0% APR Credit Cards: How to Take Advantage of 0% Introductory Offers

0% APR Credit Cards: How to Take Advantage of 0% Introductory Offers
In today's credit-driven world, companies want your
business, and often offer enticing deals to get it. Perhaps
one of the biggest of these deals is the 0% APR feature.
Many credit cards come with a certain period in which you
pay absolutely nothing in interest. This can really work to
your advantage. If you understand how the 0% APR offer
works and plan strategically, you can make the most of your
credit card deal. Here's how.

What APR Means

The annual percentage rate, or APR, represents how much you
pay in interest on a credit card. It is expressed as a
yearly rate. So if your card comes with an 18% APR, and you
carry a balance of $1,000 for a year, you will have to pay
$180 in interest annually.

However, if you apply for a 0% APR credit card, you will
not have to pay anything toward interest for an initial
period of time. This timeframe varies from card to card,
but usually lasts between six months to a year. Let's say
your card comes with a 0% APR for twelve months. If you
carry a balance of $1,000 during the first year, you will
not owe a dime in interest. That's a savings of $180
compared to the card with a rate of 18%.

Balance Transfers vs. Purchases

Some cards let you apply the 0% APR toward balance
transfers. This means that if you are carrying a balance on
a different card with a high interest rate, you can bring
over the amount to your new card. Then you can pay off the
debt, interest-free. This is a great option if you're
struggling to pay off a nagging balance. Simply bring it
over to the 0% APR card. Then try to pay it off during the
interest-free period. So if you have a balance of $1,200
with 0% APR for six months, set aside $200 each month and
pay off the debt.

Other cards apply the 0% APR to purchases. With this setup,
you can use the card to shop, and then not worry about
paying interest. You will have a few months to get rid of
the balance, and will save a good amount of money in
interest during that time.

Finding a card that offers an introductory period of 0% APR
for balance transfers, purchases, or both, is easy. Most
major credit card companies, including Visa, MasterCard,
Discover and American Express, include it in their list of
features. If you browse a credit card website, you'll
quickly come across 0% APR options. As you look through the
different listings, note which cards offer a zero percent
introductory rate and for how long. After a certain period,
a regular interest rate will set in. Check what the normal
rate is before you apply.

Use it to Your Advantage

The benefits of a 0% APR card can add up fast. If you want
to pay off a balance, you get the chance to do so without
having to worry about interest. If you want to make a large
purchase, you can take a few months to pay for it with zero
interest charges. Fill out an application today, and get
ready to watch the savings rack up.

----------------------------------------------------
To View 0% APR Credit Card Offers click the following link:
http://www.credit-card-surplus.com/0-apr-credit-cards.php .
Ed Vegliante runs http://www.credit-card-surplus.com , a
directory helping consumers to compare and apply for credit
cards.

How to Quickly and Easily Find a Renter for your Investment Property

How to Quickly and Easily Find a Renter for your Investment Property
Once you walk away from the closing table and the initial
jubilation of knowing that you're a bona fide real estate
investor wears off, the reality begins to sink in. A major
part of owning real estate is managing it. How prepared
are you for the rigors of actively managing your real
estate portfolio?

In order to maximize the profitability of your property -
whether your property is a single family home or a 50 unit
apartment building - you need to have a wealth of knowledge
at your disposal. Successfully managing your property
takes more than the ability to run a "For Rent" sign in the
local paper and hoping for the best. If that's all you do,
your investment could be at risk.

You face a couple of major challenges if you're trying to
own and manage your own properties: * How knowledgeable are
you about local rental rates? * How much marketing
expertise do you possess?

Local Rental Rates - Rental rates in your local community
can fluctuate wildly from neighborhood to neighborhood.
Two identical apartments just a couple of blocks apart may
rent for widely different amounts. Do you know what rental
rates are in your local community and - more specifically -
in the neighborhood where your investment property is
located?

If you take a wild guess on what to charge for rent, you
run the risk of charging too little or, possibly worse
still, charging too much. If your rental rate is set too
high, your property could sit empty for months while you
learn, through the school of hard knocks, what the proper
rental rate should have been.

Today's apartment hunters are a savvy bunch, and they can
use the internet to very quickly price rental property in
your area. You may not think a $20 or $25 monthly
difference is particularly noteworthy, but to an apartment
hunter, it could mean the difference between calling you or
your competitor.

Marketing Expertise - What marketing strategies will you
employ in order to rent your property quickly? Will you
run an ad in your local paper? Stick a sign in the front
yard? There are a couple of dozen ways you can market your
property, but if you don't know what they are, your
property will remain unrented and collecting dust.

You can utilize offline and online marketing strategies to
attract high quality renters to your property and reduce
the time your property is empty. The less vacancy you
encounter, the higher your income will be. If you don't
very quickly immerse yourself in marketing strategies to
rent your property to good, high-quality tenants, your
income property can become a money pit, sucking profits and
tapping your other income.

A Better Way - There is a better way. A professional
property management firm is out in your local community on
a daily basis marketing property creatively. They are
intimately aware of what it takes to find quality tenants
and quickly fill vacancies. While you may not know the
rent ranges within a city or even a neighborhood, a
property management company can attract high caliber
renters and get maximum rental rates.

Your property may have amenities that are unique or unusual
that can add value to your property. A dishwasher or
covered parking each influence the effective rental rate in
different ways and a professional property management firm
knows that difference.

If you have the time and the inclination to learn, you can
discover all there is to know about rental rates and
marketing, to make your property as attractive to a
potential renter as possible. A better idea could be to
outsource this task to a property management company that
already knows this vital information. This can make owning
property a stress-free, profitable endeavor, which can free
your time for more lucrative, money-making opportunities,
or free time in your schedule for idle pursuits, like
improving your golf score.

----------------------------------------------------
Mike Lautensack is the owner of full service Residential
Property Management company based in and around
Philadelphia, PA. He advises real estate investors how to
build wealth and financial security through hassle-free
ownership of investment real estate with their "No-Hassle
Property Management Program." This proven management
system allows owners to enjoy the financial benefits of
cash flow, tax savings, and wealth creation while it
GUARANTEES you will never receive a late night emergency
call, deal with a lengthy eviction proceeding or ever have
to interact with an irate tenant. For more information
please go to http://www.delvalproperty.com/ .

Real Estate Investors

Real Estate Investors
If you're are a real estate investor or are working with
real estate investors, this may be the best news you've
heard in years...

Almost every week I get asked this question. I get asked
for a "Blanket Loan" that will cover 5 or more residential
properties for an investor that wants to consolidate all
his properties into one loan.

Until now, my answer has been - it is the White Elephant -
doesn't exist. We have been looking for this loan for
years. The problem is that it is more than 4 units which
makes it commercial, but the properties are all
residential, individually deeded which commercial guys
can't touch or sell.

This is further complicated by the fact that the investor
wants releases which would allow him to sell off a property
if he gets a good price and the lender releases that
property from the security - which again, no one wants to
do.

Now there is a loan for investors for multiple residential
properties (5 or more) where the total loan size is between
$500,000 and $5,000,000. It can do fractured condos as
well!

This allows the seasoned investor who owns 10 rental
properties to put all the properties into one loan, which
will free him up to start buying more residential
properties again since all the existing loans in his name
get paid off!

Better yet, it can close it in an LLC - which gives the
investor added protection and less personal liability.

Investors can take all their properties into one loan.
That frees them up to do more loans at FNMA rates since the
properties will be under one loan in an LLC and may not
even show on their credit at all.

Now here are the parameters: the investment properties MUST
cash flow at 1.2 times. LTV's are 75%. Cash out is
available but again, they must cash flow. Releases will be
granted after the 3rd year. Credit score is not critical
like stated but the credit can't be bad. Tax Returns don't
need to show income because qualifying is totally based on
property cash flow. This is a full doc deal. Now here is
the really good news rates on this blanket loan right now
are very good, around 7.125% fixed.

Remember, many Real Estate investors are paying hard money
rates of 12 to 14% on some Real Estate deals, simply
because they have too many properties. Now they can
finance all of the properties on one large loan under an
LLC and have their personal credit clean to obtain the best
available financing for future purchases.

The other benefit is income, several real estate investors
use cash out of their investment properties as their main
source of income. This is a great way to go from a tax
stand point, because they don't pay tax on borrowed money,
however; from a lending stand point they don't show much in
the way of income. With this type of loan the income from
the properties is what qualifies them for the loan, not
their personal income.

----------------------------------------------------
Brandt Stohr with Advisory Capital Inc, can be reached at
http://www.advisorycapitalinc.com
For residential loans: http://www.wipeoutyourdebttoday.com

Cash Flow Management of Debtors And Creditors In A Credit Crunch

Cash Flow Management of Debtors And Creditors In A Credit Crunch
Sales turnover and net profits may follow a rollercoaster
pattern familiar to most business but when the cash flow
dries up the game is over. Cash flow management is critical
not just to business performance but to business survival
in the days and months of a credit crunch. Accounting
software can offer many solutions but there is no
substitute for astute management to boost cash flow and
reduce liquidity risks.

Most businesses will experience periods of lower sales and
times when losses may be incurred as expenses exceed sales
income. With a sound business the position is recoverable
by gaining extra sales growth or reducing expenditure. A
business that runs out of cash resources is dead in the
water.

Debtors and sales income management

The objective is to obtain payment from customers as fast
as possible improving cash flow and minimising the risk of
bad debts and not being paid at all.

Payment terms offered to customers should be clearly stated
and fixed as standard accounting figures according to the
amount of funding the business is prepared to offer its
clients. Because that is exactly what credit terms to
customers is, free cash funding in exchange for eventual
sales income.

Consideration should be given to using a cash discount
system to encourage sales invoices to be paid faster. In
some businesses it would be appropriate to obtain up front
deposits and scheduled payments. Review this practise to
obtain a greater proportion of payments faster to improve
liquidity.

New customers should be subjected to a strict credit check.
All new customers where credit check details are not
available should be invoiced by the accounting function on
a pro forma basis. Any businesses who fail to meet the
highest credit score required should remain on a pro forma
invoice basis.

Each business should determine a set of credit control
procedures including issuing sales invoices, producing
customer statements of outstanding balances and a standard
set of credit control letters that actually get the cash
in. An essential process in the credit control procedure
would be to ensure the accountant or bookkeeper always
issues sales invoices and customer statements promptly.

Incorporate into the terms of trade a set of rules to
invoke interest payments for late payment and late payment
debt recovery costs. In the UK the Late Payment of
Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 sets out the statutory
rights of business to claim interest and costs.

Consider the possibility of factoring sales invoices due
from debtors either by selling the sales invoices to a
third party or raising cash on the value of those invoices
pending payment. Factoring has the disadvantage of often
not being cheap but does have the advantage of generating a
regular stream of cash.

Bad debts have a double impact on any business and all
possible steps should be taken to reduce the risk. A bad
debt not only uses valuable resources in chasing the debt
with the negative impact on cash flow and liquidity but
also is a straight loss to the net profit and a strong
indicator that the accounting function is failing the
business.

Creditors and expenditure management

The objective is to extend the time allowed for payment of
expenses the business incurs.

Consider the frequency of all payments made to suppliers.
Small business often has alternative payment terms
available for the payment of taxes. In the UK value added
tax can be paid quarterly or monthly, vat cash accounting
can ease the tax liability due in critical periods and paye
payments can be paid quarterly rather than monthly for
smaller businesses.

Consider the frequency which wages and salaries are paid. A
sensitive area since it involves the most important people
to the business success but adopting a payment period to
coincide with the receipt of cash from customers may in
some circumstances balance liquidity.

General creditors are a major area to be addressed in terms
of both the amount of credit received from suppliers and
the time required to pay those creditor accounts. Larger
orders on extended payments terms creates a risk area
should the goods not be used but can greatly assist cash
flow as the business is effectively borrowing free cash
from its suppliers.

Stock levels are crucial to financial management of the
creditor total. High stock levels use valuable working
capital which is offset in part by the level of creditors.
Higher levels of stock financed by free credit from
creditors lowers the cash flow requirements on the other
parts of the business.

----------------------------------------------------
Terry Cartwright designs UK Accounting Software at
http://www.diyaccounting.co.uk/ on excel spreadsheets
providing complete Bookkeeping solutions
http://www.diyaccounting.co.uk/bookkeeping.htm for small to
medium sized businesses

Forex Trading the Top U.S. Economic News Reports

Forex Trading the Top U.S. Economic News Reports
The US dollar is the most traded currency in the world and
an understanding of US economic indicators is important in
understanding the US dollar and its role in the currency
trading system. Some of the most important U.S. economic
indicators include the gross domestic product (GDP),
producer price index (PPI), consumer price index (CPI),
industrial production (IP), durable goods & services,
employment cost index (ECI), retail sales index (RSI) and
housing starts. These indicators have the potential to
generate volume and move market prices around the globe.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) - The gross domestic product
is a measure of all economic activity in the economy. The
GDP represents the total market value of all goods and
services produced by both domestic and foreign companies
within the borders of the US. The GDP should measure
between 3% and 5% for advanced industrialized nations such
as the U.S., Europe and Japan. A growth of less than 3%
indicates a stalling economy and a growth of more than 5%
indicates that the economy is on the verge of inflation.

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) publishes two
measures of the GDP. One measure is based on expenditures
while the other measure is based on incomes. The GDP
publishes an advance release of the GDP following each
quarter of the year, which contains, among other things,
estimates for data not previously released, trade balances
and inventories. This is considered to be the most
important release while other BEA releases are considered
less significant.

Producer Price Index (PPI) - The PPI measures price changes
in the manufacturing sector as the average change that
domestic producers in manufacturing, agriculture, forestry,
electric utilities, natural gas, mining and fisheries
receive in selling prices. The PPIs used most often in US
economic analyses are measures for crude, intermediate and
finished goods.

Consumer Price Index (CPI) - The CPI measures the average
price paid by urban consumers for a fixed basket of goods
and services. Urban consumers are largest base of
consumers, totaling about 80% of the U.S. population More
than 200 categories of goods and services are included in
the calculation of the CPI. The measure of the CPI includes
taxes and user fees connected with goods and service, but
it excludes the volatile food and energy components of
consumer spending.

Industrial Production (IP) - IP is a chain-weighted measure
of the change in production for the nation's factories,
utilities and mines. An IP is determined for types of
industries and types of markets. Since the IP is a measure
of industrial capacity and available industrial resources,
IP may also be called capacity utilization. Since
manufacturing accounts for about one-fourth of the economy,
IP rates indicate the capacity of the country's factories.

Durable Goods and Services - Durable goods and services are
a measure of new orders placed with domestic manufacturers
for immediately delivery and delivery in the future. A
durable good or service is a good that lasts or a service
that extends for a period of more than three years.

Employment Cost Index (ECI) - The ECI is an estimated
measure of the number of full-time and part-time employees
in businesses and government. It is based on more than 500
industries in 50 states and 255 metropolitan areas. Data
are collected from surveys of employer payrolls and
includes wage as well as non-wage costs of employment.

Retail Sales Index (RSI) - The RSI is an estimate of the
total monthly sales from retailers. It is a measure of
consumer consumption and confidence. Data are collected
from a sampling of retail establishments throughout the
country. Retail sales include the sale of services, durable
goods and non-durable goods. It includes excise taxes and
excludes sales taxes.

Housing Starts - Housing starts is an estimate of the
number excavations for foundations of residential
properties. An analysis of housing starts measures the
change in housing start levels from month to month.

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

How to Avoid Malpractice with Small Business Loans

How to Avoid Malpractice with Small Business Loans
Malpractice in any activity typically occurs when there is
a serious failure of professional duty. With borrowers
seeking small business loans and commercial real estate
financing, malpractice can occur with both commercial
lenders and brokers for commercial loans.

During the opening segment of the television series Hill
Street Blues, Sergeant Phil Esterhaus usually ended with a
suggestion (let's be careful out there) that will also be
helpful in avoiding malpractice situations involving
working capital financing. Although that is a worthy goal,
the actual practice of avoiding problems with business
loans is somewhat difficult and complex. One of our most
effective solutions for this dilemma has been to openly
acknowledge that such difficulties exist and simultaneously
provide detailed advice and strategies.

We have published a special report addressing one of the
biggest recent causes of malpractice involving business
financing and commercial real estate loans. Most commercial
borrowers are probably aware that chaotic conditions
started impacting residential real estate beginning about
12 months ago. This has produced problems for commercial
borrowers since it has resulted in numerous former
residential lenders and brokers now attempting to execute
business loans because their previous residential lending
activities have all but dried up.

Inexperience involving commercial loans is never a good
thing when you are describing a commercial lender or
broker. What borrowers need to be acutely aware of is that
inexperience coupled with the complexity of business loans
is likely to result in a recipe for malpractice in almost
all cases.

Even though a broker or lender was superb at executing
residential mortgage financing, please do not assume that
they will also be good (or even marginally capable) when it
comes to commercial mortgages, working capital financing or
small business loans. We have prepared a series of reports
which focus on over twenty critical differences between
residential financing and business financing. In reality it
takes years to master commercial loans.

Another common source of malpractice with working capital
financing is currently seen with many agents for business
cash advance programs. Most of these agents represent only
providers for credit card receivables financing and simply
do not understand business loans in general. They are
focused on only the narrow but important service that they
provide and are not capable of assisting with other forms
of business financing.

Although it might not be obvious to most business owners,
the malpractice potential with business cash advances is
also directly related to the first example described above
involving inexperienced brokers and lenders. In many cases
throughout the United States, call centers that previously
focused on residential real estate loans have simply
switched their focus to merchant cash advance programs.
Once again inexperience is never a good thing when
complicated working capital management services are
involved.

A final example of malpractice exposure involves SBA loans
and specialized forms of commercial real estate loans.
Although many commercial lenders seem to suggest that they
can do SBA financing, in reality very few do what they
claim. One major business financing lender ceased most
business operations during the past year because of
apparently fraudulent SBA loan activities.

Specialized commercial property such as funeral homes, gas
stations, bowling alleys and golf courses have always been
recognized as problematic for commercial loans. For
example, one prominent provider of funeral home financing
is the subject of multiple lawsuits regarding their
irresponsible commercial funding activities.

Commercial borrowers should rightfully conclude that an
important step in avoiding potential malpractice
circumstances might simply be to avoid certain lenders and
brokers. We would agree wholeheartedly, and in fact
published a special report some time ago dealing with the
need to avoid problem brokers and commercial lenders.

As serious as the three examples of malpractice described
above are, they are truly just the tip of the iceberg when
analyzing potential obstacles for business loans and
working capital loans. Our advice is meant to reinforce the
importance and value of being prudent in pursuing
commercial loans.

----------------------------------------------------
Steve Bush is a small business loans expert - learn how to
avoid mistakes with commercial loans and find out about
business cash management strategies at AEX Commercial
Financing Group =>
http://www.working-capital-management.org

Home Improvers Risk Hefty Repair Costs

Home Improvers Risk Hefty Repair Costs
While the temptation is likely to be growing for many
budding DIY enthusiasts to take on a project over the
weekend, one insurance company is warning them against
biting off more than they can chew.

According to Saga, one in 20 people in the UK have at some
point been forced to call out a professional to rectify
work that they have carried out on their home themselves.
While one personal loan may be useful in covering the cost
of tools and equipment when planning to tackle a staircase
or to repaint the exterior, there is a risk for the
inexperienced that another loan might be called for to fund
corrective work afterwards.

However, the effect on the avid DIYer's bank balance is not
the only risk associated with taking on complex jobs such
as rewiring or plumbing without proper training. According
to Saga's research, one in four people are injured while
carrying out home repairs or improvements. It also suggests
that men might be more foolhardy than their female
counterparts given that males are more likely to do
themselves an injury. "Saga Home Insurance advises DIY
enthusiasts to make sure they do not try any jobs unless
they feel they can do them and to always take their time
wearing suitable clothing and footwear," the firm states.

Those concerned that they might not have the appropriate
equipment and looking to improvise instead, or who are
tempted to scrimp on costs to get the job done more
cheaply, might be better advised to consider a personal
loan. By purchasing the best equipment they can afford it
is possible that consumers could be better pleased with the
final result. Alternatively, for those uncertain about
their ability to carry out such tasks themselves, a cheap
loan can be an effective way of spreading the costs
involved in hiring a trusted professional.

Meanwhile, Allianz Insurance has released its own research
suggesting the true cost of bodging a DIY job. The company
estimates that as much as 25 million pounds worth of damage
could result from the coming bank holiday weekend's
undertakings. Simon Coughlin, spokesman for the financial
services provider, said: "Before they start, we suggest DIY
enthusiasts should check to see if their insurance policy
covers them for accidental damage in case the job goes
horribly wrong. The average cost of a claim for DIY related
damage is 600 pounds and our claims staff expect to be
busier than usual following a bank holiday weekend."

Those who discover that their policies do not cover any
damage resulting from their DIY activities could benefit
from the financial assistance of a personal loan.
Meanwhile, news earlier this year from moneyfacts
emphasised the growing attractiveness of cheap loans in the
current financial climate, given that such borrowing is
subject to lower levels of interest than in previous
months. The likes of Alliance & Leicester's and Barclays'
personal loans were both said to have seen reduced interest
rates in a bid to attract higher numbers of borrowers.

----------------------------------------------------
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/