Sunday, April 6, 2008

American Express Credit Card Offers: Three to Consider

American Express Credit Card Offers: Three to Consider
Founded in 1850, American Express has a long history of
working with customers. Today, the company offers a wide
range of credit cards to those living all over the globe.
If you're thinking of applying for a new credit card, you
may find what you need at American Express. Here are three
options to consider as you search.

Blue From American Express®

Blue is a solid choice if you have an established credit
history already and want a reward program included in the
card. For those that qualify, the card comes with a low
interest rate, as well as an introductory offer of 0% APR
for up to 15 months. A 4.99% introductory rate is available
on balance transfers. There is no annual fee.

The rewards program included with this card does not have
an annual limit. You can redeem points when you want to, as
they do not expire. The points can be used for a variety of
products. Blue also comes with a built-in smart chip. This
feature gives you extra security when you make purchases
online.

Blue Cash® From American Express®

This is another option for those with good or excellent
credit. It comes with a cash back program, and was named
the "best cash-rebate card" by Kiplinger's Personal
Finance. If you sign up for Blue Cash, you'll receive money
back as you make purchases. For general purchases, you can
earn up to 1.5% in cash back. For transactions that fall
into the "Everyday Purchases" category, you can receive up
to 5% in rebates. These purchases include those made at gas
stations and grocery stores.

The card has no annual fee, as well as a low interest rate
for those who qualify. It also comes with a 0% introductory
rate. In addition to the cash rewards, this American
Express card has other benefits, including a year-end
financial statement and travel accident insurance.

Clear From American Express®

Clear is designed for people with a good credit rating who
want a simple reward program and no fees. The reward
program is set up to give a cash rebate of 1% on all
eligible purchases. The rebates come automatically as an
American Express shopping card. A $25 card is sent out
every time a total of $2,500 has been spent.

A surprising addition to this card is that it has no fees.
There are no late fees, no annual fees, no over-the-limit
fees, no balance transfer fees, and no cash advance fees.
While the no-fee system is very appealing, you still need
to make payments on time. If a minimum payment is missed
two times during a year, a high APR kicks in for at least
twelve billing periods.

Whenever you look for a new card, be sure to check the
terms and conditions. Read through the various details
listed, and make sure that the card meets your needs. Once
you have a solid understanding of the features, you'll be
ready to apply. The process only takes a few minutes.

American Express credit cards are accepted in many places
today, especially in the United States and Europe. In
addition, they have a variety of different options
available for customers. If you're considering getting
another credit card, an American Express option may be the
right one for you.


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

Advanced Sales Tips for Real Estate Agents During a Slow Market

Advanced Sales Tips for Real Estate Agents During a Slow Market
It no longer takes just a license and knowledge of current
laws and regulations to become a successful real estate
agent. Considering the condition of the current market
experiencing a downturn, we can't be sure it's even hit
bottom yet.

The good news is, people are still buying houses and they
always will. Hard work will be needed to get the job
done. A Savvy Real Estate Agent can compete in the current
housing climate by locating buyers and focusing on giving
them what they want. I'll share with you some advanced
sales tips for generating a profitable year.

Conduct buyer seminars. Offer to give informational (and
free!) classes at your local civic or religious center,
updating people on the current market conditions. You can
teach them how to buy a house even if they've been turned
down before, and give advice or referrals on how to repair
credit. This will not only position you as an expert in the
field, it also gives you access to a fertile, prequalified
group of potential buyers.

Solicit apartment complexes and tenant-occupied properties.
While this may seem fairly obvious, it's important that you
have appropriate marketing materials targeted to this
audience (e.g., showing them how and what they can own for
the same payments as their rent) and a strategic approach
to contacting these potential home owners.

Buddy up with title companies. Often they'll have deals
that fell apart, and many of those deals were attempted
without a Real Estate Agent involved. Gaining access to
that list will yield names of interested and motivated
buyers and sellers.

Solicit FSBOs. FSBOs are very often newbies in the real
estate game and aren't really sure what they need to
provide potential buyers who come to look at their house.
Offer FSBOs helpful documents, such as floor plans, sell
sheets, etc., in return for prospects that didn't like the
FSBO's house for whatever reason. And the FSBO may
eventually call you to give you their listing, if they get
frustrated by long sell times, as is prevalent in this
market.

Talk to agents going out of business. According to the
National Association of Realtors (NAR), there are more than
2 million registered real estate agents. And the NAR also
estimates that between 40-80% of new Real Estate Agents
quit the business before their first anniversary, and 90%
by year three. Despite their struggles, many of those have
built a list of interested buyers that would be worth
adding to your database. Source:

http://www.realtor.com

Establish your own Web site. Face it: it's the 21st
century. Most people do some of their research on major
purchases online, and a Web site that displays your
personality, not to mention your listings, is a necessity.
It's easy and inexpensive to get started (domain listings
start at just $9 a year) and is simply a must.

Market your previous clients. This is another seemingly
obvious tip that all too many Real Estate Agents overlook.
Your past clients are your most fertile ground for
referrals (and repeat sales) but can only do that if they
remember your name! Sending a regular newsletter updating
past clients on your latest successes will remind them what
a being a Real Estate Agent is all about and let them know
you are still making your clients happy.

Partner with reputable mortgage brokers. Mortgage brokers
lately have had their requirements tightened by their
lending partners, and probably have said "no" more times in
the past few months than in the two or three prior years.
Partnering with a reputable mortgage broker can offer a
win-win situation. In return for access to the list of
turn-downs, you offer to help them in a monitored credit
repair situation, who then become buyers who may possibly
qualify for a loan from that same mortgage broker.

By focusing on how to find buyers—and in some
instances, how to help buyers help themselves—a Real
Estate Agent can have a prosperous year even in a down
market.


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Jack Sternberg is a nationally recognized expert on real
estate investment who's been in the business for more than
30 years. Sternberg is the creator of the renowned "Buyers
First" Program. His 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

Advanta Business Credit Cards: Is Advanta Right for Your Business?

Advanta Business Credit Cards: Is Advanta Right for Your Business?
Advanta opened for business in 1951. Its founder, Jack
Alter, ran the company from a spare bedroom of his home.
Today, more than 50 years after its initial start, the
company has grown into a large corporation, specializing in
credit cards for small business owners. If you have a
company and are thinking about getting a credit card to
help with finances, Advanta is one of the options you'll
find. Here's a closer glance at the pros and cons of an
Advanta business credit card.

Made for Businesses

Advanta cards are geared to small business owners, and many
of their features reflect that. Some of them are designed
so that all of the company expenses can be placed on just
one account. This helps streamline operations, making it
easier to calculate finances. The credit lines that Advanta
offers are remarkably high for the credit card industry,
reaching up to $50,000. You also may have the option of
including your company's name on the card.

Comparable Rewards

If you do not usually carry a balance, you may be able to
take advantage of some of the rewards that Advanta offers.
A number of this company's cards include a reward program.
With the Advanta Platinum BusinessCard with Rewards, for
example, you can choose between earning cash back or points
through purchases. With the cash back plan, you'll receive
up to a 5% rebate on business-related items, such as
computers, electronics, gas and diesel fuel, utilities,
telecommunications, and online advertising services. You'll
get 1% cash back on other purchases. If you choose the
point system, you can earn one point for every dollar that
you spend. The points can then be redeemed for travel items
or pre-paid bonus cards.

Not for Everyone

While Advanta does offer specific benefits for small
business owners, applying for a credit card through them
may not be your best option. Generally speaking, you'll
need a solid credit background to receive one of their
cards. So if you have a history of credit trouble, you may
want to look at applying for a different card.

The APR, or annual percentage rate, of many Advanta cards
is reasonable. However, it is usually a variable rate,
fluctuating with the prime rate. The card's rate is based
on the highest prime rate during a 90-day period. This may
mean higher interest rates on your card, depending on the
status of the economy.

Read the Fine Print

Generally speaking, it's a wise idea to read through the
attached terms and conditions before applying for a credit
card. The same is true for Advanta Business credit cards.
While they offer many benefits, they may have potential
drawbacks as well. The reward plans or interest rates may
not fit your business needs. If this is the case, search
online for other options. Many websites carry a variety of
cards geared toward small business owners.

Whatever you decide, take the time to carefully weigh the
options before you apply. If Advanta has what you need,
apply for the card. If not, find a card that suits your
business and send in an application for it. When the actual
plastic arrives in your mailbox, you'll have a card that
can help advance, and not hurt, the small business you've
worked so hard to create.


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