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Sunday, November 16, 2008

GEOGRAPHY OF WOMEN

Between the ages of 15 - 20 a woman is like Africa.
She is half discovered, half wild.

Between the ages of 20 - 30 a woman is like America.
Fully discovered and scientifically perfect.

Between the ages of 30 - 35, she is like India & Japan.
Very hot, wise and beautiful !!!!!!!!!

Between the ages of 35 - 40 a woman is like France.
She is half destroyed after the war but still desirable.

Between the ages of 40 - 50 she is like Germany.
She lost the war but not the hope.

Between the ages of 50 - 60 she is like Russia.
Very wide, very quiet but nobody goes there.

Between the ages of 60 - 70 a woman is like England.
With a glorious past but no future.

After 70, they become Siberia.
Everyone knows where it is, but no one wants to go there.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Women face increased Cancer Risk

One in seven women could develop breast cancer if public health trends do not improve, experts warn.

Researchers found the risk to women carrying a gene which can lead to the disease has increased dramatically in the last 60 years.

The study, at the Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention Centre in Manchester, suggests a lifestyle change is key.

Having families earlier and avoiding long term use of female hormones in HRT and contraceptives were recommended.

Experts also suggested regular exercise and a healthy diet could make a difference.

One in 10 women in the UK currently develop breast cancer by the age of 80 but researchers fear this may rise to one in seven by 2024 unless changes are made.

Gene mutations

Around one in 500 people are said to carry the gene mutations which result in an 85-90% chance of developing breast cancer.

Professor Gareth Evans, who led the study of more than 1,400 women who carried the high-risk genes, said: "This rise in the incidence of breast cancer is reflected in the general population.

"In 1984 only one in 13 women were projected to develop breast cancer.

"In 2004 this reached one in 10 and, if the rates rise as they are currently doing so, it is predicted that by 2024 one in seven to eight women will develop breast cancer by 80 years of age.

"That will translate into an extra 4,000 deaths, unless further improvements in treatments occur."

The report, by the consultant in medical genetics at St Mary's Hospital and Christie Hospital, both in Manchester, will be published in the BMC Cancer journal.

It showed that women born before 1920 who carry faults in the high-risk genes had a 7.5% chance of developing breast cancer by the age of 40.

However, women born after 1960 had a risk of up to 40%.
The Genesis Appeal, a breast cancer prevention charity, has funded the purpose-built £14m centre in Wythenshawe which brings together medical experts to conduct diagnosis, education and research into the disease.

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Meditation Basics: Choosing The Incense Right For You!

Meditation sessions are fantastic to help you manage and balance your day-to-day life. One of the important elements you can include as part of your meditation session is incense and for a beginner this really is an important tool and can make the difference between a successful meditation session and an unsuccessful meditation session.

Humans have five core senses including touch, sight, hearing, taste and smell. Each sense plays a role in keeping your mind active and playing a role in the way you feel. The brain takes each of the sensory inputs from these senses and defines how you are going to react to your surrounding. For example, research has found that certain types of music influences the way shoppers will actually purchase products.

One research organisation found that Baroque Music played at 60 beats per minute will infact influence shoppers to spend an additional 38% in their shops. Further to this the use of incense during a meditation session can in fact make a huge difference between a successful meditation session simply because the incense will influence the sense of smell.

The most important thing you can do is to choose the right incense type. Let us take a moment to look at the different types of incense choices. I should note one thing, that there are many different incense choices which will influence your choice of incense.

#1 Starting Out – Lavender Fragrance and Incense

When you are starting out with meditation you will often be stressed, tense and all those other horrible feelings and the best type of incense to start out with is Lavender. There are many theory’s as to why lavender is a create start off tool but the bottom line we have learnt that it relaxes you and distresses you.

So, when starting out use the lavender incense in either a stick or powder form. The best incense type from a safety point of you is the stick incense. If you choose to use the powder incense type make sure that you put sand over the incense once you have finished using it.

#2 Inducing Sleep – Violet or Jasmine Incense

If your meditation session is to help induce sleep, then whilst incense may help the process of relaxation, the best type of incense to consider is the violet or jasmine incense.

#3 Sexual Energy – Rose, Gardenia or Orange Blossoms

If your meditation session is with your partner to help increase sexual desire and passion, then the best type of incense is Rose, Gardenia or Orange Blossoms. More so, if you are trying to use meditation to help sexual desire then in conjunction with the incense look at using fragrance oils as well to help spark the feeling of passion.

#4 Mood Enhancement – Fruity Fragrances

Mood enhancement incenses like fruity scents will help your mood. For example if you are feeling down then using fruit based oils and incenses like berries, bananas, melons, plum and apricot will enhance your internal mood. Might I also say your partners as well.

#5 Energy Enhancements – Citrus Fragrances

If your meditations are about getting that much needed energy and freshening the mind then the citrus fruit incense is the choice for you. You need to consider incense like bergamot, mandarins, orange, apple and even grapefruit. Even Citronella is a fantastic citrus scent for this meditation type plus it repels the moths and more importantly the mosquitos.

#6 The Sweet Smell Enhancements – Vanilla Fragrances

Sweet smell enhancements like coffee and peppermint can make a huge difference to your meditation session. The key reason we use these types of incense is simply to enhance our feelings. These also help bring forward clarity and stimulation and energy.

One word of warning though, be careful with some herbs and spices. Some herbs and spices can form foul smelling odours when burned and more so, some spices can be poisonous.

Choosing the right incense can make a huge difference towards a successful meditation session. When you are starting out then the best incense you should be using is Lavender but if you have mastered the basics then you could even try out a combination of these incense types.

Learning Meditation does not have to be difficult with our Book on Meditation. We also have Music Meditation CDs available from our website as well.

Source: http://www.articleheaven.com

To a Wise Woman, Garlic Held The Answers To Life's Quandaries

We were in the kitchen and as usual, I was relegated to the mundane duty of opening wine. In this house, there was only one cook. I was the sampler, occasionally invited to stir a pot while she chopped garlic in artistic style, again insisting that the misshapen cloves were key ingredients for every recipe.

I had to laugh at her endless, yet impassioned assertions that many of life's lessons could also be discovered from cooking with the wily bulb. Waving knife in hand, the kitchen her stage, she liked to discuss esoteric similarities lost on many, yet understood and reserved for a soul held softly in the hands of the Divine.

To her, garlic simply held the answers to all life's quandaries. Her name was Julie, but only mom called her that. To the rest of us she was Geege, a pet name sounding like Judge, only with the long E.

"Did you ever really look at garlic?" She asked with big eyes. "

"Not too much." I replied.

"It's nothing to look at, but it's so awesome once it's peeled. It reminds me of me when I was young and afraid."

"That's why we call you Geege--Garlic Geege!" I laughed.

As I reached for the bottle of wine, she watched me in disbelief. After all, this was garlic we were talking about. Pouring the wine, I offered the toast.

"May garlic always be in your life." I clinked her glass.

"It's already in my life." She replied and toasted back. "I only hope you find it too."

We had no idea that in another year, at the age of 40, she would be diagnosed with an autoimmune disease resulting in liver failure. However painful, Geege would accept her diagnosis with optimism and incredible courage. At the time she was balancing a marriage, raising two daughters and running a flower shop. If she had a premonition that her time was near, she offered no insight that evening.

"I wonder how any of us can ever become who we're really meant to be without first shedding that protective layer we all wear so well? And you know," she held up a whole garlic head, "it looks so deceiving. You got to get inside a person." She scrunched tiny shoulders and giggled as she tossed me the gnarly cluster. "Just like with garlic."

God, I miss those precious hours and that spicy, lingering scent that filled the house. And for a long time after, I thought about our discussions, always peppered with her sage insight. Of course it wasn't just the excellent food, but a rare chance to share an essence of life with a girl I loved dearly. Where, I asked myself now, did that time go? Those fleeting moments held close in my heart now seemed blended with a sudden and painful dose of life's realities.

After months of battling, searching for a transplant, I gingerly entered her room. With tubes and needles inserted she'd let go her need for answers. Instead, with a forced smile, she fixed me with dark eyes and seemed to exist in the moment, visibly grateful for the opportunity to live and to love for one more day. I searched her hand for assurance, but in my heart I knew she was dying and I had no idea how to tell the others.

A few months before she'd asked me to speak at her funeral and I cried. No, I wouldn't. There would be no funeral and she would make it. Like garlic, she was resilient. After, she held me as I sobbed and when I was finished, when I was again intent on forcing life to keep her, to give her the time we needed, she stared into my eyes and I knew. I knew it would be soon.

As she faded, I sat beside her. Tangled beneath a wadded gown and hospital covers, her thick, dark hair was matted. Machines whirled and beeped as I stayed near. Eyes closed, I knew she couldn't continue to fight this battle. New blood would give her life for another day, but the reality was clear. She was leaving soon.

When she finally opened her eyes, I tried to offer a smile through my tears, but merged souls already have an understanding. They seem to know, to communicate without words. She found my hand and squeezed. Finally I had to ask.

"Geege, what should I say? What should I tell them?"

Oblivious to her wishes and stymied in my own sorrow, I must not have heard her whispered reply, or perhaps I was simply filled with too much anger, but in patient verse she repeated herself.

"More Garlic." She said.

And again, her words brought me back. It was to be our last visit in the kitchen--a brother and a sister, aging and looking back, but finally with enough understanding to contemplate life with certain humility. I wish I'd understood then that the prophecy of her final words would impact me so greatly.

A pot simmered, and she'd finally stopped her sacred ritual with the illustrious bulb. Then she turned to me in serious tone.

"Name me someone who hasn't been called to the stage of life after being chopped and smashed, and yet, aren't we still expected to somehow enhance the show? You know, it might just be the finale and that's all right too, but I think we just have to give it our all."

She lived two years with her donated liver--not nearly enough time, but forever for someone like Geege. You see, in her struggle she ultimately discovered that each day is indeed a gift and tomorrow does not always come.

And like with her garlic, in the end she was chopped and smashed, but she gave it her all.

Friday, April 18, 2008

Get out of the net of financial crunch with cheap unsecured loan

Bad times never tell before coming. You just suffered a heavy loss in business with all your savings gone and almost bankrupt with only your home at your disposal. This is the dream home you have made for yourself and your loved ones. You don't want to put it at stake of mortgage. So what would you do to come out of the financial crisis? Is there any type of finance which would be easy to obtain and easy on your pocket as well? The key to this question is CHEAP UNSECURED LOAN.

A cheap unsecured loan is a low interest, low rate and low cost borrowing loan with nothing attached as collateral. Cheap loans are borrowed on the basis of low monthly repayments. The loan rates are variable and depend on the money borrowed. Loans are not a product where "one size fits all", so be sure what cheap unsecured deal you would be availing. Though cheap loans are normally available with collateral but if you can assure the creditor that you can repay his money back then, you may avail a cheap unsecured loan. The best option to get the apt cheap unsecured loan is to have a co-signer who guarantees that if you are not able to pay back the credit then he will pay back on your behalf.

There are plenty of unsecured cheap loans available in UK. All you need to do is the proper research and catch out the appropriate fish for your well being from the shoal of fishes in the ocean of loans. Unsecured cheap loans with low rates of interest and low costs thus bring forth to you the opportunity to get the best as you can use them not only to restore your business but also to give your family the much needed holiday and other luxuries.

Catch the right fish at the right time to give the best quality cheap unsecured loan for the people you care and want to be happy

The author is a business writer specializing in finance and credit products and has written authoritative articles on the finance industry. She has done her masters in Business Administration and is currently assisting go4ukloans as a finance specialist.

Take a break. Have a fun-filled holiday with unsecured holiday loans

Human beings are not machines that can work 24 hours a day and 365 days a month. We are the most intelligent animals on planet earth and nature has provided us with unique qualities. We can do the toughest task provided to us but we can not work continuously. This is just to re-energise ourselves so that we can work again. Sometimes it feels so monotonous to work everyday from dawn to dusk that we feel the need of a break. So, if you are tired of your everyday work and want a vacation trip avail an unsecured holiday loan.

Unsecured HOLIDAY LOANS are specially meant to cater to different people buying different holiday packages. You may choose an expensive holiday package that includes traveling several countries and staying away for long time duration or you may choose a domestic holiday package that is less expensive. It depends a lot on your creditworthiness as to how much amount you can borrow from the lender. The more creditworthy you are the more money you can raise as loan.

Since an unsecured holiday loan is sanctioned without collateral, the lender takes high risk in granting such a loan. Therefore he charges a bit more interest from you. Generally, the monthly installments in an unsecured loan are bigger and the repayment duration is shorter. But these loans are advantageous for borrowers because they are free from the risk of repossession of their home.

If you have a commendable credit record you can get your holiday loan on low interest rates. But if your credit history is poor you will be charged with a bit higher interest. Bad credit record also means that your lender keeps your repayments under strict monitoring.

Since unsecured holiday loans do not involve any collateral, they do not require the valuation of your property. Also, the documentation work is less than that in secured loans. This saves much of your time and efforts and your loan is approved very quickly.

There has been a marked increase in the number of people availing unsecured holiday loans in the UK. People are going for unsecured holiday loans because they want short term loans and want to repay them early. This is also because most of the people do not want to put their property at stake.

About the Author: The author is a business writer specializing in finance and credit products and has written authoritative articles on the finance industry. He has done his masters in Business Administration and is currently assisting Loans Park as a finance specialist.

Using the Vertical Dimension of the Personality for Personal Growth

During a recent coaching conversation, one the great benefits of working intentionally with the Enneagram. was again confirmed. I was working with a new client who had determined months before that she is dominant in Enneagram Type Seven, alternatively known as the Enthusiast , the Epicure, the Adventuer, and the Optimist. When she first learned about her type, first, she was amazed that any system could so brilliantly describe her internal experience, as well as her external behaviors and life's journey. Second, she recognized many of her personal experiences described in the Enneagram as ones that cause her sadness and loss from which she consistently has tried to escape. Initially, she became fearful that she was "trapped" in these avoidant behaviors, which had led her to move quickly from one experience to another, often resulting in clutter, incompletion and frustation on her part and on the part of others in her life.

I was able to show her the dynamic Enneagram journey that she was on as long as she continued to grow her self-observation capacity, and allow for new alternatives to the habitual patterns associated with her type. She intuitively recognized the aspects of herself that seemed to be free of these patterns, and began to see that these historical patterns were not her life-sentence. It seemed her soul was reawakened, as she expressed her deep relief.
For a little background: over a 12 year period, Don Riso, a pioneering Enneagram teacher and author, observed the multitude of variations that take place within the human experience and discovered what has become the nine levels of health and flexibility within each dominant personality type.

These levels are also known as The Vertical Dimension of the Personality. Later, he and Russ Hudson, another brilliant Enneagram pioneer, and collaborator, continued to refine these levels of behaviors, attitudes, and internal motivators. The outcome is a map of the movement within each type from our most radiant nature to the most afflicted, constricted and unhealthful aspects of the type. Just to note: the Riso-Hudson approach to the Enneagram is the only one endorsed by Ken Wilbur, because it only through this Vertical Dimension that the Enneagram approaches being a comprehensive psychology.

Understanding the vertical dimensions of the personality is fundamental to our individual growth and evolution. It is also core to the evolution of consciousness at a more global level. What is everyone moved up on level of psychological and spiritual health? We would live in an entirely different world!

I wlll be co-teaching the Enneagram Levels of Development Workshop June 13-15 in Burlingame, California. It's the first time this work has been taught on the West Coast. For more information, and to join us in this soul-awakening work, visit www.lifewisecoaching.com/levels-of-development/


Author Profile
Howe-Murphy earned her doctorate from the University of San Francisco, her M.A. from San Jose State University, and her B.A. from the University of Iowa. She is certified as a coach and Riso-Hudson Enneagram teacher. She directs the Enneagram Institute of the San Francisco Bay Area, an affiliate of the acclaimed Enneagram Institute, a global leader in Enneagram studies. She is among the first generation of teachers authorized to offer workshops created by Don Riso and Russ Hudson, preeminent Enneagram teachers and authors.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Six Handy Hints For Picking The Right Estate Agent

When selling or buying a house it is common to employ the services of an estate agent. With so many offering their services however the choice can be head spinning. Getting the right estate agent can ensure that your property transaction goes through smoothly, if the choice is wrong you may have a string of unsuccessful deals and may find yourself questioning your motives to move. Here are six handy hints that should be considered when choosing an estate agent.

1. You get what you pay for:

Like most services in life, the cheapest is not always necessarily the best. It would be foolhardy to state that fees were of no importance as this is simply not the case, fees are a vital consideration. What must be remembered however is that services relate directly to the price you pay. Fees are negotiable, most agents will happily barter but the eventual deal may harm the efficiency of the service you receive, ultimately your main objective is value for money. The less you pay, the less effort your agent is likely to put into the sale of your house, if you want a quick sale, you may have to pay a little more.

When you are haggling for the best deal your major objective should be to achieve a realistic price, enquire how the estate agent is likely to market your property. Getting a clear idea of their methods is vital as it will enable you to get an idea of what your money is paying for.

2. Take your reading glasses:

When you see the contract, make sure to read all of the small print in detail. At the top of your list of items to discuss and check over is the time period of the contract. Try to only sign a contract that ties you to the estate agent for six weeks or less, at least initially. Also 'sole-selling' agreements are usually worth avoiding as this means if you happen to sell your property outside of the agent's area of control, you will still have to pay.

3. The multi-agency approach is not always advisable:

Many sellers think that having more than one estate agent will increase their chances of a sale. This is not always the case as using multiple agencies can often counteract each other and ultimately cause chaos. Added to this if your agent knows you are going down this route their willingness to help may wane. In terms of the image you are sending buyers, it can sometimes look like desperation. That is not to say that the multiple agency approach is always ill advised; if one estate agent can get along with another and have worked together in the past, it is likely that the chances of a sale will be increased.

4. Choose methodically:

Many of us are guilty of judging people as soon as we meet them and when we meet an estate agent it is no different. It is worth trying to avoid this approach as you may be missing the point entirely. While most of us trust the older more reliable agents and tend to discount the efforts of younger, flashier players it pays dividends to try and forget stereotyping. Look at the track record of an estate agent rather than the way they come across. By methodically comparing the success rates of all the agents you see, a logical choice can be made; hopefully it will be the right one.

5. Communicate:

There is little point in having an estate agent that will forget about you as soon as they have your property on the market, it is vital that you should build up a good working relationship and have a variety of communication methods that will enable you to keep up to date with any developments. Keeping in regular contact is fundamental to ensuring a quick sale. Allowing your estate agent to communicate effectively over issues such as the quality of your property, feedback from buyer viewings and the chances of a sale is also important.

6. And finally:

When the subject of the money comes up try and keep a cool head. It is easy to jump at the highest valuation and employ that estate agent but it is worth separating the valuation from the agents themselves. After all, the price you put the house on for is your choice and trying a higher asking price, at least for an initial period may be worthwhile.

If you have followed these helpful tips to picking an estate agent you may well be able to sell your house quickly and efficiently. Getting the right service at the right price is essential to effective sales. While you may not always want to hear your agent's theories, try and take on board some of the things they may say, ultimately, they are the expert.

By: Thomas Pretty

Things to Consider When Your into Real Estate Investing

When investing in properties, why not consider a partner? Many people who buy properties forget the advantages of having a partner. Selecting a partner must indeed be a judicial procedure involving reference checks and credits. More than one salary at a stake will raise your power of purchasing, which will open many opportunities. In states like Pennsylvania, they offer liability protections and tax benefits for partnerships who are registered. Do take a trip to the tax assessment office and look at the names of the streets and look for more information on real estate sales in that area. Getting tax information will also be helpful as it will help you prevent from offering more money than the neighboring house. Even if you haven’t applied a line of credit to purchase a house or for a mortgage, you have to behave as though you are prepared to buy. A drive around the neighborhood and areas within which you would like to buy the property, making note of the street names as you pass by; this work will save lot of time during your hunting. Make a note of the houses, people and the general surroundings of the neighborhood. It might look silly, but it is sure to help you a lot.
Many people leave out the potentially profitable dealings when comes to real estate due to their poor knowledge at the time of mortgage loan process. Before looking for a loan, you must know what the average interest rates are. Learn your rights and make sure you aren’t taken on a ride by the lenders. Do your home works regularly, as researching definitely works a lot. Today multi family units are considered to be top, a good deal on a single family house is by no means a candidate for dismissal; yet multi family units usually have higher income than single family units. Take this example; converted single family house can station two units. Assume the house can be rented for $600 per month in a particular area and apartments can be rented for $400 per month. In this case, a duplex home offers $200 return over the single unit and this should cost the same.
Be careful of those business relationships which are based on other’s misfortunes and ‘Get-Rich-Quick’ schemes. Real estate is a dealing which generally has more long term benefits than short term benefits. As short term incomes are considered to be replete, so be careful you don’t allow the greediness to overcome your ethics and humanity. Pay attention to your skepticism and don’t hesitate to pass up the deals. In lot of ways, your judgment will keep you away from irrational business decisions. Learn to protect your good name and credit—with great honor by making clear and well thought decisions. After hard word, research and good judgment, you are sure to find the best deals of the millennium just for you!

By: Jeff adams

The Explosive Growth of eBay Real Estate

A lot of people regard eBay as an online garage sale, but did you know that you can actually sell your garage (and the home that goes with it) on eBay? The number of eBay real estate listings is growing daily and there are more and more people who are successfully making money buying and selling homes on eBay. Maria Gudelis is one of these people, and she shares her knowledge and tips for success in a popular blog.

There are advantages to listing your home or property in the eBay real estate pages, firstly your house will be advertised for sale world wide – investors from all over the world can find it, as well as people from other areas of the country or overseas who are moving to your area. EBay has a membership of over 100 million people worldwide registered and these numbers are growing daily – any of these people will be able to see your listing and potentially could buy your property. Maria Gudelis has recently published a blog post on how to have the best chance of success by making your eBay add stand out from the crowd.
Another advantage to selling your property on eBay is that you will be able to save on the expensive estate agents fees, by selling privately you can forego an agent and use a lawyer, solicitor or a conveyancer to do the legal paperwork involved in transferring the ownership.

There are three different sales methods available for eBay real estate listings; the traditional eBay auction, a fixed price (buy it now) listing and a more traditional classified add style listing – much like the classified ads in your local paper. So eBay has a method of sale that will suit every seller whether you need to sell your house immediately with an eBay action, or have the time to wait for a sale using the fixed price or classified ad methods.

For those looking to invest in property eBay can be a very good place to find bargain properties not only locally but all over the world. With a little research you can find real estate “hot spots” all over the world and then search the eBay real estate listings to find a bargain in those locations. There are many entrepreneurs and professional investors such as Maria Gudelis who have made considerable gains by investing in property that has been listed on eBay.

EBay is such a popular website all over the world that many people now search its listings for products (including houses and property) that they want to buy before going out into the real world to look for these same items. eBay has become a place where consumers consider they will find a bargain even for real estate.

One way we can see and be sure of the growing popularity and effectiveness of eBay real estate listings is to see how many real estate agents and banks are now listing properties that they have in their portfolios on eBay. These professionals would not waste their time and money if it did not work – and there are more and more real estate agents and investors listing property on eBay everyday! If it’s good enough for the big boys and they can make a profit then it is well worth considering eBay to sell your home or property, or to find investment properties.

BY: Maria Gudelis

Get to Know International Real Estate Marketing

Have you just returned from a lovely vacation in Europe? Has this made you want to buy a home in Europe or maybe in Australia? When a person wants to buy a property in a country outside theirs, it is referred to as international real estate. There might be various reasons why people are interested in picking up a space in a foreign land. They would have visited the place on work or holiday and would have fallen in love with the architecture or lifestyle. Or there is a possibility of changing jobs and having to move to that country in the near future. All this would mean that they would want to look into the real estate situation there and maybe buy a place. For some others, it is a form of investment, which could give them tax relief.

And if there is a company selling international real estate they should try and leverage on the tourists and corporates to build their business. If they were to touch upon people who have been frequently visiting a particular place or making enquiries about real estate rates, they should get into a discussion with them and offer their services. The real estate company should provide information pertaining to laws and rules laid down in the foreign country regarding outsiders buying property. There might be some countries that restrict ownership of land by non residents. The company must provide services to all those who are from places they deal with so they can convince them into buying a property.

The international real estate company should have a website that provides all possible information to the interested parties. Make a mention on your page as to which is the countries that you have business in so that the buyer would know when to approach you. Also have tie ups with various resorts or farm houses builders because you might have noticed an increase in number of retired people settling in those areas. They might want to move to Vienna and settle down in a beach house. So if you had such property in your control, you will be able to attract these people. Apart from all this, for a person from another country, they need to be given guidance pertaining to the currency rates, exchange rates, and about the lifestyle of the foreign land. They might beware of it from a tourist point of view, but you should educate them about tax system, education, employment opportunities, and local law and so on. This will enable them to gain confidence in your services and employ you to do the search for them.

Maria Gudelis, an International Real Estate Investor says “International real estate goes beyond just helping people find a plot, it is to do with helping the person make the transition and settle into their new homes.”Financial loans, the mortgage values, and papers required are some other areas where people will need extra assistance in. You must guide them through each step ensuring they know what they are getting into.

By: Maria Gudelis
Source: http://www.upublish.info

Real Estate Means What

Now why is real estate all of a sudden so important to discuss and know about? Well, there is a considerable demand for quality housing and as a result lots of new constructions have come up in many well-known cities as well as lesser known cities. Making an investment into real estate is a good option because, when you carefully invest into a good area, the value of your property investment will rise in value providing you with considerable built-up equity. A good home equity can help you to take a home equity loan which can be used to finance important things that need to get done else you can sell of the property for a considerable profit.

Investment into real estate also gives you certain tax deduction benefits. This can be really useful because the amount that you would have to spend on paying taxes can be cut down. If you invest smartly you can also take up the benefit offered by a 1031 property exchange. Investment into real estate gives you a certain pride of ownership because you own something that is rock solid and which is completely yours to have.

Real estate investment can be commercial or residential. Looking into the different types of residential real estate properties, residential properties can be of the following types:

Family Homes - In this property type, the property owner owns the entire property structure. There is no sharing of property area with neighbors. Family homes can be single family homes or multiple family homes. Family homes are the most sought after property types because of the kind of space that they offer. Additions can be made, as and when required to the existing structure. The only aspect of concern here is that the owner has to look into every aspect of home maintenance by themselves.

Condominium – In this property type, homeowners own everything from the interior of their condo unit. Maintenance requirements are minimal and this type of property is ideal fro young working-class professionals who are very busy and on the go. Many condo buildings offer posh home environment and excellent facilities such as swimming pool, tennis court, gym, and much more. However owners need to pay a maintenance fee for maintenance of common areas. They should also read up on HOA rules before purchase.

Townhouses – This type of property is similar in structure to a family home, except that it costs them less. Also known as row houses, owners may have to share both the side walls of their home, else one wall of their home with their neighbors. However owners need to pay a maintenance fee for maintenance of common areas. Townhouses can be duplex, triple complex or an entire colony of townhouses.

Whatever be the type of property a person select for purchase, it is important to buy the property in a good locality and from a reputable builder. Those new to the real estate market a best advised to take up the services of a realtor or a buyer’ agent in order to find the kind of properly that will suit them the most.

By: Nitin George
Source: http://www.upublish.info

Online Investing and Stock Market Leverage - They're Still No Match For Real Estate!

In the last year or so we've seen the real estate market tank while most other types of investments have done alright, with the exception of a recent bump in the stock market road. Still, when we compare our investment options, it's pretty hard to dismiss real estate!

Let's take a look at some ways small investors may be able to create wealth and see how they stack up against real estate.

The stock market

Stockbrokers, online and otherwise, allow their clients to use leverage by buying stocks on margin. This means if you want to buy $1,000 worth of stock, your broker will lend you $1,000 more so you can buy twice as much. Therefore, if your stocks double in price, they are worth $4,000, and since you have only $1,000 of your money invested and $1,000 belongs to your broker, you have tripled your $1,000 to $3,000! So, buying on margin makes stock market investing attractive.

Commodities futures trading

Commodity brokers allow their clients to make money by buying on margin. For about $1,500 you can control 5,000 bushels, or about $30,000 worth of soybeans. Here, if the price of the soybeans rises 10%, you make a profit of $3,000. Of course, it can go the other way, too, and if it does, you lose big. Still, fortunes have been made in commodities futures trading and it is a superb example of using leverage.

Multilevel marketing businesses

Another area where people can gain a large amount of leverage is through multilevel marketing. With multilevel marketing a person signs people into his down line. These people recruit and sell products for him, thus giving him the ability to make money from their time and effort.

Buying a new house

Probably, the most ubiquitous form of leverage happens when you put $40,000 down to buy a $200,000 house. Sooner or later most families make a similar investment. A mortgage allows you to control an asset that is 5 times as big as the investment you have made.

Should the price of your $200,000 property double, not at all an unheard of event in real estate, you will have made $200,000 on your $40,000 investment, or a return of 500%! Now that's leverage! It's no wonder people like to invest in real estate!

Risk vs. reward

All these examples show ways a small investor can make money, even a lot of money. However, they all come with a potential downside. Certainly, investing in stocks is a great thing to do, but the market has its ups and downs and buying on margin in the stock market isn't normally what one thinks of as very strong leverage.

There is a lot of leverage in commodities futures trading, but there is also an abnormal amount of risk. When first trading commodities futures, the investor should use strategies, which will define the risk. These strategies include buying options, or spreads. The latter is the way Forex, which is an online investor favorite, is traded. Spread trading tends to make commodity investing a lot less volatile.

Multilevel marketing isn't recommended for everyone. Though many success stories have been written because of multilevel marketing, it is a type of business that many people never find success with.

Everybody needs a place to live

Buying a house on the other hand, is recommended for everyone, even if it is bought only to provide a place for someone to live. The price of real estate doesn't always go up, however. In the area I live and invest in, real estate had a major slump between 1988 and 1993. In this time frame, real estate lost value drastically. Now in 2008, many parts of the country are experiencing the same phenomenon.

Buy and hold

However, anyone who bought real estate before, or better yet, during the late 80's slump was richly rewarded if he held on. With real estate, it always seems that you'll come out ahead and make money if you don't give up. Though buying at the wrong time can severely slow down your ascent to wealth, experience tells us if you hold on tight, there will be a turn around sooner or later.

So far, throughout history, real estate prices have always broken sharply upwards when coming out of slumps. If you are able to weather a real estate down cycle until the market turns around, it will be well worth your perseverance because as the price climbs, you will gain the leverage you need to make a lot of money in a real hurry.

So, if you are thinking of buying, don't let the recent downturn deter you. History tells us that buying during downturns is an excellent strategy. If you already bought and are now losing equity, take heart, though real estate prices sometimes fall, its overall direction is up. This why more fortunes have been in real estate than any other commodity.


BY: Ed Lathrop
Source: http://www.upublish.info

Guidelines for the Physical Inspection of Residential Properties

If there's one unbreakable law in real estate investment, it's always perform due diligence on any property you're considering. "Due diligence" is a common term for the evaluation of a property and its surrounding environment. This process has two purposes.

One, you want to reduce or eliminate investment risk; in other words, you want to know exactly what's wrong (or right!) with a property before you sink any money into it.

Two, you want to find "diamonds in the rough." These are houses that look like lumps of worthless coal on the surface, but once you get below that surface you find they shine like financial diamonds because they're structurally sound and a great investment bargain. Two Areas of Due Diligence Generally speaking, due diligence breaks into two areas—physical inspection of the property and inspection of all documents and records concerning that specific property. In this article, I'll consider only physical inspections. I'll cover inspection of documents and records in a separate article. Physical Inspection of Properties You or a selected inspector will always want visit any property you're considering for investment. Often, the signs of decay or lack of maintenance will be obvious—a leaky roof, foundation cracks, cracks in the walls, plumbing leaks, etc.—and your visit will prevent you from wasting further time and money on that house.

Of course, the opposite can also be true; that is, you find the "diamond in the rough" I mentioned earlier. In that case, you'll want to jump on the property quickly before it becomes known to other investors.

When problems are found in a property, you can require that the seller correct those problems or reduce the price before you sign any contract. Generally speaking, there are two general categories of defects:

The obvious defects I mentioned earlier--peeling paint, broken windows, leaking plumbing, warped floors, etc. Hidden defects--corroded pipes in the walls, roof or window leaks that don't show up until it rains or snows, etc. These are the dangerous and expensive defects because they can be hazardous and cost a lot to repair. Without due diligence, you could end up reducing your profit or even suffering a loss.

Let's get more specific now. Here's what professional inspectors look at when they examine a property:

Overall structural integrity Property drainage/landscaping Walks and drives Foundation, footings, crawl space, basements, sub-flooring, decks Exterior walls, siding, trim Windows, doors, cabinets, counters Gutters, downspouts Roof, roof shingles, roof structures. chimneys, attic Floors, walls, ceilings, etc. HVAC systems Plumbing systems, (fixtures, supply lines, drains, water heating devices, etc.) Electrical system (wiring, service panel, devices, and service capacity Energy conservation/safety Items Insulation & ventilation Moisture intrusion/mold Pest Control Inspection Depending on the area of the country in which you live, insects can cause considerable damage to a property. These include such critters as termites, carpenter ants, powder post beetles, and any other bug that likes to munch on wood. Fungus, in the form of "dry rot," can also cause a lot of destruction. You'll need to hire a specialist (pest control inspector) to examine the property for any of these problems. If any problems are identified, the pest control inspector should provide you with a diagram that indicates the location of any infestations. Serious problems need to be dealt with right away and are usually paid for by the seller.

To protect yourself against any of the problems mentioned above, make sure the purchase contract provides for cancellation without penalty or loss of earnest money if the physical condition of the property doesn't meet standards. A Note on "As-Is" Properties If a seller offers to sell you a property on an "as-is" basis, run the other way! He or she may simply be naïve about property laws, receiving bad advice from an agent, or, worst of all, a con artist.

Such sellers may think they're not required to correct any property defects before or after the sale. In most cases, they're flat out wrong and are in violation of state laws. In fact, they may well be charged with misrepresentation, fraud, or negligence. Needless to say, you don't want any part of a mess like that. One More Word of Advice The seller should allow you complete access to the property with no time limits. If he or she tries to restrict access or specifies only certain hours, be suspicious and demand complete access. If the seller refuses this request, then walk away from the deal.

Key Point: Never, ever fall in love with a property! Always inspect it (or have it inspected) with an objective mind!

Key Point: Choose the strategy that best suits your situation and your personality.

By: Jack Sternberg
Source: http://www.upublish.info

Reasons to Acquire a Real Estate Appraisal

There are many reasons to obtain a real estate appraisal. The most common reason to acquire an appraisal is to settle an estate. Taxing authorities often need real estate appraisals in order to establish the value of a real estate or property when a death occurs. Usually the survivors wish for a conservative value estimate which limits their tax liabilities as much as possible. Most of the estate appraisals are ordered through attorneys and not by the survivors. Another reason is to establish the substitute cost for insurance. Appraisals acquired for establishing the loss risk in case of fire accidents are mostly limited to offering a reproduction cost of the improvements or an estimate of the replacements. The insurable value may not be the representative of market value and usually doesn’t include the land’s value. Insurance agents might order real estate appraisals when their cost service manuals are not adaptable to a structure or a typical home. Owners of properties might order appraisals to contest the yearly appreciation increase that is mandated by certain insurance companies, particularly when there is a raise in the insurance coverage which results in an impractical premium.

To get a compensation for condemnation, the appraiser might represent either the condemning authority or the landowner. Generally the government entity which requires land for its usage orders an appraisal and purchases the land for the cost mentioned by the appraisal. If the land owner thinks that the sum offered by the condemning authority is not sufficient or adequate, then the land owner may order an appraisal. If both the parties couldn’t decide on a cost, then the issue will be settled in a court with each others appraiser testified on behalf of their respective estimated values. Appraisers aren’t advocates for their clients; they are just the expert witnesses who are trying to hold up their estimated values. Land owners often do not consider ordering another appraisal from an appraiser of their choice. Usually, they try to settle with the concern authority by a negotiation rather than receiving the expense of the appraisal. It is very much clear that the land owner's negotiating position would be enhanced if a supporting professional appraisal report were accessible.

Another reason to get an appraisal is to contest in high property taxes. For instance, if property owners think that their properties are assessed very highly then the property owners can order an appraisal from an appraiser who is qualified to contest the tax assessments. In some parts of US, this practice is quite common but lot of property owners isn’t aware that this avenue for decreasing their tax load is available. The investment return is easy to perceive when the price of the appraisal is compared to many years of lower taxes. Occasionally these assignments contain an appearance in front of the equalization panel to argue the land owner's case. However the appraiser must be watchful not to base the appraisal charge on the dollar amount of the value appraised that might be a violation of USPAP.

By: brayan.peter
Source: http://www.upublish.info

7 Secrets to Help Realtors Sell Homes

Are you struggling with your business and feeling frustrated that after all your hard work, some contracts do not go through? If you are, I imagine that you would like to find out how to sell more homes.

A realtor in her mid-forties, Amy, called me for help. The anxious woman shared how she had been going through a lot of stress about a home that was in escrow. There seemed to be one obstacle after another. Since I am in the business of helping people reduce their stress and create what they want in their lives, as a Marriage, Family Therapist, I was glad to offer her assistance.

Amy was terrified that the multimillion-dollar deal would fall through, and she had worked very hard for many months. Also, her finances were low and she really needed this sale.

As I guided Amy through my HART (Holistic And Rapid Transformation) processes, we discovered numerous fears she had that were actually blocking her success. Amy's conscious and unconscious negative beliefs were sabotaging her because thoughts are magnetic. This concept has become popular as the "Law of Attraction."

Her negative beliefs included:

1. People try to take advantage of me and ask for unreasonable changes or additions to the contract.

2. I have to be strong and fight for what I want.

3. I do not deserve all that money in commissions.

4. I am afraid that I will misuse the money as I have in the past.

5. I never made that much money in my life and it does not fit my self-image.

6. The market is tough, so I won't get the sale.

7. The last escrow I had, which was also a multi-million dollar home, fell though so this one will too.

Can you relate to any of these beliefs? Amy is unique but her fears are not. After we released those negative beliefs in the HART process, we changed them to positive ones (affirmations).

1) People are fair and want a win-win contract.

2) I am strong when I am in my heart space and trust that the house will sell.

3) I am a good person, and I deserve an abundance of money.

4) I trust myself to be responsible with the money I receive in commissions.

5) I have a positive, happy, prosperous self-image.

6) The home is now selling easily and effortlessly.

7) I am successfully selling this home and many others.

I suggested to Amy that she imagine that she is sending the pink light of love from her heart to the heart of the person who is in fear (buyer or seller of the home). This is very powerful because it helps her shift out of her fear space, and it could help the buyer or seller do the same.

I advised Amy to visualize the closing happening just the way she wanted it to be. Finally, I encouraged her to imagine the commission check in her bank account, and to write down what she was doing with the much needed funds.

Amy called me a week later ecstatic. "The escrow went through," Helene. "I am so excited! Thank you for helping me release my stress and let go of my fears of success, and for teaching me how to spiritually create a very positive outcome. The difficult pending house sale finally closed. I am very grateful!"

You can also sell more homes. Realize that it is a service instead of a job. You are helping people have what they want and need. Release all your negative thoughts and trust in the power of your positive thinking. Affirm that the perfect buyers and sellers are coming to you. Express your gratitude and allow yourself to succeed in your wonderful service.

By: Helene Rothschild
Source: http://www.upublish.info

Romanian Property is Hottest in Europe

Emerging property markets that bear all the hallmarks of future success are really quite hard to find. That is until I looked at the case for Romania. It offers property investors all the future capital growth they would want from an emerging real estate market. But don't take my word for it try following the multi nationals, they have all the resources possible to select the best markets in which to invest.

The car manufacture Ford recently invested in Romania by officially taking control of Romania Automobile Company Craiova, the former Daewoo operation. Fords commitment includes plans to boost the plant's annual production capacity to 300,000 units and double employment to 7,000. Ford executives said the factory will assemble the Transit Connectin 2009 and a new small car in 2010. John Fleming, president and CEO of Ford of Europe, said the Transit Connect, a compact commercial delivery vehicle, will go into production in Craiova in mid-2009. The vehicle currently is built only in Turkey, but Ford's assembly operation there is at full capacity. Earlier this year, Ford announced plans to begin marketing the Transit Connect in the U.S. in summer 2009.

Romania is proving to be a safe place to invest with high capital appreciation especially in the Bucharest area. The property market which offers homes at very low prices has in some areas of Romania seen bullish growth rates of 25% to 30% p.a. for the last 3 years. Romania is currently undergoing major infrastructural developments which will see further capital growth all over the country.

Real estate agents and many pundits say that the growth trend is expected to carry on for the next 5 years. Romania joining the EU January 1st 2007 along with the development of tourism on the Black Sea coast and in Transylvania, has secured the regions future in the years to come. It will have one of the fastest growing economies in Europe

The Super Highway between Constanta and Budapest which will go through Bucharest and Brasov will be a critical element in securing Brasov's role in Eastern Europe on a long-term basis. Not to mention that low cost airlines fly to several cities in Romania lead by Wizz Air and Easyjet.

British citizens are increasingly purchasing properties in Romania either as investments or holiday homes.

Romanian property prices are very cheap in rural areas but you need to be prepared to spend some time and to have renovation expenditures for your property to achieve British standards.

Mortgages are now available for foreigners. Should you wish to buy a villa or a plot of land, you will need to set up a company which is a very simple process - your estate agent should assist you with it. Purchasing a new or off-plan apartment can be carried out in your name without necessarily requiring a company formation.

What is for sure Romania offers investors a one off opportunity to enter a market in its infancy. Readers of my articles will know that my firm belief is that profits are not just made on sale but on the purchase price. This is why Romania has a compelling case for overseas property investment but you will need to get your skates on.

BY: Nicholas Marr
Source: http://www.upublish.info

Steps Towards Buying Your First House

Are you ready to buy a house now? Do you also know how to arrange finance for the home buying procedure? These questions are top answered untimely on in the course. On the other hand, buying your first home could be exciting and to some extent scary process. But a tiny research would go a long way towards obtaining you in the door with a smallest amount of stress involved. So if you are a newbie to the procedure of buying a home and also require assistance getting off the base, then read the following steps involved.

Locate Established Real Estate Agent
Locating the established real estate agent could real difference in your home buy process, particularly if you're purchasing you dream home for the initial time. An excellent real estate agent could guide you through the complete home buying procedure and could also assist you shun expensive mistakes. So do contact any reputed firm to locate a great real estate agent.

Checklists Tool
A checklist is a helpful tool when you are buying a new home — in particular when it is your primary time going all through the course. A good quality checklist would certainly keep you on target and assist you retain information on what features to search for when hunting for a house.

Mortgage Loans Kinds
When you want to buy a home fast, you would have come across lot of information about the different kinds of mortgage loans. It could be perplexing when you are not really informed. You would also want an expert house inspection before you actually purchase, and your lender generally requires an assessment. So do make certain you're well knowledgeable about the different kinds of mortgage loans. You'll find plenty of information on the various kinds of mortgage loans online.

Credit Matters
Credit is a significant title when you planning to buy a home. You need to be sure that mortgage lenders would for sure review your credit in every possible corner. So it pays to have a watch your own credit history first. You must know how to get your credit report and verify it for precision. You must also know the different ways you could actually improve your credit before buying a home.

Process of Home buying
It pays to be knowledgeable about the procedure of buying a new home — principally if it's your first home buying. The procedure could also be devastating to a first-time purchaser, but you could stop this by just understanding the steps that are involved. Try learning the steps of buying a new home in feature, from house locating to settlement.

Foreclosure land
Though it may not hold good for everyone, but yet buying foreclosure properties could be a method to get a house for less than actual market value. You can try locating such home or could put a request across to your real estate agent to find such home. We hope you find your dream home at affordable rate!

By: Samuel Johnson
Source: http://www.upublish.info

The Best Real Estate Objects You Have Ever Seen

The Summit County is also named "Colorado's Playground". It got that name because it is surrounded by the fabulous outside possibilities. People not just come to see amazing Breckenridge real estate views. The owners of the property in Summit County have got a chance to utilize the superb recreational options all year round. It would be wrong not to tell you that Copper Mountain is the best location to get a home. The nature, the land, the neighborhood - everything becomes your home. In 2007 there were auction of 197 houses sold in Copper Mountain. The average price of condos sold was $360,743. On average, it took for a house about 150 days to be held on the auction before the sale was performed. The record of a cost has been set by the condo that was sold for $1,700,000. There are 2 new developments planned for 2008 in the in the Union Creek vicinity.

The first one is about building 12 four-plex houses that should be completed by Summer 2008. The other includes 26 houses that were sold 100 percent beforehand to construction.

You should also pay attention to Silverthorne real estate. You would be given lots of advantages if you became an proprietor. First of all, you get easy access to I-70. Traveling to Denver is so simple as it is just 60 minutes away. Although it is a winter health resort, this location is crowded for a full year. What is more, there are many different neighborhoods. This ski resort is known of its popularity. Travelers from all over the world visit Summit County to have a good holiday. You may have heard about the trends on the US real asset market. The situation seems to be terrible. If we talk about Summit County the atmosphere there varies a lot. The costs for estate in that region are actually raising. The average cost of foot has been seen growing concertedly during the last years. That is the great place to invest your funds. Anyway the price for the condo will be higher than it is today. An affordable price is the other important advantage. The previous census was executed in 2000 last time. It displays that the popularity of this location is approximately 9,000 families which have got over 2,000 children who live with their parents. The population is not very dense, it approximately equal to 39 men per square meter. What else can you do there when it is summer? There is a golf club that is created by the higher class standards and there are many perfect areas to go countryside biking. If you hobby is taking photos, this place truly suits you! There are a lot of amazing landscapes for the fans of photography.

BY: Mathew Petrenko
Source: http://www.upublish.info

Friday, March 21, 2008

Advantages of selling property online

The market of real estate is quite a complicated one, no matter in which part of the world you may refer to. One of the most important reasons for this complication is its erratic nature, which makes it very dynamic. The Internet has become a new marketplace for almost all kinds of businesses and real estate is certainly not an exception to this. The comfort and time saving advantages that are rendered by it has made many people addicted to it, for both entertainment and business purposes. Some of the advantages of selling property online are:

1. Though it may not be free, but taking advantage of property listings online is quite an inexpensive option.
2. Online property marketing is easy and quick methods to promote the sale of your property, or even if you are interested to purchase a property.
3. It makes available direct access between the seller and the buyer for the dealings of the concerned property. This is an advanced method of communication than arranging for numerous meetings to decide for the property.
4. The website on the Internet permits the seller to upload around 5 photographs of the property that has to be sold. Also, the quality of the picture can be improved. This makes it a lot better method than newspapers. Besides, there are also specific features that can be highlighted online for the potential homebuyers to analyze your property well. This is also helpful to homebuyers that do not belong to your local area as they need more in-depth information.
5. Unlike newspapers, another big advantage is that you do not have to take the hassles of listings your property frequently or may be after every week and also pay extra fee for that. A property once included on a real estate listings online, it will remain there until it is sold.
6. The wider reach of the Internet helps you cater to the potential homebuyers all over the world, rather than confine to a specific geographical area of a country or a state.
7. Browsing for the house that best meets your requirements is quite an easy task as there are filters available on a real estate website than do not list properties which do not cater to your necessities, which saves a lot of time and efforts.
8. The fee of real estate agent is also dissolved when you make real estate dealings online.

Because of the listed few advantages, the popularity of selling property online has increased tremendously. There are over 5 million people who flock to the Internet each month for the purpose of real estate dealings that are conducted online. Also, in case you want to just browse through the property rates generally, you no longer have to approach your real estate agent as everything is available at the click of a mouse. Hence, analyzing the above mentioned advantages, there is nothing that can be called a better medium for property dealings than the Internet. For more information on selling property online, you can log on to www.propertycup.com.

Source: http://www.upublish.info

Do You Live Overseas But Want To Invest In Dubai

Do You Live Overseas But Want To Invest In Dubai
Many might think they are unable to get onto the Dubai freehold property market due to not living in the Emirate, but this is not the case. In fact it's now becoming a lot easier for oversea buyers to purchase their ideal home here. With being such a popular tourist destination many foreigners are taking advantage of the great investment opportunities that Dubai property can offer. As well as a holiday home for your trips here, it can also be great in terms of rental income that can be generated. For those of you thinking of buying in Dubai there are a few things that you should know before buying.

Firstly make sure you come to Dubai and see what it has to offer. Reading other views and looking at pictures can only get you so far. To truly get the feel for a place you need to see it for yourself. This also gives you a good understanding of the different areas and what living here is like. So think about booking that trip to Dubai before purchasing here, and you will be all the better for it. And who really needs an excuse to book a holiday here!

Another important issue is that of mortgages. It is still possible to get a mortgage for your Dubai home without being a resident, and sorting all the finance details can be done through a bank back in your home country if you wish. There are a number of multinational banks here including HSBC and Barclays who can offer a range of services at competitive rates, but always be sure to check out all the applicable restrictions. The mortgage situation here in Dubai has improved a lot of the past few years, and should pose no problems for property buyers.

A note for those thinking of buying in order to rent out their property. Emaar have recently started enforcing a ban on short term property lets on their properties, so as to minimize trouble and disruption in their developments. This applies only to rental periods of less than 6 months, and only to Emaar properties, so wont effect properties from other developers. Rentals here offer a great way to make money, so if you are perhaps looking at going down this route avoid Emaars developments.

So if you want to make an investment here in Dubai property not let not living here put you off, it really is straight forward to buy, and offers a great investment, so why wait!


Source: http://www.upublish.info

Friday, March 14, 2008

Self Publish or Perish: The New Age of Book Writing

In this new age of the Internet, information is everywhere and people are hungry to find it. If they have a question about ANYTHING in life, they are apt to jump online, go to a search engine and trust whatever they find. So how do you compete among trillions of pages of Internet content? The answer is simple: you write a book (or hire a ghostwriter to do it for you!).

In doing so, write a book with the intention of publishing it with a commercial publisher. This attitude will elevate your standards and create a high platform on which to perch. Quality is king. This book will speak for you forever; it will either speak poorly for you, or it will dynamically change lives. That being said, don't let the traditional publishing industry push you around and force you to wait. People are relying on your information. If you invest in writing an exceptional book, you deserve to reap the rewards more quickly than traditional publishing allows (their process is as long as a year or more to get your book into bookstores), so partner your desire to create something outstanding with your ability to self publish and get your book out there into the hands of the people who need it most!

In life and in business, there are few things that bring the respect, the admiration, the financial reward, and the emotional gratification that writing a book does. The media will refer to you as an expert, your customers will look at you with newfound respect, and, most importantly, you'll look at yourself differently, with so much more confidence and a crystallized understanding of what you offer your customers!

Remember when I said the answer was simple? Well, it was, but implementing it will require a bit more work. You need to take your expertise and create a unique, even remarkable delivery system for it. You and/or your ghostwriter are going to write a book — but not just any book; it will be YOUR book! This is an endeavor that should take no less than six months to write, writing at least an hour a day, every day. It could possibly take as long as a year or more (and that doesn't mean three months on and six months off!) to write a great book. Writing an exceptional manuscript worthy of worldwide distribution is a creative process that requires tremendous focus and the dedication of a brilliant team of people: ghostwriter, focus group participants, professional analysts, structure professionals, proofreaders, formatters, and more!

Now what is most important? Starting to write a book today, because time is of the essence! Consider this: in a world of instant gratification, the publishing industry has not yet caught up to our need for speed. Commercial publishers still take 9 to 18 months to get a book from manuscript to the bookstores, which comes after contract negotiations (two to three months) and finding the right agent and publisher (probably six months to a year). Who has this kind of patience anymore?

This is where self publishing comes in! Mind you, my recommendation is to still go through the process of creating something truly remarkable, investing your time and your money to write a book or hire a ghostwriter to write a book worthy of commercial publication, but do NOT let the slow speed of commercial publishing deter you from getting your message out quicker. Self Publish! Hire your ghostwriter to write a book and then while you are submitting to agents and publishers, self publish it through one of the many vanity presses available.

In addition to your time, this alternative will require investing a bit of capital, probably around $5,000 to $7,500 for 2,000 copies of your book, including the price to format it, acquire your ISBN number and get it listed on Amazon. But realize this: when you write a book and then you self publish, you make so much more of the money. When you sell those 2,000 books, your income can be anywhere from $15,000 to $40,000, versus a much smaller royalty from a traditional publisher.

So write a book worthy of commercial publishing, and then self publish to test the content, and build up a stockpile of cash that you can use to market and publicize the book when it hits the bookstores. Heck, if you can sell 30,000 units on your own, a commercial publisher will pick you up based on that alone!

You must be strategic in this day and age to survive! Think about what you are doing today and what you'll need tomorrow. Today you need to start writing (or find your ghostwriter), so you can self publish tomorrow, and commercially publish down the road. Without the writing, there is neither the self publishing opportunity nor the commercial publishing chance. So start your writing, or hire your ghostwriter immediately (check out my article: 10 Questions You Must Ask Before You Hire a Ghostwriter)!

Article Source: http://www.upublish.info

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Earn A Good Income By Investing In Real Estate

by Jacques Coquerel

You might have noticed lately that the television and the Internet are full of promotions that tell you that you can earn an income in real estate. You might be asking yourselves, what are the ways that I can make money in this business? Real estate investing is really not that far from any other forms of investment: you buy a property to sell and make profit.

For example, when you purchase stocks today, you can sell it later to make profit when its value has already risen. Like stocks, you purchase real estate property today to appreciate in value so that you can sell it at a higher price later to make profit.

Your success in real estate investing depends on the strategy you use to purchase a property as low-priced as possible and sell it as high-priced as possible. Seasoned investors have found various strategies to achieve this. These different strategies are what they’re offering to people to help them earn income in real estate, too.

One strategy is to buy property that’s priced below its market value then resell it at a higher price. The difficulty comes in finding houses that are priced low. Even if you’re able to negotiate a lower purchase price, you might only make a few thousand dollars in profit, tops. If you’re investing in real estate just to make a living, then this isn’t a bad strategy. However, if you’re investing for riches, you need a strategy that will yield more than a few thousand dollars in profit.

One profitable strategy in real estate investing is to buy foreclosed properties because most of the time, these properties are priced well below its market value. If you can find properties in which the owners have contributed a great amount of equity to it, you’re sure to get a property at a very, very low price. Especially if the property requires very little repairs, your profit could shoot up even higher.

Another strategy to make money in real estate is with tax lien certificate. If property owners cannot meet their property tax obligation, the government will issue a tax lien certificates for those properties, which an investor could buy for profit. It is a win-win solution for all three parties: the property owner, the government, and the investor.

In a sense the government receives its property tax from the buyer of the certificate - the investor - but the property owner is still going to pay for his tax but he’s given an extended period to do so. While the investor on the other hand, is given two ways to gain from his investment.

For the investors, buying a tax lien certificate is one of the most secure ways to earn profit in two ways. The government will pay the investor fixed interest rate - comparatively larger rate than other investments - and this is mandated by law so that you’re sure you get your money at the end of the period. But if the property owner cannot pay his obligation, the investor has the chance to buy the property at a very, very discounted price.

Knowledge in other forms of investment is a good start when you want to try real estate investment - although it’s not necessary. Real estate investment is not as difficult as people might think; it closely resembles other forms of investment. All you need is the basics of investing and the rest you need to learn will follow when you’re doing the actual investing.

Raise Your Property Value Sky High


by Ashley Lichty

You house is more than a home and shelter for you and yours - it’s a guarantee of security. A home is an investment, one that you may need to count on later, so taking steps to increase your property value over time is ALWAYS a good bet. You never know when some emergency may strike and you have a need for large sums of money - which owning a home can provide.

Of course, the higher your property value, the better off you’ll be should such a situation arise. If you are a homeowner desiring a secure future, it is all the more important that you take steps to maintain and increase your property value in the long run. Even if that tragedy never strikes, should you decide to sell your home, you’ll be more than happy that you’ve kept your value up.

To start pushing up your property value, pay attention to your curb appeal. The nicer the outside looks, the higher the perceived value tends to be - and you’d be surprised at what that can do to your actual value! Not to mention, great curb appeal leads to a speedier sale!

A good landscaping job can add up to 20% to your property value and can even wind up saving you up to 25% in heating and cooling bills. It’s important not to mess up your curb appeal and do a haphazard job by not planning out your landscaping. In the end, if you’re not willing to do in-depth research and really commit to following through, it’s best just to hire a professional.

Painting or re-siding your home, as well as cleaning up the gutters can help your property value grow a bit. Also, look into fencing in your yard, as secure yards tend to be in higher demand - and get some good outdoor lights to give the property a more secure feel. Another area to consider is parking - make sure areas are clean and clear and be sure to fix any potholes!

Improvements to the inside of your home can also help raise your property value. For one, homes with central air conditioning are almost always preferred. Kitchens are another biggie - most buyers want spacious kitchens. Even if your kitchen is a bit small, you can give the illusion of space by using shelves and hanging racks and keeping it clear of clutter.

Most important of all when it comes to maintaining your property value is MAINTENANCE. Don’t let things fall into disrepair, keep all major areas in working order, replace window screens, water fixtures, light fixtures, etc. on an as needed basis. Remember that cosmetic repairs (new paint, carpets, etc.) have a neutral affect on property value since it’s all a matter of opinion.

As always, do your own research before jumping right into home improvements. Treat your property value like your credit score - check on it on a regular basis and slowly but surely do things to improve it. By putting some of these tips into practice, you can easily increase your property value throughout the years.