American
history. Share prices on the NYSE collapsed. Stock prices
fell on that day and they continued to fall, at an
unprecedented rate, for a full month. This caused the
whole country to nearly melt down. This financial rift was
felt all over the world, even in the Shanghai Stock
Exchange.

As mentioned before, The Shanghai Stock Exchange endured
two major blows; one being the Japanese occupation in 1946
and the suspension of operations for over 40 years in 1950.

Both of these Stock Exchanges went through years of what
experts would probably call tough life but as of the
present they are both flourishing. On July 19th, 2007, Dow
Jones Industrial Average at the NYSE, closed above 14,000
for the first time in its history. In 2007 "a stock market
frenzy" as speculative traders rush into the market, making
China's stock exchange temporarily the world's second
largest in terms of turnover.

----------------------------------------------------
This article was written for our friends at Wall Street Ren
- http://www.wsren.org to show the bridge between the US
and Chinese stock exchanges. Article written and
distributed by Steve Cancel, IT Manager of Michigan
Computer Repair - http://www.slcomputerrepair.com .

Is It Time To Refinance Your Auto Loan?

With interest rates near all time lows for the last several
years, many people have been refinancing their mortgages,
lowering their mortgage interest rates and monthly
payments. It is also possible to save a lot of money by
refinancing your auto loan.

Auto loans carry much shorter payoff schedules than do home
loans, so it is to your advantage to refinance your car
loan as early as possible, before a good deal of the
original loan has already been repaid. If you are already
several years into making payments on a car, the savings
will not be as great.

When you refinance an auto loan, you will pay off the
existing loan completely and enter into a new loan
agreement, which will ideally carry a lower interest rate
than the original loan. If your refinance loan has a
payoff time longer than what was left of your original car
loan, and your interest rate is equal to or lower than your
previous interest rate, you will in turn have lower monthly
payments. You may opt to take the interest savings from
the new loan and apply it toward the principal, thereby
reducing your payoff time.

Before you apply for an auto refinance loan, you should
determine your credit score. To qualify for a refinance
loan, you do not have to have perfect credit, but your FICO
score should be at least 550 or higher to qualify for a
competitive interest rate.

The next thing to look at is the interest rate on your
current auto loan. You want to make sure you will be able
to get a lower interest rate when you refinance. If you
find you can't get a lower interest rate than you already
have, it may not be worth it to refinance, unless you are
satisfied to simply extend your payoff time to get lower
monthly payments. In contrast, if you are able to knock
down your interest rate by several percentage points, you
could save thousands of dollars during repayment.

When refinancing a car loan, you will need to know the
exact amount needed to pay off your original loan. While
some companies offer an auto equity loan with cash back,
most traditional lenders will only loan enough money to
cover the payoff cost of the vehicle. In either case, you
will need to know the payoff balance of your existing loan.

Another benefit of auto loan refinancing is that in most
cases you will be able to skip a payment. Because you are
entering a completely new financial agreement, there will
be some time involved in paying off your original loan and
receiving a payment schedule for the refinance loan. This
will allow you to effectively skip a monthly payment.

Finally, compare several lenders and get a feel for what
kind of interest rate you are likely to get on an auto
refinance loan. Rates and terms will vary from lender to
lender. Before getting your car loan quotes, collect all
necessary personal information, including address and phone
number, time with your current employer and salary level,
residence history, and contact information. Doing your
homework ahead of time will insure that you get the best
possible interest rate for your auto loan refinance.

----------------------------------------------------
Gregg Pennington writes articles on a number of topics
including auto loans, loan consolidation, credit and debt.
For more information about auto loans visit:

http://www.onlinemoneysources.net/auto-loans.html