Do You Know How Cash Back Credit Cards Work?

Do You Know How Cash Back Credit Cards Work?
The popularity of cash back credit cards hasn't waned over
the years. In fact, today, more and more people still
prefer a cash back credit card over other reward credit
cards programs. Do you own a cash back card yourself? Or
are you still thinking about applying your own cash back
card? Whether you already have a cash back card or is still
planning on getting one, this article would surely be
useful for you. Let's discuss more closely how these reward
credit cards work.

How Cash Back Credit Cards Reward Holders

Although specific terms and conditions vary between each
credit card issuer, the procedure on earning the cash
rewards is pretty much the same. Generally, a card holder
earns a corresponding point for every dollar he spent using
his credit card. Some credit card issuers give 2 points or
double points for every dollar but in most cases, 1 point
is given for each dollar amount charged on the card. The
points are converted to cash or money points, thus their
name- cash back credit cards.

What can you do with the cash points you earn? You can use
these cash points to make new purchases or pay bills using
your credit card. Some credit cards would require the
holder to spend his reward from a specific shop while
others give the flexibility to use your cash rewards from
any store you want.Discover® Gas CardSome cash back
cards impose a maximum amount of cash points that the card
holder can earn. After reaching this limit, the card holder
may stop qualifying for more points. The best cash back
credit cards however do not impose restrictions on the
amount of rewards you can earn. As long as you're using
credit card on your payments, you continuously earn points
on your account. You can earn as much cash as you want as
long as you're an active member of the reward program.

Competition among credit cards

Cash back credit card companies are all competing for
attention and in order to get more clients, these companies
promise only the best. Or course, not everyone deserves
your trust. For this reason, caution is advised for
everyone who plans on applying for a reward credit card.

Most reward credit cards are accompanied with unreasonably
high interest rates but if you do your research, you can
find one that offers a good deal. When it comes to annual
fees, you can now find cash back reward cards that do not
have annual fees. If the cash back card you choose requires
an annual fee, you'll want to make sure that the cost does
not outweigh your potential to earn rewards. If you'll be
paying for an expensive annual fee each year, then can you
still say that you are being rewarded? Or would you end up
paying more than what you get back?

Lastly, cash back credit cards will only work if you keep
up with your payments religiously. Never carry over your
balance for the next billing cycle if you don't want to
suffer paying for an expensive interest rate. Make it a
point to pay off your balance in full each month so make
sure that you will be rewarded.

----------------------------------------------------
RewardCreditCardSite.com provides consumers with valuable
reviews and information on the best credit card reward
programs. One can get in touch with the team by emailing
them using the online form located at
http://www.rewardcreditcardsite.com/contact/ or you may
email at admin @ rewardcreditcardsite.com. For further
information on the features, or offers visit
http://www.rewardcreditcardsite.com

Investing in Foreclosures

Investing in Foreclosures
There are many ways to get started in the real estate
market. The best one right now for many investors is by
investing in foreclosures. This tactic allows you to buy
quality properties for pennies on the dollar. With the
recent real estate crisis, there are many foreclosures on
the market to choose from.

There are some basic rules you should follow when investing
in foreclosures. The first one is to know what you want.
This is a simple matter of creating a business plan. By
listing what you want to accomplish and how you are going
to do that will help keep things on a more narrow road. You
will not get side tracked by every "good" deal you come
across.

When you are investing in foreclosures you must first
determine what you are going to do with the property. You
need to realize whether you are going to buy it, refurbish
it, and resell it, otherwise known as flipping. Or are you
going to hold on to the property for some time and use it
as a rental. This will determine what types of properties
you will want to look at.

The business plan should include what types of houses or
properties in which you are going to invest. If you are
familiar with commercial real estate, then it would be good
to stick to this type of property. You may want to deal
with single family homes. Again, this is also going to be
determined by what you want to do. Single family and
multi-family homes are great for someone interested in
being a landlord.

Market research is also part of putting together a good
business plan. The market will have a great deal to do
with the types of properties you buy. Just because there
is a fantastic English Tudor for sale at 50% less than
market value, does not mean it is a good investment. The
homes in the neighborhood which are selling may only be
three bedroom ranches.

Cash flow is also an important part of the business plan.
You will want to generate a positive cash flow as soon as
possible. To do this you must be able to generate cash
from either a family member, friend, or the lenders. When
you are investing in real estate, the lenders will be
examining the property values, the market and your credit
risk. A good, solid business plan can sometimes be more
persuasive than just walking in and asking for a loan.

With a business plan there will also be a team you put
together to help when investing in foreclosures. The first
member of your team should be a qualified real estate
agent. This is the person who can tell you the market
trends for the neighborhood. You will also want an
inspector or contractor. This is the one who will let you
know just what kind of repairs you will have to make on any
of the properties you are looking at. You will also want
someone who has experience with investing. This may be a
friend, family member, or even another investor. With a
solid team behind you, investing in foreclosures is not as
hard as some people think.

----------------------------------------------------
Gary Giardina
For More Information on foreclosures,please visit:
http://www.aboutforeclosurelistings.com

Prepare Like a Pro Athlete for Real Estate Negotiations

Prepare Like a Pro Athlete for Real Estate Negotiations
Have you ever listened to professional football announcers
like John Madden? They're always talking about players they
admire having great "skill sets," the ones that help them
win games for their teams. Well, as a real estate investor,
you have to bring a great "skill set" to the negotiation
table in order to win your game.

Below are some basic negotiating skills that you need to
acquire or sharpen in order to complete great deals.

Skill 1: Know Your Stuff! By this, I mean that you should
know everything possible about the property, the market,
the buyer/seller, etc. before you ever sit down to
negotiate. Professional sports teams employ scouts to find
out as much as possible to determine the strengths and
weaknesses of the competition. In other words, they're
looking for complete information in order to operate from a
position of strength. You don't have the luxury of hiring
scouts, but you can become a scout yourself. So, prepare
yourself by researching deals carefully and thoroughly
before you ever enter into negotiations. All of that
research will help you build Skill 2 below.

Skill 2: Bring Facts to the Negotiating Process. Buyer,
sellers, realtors—they can all get very creative with
asking and selling prices, rehab costs, etc. After all,
that's their job—to get the best price possible. Of course,
these figures are often inflated and have absolutely
nothing to do with the actual real estate market prices. To
bring a dose of reality to the negotiations, have the
latest market information handy. Then, when an unreasonable
offer is made, simply put that information on the table and
politely but firmly let the other parties know that their
offer is unreasonable given current market conditions. This
act lets everyone know that you're a professional and it's
time to get down to the real business of negotiation,
instead of wasting time on frivolous offers.

Skill 3: Determine Seller/Buyer Motivations. Often, it's
very easy to determine the motivations of buyers and
sellers. Sellers may have a hard time making payments and
need to get out from under the mortgage. Buyers may be
looking for the lowest price possible. In some cases,
motivations are more complex. But whatever the motivations
are, it's to your advantage to find out what they are
before negotiations so you operate from a position of
strength. After all, you're in the business of meeting
customer needs in a reasonable way. If you know those needs
ahead of time and work hard to satisfy them (in a
profitable manner), then you can create the classic
"win-win" situation, and everyone walks away from the
negotiation table happy.

Skill 4: Develop Patience and Objectivity. Your heart
should never rule your head in negotiations! So, no matter
how attractive a deal may appear at first glance, don't
rush headlong into it. Keep a cool head and analyze the
offer as objectively as possible. It should make good
financial sense. Rely on the research you've already done
and use it as a measure of the quality of the deal. If you
rely on cold facts instead of a hot head, you'll have many
successful transactions.

Skill 5: Think Long-Term, Not Short Term. Earlier, I
mentioned that you should work to create the classic
"win-win" situation. I want to re-emphasize that point
here. Why? Because happy buyers, sellers and realtors come
back for more deals! It's as simple as that. Also, they
spread the good word about you, and that brings in more
customers.

In the truest sense, it's an investment in your future. So,
work to establish your reputation as a fair and honest
negotiator. It's not only the right thing to do, but it
pays off in great personal and financial dividends. At all
costs, avoid unreasonable hardball tactics that create
enemies. If you adopt this approach, your real estate
career will either be short or not as profitable as you
want it to be because few people will want to work with you.

Key Points:
- Research every deal thoroughly before you enter into
negotiations.
- Negotiate real estate investment deals with your head,
not your heart.

----------------------------------------------------
Jack Sternberg is a nationally recognized expert on real
estate investment who's been in the business for more than
30 years. Sternberg's deals have totaled over $750 million
and he's been to the closing table more than 1,500 times.
For more, visit http://www.askjacksternberg.com

What Story Do Your Financial Statements Tell about the Value of Your Business?

What Story Do Your Financial Statements Tell about the Value of Your Business?
Every company's financial statements tell a story about the
value of the business. That's why the financial statements
are the starting point in any appraisal of a business
(commonly referred to as a business valuation).

Here is what every business owner should understand about
how their financial statements impact the value of their
business:

- Income Statement Analysis
- Balance Sheet Analysis
- Ratio Analysis

Income Statement Analysis:
Earning power is one of the most important elements of the
value of a business. The income statement develops this
story.

The income statement matches total revenues and total
expenses over a period of time, and it represents the best
measure of management's ability to utilize company
resources in the production of a profit. A review of the
company's one-year operating figures compared to previous
year's results and results of other companies over the same
periods takes on more meaning and helps evaluate the
efficiency and consistency of management's operation of the
company. These variances and trends tell a story. The story
may identify increasing, decreasing, stagnant, or erratic
behavior related to pricing, expense control, or marketing
ability to generate sufficient sales volume.

Once variances and trends are identified, the next question
is "why?" The answer to this question tells the story about
management's ability to efficiently and consistently
control operations and future earning power of the company.
This then tells the story about the company's long-range
viability.

Balance Sheet Analysis:
The balance sheet provides a financial picture of a company
at a given point in time. It represents resources in the
form of assets, liabilities, and owners' equity that the
company has available to generate sales or revenues.
Understanding each balance sheet account tells the story of
the company's financial condition and ability to generate
cash flows or sustain future business downturns.

The balance sheet has three major categories: assets,
liabilities and equity.

Assets represent the gross book value (i.e., historical
cost, not fair market value) of a business and are analyzed
in terms of quality and liquidity.

Liabilities represent claims against assets and are
evaluated in terms of the expected repayment source or
repayment requirements and their availability as sources of
financing for the company.

Equity is the difference between asset book values and
liabilities. Equity tells an important story. The more
equity, the more likely it is that the owners of the
company will work diligently to protect the equity and
repay the liabilities.

Understanding each balance sheet account provides the story
on the financial condition of the company.

Ratio Analysis:
After understanding the financial statements, the data from
the financial statements is used to calculate financial
ratios. Financial ratios are the most well-known and widely
used of financial analysis tools. Ratios are used as a
comparative tool to measure a company's performance against
other companies, industry standards, or other benchmarks of
performance. Financial ratios tell the story about the
riskiness and solvency of a company and how it compares to
other businesses in the market.

Representing the major financial analysis concepts, ratios
can be grouped into the five following areas:

- Liquidity
- Leverage
- Coverage
- Profitability
- Activity

Liquidity:
Liquidity is defined as a company's ability to meet its
current obligations when they come due. It tells the story
of whether the company has any assets in excess of those
required for its operating needs, which is a common issue
in business valuation. Liquidity is critical to the success
of the company: Sufficient liquidity 1) allows the company
to meet its current obligations; 2) gives the company the
flexibility to grow; 3) gives the company the ability to
sustain operating losses. Ratios to determine liquidity are:

- Current Ratio
- Quick (Acid Test) Ratio

Leverage:
Leverage is the use of resources to a fixed cost. Operating
leverage occurs when a company has fixed cost in its
overall cost structure. Financial leverage is the use of
borrowed capital in the expectation of being able to use
those funds to produce a return greater than the interest
cost. Typical ratios used to analyze leverage are:

- Total Debt to Total Assets
- Equity to Total Assets
- Long-Term Debt to Total Capital
- Equity to total Capital
- Fixed Assets to Equity
- Debt to Equity

Coverage:
Coverage ratios measure the extent to which certain current
payment obligations are met or exceeded by a measure of the
company's cash flow. Coverage ratios are:

- Times Interest Earned
- Coverage of Fixed Charges
- Various Cash Flow Coverages

Profitability:
Profitability is a measure of a company's success in
achieving its objectives. It tells the story of a company's
ability to grow, remain solvent, and repay debt. Ratios to
determine profitability are:

- Return on Equity
- Return on Investment
- Return on Total Assets
- Sales/Payroll Dollar
- Sales/Full-Time Equivalent Employee

Activity:
The story of how efficiently a company uses its assets can
be measured by analyzing activity ratios. Common activity
ratios are:

- Accounts Receivable Turnover
- Inventory Turnover
- Sales to Net Working Capital
- Sales to Fixed Assets and Total Assets
- Accounts Payable Turnover

The income statement, balance sheet and financial ratio
analysis tell the story about the value of a business. What
story do your financial statements tell?

----------------------------------------------------
Tom Wheelwright is not only the founder and CEO of
Provision, but he is the creative force behind Provision
Wealth Strategists. In addition to his management
responsibilities, Tom likes to coach clients on wealth,
business, and tax strategies. Along with his frequent
seminars on these strategies, Tom is an adjunct professor
in the Masters of Tax program at Arizona State University.
For more information, visit
http://www.provisionwealth.com.com .

Property for Sale in Limousin

Property for Sale in Limousin
Limousin is arguably one of the last areas of "real France"
largely untouched by mass investment in infrastructure and
tourism. If you enjoy the serenity of the countryside and
outdoor life in general then this region could be just what
you're looking for. The price of property here is also very
reasonable with a 2 bedroom house with a garden starting
from just £60,000.

Location:

Limousin is situated in central France bordering the
regions of Centre, Auvergne, Midi-Pyrenees, Aquitaine &
Poitou-Charentes. It comprises the departments of Correze,
Haute-Vienne & La Creuse and sits 350km south of Paris. Its
main airport is at Limoges but a new airport is about to
open in Brive-la-Gaillard operated by some low-cost
airlines.

Attractions:

This rural area offers a multitude of attractions but is
most famous for its multitude of lakes and rivers which
supports many water activities including fishing, swimming,
sailing, windsurfing and kayaking or simply relaxing on one
of the sandy lake beaches. Other outdoor activities in
Limousin include pony-trekking, walking and golf on one of
its many good value courses.

Dotted around the region are thousands of traditional
French villages with authentic architecture, cafes,
restaurants and parks which are far less affected by
tourism than many other regions. In these villages you will
find extremely good value stone-built cottages and
farmhouses and friendly neighbours. However you cannot
expect the local people to speak English to you so you will
need to brush up on your French if you wish to integrate
yourself into the community and fully take advantage of the
area.

Places of Interest: Limousin holds many places of interest
too which include its numerous chateaux such as Chateaux de
Boussac and Chateau de Chalus and its museums like the
"Moulin du Got"; one of last remnants of the flourishing
paper making industry in the area. There are a number of
wildlife parks including "Les Loupes de Chabrières
in Gueret", Parc de Reynou near Limoges and the Aquarium in
Limoges itself. If you prefer to get more up close and
personal with nature then a visit to the Creuse department
is worthwhile. Covered in large swathes of Forest of Oak,
Pine & Chestnut, criss-crossed with many streams and lakes
this department offers great mountain-biking and walking
territory where you can see and hear much of the local
wildlife and take in the beautiful surroundings.

----------------------------------------------------
Nick Dowlatshahi is the Managing Director of Leapfrog
Properties who are a property agency specilaising in
helping the British & Irish buy property in France. Visit
http://www.leapfrog-properties.com to see our vast
selection of French property

The Biggest Stock Market Secret: Don't Place Another Trade Until You Understand This!

The Biggest Stock Market Secret: Don't Place Another Trade Until You Understand This!
This could be the most shocking article you've read for a
very long time.

When you discover the biggest stock market secret of all,
it could undermine everything you believe about trading in
stocks. It could also completely turn your trading around
by removing the "gambling" element almost entirely, and
turning your losses into profits overnight.

Whether you're currently an active investor or not, you'll
know the basics of how most people play the stock market.
It can be summed up in two words.

Buy. Pray.

You might laugh, but you know it's true!

They get a 'hot tip' from a newspaper, a tip sheet, a guy
in a bar, wherever, and they go ahead and buy the stock.
Then, they wait and hope and pray that it goes up, and IF
it does, they sell and collect a profit.

It's not exactly what you'd call a strategy, now is it?

Of course, there are traders who work far more
sophisticated strategies than "Buy & Pray". They might use
charts and technical analysis and work their trades on
moving averages, Fibonacci lines, Bollinger bands and so
on. They might go short occasionally to profit from an
expected downward move, but the "gambling" element is still
there - decide which direction the stock is likely to move
in, and take a position on that basis.

If you're right, fantastic! If you're wrong, it's more of
your trading capital down the tubes, and back to the
drawing board for the next trade.

Why do people trade this way?

Well, I've done quite an in-depth study of this, and here's
what I've found. Most people trade a direction because they
think they're right (of course!) and because they don't
know any other way of trading.

Even more fundamentally, though, there is an underlying
belief that says,

"There are people in the world who can accurately and
consistently predict the direction of any given stock or
market. If I work at it hard enough, I'll eventually become
one of them."

(And the nagging question here, of course, is whether
"eventually" will come around before the trading capital
runs out!)

So here's the biggest stock market secret...

NO ONE has the ability to accurately and consistently
predict the direction of any given stock or market, and so
it doesn't matter how long you trade for, you'll NEVER
attain this ability!

I did warn you, didn't I? You might want to re-read that a
couple of times, just to let it sink in.

And then you'll find a question emerging from the gloom -
So, now what??

Well, if no one can predict the direction of the market,
how to those 'in the know' trade? The answer is perhaps the
second-biggest stock market secret.

The reality is, the "smart money" does NOT trade the
direction of the market. The "smart money" trades only in
situations where a big move is likely - and the "smart
money" doesn't care which direction that move takes,
because they're positioned to make a profit whether the
stock falls or rises!

Again, may I suggest you re-read that paragraph a couple of
times, too? Consistently successful traders trade to profit
from big, fast moves, regardless of whether that move is up
or down.

Can you learn how to follow in their footsteps? Absolutely!

Can you profit in the same way they do, without having to
"gamble" on the direction of a market or stock? Absolutely!

Will it take you away from your job, your family, your
leisure time? Absolutely not! This form of trading is
unique as it's largely a set-and-forget strategy - and the
'setting' takes only a few hours a month!

Once you understand this profit-either-way strategy - and I
suggest you learn direct from a professional trader who
does this for a living - there are only a few steps to
take, once a month.

You a) check which stocks are highlighted for you; b) check
for the presence of one particular indicator; c) check to
see if a highlighted stock with an indicator is a definite
trade on a private website; and d) place the trade (with
one phone call, or through your online trading platform).

And that's it!

You then profit if the stock moves up. And you profit if
the stock moves down. And can usually bank your profits in
a matter of days, as you'll be trading on volatility here,
which means large moves in a short timeframe.

You'll only lose a little if the stock does nothing at all
which, when you understand the strategy, you'll realise is
quite a rare event.

Happy trading!

----------------------------------------------------
To find out more about this highly profitable,
set-and-forget, 5-hours-a-month stock market strategy, make
yourself a cup of coffee, switch off the phones, and go
over to...
http://www.maverick-investor.com/illuminati

What Is Title Insurance And Why Do I Need It Anyway?

What Is Title Insurance And Why Do I Need It Anyway?
If you are interested in joining the ranks of successful
women in real estate, it is important that you come to a
complete understanding of the fundamental elements
associated with real estate investing. Yes, few people find
the intricacies of title insurance exciting and many feel
it's down right boring. However, if professional women have
learned anything over the course of the past few decades,
it is that knowledge is power. In this regard, one of the
most important elements of the real estate investment
process is to understand how title insurance works.

So, read on and learn.

Title insurance is exactly as it sounds. It insures you in
case that at some later date, a recorded or unrecorded
document surfaces that can affect the title of the property
you purchased. Putting it simply, a title insurance policy
insures the ownership of the property, and protects you as
the owner.

Before providing a title insurance policy, the title
company examines, summarizes and classifies every document
affecting the property and its previous owners. Highly
skilled title searches assemble this material and forward
the results to a title officer. The title officer or
examiner then writes an opinion on the title. The opinion
will initially take the form of a preliminary title report
and ultimately become a policy of title insurance.

Although title insurance is designed to protect a purchaser
of real estate against title defects that are discovered
after that individual takes title to a piece of property,
the real work of a title insurance company is actually
undertaken in advance of the closing on the sale itself.
After a real estate sales contract is executed between a
seller and purchaser, a preliminary title search is
performed and then a policy of title insurance is obtained.

This means that the title insurance officer physically
evaluates the deed to the property, and then reviews all of
the liens and encumbrances that have been filed against
that deed over time. This effort by the title insurance
company is designed to ascertain that any liens or other
encumbrances that may have been placed against the property
in the past have been released.

Any liens or encumbrances remaining on the deed or title to
the real estate subject to sale will prevent the buyer to
obtain "clear" title because every questionable item
recorded on title is classified as a defect or "cloud" on
title. One of the essential clauses in real estate sales
contracts requires the buyer to deliver "clear" title of
the property to the purchaser by a certain date.
Therefore, the title insurance company will take all
necessary steps to clear up any "clouds" on title within
the time frame mandated by the contract for the sale of the
property.

As mentioned, if for some reason there is a defect on title
- a lien or encumbrance not discovered before the new deed
is recorded - the title insurance company is responsible
for any loss sustained by the real estate purchaser because
of that title defect. In most instances, the loss sustained
amounts to legal fees and court costs associated with
taking action to clear the defect.

If the purchaser or real estate investor does not have
adequate title insurance, she is the one who sustains the
loss. This is why it is vital to forgo standard title
insurance and invest in extended coverage policies with
every one of your transactions.

Top SEVEN ways your property can be put at risk:

Your property can be put at risk in a variety of ways. If
your property does not have clear title, any questionable
recorded or unrecorded documents may have been executed
many years before, yet surfaced much later. In this case,
know that you are protected by title insurance. Below are
seven common items that can put your property risk.

1. Forged deeds, mortgages, satisfactions or releases

2. Deed by person who is insane or mentally incompetent

3. Deed by a minor

4. Deed from a corporation, unauthorized under corporate
bylaw

5. Deed by partnership, unauthorized under partnership
agreement

6. Deed given under fraud or duress

7. Deed executed under falsified power of attorney

Top SEVEN things to look for:

If any of the following items appear on the preliminary
title report, you must take immediate action. The first
step is to contact your title company. Failure to
investigate any of the following may cause a significant
delay in closing of escrow and/or decrease your profit.

1. Tax Liens

2. Mechanics Liens

3. Notice of Action/Judgments (including back child support)

4. Bankruptcies

5. Uninsured Deeds

6. Legal Access to and from the subject property

7. Typos in the legal description and/or parties' names

Two Separate Policies

Nearly every sale of a residential property involves the
purchase of two separate policies of title insurance. One
policy names the buyer as the interested party and the
second names the lender as the insured party. It is
customary for the seller to provide and pay for a title
insurance policy on behalf of the buyer. This is done so
that the buyer can be assured that the property does indeed
belong to the seller and that there are no unexpected liens
or encumbrances against it. If the buyer borrows money to
purchase the house, it is normally a requirement of the
loan that the buyer purchase title insurance on the
lender's behalf for the amount of the loan and sometimes
for the amount of the entire sales price.

One-time Investment

The purchase of a tile insurance policy is single purchase
transaction. You pay one premium, and the policy stays in
force until you sell or refinance your property. There are
no recurring fees. Premiums for the title insurance policy
are usually based on the amount of risk assumed by the
insurer. The liability is based on the sales price of the
property, or, in the event of a lenders policy, on the
amount of the loan.

In conclusion

It would be to your benefit as a woman investing in real
estate, to have a working relationship with a helpful and
motivated title representative whose sole purpose is to
sell title policies on behalf of his or her employing title
insurance company. Find out what he or she is willing to do
in order to earn your business.

- Will the company allow you access to their public record
database?

- Can you request and receive copies of recorded documents?

- Will the company create property profiles for your hot
deals?

- Can the company set up a farm (territory) to help you
generate leads?

Ask ahead of time. A good working relationship with a title
insurance company enables you to conduct business
efficiently. In simple terms, everyone investing in real
estate must know the specifics and the complexities of
title insurance and the benefits of building a solid
relationship with a good title representative.

----------------------------------------------------
Brenda Coté is a Real Estate Investor, Real Estate
and Mortgage Broker, Mentor, and Wealth Coach. At
Transforming Lives, Creating Wealth, Brenda employs a
"whole person" approach to support female Real Estate
Investors succeed in business and life. To receive a FREE
copy of Brenda's Report, "The Seven Biggest Mistakes Women
Make When Creating Wealth Thru Real Estate" please go to:
http://www.TransformingLivesCreatingWealth.com

USA Makes Owning Gold Illegal

USA Makes Owning Gold Illegal
There was a time, for forty one years that it was illegal
to own gold. In 1933 Franklin D. Roosevelt made it illegal
for any person in the United States to own hoards of gold.
The ban was not lifted until legislation was signed in 1974
by President Gerald Ford. Although the new bill did not do
away with the Gold Clause Resolution of 1933, people could
now buy and trade gold as a commodity.

This all happened after the great depression. Foreign
banks, who were afraid of the failing economy, were turning
in their paper money in exchange for gold. This was
depleting the gold supply in the U.S. Reserve. Up until
then the United States had been on the gold standard. Many
dollar bills, like the fifty, were printed with a yellow
back which indicated it could be turned in for the gold
rate.

The Executive Order 6102 made it illegal for anyone to own
more than $100 worth of gold. Citizens had to turn in
their gold in exchange for paper money. The gold coins
were melted down into bars by the U.S. Treasury department.
This was done to keep the U.S. dollar afloat and avoid
panic in the overseas market. The tactic worked.

However, not everyone turned in their gold coins. There
are still a few in private collections. These coins are
considered a rare thing and extremely sought after by
collectors and coin dealers everywhere. Certain $20 gold
coins can range in value from $500 to over $20,000
depending on the marks and condition of the coin.

Gold is a timeless investment. The value has gone up
considerably more and more over the years. This is simply
because of the law of supply and demand. The mines are not
producing enough gold to satisfy the demand. Banks were
selling their reserves and keeping the prices more stable.
Now that they are holding on to the gold and the demand has
increased, the prices are climbing. It is expected to peak
at about $1,000 per troy ounce by mid summer of 2008.

The U.S. Treasury has also started to produce and offer for
sale the gold eagle coin. This 1 troy ounce coin has a
face value of $50. This is enabling anyone who wants to
invest in gold to do so. The coins are also available in
the ½ ounce, ¼ ounce, and 1/10 ounce
varieties as well. Being able to invest in the gold market
has finally become possible for the middle class. Many
people are finding it worth the investment.

Investing in gold is a wise choice. The price is
constantly going up. The demand is also growing. The
ability to have it with you and easily transport it is a
benefit. The fact that it is a tangible product that never
loses value is the best reason to invest in gold. Now that
the U.S. Treasury has made the coins available on the open
market, anyone who ever thought of investing in gold can do
so.

----------------------------------------------------
Gary Giardina
For more information please visit:
http://goldinvestingsite.com/

Working With Real Estate Agents

Working With Real Estate Agents
Most likely, you already know that I advocate working with
Realtors® in my BuyersFirstProgram. It's the best way to
achieve investment success. Of course, you should work with
Realtors® who know what they're doing; otherwise, you're
wasting your time as an investor (not to mention that of
the buyers and sellers).

In this article, I'll give you some guidelines for choosing
the best Realtors® to work with in any investment
situation. If you're already an experienced investor, this
information may seem very basic, but it's also good to
practice fundamental principles on a daily basis. Ask any
professional athlete!

Guideline #1: Choose a Full-Time Professional Realtor®.
This may seem very obvious, but remember there are always
part-time real estate agents out there wanting commissions.
Most are either mediocrities or amateurs who check in when
the market is hot and check out when it slows. So, weed
these individuals out by asking for their experience,
qualifications, sales, etc. Then, go with the Realtors® who
have a demonstrated record of excellence over time.

Guideline #2: Choose a Specialist. Ideally, you want a
Realtor® who specializes in your particular area of
investment. So, if you specialize in the single-family home
market, look for an agent who has considerable experience
and expertise in that area. Do the same for multi-unit,
commercial, retail, and industrial markets. By the way,
don't just accept a Realtor®'s word that he or she is an
expert in a particular market. Ask for proof in terms of
sales within your target market.

Guideline #3: Verify Realtor® Credentials. Check with your
state online database to make sure the agent is fully
licensed and has no citations, disciplinary actions, etc.
on his or her record. If a Realtor® has ethics problems,
you definitely don't want them staining your reputation,
even if it's only by association.

Guideline #4: Ask For and Check References. As with any
business, the best proof of success lies in satisfied
customers. So, ask the Realtor® for references from
customers within your target market and geographical area.
Contact those references to get a rounded picture of the
Realtor®'s reputation and business practices. Naturally,
you'll want to develop a relationship with Realtors® with
good to excellent reputations for honesty, fair dealing and
patience. It'll make the entire investment process a much
smoother and more profitable one since you'll be dealing
with satisfied customers, not irate ones. Guideline #5:
Look For Good Communication Skills. Straight-forward and
clear communication is the key to success in any investment
deal. So, look for Realtors® who listen well to you (and
everyone else) and who keep you informed and up-to-date on
every transaction. Also, remember that clear communication
is your responsibility as well. Make sure the Realtors® you
choose clearly understand what your investment goals are so
they don't waste time bringing properties to you that have
nothing to do with those goals.

Guideline #6: Look For Realtors® with Strong People and
Negotiating Skills. A Realtor® can have all the experience
in the world, but if he or she doesn't relate well to
people, they're no help to your investment deals; they're
positively a hindrance! So, seek out agents who are great
at making everyone happy while moving them toward a deal
with sound negotiating skills. To find out about a
Realtor®'s negotiating skills, ask former clients about how
effectively the agent conducted bargaining sessions.

Guideline #7: Remember Your Responsibilities! Once you find
a great Realtor®, do your part to keep him or her on your
team. Bring them good deals, not "ghost" deals that never
materialize. After all, your reputation is on the line too,
and you want it be a good one since it can help you build a
long-term investing career. A Realtor® who considers you a
reliable and honest investor will bring you deals that
never show up on the MLS listings or in the newspapers!

Key Point: Choose full-time Realtors® with great
reputations and great experience in order to maximize your
investment career.

----------------------------------------------------
Jack Sternberg is a nationally recognized expert on real
estate investment who's been in the business for more than
30 years. Sternberg's deals have totaled over $750 million
and he's been to the closing table more than 1,500 times.
For more, visit

http://www.askjacksternberg.com